ByKat Hours Updated
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How to Be a Great Worker

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best worker tips

Today our friend W e-mailed us with a personal question:

So, my upcoming new job is seriously the first job I've ever had that I'm truly excited about. Obviously, I want to do well. I've never really cared about other jobs nor my performance in them. I realize this is totally cheesy and earnest, but any suggestions on some decent books in the “how to succeed” genre?

I dashed off a quick e-mail, recommending Why Good Girls Don't Get Ahead… But Gutsy Girls Do: Nine Secrets Every Working Woman Must Know (which I read a zillion years ago and now looks like it's out of print) as well as Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (seriously a great book),  promising to look for the post and thread where commenters listed a bunch of other good books, and reassuring W that she'll be great. (She will!)  Then I started thinking about it more, and with her permission thought I'd share her query here on the blog. (Pictured: grandmother's report card, originally uploaded to Flickr by victoriabernal.)

The best advice I have, upon contemplating this for a few hours, is thus: treat your job as if you're doing it for a grade. We all know that there's a difference between when you want an A . . . and when a B+ is fine . . . and when it's a pass/fail class. Sometimes, all you want to do is show up, keep your head down, and get your paycheck. That's working for a “pass.” And it can be fine, for a little while — but in our experience that kind of daily existence feels hollow.

Other times, a B+ is fine — you know you're doing better than most, and sure, you probably could be doing a lot better — but you're juggling too much and right now, a B+ will have to do.

Then you've got your A game. You go the extra distance, you engage on an real intellectual basis, and you strive to do better even if you're already getting rave reviews. You're invested. It's the difference between training for a marathon and phoning in a daily workout.

For our friend, we would also recommend a few more steps:

1. Research.

  • Do some job-specific research:  Set up a Google Alert on your company, and if there are some superstars there that you'd like to work with / someday be, set up a Google Alert on them as well.
  • Do some career-specific research, by mining the Internet for the best sources for advice and news for your industry. You want to be on top of the issues that will affect the way you do business — the new technology that will make it easier to do, the regulations and decisions that will make your business harder, and general “tips of the trade.” If there's a magazine or newsletter on point, subscribe; otherwise just be sure to regularly check the blogs (or set up an RSS feed). You may want to see if your field is covered by SmartBrief, as recommended by venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki in a recent blog post.

2. Network. All that networking that you did to get the job? Reach out to those people whose careers you admire, and see if you can take them out to lunch again — ask them for their best advice on how to succeed in the industry, what their path was, what mistakes they've made, and more. (I might even say that your list should include people who you interviewed with — and connected with — even if you didn't get the job. Write them a personal e-mail, let them know where you landed, and see if you can take them out for lunch. What is there to lose?)  In our experience, this is the best kind of networking — where you truly don't want anything from them except for their advice. If it feels like you're aiming really high, ask them if you could chat with them on the phone for 10 or 15 minutes instead — everyone has time for a 15 minute phone call.

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

If you have time before your job starts to read some books, these have been recommended previously by commenters:

We either haven't read these books, or haven't read them all the way through, but we would also suggest that our friend W check out:

Readers, what are your best tips and tricks for succeeding at the office?

Some must-read business books for women — update coming soon!

one of the must-read books for businesswomen: Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office
a great book for working mothers: Lean In
the cover to one of the best books on productivity: GETTING THINGS DONE
one of the must-read books for businesswomen: The Confidence Code
a great book for working mothers: Balance is a Crock, Sleep Is For the Weak

37 Comments

  1. Wow, thanks so much for this! I’m about to start a fantastic job that I was offered when I graduated college last year, but couldn’t start immediately for various reasons. In the meantime I’ve been working in a generic entry-level non-profit job and I’ve grown very unaccustomed to striving. I’ll definitely use these resources to give myself a kick in the pants. Posts like these are why I read Corporette every day… thanks again!

  2. Love this post and have an on-topic question. I struggle with staying focused on work and I’m looking for an add-on to firefox that will allow me to ONLY view websites I need in order to work (since that’s a small list) and will let me see other websites (such as Corporette) only on my “breaks” (once an hour etc.). Anyone found something like this?

    Kat has recommended “Leechblock” which I’ve installed, but you have to list every time-wasting website you could possibly visit, and since there are so many of those, I think it’d be easier for me to just list the websites I know I need for work and only do select allowances for other sites.

