The topic of responsibility as related to personal job growth and success is timeless. Regardless of the organization
in which I work as a business leadership coach, it is inevitable that I will encounter some individuals who express frustration with the lack of effort that their boss or their company makes toward helping them advance. We’ve addressed this previously a couple of times and the message relates to us as individuals taking charge of what we want to achieve.
In order for more of us to individually view our advancement and ultimate success a
s OUR job the degree of ‘employee engagement’ must improve. Recent studies indicate that only 1/3 of the workforce is actively engaged and over half are unengaged or totally disengaged. Thus it’s not surprising that one complaint I hear in working with people across all industries is that ‘my organization isn’t doing anything to help me grow and move upward.
Okay. The message is clear. If we want to advance and ultimately be more and more successful, we have to view this as our job and our job alone. And yet … what do we do to accomplish that job? With some specific suggestions, the
on-line publication ‘The Muse’ has identified a long list of ‘to-do’ behaviors we can implement as a means of building and developing a successful career in an article entitled ‘47 Habits of Successful People’. Those who adopt these things are the ones who experience the promotions and raises leading to their personal ‘wins’ and the best news is that they are things one can implement immediately … like today. Some of these are as follows:
- They think about the skills they need for the next job
- They speak up in meetings
- They get to know the higher-ups
- They take charge
- They look for leadership opportunities
- They think like managers, not employees
- They focus on results, not just activities
- They pitch in
- They listen to feedback
- They solve problems
- They commit to learning
- They’re comfortable with pressure
- They own up to their mistakes
- They’re not afraid to ask for help
- They Actually Like Their Jobs
Marshall Goldsmith, a renowned business coach, puts forth six straightforward and simple steps as questions to ask ourselves at day’s end as follows. They all begin with “Did I do my best …”
- To set clear goals?
Do I know what I’m aiming to achieve in a clear and understood way? - To make progress to achieve my own goals?
Are you successful moving toward them or do you find yourself stuck at some point? - To be happy?
As a result of the satisfaction I feel in moving toward my goal? - To find meaning?
Is the work I’m doing providing a sense of satisfaction through progress I am making in getting closer to achieving my goals? - To build positive relationships?
With others to whom I can turn for desired help or provide help as needed? - To be fully engaged?
To the degree to which I commit to being conscientiously engaged will have a very positive impact on the results I can anticipate
Whether the economy is strong or weak … whether the business or industry you’re in is soaring or stagnant 
… being willing to view our personal growth and success as our individual responsibility is the one thing that we can count on. Accepting it as our job gives us the best chance of accomplishing whatever we want to accomplish. Considering the actions and questions listed above will help us to stay the course that we have for ourselves by serving as foundational elements that help to maintain our focus and drive to wherever we decide we want to go. Why would anyone want to give that power to another? I sure wouldn’t!
Mike Dorman
