Many of us do not like our jobs and go to them with reluctance or outright irritation. This usually happens because a person has been stuck in the same position for years, sees no prospects and works only because “he has to.” Some people don’t achieve high results because they don’t see the potential in themselves and their abilities. But when considering the issue of success at work, I would like to quote this wise quote from Spiritual Economics: “What does “if you can” mean? - Jesus told him. “He who has faith can do anything” (RBO, Mark 9:23). And it’s not only about faith in God, but also about faith in yourself. If you believe in yourself and your success, then you will definitely succeed. And today we will tell you exactly how to start this process.
What is professional success
Professional success is the achievement of your work goals, success in professional self-realization and recognition of your achievements by society. Each person determines the criteria for success for himself: position, monthly income, praise from superiors, words of gratitude from clients, fame.
Success is often understood not as the final result, but as the process of successful development in the profession itself. Then success is measured not only by what a person has already been able to achieve, but also by the professional knowledge, skills, and experience he has.
Most people consider professional success to be building their own business, finding a calling and making money from it. A person is considered successful if he not only earns well, but also maintains a balance in his life and enjoys what he does.
Do your research
It is also useful to stock up on external data, says Nawaz. “The more senior you are, the more likely it is that your boss is not the one making the decision to promote,” she notes. “Other leaders will also have their say.” She recommends "asking for feedback from mentors" to learn about your strengths and weaknesses, and talking to colleagues to "check your reputation within the company."
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Past experience is a precedent. Find out how others have achieved promotion. This will help you find effective strategies. Also ask your colleagues if they think you are ready for a promotion. And when it comes to meeting your request, “it's not just business results that matter; you have to be the person people are willing to follow.”
What does success in professional activity depend on?
Here's what success in the profession is associated with:
- Winner's mindset. Anyone who is determined to lose will lose. Those who are determined to succeed and do not allow fears and doubts to stand in the way of their goals achieve success. In simple terms, there is a winner and a non-winner mindset.
- Self confidence. To achieve success in the profession, you need to be able to insist on your own, refuse, and express your opinion. Insecure people are afraid of all this.
- Self-acceptance. To achieve success, you need to understand yourself and understand your desires, needs, and abilities.
- Goal setting and planning. Understanding yourself is not enough - you need to define goals and go towards them.
In addition, it is important to treat difficulties as opportunities for growth, notice even small achievements, enjoy everyday little things and praise yourself.
Don't resist change
Change usually makes us feel uncomfortable because it forces us to step out of our comfort zone. This is a process of adaptation to new circumstances. In many cases, this means changing everything you have done up to this point.
For example, think about when technology began to be associated with business. People had to adapt by undergoing training and putting in the effort to become familiar with the new technology. It was probably very hard, but they did it. This happens when we have no other choice. Change inherently means newness.
Psychological personality traits that influence success in the profession
Success in the profession depends on general and special abilities. The latter is what allows you to successfully perform a specific type of activity. Example: ear for music. The second is something that helps in any type of activity. Example: good memory and attention, sociability.
In addition to your abilities, your character also influences your success. Qualities that help you succeed in the profession:
- hard work,
- determination,
- activity,
- ambition,
- self confidence,
- self-control
- self-discipline,
- creativity,
- stress resistance,
- organization,
- responsibility.
It is also important to have psychological flexibility - the ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances.
Manage time and tasks
Slow down time
We usually take 12 to 15 breaths per minute. If you breathe deeper, you can “slow down” your perception of time a little. To do this, inhale using the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Take 7-9 of these deep breaths at the beginning of your workday, before taking on a difficult task, or when you are nervous.
Check your work carefully so you don’t have to redo it later.
Remember the proverb “Measure twice, cut once”? It’s better to double check that you did everything correctly than to waste time correcting mistakes later.
Watch less TV
If you add up all the time that we spend on films, TV series and other programs, you get years. But it still takes time to choose what to watch and then discuss what you saw. Better spend it on something useful.
Wake up earlier
This will give you more time before work. You can calmly answer emails and plan your day, or take time for yourself: read and exercise.
Keep a time diary
Note what you spend it on over the course of several months. You'll notice when time is wasted and when you're most productive.
Make good use of your waiting time
While you're sitting in line, you can read an article you didn't have time for, sort out your mail, or jot down a draft of an important document.
Don't keep everything in your head
Write down a list of to-dos, purchases or creative ideas on paper so that thoughts about them do not distract you from work. Trying to keep them in your head will create unnecessary stress for yourself.
Spend a little time once to save in the future
This rule can be applied to everything. When making dinner, make twice as many servings and freeze half. In the next few evenings, you won't have to cook or wash extra dishes. Wipe down your sink and shower stall after each use so you don't have to spend half an hour on the weekends thoroughly cleaning them.
Make decisions faster
The time that is spent hesitating and weighing all the pros and cons can be spent on something really important. So make a decision and move on.
