Success at work does not mean doing everything at once, it means being consistent and committed, among other things. Consistency means practicing a habit of continuous effort—to behave the same way and have the same attitude towards people or things also come as consistency in the workplace. What should people put into consideration when determining how much effort to dedicate to establishing this principle? Rogers Ndemezo, a channel manager at KT Rwanda Networks, is of the view that many people today are interested in gaining more from their employment than just money. “People tend to look for what can be termed as job satisfaction, taking on jobs they enjoy which make them feel their abilities are being utilised, and in the end, it is valuable,” he says. Adia Uwineza who works for a tourism company says that if you want to be taken seriously, being consistent is the way to go. “Consistency will bring you so many good things in your work if you maintain it, it builds discipline in you, and it puts you out there and makes you noticeable. But consistency is something to maintain and not just to sleep on because you need to keep a record of your hard work, to be seen and recognised,” she says. Consistency doesn’t only work in favour of the employee, but the company too. “When there is consistency in a company there is a better understanding among employees and every member of the company, to find solutions together because they all want the same thing for the company—to move towards its success. With this, work flows much quicker and easier,” Ndemezo says. In the article “10 Reasons why Consistency is important” the author notes that dreams will remain dreams if you are not willing to be consistent over a long period. Consistency is a necessary ingredient in achieving long-term goals. “Workplaces in which consistency is present appear better organised than those in which things are constantly changing. For example, if you have one consistent method for your employees to use to log their work completion or request time off, it will appear to these workers that you are more in control of the business. This appearance of organisation can make employees think better of the company and allow them to feel that the company is a more stable one,” writes Erin Schreiner in his article, “What Can Consistency at the Workplace Provide?” When things are constantly changing, employees must take time out of the completion of their job duties to learn these new policies and procedures. By making things consistent, you can allow employees to dedicate more of their time to the completion of their actual job duties, likely leading to an increase in productivity, Schreiner adds. The role of management Consistent behaviour makes a difference in any kind of relationship, and honesty and openness from managers will help renew common purpose across your organisation. “In my view, the following should be observed for one to maintain and deliver good quality performance at work; a positive attitude towards one’s job guarantees consistency and productivity; self-motivation is the only driving factor in trying to deliver expectations and goals of the organisation; career training is likely to equip an employee with more knowledge towards their career, which in enables one to perform better,” says Ndemezo. “Motivation is also important for all those involved in management and supervision to ensure consistency at the workplace. A good manager has a measure of self-discipline, making employees work better consistently,” he adds. “If the effort is not appreciated, people may feel discouraged, therefore, cutting chances of stability. Management should motivate and show appreciation in the efforts of everyone in the company,” says Marie Rose Uwanyirigira, an accountant. According to an article published by inspiring.uk.com, a business forum, communication is key. “Honesty and openness from managers will help renew common purpose across your organisation. Managers should communicate with their teams regularly regarding plans and progress; operational activities and milestones. Staff should be invited to ask, comment, and suggest on a regular basis. Make sure all managers are arranging regular, documented team meetings or one to one to ensure that everyone is being given this opportunity.”
