Work Ethic: Can It Be Taught?

Summary

What comes to mind when someone is described to you as having a strong or positive work ethic? It might be traits like motivated, talented, driven, relentless, or any other action words you can think of. Consider this topic a bit deeper and it opens an interesting conversation on what work ethic is to everyone, how you get it, what you do with it once you have it, and how to protect it.

In this blog we will walk through what work ethic is, where it comes from, and key facets involved in teaching a strong work ethic.

What is Work Ethic?

Before we get into the more detailed content, it is important that we define the concept of work ethic. In broad terms work ethic refers to your core values, attitudes, and behaviors that drive your approach to work. These combined helps establish and maintain your commitment to achieving your goals. A strong work ethic is often associated with higher levels of productivity, reliability, and achievement. The opposite can be true if you have a weak, inconsistent, or non-existent work ethic.

Work ethic encompasses various traits and qualities such as diligence, discipline, reliability, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility. Work ethic differs from motivation or talent in that while motivation and talent do play an active role in striving for success, work ethic is the consistent effort and dedication put into tasks, even when motivation wanes or natural talent is present. Be prepared to have different work ethic approaches for different areas of your life. You may put more effort and dedication into some areas of your life, but not so much in other areas. Consider why that is and consider the implications of that in terms of output, enjoyment, reputation, and other factors.

Where Does Work Ethic Come From?

There are a variety of sources that can contribute to your work ethic, which can be classified under nature and nurture. These can include

• Your genes: Genetics may contribute to certain personality traits associated with your work ethic, such as conscientiousness, determination, and perseverance
• Your childhood: The environment in which any individual grows up, including family values, socioeconomic factors, and cultural influences, can and will have an influence on their work ethic
• Location: Where you spend your time matters and can shape your beliefs, wants, needs, and desires. All of these will contribute to your work ethic
• Community: Who you spend your time with matters and can have a profound influence on your approach to work
• Personal experiences: Each of the above combines to shape your own nuanced personal experiences throughout your life. These experiences are unique to you, and you have the opportunity and ability to harness the information gleaned from your experiences and ‘use them for good’ in terms of your work ethic

The interplay between nature and nurture helps shape your work ethic. While genetics may provide a foundation, the location, environment, and your personal experiences play a significant role in shaping your work ethic and how you show up. In the next few sections, we’ll explore other influences on work ethic.

The Influence of Upbringing

Our parents or guardians will have a significant impact on the shaping of our work ethic. They are our first role models (see below), and for good or bad are key influencers, especially in our formative years. Parents or guardians shape our work ethic by influencing in the following areas:

• Modeling: As children, we often learn work ethic by observing our parents or guardians. When they demonstrate a strong work ethic, it can positively influence our own attitudes and behaviors. Conversely, in the absence of a strong or positive work ethic, a child would know no better and continue a path through a lack of exposure or ignorance. This is especially true until such times as other influencers come into play
• Chores and responsibilities: Assigning age-appropriate chores and responsibilities can instill a sense of discipline, responsibility, and work ethic in children. Seeing their own growth and progress, receiving recognition for efforts expended, and contributing to something greater than themselves can be key motivators
• Expectations and values: Parents who set expectations and emphasize the importance of hard work and dedication can help foster a strong work ethic in their children. The expectation doesn’t necessarily need to be what some might consider as ‘high’. Emphasizing importance and consistency is key in this area

Other strategies for parents to instill a strong work ethic in their children can be encouraging open communication, providing guidance and support, and offering regular opportunities for growth and learning can help parents instill a strong work ethic in their children. Consider each of the influences in this section and how they helped shape your approach to your work.

Education

Can the traditional education system teach diligence and perseverance? There are many schools of thought around this topic today, and while attitudes to traditional educational paths are evolving, it is important to understand the influence on work ethic from educational structure, requirements, benefits, and approach, such as:

• The role of schooling: Schools can play a crucial role in teaching and reinforcing work ethic by incorporating it into the curriculum and creating a supportive learning environment. This would be the same for traditional bricks and mortar schools, online, and homeschooling
• Incorporating work ethic in the curriculum: Integrating activities, projects, and discussions that promote diligence, perseverance, time management, and other work ethic-related skills can promote development in work ethic
• Teaching discipline and time management: By teaching students effective time management techniques, prioritization, and self-discipline, schools can help develop learner work ethic
• Extracurricular activities: In addition to the social benefits, participation in activities, such as sports (individual and/or teams) or clubs, can teach learners valuable lessons in teamwork, commitment, and work ethic

Of course, education is more far-reaching than the schooling examples suggest above. Take this blog for example! As humans we are fortunate to live in an age where access to lifelong learning and educational growth opportunities has never been easier. The more we weave our way through life and ease away from what can be considered traditional educational paths (e.g., elementary/primary school, junior high/middle school, high school, college, university, trade school, etc.), the more we are afforded greater choice in the type and style of educational offerings that will best suit our needs. None of this flexibility of choice negates the need to have a work ethic appropriate to successfully navigating your continuing educational choices.

