Six ‘cities’ for advancement

There are obviously many things that work together to bring professional and personal success. However, there are some things that are fundamental. Here are a couple of elements to hone or enhance as relevant.

Capacity: This is straightforward. No one will expect success without building the right skills, attitudes and gaining access to the tools. It also includes the capacity to get clear on where you want to take your professional life, to define, articulate and expand your vision and to uncover any blockages and issues in the way and remove them.

Authenticity: Being authentic is being the best you, you know you can be and want to be, doing the right thing even if it feels uncomfortable, following your own internal compasses instead of leaning on the opinions of others. Being honest about who you are and constantly challenging whether you are putting your identity in the wrong things, being consistent and coherent between what you say and what you do, stopping group think and being more interested in being politically correct.

Velocity: Velocity is speed with direction not just speed for speed’s sake. Success doesn’t have to be fast; a steady positive direction is more important because heading with speed in the wrong direction is a waste of time. Similarly, it’d not make sense not to take up any opportunity to make speed. Stop crawling in instances where you can fly but make sure you can sustain the flight. Have the right impulses for where you’re going instead of filtering your potential through performance.

Tenacity: Tenacity helps you keep your stride and minimise the extent to which obstacles can break it. Anything of real worth will come with some ‘’punches’ that you have to be able to take and keep going. Passion will get you excited but tenacity will help you stay with it and push yourself.

Audacity: This doesn’t mean doing something anything earth-shattering. It’s having the courage to not climb the wrong career ladder, to step out of your comfort zone, to cut out the wrong associations and shut your ears to unhelpful opinions. Dare to attack your fears and get intentional about doing what scares you but which you know you should.

Now take action: How can you strengthen the foundations of your professional life? n