HABITS OF A RISING STAR
The age of the CEO is decreasing
faster than ever. We have younger heads of cells in companies. A Harvard Business Review
says today's top executives reach their senior-level positions, and high income
levels, faster than ever before.
Yet there are many who slog it out to no avail. Their growth is stagnant or at
the most sluggish. In case of women it’s even more rampant. Even in these
liberal times we still see very few women at leadership ranks.
After the initial year or couple of years, the skills you learnt in college and business schools are need to be forgotten. They are only good enough for competent or average performance. For going that extra mile you need to put in practice some ordinary tactics a bit extraordinarily.
INFLUENCE PEOPLE
One very easy approach is to influence people around you. A British professional now working in Mumbai, India, with a networking platform, has this amazing way of striking a conversation and carrying it forward endlessly without making it a bit boring. So much so that when you meet him an hour later after the earlier conversation ended, he still has a lot to discuss with you. He does absolutely influence people. Everybody who talks to him develops a very positive inclination towards him. His juniors don’t hesitate to approach him to discuss their office problems at any time even though mostly he’s seen engrossed in his laptop with a deadly seriousness.
WHAT TO SAY
Most of us are generally run out of topics when talking to others. You may easily pass off the case of the professional mentioned above as an exception. That thing about the gift of gab and all you may utter. Well then, you need to know what he talks about. He talks about you with you. No personal questions to begin with. It’s about your work, your achievements, your goals. And he instantly praises you for even your smallest feat. The whole hour is filled with “YOU”. He makes people feel special. Does it have anything to do with the gift of gab?
NOW!
That’s the key. Get cracking NOW!
Because according to the Harvard Business Review, in today's business
environment, if you want to make it to the top, you can't afford any delays in
advancement. Just one missed promotion can set you back years.
Get along with anyone. Even the most difficult people can be made to like you.
And yes, don’t forget to do this to your boss. Turn her into a cheerleader for
your future success.
Generally people are not happy with anybody’s success other than their own. But if they like you, they’ll be happy for you and even vouch for your promotion.
Establish yourself as a highly sought after prospect for leadership. When they think of a leader, it’s you. And when you are on the winner’s streak, it’s easier to deliver great performance. Also, you won’t be chided for slipups. Instead you’ll hear your boss standing by you, “She’s already overloaded with work.” Or “It’s teamwork. The leader alone can’t be held responsible for the mess.”
Don’t make it any later now. There’s no better time than now to start anything good.
