Essential Skills for Professional Success

You do not have to be the smartest person in the room to be a top performer. Here is the recipe for success: 🥘 I’ve become a top performer in every professional environment I’ve worked in, and it’s not from raw intellect. It is down to 12 essential behaviors - here’s how you can show them: 1/ Get Things Done ↳ Focus on your most important 1-2 tasks each day. ↳ At the end of each day, look at your output. Ask yourself, how much did you get done? Repeat. 2/ Listen Before Speaking ↳ After someone speaks, check you understand what they meant before responding. ↳ People will like you more for it and there will be less miscommunication. 3/ Take Accountability ↳ When you make a mistake, own it. “That was my mistake, I’m sorry” ↳ Then discuss what you learnt from it and what you’ll do differently next time. 4/ Build Relationships with your Colleagues ↳ You will annoy your colleagues at times. Build up goodwill with them by taking an interest in their personal lives. ↳ Make them laugh. Grab coffee. You’re spending more than 50% of your life with these people. 5/ Be Solution Oriented ↳ Don't come to your manager with problems. ↳ Come with your proposed solution and let them react (it makes their life easier). 6/ Think Team Before “Me” ↳ Put the team's goals first. You'll get credit for it. ↳ Help your colleagues. Mentor others. 7/ Manage Upwards ↳ If you are busy, your manager should know. The key is to communicate without sounding complainy. 8/ Show High Integrity ↳ Set the standard for behavior among your colleagues. You will stand out as a leader before you are one. 9/ Be Open Minded ↳ Be willing to change your mind with new information. 10/ Show Humility ↳ Give credit generously to others. ↳ Be willing to be wrong, change your mind, and take feedback. 11/ Love Upskilling ↳ Learn new skills (e.g. using AI) to make you better at your job. ↳ Take online courses to improve your strengths and mitigate weaknesses. 12/ Communicate with Radical Candor ↳ Don't shy away from difficult conversations. ↳ Ask for and give feedback regularly. Be direct and kind. Focus feedback on actions and the consequences. Use these simple behavioral changes to become a world-class performer and level up your career. --- ♻️ Repost this to help your network become top performers. 📌 Want a high-resolution PDF of this? 1. Just follow me Will McTighe 2. Sign up for my free Level Up Community at https://lnkd.in/gKzZUq-b

Everyone Talks About The Importance of Soft Skills, But Few Explain How to Develop Them. 14 essential soft skills and how to master them, courtesy of my friend Nicola Ballotta: 𝟭/ 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 ➤Self-Awareness • Practice mindfulness and meditation • Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings • Seek feedback from friends and colleagues    ➤Resilience • Develop a positive mindset • Build a strong support network • Learn from failures and setbacks ➤Self-Motivation • Set clear, achievable goals • Celebrate small victories • Find inspiration and learning in every task 𝟮/ 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 ➤Empathy/Compassion • Practice active listening • View situations from others' perspectives • Volunteer for causes that connect you with diverse groups ➤Negotiation • Practice active listening • Develop empathy to understand other's viewpoints • Study negotiation techniques and strategies ➤Conflict Resolution • Learn and practice active listening skills • Adopt a problem-solving attitude • Seek to understand before being understood ➤Influence • Build credibility and trust • Understand and appeal to others' interests • Practice storytelling and emotional intelligence 𝟯/ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 ➤Verbal Communication • Volunteer for presentations at work • Record short videos of yourself speaking and watch them • Ask peers for feedback on your communication    ➤Written Communication • Take writing courses • Start writing publicly • Practice concise writing ➤Non-Verbal Communication • Observe and mimic the body language of effective communicators • Record and review your non-verbal communication in different settings • Take acting or improvisation classes to improve your expressive abilities 𝟰/ 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 ➤Time Management • Use planners or digital tools to schedule tasks • Set clear priorities and deadlines • Avoid multitasking and minimize distractions    ➤Problem-Solving • Practice structured problem-solving methods • Develop your analytical and critical thinking skills • Collaborate with others to gain different perspectives ➤Adaptability • Embrace a growth mindset • Stay curious and seek out new experiences • Practice resilience and stress management    ➤Problem-Solving • Practice structured problem-solving methods • Develop your analytical and critical thinking skills • Collaborate with others to gain different perspectives PS: Soft skills are just that: skills. We all start somewhere, and with intentional practice, we get better.

