A “good work ethic” means doing a good job regardless of how you feel or the circumstances of the job. If you are working at a job, you will see it through without complaint. It is an independent moral code that has to do with a person’s own inner feelings.
A ‘good work ethic’ can come in handy when there is a negative environment at work. It can keep a worker on an even keel. A worker who demonstrates a positive attitude can change the emotional climate at a job.
This is a topic that is near and dear to the hearts of my readers, researchers, and website visitors. So much so that one of them were kind enough to share their own personal opinions. I don’t claim to be the best interviewer in the world, but I do promise some good, raw, and honest answers from normal people like you and me. I do my best to NOT filter these answers, except for the bad words and hateful speech.
With that little blurb out of the way, let’s dive right into the juicy bits of (potentially) life-changing insights.
Current Topic: Good Work Ethic
‘R’ = Richard N. Stephenson (me!) ‘I’ = Interviewee (anonymous by request unless otherwise noted)
[This interview is inspired and fueled by research done for my book: Staying Motivated at Work.]
R: What’s so special about this topic anyway?
I: A good work ethic helps you form a positive reputation at your place of work. A good reputation will carry over when you look to further your career at another job, or are considering possible promotions. I also believe a good work ethic helps you as an individual enjoy/ feel proud of what you do.
R: Think about the topic for a bit – describe what’s so special about it for most folks?
I: Having a good work ethic makes you feel good about yourself. A job well done leads to satisfaction whereas a crappy job leads to a feeling of discontent. Developing a good work ethic can indeed change how someone feels about themself on a daily basis.
R: Explain what about this subject could help people be just all around better.
I: For starters it will help them financially if they manage themselves right. If you focus and channel all your work towards a certain goal you will achieve anything you want. All it takes is patience and a little hope and you will be good. Hard work always pays off.
R: Describe the perfect person that is a shining example of this topic, in your opinion.
I: They would put themselves in others footsteps. They would be honest and trustworthy. They would set a good example and try to help others become the best they can be also.
R: Think back to your past friends, coworkers, and family – is there anyone who could use help with this subject?
I: People who often drink or do a lot of drugs won’t usually have a good work ethic. This is because of the impact the substances have on them. They will usually suffer ill effects physically and sometimes even mentally.
R: How do you bring this topic into your life?
I: I would get to work on time. I would go to work everyday. I would never call in to work if I was not really sick.
R: Is there a specific time when this topic is best worked, used, or made apparent?
I: In my opinion, the most appropriate time to incorporate a good work ethic in life is ALL of the time. Whether a person is a student pursuing formal education, a student pursuing self-directed learning, a person seeking employment, or a person employed in the workforce, a good work ethic is the foundation for success.
In any of these situations, it can be difficult at times to maintain a good work ethic. In the workplace, for example, if colleagues or coworkers are easily distracted by recreational activities (internet surfing, taking excessive personal telephone calls, etc.) in a way that negatively impacts their productivity but managers award similar compensation to workers who practice a good or poor work ethic, it may be difficult to maintain a good work ethic because the immediate reward (pay) does not depend on the work completed.
However, in those situations it is still a good time to maintain a good work ethic, because the longer term rewards outweigh the apparent unfairness of the short term reward discrepancy. In the longer term, the person with a good work ethic will achieve more personal growth, experience a superior sense of well-being and personal satisfaction, and opportunities for career success.
R: When do you think folks should absolutely NOT work on this topic?
I: An inappropriate time to bring good work ethic in to your life would probably be when your in a relationship. I feel like if it happens constantly it only gets in the way and time of your partner. For example i remembered i used to pick up extra shifts at work which resulted from my partner to break up. I’m sorry but i needed the money. Hopefully i answered the question.
R: Can you tell me where folks out there should plan to bring this idea into their lives?
I: The best place to make good work ethic part of your daily life is at home. As a child, being assigned homework and chores instills this in children. Seeing your parents going to work will also make this seem like the normal thing to do for a child.
R: Tell us about the worst place to make this subject part of our lives.
I: The worst place to make good work ethic a part of your life is a situation in which the product is illegal that is being dispensed. For example it is not a good idea to have a good work ethic if one is pedaling marijuana. Having a good work ethic is only good if one is engaged in meaningful employment that is of an acceptable nature.
R: Do you know of any people, organizations, or groups that could benefit from learning more about this topic?
I: I think there are certain people in any field that can use more help with work ethic. I used to work with people with criminal records and found that many of them were unable to work, even though they easily could. Instead they collected government payments while everyone else worked. It seemed very unfair. If these people would work, maybe they wouldn’t be awake at 5AM to commit crimes. Just my 2c.
R: Give me an example of something we can do to discover more about this subject.
I: You should always consider what you would expect if you were the one paying for the work. If the situation was reversed how would you like your employees to behave? How much work and dedication to doing a good job would you expect? If you try to keep that in mind you can stay focused on maintaining good work ethic.
R: What would you say is something we should avoid at all costs when it comes to this topic?
I: One should avoid getting into arguments with the supervisor. Arguing with the supervisor most likely would cause one to begin to come to work late and to take off work because of the hostile work environment. Therefore, avoid not getting along with the supervisor.
R: Tell us of an example of when we can use this topic in our lives?
I: By taking time out and evaluating the rate of progress a person is making and see if there is any way to maximize their efficiency. Sometimes we get caught up in our work, our lives, or our distractions that we become neglectful of how much we are really getting accomplished. By focusing on the big picture we can get a clearer sense of how well we are working towards our goal.
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Thank you for reading this personal journey into becoming a better person and having a better future ahead of you. I hope you enjoyed this interview conversation and found golden nuggets you can immediately apply to your daily life.
If you want to get more productivity (and fulfillment!) out of your work, career, and life through being more motivated, then check out Staying Motivated at Work.
Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, or personal life-changing wisdom below.