As an employee, you are in not just a legal association with your organization, but also an emotional one. This association is a two-way street. You bring in the expertise towards the work and the organization provides you with a series of benefits for it. There is plenty written about how to serve the organization best, and how to bring your best game to work every day. Let’s turn the tables around in this blog post and talk about how to get the best out of your workplace. Let’s look at the instruments at hand for this purpose and how you can make this happen.
1. Opportunities to learn & grow:
One of the goals of the modern professional is to have chances to learn the relevant information, knowledge and work practices to be well-equipped to handle the demands of their job. In addition, you need the opportunity to apply what you have learnt, and for this application to be noticed, appreciated, and for you to see growth as a result of this.
2. The area of work/ business industry that you would like to be in:
You will have a good idea of what your strengths are and which area of work or industry are these strengths best put to work in. When you join the organization, one of the
3. Headroom for career growth:
Is the company growing quickly enough to have space to accommodate your learning, growth and ambition? Are you finding chances to do what you do best and grow at a pace that is challenging for you? This is a critical question to assess if you want to grow at the speed you would like.
4. Colleagues you can identify and collaborate with:
One of the expectations from your organization is colleagues who work with similar work ethics as you, hold the same professional beliefs, have a complementary style of work and overall, contribute to making your stint in the organization a comfortable and warm one.
5. How can the workday help you meet your wellness needs:
Do you get to take time to invest in your wellness? Through various initiatives like health & wellness news, on-campus checkups, availability of financial, physical and emotional wellness partners/ experts, the company helps you invest in your health and a strong future.
6. Build on your strengths as a professional:
Are there associations that you need to be a part of, as a professional? Are those portals open to you or to others in your team or business? What needs to be done to get here? These are good starter questions to ask yourself, to build on further professional strengths.
7. Fair practices as regards employee welfare:
Going back to fundamentals for a bit, a fair expectation of your organization is that you, your team of colleagues, and the entire organization at large benefits from policies as regards staff welfare, that are equitable and fair. From something as basic as working hours and leave, to something as critical as maintenance of dignity and self-esteem, the organization’s robust policies
8. Open two-way communication channels:
The ability of the individual inside the company to be able to put forth their opinions in a safe, trusted environment, where that feedback is taken at face value and responded to with respect – this is valuable for the company’s good health, as developmental feedback and feedback on what is working well will give the company the pulse of the people.
9. The liberty to innovate:
In the modern day organization, most people have the opportunity to leave a legacy of good work, and innovative practices that will stay on after the person themselves has moved out. The freedom to create value for the organization, while learning, is an essential freedom.
10. A sense of being a part of a larger purpose:
The self-actualisation need of many modern professionals is the sense of contributing to something larger than one’s own existence and sustenance. In this regard, the organization’s purpose aligning with yours ensures that you are able to contribute in meaningful ways.
In conclusion, it would be wise to remember that the association with the organization is one where, both parties need to find the right combination of interests and strengths. Do ensure that you use the opportunities to introspect and assess your career, such as performance reviews, one-on-one discussions with decision makers in the team, etc., and use them optimally.
