Developing a strong work ethic is an important part of growing up and becoming a responsible and successful adult. But as a parent or mentor of a teenager, you may be wondering how to instill these skills in the young people in your life. At The Center for Work Ethic Development, we build all of our training on the basis of integrity and positivity. With those values in mind, try out these tips for encouraging a strong work ethic in teenagers:

  1. Set expectations and hold your teenager accountable. Make it clear what is expected of them in terms of work and responsibility, and hold them to those standards. This could include tasks around the house, completing homework and projects on time, and participating in extracurricular activities. Setting expectations helps teens develop the values of reliability and initiative, which will translate into the work ethic skills of attendance and ambition.
  2. Model good work ethic yourself. Your teenager is watching you and learning from your example, so be sure to set a good one. Show up on time, work hard, and take your responsibilities seriously. Demonstrate the values and skills you would like to see your teen embrace, including professionalism, gratitude, and integrity.
  3. Encourage your teenager to take on new challenges and responsibilities. This can help them develop their skills and confidence, and give them a sense of accomplishment as well as teach them to cultivate a positive attitude.
  4. Help your teenager set goals and create a plan to achieve them. This can be a powerful motivator and give them a sense of purpose and direction. It establishes the value of reliability, a key element of work ethic.
  5. Reward effort and hard work, not just results. This will help your teenager see the value in putting in effort, even when the outcome isn’t perfect, and will help them maintain their ambition.
  6. Encourage your teenager to be proactive and take initiative. Encourage them to think for themselves and come up with their own ideas and solutions to problems.
  7. Foster a growth mindset. Help your teenager see that their abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning, rather than being fixed traits. This will help them develop a strong positive attitude that will carry them through difficult work situations.

By following these tips, you can help your teenager develop a strong work ethic that will serve them well throughout their life. Visit our website to learn more about The Center for Work Ethic Development and our mission of helping people of all ages succeed in the workforce.

The Center for Work Ethic Development has identified the seven most essential workplace skills that help people reach their highest potential in their careers. These foundational skills include attitude, attendance, appearance, ambition, acceptance, appreciation, and accountability. To learn more about The Center for Work Ethic Development’s seven essential workplace skills and how to implement our curriculum in your workplace, visit workethic.org.