Read the below will get you some inspiration. Reading is a powerful knowledge.
Building a
successful career draws from several important disciplines. These
time-honored practices, proven to work in every industry, are vital to those
striving to achieve success. Whether you need inspiration to start a new
practice or a boost of motivation to get back on track, take and use these four
leaders’ experiences to bolster your own.
1. Self-knowledge is the foundation.
Without self-knowledge, the pursuit of success is
frustrating. In the ancient world, philosophers encouraged their followers to
reflect. Today’s leaders use their self-understanding to define and reach success.
·
“At several points, my mentors have served
as a mirror for me and helped me to understand myself better,” says Kim Ulmer,
regional president of Royal Bank of Canada. Ulmer’s responsibility includes
managing more than 170 branches and 3,000 staffers.
·
Dave Kasabian, chief marketing officer at
Tagetik, a management software company, says, “My philosophy of growth is to
look inside myself: What do I enjoy? What are my skills and passions?
Based on that knowledge, I make decisions on how to develop.”
·
Assessment tools provide helpful insights
in understanding strengths. For example, Michael Hyatt, author and entrepreneur, referred to StrengthsFinder
2.0, a personal development favorite, as he exited a corporate career to
start a new chapter as an entrepreneur. His strengths, according to the model,
included a focus on achievement and the future.
Self-knowledge requires reflecting on your experiences,
good and bad. Think about last week and take note of when you felt the greatest
satisfaction. You might take greater satisfaction from solving
thorny business problems. Or you might relish the challenge of guiding a new
graduate through their first few months at work.
2. Curiosity is powerful.
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make
you a fortune.” —Jim Rohn
An open and curious mind is vital to make the most of
learning opportunities. Curiosity means looking for an opportunity to learn and
apply ideas outside of the classroom. And engagement and focus is increasingly
vital in leadership roles because your actions and words will quietly influence many
around you.
·
“I usually take one or two courses per year
at a business school to keep my skills sharp,” says Rich Crawford, CEO of
Global Integrated Services.
·
“I have a thirst for knowledge and
regularly go out to meet with business owners to understand their situation,”
Ulmer says. “Recently, I found David Zinger’s
“10 Principles of Engagement” and have found that to be a helpful
resource. It has encouraged [reflecting] on my work several times per day to
see if I am truly engaged.”
·
“One of the most valuable books I’ve read
in my career is Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive, says Ben Sawa, director of
marketing at GEI Consultants Inc., one of the largest engineering firms in the
U.S.
·
Entertainment executive Brian
Grazer—producer of Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code and J. Edgar—attributes
much of his professional success to curiosity and learning from those around
him as he describes in his book, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life.
3. Mentors provide new perspectives and better questions.
Successful leaders consistently reach out to
mentors throughout the course of their careers. The conversation
might start with business, but the lessons are often applicable to a range of
concerns and issues.
·
“I have had several mentors over my career
including family mentors and those in the business community,” Ulmer says.
“Mentors have helped me to adopt a broader perspective and ask questions such
as, ‘Have you taken the time to understand the situation before acting?’”
·
“Every meaningful
mistake I have ever made has involved poor communication. [That’s] a
lesson I learned from a CFO who mentored me. That was an important insight,”
Sawa says. “I also think it is valuable to seek mentors who are different from
you because they can provide a fresh perspective.”
·
“My mentors have helped me to get outside
of the day-to-day flow of work to ask bigger questions,” Kasabian says. “In
1994, I was given a powerful question from a mentor: ‘Draw where you want to be
in five years.’ That exercise helped me to think about my career and the
direction of my life much more deeply. I ended up making a move to another
state, among other decisions
as a result. It was a powerful experience.”
·
“I’m a huge believer in mentors,” Crawford
says. “At present, I’m working with two mentors and I’m learning much from both
of them. I learn about industry best practices from one and work life matters
from another. YPO [Young Presidents’ Organization] had an excellent mentorship
program that I found valuable.”
4. Keep the right company to achieve your
goals.
The company you
keep has a major impact on your success and self-concept. Jim Rohn’s
observation that “you are the average of the five people you spend the most
time with,” rings true for many leaders.
·
“My participation in Young Presidents’ Organization
has been tremendously valuable. It is rare to find so many other executives and
CEOs who are facing similar challenges,” Crawford explains. In addition to
informal networking,
Crawford has benefited from YPO’s mentorship program and specialized
educational programs that serve the needs of executives.
·
“It is important to choose thoughtfully
when it comes to joining organizations,” Ulmer says. “I’m currently involved
with Junior Achievement because they operate on a national level and work on
major problems. I’m also involved with the Manitoba Business Council.”
Where do you find peers to challenge you and help
you grow?
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