We Do... The Power of Personality

This is a Chat GPT free zone :-)

Thanks for taking out the time to read this.

So...

You have just applied for a new senior role in a company, be it internally or externally. Exciting times – you are surely a shoo-in for an interview.

You clearly tick the following boxes.

?1.??????Super Bright.

2.??????Hardworking and committed.?

3.??????Technically excellent.

4.??????The right levels of tenure and experience.

5.??????A track record of progression and delivering success.

You have a great shot of getting this one, right?

Sadly not! The reality is you have just made it to level 1, along with the other 500 strong applicants. This in itself is an achievement though, you are at least in the conversation, which is a good place to start.?

But what makes people go from 1 in 500, to the person who actually gets the job? ?

There are so many factors that contribute to getting “The Big Job” or “The Next Job” – funnily enough three main reasons are timing, luck and sponsorship.

The job needs to be free and available when you are ready to take it, on top of that you normally need the buy-in and sponsorship of the people who are appointing you. ?

I love analysing people, skill sets and career paths - and I continually see the same four character traits in individuals who make it to the top.

All of which you can work on and develop.

Key Character Traits:

• Changing Gear

Being able to change gears is a key skill. What do I mean by this?

I see this more and more in exceptional leaders. For example, if someone is always nice, yes they are loved but they can then struggle to drive standards and set the tone. If someone is continually too direct and demanding, they can struggle to connect with people and bring them on the journey. Finding a blend of when to engage and be nice, and when to up the pace - push people and drive standards is critical. You want a leader that can inspire, develop, challenge but also support.

It’s a hard balance to master for sure. Being capable of making tough, but the correct decision is also very important – you can’t keep everyone happy all of the time.

• Self-Awareness

You need to be able to read the room. In fact, you need to be able to read the room before you go into the room, and also then read the room after the room…. Sod it, you also need to read the rooms you are not in!!

I know so many people who have OK self-awareness, or they think they do, but people who nail this with high levels of EQ stand out. (By a mile…)

• Humility

Super bright and talented people don’t need to tell everyone how super bright and talented they are. FACT!

They lead by example and their actions, words, and conduct deliver that message seamlessly for them. The more senior you become and the more influence you get, the more humble you should become.

If all praise goes to your team because they are empowered to deliver then you are in a great place. If you hire and develop people who are better than you then you are winning.

We have all worked with that leader who loves the sounds of their own voice in a meeting, if you are always talking you can’t hear what others have to say.

• Engagement

If you are not diverse in your ability to communicate, inspire and engage with all people then you will struggle and rightly so.

If you want the big jobs you need to pivot and adapt depending on your audience. Each interaction you have goes towards building your branding, and in turn your career trajectory.

My dad always says to me “Be nice to people on the way up, as you might meet them on the way back down”. The concept of being kind does really work.

Simple things like having empathy, or when you ask a question actually listen and care about the answer. Follow up on things and link things back to what you have been told. It re-enforces active listening.

• Conclusion:

Assessing yourself on the above can be tricky I know, but being aware of them at least, or seeking feedback can be a great starting point.

These are just my observations though and what do I really know...

Have a good week.

Patrick

[email protected] ?