What is the magic formula for getting ahead? What can I do to accelerate my career advancement? What should I do to get noticed and promoted? These are common questions, and the secret to unlock potential for career advancement is nearly as common.
A few tips to get ahead:
Apply Yourself
A great idea alone will not succeed as much as a good idea with great effort. Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb with a single stroke of genius, but rather with consistent applied effort to test, study the results, and try again. Inspiration springs from busy hands and busy minds. Keep challenging yourself, keep applying yourself, and you will amaze yourself.
Some people allow themselves to be limited by accepting lower expectations or making minimal commitments, but not you. You have talent, skill, and experience that make you unique. As you apply your talents, you will learn more about how to use your skills. Like a professional athlete or an artisan, consistently exercising your talents will not exhaust them, but rather make them even better. Surprisingly, the more that you do, the more that you are capable of doing. You do not need to wait to be challenged, or wait for responsibility to be thrust upon you. Rather, set very specific goals for yourself and apply yourself to attain those goals. Every achievement will build more confidence, more excitement, and more desire.
Helpful
If you want to get ahead, hone your personal skills, but keep constant attention on opportunities to help those around you to succeed. It may seem contrary to think that building personal success is predicated on supporting the success of the people around you, but it is a fundamental truth. Some people call it Karma, and some people call it common sense. The way that you treat your peers, your partners, your customers, and your coworkers will all come back to you.
Perhaps you are too pragmatic to believe in Karma. If this is the case, contrast the two potential extremes of your actions as a method to compare the result. If you achieve success by taking advantage of customers, coworkers, partners, and peers, how long would you expect that temporary success to last? If you achieve success by deceiving clients, would you expect them to remain loyal? If you achieve success at the expense of coworkers or peers, would you expect them to continue to give you support, dedication, and cooperation? What would happen to your success if it is at the expense of others?
On the contrary, if you invest your time and effort in the attainment of the aspirations of customers, coworkers, partners, and peers, then what is the result? If you earn a reputation for taking care of customers, could that help you to earn more customers? Will customers be more loyal if they know that you contribute to their success and satisfaction? If you assist coworkers, peers, and partners to succeed, will they be more likely to help you in return? Will successful partners and peers be more able to help you than the ones that are sacrificed for personal benefit? If you make other people more successful, then will it be more beneficial for you to be surrounded by grateful satisfied people? When measured in these simple terms, karma is not so mystical after all.
Ethics
Act with integrity. Regardless of what position you have or what you do, ethical behavior is critical to your personal success. Integrity is built on ethics and is the cornerstone for credibility. If you can be trusted, then your commitments can also be trusted. Customers are reluctant to make purchases, even at discount prices, from an individual or an organization that does not have a reputation for ethical behavior. Why is this so? How can a good price commitment be trusted if the quality, commitment, or integrity of the individual or organization can not be trusted? By contrast, if the individual or organization can be trusted and continually demonstrates a commitment to ethical behavior, then isn't it more likely to have confidence in a good offer? The same logic applies to customer service, finance, and even management.
Ethical behavior is especially important for management. It creates standards and a culture for the rest of the organization. Workers and peers have more confidence and commitment in a leader that demonstrates ethical behavior. In the absence of ethics there is trepidation, fear, and a risk of contagion. The guidelines are established by leadership, good or bad. Leadership can come from anywhere in the organization that ethics are strongly supported, even if it is not demonstrated by management. Ethical leadership is like a bright light, causing unethical behavior to hide in the shadows. Carry a torch of integrity, especially if you are in a management position.
Authentic
Be yourself. You are a one of a kind blend of talent, experience, knowledge, and skills. There is nobody else like you, and nobody else has lived your life. Being authentic requires the integrity to be honest about your talents and feelings, confident enough to share your experience and skills with others, and the dedication to do it daily.
You may discover your personal strengths by watching the success of others, reading a book, attending a class, or in a workshop. It is common to see the actions, and the results of actions, in other people, and to adopt some of those traits in our own lives. If this learning is successful for you to seemingly develop new skills, then you are actually merely discovering something about yourself that had not yet been realized. On the other hand, if the tips and techniques taught by others is not effective for you, then it is not because you are bad student, but rather that the techniques may not be a match for your personal strengths. If some techniques do not work for you, then explore to find new ones that do. In the course of this activity, you will learn more about yourself. How you share your strengths and this knowledge will determine how authentic you are to other. Dare to authentic.
Diligent
You work hard. You get tired. You want a break. That's fine, you deserve to take a break, but that does not mean that you take a break from being diligent.