    Help? :)

    1. Same problem. I would also like to know if there is a similar add on for internet explorer.

    2. There is something really useful if you’re on a Mac, but I have a PC at work (like I imagine most people) and at home :(

      http://getconcentrating.com/

      Maybe the answer is to build a REALLY long list of time-wasting sites for leechblock? I guess I could waste some time doing that…. (and perhaps post it somewhere so others could use it).

    3. You CAN set LeechBlock to work in the way you’ve described. According to the LeechBlock FAQ: “The exceptions prefix (+) can be used to specify sites to allow rather than block (e.g., *.com +www.somesite.com will block all dot-com sites except http://www.somesite.com).” Thus, you would enter that string (with westlaw or lexis or whatever you’re going to “allow”) in the “somesite” area.

      1. I do that with leechblock for working on a paper or studying. Just block everything except westlaw.com and lexisnexis.com or whatever and it works.

  3. Love the Modern Girl’s Guide to Life (and the sequel, Modern Girls’ Guide to Sticky Situations) – it’s been my go to book for about five years, and has quick and practical advice for women in business, at home, etc. http://tinyurl.com/25xyae8

  4. I completely agree about networking within the organization. It’s not just about doing a great job, it’s also about attending company social events, going out to lunch with peers and your boss, making sure you show up on time and participate during meetings, etc. Sometimes the “face time” aspect of just showing up can do wonders. I think a lot of women mistakenly believe that all they have to do to be successful is to work really hard and produce good work. It’s not enough. It’s also about whether people like you and want to work with you. Best of luck!

  5. First impressions are huge. Do absolutely everything you can to make your work 100% perfect when you first start. Obviously, this probably is not possible on a substantive level, but as far as grammar, formatting and typos, and things you should be expected to know or figure out, you can and should make sure everything is perfect. This is always important, but establishing a solid reputation happens at the very beginning. If you make a great first impression, later mistakes will be understood and viewed more leniently as just little mistakes or a result of not having enough time. If you haven’t made a great first impression, every mistake will be seen as evidence of your incompetence. That might sound harsh, but you get the idea.

    1. I agree with this advice completely! I think the first few months at a new job (or even the first weeks on a new team within the same job) matter so much in terms of how people perceive you. Work late, offer to do any task that comes up, and do everything in your power to make the work product excellent.

  6. Reading posts like this just make me depressed, and wish that I won the lottery so that I could never have to work ever ever again.

  7. Oh wait! Ok now I feel silly. I found out how to do it with Leechblock:

    You want to block all dot-com sites except http://www.somesite.com and http://www.anothersite.com between 9am and 6pm Monday through Friday.

    * Enter *.com +somesite.com +anothersite.com as the domain names of the sites to block.
    * Leave blank the ‘Load from URL’ field.
    * Enter 0900,0600 into the field for the time periods.
    * Leave blank the field for the time limit.
    * Select within time periods OR after time limit as the condition for when to block the sites.
    * Select Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri as the days on which to block the sites (or just click the ‘Every Day’ button).

    I think that could be the solution.

    You can download Leechblock (for firefox) here:

    https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4476/

    I haven’t found something similar for Internet Explorer unfortunately.

  8. I like Kat’s advice, but it should come with a caveat – you need to be more aware of your manager’s perspective than you would a teacher’s. I’ve seen too many 20-somethings set their own priorities, unaware they were neglecting the wrong things, and then wonder why they didn’t advance.

    Get in the habit of asking key questions – ask about overall priorities, clarify project objectives, check in and ask if you are on the right track, etc.

  10. I just want to know how this woman has gotten this far without actually caring about any job she’s ever had?

    1. I worked in quite a few dead end jobs straight out of college and can’t say I cared about any of them. I knew I needed to go back to school to do something fulfilling, but wasn’t ready to go back immediately.

    2. Liz, I agree with you completely. I can’t imagine not trying your best, whether you are a file clerk, babysitter, lawyer, or at the most dead-end job. Do it right, care about what you do. Isn’t that basic? Isn’t that self-pride?

      I can absolutely imagine having a bad day or week or even month, but I don’t understand cruising through your job as a life style.

      I say this both as a former employer and as a current employee.

      1. I think for some it becomes a matter of letting go of your feelings in order to maintain your mental health. The reality is that not all jobs are going to reward you for doing your best, and if you’re in a situation where you know that the anxiety is becoming overwhelming, sometimes it’s better to just show up, do what you need to do (but not much more) and then go home.

      2. Oh, I don’t know. I worked as a file clerk for a few months before law school, and – if I do say so myself – I was an awesome file clerk. But frankly, being an awesome file clerk still only took up about 50% of my energy. I’m not really sure what else I could have put into that one.

