by Sonshi.com

We're certain thousands of books on business life have been published in the very subject of how to succeed in the workplace. Our assessment of them is positive overall. There isn't a book we have read that we didn't take from it something valuable. So please do continue to read; although some are lacking, all of them put together will create inside you a powerhouse of knowledge. When merged with years of direct and varied business experience, knowledge naturally progresses to wisdom. It is this wisdom we are now sharing with you.

It's well known that many young people coming out of college are disillusioned about the world of commerce. Unlike the business cases they'd read about in class, they often see extreme ineptitude and inefficiencies in the companies they work for. They see inequities far beyond what they expected. Over time, one can seem to understand why bright individuals end up not performing, or worse, not caring. For the unfortunate few, they never really escape this dull existence, a conundrum they cannot solve. This article is written for the person looking for a way around this problem, or someone who just wants to stay competitive in the workplace. The following points should add some spark. Quite frankly, we aim for a blazing bonfire.

• Integrity is job one. There is nothing that will destroy your worth as a person more than dishonesty. We've seen it happen to (formerly) respected people and it wasn't pretty; don't be like them. When you encounter a situation where you have to decide on whether to take the path of the straight and narrow versus the crooked and wide, just remember that someone is bound to find out about your choice sooner or later. And if you have children, what decision would you want your kids to make if they were in your shoes?

  If you haven't figured out already why integrity is important, let us clarify further. Integrity is the driving force behind trustworthiness. The logic is very simple. You can't be trustworthy if you don't have integrity. Being trustworthy offers so much power and influence, savvy leaders spend most of their day trying to increase this quality. The reason being is when people trust you -- really trust you -- there isn't a request you cannot ask that they wouldn't do. Conversely, if you had broken trust at any period in your dealings with people, there isn't enough money in the world to buy it back.

• Don't compare yourself to others. This outlook can only do two things: upset you or make you haughty. Neither will make you very productive. Thus, your two main concerns should be determining where you are at the present moment and increasing your level of motivation to improve. Most people find improving little by little everyday more pleasant than trying to obtain imaginary paradigm shifts. We find the latter to be nothing more than myth, for all real improvements are built on an already established foundation of knowledge.

• Think customer. Anyone you meet in your normal workday is considered your customer. Sounds crazy but bear with us here. Essentially, you are a brand name. Call it what you like, but we call it brand [your name here]. And that brand name projects images of quality or lack thereof. In the end, these images determine whether a person chooses your services or goes to somebody else. Therefore, carve out what you, [your name here], would want others to view you as. For example, if you want to become the premier quantum physicist at your company, seek out and expose yourself constantly to this field of study. The more people talk about you and the problem-solving ideas you present, the stronger your name brand's attributes become. Pretty soon perceptions metamorphose into reality. You even start to believe it yourself.

• Follow up and follow through. How upsetting it is when someone tells you he or she will call you back but never does. Small matter to be sure, but would you depend on this person with an important project considering the fact he or she can't even handle a simple follow up phone call? When a customer (see above) puts in a request, you need to at least once a day follow up with him on its latest status. However, you must follow through in a timely fashion or it'll be of little use to this person. If you're uncertain of the time frame, simply ask when he wants it. At that point you must determine if it's achievable. If it's not, then reply when you can realistically finish the project. A "no" answer at the beginning is better than a broken promise later on.

• Show exceptional manners. Considering we wrote an entire article on this subject, you were probably expecting this one. Critical business relationships are built on sincere gestures of caring for the other side. An easy way to do this is to use words such as "please" or "thank you." However, the best way is to somehow accentuate your selfless demeanor. After all, who wouldn't want to work with someone who truly cares for your needs, putting you above him or her? We will tell you this can't be faked. You either have it or you don't. Experienced businesspeople usually have an exceptional ability to spot false appearances. If the words don't give the impostor away, his body language will.

• Always be positive -- even in bad situations. For example, instead of criticizing the person, criticize his performance. We believe changing an individual's performance is much easier and more cost effective to an organization than trying to change the individual. On a related note, don't ever complain about an employee with others. Work the situation out with this employee one-on-one. If you keep this attitude up, everyone will in turn view you in a positive light as well. In fact, they will come to rely on you for the most important and confidential of matters. It won't be long when those types of responsibilities lead to larger roles in the company.