Daily diligence means a focus on the seemingly little things that contribute to the overall success. Diligence requires dedication and attention to detail. It requires concentrated effort in the direction of specific goals. Diligence does not mean that you never take a break, but it does mean that your efforts are truly meaningful, directed, and have attention to detail. It means follow-up, and not merely assuming that everything will work out in the end. It means giving your full effort, even when you think that other people are not working as hard or seem to have given up. Diligence is the drive that keeps you going, even when the motivation in your tank is running low.
Tips for Career Advancement
Advancing your career is not merely defined by betting a promotion. Creating opportunity for career advancement is the result of continually developing your personal skills, supporting the success of others and your organization. In the process of developing your personal strengths and habits, you will discover career choices that can maximize and leverage your talents. In supporting others, you may unlock new opportunities to expand your horizons, or propel your personal advancement. These things are byproducts of the process, but should not be the focus of your efforts. If you focus on the process of continual improvement, success will naturally follow.
Apply yourself, be Helpful, Ethical, Authentic, and Diligent.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Common sense is not no common."- Voltaire
"He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor." - Menander
"If you are not open to advice, then you are breathing your own exhaust."- Dan Tafel
"Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance."- Samuel Johnson
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Showing posts with label Dan Tafel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Tafel. Show all posts
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Taboo Topics
Can avoiding taboo topics in communication have a critical impact on clients, partners, peer, family, and friends? How do candid conversations empower a trusted advocate?
What is the difference between a trusted advisor and a trusted advocate?
A trusted advisor supplies expert experience, education, and knowledge in exchange for a fee, compensation, or a sale. The advisor provides useful insight, and may help architect an appropriate solution for your individual needs, or to address your problems.
A trusted advocate invests expert experience, education, and knowledge in the interest of enabling you to attain your goals. The advocate applies insight, and is an active participant in building the appropriate solutions or tools to achieve your aspirations.
A trusted advisor can be a trusted advocate. The terms are not mutually exclusive. The question is, are you acting with authenticity and integrity for the obligations of your clients and partners, or are you just acting because your real obligations are for yourself?
A trusted advocate may be a vendor, contractor, business partner, colleague, or peer. The recommendations of a trusted advisor may result in a sale. The actions of a trusted advocate result in a relationship. The development of a network of relationships may result in sales, and will surely result in better opportunities. The relationships of a trusted advocate create opportunities for meaningful and unbridled communications, because the obligations between the client or advisor are more important than the risk of a reaction to the advice.
What are the benefits of open and unbridled communications?
If there is opportunity to conduct business, it is much more efficient to define the scope, limitations, expectations, risks, and rewards of the business commitments and transactions in completely candid and honest dialogue. This not only expedites the process, it also clearly identifies and addresses obstacles that may otherwise delay or stall negotiations. Candid communications enables all sides to share concerns, uncovering and addressing reservations that could otherwise explode at a later stage of the process. If the obstacles preclude any opportunity for immediate business, then it is certainly better to identify that fact early in the relationship, and to nurture the obligations until such time that the obstacles can be mutually resolved. The whole process is simplified when hidden agendas are removed, goals are revealed, and mutual responsibilities are aligned.
Do you have the confidence to participate in unbridled communications? A new survey by MFS Investment Management reveals that a vast majority of clients and advisors have a hard time talking about even basic issues. In speaking with a financial planner, 98% of clients and advisors responding to the survey revealed that they avoided topics like health problems and life expectancy. As a result, developing financial plans for lifelong security may be based on erroneous assumptions.
According to the survey by MFS Investment Management, the following percentage of financial advisors and clients avoided these taboo topics:
* 55% avoided discussing Life Expectancy
* 53% avoided discussing Health Care Issues
* 34% avoided discussing How Long Savings Will Last
* 34% avoided discussing Legacy Planning
As a client, what is the personal risk that is introduced when such critical taboo topics are politely avoided because the topic may be slightly uncomfortable at first? As an advocate for the client, how much more meaningful is the relationship when the personal financial advisor demonstrates the depth of obligation by addressing the most critical topics that could impact financial stability of the client in the years to come?
Review your own situation and your personal agenda. Are you comfortable in your conversations about the weather, and patiently avoiding the risk of a real conversation? Or, do you have the confidence to partake in a candid and unbridled communication about the topics that are most relevant to your clients, partners, peers, family members, and friends?
Candid communication does not mean confrontational or controversial contact. It does, however, occasionally introduce a temporarily uncomfortable situation when the parties involved in the dialogue are suddenly exposed with honesty and openness. Get to the heart of your clients and partners by getting to the heart of the conversation, and become a trusted advocate.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Let us overthrow the totems, break the taboos. Or better, let us consider them cancelled. Coldly, let us be intelligent."- Pierre Trudeau
"If indeed you must be candid, be candid beautifully."- Kahlil Gibran
"It is the advisor who suffers most from bad advice."- John Mehrmann
______________________________________________________"John earned Service Net's business by patiently educating Service Net about the logistics as an industry consultant, not as a representative of his company or interests. He's an asset as an industry expert, regardless of the company he represents. He's a "go to" person which I interpret as a "trusted advocate", not a sales person."
