By Otwiwa OFFEI-AKOTO
This month – May – has offered me the opportunity to reflect a bit more on work. Thanks to May Day and the insightful feedback from readers of my article. After some days of deep internal mental conversations and reflections, here’s my conclusion: Work is one of the most honest mirrors we have. Work doesn’t just reflect how busy we are. It shows who we are becoming or have become.
Beyond the surface of deadlines, reports, and meetings, work quietly tells a deeper story. It shows how we handle pressure, how we treat others, and how we manage ourselves when no one is watching. In that way, work becomes more than what we do—it becomes a reflection of our habits, values, and choices.
Every day, whether in a hospital, an office, a school, or a workshop, people are shaping something far greater than outcomes—they are shaping their own character. The tasks may differ, but the habits that bring success are often the same. They are simple, quiet, and easily overlooked: showing up on time, preparing ahead, completing what we start, listening with care, and following through.
These are not grand traits. But they are the foundation of excellence. What I call simple habits. When we talk about a productive workforce or a strong economy, we often think about big ideas—infrastructure, policy, innovation. Yet, beneath these, there is something more personal and equally powerful: the quality of our habits. Habits shape how people work together, how they recover from mistakes, how they carry the mission of their teams and organisations forward.
In many ways, simple habits are what turn average effort into dependable value.
Consider this: a person who learns to plan their day is more likely to manage time well at work. Someone who practises honesty in small things is more likely to be trusted with bigger responsibilities. The habit of allowing other people’s views and listening actively in conversations often translate to better decision-making in meetings. These things seem minor, but when added up across a team, an organisation—or a nation—they become the hidden engine behind progress.
Interesting, habits don’t begin at work! They are formed long before—at home, in school, through mentorship, and by example. If we want to build a generation of workers who are consistent, responsible, and creative, we must start by planting seeds of good habit early: how to think clearly, manage emotions, respect time, and follow through on goals. This is the work behind the work –both literally and figuratively.
It is easy to chase outcomes. But outcomes, by nature, are temporary. Habits, on the other hand, are lasting. They don’t just help us achieve goals—they shape the kind of people we become in the process. And over time, that makes all the difference.
So the next time you find yourself in the middle of routine tasks—writing emails, solving problems, cleaning tools, answering calls—pause and look into the mirror that work offers. Ask not just “What am I doing?” but “How am I doing it?” Not just “Did I finish this?” but “What kind of person did I become while working on this?”
Because in the end, work remembers. It stores patterns, reveals values, and reflects who we are when no one is looking. Work doesn’t just measure what we produce. It quietly shows who we are —who you are becoming or have become.
And that is the real reward—not only in what we do, but in how we grow while doing it. Pause to look. What do you see in your work mirror?
About the Author
Otwiwa Offei-Akoto is the Executive Director of Simple Habits, a non-profit organisation. Simple Habits offers coaching and training programmes that guide and equip young professionals with the habits and skills needed for effective living and corporate excellence. Contact: +233246480040
