Dreadlocks may not be well understood by corporate America and the rest of the business world. The unique hairstyle is popular and attracts attention. However, someone with dreadlocks might be avoided, heard negative statements, or disrespected as part of the team.

To survive in Corporate American or any job with dreadlocks, you must commit to hard work, persistence, and a dedication to excellence. You cannot change or control the actions of others, but you have complete control over how you react and act.

These tips will help you excel and succeed in your career work with dreads:

– Believe in yourself. Regardless of what happens during the workday, keep your self-confidence strong. Those who hired you believe in your abilities to help the company or department meet its goals. Stay focused on that purpose.

– Be professional and dedicated. “Professionalism is knowing how to do it, when to do it, and doing it,” Frank Tyger quotes. In essence, this means doing the best you can for what the company hired you to do. Make it a habit to create to-do lists every day and complete as many tasks as possible.

– Build strong working relationships with co-workers. Be friendly with everyone in the company and be part of the team. Have a positive attitude to be more approachable and easy to work with.

– Have a good work ethic. Put in the long hours or overtime when necessary. And don’t complain when you have to work beyond your standard hours. Take pride in your work and leave a statement of success on each task you complete.

– Arrive on time. Arrive at work on time, or better, five to ten minutes early. Punctuality is important to managers and co-workers. Show your respect for others who depend on the work you do.

– Know your company. Learn about the company, its goals, and how your skills will help achieve those goals. Visit the company website frequently, attend all meetings, and ask questions that will help you better understand your role in the company.

– Dress well. Her clothes should always be clean and ironed. Be sure to follow the company dress code. Shine your shoes and comb your dreadlocks. Men should wear long dreadlocks in a ponytail behind the head. Women are more flexible. An aesthetic or imaging specialist can help you create a professional commercial dreadlock hairstyle.

– Under promise and over deliver. Never take on more than you can handle and research your assignments thoroughly. It’s always better to surprise your coworkers and bosses by doing something other than apologizing for not delivering on time.

– Improve your skills continuously. Learn about advancements happening in your industry and keep your skills up to date to match them. Sign up for online courses, use computer-based training (CBT) CDs, and attend seminars about your job or career.

– Stay positive no matter what. Keep track of what you say to yourself and to others. End conversations on a positive note and an action step. Never say you can’t do a task, but rather you will find a way to solve the problem.

– Work without gossip. Don’t gossip with your co-workers and keep your life private. Walk away, change the subject, or say you don’t like talking about others when someone tries to gossip with you. If gossips talk to you about others, they also talk about you to others. Everyone knows the person who gossips the most. Be careful.

– Learn the art of listening. You have two ears and one mouth, try to listen more than you speak. When someone approaches you for help, advice, inspiration, or anything work related, always give them your undivided attention with eye contact. If for some reason you can’t fully attend to the person at that time, it’s best to reschedule the conversation.

– Limit alcohol consumption at company events. Drinking alcohol creates alter egos that you may not want your coworkers to know about. Also, drunk people make statements about dreadlocks, play with your hair, or ask dumb questions that make you feel uncomfortable.

– Expect some people to dislike your dreadlocks. Don’t worry about his thoughts about you or your life. Les Brown, the motivator, quotes: “What others think of you is none of your spiritual business.” Remember, you are on a mission to be the best you can be.

– Stay motivated for success. Take some spiritual time each day to appreciate who you are and the gifts you have to offer. Keep a place in your work area for family photos, how-to books, and calendars. Develop an attitude of gratitude for your work.

Start today to make yourself more valuable to your company with your dreadlocks hairstyle. Do the best job you can do for each task. When coworkers and managers see your dreadlocks, they’ll also see a person dedicated to the success of the company, your job, and the team.