Role Models

Throughout our lives we will be influenced and inspired by other people. Whether it is one of your earliest teachers, the classmate you gravitated to, your first sports coach, a neighbour, or piano teacher, role models are a key influencer on our learning and development. As always, we try for a positive spin on these blogs, so for the purposes of this section we’ll work from the proviso that the role models are positive and not negative:

• Identifying and learning from role models: Recognizing individuals who exemplify strong work ethic and learning from their experiences and behaviors can be motivating and inspiring. They could simply ‘land on your lap’ with little-to-no work required to have them within your vicinity, or you might have to go out and actively seek and ‘recruit’ them. This will be determined by how proactive, reactive, intentional, or unintentional you are with your approach to having role models present in your life
• Observation: Witnessing the achievements and dedication of people that you consider to be successful can serve as a powerful motivator to develop and improve your own work ethic
• Mentorship: Some of us will be lucky to have mentors and guides in our lives who can provide valuable insights, advice, and support, to help us understand and develop a strong work ethic. Through their story (i.e., how they approach work), leading to guidance and encouragement that is meaningful for you and your circumstance
• Strategies for finding and connecting: As mentioned above, you may be presented with a golden opportunity to have a role model in your life, or you may have to actively seek them out. There are several ways to do that, including: attending industry events, using social media, industry research, and networking

Consider role models you have had in your life. Now consider why you would consider them role models. It won’t all be related to work ethic, of course, however the chances are that there will be an element of admiration of the successes that they achieved, and if you dig a little deeper (if you haven’t done so already), you’ll learn something about how they went about it. That’s where work ethic will come to the fore.

So, Can Work Ethic be Taught?

The short answer is yes. Building on the circumstances and strategies listed above, the following key areas can help identify, instill, strengthen, and support positive changes in work ethic:

• Support and encouragement: Creating an environment conducive to positive work ethic is key. Key to your ongoing success will be to create and sustain an environment that encompasses the following traits:
  • Fosters growth
  • Celebrates effort & achievement
  • Provides constructive feedback
  • Views challenges and setbacks as learning experiences and opportunities for growth
  • Promotes resilience
  • Celebrates perseverance, and a strong work ethic
• Strategies: To support these key traits, dedicate appropriate time and attention to:
  • Self-reflection
  • Reframing negative thoughts
  • Seeking feedback
  • Self-belief
  • A positive mindset
• Workplace: Specific to the workplace, employers can foster a culture of positive work ethic by:
  • Defining what work ethic means in the first place by setting clear expectations
  • Recognizing, and rewarding positive work ethic
  • Providing opportunities for growth and development based on work ethic already displayed
  • Leadership leading by example
  • Providing coaching, guidance, and mentorship
  • Creating a positive and motivating work environment that encourages and nurtures work ethic
• Impact of motivation and goal setting:
  • Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation serves as the driving force behind work ethic, as it provides the energy and determination to consistently put in effort and achieve goals
  • Establishing clear, specific, and challenging goals can inspire and fuel work ethic by providing a sense of purpose and direction
• Discipline and time management:
  • Discipline involves self-control, consistency, and the ability to prioritize effectively. Strategies such as creating routines, setting deadlines, minimizing distractions, and practicing mindfulness will help
  • Effective time management techniques, such as prioritizing tasks, creating schedules, and utilizing productivity tools, will help. Identifying causes of and overcoming procrastination is also a key contributor to successful work habits
• Resilience and perseverance:
  • The ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to challenges is a crucial trait in developing and maintaining a strong work ethic. Techniques such as reframing setbacks as learning opportunities, seeking support from others, practicing self-care, and maintaining a positive mindset can help build resilience
  • Perseverance involves staying committed and persistent in the face of obstacles. Strategies like setting realistic expectations, breaking tasks into manageable chunks, and celebrating small wins can foster perseverance in your work ethic
• Balancing productivity and distractions:
  • Distractions are all around us and if not identified and managed accordingly, will negatively impact productivity. Setting boundaries, implementing time management strategies, using website blockers, and practicing digital detoxes can help individuals manage distractions and maintain focus

Work ethic is most definitely not one-size-fits-all, and what works for someone else may not necessarily be the right approach for you. Considering your upbringing, your family or guardian relationships, your formative (and subsequent supplementary) education, and the influence of role models in your life will provide more understanding of how you got to where you got to, what worked, what didn’t, and perhaps a sharper sense of where work ethic gaps may exist for you.

Gaz’s challenge: Gain further insight into your work ethic. Take a closer look at the areas of your life where you think your work ethic is positive / good versus areas that you would like to improve. Why do you think that is? Write it down and see what pops out at you. If you need some help figuring it out, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Good luck!

I’m always open to a conversation on your thoughts, opinions, and experiences on this or any topic in the library. Get in touch by subscribing below, or by using the form on the Book Gary of the site.