        1. I think there are also situations where a person is just naturally more efficient than other workers. If you can finish 8 hours of work in 5 but have nothing else to do for the other 3 hours, I think it’s better to spread it out to 8 in order to keep the job.

  11. @ Liz – I have plenty of coworkers that are doing quite well in their career that don’t give a rat’s furry butt about their job. They only care that a a check comes every payday. Of course, I work for a government organization where it is nearly impossible to fire most employees.

    I am actually thinking about printing this post and hanging it on my cubicle wall to in hopes of inspiring a few.

  12. I just started my dream job after 7 years of far-from-dreamy work and have been gathering this type of advice through others and observations, as I really want to succeed in the job. Here are a few that have occurred to me and might sound basic but really matter:
    1- always make the boss look good. do NOT disagree, disparage, etc. him/her in front of others, ever. anticipate what he/she needs to be successful and try to help make those things happen.
    2- don’t be weird. it’s the little things.. taking off the shoes, messy office, unusual clothes, revealing too much personal info, stinky food.
    3- be the consummate professional. always be business-like (which does include a certain level of chit chat, joking, etc. but not too much). dress well, be reliable, be a grown-up at all times and never girly. don’t interrupt, don’t be over eager. do ask how you can add value and support others. resist urges to do the unprofessional behaviors.
    4-it’s all about relationships. people have to like you and be able to depend on you for you to succeed. super senior people know this and work it constantly. their jobs are to go to events, schmooze with people, etc. you must prioritize this stuff even when buried in ‘real’ work. really truly. find personal connections… where you are from, what your kids are up to, etc. i have noticed in my briefings at the new job that the highest-level execs made our meet and greet initial meetings much more about personal connection than business. that will come. they seemed to want to define me more as a person they could talk to first.
    5-if you smell a problem- figure out how to correct course. e.g. boss gone sour on you- talk to him/her and make a plan to repair or how to move elsewhere. this stuff can make a job toxic and get to a point of no return with spillover effect- don’t let it get that far.
    6-balance in life- always a challenge to maintain with demanding jobs, but oh so important. do your best on that front, always. pace yourself.
    7-think about the game plan. even though i love my job, i realize that anything could change- budget, boss, leadership of company. be aware of your possible career paths and gather info about them. lay pipe for possible future directions slowly but surely.
    8-don’t be a jerk. (even if it’s justified!) this is really part of #3 above, but merits special attention. it’s just not worth it. suck it up, be the graceful one. you never know who will end up where. just take a deep breath and resist the urge to speak your mind or worse put it in writing. if you are upset, get some space or if no time, act breezy/neutral. if certain people are so tough to work with it feels unsurmountable- start laying groundwork to move on- it’ll help you get through the day.

    These are things I’ve sometimes learned the hard way, some I’ve observed, heard. I like keeping some of the phrases in my mind when I am tempted to act otherwise.

    1. These are good points. The primary point, especially for younger women who are new to employment, is this: it is not all about you. It is about how you are forwarding your employer’s agenda, and how you are meeting the client’s needs.

    2. I actually made a big mark early in my career BY disagreeing with my boss – in front of clients. I didn’t do it in a rude way or make him look stupid or bad at all, but I am not there as a potted plant. I am there because I, as the associate, know more about the documents than anyone else. I am part of the team, and it’s my job as a lawyer to do the best work for the client. My boss appreciated that, and my willingness to have an opinion and speak up (and concede that others had better ideas when that was obvious) was a huge career builder for me. Now, I understand that some bosses don’t want to be disagree with and are kind of jerks, and I understand that there is a way to disagree. But seriously, having a kick butt associate on the team does make my boss look good. So, long story to say that I don’t agree with coming in as a young attorney or young professional and agreeing with everything your boss says.

      1. I’d agree with this with the caveat that it depends on what you are disagreeing about. About what the document you reviewed states? Sure, you are there to provide that kind of detail. About the theory of the case? Probably not ok. Bring it up with him/her after the meeting if you have a solid basis, but do not disagree about something like that in front of a client. The client is there paying the big bucks for the partner and his/her kick butt team, but if the client’s confidence is undermined in the leader of the team … not good.

        @S, good list.

