A Strong Work Ethic Can *Make* Your Career and Character—Here's How to Develop It

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCharacteristics of a Strong Work EthicBenefitsHow to Develop a Strong Work EthicWork Ethic Skills for SuccessExamplesThe Downside to a Strong Work Ethic

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Characteristics of a Strong Work Ethic

Benefits

How to Develop a Strong Work Ethic

Work Ethic Skills for Success

Examples

The Downside to a Strong Work Ethic

Close

My mother was relentless in instilling a strong work ethic in my family. Growing up, we didn’t have much. But we believed in self-reliance and getting things done, no matter what, to get the things we did have. Her value systems forever shaped my attitude and behaviors, teaching me to channel a wholehearted commitment to my actions.

Chrystal Ramos, a Headspace mental health coach and coach manager, defines a strong work ethic as the ability toset goalsand stick to those objectives until they are achieved. According to Ramos, dedication,discipline,productivity, andflexibilityare essential qualities for success.

Dreaming about your desires is one thing; taking action to go after them is another. Here’s how and why you should develop a strong work ethic.

Jeremy Dela Rosa, executive advisor for founders and spiritual life coach, notes possessing a strong work ethic can help you show up to work with increased focus, courage, and problem-solving.

A work ethic is made up of many qualities that contribute to your success and effectiveness in the workplace. Dela Rosa shares some characteristics below:

Reliability and Integrity

Flexibility

—JEREMY DELA ROSA, EXECUTIVE ADVISOR AND SPIRITUAL LIFE COACH

Humility and Ownership

You won’t know everything and you’ll make mistakes. That’s OK. “Recognize that this is not a reflection of your inherent worth, but rather an opportunity to learn, improve, and take accountability where you can do better and try new angles. Doing so dramatically improves your working relationship with others and builds loyalty with your customers.”

Collaboration

“We live in a world of immense complexity, with many layers of systems constantly interacting with each other - economic, technological, social, legal, or environmental,” Dela Rosa says. “Your ability to support and work with others is an absolute necessity. Without it, you can’t be ateam playerand tackle challenges with others. This requires clear communication, reciprocity, integrity, and a genuine interest in the well-being of others.”

Perseverance

“It may seem easier to give up sometimes, for it often takes multiple tries to get things right,” Dela Rosa explains. “Whether it be in life, business, or relationships - the greatest rewards are hidden behind the discomfort. Having the grit and resilience to overcome adversity is a superpower, letting you ascend to unimaginable heights.”

How to Stop Putting Pressure on Yourself

Benefits of Developing a Strong Work Ethic

Developing a strong work ethic is rewarding as you can see your tangible results and it enhances your professional reputation. As your reputation builds, you prove you can take responsibility for your outcomes, sharpening your ability to thrive in dynamic work settings.

“There are few things more satisfying than seeing your creations completed, shining with a high quality that only you could produce at your best,” Dela Rosa continues. “Whether it be a happy customer, an increase in sales, a more efficient process, or a more beautiful product - having a strong work ethic enables you to consistently deliver, and deliver well.”

A strong work ethic helps you organize your priorities, tasks, and time effectively to meet challenges head-on, reinforcing positive habits. Despite inevitable moments of stress, procrastination, overwhelm, and distraction, you can rely on your hard-earned discipline to push your projects to completion.

“When you deliver consistently, people start to notice. They trust in your capabilities, they respect your input, they gravitate towards your energy, and they become your biggest supporters,” he says. “Your efforts can open up opportunities for a salary increase, promotion, partnership, or a dream job.”

How to Manifest What You Really Want in Your Life

If you don’t have a strong work ethic, it’s easy to feel demotivated, underperform, and turn in sloppy work at your job.

A solid work ethic is needed to maintain motivation, productivity, and high-quality work. When you care about your goals, team, and overall output, it becomes easier to approach your career with a positive attitude and commitment to excellence.

Dela Rosa shares tips he uses in his coaching practice to guide new founders, entrepreneurs, and members of organizations through this process.

How to Tap Into a Growth Mindset and Crush Your Goals

As you accomplish goals with cognitive effort, your brain releases dopamine,flooding your body with satisfaction. So, whether it’s doing a good job flipping burgers or project managing, doing those tasks withintrinsic motivationpulls the same reward chemical levers in your brain.

