Tips for Developing High-Impact Professional Habits

Your words are your currency. And every sentence is a deposit or a withdrawal in your career. Most people think strategy drives success. But often, it’s the story you tell — about yourself, to yourself, and around others — that shapes what comes next. Let me show you what I mean. A senior leader I coached — we’ll call her Maya — was up for a major internal promotion. Brilliant. Qualified. Respected. But in every stakeholder meeting, she kept saying things like: → I’m just here to support. → This might be a dumb question. → I don’t want to overstep. One day, she overheard an executive say: She’s incredibly smart. But I’m not sure she sees it. And if she doesn’t, how can we? That’s when it hit me. Maya wasn’t lacking competence. She was leaking credibility through language. Because every word you speak teaches people how to value you. Your language shapes your perception before your résumé ever does. Here’s what I teach high-achieving leaders to watch for: 1. Cut the disclaimers Instead of: “This might be a silly idea” Try: “Here’s a bold idea I’ve been considering.” 2. Speak in headlines, not hedges Instead of: “I was kind of thinking” Try: “I recommend” or “My take is” 3. Claim your wins out loud Instead of: It was a team effort Try: “I led the rollout and collaborated across teams. A special thank you to…” 4. Swap apologizing for articulating Instead of: “Sorry for the delay” Try: “Thanks for your patience , here’s where we are” Note: Use judgment to decide when an apology is truly necessary 5. Reflect powerfully, not passively Instead of: “I hope this makes sense” Try: “Let me know how this clicks for you” Every word you speak builds your brand in real time. Not the logo kind. The leadership kind. Your voice in meetings. Your framing in emails. Your tone in tense moments. That’s your real résumé. And it updates every day. Your words can open doors. Or quietly close them. Speak like the role you’re growing into. Not the one you’re shrinking to fit. Because in leadership, language is leverage. What’s one phrase you’re letting go of this quarter? Tag a leader whose words elevate every room. Follow Loren Rosario - Maldonado, PCC for practical coaching that works in real life.

10 High-EQ Habits That Will Accelerate Your Career Your EQ matters more than your IQ. I’ve worked with thousands of professionals over the years. The ones who rise fastest aren’t always the smartest— they’re the ones who master emotional intelligence. Here’s what sets them apart (and what you can do too): 1. Focus on two non-negotiables: Get stuff done (without excuses). Be the easiest person to work with in the room. 2. Build unshakable self-worth: You don’t owe companies loyalty by default. You owe yourself a role that reflects your true value. 3. Work smart, not just hard: What you work on matters more than how hard you work. Choose projects and people that compound over time. 4. Build rare skill combinations: Specialists hit ceilings. Stand out by stacking complementary skills others can’t match. 5. Communicate with confidence: Use the 4-bullet update: What they asked for, what you did, risks, next steps. Managing up like this is powerful. 6. Embrace your weirdness: Your quirks aren’t flaws—they’re competitive advantages. As Chris Sacca says: “Being weird may even find you ultimate happiness.” 7. Cut gossip out completely: No one trusts a complainer. Be known as the one who builds others up. 8. Treat your brain like your #1 asset: Hydrate. Move. Eat clean. Rest with purpose. Energy is your unfair advantage. 9. Remember names: A person’s name is their favorite sound. Remember their loved ones’ names for bonus points. 10. Lift others up: Your greatest asset will be the people you’ve helped succeed. Success isn’t zero-sum. Create other winners—and you’ll win too. ♻️ Repost to help someone grow. ➕ Follow Ben Meer for more systems that build standout careers.

7 pieces of career advice I wish I learned sooner: 1. Get Obsessed with the Business Design without business context is decoration. Learn how the company makes money. Learn what execs care about. That’s how you earn influence. 2. Choose Growth Over Comfort Every Time If you’re coasting, you’re falling behind. Seek out roles, projects, and conversations that intimidate you. Discomfort is your compass. 3. Own the Narrative Nobody’s coming to “discover” you. Tell people what you want. Show your work. Document your wins. Make it impossible for them not to see your value. 4. Audit Yourself Ruthlessly Use tools like the competency matrix to figure out where you shine and where you’re coasting. Be honest. Then go after what you don’t know. Self-awareness is career rocket fuel. 5. Earn Your Seat by Delivering Credibility isn’t built on potential. It’s built on outcomes. Show up prepared. Follow through. Deliver results that make people trust you with more. Drive your initiatives forward every day. 6. Be Brave, Speak Up, Find Your Voice (Even If It’s Messy at First) You don’t need a fully formed thought to speak up. It’s okay to think out loud, ask questions, and share half-baked ideas. That’s how good ideas get made better. 7. Invest in Real Relationships (Across, Up, and Down) Build individual relationships with partners, stakeholders, and leaders through regular 1:1s. Understand their goals, frustrations, and context. Influence flows through trust, not org charts. Create allies across the company. Which resonates most?

You may have the best idea, backed by solid data, yet no one seems to listen. It does not necessarily mean that you should leave. Instead, try working on your influencing skills. See, with more teams working remotely and across different geographies, it is easy for your work and your contributions to get lost. And, the 2 things that will help you avoid this are personal branding and influencing skills. My focus today is on influencing skills. [Drop me a note if you would like me to do the same for personal branding.] Having great influencing skills allows you to: > Lead people and projects without necessarily having a big title > Easily get along with people from any part of an organization > Get your ideas and suggestions considered when making any major decision. Long story short, they make your life easier. Here are 5 steps to improve them: 1️⃣ - Know your stuff There is no shortcut to being good at what you do. 2️⃣ - Know the business Understand how things work internally and how external factors impact the company. 3️⃣ - Connect and communicate effectively The goal is for people to know you and what you bring to the table, and for you to understand their realities. 4️⃣ - Demonstrate your value The more you make people's lives easier, the more valuable your viewpoint becomes 5️⃣ - Showcase your impact Your work won’t speak for itself, especially when you work with people remotely. Speak up 📢 Influence is built on credibility and trust. As you follow these steps, your recommendations will eventually carry more weight. Mind sharing your experience or more tips?

Here’s a straightforward and effective strategy to propel your career forward: Step 1: Master the Art of Precision in Delivery Begin with the core responsibility: delivering on expectations with precision. Excellence in your work forms the bedrock of trust and reliability. It's about ensuring that your output not only meets but also aligns with anticipated outcomes. This step is crucial, as it establishes your reputation as a dependable and competent professional. Step 2: The Power of Adding a Little Extra Once you've mastered the art of delivering with precision, elevate your game by adding just a little more to your efforts – aim for an additional 5%. This isn't about overextending to the point of burnout, it's about integrating a marginal yet impactful enhancement to your work. Whether it's through added creativity, a deeper level of analysis, or simply going a step further in your service, this slight increase can significantly differentiate you from your peers. It’s the extra mile that’s less traveled and it yields disproportionate rewards. Think of it as a dinner mint with your meal - nothing huge from a cost perspective, but it certainly can move the needle and push a good experience over the edge, to greatness. Step 3: Embrace the Cycle of Continuous Improvement The journey of career advancement is ongoing. Thus, 'rinse and repeat' becomes your mantra. Consistency in delivering quality work, coupled with the habit of always providing just a bit more, becomes a powerful cycle of improvement. Each iteration not only enhances your skills and value but also solidifies your position as a standout professional in your field. Advancing in your career is not about the grand gestures but often about the subtle, consistent efforts that accumulate over time. How will you add that extra 5% to your next project?