Business | Opinion
The attitude of career success
Your attitude determines how you succeed at work. Hence, discovering and learning the right attitude for career success is vital early-on.
- By Sanjiv Anand and Bhaskar Menon
- Published: 23:38 December 9, 2008
Your attitude determines how you succeed at work. Hence, discovering and learning the right attitude for career success is vital early-on.
In today's corporate jungle it is survival of the fittest and a question to ask in order to survive is: How can I build a more positive attitude and maintain it? The answer was fairly simple - constantly have a positive outlook by disciplining your mind through repetition.
The foundation for a successful career for the new executive is to volunteer for assignments, especially work those others won't do. Also, demonstrate willingness to learn and chip in. Avoid feelings of being exploited when you do work that others won't do. What you are really showing is that you are the company's competitive advantage. Act upon things and make sure that plans aren't just plans on paper. Every step should have an action plan and make sure you deliver what is supposed to be delivered.
Do not become a one-project person and learn to handle more than one project at a time. In the current competitive landscape, companies are forced to deliver more with less. Learn to multitask and when you do that, you not only become an asset to the company but you will also end up learning more.
Push and pull
As a new executive at work, there is a tendency for people not to take you seriously. They will try to get away with things - do not take no for an answer. Learn that timing is an important element in any of your requests or questions and something that is not granted now can be granted later. Know when to push and when to pull back.
Take personal responsibility for your work and do not push blame or look for excuses regarding tasks that are not completed to satisfaction. Own up to your mistakes and at the same time, do not hog the limelight when something is right.
Do not gossip or spreading ill will. Nothing kills your career faster than being a rumourmonger early on in your career. Avoid office politics at all costs. Valuing people doesn't just mean your peer or your colleagues and includes everyone you work with in your company. Believe in people and how they can help you. More importantly, believe how you can help them by giving them hope, confidence and help in the things they do.
Believe that you have a personal responsibility for your own career success. You need to realise that you are in charge of your own destiny. If something bad happens, do not blame anyone else. Every position and every project is within reach.
People who are successful at their careers are people who believe they can do it. Believe that as long as you learn from your mistakes then it is not a wasted mistake. Your attitude towards failure will determine how successful you become in your career. While you may not be able to practice to perfection all these tips, you can at least start with a few. Consistently do them, and you will meet with career success sooner than you know.
Written by Sanjiv Anand, Managing Director, and Bhaskar Menon, Principal Consultant, at Cedar Consulting.
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