At Your Best in the Workplace

I’ve been working in the same company for almost twelve years now.  A lot of the people I knew have already gone to work in other companies, going for the proverbial “greener pastures,” but some are still here.  Through all those years,  I’ve had the privilege of getting to know some of the best workers.  Sadly though, they are a minority group. 

What does it take to be the best worker?  To some, being the best means being on top of the corporate ladder, looking down on others who are still trying to scramble upwards.  To some, the best may be the one who takes home the highest commissions, the one with the fattest wallet.  Still to others, it may mean being very competitive and topping everyone else in terms of achievements.

We all have varying views about this, as each one has a different measure when it comes to taking on the meaning of being the best.  In my own view, being the best is not always equated with position or title, salary, or how much one has done for the company.  I put stress on the words “not always” because I also recognize the fact that none of those things could be acquired without hard work and perseverance. 

Position or title and salary often go hand in hand.  Now why do I say being on top does not always mean you are the best?  Two reasons:  I have seen some workers who take on some of the top positions: managerial, supervisory, team leaders, you name it.  And yet all they do is fill up the position that has been vacated by someone, nothing more.  They sit on their status, feeling important, and yet, they have not done much for people in general even those on their turf.  On the other side, I’ve seen exemplary workers even among the ranks and files.  These people excel in what they do, no matter how menial their work may seem to others.  I believe, and have seen that even the lowliest of tasks, when done with passion and dignity can impact other people, inspiring them or sometimes even to spur them to do the same.  True enough, there is really no lowly task, only mediocre workers.

Now to the constant achievers, I commend their persistence and diligence.  But there is one thing I would have liked to see and know.  What is that innate thing that drives them to achieve or even surpass the goals?  What would make them the best, aside from the obvious results they deliver?  I believe it has something to do with the heart and a vision, greater than just meeting the targets and deadlines and making profits for the company. 

To sum it all up, in my view, the best worker is one who does his tasks with passion coupled with perseverance and is motivated by a higher purpose that is connected to a greater calling.  One can do so much, but if one does not love what he does or doesn’t even know what it’s for, it’s an empty success, and a waste of time and talent.