Assignment 6: Work Ethic

Whether it is on the football field or in the office, work ethic is viewed to be a hardworking and motivated person. Based on research, work ethic can be simplified to three terms -- interpersonal skills, initiative, and being dependable. Interpersonal skills are basic skills we use to communicate with other people. Initiative is not procrastinating and missing opportunities but rather being motivated and encouraging others. Dependability is being honest and on time. Do you possess these three? To evaluate yourself, you can use an instrument, the Occupational Work Ethic Inventory (OWEI), which measures all three levels. The evaluation will ask you a series of 50 words that may apply to you based on a ranking of never, almost never, seldom, sometimes, usually, almost always, always. For accurate scores, you must be truthful when answering these questions.

When I took the evaluation, I scored 6.59/7 interpersonal skills, 6.31/7 initiative, and 6.61/7 dependability. Based on my scores, I scored above average the 1133 researched participants (chart below), but despite the difference of scores, there was a pattern in both that dependability was highest and initiative was lowest. It is evident that I need to work on taking initiative. To do so, I am going to motivate myself to do more and to never miss an opportunity. If I reflect this mentality in a professional environment this year, I may be able to do more compared to other interns. My mentor and others around me will see that I am motivated to go above and beyond when others are not. Although I scored highest in dependability, there is room for growth. To do so, I will always arrive 10 minutes in advance. This time frame will allow me to collect myself and ensures that I am punctual. To enhance my interpersonal skills score, I am going to focus on how I communicate with my mentor, by having a soft tone of voice and engaging body language. This focus is precisely detailed in my last blog, Assignment 5: Communication. This evaluation has given me a basis on what I need to improve and how I can go forth in enhancing my work ethic in a professional environment this year.