5 Ways to Get Taken More Seriously At Work

When you first join a new organization, most people will view you neutrally(aside from those with a habit of prejudging) and depending on your actions over time, those around you will gradually form an opinion of you as a hardworking professional, or someone they find difficult to respect.

To be successful in any field, you have to be taken seriously and engaging in these habits will help you get there:

1. Arrive Early. If you want to be taken seriously, don’t be the one rushing through the door two minutes before the meeting or shift starts. This is one of the first things a manager takes note of. Give yourself 15 minutes or so to arrive early, settle in and prepare for your meeting or the start of your shift. Arriving 15–20 minutes early is always better than being one minute late. It says a lot about your sense of awareness and how you prioritize your time.
2. Be Confident. But not cocky. For some, confidence comes naturally. But for the rest of us, it’s something we have to work at over time. If you want to be taken seriously by your peers and your superiors, you are going to have to exhibit confidence. If you don’t believe in yourself, others will have a hard time getting behind your ideas and it will be difficult to be taken seriously. An easy way to work on building your confidence is to be more assertive in every day situations. Little things like smiling when making eye contact, giving a firm handshake or just having good posture, all exude confidence. You can also find tons of articles online with tips for being more confident.
3. Stay Off Your Cell Phone. Cell phones in the workplace are a distraction and you should avoid using yours unless it’s an absolute emergency(and if it is, step outside to use it). Managers will most likely not give you the benefit of the doubt that it was an emergency if they see you using it on company time. Even if your company has a lenient cell phone policy, the reality is that texting friends or checking social media is a tempting distraction that we’ve all fallen victim to at one time or another and prevents you from doing your best work. Stay focused and productive at work by staying off your cell phone.
4. Read. This is a simple but important one. When you stop learning, you stop growing. And while you won’t have an opportunity to share every bit of new information on a daily basis, staying up to date on trends in your industry by reading books or publications related to your field will allow you to bring fresh ideas to the table when appropriate. Managers love to see continued self-improvement and a desire to learn. Eventually you will develop a reputation for being well-read and will be seen as a focused, hard worker because of it.
5. Be Humble. While you were most likely hired because you are good at what you do, you don’t want your confidence to become cockiness. You are a part of a team within your organization and you should work on saying “we” and “us” more than “me” or “I”. If you want to be taken seriously and gain the respect of others, remaining humble is extremely important.

These are simple practices that you can work on daily to gain the respect of your peers and superiors. You’re not going to gain everyones respect over night but being patient and consistent with these habits will make an impression on people over time.