20 Habits Of Successful Professionals

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Want to be successful in your career? Here are 20 tried and true habits of successful professionals. See how many of these habits you need to work on:

  1. Constantly be on the lookout for ways to add value. Adding value everyday adds up. You never can tell where your blessings will come from.
  2. Be a hardworking Manager - Do things yourself; fill any knowledge gaps you have. Don’t rely on anyone to do what you can do yourself but know when to delegate and when to trust others to get the job done.
  3. Devote your hours at the office to office work. You can always work on personal business in your own time. This is the only way to be excellent at what you do. 
  4. Don’t stay glued to your desk all day. Whenever you get the chance, network and socialise with your colleagues. Be less of you and more about the business.
  5. Take leadership whenever you can - be outstanding.
  6. Aim to solve at least one problem everyday.
  7. Never stop learning.
  8. Don’t engage in small talk.
  9. Be positive at all times. It can move mountains.
  10. Don’t go out of your way to seek acceptance, respect or favour. Your attitude to work and professionalism will attract these naturally.
  11. Always prepare before you go for meetings, no matter how trivial the discussion points may seem.
  12. When you’re not a 100% sure about something, don’t feel pressured to speak. If you honestly do not know, don’t volunteer information.
  13. Let your voice be heard only when it matters. Don’t hold back advice for fear of it being knocked down.
  14. Don’t go out of your way to appear smarter than everyone else. You are more likely to make more enemies than friends this way.
  15. Seek first to understand before trying to be understood. Your goal in any argument or when you’re embroiled in a difference of opinion, should never be to win but to understand the other person, make them understand the implications of their position and reach a shared understanding. Be open to arguments. They can be excellent learning opportunities if you do not allow yourself to be overcome by the need to be right.
  16. In everything you do, always keep the end goal in mind.
  17. Don’t interrupt or talk over anyone. Listen first and then state your opinion.
  18. Don’t be afraid to ask questions especially if the answers are not readily accessible elsewhere.
  19. Be proactive.
  20. Aim to help at least one person everyday.