The desire to develop professionally is the key to a successful career. We've gathered a few ideas from popular books that will help you become a great employee.
“The Long Game. How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World”, Dori Clark
Dori Clark is a lecturer at Duke University and Columbia Business School and a consultant to companies such as Google, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, and Fidelity. In her book, she advises to play the long game. Long-term thinking is the rejection of immediate results in favor of working on future goals that will help you grow in your career.
To become a long-term thinker you need to focus on three things:
1. Create space to think. Becoming a long-term thinker is impossible if you are constantly hustling. First, give yourself a chance to evaluate the reasons and tasks that keep you busy. Then remove the things that have the least impact on your development. Learn to say no, make room in your schedule. This is the only way to get out of a state of short-term thinking.
2. Focus on what matters. Set ambitious goals, break them down into smaller tasks. This way you can track progress and stay motivated. Develop networking with an eye on the future — every contact can be useful.
3. Be patient. The hardest thing is not to lose faith in yourself. You need to move forward despite the difficulties. Remember: you never fail as long as you are learning.
“Great at Work. The Hidden Habits of Top Performers”, Morten Hansen
Morten Hansen is Professor of Management at the University of California, Berkeley. He has previously worked as a professor at Harvard Business School and INSEAD, and as a consultant for the Boston Consulting Group.
In his book, he tries to find an answer to the question, “Why are some people more productive than others?”. For this purpose, the author analyzed 200 academic articles, 120 interviews with experts and surveyed more than 5000 people from different countries. The information provided has developed into several behavioral factors:
1. Identify your most important priorities and focus on them. Make sure you are doing a great job in those areas.
2. Focus on creating value, not just meeting goals. Instead of working harder, learn to be more creative and resourceful.
3. Don't repeat your mistakes — learn from them.
4. Passion for what you do is great. But beyond it, there should be a purpose to your work that gives it meaning.
5. Inspire your colleagues. Use not only rational arguments, but also emotional tools.
“Impact Players. How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact”, Liz Wiseman
Liz Wiseman is a corporate governance researcher. She is the founder of the Wiseman Group, a firm that advises companies such as Apple, AT&T, Disney, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Nike, and Salesforce.
In her research, Liz Wiseman breaks down the concept of the Impact Player — the key and indispensable employee who is assigned complex tasks. Here are a few attitudes that, according to the author, will help you become an Impact Player.
1. Do your best on all tasks if you want to be trusted with more complex and demanding projects.
2. Make the work of others easier. Take the initiative. Step forward when no one else does. See things through to the end.
3. See work through the lens of opportunity. Where others see complexities and challenges, the Impact Player finds ways to develop and embed more value.
“Effortless. Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most”, Greg McKeon
Greg McKeown is a well-known writer and business strategist. He has been a guest speaker for Apple, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Pixar, Salesforce, Stanford University, and the World Economic Forum.
Many corporate workers feel that they always have a lot on their plate. The author suggests a different approach, which is to break the task down into its component parts. Here's how to do it.
1. Get your head in order. Ask yourself questions such as: “How can I make the work easier?”, “How can the work be enjoyable for me?”, “What will happen if I don't do this task?”.
2. Reinforce the order of activities. Guide questions such as: “What will the end result look like?”, “How do I start from scratch?”, “Can I do this task quickly and efficiently, or do I need to learn?”.
3. Summarize the results. Questions such as: “What problems might arise after the task is completed?”, “Did I use all my strengths?”, “What else can I change to work more efficiently?”.
“Win at Work and Succeed at Life. 5 Principles to Free Yourself from the Cult of Overwork”, Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt-Miller
Michael Hyatt is the founder of Michael Hyatt & Co. consulting firm, a popular speaker and writer, and a contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Businessweek, and Entrepreneur.
Megan Hyatt-Miller is the daughter of Michael Hyatt and CEO of Michael Hyatt & Co. Under her leadership, the company was named one of the best places to work by Inc. magazine.
Many people believe that you have to choose between a successful career and a happy personal life. However, the authors of Win at Work and Succeed at Life believe that you can achieve both at the same time. Here are a few principles to follow.
1. Realize that success is a multifaceted concept. For some people it may be all about their career, and for others it may be about a happy family and close friends. Determine what is important to you.
2. Limit yourself. Each of us has a certain amount of resources: time, money, energy. It is important to set limits — how much effort you are willing to spend on this or that. Otherwise, there is a risk of spending everything in one direction and missing the chance for success in another.
3. Work-life balance is a process. At different times in your life, you will spend more or fewer hours on professional activities and personal development. Be willing to make adjustments and reevaluate your attitude toward different aspects of life.
4. Rest is the foundation of productivity. Many people try to squeeze as much activity into their day as possible, with less time for sleep and favorite activities. This is a direct path to burnout. Don't forget that rest is necessary to “recharge” yourself for further activity.