Diligence In The Workplace

“Observe people who are good at their work-skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone”-. Proverbs 22:29 (MSG translation)

We all know that one colleague who is the boss’ favourite; the go-to guy or gal for solutions at work, the one who when it’s their turn to make a presentation everyone gives rapt attention. The one who everyone still listens to even when their figures aren’t fantastic, but because they are good at what they do, everyone knows they will perform better. Take a minute and think about your workplace, let your mind run through the many colleagues you have and focus on that one person or 2 persons who fit this description.

What makes him/her different? Luck? Prayers? Favour? Speaking in tongues? Good dressing? As nice as these words may sound, they don’t come as close as “diligence”! Yes you can dress smart and elegantly, pray like no other; maybe getaway sometimes with luck but if you are not doing your duties to the best of your abilities – you will soon be found wanting! People should be able to see God in what we do, either as employees or entrepreneurs. It doesn’t speak well about you when people see us with so much diligence to GOD on Sundays and church activities but at the workplace they see an indifferent, lackadaisical colleague at work.

Diligence is a persevering determination to perform a task: characterized by steady, earnest and energetic effort! So what if I do not have a workplace you may ask? Diligence is seen in anything we do whether as a career person or an entrepreneur. If you’re an entrepreneur, you can turn your business to your workplace; can people count on you to always deliver exceptional services or you are the type who is always generous with excuses? Would you rather be the business owner who will always makes errors with his/her work or the one who everyone wants to work with after seeing your previous works? It is imperative to remember that every work we do is an act of service to God.

Here are some tips to help you to become diligent in the workplace:

1. Stop procrastinating. Today is that which you are sure of, why wait for the unsure tomorrow. Create a to-do list, set up an action plan towards your goals
2. Empower yourself to be diligent in your work place. It is your responsibility to raise the bar ever higher for yourself and improve constantly. Study more, ask questions, take professional courses/exams, learn new things and apply it to your work environment or your business)
3. Don’t be afraid of challenges. To succeed, you must first make an effort. Be known as one who always face challenges head on and not one who always run! Stop giving excuses!
4. Take ownership when at work. See your office as your own and not just a place to get your credit alert at the end of the month. Don’t just leave things to chance, use your initiative to take ownership and ask yourself this question – if this office was your business, would you act differently?

Keep doing your best at what you do and your time of exalting before Kings; you may think no one is watching or that nobody sees your act of diligence—trust me they are! Keep persevering in what you do, one day you will get an open recognition.

By: Ubabukoh Ijeoma