Bullet Points To Take Along On Your Journey To Success

Bullet Points To Take Along On Your Journey To Success
By Steve Turner

Here are some broad-based bullet points for success that are available for you, and can be used
on almost a daily basis.

1. Do not forget what it was like to be a non-management employee.

No matter where you go in your career, no matter what you’re doing, no matter who you’re
talking with, no matter who’s reporting to you and no matter what level you’re at, don’t forget
what it was like to be a non-management employee. As you move up each management level,

don’t forget what it was like to be one step back. Be willing to put yourself in their shoes so that
you can see things from their perspective, so you can maintain a connection on how they may
think and react to what you are doing. By being able to do this, you position yourself to be able
to modify your delivery, so you answer questions before they are asked. What a valuable skill!

2. Don’t let your tie cut off the flow to your head.

When I started my first management job, we were required to wear ties (business casual did not
exist then!). This is where this came from. What this is saying is, don’t let your tie (symbol of
having a management job) impact your thinking as if the tie cut off the flow of blood to your
heard and you lose your ability to think correctly. As you move up the management ladder and
earn more responsibilities, don’t get big-headed and lose track of the skills that got you to where
you are. For another application of this point, refer back to number one!

3. Be firm, fair and friendly.

This is a great combination of skills. This is advice I received from the first district manager that
promoted me. I have used this one my entire career. Your employees are looking for you to be
consistent. They want you to be fair and they don’t want their head bit off every time you talk to
them. They want to know that when they interact with you, you will interact with them as people
with value. If you are firm, fair and friendly you will get cooperation, you will get respect and
you will get results. Of that, there is no question. Firm, fair and friendly are skills that you can
use with anybody. In business you need these three things. I challenge you to look at your
demeanor, your relationships with people, and make adjustments so that you can also be firm,
fair and friendly. Whether it’s your employees, whether it’s your peers, whether it’s the people
you report to, whether it’s business people outside of your company, hold onto those three
relationship skills.

4. Don’t compromise the values that gave you your opportunity, now or in the future.

You were promoted because you had something valuable, something special. You are successful
in business because of what you have and who you are. Hold on to all of these gifts! You can
certainly develop more skills, but don’t let go of the values that gave you your opportunity in the
first place. They will always be valuable. Just let them mature.