The Two Best Things You Can Do For Your Career

The two best things you can do for your career are to communicate and manage your time wisely. These sound simple enough, but many people fail at them. If you make both of these tasks a priority, you’ll establish yourself as a reputable professional, and people will want to work with you.

Communicate

It’s estimated that 46% of employees rarely or never leave a meeting knowing what they’re supposed to do next. This is a huge number and clearly shows that communication needs to become more of a priority in the workplace. When people don’t know what they are supposed to be doing or feel like there’s a lack of communication, productivity and confidence levels decline.

Make sure that you communicate with your peers, managers, and colleagues to ensure that you’re all on the same page and nothing gets lost in translation. This will not only make your work more synchronized, but it will additionally promote respect and understanding. We’re all human and understand that unexpected events or situations arise, however if you don’t clearly communicate what you’re dealing with and feeling, people will not know and understand. If you don’t make your feelings and your situation clear, no one will be able to help.

Manage your time wisely

Time management is one of the most common issues people claim to deal with. One-third of full-time employees (globally) say it has gotten more difficult to manage work/family in the last five years. With this number rising, it is more critical than ever to manage your time and stay organized. This means communicating your needs, and keeping on top of your priorities.

Make a list of tasks and prioritize them by importance or due date. The more organized and timely you are with your work, the more others will appreciate you as a professional. “Whether you intend to or not, arriving late shows disrespect to the social contract of the office place, as well as your co-workers who do make an effort to arrive one time,” says Amy Hoover, president of Talent Zoo. The same thing goes for late work. Tardiness with project completion reflects the same negativity as being late to a meeting or event. This will hurt your reputation and ultimately tarnish your career.

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The two best things you can do for your career may not be what you think. It isn’t just about networking or getting more certifications, it’s about how you handle yourself within your career. Communicate with others, show respect, and manage your time well.