Success isn't built on shortcuts. It's built on undervalued skills no one teaches. Talent gets attention. But these skills build trust, momentum, and long-term wins. Here are 8 skills top performers practice daily (but rarely talk about): 1. Collaborating without ego → Making it easy for others to work with you is a skill, not a personality trait 2. Speaking the hard truth kindly → Delivering honesty with respect builds real trust 3. Asking great questions → Curiosity moves projects forward faster than pretending to know everything 4. Following through without reminders → Execution is a skill. So is not needing to be micromanaged 5. Keeping conversations solution-focused → Drama kills momentum. The best people skip it 6. Showing up consistently, not occasionally → Reliability is rare. It’s also what builds reputations 7. Running clean, efficient meetings → Protecting everyone’s time is a leadership skill, whether you have the title or not 8. Staying humble, even when you’re great at what you do → No one wants to work with someone who’s always proving they’re the smartest in the room Want to turn these skills into muscle memory? Meet the Quiet Power Protocol. A 4-step process to build trust, credibility, and results. 1️⃣ Cultivate Interpersonal Ease → Listen more than you talk → Make others feel smarter, not smaller 💡 Teams with psychological safety perform 37% better (Google) 2️⃣ Demonstrate Radical Honesty & Integrity → Say hard things early → Own your mistakes without flinching 💡 High-trust teams are 50% more productive (Deloitte) 3️⃣ Adopt a Growth Mindset → “I don’t know” becomes “I don’t know yet” → Use feedback as fuel, not friction 💡 Growth-minded leaders deliver 40% better outcomes (Stanford) 4️⃣ Be Consistently Reliable & Focused → Master the boring stuff → Choose progress over perfection 💡 Consistency predicts long-term success 3x better than talent (HBR) Underrated skills become unfair advantages. If you're willing to put in the reps. ♻️ Repost to share this with someone who makes every team better. 🔔 Follow Nick Lalonde, CFP® for daily frameworks that work.

Unlocking Success: The Crucial Role of Entrepreneurial Qualities in Your Career As the business landscape evolves, so do the expectations placed upon professionals. Gone are the days when a 9-to-5 job was enough to secure a stable career. Today, adaptability, innovation, and a growth mindset are essential for thriving in any industry. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, cultivating entrepreneurial qualities can significantly impact your success trajectory. 1. Financial Acumen: The Bedrock of Business Finance skills are more than just balancing spreadsheets; they’re the lifeblood of any venture. As a working professional, understanding budgeting, financial statements, and cash flow patterns is crucial. A reasonable budget can be the difference between success and failure. By mastering these skills, you’ll allocate resources effectively and make informed decisions that drive your career forward. 2. Networking: Your Greatest Asset Your network isn’t just a collection of business cards; it’s a powerful asset. Networking allows you to connect with like-minded professionals, potential collaborators, and mentors. Building relationships opens doors to opportunities, whether it’s finding a mentor who shares your vision or discovering a new project. Remember, your network is your net worth. 3. Adaptability: Thriving in Change In today’s dynamic world, adaptability is non-negotiable. Entrepreneurs thrive on change, and so should you. Problem-solving, agility, and the ability to pivot are essential. Embrace challenges as opportunities, and be ready to recalibrate when circumstances shift. Your willingness to adapt will set you apart in a competitive landscape. 4. Passion: Fueling Your Drive Entrepreneurs are fueled by passion. As a professional, find what ignites your fire. Whether it’s a project, a cause, or a vision, channel that energy into your work. Passionate professionals inspire others, create innovative solutions, and drive progress. Remember, enthusiasm is contagious. 5. Discipline: Consistency Breeds Excellence Entrepreneurship demands discipline. Set clear goals, create routines, and stick to them. Consistency builds momentum. Whether it’s meeting deadlines, maintaining work-life balance, or honing your skills, discipline ensures steady progress. It’s the secret sauce behind sustainable success. 6. Proactivity: Seizing Opportunities Entrepreneurs don’t wait for opportunities; they create them Whether you’re an entrepreneur at heart or a professional seeking growth, these qualities are your compass. They guide you through challenges, empower you to create impact, and ensure your career sails toward success. So, embrace your inner entrepreneur, and remember: the journey is as important as the destination #entrepreneurship

