Whether you're at a massive company or a start-up—if you're looking to boost your career, your habits can make or break your success. Growing your career is more than just putting in the hours; it's about improving your work ethic, creating clear goals, and boosting productivity.

If you're studying for a qualification like an MBA marketing program online or a business degree, incorporating these golden habits into your life early can be game-changing. It can give you a head start when you enter the workplace and help you climb the ladder to success.

Stay curious, ask questions, and upskilling.

Even after you score your dream job, there is always room to grow, improve your abilities, and learn new skills. Reports have shown that millions of workers around the country take advantage of professional development opportunities in their workplace to boost their skills, climb the corporate ladder, or increase their pay—this is called upskilling.

Staying curious, asking questions, and furthering your abilities with upskilling opportunities is a golden habit to follow. The best way to get better at your job is to ask questions if you're unsure and stay curious. For instance, if you see your coworker doing something that you don't quite understand, you can ask them to demonstrate how it's done.

If your management at your work ever offers the option to learn new skills or engage in professional development, always take it. You never know when the skills will be useful or further your career. It can pave the way for new employment opportunities within the company or for other jobs.

Always stay organized.

This might seem like an obvious one, but staying organized is so important in the workplace and even when you're studying. If you want to get the career you've always wanted, you won't get there with messy to-do lists and bad prioritization skills.

Key signs that you aren't organized enough include, if you're feeling overwhelmed by your workload, it often feels like you're working chaotically, or you're having to multitask often. If you find any of these three common, it's a key indicator you need to strengthen your organizational skills.

Our top tips include sorting your work into to-do lists, with priority levels set for each task. This will help you formulate a better approach to your work, ensure it's done efficiently, and also help prevent multitasking. Especially if you struggle with productivity, staying organized is a great place to look at first for improvement.

Learning from criticism.

No one likes getting criticism, but it's an important 'habit' to be able to take it well. If you're able to take your criticism gracefully and learn from the feedback—you'll refine your skills and improve your work ethic. So, how do you start taking criticism well?

Whenever you receive criticism, whether it be from your boss or another coworker—it's important to remember that the feedback isn't a reflection of you as a person but to understand it's just about your work. 

It's critical to actively listen to the feedback without getting defensive and ask follow-up questions if you need clarification or further steps to improve. Not only can it be a good opportunity to build upon your skills, but showing your boss or employer that you actively improve when you do receive criticism shows positive character. 

Keep a healthy work-life balance.

I'm sure we've all seen the iconic proverb from Stephen King's The Shining, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." It worked perfectly in the 1980 film, spinning a web of horror, but it also has truth to it. The line means that if you don't have time off from work, whether it be to indulge in your hobbies or socialize with friends—you'll become bored and boring.

Keeping a healthy work-life balance is also important for managing burnout and promoting productivity. So, how exactly do you keep a healthy work-life balance? Is there a secret to it? It might seem hard at first, especially if you're new to the workforce, but it's possible.

If you're looking to create a strong work-life balance, it all comes down to routine and boundaries. It's important to establish a strong routine at work, which includes setting precise work hours, taking regular breaks, and learning to 'switch off' after work hours. It's also important to set boundaries for your boss or managers when they contact you after hours.

Always be punctual.

When it comes to setting good habits, ensuring that you are punctual is a great place to start. This includes when you get to work, making sure that any tasks or work are submitted on time, attending meetings, and even socializing with friends outside of work.

By being punctual, it shows that you respect and value the other person's time and that you uphold commitments. It's an important skill inside and outside the workplace and shows that you have an understanding of the professional dynamic and building healthy relationships.

Communication is key.

Whether you're still studying, or already starting in your career—a good habit to adopt is effective communication. Being able to concisely and confidently communicate with your managers and other coworkers is a key skill that will help you flourish in the workplace.

Communicating effectively is also more than just being able to talk confidently and get your ideas across. The skill also includes actively listening and responding to other people. Active listening means genuinely showing interest in what the other party in a conversation is saying, which in turn makes the other party feel respected and heard.

If you're looking to climb the corporate ladder and get the career you deserve, improving your communication skills is a must. Not only does it help with miscommunication, but it can also help you build your interpersonal relationships and effectively communicate when it comes to projects or tasks in the workplace.

Studies on Habits in the Workplace

Participants in a study from 2020 conducted by VitalSmarts, a Top 20 Leadership Training company, revealed what they thought was the most important contributing factor to their success. The study had more than 1808 workers, with nearly 46% attributing their career growth and success to following the right habits.

So, if you're looking to get ahead of the curve—follow the advice of industry professionals, long-time workers, and our 6 golden habits. It'll help you get the career you deserve and work your way up—these tips also work across different industries, from marketing to art, business, and even healthcare.