Top 5 Tips for Employees

Below are my top 5 x tips for employees.

However, I'd firstly like to set the context for where these tips come from.

Before becoming a business owner, I was always someone who always gave 100% to my employers. I had the mindset that if they do well, I'll do well. And, if can't do something, I'll learn how to do it.

While, not all employers paid me what I felt I was worth, that never changed my view about my role. I could never convince myself that if I'm lazy, I should get paid well; or, if I complain, I should get a promotion; or, if I exploit the system, I should be rewarded; or, if I stop improving myself, I should keep my job when someone better qualified and more motivated comes along.

It's something that I foster in my own company at Pear Tree Education; and, for the most part, I feel that it has enabled me to develop a very motivated and passionate team. I believe that Pear Tree pays its staff very well in return.

Sadly, I have occasionally come across people who don't live up to these ideals, and therefore no longer work for us. The word 'entitled' comes to mind. It may or may not be a growing trend; however, as a business owner, I'm certainly more aware of this than before. My top 5 x tips below all have a connection with entitlement.

1) Don't complain. Bring solutions, lead by example, and foster the change that you want to see in your workplace.

2) Think of others: Offer help to your entire team, regardless of hierarchy; be nice; buy someone a cup of coffee; consider that if you're busy, your team probably is too - empathise with them about this; and so on.

3) Develop the mentality of "If I can make money for my employer and save them money, I can justify my own pay rise, because they'll have the money to pay me what I'm worth."

4) Market yourself and your achievements. Don't wait for your boss to notice these things. It's not because they don't care; it's because they are busy!

5) Make yourself more valuable and employable by constantly looking for ways to improve yourself! It can be a combination of formal and informal learning.

On a final note, I know that it is challenging not to be pigeon-holed (labelled) as 'X person' (e.g. the office junior). Developing the above traits will help break your employer's tendency to do this to you. For instance, I noticed some amazing marketing skills by one of my employees even though he's not working in a marketing position. That made me think of his future potential at Pear Tree, which I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

Overall, if you try the strategies above and after a year or more your employment circumstances don't improve, change job! Any good employer dreams of having employees with these qualities!