5 Characteristics of a Good Work Ethic

Attendance and punctuality: Whether in school or work, you learn and accomplish most when you show up, on time and prepared. You can’t learn if you’re not there! And when you come late, it’s unlikely that you’re really ready to do your best work. Good attendance and punctuality are two important pieces of a good work ethic –and they’re easily addressed and accomplished.

Goal setting: Before you can accomplish your goals, you need to know what they are. People with good work ethics are goal-oriented and dedicated to achieving the success they envision. They understand that there are many steps to success and they’re willing to take them all.

Hard work: At the foundation of a good work ethic is a whole lot of hard work. In school, it may mean staying after for extra help from your instructor or fine-tuning your assignments to reach perfection. At work, you may want to come in a little early or stay late so you do the best job you can.

Positive attitude: Your positive attitude can set you apart from your peers –and it can be infectious, spilling over to other employees and making you welcome on any work project. Approaching every task—big and small—with a good attitude shows that you’re a team player dedicated to not just your own success, but also to the success of your company.

Accomplishment: The more you accomplish, the more likely you will be the person chosen for further advancement. Your good work ethic is likely to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded and can serve as a building block to your future success.