One essential way for you to be successful is to help other people get what they want.

If you find out what your supervisor considers valuable, and then make sure you give it to them and help them become successful, you will be more successful, too. Read any self-improvement book and you will learn that hard work, focused goals, and persistence are important, very important, in getting where you want to go in life. But so is helping other people achieve their success. Without them, you won’t achieve yours.

Do you think there is anything else that is important in achieving your goals and enjoying your work life? Attitude!

Once you know what your supervisor wants and expects of you, you will be more productive because you know what your priorities are. You cannot only do things right, but you can also do the right things. This may mean giving up a couple of your own priorities for those of your supervisor, but that’s okay. At least you have a common understanding of what the priority is. However, don’t give up all of your priorities in favor of your supervisor’s. Just make sure that that their priorities are covered first.

Don’t count on your job description to tell you what your priorities are. Job description duties are often a low payoff with little results. Get the basic duties done, but focus on the high-payoff actions, the activities that will help you and your boss be successful and help you develop and grow.

Up Next:

Session 13: Self-Management