        1. I think I’ve been lucky to have a boss that doesn’t feel that way. I have never felt like he looked bad because I expressed my opinion on the case. And I don’t think it ever made a client think he was less than the stellar attorney he was – even if they sometimes agree with me. The first time I did it, I even asked my boss if it was inappropriate, and he responded definitively that it was not. The client pays big bucks for the best legal advice they can get, and that includes having all minds involved and engaged in the case. I can definitely say that my presence and thoughts helped win cases early in my career – and my whole firm looked good to the client (far from my boss looking bad). But you do have to exercise judgment. Some bosses aren’t going to appreciate you giving your opinion, and you need to be careful how you do it. I just don’t like the idea that younger associates aren’t supposed to voice their opinions on the case.

  13. I have a semi-related question. How do you keep from getting too emotionally involved in your work? Especially if you work with people with drug issues or mental health issues. I work in public defense, and do some juvenile and family law work as well. Usually I do a good job of keeping up professional boundaries and don’t let their stories upset me, but every once in a while I get too involved in a case and can’t seem to separate my emotions from it.

    I find that I want to help people, which means I work to get people drug treatment or mental health treatment or find them a ride home from jail or whatever else I can do that probably goes above and beyond what my job calls for. I am not doing a great job of letting people suffer the consequences of their own actions. I don’t just think about the case at issue, but think about how to get them into a better position so they can get out of the system eventually.

    I think my real question is, how do I become more calloused and thick-skinned and stop worrying about my client’s lives so much? I work for a small office and don’t have anyone as a mentor right now. The partner in the firm that does criminal law just says to “be less nice”.

    1. Sorry, it’s not in you to be less nice. You are a good heart. Continue to care. I am in the same line of work as you. I never stop worrying. I do refer to drug treatment. I do get involved. I’ve paid a lot of out of pocket expenses.

      What you do is hard, and it is worthy. Over the years, you will see long-term results of having a big heart and helping others. You’ll be glad you were kind. Carry on.

    2. You can’t change the fact you care about people and nor should you! That is a great thing and I’m sure an asset to your career, it is good to be passionate about what you do. For myself, I find the struggle is when to let go. Personally, I need to do what I am capable of doing for someone and then let go. You can’t micromanage people’s lives, you can only be their reference for a substance abuse program, job, etc. so many times and eventually they’ll have to make decisions and bear the consequences. The ones who are going to choose not to reap the benefits of your assistance will be an energy-drain which will leave you less productive to the ones who choose to take advantage of the opportunities you are presenting them. Some people may not be ready for assistance yet but everyone has personal responsibility, do what you can, and let them do what they need to do as well.

    3. Get a good therapist, or at least somebody who is willing to sit there and listen to you for hours on end (and I do mean “listen to” – not “converse with”).

      You don’t need to be less nice, or less caring or compassionate, but you do need to worry about things like Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder.

    4. As a public defender, I found that for the most part, every trial period, I had tw0 maybe three cases where I, as a lawyer, could actually make a difference. It may have been due to my legal skills or it may have been due to my willingness just to kindly help a first-time offender through the traumatic process of pleading to a charge and getting probation. Identify quickly the cases where you can make a difference and go all out! Try to remember that you are not a social worker and that you have special skills that can actually help the clients if you do not get bogged down in their life. Of course I would get emotionally involved and do special favors sometimes, but try to remember that you are being paid for your law degree.

      Also, I was bothered that MPC is not motivated in the non-profit job. She only does her best for the big check? :(

      1. To clarify, I’m not motivated by the non-profit job because it’s a cause I actually don’t agree with. Not all non-profits are out there to save the world, unfortunately– this one is more about creating a business-friendly tax and regulatory environment. I was actually placed here through a temp agency, and didn’t receive any information about the organization until I accepted the job (this is SOP for temp agencies, at least large ones). Beyond that, the office is very quiet and I only have about 3 hours’ worth of work to do in an 8-hour day.

        Also, my upcoming job pays more than temping, but it’s certainly not in “big check” territory… I’m more excited for the training/mentorship opportunities it provides, and the fact that it’s in a field I’m actually interested in.

  14. I think that working as if you were trying to achieve a “grade” is a girl thing. I don’t believe that men (most men) would think that way. “Girls” often are trying to be “good”. The “boys” are generally trying for something else – building an outside reputation, developingthe skill set that will be marketable, producing superb work quality for its own sake, gaining political advantage. Don’t we wish to play the way the “boys” do?

  15. If this is your first job, just try very very hard to do your best. However, understand that, while you’ll learn a lot from the experience, you won’t likely succeed, in the sense that your first job probably won’t turn into a successful career. There is something about basic work ethic that you can’t learn until you work and you’ll like need to change jobs at some point so that you aren’t working with the people who saw you learn how to work and how to have a work ethic. Just sayin’…

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