When I first joined the bank, I had to write a weekly summary about my learning points for 8 consecutive weeks during training. I definitely learned something every week but did I need to put it in a report? At the start it felt like a chore, but after the next few weeks, I started to appreciate that being able to put things in writing enforced what I learned. Our minds and body are the most powerful tools ever created, even we ourselves may not understand how far we can go. Remember that many points in life where you thought something was not possible and you did it at the end? We can be trained and conditioned to so many things and that's why I believe we should always give things a shot if there is a fraction of a chance we can do it. All successful leaders have gone through rough patches and huge failures that at the time may seem like what their lives were destined to be. But there was one ingredient in their DNA that gave them a chance; believe. I still consider myself nowhere in my career but I understand the world a lot better these days so I am going to put down what I've learned.
1) A good attitude is key
Having a good attitude not only benefits the organisation, it benefits yourself. Being positive and being open to changes is probably the most powerful attribute anyone needs to have. Based on my observation, without looking at technical knowledge, this is what defines someone. With those characteristics, you will learn and grow tremendously in most things you do. Put it simply, if one day the organisation decides to downsize its workforce or promote someone, what are the factors do you think they will consider?
Jack Welch, the legendary former CEO of GE, says he categorises leaders into 4 quadrants, according to their results and how well they lived GE's values.
Q1: Performing and have good values
Q2: Not performing but have good values
Q3: Performing but have bad values
Q4: Not performing and have bad values
Q1 and Q4 are plain obvious choices, Q1 will stay and Q4 will go. But Q2 and Q3 are right in the middle, so who does he keep or promote? Based on his book "Winning", he would prefer Q2, because these are the people who have a better chance of getting into Q1 in the future with more mentoring and coaching. He says Q3 are the most difficult people to get rid off mainly because they are performing but chances are they will always remain in Q3. There is no hard and fast rule about this. So if you are looking to excel in your current or future job, put some thought into living the company's values at work. Of course, having a good attitude at work will be part of that equation.
2) Think like a boss, but you don't need to act like one
If your goal in the future is to become a boss, you need to adopt some traits from your current boss. I am sure every boss has some aspects we don't think is best, but we have to admit some values and characteristics they have, puts them where they are today. Whether it's their ability to manage a team, being understanding, taking their time to guide you or purely because they can talk their way out of anything, there is definitely something we admire even for the worst bosses. I think it's important to take time to understand how our bosses think, what they like or dislike and the reason behind it and maybe even what inspires them. Then try putting yourself in their positions and predict a course of action or outcome they would make in different situations. This may seem like a simulation today but it may be steps taking you to the next level by thinking this way.
3) Be likeable or at least try
Likeability is something that can create situations that don't make sense. Likeability itself is very subjective. There are people who may be so unlikeable in one place but is really loved in another. There are people who are not very good at their job but get promoted faster. Being in any organisation, we need to shape ourselves into the our workplace which means possibly making changes to ourselves. There is a common saying is always be yourself no matter what. Of course quotes like this are never absolute. There are people who are stubborn, always resistant or prefer to fly solo. You can't have these people "always being themselves". If you feel there is some part of you that falls into this category, take time to understand likeability. I know some people will be asking whether it is called "sucking up to the boss". Yes and No. Yes, you need your boss' seal of approval if you are working under them but at the same time going a great extent to impress the boss may actually raise suspicion. If what you are doing doesn't seem genuine from the heart, your boss will see through you and that's a no-no. What should you do? Take the effort to understand the people around you, communicate and take time to strengthen relationships at work. Those extra steps will be noticed very quickly and you'll be surprised what far you can go.
4) Be critical
You might feel like sometimes you are working like a robot, but you aren't one. Although the orders come from above, the onus are still on the people who do the actual job. Directions from above may come in 3 short sentences like reduce cost by 20%, freeze hiring or improve lead time by 3 days. How it is executed depends on the people working on it. Whether you are a leader or not, always be ready to question and be critical of decision making. Yes, bosses make the ultimate decision at the end of the day but they are rarely the people who do the actual work. Good leaders will always be open to suggestions and critical thinking, logically because people below have the actual experience and more brains work better than one. In a rapid changing environment, organisations today know they cannot run the business like they did 10-20 years ago, they need their people to think on their feet and respond quickly to the market. If you have the aim of going further, ask more questions, give more suggestions, critically evaluate decision making and of course think of ways to create value.
5) Work as a team
Working as team does not just mean doing your own part. There are few jobs in the world that outlines every role in the employment letter. In every job you'd be ask to do things like photocopying, shift boxes, organise events or carry out special projects, out of your normal job scope. But beyond the additional tasks you do, how are you contributing to the team? To me, working in a team is something that builds character as you not only focus on doing your part but think about achieving the ultimate goal in the future, which is for the team to succeed. Most leaders in the world are not born with leadership skills but rather they have developed them very early in their lives. Playing a sport is a perfect example how even young children get to learn about teamwork and leadership. Most team sports elect a leader or captain and that person is not only talented but has the leadership skills to drive the team forward. Some of the members of the team may be envious of the captain's position but some are more than happy not to be elected. At work it's actually the same, not every one wants to be the leader. Jeff Bezos warns about loneliness being at the top with only a handful of "same level" people to hang out with. Although you might not have acquired the leadership skills now, understanding your role and being a team player will get you there. But of course, if you want to shine above others, it's time to take the lead.
Thanks for reading
~deyao~
