Use your spare time wisely, find a hobby you like or focus on your family. Work is important, but work to live, do not live to work. Find activities that give you energy. Get enough sleep; enjoy your friends and family. Take a walk outside. Do not spend the entire weekend indoors playing world of warcraft. Read something that inspires you. Kiss your spouse. Do one positive thing right now. Do you have chores that need to be done? Do one right now. Clean your bath, or make your living room a nice place to be. Surprise someone with a …

You are surrounded by co-workers up to eight to ten hours a day. When you are awake, you will see more of your colleagues than of your wife, friends and family. You might have employees that look your way during the same time. If you have a choice, choose to be a good example. Why? You say. Well I will tell you the importance of being a good example right here in step 11 of my 12 easy steps to become a great employee. Be a good example.
Positive influence!
There is always someone that, no matter how unimportant you might feel, …

This might be one of the most important steps so far. Knowing you business is quite different from knowing how to do your job. As step 10 of my 12 easy steps to become a great employee, this one is about getting to know your company.
Let’s start with markets.
Do you know anything about the market segments where your company operates? What is the mainstream customer? What is the competition like? How do the markets work? Let us pretend that you are a car salesperson. You will probably know a lot about the brands that you sell. Do you know about …

Be pro active towards your manager, ask to discuss topics with them, ask to be evaluated and ask to reflect together. But do not bug them down; remember you need to produce results as well. Volunteer if tasks are given, especially if it is in a topic you love.

I was a manager before I incorporated my consulting practice. Now I work with managers around the globe to show them ways to be even more effective.
One thing remains consistent in a world filled with changes: Managers want employees who are involved. Why? It makes their job easier and it makes …

For each step, I get one step closer to the upcoming guest post. Step 9 of 12 easy steps to become a great employee, is written by an award winning blogger, and I am looking forward to publish this post tomorrow. But first let’s concentrate about step 8: Grab that ball. It’s really about accepting challenges and changes.
The basketball at my office!
I have a basketball lying in my office. And I use it whenever I am talking about challenges. I like to compare the ball with a challenge. If you have seen how a basketball game is started you’ll know …

What is the point of learning if you can’t share your new acquired knowledge? As a strong contribution to happiness at work, learning and sharing is mighty important to secure a great work atmosphere. That’s why I am now writing about step 7 of my 12 easy steps to become a great employee.
Human basics: Learning.
Have you ever learned something new, and felt bad afterwards? Chances are you will say “no” to my question, as long as your name is not Robert Oppenheimer. The human mind loves to learn and the only thing that might block the learning center is your …