Manage your task list
Usually we cross out only what we have done. But sometimes you need to cross out what you definitely won’t have time to do, otherwise the list will grow and put pressure on you.
Group similar tasks
For example, set aside one day for cleaning and other household chores. One day for meetings, the next for creating content.
Don't write long messages
Keep them concise: most messages can be contained in five sentences.
Eliminate something from your schedule
Chances are you've already taken on too much. Look at your calendar and see what you can give up. For example, things that don’t help you move towards your goal, take too much energy, or no longer fit into your life.
Stop multitasking
Switching from one task to another, you work slower and get more tired. Pick one task and focus on it.
Features of thinking that influence professional success
Cognitive means cognitive, associated with thinking. To achieve professional success, it is important to have systems thinking - the ability to analyze the same situation from different angles, as well as consider individual elements as a system.
In addition, it is important to develop different types of memory:
- emotional - remembering feelings;
- figurative – remembering images, associations;
- motor – memorizing actions that are needed to develop skills;
- verbal-logical – memorizing concepts and instructions.
The ability to analyze, plan, organize work and your actions is also important.
And, both in life in general and in work, one cannot do without awareness and adherence to the principle of balance and equilibrium. Awareness is the ability to live here and now, to pass any event through thoughts, feelings and sensations. Always ask yourself: “Is this what I really want?”, “How does this benefit me?” The principle of balance and equilibrium involves living by the motto “I give as much as I take, and vice versa.”
Pick a moment
There's no perfect time to ask for a raise, but you should choose your timing wisely, Weintraub says. Obviously, the week after a company layoff or the day your team lost a key client is no good. It's better to ask "after something good has happened." For example, you just closed a big deal or the company announced good quarterly revenue.
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Nawaz agrees: “If you're experiencing customer churn, the best thing you can do is jump in, roll up your sleeves, and do your job to stabilize the company.” At the same time, you should not give up. If your promotion will help the organization achieve its goals, persist.
Success Factors
Here's what affects career growth:
- internal motivation, interest in the work itself, and not in its results or remuneration;
- suitability of the work to the characteristics of the person; if you don’t know what suits you, then take a career guidance test;
- the individual's desire for self-realization;
- support from other people;
- prospects for unlimited growth in the profession;
- demand for the profession;
- continuous human development and education;
- healthy work and rest regime.
Thus, your success at work is influenced by external and internal factors.
Admit your mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. In order not to worry in vain, but to sensibly assess the situation and take the necessary actions, ask yourself a few questions.
- Can everything be fixed immediately? If yes, then simply correct your mistake.
- Who should know about this? Think about who your mistake will affect and who can help you correct it. Let these people know what happened and what you have done so far.
- What's the plan of action? Immediately start drawing up a plan to correct the situation: this will help you not to panic and switch to work mode.
How to become successful: practical advice
One of the quotes from Spiritual Economics is: “A faithful man will abound in blessings, but he who hastens to get rich will not go unpunished” (NRT, Proverbs 28:20). What is it about? Think not about how to earn more, but about how to find something you love and be useful to the world and people, satisfy not only your needs, but also take care of your loved ones. Isn't it simple?
How to become successful at work:
- Find your calling, that is, not just choose a profession, but find the purpose and meaning of life, determine your mission. If you have difficulty with this, we suggest taking our course “Purpose. How to find your life's work?
- Determine the balance between work and personal life, strictly adhere to your schedule and plans.
- Continuously develop, follow the news from the area to which your work relates. Learn new techniques, attend seminars, read professional literature.
- Take the initiative and choose a job where your growth will not be limited by anything other than your efforts.
- Don't think about what people will say - do what is important to you. If your actions do not harm others, then continue to do what you enjoy.
- Cooperate, provide assistance, and ask for help when needed. Combine your abilities and the talents of other people to achieve common goals.
- Don't spray. Difficulties arise in any job. Even if you do what you love, sometimes there will be obstacles on the way to your goal, but satisfaction from work will overcome all this.
- Be consistent. Not tackling several tasks at once reduces productivity. Focus on one thing, break large tasks into subtasks.
- Don't be afraid of competition. Study your competitors in the market, adopt what helped them become successful, and add your own “tricks” to surpass them. At the same time, do not forget to learn from the best in your niche. However, avoid excessively comparing yourself to others, especially in a negative context.
- Communicate with successful people. This will help maintain internal motivation.
- Take care of the health of your body and mind. Relax, get enough sleep, devote time to hobbies.
The main thing in achieving professional success is a person’s orientation towards it. If he is used to being content with little, does not know exactly how much he wants to receive and what position to occupy, then he will not be able to achieve success.
And for those who cannot understand themselves on their own, find their purpose and learn to manage finances and time, the School of Spiritual Economics offers its coaching “School of Millionaires from God.” With its help, you will find something you love, get rid of debt, create a stable source of income, achieve success in life and find harmony within yourself and in relationships with others.
