Let's not waste another minute...if your intentions are to manage a successful career.
Recognize, once you get to a certain level in business, everyone is smart and you are expected to compete.
Professor Wayne Baker in his book, "Achieving Success through Social Capital: Tapping Hidden Resources in Your Personal and Business Networks" says, "There is a deeply rooted myth in North American culture that shapes our behavior. The myth: Success is an individual effort. This myth celebrates rugged individualism as the key element in becoming a self-made man or woman. The belief is that everyone succeeds or fails on the basis of individual efforts and abilities but this just isn't so. Adhering to this go-it-alone mentality and lone wolf perspective actually holds us back from achieving the success we seek."
Simply put, success is not only determined by what you know and can do but also by who you know, and more importantly who knows you. Success is powered by three things: Know-how, a strong network of contacts, and your reputation. That's it. That's the secret.
The formula for success = your human capital (what you know and can do) times your social capital (who you know and who knows you) times your reputation (who trusts you).
The higher up you go in an organization's hierarchy, the value to the organization of your technical skills decline, while the value of your interpersonal skills dramatically increase.
Since your peers all have the technical competencies necessary to fulfill the role they were hired to do, who is more likely to accelerate their success?
Studies reveal the skills that initially got you in the door are not the same skills required to progress. Because all work is done through relationships, business rewards social and emotional competencies. Don't lose sight of this important lesson.
Stop yourself if you are inclined to get so busy completing tasks that you ignore developing your contacts and network of influential players. Whether you recognize it or not, each day you are building your brand--the good, the bad and the ugly!
Tune into how others are seeing you. It is your responsibility to develop your signature strengths and create a personal persona that you are happy with and that others appreciate. It will also be up to you to identify how you want to approach your work and your personal life.