Dan Tafel
General Manager, National Sales
Service Net
The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity is available now online in hardcover and paperback from www.Amazon.com (Hardcover), www.Amazon.com (Paperback), www.BarnessndNoble,com, www.Borders.com, www.Target.com, www.Buy.com, ,www.iUniverse.com, and many other fine booksellers.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is author of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, the fundamental guide to achieve extraordinary sales and sustain loyal customers. John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, and educational articles. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
What is the difference between a trusted advisor and a trusted advocate?
A trusted advisor supplies expert experience, education, and knowledge in exchange for a fee, compensation, or a sale. The advisor provides useful insight, and may help architect an appropriate solution for your individual needs, or to address your problems.
A trusted advocate invests expert experience, education, and knowledge in the interest of enabling you to attain your goals. The advocate applies insight, and is an active participant in building the appropriate solutions or tools to achieve your aspirations.
A trusted advisor can be a trusted advocate. The terms are not mutually exclusive. The question is, are you acting with authenticity and integrity for the obligations of your clients and partners, or are you just acting because your real obligations are for yourself?
A trusted advocate may be a vendor, contractor, business partner, colleague, or peer. The recommendations of a trusted advisor may result in a sale. The actions of a trusted advocate result in a relationship. The development of a network of relationships may result in sales, and will surely result in better opportunities. The relationships of a trusted advocate create opportunities for meaningful and unbridled communications, because the obligations between the client or advisor are more important than the risk of a reaction to the advice.
What are the benefits of open and unbridled communications?
If there is opportunity to conduct business, it is much more efficient to define the scope, limitations, expectations, risks, and rewards of the business commitments and transactions in completely candid and honest dialogue. This not only expedites the process, it also clearly identifies and addresses obstacles that may otherwise delay or stall negotiations. Candid communications enables all sides to share concerns, uncovering and addressing reservations that could otherwise explode at a later stage of the process. If the obstacles preclude any opportunity for immediate business, then it is certainly better to identify that fact early in the relationship, and to nurture the obligations until such time that the obstacles can be mutually resolved. The whole process is simplified when hidden agendas are removed, goals are revealed, and mutual responsibilities are aligned.
Do you have the confidence to participate in unbridled communications? A new survey by MFS Investment Management reveals that a vast majority of clients and advisors have a hard time talking about even basic issues. In speaking with a financial planner, 98% of clients and advisors responding to the survey revealed that they avoided topics like health problems and life expectancy. As a result, developing financial plans for lifelong security may be based on erroneous assumptions.
According to the survey by MFS Investment Management, the following percentage of financial advisors and clients avoided these taboo topics:
* 55% avoided discussing Life Expectancy
* 53% avoided discussing Health Care Issues
* 34% avoided discussing How Long Savings Will Last
* 34% avoided discussing Legacy Planning
As a client, what is the personal risk that is introduced when such critical taboo topics are politely avoided because the topic may be slightly uncomfortable at first? As an advocate for the client, how much more meaningful is the relationship when the personal financial advisor demonstrates the depth of obligation by addressing the most critical topics that could impact financial stability of the client in the years to come?
Review your own situation and your personal agenda. Are you comfortable in your conversations about the weather, and patiently avoiding the risk of a real conversation? Or, do you have the confidence to partake in a candid and unbridled communication about the topics that are most relevant to your clients, partners, peers, family members, and friends?
Candid communication does not mean confrontational or controversial contact. It does, however, occasionally introduce a temporarily uncomfortable situation when the parties involved in the dialogue are suddenly exposed with honesty and openness. Get to the heart of your clients and partners by getting to the heart of the conversation, and become a trusted advocate.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Let us overthrow the totems, break the taboos. Or better, let us consider them cancelled. Coldly, let us be intelligent."- Pierre Trudeau
"If indeed you must be candid, be candid beautifully."- Kahlil Gibran
"It is the advisor who suffers most from bad advice."- John Mehrmann
______________________________________________________"John earned Service Net's business by patiently educating Service Net about the logistics as an industry consultant, not as a representative of his company or interests. He's an asset as an industry expert, regardless of the company he represents. He's a "go to" person which I interpret as a "trusted advocate", not a sales person."
Dan Tafel
General Manager, National Sales
Service Net
The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity is available now online in hardcover and paperback from www.Amazon.com (Hardcover), www.Amazon.com (Paperback), www.BarnessndNoble,com, www.Borders.com, www.Target.com, www.Buy.com, ,www.iUniverse.com, and many other fine booksellers.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is author of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, the fundamental guide to achieve extraordinary sales and sustain loyal customers. John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, and educational articles. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