Ponder
The first step in the process is to decide what exactly you want, Weintraub says. “Do you want more power? More money? More responsibility? Is there a position in the organization that you dream of, or does it need to be created? Do you want to move upward or might you be interested in moving horizontally? It's also important to "look at your skill set and see how it fits with the organization's objectives," he adds. This will help you link the promotion request to the organization's broader strategic goals.
Creativity
Creativity will be a sought-after skill in many industries, from media to transportation, experts say. Companies will be looking for employees who are trained in new technologies and at the same time willing to use their imagination and find creative answers to work problems - even when interacting with robots! It is the ability to “revive” machine solutions (and the robotization of labor will inevitably grow) that will be especially valued by employers.
“Make creativity your strategy. This will help both you and your company,” suggests Wingard. CNN's digital director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Blathnade Healy, confirms that employers are "always on the lookout for people who think deeply, see broadly and don't shy away from debate." “Creativity implies a broad interpretation, sometimes it is about the generation of new ideas, sometimes about the creative development of old ones. This skill doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a genius,” the manager adds.
How to find your dream job: the path of an ambitious careerist
Let's first of all understand the terminology. What is a dream job? This is an activity that does not make you feel doomed, hopeless and oppressed.
A dream job is a place and business that brings you pleasure, money, enthusiasm, joy and other positive vibrations.
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Those who are engaged in such work sometimes do not even think about weekends, pensions and other types of recreation. A dream job is a vacation (well, or something like that).
So, here's what you need to do to make your search successful.
Emotional intellect
So-called soft skills—soft power skills, such as the ability to work in a team and listen carefully to your interlocutor—will begin to be more valued by employers in the 2020s, experts believe. People with expertise in these skills and the ability to empathize will be in high demand - this, in particular, opens up a new broad front of work for coaches and mentors specializing in the development of emotional intelligence within teams.
“Employers are looking for people with high emotional intelligence—the ability to communicate and solve problems collaboratively,” Llewellyn says. Rob Cross, professor of global leadership at Babson College School of Management in Massachusetts, agrees: “It usually takes people three to five years to transform into a high-performing employee. But if you know how to quickly integrate into a team, ask the right questions and improve your own status, the period can be reduced to nine months.”
Ability to adapt
As the sharing economy grows, companies will outsource more of their own functions. This means that the share of freelance contract workers in the labor market will increase. These specialists will have to adapt as quickly as possible to the corporate cultures of their temporary employers, be flexible and ready to compromise.
“Adaptability is among the most important job skills of the 2020s. The boomer generation and generation X, frankly speaking, are not as flexible as the realities of the new time require,” said Wingard. According to him, today's adult professionals tend to do the same job for too long and want change to happen gradually rather than abruptly. In this sense, they are losing competition to millennials and the very young generation Z, who are ready for more daring career experiments.
For young people, change is not a burden but an opportunity, agrees British media consultant Sue Llewellyn. However, it is too early for the older generations to sprinkle ashes on their heads, Fr.
Help yourself concentrate
Turn off notifications
While you are working on an important task, do not be distracted by email and social networks. Set aside separate time to check and respond to messages.
Be aware that you will be distracted
This is inevitable, so leave some space in your schedule so you don’t have to worry later.
Pull up the deadline
If you think a task will take an hour to complete, set yourself a deadline of 40 minutes. You will have to work faster, which means you will definitely not be distracted by extraneous things.
Make a to-do list for procrastination
For example, clear your desk, sort through documents, read about news in your professional industry.
Make a list of what not to do
Introduce bad habits that waste time and interfere with productivity. Keep this list in front of your eyes so you don't give in to them.
Use a password manager
Then you won’t have to waste time painfully remembering the password for a rarely used mailbox or recovering your website login details.
Get energized
Play sports
This will strengthen your physical health and put you in a good mood. Try getting up a little earlier and going for a run or doing yoga.
Eat right
Avoid fast food, sweets and fast carbohydrates. They provide a burst of energy only for a short time. Give preference to foods that are high in fiber, combine fast carbohydrates with slow ones.
Time your caffeine intake
Caffeine begins to act approximately 40 minutes after entering the body. So drink coffee or tea not at the moment when you start the task, but in advance.
Meditate
It relaxes and helps develop concentration skills. Start with the simplest option - close your eyes and focus on your breathing.
Maintain suitable room temperature
If you are too hot or too cold, you will not be able to work effectively. For most people, the most comfortable temperature is 21–22 ℃.
Knowledge of technology
People often feel that there are too many new programs and gadgets around and it is simply impossible to keep up with all the new products. But the ability to "swim the IT ocean" will be an important job skill of the 2020s, warns Jerome Glenn, executive director of the Millennium Project think tank.
In many areas, understanding the difference between virtual and augmented reality, and between different types of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as understanding where this or that technology is applicable, can be useful, the expert explains.
A professional who can apply AI algorithms to the development of a new application can most likely count on demand around the world. “By 2025, our life without technology will be absolutely impossible. You can’t stay away from this trend,” Glenn concludes.
