Do what you came here to do
An obvious way to be successful is to do your job. If you’re at a startup, your role can change, but part of being successful is setting and adjusting expectations.
Self motivate
Often doing your job successfully is reliant on self motivation. Not all jobs will provide clear instructions on what to do, if it’s unclear it’s up to you u to work with your team / manager to figure that out.
Ask and answer questions
If you’re on a research or science team, asking questions is part of our job. Anytime you wish to know more, are confused, feel misaligned, are experiencing frustration – ask questions. Managers should also be asking questions as part of their job. Being asked a question should be viewed from a place of curiosity or inquiry rather than judgement.
Be a team player
Industry thrives on team work, and as such no single individual outweighs the dynamic of the team. Projects may have leads and those people are empowered to make decisions, but no one “owns” a project. Being open, transparent, communicative, collaborative, humble, proactive, etc. helps you achieve this.
Communicate well
Honest, clear, and constant communication is key to a successful team. When in doubt, it’s much better to over communicate than under communicate. Remember, that not all information gets around to everyone, and some information gets around without the context and framing it needs. Use your communication channels and ask questions when you want more information.
Be proactive and help others
If you have some free time in your schedule, ask others how you can help them! On the flip side, if you are offered help by someone, you are encouraged to take it. We are a team, the team’s productivity is what matters. Being proactive enables better communication, trust, and empathy building.
Speak up if you disagree
In a healthy work environment you are encouraged (and to me, empowered) to speak up if you disagree with something, though you must be OK if no changes occur. Remember to do so respectfully, and be prepared to state your reasons why you disagree, including a back-and-forth discussion. Disagreements should not be taken personally, nor held over others. Open discourse and the debating of ideas is a foundational tenant of scientific rigor.
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