Sorry for the lame, obvious catchy line intended to attract readers :)
I don't mean to ask this question in the grand scheme of life. But more specific in one's career's growth. Especially in a company with thousands of employees. What do you think matters the most ? What makes a person standout in the crowd ? While most folks burn out at middle management, and others just give up and move to other business, there are quite a few who stick it out in their chosen field, and grow up in a company , often reaching to the peak before they retire. I was pondering over this issue, talking to one of my friends the other day, and he said, there was some special "factor" required for a person to get noticed, to move into premium roles like, a VP or SVP. So what's this "factor" that differentiates one person from the herd ?
Here are some obvious answers to this:
1. Skill: While this may sound to be the most obvious, IMO, this can take you only so far. At some stage in your career, you reach a place where everybody around you are equally skilled in a particular line of work as you are, if not more than you. While it really helps move your career in leaps in the initial stages, this cannot propel you all the way to the top, unless you are in a very small company, or you happen to be one of the initial founders.
2. Hard Work: This is might tie with no.1 as the most obvious answer. A really worthy quality to have . You might have all the skill set in the world, but none of them are useful, if you don't work hard and keep it honed. But again, I've seen hundreds of employees who are damn hard workers, but they just wait and stagnate. Most senior management see them as necessary folks with no life of their own. This is the worst category to be in, if this is one's sole strength, for he is in the danger of depression/burnout much sooner than others.
3. Focus: Now, this is a particularly interesting talent to have. Many people can be hardworking or skilled, but not everyone is focused on the task at hand. I've seen many skilled engineers while away their time browsing random web pages or really hard working men, staying up until 11 in the night, with no productivity to show. So, focus is indeed important. But it cannot be a unique talent on its own. Its often best complimented with the above two points.
So, now, coming back to the topic title, IMO, the one talent that differentiates a person from the crowd is....
4. Consistency: Yes. You heard it right. IMO, this is the most important factor is differentiating a leader from the herd. "How consistent you are in executing the task given to you !"
Its not enough to be skilled. "Are you consistently able to hone your skillet over a period of time, and remain in business ? "
Its not enough to work hard for one stretch. "Can you do it consistently until the goal is accomplished?"
Its not enough to be focused at one given task for a while and finish it. "Can you consistently focus on the tasks given to you day after day without getting distracted ?"
IMO, this is what differentiates leaders form the herd. They give consistent results, time after time. They hone their skill-sets regularly, they are hard working and focused over a longer period of time than most.
So, if there are any of you who think you have been mistreated in-spite of being skilled, hardworking or focused at your job, ask this to yourself - 'are you consistent enough' ?