Solving a technical problem to close the deal is not enough. You must also: - Know how to uncover and connect to the prospect’s perception of value. - Understand your prospect’s problems about achieving the business goals of the organization. - Help identify the problems that are worth solving — even if the prospect does not know at the outset which are the real problems. - Understand their personal value in addition to quantifiable business benefit. - Collaboratively develop a solution you are uniquely able to deliver – through solving unique problems your competitors can’t. - Work together to develop a mutually agreed upon plan for execution and the realization of value in helping to achieve the business goals and imperatives. This process creates the foundation for trust. In order to build credibility, add value, consult, and sell your products and services you should also ask yourself: - If you’re assigned a specific industry, are you well-versed in its current issues? - Can you engage in a conversation around those issues and add perspective and insight to anyone in the industry? - Are you reading what your customers and prospects are potentially reading online, in trade magazines, and industry websites? - Are you current and knowledgeable on the issues facing the decision-makers you are calling on? - If you’re seeking new business opportunities, are you researching what company data is available in the public domain? - Do you understand the company’s goals and objectives? Can you predict where the likely struggle may be for the organization? - Do you have all of the information you need to prepare for an engaging conversation where you can contribute perspectives, insights and ask thoughtful questions? - Are you engaging with the prospect online? Demonstrating your expertise not just for a specific problem, but their industry as a whole? You need to connect to your prospects on a deeper level. This is how you set yourself apart from the crowd. Focus on credibility and you’ll close more business. What else would you add here? P.S. - Get some value? Follow me for daily posts.

In my experience as a recruiter in the finance and accounting sector, I've witnessed firsthand the evolving demands of the industry. We often emphasize the importance of technical skills, precision, and accuracy. But what about the soft skills that can truly set a professional apart? Communication, adaptability, and interpersonal skills are no longer just "nice to have" attributes – they're becoming essential for professionals in this field. Here's why: 🗣️ Communication: Strong communication skills are key to conveying complex financial information to clients and colleagues. Whether it's explaining financial reports or advising clients on strategies, effective communication fosters trust and transparency. 🔄 Adaptability: The finance landscape is rapidly changing, thanks to technological advancements and shifting market dynamics. Professionals who can adapt to new tools, regulations, and market trends are better equipped to thrive in this ever-evolving industry. 🤝 Interpersonal Skills: Building relationships and collaborating with team members and clients is crucial. Positive relationships lead to stronger partnerships, better problem-solving, and more successful financial outcomes. Do you believe soft skills are often overlooked in our field? #Finance #Accounting #SoftSkills #CareerDevelopment

Friends, I've frequently been posed a fascinating question about careers recently. To benefit everyone, I'd like to share my perspective The recurring query goes something like this: "Amir, what do you believe is the cornerstone of a successful career, something you might not have been aware of at the outset?" In my academic years – high school, college, and graduate school – I believed success pivoted on top grades, class rankings, or even intra-class networking. Wrong In the nascent stages of my career, I was under the impression that success equated to sheer hard work. Incorrect again Mid-career, I leaned towards factors like presentation skills, professional prowess, and a tendency to claim credit for achievements. Still off the mark Later, I surmised it was about forging numerous professional relationships and mastering workplace networking. Again, not the essence While the above elements have their merits, they're often necessary but not sufficient Reflecting on my life experiences, the business literature I've delved into, my formal education, and observations of varied career trajectories, I discerned a pattern among the truly successful. These individuals: *Efficiently pinpoint a few advocates (1-3) in each organization *Ensure these advocates will ardently support their work *Persuade these champions to back them consistently *Identify and align with individuals known for their extensive networking prowess and influential career reach and willingness to use it for others *Distinguish between genuine supporters and talkers, not wasting professional time (social time is different) on those relationships *Persistently replicate this across different organizations and departments Usually, the success of many can be traced back to a handful of people – mentors, advisors, or managers – who fervently vouched for them. Those advocated for might not necessarily represent the most talented or affable, but successful individuals master the art of building and nurturing these relationships nonetheless It's imperative to discern genuine supporters from fair-weather allies. Many seemingly promising relationships end up as fleeting encounters with little long-term value. The art of this discernment blends judgment, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to one's authentic self Lastly, the capacity for repeated relationship-building is crucial. As many professional connections reset over time, it becomes essential to continuously win over a few influential allies at every phase. Over the span of a career, these few pivotal relationships can provide an unshakable foundation, acting like a resilient spider web that multiplies in strength and reach People who seem to float from opportunity to opportunity are often seen as being very lucky or fortunate. They are for having that fate. But mastery of the starred points above, supported by other traits and a lot of effort, is what really makes such people appear lucky

