Thank you for listening to The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher. A listener recently asked a question about how young professionals can ensure success in the workplace. In this episode, Jeff talks about how growth in a company is like a three-legged stool. You have to dedicate equal time to getting results, refining your methods, and understanding company culture. You will learn how each of these areas will help you stand out from your peers and how you can use your current season as a time of preparation.
Preparation
How you prepare today determines how you will live tomorrow.
Depositing information from classes, books, and podcasts develops your mental muscle memory so that you can use that information in the future.
Every seed you sow will produce a harvest.
Success occurs when opportunity meets determination.
The Three Legs of Success
Results
Great results attract attention from the people who have the power to help you advance your career.
Organizations like to win and thrive and they are looking for peak performers that can help them do that.
Great results will get you a spot at the interview table but they will not get you the promotion.
Methods
If you don’t want to be the person who was just in the right place at the right time, you need to create methods for success.
Put time into creating processes and procedures that guarantee you personal and professional success.
Hiring managers are attracted to this because if you are a person that has displayed that you stay true to process and methods, they can plug you in anywhere and you will win.
To create your methods, become a note taker. Take notes about notes of what stands out to you. Once you have done that, then say what you wrote out loud.
This is a great way to learn.
You may not need what you learned right away but you have mentally filed it and have taken another great step toward creating world class methods.
Culture
Many people in your company will be able to get results and have strong methods.
To set yourself apart from your competition, you need to understand the culture and history of your organization.
Are you a student of the culture of the company?
Do you understand their principles?
Do you know their history very well?
Can you articulate these things effortlessly?
Do you know your company’s mission statement?
Have you memorized it?
Can you explain it?
Be prepared to talk about your organization’s culture and history. Most people will live in one of four camps.
Camp 1 – I hope it doesn’t come up.
Camp 2 – If it comes up, I will wing it.
Camp 3 – If it comes up, I am prepared to speak about it.
Camp 4 – If it doesn’t come up, I am going to bring it up.
Being in camp four with regard to your organization’s history and culture will set you apart from the rest of the pack.
Investing your time in understanding your company’s history and culture will help you create a personal brand and set you apart from your peer group.
Q: Describe a time when you were able to easily navigate a challenge because of your preparation. What expectations do you have for your future? What information and strategies do you think you will need to reach those expectations?
Q: What strategies are you currently using to prepare for the future? How have you been evaluating the efficiency of those practices? Is there anything that you are doing right now that is not producing results? Why do you think that is?
Q: How would you rate your current understanding of your organization’s culture? What areas of your performance might be impacted by a better understanding of your organization’s culture? Would a better understanding change the way that you interact with your coworkers, superiors, or customers? Why or why not?
Application Activities
Quiz yourself. Right now, without looking, what is your company’s mission statement? What is it’s core values? If you are still in college, what is your dream company’s mission statement? Set aside time and find it on their website. Read the mission statement out loud. Copy it onto a post-it and put it where you can see it. Commit to studying the mission statement every day until it becomes second nature.
Find some professionals who are in the career or position you are pursuing. Interview them about what they do every day to make sure that they are successful. Ask them about their habits, the books they read, and what they think is the key to their success. When you’re done, compare notes and see what each of those people have in common, and find ways to build those habits and strategies into your day.
One thing many successful people do is keep a gratitude journal. Every morning, write down at least three things you are thankful for. Having a grateful attitude will help you not only keep a positive outlook but also develop your character. Skills and knowledge may help you get a job, but your character will be an important part of whether or not you keep your job.
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