“The secret to my success”

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Plan AHEAD

“Before meetings, I read previous minutes. That way I feel prepared and can give input.” – Dineo, 41

JUST SAY No

“If I’m given work that should go to someone else, I say no. There’s the extra mile, and there’s being taken advantage of!” – Xenia, 25

BE DISCREET

“I told a colleague what my salary was and soon everyone at work knew about it, including the HR department. I won’t do that again! Confidentiality counts.” – Elani, 26

WATCH THE DETAILS

“I can tell you why we developed something, the decisions and mistakes we made, and what not to do. It makes life so much easier.” – Elmarie, 42

BE ORGANISED

“Every Friday, I make a to-do list for the week ahead, in order of urgency. We have a meeting on Mondays, and coming in with my list makes me feel prepared.” – Wendy, 43

STAY calm

“My work environment is high pressure, so I prioritise, force myself not to procrastinate and focus on the job at hand. The calmer I am, the more productive I can be.” – Funani, 28

go THE EXTRA mile

“Doing more gets you noticed. Get the phone even if it isn’t your job, and be polite, especially those lower down the ladder, as they’ll have your back in a crisis. My biggest trick: a ‘brag file’ – a record of what I’m proud of. It helps when I motivate for a promotion or bonus.” – Gugu, 21

communicate Well

“A lot is lost in translation on email, and what could take a string of emails can be clarified with a quick call. So that’s what I do. Or, if possible, I have a face-to-face chat. It gives me insight and builds relationships. I follow up with a confirmation email, so everything agreed on is in writing.” – Val, 44

OWN Your MISTAKES

“If I mess up, even if it’s only partly my fault, I own up and apologise. Own your actions and you get into less trouble, and gain respect. Mistakes are inevitable; how you deal with them defines you.” – Imka, 29

go ONE STEP at a TIME

“I master every career stage before the next step. My stress goes through the roof if I take on too much too soon. Instead, I learn as I go and climb steadily to the top.” – Izelle, 45

BE KIND

“We hear lots about dog-eatdog competition, but caring about my colleagues doesn’t make me weak. It makes me human. And it has paid off in my career; we all work best with people we like and respect.” – Tahlia, 30