The least-valued habits in our society: giving up, making mistakes, following instead of leading, all have certain advantages during your career. Here is how to make the most out of these 5 stigmatized habits.
1. Giving up
Society has never looked kindly upon giving up. We want to avoid looking like someone who doesn’t give it their all—especially—in a professional context. “Everywhere, people who charge and fight despite being gravely ill are valued.” Claims Diane Brunelle, industrial and organizational psychologist, “However, you need to take your capabilities into account.” We only consider employees who work long hours while suffering from professional exhaustion, but knowing your limits is advantageous for you as much as your company during your career.
2. Making mistakes
In this era of social media, only successes, triumphs, awards, and the like, are mostly boasted of and valued. Little is said about those who fail. Admitting your mistakes, without necessarily underlining them with a pen, shows you want to fix them, that you’re honest, and have the organization’s well being at heart.
3. Having free time
You know that reproachful look colleagues give you when you leave the office at 5 p.m.? The look of rebuke that you get for not doing enough, not working enough. Nowadays, free time is seen an indicator of idleness. Brunelle clarifies, “Now, people are constantly connected and can work from home, but staying late at the office and generating presenteism is no better.” Being constantly overwhelmed could be a sign of inefficiency or disorganization, the efficient usually accomplish their tasks in the allotted time.
4. Being a “follower”
Leaders get good press; we congratulate those who show initiative. We give them a hand at developing their management skills, and climbing the corporate ladder is often seen as a measure of success. It’s true, strong leaders play a key company role, but people are also needed to follow instructions and execute tasks. Brunelle clarifies, “Sometimes, projects are so big, everyone needs to come together as a team capable of uniting under the leader’s strategy and decisions.”
5. Asking for help
“Being independent” and “demonstrating initiative” are sought-after, valued qualities in the working world but asking for help seems to conflict with them.
Obviously, if you bother your boss and colleagues, you will not become independent and risk becoming a team burden. But simply asking questions can help avoid many mistakes. Brunelle further adds, “Not only does it [asking for help] promote mutual assistance among employees, but it identifies their strength and weaknesses, and can ensure a project goes live without a hitch.”