How to be a star at work

Just as star performers have work strategies that spur productivity, average performers have a long list of habits that drag it down. There are many business-oriented self-improvement books on the market offering generalized programs that claim to make you a better time manager, a sharper dresser, or a machiavellian power wielder. Not only do these books fail to bring productivity gains, they can be counterproductive. At their worst, they create an illusion of being on the road to success. Disorganized desk types who are forced into regimented organization with clean tabletops, multi-colored files and day-runner schedule books will be miserable and less productive. The night owl expected to be fully alert at 7:30 am will be unproductive and irritable. One size fits all formulas almost never work. Our research shows that the biological and personality differences that make us individuals are not what set stars apart from their average coworkers. If you are naturally disorganized, you will be better served by learning the strategies of disorganized star performers rather than forcing yourself into behaviors of average workers.

The point is that you need to remain authentic to your inherent nature in the workplace. Disrupting your natural tendencies will guarantee failure because any star strategies will only be briefly explored rather than deeply internalized. There are dozens of business oriented self improvement books on the market offering one size fits all programs that will supposedly make you a better time manager a sharper dresser a machiavellian power wielder. Not only do they fail to bring productivity gains they can be counterproductive. At their worst they create a false sense of being on the road to success. Messy desk types who are forced to keep clean tabletops multi colored files and day runner schedule books will be miserable and less productive. The night owl expected to hit the ground running at 7:30 am will be unproductive and cranky. Generic formulas almost never work.

Our research shows that the biological and personality quirks that make us individuals don’t make the difference between the stars and their average coworkers. If you are a messy desk person you are better served by learning the strategies of messy desk stars than by trying to masquerade as an average worker with a clean desk. The point is that you need to remain true to who you are and retain your basic nature in the workplace. Disrupting that basic pattern will guarantee failure the star strategies will only be dabbled in not internalized.

Personal drive

The common view of taking initiative is to volunteer for extra work hoping to get attention or please the boss. However, star performers use initiative more selectively. They take on responsibilities directly related to their projects. They find extra projects to help coworkers fully complete assignments rather than avoid difficult ones. Star performers take risks accepting new tasks requiring new skills. To apply initiative, star performers first do current work well. They evaluate who benefits from new initiatives, ensuring value for someone else, not just themselves. Initiatives should ultimately benefit customers through lower costs or higher revenues. Local initiatives maximizing impact can later expand companywide. Star performers calculate the odds of success and return on time/energy invested before pursuing initiatives. They will change course if a project no longer merits investment. Star performers keenly understand how personal and organizational initiative works far better than average performers. By efficiently performing assigned duties first, they make time for impactful new initiatives.

Networking people

Experts realize networks provide varying benefits to members. Stars thoughtfully build networks by selectively adding unique experts before needing them. Stars research issues first before requesting help. They acknowledge experts' time and credit input generously rather than acting independently. Stars contribute more value to networks than they extract. They develop reputations for thoroughness and follow-through. In today's economy, specialized knowledge is critical. No one can know everything, but stars leverage their knowledge by forming high value networks with specialists willing to collaborate. As an arabic proverb states, the best situation is to know you know, next best is to know you don't know, third is not knowing you know, and worst is not knowing you don't know. In other words, self awareness and humility enable us to build relationships that expand our capabilities.

The business myth is that star performers are born with innate talents. However, average workers can increase productivity by applying proven star performer work strategies. The key is adapting strategies to fit your personality and style. Keep realistic expectations when applying new strategies. There is no instant formula for stardom. Productivity gains build incrementally over 6-12 months as strategies become second nature. Realize all nine strategies interconnect. Mastering even one requires working on all to some degree.