If You Can Do These Three Simple Things, You Will Be More Successful
Wouldn’t it be great if, after graduation, every step of your professional path was upward sloping, eventually leading to the achievement of your ultimate career goal?
Unfortunately, this is almost never the case. My professional trajectory resembles an EKG, with a few U-turns thrown in for good measure. So, what knowledge do I have now that I wish I had when I graduated from college 12 years ago?
I’ve made it a point to research successful people throughout my career. Some were people I worked for, while others I worked alongside or volunteered with. Others were people I admired from a distance. I discovered that these successful people shared similar skills, qualities, and characteristics, regardless of their chosen profession. While there are many, I’ve selected three that I believe are the best.
These are the Three Keys to Career Success, as I refer to them. They will assist you in personally and professionally molding yourself so that you are always presenting your best self — in essence, your brand. Furthermore, because they all begin with the letter “C,” they are simple to remember:
#1. The First and Most Important Point: Communication
The first and most important factor is communication. Communication is defined as the ability to express oneself articulately. You may be doomed regardless of your level of education if you are unable to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English! Today’s STEM students have brilliant minds, but when it comes to presenting their findings, many struggles horribly.
When two similarly qualified engineering majors are placed in the same interview room, the one who interacts with the interviewer more effectively is almost certain to be hired. While your resume will almost certainly land you an interview, it is ultimately your ability to speak effectively during the interview that will land you the job.
I am not advocating that everyone become a skilled public speaker. Most emphatically not. You must, however, be able to effectively communicate your ideas throughout the organization.
Communication occurs in ways other than the written and spoken word. According to nonverbal communication studies, only 7% of information is communicated verbally, while 38% is communicated through specific voice components. Nonverbal communication components such as facial expressions, gestures, and posture account for an astounding 55% of the message.
Furthermore, because communication is bidirectional, good listening skills are an essential component of a great communicator. They could even be argued to be more significant. Keep in mind that you want to be interesting rather than fascinating. The most effective communicators I’ve met place a higher value on listening than on being interesting themselves.
#2. Confidence is the second critical factor
Confidence is defined as a person’s belief in one’s own ability to succeed.
The difficulty in achieving a stable balance. If you exude too much confidence, you risk coming across as arrogant and encountering unexpected problems. Confidence, on the other hand, may keep you from taking risks and seizing opportunities in the classroom, at work, and in your personal life.
So, what gives you confidence? Three key points:
- Have faith in your skills
- Confidence in your ability to learn new things and solve problems
- Have faith in your inherent worth
According to psychological research, confidence is just as important to personal success as ability. This is not to say that simply displaying confidence ensures success in whatever you do. That is most emphatically not the case. When two people have comparable knowledge, abilities, and capabilities, the person with more confidence is more likely to succeed.
Confidence, on the other hand, requires courage. The courage to speak up for causes in which you believe. The audacity to speak up in defense of what you believe to be right and fair. The ability to take calculated risks. The courage to fail, and perhaps most importantly, the strength to rise again after falling.
Even if you don’t have all the answers — and no one does — believe in your ability to find them. That is what distinguishes those who persevere to the end from those who give up in the middle or, in the worst-case scenario, quit before they begin.
#3. The Third Crucial Point: Character
The final and most important consideration is character:
Character refers to an individual’s entire set of mental and moral qualities.
Characters are crucial to professional success! Maybe even more than the average person realizes.
A person of exceptional character exhibits a number of positive personality traits, including but not limited to the following:
- Integrity and honesty (these are always at the top of my list)
- Accountability, dependability, and loyalty
- Patience and teamwork
- Emotional Intelligence and Self-Control
- A positive mental attitude is required to achieve optimism
- Enthusiasm and Consistency
- Motivation and zeal
CONCLUSION
How many of these characteristics do you have, and to what extent? Which ones should you prioritize? Your personality has a big influence on your brand. It’s all in your demeanor. It is how you respond to a variety of situations. Your attitude toward success versus your attitude toward failure or setbacks.
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