How to Be a Hard Worker

Co-authored by Lucy Yeh

Last Updated: November 29, 2024 Approved

Being a hard worker doesn't come naturally. The qualities and characteristics that are associated with good workers are those of consistency and perseverance. Though some might have a predisposition to these traits, it is only through effort and dedication that you can fully mature into a hard worker making full use of your potential.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Developing Good Habits

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1
Train optimism in yourself. By learning to be optimistic, the extra effort you need to put in to become a hard worker will become less severe. Optimists see negative occurrences as short lived and narrowly focused events. Adopt the explanatory style of the optimist to help yourself view both good and bad events in a more optimistic light.
- Describe negative events, like a difficult presentation, in its positive light. For example, instead of complaining about responsibility, you could celebrate it as a chance to show your dedication and work ethic to your boss.
- Describe positive things in your life as permanent and everyday. This will help you feel encouraged as you try to step up your game at work.
- Optimists have also been found to score more highly on tests designed to gauge luck and self-perception.^{[1]
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  Research source} The higher your self-perception, the more likely you'll be able to shore up weak points in your life.
Notice when you see only the worst possible outcomes (catastrophizing), minimize your own good attributes and contributions, or any "all or nothing" thinking.^{[2]
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Research source} Small successes are no less of a success, and you should allow yourself to feel pride at your accomplishment.

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Positive re-framing will reinforce the positive aspects of your situation and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.^{[3]
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Research source} This will also encourage you to approach the situation with a more open minded perspective. Open mindedness will facilitate problem solving, and a sense of having your work situation in hand will contribute to peace of mind, making your work easier in the long run.
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Don't multi-task. Much research has recently shown that no matter how good of a multi-tasker you think you are, there are some serious downsides to performing many tasks at once.^{[4]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

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- Multi-tasking impairs your overall performance, so that even if you feel like you are accomplishing a lot, you really might be missing out on important information and cues.
- Constantly being distracted with many tasks can leave the problem solving and creative parts of your brain unable to function optimally.
Complaining is a natural part of the human condition, and it's unlikely you'll be able to remove this completely from your life. Be that as it may, complaining without a goal or solution in mind can lead to negative cycles that contribute to depression, poor self opinion, and stress.^{[5]
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Research source} These will only make it harder for you to put in the time and effort required to become a better, more industrious worker.
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Raise your social awareness. By intentionally reaching out and trying to connect with people that you work with, you will further develop your empathy. Empathy is a key component of conflict resolution, collaboration, compromise, effective listening, and decision making.^{[6]
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Research source} Raising your social awareness and developing your empathy will allow you to work even harder with your coworkers, and hold you more accountable to your goals.
- Research supports that what scientists call "willed empathy," or the imagining of the pain of others, activates the pain response in your brain similar to naturally occurring empathy.^{[7]
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  Jamison, Leslie. <i>The Empathy Exams</i>. N.p.: Graywolf Press, 2014. Print.}
- Admit the limits of your understanding and ask questions to create conditions where you can feel, and practice, empathy.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Expanding Responsibility

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1
Put in overtime when appropriate. Even if there is something that you would much rather be doing, during busy times you can practice your diligence and show your coworkers your commitment by putting in when necessary. Gauge how busy your place of employment by checking in with a manager and asking how other projects are going.
- Be careful not to overdo it. Working too hard can have serious health side effects.^{[8]
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Culture accountability. It's impossible for you to address issues if you are unwilling to face them. It can be difficult to take responsibility for your actions, but complete and timely resolution of conflict is impossible if you don't honestly deal with the root of the problem.
- Avoid justifications and unnecessary explanations. These are, generally speaking, a waste of time, as there are always additional factors you could list to explain your actions.^{[9]
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Maximize potential and improve weaknesses. Avoid minimizing your successes, no matter how minor, and identify areas in which you would like to improve.
- Further improve your strengths by joining seminars, classes, and take on roles in the community that utilize your abilities.
- Weaknesses can be addressed by interrupting negative thought patterns by doing something else, like taking a walk, admitting your humanity and the impossibility of true perfection, and by finding a mentor to provide guidance and support.
- Make specific changes to help yourself be accountable. You might ask your manager to speak about performance related issues privately in the event you are shy.
Usain Bolt, Olympic Sprinter

