Skills Needed for Advancement: Technical … Yes, AND Just One More Thing!

When coaching an individual pertaining to their work an often expressed desire is to be recognized as a candidate to advance in a way that will enable her/him to earn more money.  Although some are willing to rely on others to find them ready, others enter the initial job with every intention of advancing as quickly as possible and doing what they can to impress the bosses with their capabilities and, in turn, make  them worthy of promotion.  This latter group stands to find success faster because they see making their own success as their job.

Impressing others with the technical skills needed for the work is most often the key focus and yet, it turns out, this is just one key ingredient. As a stand-alone, it stops short of what can further the perception of being a stand-out candidate for advancement. 

 What does this mean when, perhaps, and especially, you are not in charge of others and thus are leading no-one but yourself?

An article produced on-line by BusinessTimezoneGlobal organization addresses this issue simply and effectively.  It speaks well to “… – how to define yourself as a leader in your organization”.  “A leader has multiple attributes that distinguish him as different from the masses and that he can be looked up to by members of his organization.”  And here are the three ways in which you can add ‘leadership’ to your resume of the technical attributes that you might already possess.

1. Establish Yourself As Dependable. Today’s business environments need reliable problem-solvers. The more you become dependable more your stature grows as a recognized leader.

2. Resourcefulness is the next crucial step. Being able to know or find the answers to problems will always be valued. Also, making yourself available always gets the attention of upper management. The importance of data sometimes defines the success of the operation; however, all business systems still depend on human interaction.

3. Make Yourself Approachable to your peer group and your junior colleagues. This enhances your reputation as a team player and a great motivator.

Asserting oneself as a dependable person sounds like a good thing to do and what that means in an organization is the taking on of new responsibilities and completing them.  Here are some key attributes of the successful, dependable leader:

1. Leading From the Front ~ remaining outside of the various points of view and decisions that might be offered on the way to the final move-forward plan is a valuable and necessary attribute of the leader. As such you avoid taking the easier route that can come from the hasty decision and this requires discipline.
2. Being a good listener and communicator ~ demonstrating your willingness and ability to allow others to speak and truly hear and understand what they are conveying is something that a good leader does and does well.
3. Having good follow-up after plan execution ~ this provides the continuing direction that successful project execution needs to maximize success. Your leader skills make this a no-brainer.
4. Emphasizing the human approach ~ and earn the appreciation of colleagues as they believe in you and your abilities. Be it hearing their problems and attempting to help solve them gains respect and is another sign of a good leader.

Undoubtedly there are those we could identify as ‘natural born leaders’.  Yet, and the great news, is that developing and demonstrating ‘leadership skills’ isn’t a form of rocket science.  Incorporating the above ‘traits’ into being a part of your daily approach to your job will definitely enhance the very resume that you want to use in applying and being considered for your next advancement.  Ka-ching … Ka-ching!
Mike Dorman