Image source: Jan.blog.ocregister.com

We like to talk about how you can become a better artist, but today we’re going to do something a little bit different: we’re going to discuss ways to be a better employee. Impressive art skills will help you get a new job, but bad employee skills can send you packing just as quickly. So, close down Maya for a few moments, stop worrying about 3D rendering techniques, and spend a few minutes thinking about how you can improve as an employee.

1. Get Over Yourself

Nobody’s perfect. The sooner you realize that about yourself, the better you’ll be. You should expect to receive a lot of criticism about your work while you’re on the job. Try not to take it personally — a critique about your artwork isn’t necessarily a blow against you as a person or your skills. Everybody messes up now and then. Take the criticism humbly, brush yourself off, and learn from your mistakes.

2. Show Your Support

Getting chewed out by your colleagues/boss/client for a bad product makes you feel crummy. Conversely, getting a pat on the back for a job well done makes you feel amazing. So, how do you think that everybody else feels when they receive praise at work? Help foster a positive work environment by showing appreciation where appreciation is due. Compliment your colleagues on amazing artwork, thank them for helping you out, and remember colleague birthdays. At the end of the day, a little bit of niceness can go a long way.

Image source: Smashingmagazine.com

3. Create Good Work Relationships

You don’t have to love your colleagues, but you do have to work with them. Sometimes that involves spending hours next to somebody that you hate. You need to get over your personal problems quickly, because the last thing managers want is to have to deal with quibbling concerns about who said what to whom and who stole the coffee mug. If you have a genuine problem with somebody, then try to talk it out. If that doesn’t work, then just swallow your pride and do your job with a smile on your face. Indulging in your temptation to spread gossip and shoot the evil eye at your hated colleagues will simply fuel the fire.

4. Find a Mentor

If you’re having trouble with one of your new responsibilities, don’t be so proud that you aren’t willing to ask for a little bit of help. Plenty of your more experienced colleagues would be happy to spend some time giving you pointers. Be sure to thank them later by taking them out to dinner, and avoid being a pest. There’s a fine line between asking for advice and being a lazy bum who gets everybody else to do your work for you.

Image source: Screened.com