As a manager, it's important that we create a positive climate for our employees, help them to grow & prosper. Here is a self-help lesson that you may want to share with your staff........

You & you alone control the things that lead to personal success in the workplace.

Whether you're working toward a promotion, hoping for a salary increase, want to make more tips or simply want to be recognized as a valuable member of your company, it's essential that you fine-tune your skills & form superior work habits.

Here are the Top 10 get-ahead basics to help you improve your chances for advancement:

1. Maintain an excellent attendance record. The first step on your ladder of success is reliability. Except in an extreme emergency, you must be there ready to work on or ahead of schedule every day. Your boss must know that he or she can depend on you. Take steps to solve any problems that cause you to be late or absent.

If you can't solve the problems that cause your absenteeism or tardiness by yourself, tell your boss about them. Perhaps a more flexible work schedule can be arranged to enable you to get to work on time.

2. Leave personal troubles at home. Come to work ready to concentrate on your job. If your mind is elsewhere, you can't hope to be effective, & you're likely to make costly errors.

3. Meet deadlines. Deadlines are established for a purpose. When you commit to a task, complete it within the agreed upon time frame. Miss your due date & you turn into a bottleneck.

3. Live in the "real world." If you don't think you can complete an assignment on time, tell the person who gave you the work. Ask if the deadline can be extended or if you can get some help in completing the job. But don't make a habit of it. There's an old saying that goes, "If you want something done, give it to a busy person."

4. Be a problem solver. Try to be the person who gets those things done, is able to stay focused on finding solutions & you'll be invaluable to your boss & to your whole company.

5. Listen carefully & follow directions. Train yourself to listen attentively. Make eye contact with the speaker. Ignore distractions. Concentrate on the new information.

6. Ask questions, remember the answers. Once you master the art of listening, you'll improve your accuracy, save valuable time & move ahead quickly.

7. Be cooperative. If your boss asks you to do something that's not your responsibility, never say, "That's not my job." You might say something like, "Sarah handles that area now. Would you like me to ask her to do this for you?"

If someone besides your boss asks you to help out on a task, be cooperative. If you're working on another project, check with your boss before abandoning the work to help out elsewhere.

8. Be helpful. If you're not very busy & see that someone else is, offer your assistance. Who knows, you may need help some time. You have nothing to lose & you gain a good name when you offer your help.

9. Look good & sound good. Dress for the job you want. Look & sound like a professional & you'll send a positive message to your boss.

If you usually dress too casually, begin now to upgrade your dress appearance. If you usually speak too softly, learn a more powerful delivery. When the position you want opens up, you'll look & sound ready for the part.