Being conscientious at work is an important skill that leads to success in one’s career.
Conscientiousness refers to being thorough, careful, vigilant, organized, determined, and efficient.
Developing conscientious behaviors helps employees become more productive, reliable, and detail-oriented. We hear this from learning and development professionals who use our corporate training material.
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This guide will provide background on conscientiousness, explain why it matters in the workplace, overview relevant theories, and suggest ten ways to become more conscientious at work.
Background On Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness is one of the Big Five personality traits, along with openness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.
It refers to a person’s tendency to control impulses and act in a thoughtful, careful manner.
Conscientious individuals are organized, reliable and thorough. They pay attention to details and plan ahead.
There are strong incentives to develop conscientiousness in the workplace.
Conscientious employees perform better and are more successful in their careers over time. They are more productive, make fewer mistakes and can be trusted with responsibilities.
Organizations value conscientiousness because it leads to higher performance.
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Theory Behind Conscientiousness At Work
Several theories in psychology help explain why conscientiousness matters so much for job performance.
The trait activation theory states that work environments provide cues that activate personality traits.
A fast-paced office activates one’s sense of urgency and attention to detail. This brings out conscientious behaviors in employees.
Goal-setting theory also helps explain the impact of conscientiousness.
Diligent employees set specific goals and persist until achieving them. Their determination and focus on objectives makes them productive.
Finally, the five factor model notes that conscientiousness incorporates several facets like achievement orientation and self-discipline.
Workers high in these facets work hard to succeed and resist distractions. This leads to superior performance.
Ten Ways To Become More Conscientious At Work
Here are ten tips to help employees boost their conscientiousness in the workplace:
1. Set specific daily goals – Determine the tasks and projects that need to get done each day and make a plan. Break major goals down into smaller steps.
2. Use productivity tools – Try productivity apps, daily planners, calendars and to-do lists to stay organized. Manage your time and tasks effectively.
3. Minimize distractions – Avoid distractions like social media, personal internet use and excessive meetings. Focus on work during work hours.
4. Double check your work – Make a habit of reviewing your work skills to catch any errors or mistakes. Pay attention to details.
5. Meet deadlines – Make it a priority to complete assignments on or before deadlines. Don’t delay tasks unnecessarily.
6. Be reliable – Follow through on commitments you make to colleagues and managers. Build a reputation for being dependable.
7. Ask clarifying questions – Don’t start tasks without fully understanding expectations. Ask questions and use listening skills to clarify.
8. Take initiative – Look for ways to be proactive in your role. Don’t always wait for assignments. Offer to help and learn new skills.
9. Organize your workspace – Keep your desk and files organized so you can work efficiently. Develop systems to keep track of information.
10. Improve self-discipline – Resist distractions and procrastination. Develop habits and routines to stay focused.
Summary Of Benefits
Becoming more conscientious has many advantages for job performance and career success.
Conscientious employees are more productive, make fewer mistakes, meet deadlines, and are considered reliable.
Managers are more likely to reward and promote diligent workers.
Overall, developing conscientious behaviors leads to improved job performance, higher satisfaction, and better career outcomes over time.
The effort to become more organized, careful and disciplined at work is well worth it.
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.