"Good morning..." Do you remember sitting on the floor at kindergarten saying good morning in unison to your teacher?
The lessons you learned on that floor, plastered in paint, or dripping snot into cookie dough can be hugely valuable at work.
Here’s why:
- Say please and thank you. Basic courtesy is just as important in the workplace as it is at kindergarten. Requests for help and delegating jobs goes down a whole lot better with a “please” or “thank you” attached.
- Look others in the eye. If you looked at the floor instead of the kindergarten teacher you probably got told off. Looking other people in the eye is an essential work skill. It makes you look more interested, friendly and confident.
- Turn to others for support and mentoring. Your teacher and sometimes other children helped you when you struggled with an activity. Likewise your workmates and/or a mentor can help you learn on the job and overcome hurdles. We all need support.
- Show respect. Treating everyone with courtesy, kindness and politeness is very valuable in the workplace. Even if you don’t like the person, respect the position. Your boss has power and by respecting your boss you give him or her the ability to lead, which will often be recognised. Being insubordinate is likely to hurt you in the long run.
- Play fair. All of those values you learned at kindergarten such as sharing your toys, being honest, and having integrity are just as important in the corporate world.
- Don’t hit your friends. If you attacked someone at kindergarten the teachers made you say “sorry”. It’s the same in the office. If you injure someone’s feelings then apologise and make amends.
- Work together. At kindergarten you’ll come across teamwork for the first time in your life. It’s the same at work. If you can learn to work in a team or even nurture a team you’ll have a valuable transferrable skill. Candidates who can show team working skills, whether from a previous job or an out of work interest, instantly put themselves ahead of the competition.
All of those values you learned at kindergarten such as sharing your toys, being honest, and having integrity are just as important in the corporate world.
