As the economy opens up, in what we hope are "post-pandemic" times, everyone has to adjust to new ways to managing life.
We need to manage our home-life, and make sure that our kids get educated. Our finances will be stretched. The relationships we're in may be harder. And, the biggest challenge is our work and career.
Are you happy at work? And, are you satisfied with your work and career, and are you confident that it will remain intact on the other side of this pandemic?
I reckon everything rests on your levels of commitment to make things work under difficult circumstances. I do not mean if you are merely "interested" in making things happen.
I mean truly committed!
John Assaraf is a New York Times bestselling author, and one of the world's leading authorities in behavioral sciences explains the difference between being interested in something, and being committed to it.
In a nutshell, he says that if you are "interested" in something, you will do what is convenient. But, if you are actually "committed" to it, you will do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Right now, with your work, you cannot only do that which is only easy or expedient. You need to be committed to doing anything and everything it takes to make things better for you and those who depend on you.
Through my consulting work, I can attest that every successful person, whether they are a salaried employee or an entrepreneur that I have ever known, has shown total commitment to what they believe in, or the business they run.
This mindset manifests in everything they do, even outside their sphere of work.
The classic definition of being committed at work is about the enthusiasm an employee shows towards their tasks assigned at a workplace. It is the feeling of responsibility that the employee has for the goals, mission, and vision of their company.
How do you show commitment right now?
Flexibility
Can you adapt when your work presents you an unexpected turn of events, or are you rigid and obstinate in the way you do things? The capacity to modify when needed, is always important at the workplace, but more so now.
The way businesses and organisations are being forced to operate means that glitches, challenges and obstructions will be the norm. Being nimble enough to adjust, and to shift gears to surmount any of these issues, reduces their impact.
So, being flexible makes you extremely valuable in the current climate.
Reliability
At the workplace or even in your social circle, you know the people you can rely on. You also know which ones usually run late, fail to deliver what they promise, or often come up short.
I'm sure, you know how they make you feel!
When you ensure that you are that reliable and dependable employee at the work, it showcases you in a positive light to both your leaders, and your fellow colleagues. It makes an eminently suitable candidate, not only for promotions, but more importantly, to be retained when there are cuts or retrenchment.
While it might sound terribly old school, but rudimentary things like being on-time, every time, signals if you are a reliable person. Habits like taking last-minute time off, without advance notice, really dent your dependability.
Being dependable also shows in your work. If you are reliable, you will deliver work on time, and meet the required standards. When you regularly miss deadlines, or send in shoddy work, you become first on the firing line.
Uprightness
This trait, has become more critical than usual. Employers retain team members who are honest and ethical in all their work responsibilities. As an employee, your actions reflect on the company and contribute to its brand.
By working to build a positive reputation, you help the company become stronger, which gives you the job security you covet.
Don't ever forget that it is hard to build trust, but it is easily lost, especially when you are caught lying or fiddling. You need to show that you are somebody who can be trusted with important work tasks.
Flexibility, reliability and uprightness form the benchmarks for your show of commitment.
If you want to retain your job, or be assured through these challenging times, it all starts with your attitude. Limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and the tendency to conjure up excuses will get you out of a job now.
If you want to know whether you are just interested in your career or actually committed to it; think about what you have done today, this week, and perhaps over the past year. Your actions actually reveal the answer.
Your sense of purpose is shaped by the things you believe in, and value. When you have a strong sense of purpose, you will develop a personal code of behaviour. And, your connection to that purpose will help you live by these beliefs, and values.
The question remains, are you truly committed to succeed in a post-pandemic world?
Shankar R. Santhiram is managing consultant and executive leadership coach at EQTD Consulting. He is also the author of the national bestseller "So, You Want To Get Promoted?
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
