Albert Einstein once said: “Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.”
Becoming a person of value means consistently contributing positively to the lives of others, your community, and your workplace. Getting started on the journey to becoming a person of value is all about small steps that build character, trust, and impact over time.
So how do we start this journey? The author of the book ‘The Power of Ambition’ Jim Rohn said :”Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
Imagine a work environment where every task feels manageable and every day ends with a sense of accomplishment. The key is developing effective workplace habits. Workplace habits are the consistent practices that contribute to productivity, collaboration, and a positive work culture. They help employees perform efficiently and adapt to evolving challenges. Principally, these habits are essential interpersonal skills which enterprises look into a candidate.
After losing my father in my early childhood, we lived with my maternal grandfather and grandmother. My grandfather, a retired educator, and my grandmother, a devoted homemaker, became the pillars of my upbringing. Their stories, routines, and values quietly shaped my views since my childhood. From their daily habits and dealing with various situations, I grasped some kind of learnings that eventually are guiding me in both personal and professional lives. Here are the top five habits I inherited from them—that I find vital for me at my workplace.
- Effective listening
Listening goes far beyond simply hearing words—it’s about truly understanding the message behind them. In the business world, effective listening is a cornerstone of strong leadership, higher productivity and deeper trust. Yet, under pressure, we often rush to respond by interrupting conversations that can weaken our workplace relationships. Whether you’re speaking with a colleague or a client, giving someone your full attention is the first step toward meaningful communication. A clear, focused mind during conversations not only strengthens bonds among individuals at the workplace but also sharpens your interpersonal skills.
As a child, I saw this in action every day. My grandparents would listen to my innocent talks with genuine interest and warm smiles before responding. They created a space where I felt heard, valued and safe to express myself. Over time, I realized that their actions carried deeper meaning, a learning which I should practice while talking to others. When I truly engage in what others are saying, they make an equal effort to listen to me. Unknowingly, I developed patience in myself by waiting until others have finished talking. Moreover, I always try to keep my response precise and hopefully worthwhile.
- Keep learning and keep growing
In today’s fast-paced world, market needs evolve constantly. That’s why fostering a culture of continuous learning isn’t just beneficial, but rather essential. Organizations that prioritize learning, encourage fresh thinking and thrive in innovation and growth. According to a linkedin research, employees who dedicate time to learning are not only more productive and confident, but also less stressed and ready to take on new challenges.
I guess the mindset of continuous learning was instilled in me early on. My grandparents turned learning into a joyful and story-filled adventure. Whether it was solving a math problem, learning a language, sketching or any general knowledge, they used to let me “try it first”. Most of the time either I messed up or failed but when I look back now, it was the foundation of lifelong learning as this approach sparked curiosity. Here is an example.
As a kid, I loved drawing (I love it even now except I don’t always find time). I began to wonder how colors mix to form new shades. Mixing darker shades ended up close to black whereas a lighter and a darker shade sometimes gave a new colour. Even with my t-shirts and bedsheets coloured I never got disapproval from my grandparents. These actions led me to fearlessly ask questions and explore further.
Today, I bring that same curiosity to my workplace. It helps me approach challenges with a broader perspective. Out of curiosity I keep reading diverse reports, keep discussing matters with people of different domains even if it is not directly related to my job and learning new skills whether from a senior or junior. I have observed that learning never goes to waste as something learnt in a seminar or with a laboratory technician becomes useful while discussing project strategies and brainstorming.
So ‘keep learning, keep growing’ is not just advice, it’s a strategy for success.
- Don’t panic and have confidence in your abilities
Imagine you’re facing a complex challenge at work, maybe a project is off track, a client has a complaint or there is a clash between teams over sharing responsibilities. Instead of panicking or waiting for instructions, have confidence in your abilities and ask yourself: What exactly is the problem? What do I know, and what needs to be found out to overcome this issue?
This is the essence of finding your path to a problem. Sometimes you innovate while dealing with such a situation as the solution may lie in a simple substance. It is a skill that transforms confusion into clarity. It’s not just about solving issues; it’s about navigating through ambiguity with confidence. In an interactive workplace, this means asking the right questions, collaborating with others to gather insights, and breaking down the issue into small manageable parts. When you master this skill, you become a reliable and smart person, not just to fix things, but to figure out what needs fixing. That is a game-changer in any professional setting.
As a child, I had a simple rule when riding my bike: always take a new route home. I loved exploring unfamiliar streets, even if it meant getting lost. That feeling of not knowing if I’d back home in time was both thrilling and terrifying.
But I always remembered my grandma’s advice: “Don’t panic. Believe in yourself. You’ll find your way.”
The first time I made it back on my own, it felt incredible. So I kept doing it, venturing deeper, taking new paths, trusting I’d figure it out. Eventually, it became a habit.
Today, that same confidence and belief that I’ll find my way, guides me at work. Because sometimes, the best routes are the ones you haven’t mapped yet. Also, confidence isn’t knowing the way. It’s trusting you’ll figure it out.
- Be agile
Imagine you’re part of a marketing team preparing to launch a new product. You’ve spent weeks crafting a campaign, but just two days before launch, a competitor released a similar product with a surprising feature you hadn’t anticipated. An agile team doesn’t panic. Instead, they quickly assess the new market landscape and adjust their message to highlight their product’s unique strengths.
Agility helps you to stay calm while embracing change, handle uncertainty with confidence and deliver results even when things don’t go as planned. Agility in the workplace is not just about speed—it’s about flexibility, resilience, and a proactive mindset.
In the small town where I spent my childhood, we had local grocery shops instead of large supermarkets. I remember going shopping with a list and a fixed amount of money in my pocket. Sometimes, I couldn’t find all the items on the list at a shop and had to visit different ones. The price and quality of the same item often varied from one shop to another. This meant I had to make decisions on the spot—balancing budget, quality and possible replacements. I learned these skills from my grandparents, who nurtured adaptability by encouraging me to adjust when things didn’t go as planned. They made sure I developed these habits early on. This foundation has helped me build resilience, analytical thinking and confidence in handling change; and I continue to apply them in my workplace today.
- Manage your time
Time management is one of the most essential skills in the workplace because it directly impacts productivity, efficiency and overall job satisfaction. When you manage your time well, you can accomplish more in less time. This means meeting deadlines, reducing stress and having more time for strategic thinking, creative work and freeing up personal time which is equally important for a good work-life balance. Being punctual enhances professional reputation and builds trust with colleagues, managers, and clients. Last-minute rushes and missed deadlines often lead to burnout. Planning ahead helps you stay calm and in control.
When I think about time management, classic examples like preparing for exams and handling homework come to mind. My grandfather made sure I balanced my evenings equally between studying and enjoying recreational activities. Meanwhile, my grandmother ensured I got enough sleep—she never allowed me to stay up late, even during exams. She would say, “Whatever you’ve studied is enough.” Remarkably, I often found that I could answer most of the questions effectively which even my teachers have remarked. Some may disagree, but I truly believe that a good night’s sleep before an exam or an important day keeps your mind fresh and sharp, helping you analyze questions efficiently. All of this was possible because of good time management.
Besides these, I also learned to respect others, adaptability, a proactive mindset and the importance of keeping commitments from my grandparents.
What are some of the habits or skills you learned as a child that have become useful in your professional life? I’d love to hear your experiences!