Have you ever asked yourself “What's my career
superpower?” Okay, maybe not, but before you roll your eyes at the
suggestion, here’s something I have discovered: seasoned leaders are able to succinctly
articulate what they do well, why their skills are uniquely valuable, and how
this differentiates them from their peers. It is one reason why they are where
they are today.
So before climbing the career ladder, it can be helpful to ask yourself, “Is my
ladder propped against the right building?” In other words, what is your niche?
Don’t just focus on getting the next job. Sustainable, long-term advancement
comes more easily when you set out on the right career trajectory in the first
place.
Instead of committing yourself to simply “getting ahead,” do
some serious self-reflection and identify a career “sweet spot,” or niche, that
fits your passions, values, and strengths—and is sought after by your company
or industry.
To help you find your sweet spot, I’ve corralled some of my
favorite leadership quotes and gathered them here to help you
systematically drill down to find the secret ingredient in your professional
awesomesauce.
1. Know your vision, values, and goals
Romea Smith is the Senior Vice President of Customer
Support for CA Technologies. Romea suggests that you, “Establish your
personal vision, values, and goals because if you have those, you know where
you want to go. It helps you to see when there are opportunities that fit in
with that vision. It keeps you from going on a path that is not consistent with
what you believe in.”
Romea continues, “If we have a clear idea of what our personal
values are, then we don’t take on things that cause us to sacrifice our
self-esteem or integrity. We know exactly what we need to sustain us and to
fulfill the goals that we have set out to achieve, and we apologize to no one
for that. Knowing our own personal values allows us to understand how the
organizational values align with our own.”
2. Identify your passion and where it fits
Sharell Sandvoss is the Vice President and Finance
Director Europe for Brown-Forman Beverages, whose portfolio includes such
brands as Jack Daniels, Canadian Mist and Southern Comfort. With a passion for
fine spirits and bold leadership, Sharell is a perfect fit for the
organizational vision of her company.
But what about you? What is your niche and how can it help you
and your company grow together? To find out, Sharell suggests, “Know your
passion and evaluate how it fits with your role, your company, and the
strategy of the company. Make sure you’re comfortable doing what it is that you
want to do. It’s the best for you, your company, and your career in general.”
3. Develop your own style
As the Territory Services Leader for IBM, Debra Aerne
knows both the value of leadership and of crafting one’s own style while moving
up the corporate ladder. Indeed, that’s her advice for emerging leaders:
“Develop your own style,” she recommends. “Figure out what works for you and
mold the process to match your strengths. Building on that style, be thoughtful
and define what success means to you. Don’t look at how other people do it and
try to emulate that because if it’s not genuine, it won’t be true, and it won’t
reflect well on you.”
4. Know what you’re not good at
Jill Jones is Executive
Vice President and President, North America and Latin America for the
Brown-Forman Corporation. Jill believes strongly that you should, “Know
what you are good at and what you are not good at. Before you take a job,” she
warns, “sit down and ask yourself, ‘What am I really, really good at and what
do I need to develop?’ Then ask, ‘What does the job call for, and am I a good
match for that? Can I be successful?’ If it is not a good match, will you be
able to develop that skill set? That is the first hurdle.”
5. Know yourself and be authentic
Dara Bazzano Jones, VP of Finance, Controller, GAP Inc., has the final word
when it comes to identifying your career sweet spot, and it’s a fitting message
for any stage of your career.
“Know yourself and be authentic,” she says. “People know when you’re a fake,
and they’re not going to trust or respect you if that’s the case. So, be who it
is that you are. You’ll be amazed at how much further you’ll get within an
organization when you embrace being yourself.”
This starts with being real about the job, the opportunity it presents, and
whether or not it’s the right fit. Finally, Dara suggests, “If your skill sets
match up to the job, then ask yourself, ‘Is this someone I want to work for?’
Even if you have everything worked out, even if it’s a promotion, if you don’t
want to work for this person, in the end, it either breaks your spirit, or you
don’t succeed.”
The Takeaway: What’s Your Sweet Spot?
Now put it all together to identify your ideal career niche. Ask
yourself: What could you be doing more of in your career that aligns your
passions and strengths? Is there something you’re great at, that you could do
in your own authentic style? Would it be possible to maneuver into a role
or career path where you get to do all of that, while delivering a service to
your company or industry that will have you be sought after and highly valued?
Once you find it, Kieth Cockrell, Divestiture Executive with
Bank of America would encourage you to stick with it, and make a difference.
“Do your best to stay in your leadership sweet spot,” he urges, “because it’s
not work; it’s not hard for you; it just comes very naturally and you have the
opportunity to be impactful.”
So before you take your next step up the corporate ladder, make
sure it’s in the direction of your sweet spot!
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