7 Characteristics That Will Help You Score In the Workplace
I am known at DSD Business Systems, as the person who offers football analogies, to help provide a better understanding of certain situations. With football season fully underway, I thought I would continue my football theme by sharing 7 characteristics that bode well on the football field and can also translate to the workplace. People who maintain these characteristics are more likely to be successful in their profession and in life.
1. Teamwork
John Wooden said it best, “Much can be accomplished by teamwork when no one is concerned about who gets credit.” I believe teamwork is often overlooked as being important in the workplace; however, it is essential for success. Becoming more familiar with your peers and their job duties will allow you to gain a better understanding of your company. Teamwork allows you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each team member, which will determine the task they can best accomplish. When all team members are on the same page, accomplishing goals becomes much easier.
2. Discipline
Having discipline can mean a number of things. To me, this simply means being on time and staying on task. Each work day should be filled with task you should do, not that you want to do. It is your responsibility to have the will power to get started and the stamina to finish the task at hand. It takes a strong person to substitute immediate satisfaction for hard work in order to obtain something greater.
3. Leadership
Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile”. This inspiring quote from football legend Vince Lombardi suggests that everyone has the potential to become a great leader. Those who put in the work to reach that potential are the ones who become great leaders. Leaders set the tone. The more leaders there are, the better off a company will be.
4. Courage
Conquer yours fears, don’t let them conquer you. We need courage to ask questions, be assertive and take initiative. Don’t be afraid to say “No” to others in the workplace. If you have an opinion, let it be known. My college football coach once said, “Hold nothing back; put it all on the line. Don’t leave the field (or the office) feeling like you could have given more.”
5. Trust
It’s very important to have trust in your peers. In football, if you don’t trust the man next to you to do their job, you won’t be fully focused on your own job. If you don’t trust those you work with, you will have a difficult time delegating work. Showing others that you trust them will help build their confidence, strengthen your relationship and lead to a much greater chance of success. It is also your responsibility to get your peers to garner your trust. Being reliable and hard work will help you establish that trust.
6. Confidence
Confidence is the act of knowing your value and acting accordingly. When you believe that you will succeed, that confidence is infectious. Simply having and portraying confidence can lead to more promotions and a higher level of respect and trust from your peers. Having confidence doesn’t mean you will always win, however, it means you will have no fear of losing. Legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno once said, “You need to play with supreme confidence, or else you’ll lose again, and then losing becomes a habit.”
7. Perseverance
Newt Gingrich said, “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” Successful people have the ability to keep going when others won’t. When self-doubt and negative thoughts flow into your head, it’s important to keep a level head. A football game is won in the 4th quarter. When everyone on the field is tired, it’s the players who keep focused that make the game winning plays.
The 7 characteristics above will help you persevere and succeed in your career and in life. “The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity”, said Lewis Grizzard.
Written by Nathan Brown, Enhancement Coordinator at DSD Business Systems
