In this issue we are going to discuss the rationale for
improving your performance to be the best at what you do.
Effective leaders learn early in their careers how to work
with others to get the best results possible. As good as you
think you may be at your job, no one person can get the job
done alone effectively. In fact, when you get to a certain
level within an organization it becomes less important what
you do on an individual basis. Your focus becomes how to
motivate and influence others to perform at the highest level
possible. However, before you can begin to lead others
effectively, your individual performance needs to be at a
certain level.
Those who desire to move up the corporate ladder are first
judged by the results they achieve. Demonstrating the ability
to achieve business results will create more willingness for
senior leaders to help you work on improving other
competencies that may need improvement. Let’s face it. Without
having the ability to perform at a high level in your current
position, you will not be taken seriously regarding upward
career movement. If you are not getting the desired response
to your promotability inquiries, make sure you heed any
feedback regarding your current performance whether you agree
or not.
A sure ticket to career success is to create a track record
through “great” performance which will lead to the desired
senior level leadership position. The most typical way to
reach your career goals is to perform at a level that creates
a clear distinction between you and your peers.
Most organizations do not have the expectation that every
employee will fall in the high performing category. However in
today’s workplace, providing mediocre results could soon find
you seeking opportunities elsewhere. Organizations do expect
you to minimally perform at the “good” level. Given that most
of your peers will perform in order to reach their career
goals, the question becomes, “what are you willing to do in
order to stand out above the crowd”?
If you have been guilty of just doing enough to get by or
just being “good” at your job, I encourage you to determine
what you need to do to make your current environment more
challenging. The secret to true career success is to learn how
to thrive within your organization. Remaining bored will set
you up for the possibility of becoming complacent and possibly
never being viewed as promotable. Here are some
recommendations to assist you in your transition of becoming a
“great” leader.
- Take the time to identify the competencies you must
display to get to your next position.
- Always be looking at least two job positions ahead of
your current one and determine the knowledge or
performance gaps that must be closed in order to reach
your desired future positions.
- Identify a mentor who demonstrates the skills within
the highest position you aspire to and establish a
relationship to get feedback on how to execute your career
goals. Remember, most executives are busy so only ask to
meet once a quarter for an hour and show that you are
listening to the feedback by demonstrating progress. If
they see you are trying they are more likely to give you
more than what you originally asked for.
- The size of your organization will determine how hard
you must work to get the needed visibility to be viewed as
either a valued team contributor or high potential
candidate.
- The smaller the organization the more visibility you
have, so make sure the view that senior leadership has of
you is one that is valued within the organization. Small
accomplishments can stand out as significant to the
success of the organization.
- Within a larger work environment, make sure you are
positioned on teams or special projects that are highly
visible to ensure you stand out. Deliver phenomenal
feedback and expertise to the team that will allow them to
create impactful results. Become known for your execution
skills.
- Upward movement within an organization happens as a
result of demonstrating the skills to lead others.
- Whenever possible, volunteer to serve as a team leader
to enhance your ability to effectively communicate,
motivate, and influence others. Always remember, it is not
about you. The focus needs to be on how you help others be
successful. Creating such a track record will go a long
way in demonstrating your leadership skill sets.
- Always lead with integrity. Never forget how you felt
when you did not get the desired level of support. Follow
through on any commitments. People will remember what you
do and not what you said you would do.
- Always work on your self development. Leaders evolve
into greatness by continually striving to be the best.
Never stop learning. Listen to self development tapes in
your car, read the most current business books and put the
recommended principles into action.
If you would like to talk about creating your own
customized “greatness” plan, give
me a call .