The most important non-cognitive skill for success is conscientiousness. The ability to be diligent, disciplined, goal oriented, self controlled, responsible and committed. In many ways, boring (but reliable). A meta study done in the university of Toronto and encompassing 92 studies over 100 years showed that conscientiousness is the most important personality trait linked to work performance. It also promotes other positive outcomes in life including academic performance, physical health and mortality, marital stability and well-being. Conscientiousness is a trainable skill and a great way to exercise it is being diligent with small things. Creating small positive habits and doing them repeatedly (General McRaven “make your bed every morning” is a great example). The path to become better is to become consistent. The way you do small things is the way you do everything.

The most underrated skill for your professional growth is being EASY to work with. - Networking. - Self-development.  - Time management.  - Hard-working.  - Ambition. All important. Do people like working with you? Probably the most important. It's like going to a restaurant with average food but awesome, happy, helpful service. You'll forgive the food because the server was so darn nice. So, some career advice from someone whose business IS people's careers; - Be helpful.  - Do things for people and expect nothing in return. - Be kind.  - Make a point to get to know people.  - Empathize.  - Be self-aware. A huge part of getting ahead in your career is about who knows you - and it's a lot easier for people to remember who you are if you made them feel good when you met. Don't hinder your success by being unable to play in the sandbox with others! Because newsflash: no one wants to work with a successful assh*le.

Welcome back to our transformative Soft Skills Series! Today, we delve into a foundational trait that defines true professionals and leaders: Responsibility. Responsibility goes beyond completing tasks—it's about owning your actions, decisions, and their outcomes. It's the hallmark of trustworthiness and reliability in both personal and professional spheres. Here's why embracing responsibility is crucial for success: 1️⃣ Builds Trust and Credibility: Being responsible demonstrates reliability. It shows that others can count on you to honor your commitments and deliver consistent results. 2️⃣ Fosters Accountability: Accepting responsibility means acknowledging your role in both successes and failures. This accountability is key to personal growth and continuous improvement. 3️⃣ Empowering Leadership: Responsible individuals naturally step into leadership roles, guiding teams with confidence and setting a positive example through their actions. 4️⃣ Drives Professional Growth: Owning your responsibilities pushes you to step out of your comfort zone, tackle challenges head-on, and develop resilience and adaptability. So, how can you cultivate and demonstrate responsibility effectively? - Set Clear Goals and Expectations: Define your roles and responsibilities clearly. Understand what's expected of you and communicate effectively to align with your team. - Own Your Actions: Take accountability for your actions and decisions. If mistakes happen, acknowledge them, learn from them, and take proactive steps to make things right. - Be Proactive: Don’t wait for instructions or problems to arise. Take initiative, anticipate needs, and address issues before they escalate. - Lead by Example: Whether you’re a team member or a leader, consistently demonstrate responsibility through your actions. Show that you’re dependable, trustworthy, and committed. In a world that values integrity and reliability, embracing responsibility sets you apart and paves the way for meaningful achievements and lasting relationships. Let's commit to being responsible, taking charge of our destinies, and driving positive change in our lives and workplaces! #Responsibility #SoftSkillsSeries #Leadership #Accountability #ProfessionalGrowth