Self-confidence and self-awareness are the foundations of success. "I know what I can do so it doesn’t bother me what other people think or their opinion on the situation."
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Take the initiative. Jumping on an opportunity when it arrives takes self confidence, and you can build this in yourself by starting with small goals and working your way up to a more major responsibility.^{[10]
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- Before you make a suggestion, pause and think if the idea can be implemented effectively. It's easy to be defensive over your own idea, but weeding out implausible suggestions might leave you feeling less self-conscious.
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Build a healthy support system. Human beings are social creatures. No matter how much of a loner you believe yourself to be, a healthy support system will improve efficiency at work, the keeping of resolutions, and diminish the feeling of being overwhelmed.^{[11]
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- Use your support system for recommendations when trying for a new position or if you are asking for a promotion.
- Collaborate with your coworkers. You never know when you might need their help.
- Try not to compete. This can be difficult, especially since many managers use competition to encourage performance, but constantly comparing yourself to other workers can leave you feeling dissatisfied or inadequate.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Perseverance

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Practice positive self-talk. Coach yourself by using phrases that resonate with you. Self-talk should positively affirm your accomplishments and the achievement of your personal best.
- Use present tense messages when practicing self talk to remove future worry with positive assertions.
- Talk yourself through fears by asking yourself what the source may be and how you intend on correcting it.
2
Exercise your will. The more you strengthen your willpower by training it, the stronger it will become. Approach the topic of willpower with a confident mindset; the belief that your willpower pool is limited will cause you to feel a lack of will more frequently.^{[13]
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- One way you can exercise your will and promote general health and wellness is by exercising. The increased activity of your body will also result in a more active mind.^{[14]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
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Think about how you will feel as you work on your goal and when you complete it. Visualize yourself being engaged in your work and finding harmony, fulfillment, and pride through it, a common characteristic of world class performers.^{[15]
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Many researchers on the topic of willpower and perseverance have noted the positive influence meditation has on endurance, focus, and learning.^{[16]
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McGonigal, Kelly. <i>The Willpower Instinct Paperback</i>. N.p: Avery, 2013. Print.}^{[17]
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Research source} Taking 10 minutes to calm your mind, breathe deeply, and focusing on the present will allow you to refocus and redeem yourself in a good way.
Charting your past success will keep you in touch with just how much you've grown as a worker.^{[18]
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Research source} Self review will also promote more productive discussions about performance, priorities, and challenges.
The sting of failure is difficult for even successful people to take in stride, so don't feel self-conscious if you struggle while returning to a failed task. Use self-talk to minimize your negative feelings, and begin planning a new way of tackling your goal.

Overcome Laziness and Procrastination with this Expert Series

Are you feeling unmotivated and stuck? Are you just having a hard time getting yourself to do the things you need to do? Then these expert articles are just for you!

1

How to Stop Being Lazy and Unmotivated So You Can Achieve Your Goals

2

14 Simple & Effective Ways to Stop Procrastinating

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you become a hard working person?

Lucy Yeh
Career & Life Coach
Lucy Yeh is a Human Resources Director, Recruiter, and Certified Life Coach (CLC) with over 20 years of experience. With a training background with Coaching for Life and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at InsightLA, Lucy has worked with professionals of all levels to improve the quality of their careers, personal/professional relationships, self marketing, and life balance.

Lucy Yeh

Career & Life Coach

Expert Answer

Chart your progress toward a goal. People generally work harder when they have a set goal in mind. Find something that you really want that you need to work for and watch your work ethic grow stronger.

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Tips

Focus on one thing you want to do at a specific time.

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Don't internalize the negativity of others. Keep in mind that other might try hard to discourage you out of competition or jealousy.

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Learn from your mistakes and don't make them again.

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Warnings

Don't depend on your talent alone. Remember that hardworking trumps talent in the end. Depending on your talent might lead you to neglect, and lose, your skills.

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Don't be arrogant. Once you become a hard worker, recognize the hard effort you've put in and don't let your attitude impede your self improvement.

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