Career Lessons from Dad
On Father’s Day, we are given the opportunity to honor the men in our lives who have helped us grow and mature into the adults we are today. Many life lessons are passed from father to son. Still, it is one thing to have heard them and another to have learned them. As Mark Twain said, “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.” Below are a few reminders of the lessons that we can learn from our fathers’ generation that can help us be successful in our careers.
Career Lesson#1: Be humble
Let your work speak for itself. Do not seek attention or accolades for your professional accomplishments. Others will appreciate your humility because it shows that you do not think of yourself as better than anyone else. This also means dropping the expectation of special treatment. It is possible to be confident in your work and remain humble. Find satisfaction in a job well-done.
Career Lesson #2: Treat everyone with respect
Each person is important, whether it is the summer intern or CEO. Be someone that others want to work with. Everyone is deserving of your respect. This can be done through your actions as well as in your communication. For example, in meetings, listen to others without interruption and respect others ideas and opinions. It is possible to offer alternate ideas without tearing others down.
Career Lesson #3: Earn the respect of others
You must work to build others’ trust in you. Strive to be someone others can depend on. This can be as simple as completing your work within the given deadlines and being willing to do the difficult tasks with no complaint. It is also important to accept responsibility for your actions. Don’t seek to find fault elsewhere when you make a mistake. Others will notice and respect you for it.
These are just a few of the many lessons that we can learn from our fathers’ generation. Father’s Day gives us a chance to remember these lessons and say thank-you by following their example in the workplace.
