“If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.” – ANITA RODDICK, FOUNDER OF THE BODY SHOP
I have had the great opportunity in my career to meet many significant business leaders. Some of them lead global Fortune 500 companies, while others are successful entrepreneurs of small businesses. I am always fascinated by their stories of success and how they got to where they are today. As someone who is consistently evaluating and consulting on human capital, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly impact that some of these executives have had on their own careers and organizations.
In thinking about these business leaders and the impact — both positive and negative — that they have made, there are many traits and attributes I have observed in their careers. Here are some of the most important guidelines in establishing your own impactful career.
Don’t be afraid
It is okay not to know what you don’t know… it’s how you approach the unknown that makes all the difference in the world. What do I mean by this? Don’t be afraid to throw yourself outside of your comfort zone to find the answers you need, to learn something new that will positively impact your job, or to approach others for answers or guidance. Too many times business executives are too intimidated or afraid out of fear of failure to try something new or seek the tools they need to be successful. Failing is one of the best road maps toward success. If we don’t fail, we don’t learn. Whether it be a new technology that you think you could never learn, your lack of knowledge about a certain subject that affects how you approach your work, or your hesitation to ask questions for the fear of looking stupid, you need to overcome these fears and have the courage to take that leap of faith toward success. Some of the best leaders in business today highly respect those executives who don’t have all the answers to every question, but are willing to do what it takes to find out. Don’t be afraid to “find out” for yourself.
Become comfortable with being uncomfortable
There will be days in your job that you absolutely dread. There will be projects that you have to accomplish that will be mind-numbing. There will be people that you have to interact with that you just don’t want to work with. We have all experienced these types of moments in our career; there is no way of avoiding them. It’s how we manage these moments that set us apart from the rest. Anticipate and become comfortable with these moments in your career. Once we become comfortable knowing that we are going to have bad days or have to work on things that we are not looking forward to, our outlook toward these situations becomes different, and over time we get used to those tough times. Your attitude and ability towards “embracing the suck” will go a long way in the eyes of your manager and company leadership.
Become an agent of change
Some like change, while some do not. To really make an impact on your career, one has to embrace and become an agent of change. In today’s fast-paced world of business, decisions happen at a moment’s notice. It’s those executives that adapt and manage change with a positive attitude who set themselves apart from the rest. Not only having the ability to manage yourself through change, but being an agent of change yourself is equally as important. As a leader, I fear complacency. If my organization is not consistently thinking of new and better ways to offer programs and services, our greatest asset (our “customers”) will go away. To really have an impact on your career and your organization is to consistently think about ways in which you and your organization can become better at what you do. There are always new-and- improved ways of doing business, improving a process or procedure, or offering a product or service that differentiates you from your competitor. You just need to consistently have the “agent of change” mentality and create something great.
Extend world class customer service
Think back to a time when you experienced world-class customer service. How did it make you feel? Pretty awesome, right? Well, why can’t you do the same and offer world-class customer service to those around you? Keep this in mind. Your “customer” is not necessarily the person that is “buying” your product or service. Think about your “customer” as those around you, those work colleagues below you and above you. Think about ways in which you could offer world-class customer service to these individuals. Whether it be assisting them on a project, helping them solve a problem that is not within your realm of responsibility, or even extending a simple “hello” or “good morning;” these small gestures of kindness and customer service go a long way in impacting the way people perceive you and your organization. It is also very impactful to have a world-class customer service “state of mind” during all hours of your day. Anticipate and become self-aware of what is going on around you and think about ways in which you can have a positive impact (regardless of how big or small) on a moment’s notice.
Be known… but be humble
One great way to have a positive impact on your career is to become known by many. Cast a wide net of business and community leaders that become part of your close personal and professional network. Become someone who is well-known within your company and community, for all of the right reasons. Establish yourself as someone who is a successful business executive, one that is dedicated towards your family and friends, and one who is passionate about a special cause within your community. Establishing all this while having a humble approach to your persona, will truly be impactful in the eyes of many. It is encouraged to have a high-level of confidence in all that you do, but don’t overdo it. Carry yourself with a sense of security and confidence, while staying humble and having a “how can I help you succeed” mentality.
CRAIG W. PETRUS joined the Hough Graduate School of Business in June of 2009. As Director, Craig is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Graduate Business Career Services and ensuring the delivery of quality career development programming and services to students within the Hough Graduate School of Business at the University of Florida.