Monday, July 27, 2015
Good Morning.
Leaders need to always not only look the part, but act the part as well. Just because you have the big title, don’t forget these attributes to go with it.
Confidence
Confidence without the ability to back it up is useless, but if you’re truly competent, own it.
Candor
Clearly–don’t be dishonest. Beyond that however, truly professional people are forthright. They assess the situation, calculate the risks, and offer a truthful opinion.
Self-awareness
This is a part of displaying confidence–knowing who you are and where you fit in the world, and owning your strengths and weaknesses. Then, work to buttress the things you don’t do as well.
Strategic thinking
One of the basic tenets of success is to start with the end in mind. Truly professional people identify their goals, and work backward to achieve them.
Anticipation
Know that focusing on others’ needs to the point that you can anticipate their challenges and solutions breeds’ confidence.
Caring
Related to anticipation: You can’t truly help others unless you can be bothered to learn about their goals and fears.
Realism
Promise the most you can, consistent with your ability to deliver.
Follow-through
Say you’ll do something; then do it.
Enthusiasm
Smart enthusiasm is a very positive quality. Colin Powell put it best: Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
Diligence
This is related to follow-through, but it’s not exactly the same thing. Be persistent, demonstrate worth ethic, and “check small things.”
Performance
Nothing says “professional” like accomplishments, especially repeated accomplishments over time.
Discretion
Caring and self-awareness, combined with good communications ability, leads to prudence and the ability to be candid without giving offense.
Curiosity
No professional is ever finished learning.
Risk-taking
It’s about the realization that all courses of action involve some risk, and balancing that realization against the paralyzation of inaction.
Humor
You don’t need to be hilarious, but you need a sense of humor; it demonstrates perspective.
Fitness
This is unfortunate but true. If someone looks as if he or she doesn’t care about their health, it’s a lot harder to project professionalism–and with it, the notion that they care about other things.
Authenticity
It’s good advice to “fake it ’til you make it,” but your performance needs to be grounded in truth. Otherwise, no matter your skills, your deficits, your interests–or frankly even the things you aren’t interested in–people can tell.