How to Be Successful

red-ball-different-sml

What makes some people stand out in a crowd? Why is it that some people seem to have the golden touch-no matter what they do, they succeed? What makes someone a top tier leader?

Do they have “skillz” or are they just lucky? Remarkably, the answer is yes. A little bit of both.

Sometimes being in the right place, at the right time, and knowing the right people, puts some folks in places of leadership naturally. When a man owns a business and his son has worked in the business alongside him, it is usually the father’s first choice to pass the business to the son when the father retires. Right place, right time, right person. Or, if a professor just earned tenure and a new teaching position opens up in her specialized field at another university, she has a better shot at getting the position because she can now say she is tenured versus if the position had come open a year earlier. Right time. If a position in the corporate office recently became available and you play golf with that department manager, knowing the right people may help you at least get your foot in the door. Moral of this part of the story? Always be in networking mode. Put your best foot forward (ever heard the phrase, “Don’t dress for the job you have, but dress for the job you want?”), get your name out there, and keep advancing your skills so you’re ready at the right place and time, knowing the right people.

Good leaders definitely have qualities that make them good leaders. Many top leaders would score high in EQ (emotional intelligence). Now, they may also score high in IQ (mental intelligence), but having EQ helps one relate to others. A good leader may have an average IQ, but if he has above average EQ, he may rise to the top faster than someone with a higher IQ. EQ is the level at which someone can read and relate to other people. Someone with a high EQ can tell when someone is being pushed too far or when someone is having a bad day. He can tell when someone needs to be challenged more and knows where that person’s strengths and abilities lie and can give her tasks in that area to help her feel useful and engaged.

Going the extra mile makes a good leader stand out among others. Bosses are continually impressed when someone does her job and then gives a little more to take the task to the next level. When an employee sees the bare minimum that needs to be done and then pushes that bar a little higher, it shows the employer the employee believes in the company and the work. Later, when another task arises, requiring someone committed and competent, the employee that went above and beyond won’t be far from the bosses mind. Those folks who simply do the bare minimum to skate by and collect a paycheck will only blend in with the crowd. Not only will this type of work ethic not get them noticed, it may actually hinder any advancement in the future when they go up against the second-mile folks.

Should a good leaders be someone who works best independently or as a part of a team? Again, the answer is both. If you look back over your employment history it is probably pretty evident that you didn’t get there alone. There were times when you needed to rely on other folks to get the jobs done. However, you can probably also see times in which you needed to work on your own and be a self-starter to meet the demands of the job. Bosses are looking for leaders who can work without much supervision (and be trusted) , but who also work well with others on bigger tasks that require bigger teams. Ever watch Donald Trump’s TV show, The Apprentice? It is always a story about successful self-leadership combined with successful team leadership. Those who can’t play nice with others are often kicked out of the million-dollar proverbial sandbox.

In these tough economic times when job security is anything but secure, employees need to do what they can to make sure they become invaluable to their company. Practicing these leadership skills will make it so the boss will feel as if the company, department, and team couldn’t function without out. If you’re interested in honing your leadership skills, consider utilizing a few career counseling sessions or coaching sessions. It will be a wise investment for a hopefully very profitable future.

Leave a Reply