Six steps to help achieve excellence in the workplace

The one thing that most people have
in common is the desire to become
successful. However, not all people
achieve this because they forget one
essential component ?a strategy for
becoming successful.

All successful people would agree
that a vision of the future is vital.
Personal excellence is part of this plan.

The word "excellence" is defined
as the quality of excelling, possessing
good qualities in high degree. It is
about developing a winning mindset
that says, "l want to be great at what
I do. I want my work and my personal
life to be successful".

Personal excellence in the workplace
can be developed by using some
essential tools and techniques, and by
creating a personal strategy for success.
Here are six key steps to put you
on the path to workplace excellence.

1. DEFINE YOUR GOAL

Before any action can be taken, you
must identify why you want to excel
at work. You must determine the end
result you wish to achieve.

Are you looking for recognition?
Is your goal to move up the corporate
ladder? Are you looking for a pay
increase? Or perhaps you want a sense
of accomplishment from taking on
greater challenges?

Once you have established your
goals, it will be easier for you to
determine the action steps required to get
you on the road to achieving them.


2. PROJECT THE RIGHT IMAGE

You might be the best at what you doing
the office or have the fastest typing
speed or be the most tech-savvy, but
if your image is not great, you are not
likely to get ahead.

Do you arrive at work looking
like you just got out of bed, with
uncombed hair and wrinkled clothes?
Are you dressed like a professional, or
like you just came from a nightclub?

Do your mannerisms and posture
reflect a person of intelligence and
confidence, or do you slouch or lean
on the furniture all the time?

Your physical actions and appearance
are visual clues to your level of
excellence. Ask yourself: "What am I
projecting? "

3. STAY HEALTHY

It is important to take care of your
personal well-being. That means going
to bed at a reasonable hour to ensure
that you are well rested and able
to handle your daily tasks and eating
a proper diet so that you also have the
mental capacity to do your job. A clear
mind and a rested body mean you are
able to function with ease.

4. KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS
Recognising your strengths and
weaknesses is crucial to your success.
Most people think they should
gain knowledge in the areas where
they are weak, but actually the opposite
is true. Play to your strengths
by taking on projects in areas where
you are strongest, and, if possible,
delegate tasks where you lack the
knowledge or skills.

5. SET SMART GOALS

We have all heard about the importance
of 搒mart" goals, that is, goals
that are specific, measurable, achievable,
realistic and time-frarned.

Take 15 minutes to write out three
to five goals that will bring you closer
to excellence in the workplace. They
should be straightforward, action-based,
realistic and achievable. Decide on a
completion date and the
action steps required to get you there.
Identify any obstacles and what you
need to do to overcome them.

6. CELEBRATE SMALL WINS
Some of your goals will take time to
achieve, so it is important that you
reward yourself along the way. Celebrate
the small wins as and when you
complete tasks that get you closer to
reaching your goal. Treat yourself to
a new magazine, a massage or a meal
out. This will provide the instant
gratification that you crave while on
the road to achieving your ultimate
goal of workplace excellence.

Article by Pamela Wigglesworth, a
Singapore-based American corporate trainer,
speaker and founder of Experiential Handson
Learning, a training and development
company (www.experientiaI.sg).