Among Gen Z, there’s a notable embrace of “quiet quitting,” which rejects the idea that work must be the center of your life. At its best, its values can enforce strong boundaries for work/life balance, reclaim your time, and find meaning in your work since you’re making time in life for your happiness.

What are some work ethic skills for success? For starters, Dela Rosa suggests being curious about your job which will incentivize you to seek out new knowledge and acquire new skills. He explains that conscientiousness, paying attention to details, and striving for diligence play a big role in your daily efforts.

“The greatest problem solvers are proactive, self-driven, forward-thinking, and solutions-focused,” he says. “By taking initiative, anticipating future needs, and creating solutions before being asked, you lead the way in preventing delays, minimizing disruptions, and accelerating progress. These are key elements to improving work ethic.”

‘I Hate My Job’: How to Cope When You Feel This Way

Examples of a Strong Work Ethic

According to Ramos, here are some other pillars you can add to your work ethic to help you succeed further:

Most importantly, a strong work ethic benefits the team. Dela Rosa says, “When I recollect the best people I’ve worked with, I always remember the ones who were reliable. They showed up with a smile on their face, followed through, and owned their mistakes. Not only did I feel safe and confident they were on my team, but it was an absolute joy to be in their presence and collaborate.”

Although having a strong work ethic can help you get ahead with your job, it can have detrimental effects on your personal life and mental health when taken too far. Dela Rosa notes a strong work ethic can sometimes translate into excessiveself-criticism, workaholism, and perfectionism if one strives for flawless execution. To avoid this pitfall, he recommends practicing self-compassion,setting realistic goals, andcelebrating your achievements–no matter how small.

“Working long hours and neglecting personal needs can result in burnout, which impacts mental and physical health,” he says.To prevent burnout, he advises his clients to delegate tasks and focus on their health, hobbies, loved ones, and restorative activities such as meditation, exercise, or reading.

Too much focus on your work ethic may lead to excessive performance and criticizing people who aren’t able to match your pace. Doing this can disconnect you from your empathy and emotions as you focus more on doing than being. “Judging others based on their work habits can create tension and undermine team cohesion,” Dela Rosa says. “Focus on your own progress and appreciate diversity in working styles. It fosters a supportive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected.”

What This Means For YouDeveloping a strong work ethic can be a powerful asset in life. By being driven and actualizing your ambitions, you can count on yourself to see your goals through to the end. As you apply yourself and set your goals, it’s important to recognize when you need torecharge to take care of yourself.When you’re able to effectively channel your hard work, you can fulfill your dreams and find your individual independence.

What This Means For You

Developing a strong work ethic can be a powerful asset in life. By being driven and actualizing your ambitions, you can count on yourself to see your goals through to the end. As you apply yourself and set your goals, it’s important to recognize when you need torecharge to take care of yourself.When you’re able to effectively channel your hard work, you can fulfill your dreams and find your individual independence.

Developing a strong work ethic can be a powerful asset in life. By being driven and actualizing your ambitions, you can count on yourself to see your goals through to the end. As you apply yourself and set your goals, it’s important to recognize when you need torecharge to take care of yourself.

When you’re able to effectively channel your hard work, you can fulfill your dreams and find your individual independence.

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Grabowski D, Chudzicka-Czupała A, Stapor K.Relationships between work ethic and motivation to work from the point of view of the self-determination theory.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253145.Westbrook A, Braver TS.Dopamine does double duty in motivating cognitive effort.Neuron. 2016;89(4):695-710.

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Grabowski D, Chudzicka-Czupała A, Stapor K.Relationships between work ethic and motivation to work from the point of view of the self-determination theory.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253145.Westbrook A, Braver TS.Dopamine does double duty in motivating cognitive effort.Neuron. 2016;89(4):695-710.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Grabowski D, Chudzicka-Czupała A, Stapor K.Relationships between work ethic and motivation to work from the point of view of the self-determination theory.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253145.Westbrook A, Braver TS.Dopamine does double duty in motivating cognitive effort.Neuron. 2016;89(4):695-710.

Grabowski D, Chudzicka-Czupała A, Stapor K.Relationships between work ethic and motivation to work from the point of view of the self-determination theory.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253145.

Westbrook A, Braver TS.Dopamine does double duty in motivating cognitive effort.Neuron. 2016;89(4):695-710.

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