How to Be Better at Your Job

Be even more fantastic at work than you already are.

Work Smarter - Make 2015 your best year yet with these tips, designed to help you be even more fantastic at work than you already are. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel  (Photo: Bonninstudio/Westend61/Corbis)

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Work Smarter - Make 2015 your best year yet with these tips, designed to help you be even more fantastic at work than you already are. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel  (Photo: Bonninstudio/Westend61/Corbis)

Turn Off Your Cell Phone - Between Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and texting, your cell phone can be a serious distraction. So try disconnecting yourself from the digital world when you are seriously trying to get your study on. (Photo: Steve Debenport/Getty Images)

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Manage Your Time - With the constant barrage of emails (work and personal) and an IG account just begging you to check it, it’s easy to look up and realize you’ve wasted 30 minutes. Put your tech to work for you with an app that helps you stay on task. The Forest app (free for Apple, Android, Windows) grows virtual trees when you leave your phone alone, but if you read a text or click on Facebook, it mows them down. And Get S**t Done (Android) uses tough love to motivate you to tick things off your to do list. Download ’em.  (Photo: Steve Debenport/Getty Images)

Tick, Tock - You have a tight deadline that needs to be met, but instead of working you’re doing everything else in order to avoid completing the inevitable. Regardless of how hard you try to zero in on the task at hand or wrap your mind around the current project that needs to be completed, it never fails — procrastination always kicks in. Luckily, it's fairly easy to overcome, especially if you put your mind to it. Keep reading. By Dontaira Terrell  (Photo: Sean De Burca/Corbis)

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Expand Your Purview - “That’s not my job” should never be in your vocabulary. Now, we’re not talking about getting coffee or making copies; unless you’re an assistant, that’s someone else’s gig. But taking on more responsibility that falls just outside the boundaries of your job description not only shows that you are versatile, but it makes you versatile by expanding your skillset. That type of initiative is what supervisors consider when it's time to bestow promotions and raises.  (Photo: Sean De Burca/Corbis)

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Re-Read Your Last Performance Review - Whether it was last month or in July, give it a read and see if you are making real effort to improve in the areas your boss highlighted. If you’re not, get going.  (Photo: moodboard/Corbis)

Go to (Virtual) Class  - The Internet is filled with sites where you can take free classes on subjects that can boost your ability to do your job well. Try SkillAcademy, AcademicEarth and Open Education Consortium.  (Photo: Masterfile/Radius Images/Corbis)

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Go to (Virtual) Class  - The Internet is filled with sites where you can take free classes on subjects that can boost your ability to do your job well. Try SkillAcademy, AcademicEarth and Open Education Consortium.  (Photo: Masterfile/Radius Images/Corbis)

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Make Nice With Your Boss - Y’all don’t need to be besties, but setting a regular time to meet semi-casually is a solid way to invest in your relationship. A standing monthly lunch is a great place to start.  (Photo: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)

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Make Nice With Your Boss - Y’all don’t need to be besties, but setting a regular time to meet semi-casually is a solid way to invest in your relationship. A standing monthly lunch is a great place to start.  (Photo: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)

Make New Friends - Getting along with your colleagues has been linked to increased job satisfaction. Forget having lunch solo at your desk; join the convo in the break room or go out. Or lead a contingency to a nearby happy hour spot every now and then. Everyone won’t end up being your friend, but they won’t be your enemies, either. (Photo: Ronnie Kaufman/Larry Hirshowitz//Blend Images/Corbis)

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Make New Friends - Getting along with your colleagues has been linked to increased job satisfaction. Forget having lunch solo at your desk; join the convo in the break room or go out. Or lead a contingency to a nearby happy hour spot every now and then. Everyone won’t end up being your friend, but they won’t be your enemies, either. (Photo: Ronnie Kaufman/Larry Hirshowitz//Blend Images/Corbis)

Make Your Boss’s Job Easier - Anticipate her needs and questions. The more you can take the lead, complete a project and deliver a flawless finished product, the better.  (Photo: Tetra Images/Corbis)

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Make Your Boss’s Job Easier - Anticipate her needs and questions. The more you can take the lead, complete a project and deliver a flawless finished product, the better.  (Photo: Tetra Images/Corbis)

Be Confident - So much of success is being confident that you will reach your goal. Approach each day and task with a positive attitude and kick butt.  (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Be Confident - So much of success is being confident that you will reach your goal. Approach each day and task with a positive attitude and kick butt.  (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)