The average working adult in America spends eight to ten hours a day, five days a week at work. That's approximately 250 days a year or close to 10,000 days over a 40-year career.
It just makes sense to spend those days making the most of our time on the job. By embracing our work as a means to providing for ourselves and our families, we can keep a positive attitude about it. If we have to work for a living anyway, we might as thrive at work.
Be enthusiastic about your work
The best way to thrive at work is to do the best work possible, every time. Tackle each task and every assignment with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. I'm not talking about clapping your hands and announcing how excited you are to have yet another project, or even more work to do in addition to your current heavy workload. View each assignment as an opportunity to learn something valuable as a means to be viewed as an asset to the organization
Keep an eye on the clock
Make sure you show up on time, ready to work every day. If you stop for coffee or breakfast from a drive-through, leave home early enough to go through the line, park and be at your desk on time each morning. Take a lunch break, but don't take an extended lunch break! Don't clean your desk off and put your work away until quitting time.
Avoid gossip
Do not participate in office gossip or conversations about co-workers, your boss or company management. Make positive comments or walk away if your co-workers start gossiping. Don't encourage visitors who stop by your desk to share the latest rumor or juicy tidbit about a co-worker or company management.
Ask your boss questions
If you are unsure of an instruction or about the details of an assignment, ask your boss for clarification. If there is more than one way to accomplish a task, ask your boss if he/she has a preference for how it should be done. Don't proceed without being certain of the details. Nurture your relationship with your boss. Be a willing student. Encourage your boss to share his/her knowledge and expertise with you.
Be a team player
If at all possible, offer to help your co-workers with their assignments. Especially new or inexperienced employees would be grateful for your assistance and guidance. Pitch in any time a co-worker has a big project or may need to work overtime to finish their work in order to meet a deadline.
Dress appropriately
Every company has a “personality” of its own. If the dress code is business casual don't dress like you're going to a dinner party. Don't wear jeans, either, though! Be sure your clothes are clean, in good repair, pressed and fit comfortably-nothing too tight, too revealing, or too baggy.
Be nice
Be pleasant to your co-workers. You don't have to invite them to your home for dinner, but you can certainly exchange pleasantries. Be sincere in your conversation, and cultivate relationships with your co-workers. You'll enjoy being at work much more and they'll be glad to see you.
Be grateful
Finally, be thankful that you have a job. Even if you're not crazy about what you're doing, be glad are able to pay your bills and provide for yourself and/or your family. Make your work mean something. Do it well. Be happy to be alive-that's how you'll thrive-at work and in every other area of your life.
Most of us need to work to support ourselves, provide for our families, and perhaps buy a few luxuries to make our lives more enjoyable. Since we need to work in order to live, why not make our work experience a positive one? By adopting an attitude of gratitude, being enthusiastic about opportunities to learn and grow professionally and cultivating relationships with our managers and co-workers, we can thrive at work.
