To succeed in any career, you must be able to work with others. It’s a simple fact that no one can do everything right on their own, and even the most capable leaders need a team to make an organization truly great. But not everyone knows how to work well with their peers; some people have better social skills than others.
Ethics are not just black and white. There are shades of grey in the office, too. Sometimes it is difficult to know the difference between the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do when trying to get ahead in your career. You don’t want to make choices that will jeopardize your professional integrity. Still, you also don’t want to miss out on opportunities because you were too worried about making a misstep.
Career growth is integral to our professional and personal satisfaction but not always easy to achieve. You can help ensure your promotion and progress within your company and career by following these tips.
1. Always Look For Ways To Help Others
When you have an opportunity to help someone else, always do it. It’s a great way to show that you can be trusted, thought of as a good person, and relied upon. These qualities will go a long way in helping you advance your career. There are times when you’ll be able to help others directly: if you see someone struggling with a task or working late on something, offer to jump in and give them a hand. When you see someone interviewing for a new position, put in a good word for them to the hiring manager. Even if they don’t get the job, they will appreciate your support and remember it down the road.
But that’s not all that helping others is about—it’s also about being willing to do whatever needs to be done for the team’s good. If there’s work that needs doing, step up and do it without complaining. If there’s something, nobody wants to do but needs to get done anyway, jump in and take charge. This kind of selfless attitude makes people want to work with you again in the future, and it shows them that you’re worth having around when the going gets tough.
2. Follow The Company’s Hierarchical Structure
In many companies, the path to a promotion is clear. For example, when you start as a full-time employee, you might have to go through a probationary period, then apply for and receive an internal promotion to a higher position. If this is the case with your company, follow its structure and do not circumvent the proper channels.
Even if there are no explicit rules in your company about how someone gets promoted, it will still have an implicit hierarchical structure—and generally speaking, it’s best to follow that hierarchy. For example, suppose you’re a manager who wants to get promoted to vice president of your department. In that case, it’s probably best to go through your manager (the president of the department) rather than going directly to the CEO of the whole company. This shows respect for the chain of command, which can help you develop better relationships with your colleagues.
3. Don’t Make Promises You Don’t Intend To Keep
It can be tempting to overpromise and underdeliver, especially when we need to make a good impression. But it comes back to bite us later when you have to break a promise or apologize for not delivering on your end. Instead, take a moment before making any commitments or promises to know what you can deliver and when.
If you tell someone something in confidence, it needs to stay between the two of you — even if they ask you not to share it with anyone else. If someone asks for advice and then decides not to follow through with your suggestion, that doesn’t mean they don’t value your opinion or insight; maybe they just didn’t have time or resources available.
4. Take Responsibility For Your Actions
Taking responsibility for your actions is one of the most important things you can do to develop as an ethical person. You cannot expect to get ahead in life if you play the blame game or try to pass the buck. If something goes wrong at work, don’t blame it on someone else. Take responsibility for your actions and do what is necessary to fix the situation. Be accountable for what happens in your life, and don’t shirk away any responsibility that is yours.
Honesty is a cornerstone of ethical behavior in any profession or job role. You should never lie or mislead people about anything at work because this can cause serious problems later when they find out you deceived them. Being honest with your colleagues will help them trust you more and work well with them on projects or assignments where they need information from other people to complete their tasks successfully. Honesty also means being trustworthy – if someone asks you for information or help with something, then give it to them.
Now You Can Grow Your Career Ethically
As an ethical individual, you need to always lookout for the best interests of others. If this means working longer hours or doing more work than your job description implies, then so be it. Following the hierarchical structure in place at your job is important too. Nobody wants to report directly to someone who neglects their responsibilities. If you’re making promises you don’t intend to keep, you’re a problem employee. And lastly, be responsible for your actions. This means assuming the blame for mistakes and apologizing when necessary, instead of making excuses and blaming others. Click here
