Five Keys for a Successful Business Career
Louis Joseph Mattia
What are the ways in which a business person today can achieve success in their professional lives? How can someone hope to stand out, be noticed and make a difference? This presentation will give five keys that are important reminders of what really matters in business to achieve success.
INTRODUCTION
What is business?
An organization or economic system where goods and services are exchanged for one another or for money.
So Business is a system of exchange: in which we all participate as we receive income from our work efforts – in the end it is all about what I do to get paid & make a living?
Business is conducted in all facets of culture:
- Public Sector
- Non Profit
- Private
Business has been around for a long time
Roman “Fast Food” serving counters – Pompeii, Italy
Competition has also been around a long time. That means that for every good job or good opportunity, there are others trying to do the same thing. To succeed you will need an edge.
Success: We all want to succeed somehow
But what is success?
Success is reaching your goals without losing your humanity
Here are a few of the many possible definitions of success:
But in the end, only you can define what your success looks like:
Success is about achieving something…..
But success in any sense takes time and is not really a straight line.
So here are five keys to achieving what you want in life:
1.Love What you do
You will work out of either a passion or necessity
2.Cultivate a love of People
Every successful career is built around good relationships with people, colleagues, customers and employees
3.Practice The Five P’s of Professionalism
A professional is someone you can trust, someone you can count on regardless of the circumstances
4.Strive to be a Great Communicator
Communication is not just about speaking or exchanging information, it is about understanding and being understood
- LEARN THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE
Poor habits in life will hurt your chances of success, but learning Life changing habits are critical strategies for success
1.Love what you do
What drives people to work?
For thousands of years we worked to survive: hunting, gathering, farming, domestic animals
Gradually we began to develop specialties or trades
Farmer, blacksmith, soldier, artist, musician, basket weaver, banker, etc.
For the last several hundred years we have had more choice in choosing an occupation and the number of possibilities has expanded enormously
Over 600 different types of jobs
So now most of us have some choice
Yet majority of workers would wish for a different job
Are you earning a living or following a passion?
(scale love it………tolerate it………..hate it)
Follow a passion– what do you love to do?
True “success” is being happy, content, fulfilled at what you do (this usually but not always making money)
The trick is to find what you love and do that
If stuck in a job you hate, you are not fulfilling your life or potential
Example: in my life, I did practical skills in engineering first for a foundation since I didn’t really know what my passion was. I discovered the critical need to find and follow my passion later.
2.Cultivate a Love of People
- Develop relationships and networks
- Remember the golden rule: Treat others the way you would want to be treated
- In the end people are your greatest asset
Example: Lou’s boss died age 56 due to overwork by his boss.
- All Ethics are based on honesty and fair dealing with others
- So managers learn to balance concern for tasks with concern for people (see graph)
Blake/Mouton Leadership Grid
3.Practice The Five P’s of Professionalism
A professional is someone you can trust, someone you can count on regardless of the circumstances
Impossible to overemphasize trust in business and success
The Italian cruise shipCosta Concordia[p 1]capsized and sank after striking an underwater rock obstruction off Isola del Giglio,[p 2]Tuscany, on 13 January 2012, with the loss of 32 lives.
The ship, carrying 4,252 people
It takes a long time to build trust, but can be destroyed in minutes
Martin Winterkorn, chief executive officer of Volkswagen, has resigned following the emissions scandal
To be a professional means that people can trust you.
When that trust is broken, you lose huge good will, and brand loyalty.
Other examples:
Ex: IT top level for banking agency, 3 years great job, but took work home on a flashdrive against rules, and was fired immediately
Ex: Grocery stores in England and horse meat, much money and time to restore trust
- Proficient – Be good at what you do
Competent or skilled in doing or using something.
The quality of your work will be known for its quality. Do not try to sell what you are not good at.
Companies who deliver quality and value:
Apple No 1.
Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes Benz
McDonalds
Starbucks
Coca Cola
Samsung
Toyota
Amazon
Uber
Valuable Employees:
- Prudent – Don’t waste time or money (prioritize)
Employees, even management, waste a vast amount of time that cost businesses (use of internet or office chat)
Real Estate agents, find out exactly what you need, don’t waste your time or theirs
•Plan your time
•Don’t let daily developments or “emergencies” overcome you
•Don't spend too much time on admin. tasks
•Don’t micromanage
•Don’t put off quick tasks- get them done
•Don’t reinvent the wheel
•If preparing a report for a boss or a client, make it right the first time. Don’t waste time
•If running a meeting, make a clear agenda, keep to it and don’t let someone get you off track
Precise – Watch your P’s & Q’s
- Poor communication.Accuracy is critical in what you communicate.
