How to improve your organization fast

Become a Runner by showing up early, dressing well, completing tasks and learning from others.

If you want to improve your organization, you must adopt the habits and behaviors of a Runner. Start with the easy parts: show up early, put in the time to perform well and always dress your best.

That last point might seem trivial, but if you want to be a Runner, you should have no dress-down days with regards to your clothing or your performance. By dressing well, you’re displaying your engagement and commitment to your job.

You should also be mindful of how you communicate. Make sure you never participate in negative conversations. Instead, either change topics or pose the question: “How can we make things better?” Positive conversations are the only way to produce positive results and empower those around you.
One more thing: make sure you complete tasks. If you have something on your plate, finish it. That way you will show others that you can meet high expectations.

The best way to speed up your progress is by learning from Runners themselves. Ask for help: this won’t show weakness; it’ll let others know that you care about your performance. (Plus, networking with high achievers will help you move forward in the future.)

But when you reach out to Runners, make sure you’re open to their criticism. After all, you’re trying to improve. And you might not be able to see what others see – so take their advice and make the best of it.

For example, if your boss points out a mistake, there is only one acceptable answer: “I am sorry. It will never happen again.” That way, instead of having a long conversation about it, you can simply show your boss that you’ve heard their feedback. And then you can both move on.

But what happens if you just don’t have it in you to become a Runner? Keep reading to find out.