Incorrect Facts.Nothing can lose trust faster than having your facts wrong. Double check every detail before giving information out.
Example: President Obama, said you could keep your old health plan, but millions cancelled. Big loss of trust
Overpromising.If you are negotiating for work or a contract.
FE contracts. Big promises. Win but then client wanted work done faster.
Polite–Thank you kind Sir!
Nothing is more helpful to building trust than politeness
- EX: answer emails or inquiries quickly – Especially to the boss.
- Thank people for their time or effort
- Listen like they are really important
Patient – A life and a career are built one step at a time
Do not rush, panic or overreact. Take one step at a time to build long lasting business relationships
4.Strive to be a Great Communicator
Communication is not just about speaking or exchanging information
Communication is not just about speaking or exchanging information ……………….
It is about understanding and being understood…. Perceptions are everything
Communication in total
The language of communication – presence, speaking, body language & listening
Emails
Letters
Presentations
Actions not just Words
Perceptions differ
5.7 Habits of Highly effective people
character
Habits
Values
Habit 1 -- Be Proactive
Habit 2 – Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3 -- Put First Things First
Habit 4 – Think Win-Win
Habit 5 – Seek first to understand, then to be understood
Habit 6 -- Synergize
Habit 7 – Sharpen the Saw
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
1) Be Proactive
In life many have developed the habit of being reactive. That is, to assume that we are being acted on by outside forces we can’t control. Yet, as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives. We have the independent will to make our own choices and decisions, and the responsibility ("the ability to respond") to make the right choices. You have the freedom to choose your own fate and path, so having the independent will, imagination and self-awareness to make the right move makes you a proactive, and not a reactive, person.
ACTION: Make a plan and not excuses
2) Begin With The End In Mind
Mental visualization is extremely important. Covey says that all things are created twice: first, the mental conceptualization and visualization and a second physical, actual creation. Becoming your own creator means to plan and visualize what you're going to do and what you're setting out to accomplish and then go out and creating it. Identifying your personal statement and your principles will help.
3) Put First Things First
With your power of independent will, you can create the ending you want to have. Part of that comes with effective time management, starting with matters of importance. Then tasks should be completed based on urgency after you deal with all the important matters. If you deal with crises, pressing problems and deadline-driven projects first, your life will be a lot easier.
4) Think Win/Win
If you believe in a better way to accomplish goals that's mutually beneficial to all sides, that's a win/win situation. "All parties feel good about the decision and feel committed to the action plan," Covey wrote. "One person's success is not achieved at the expense or exclusion of the success of others." If you have integrity and maturity, there's no reason win/win situations can't happen all the time.
5) Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood
If you're a good listener and you take the time to understand a concept, it will help you convey your opinions, plans and goals to others. It starts with communication and strong listening skills, followed by diagnosing the situation and then communicating your solution to others.
6) Synergize
Synergistic communication, according to Covey, is "opening your mind and heart to new possibilities, new alternatives, new options." This applies to the classroom, the business world and wherever you could apply openness and communication. It's all about building cooperation and trust.
7) Sharpen The Saw
Sometimes you're working so hard on the other six habits that you forget about re-energizing and renewing yourself to sharpen yourself for the tasks in front of you. Some sharpening techniques include exercise and nutrition, reading, planning and writing, service and empathy and commitment, study and meditation.
SUMMARY
The Five Keys for a Successful Business Career
Louis Joseph Mattia, Executive Coach
The LEADS Foundation
1.Love What you do
You will work out of a passion or necessity
Find out what you enjoy doing, what makes you fulfilled and do that
2.Cultivate a love of People
Every successful career is built around relationships with people, colleagues, customers and employees
Develop relationships and networks
Remember the golden rule: Treat others the way you would want to be treated
In the end people are your greatest asset
All Ethics are based on honesty and fair dealing with others
So managers learn to balance concern for tasks with concern for people
3.Practice The Five P’s of Professionalism
A professional is someone you can trust, someone you can count on regardless of the circumstances
Proficient – Be good at what you do
Prudent – Don’t waste time or money (prioritize)
Precise – Watch your P’s & Q’s
Polite – Thank you kind Sir!
Patient – A life and a career are built one step at a time
4.Strive to be a Great Communicator
Communication is not just about speaking or exchanging information, its about understanding and being understood
Remember people have different perceptions
The language of communication – presence, speaking, body language & listening
Emails
Letters
Presentations
Actions not just Words
- LEARN THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE
Life changing habits as strategies for success
Habit 1 -- Be Proactive
Habit 2 – Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3 -- Put First Things First
Habit 4 – Think Win-Win
Habit 5 – Seek first to understand, then to be understood
Habit 6 -- Synergize
Habit 7 – Sharpen the Saw