| Modern business world is ever changing, more | | | | around and shaken when others seem to make |
| competitive and requiring individuals who will stand | | | | strides in their areas of endeavor. I have seen |
| and be counted as leaders above others. When | | | | people spending years studying for Masters In |
| you stand head and shoulders above your own | | | | International Law, or Masters in Medicine only to |
| colleagues, employers will rush for you, business | | | | decide after such investment that they want to |
| will come your way, your department will win all | | | | be a professional musician. I have no problem with |
| the prizes for good performance. As a | | | | this for as long as you don't live in regret over |
| professional in your own area of endeavor, know | | | | the time spent in your own professional |
| that your attitudes and attributes facilitate the | | | | wilderness hoping to please parents and the one |
| well being of your subordinates. This has a direct | | | | paying college fees. |
| impact on the altitude the company's vision will | | | | 5. Distinctly Different - You need to be separate; |
| rise to. Do business like your entire life relies on it. | | | | to stand up and stand out. When you behave |
| If you are working for someone, take that | | | | ordinarily you expect to be treated ordinarily. |
| business as your own, take responsibility of your | | | | Carry yourself like a king. Carry yourself with |
| area of endeavor and do the work well. Many | | | | Dignity and be distinct. You are not common. You |
| professionals go to work for the money, for job | | | | are unique. When you stop copying the identity of |
| security but behave like they cant wait to leave | | | | others and move towards originality in speech and |
| the place of employment. They carry themselves | | | | in action then your uniqueness will draw employers |
| like victims of the work place always demanding | | | | towards you. |
| for more salaries without justifying that with | | | | 6. Disciplined Delegator - When you commit to |
| results. Your own results must claim a salary raise | | | | doing something, just do it. Why wait for other |
| from your boss without your raising your voice | | | | people to say go ahead unless such protocol is |
| and being emotionally charged about it. | | | | necessary in your culture. Be confident in who |
| Here are the pointers that will separate your from | | | | you are. Be secure in your role. You can not skin |
| others: | | | | a whole cow on your own. Provide the knives, |
| 1.Determination - You need to have a "No matter | | | | advise the teams accordingly and remain |
| what", "Whatever it takes" attitude. Be | | | | responsible for the outcome. Be hands on, ask for |
| determined to achieve that goal. Never be | | | | feedback, Do not shun your own responsibilities. |
| tempted to quit, never retire. You become the | | | | You remain disciplined in your delegation lest you |
| favorite of every employer when you show that | | | | lead your team astray. They may take the roles |
| you are a fighter. Even when you run your own | | | | given seriously but they still look up the leader to |
| business, determination carries the day. It | | | | model and enforce discipline. |
| separates wimps from achievers. Determination | | | | 7. Daring Dreamer - You need to have audacious, |
| says "I may be standing in the fire now, but I am | | | | adventurous, bold and courageous dreams and |
| not moved by present pressure". | | | | aspirations. You can not be professional who is |
| 2.Diligent and Detailed- paying attention to the | | | | not powered by dreams. What do you want to |
| tasks at hand. Diligent people follow procedures | | | | become in 5 years. You must be able to answer |
| line by line. They do not enjoy short-cuts. I have | | | | that in your sleep. Your dream is your blueprint by |
| mentioned in another article that microwave | | | | which your future hinges on. If you won't dream, |
| solutions lead to microwave disasters. There is | | | | why wake up as you have nothing to chase? |
| always the innate desire to arrive right away | | | | 8. Deep seated Drive - (Passion). You can not |
| without considering that there are times and | | | | motivate those around you when your "drive |
| seasons we operate under. When you remain | | | | tank" is low. Believe me I have tried that and it |
| Diligent, your day of promotion comes and you | | | | does not work. Always recharge your batteries |
| go to the top to everyone else's amazement. | | | | before you meet your teams. Take away all that |
| Consider diligence as incubation for promotion. | | | | which stinks (discouragement, boredom, |
| 3.Dependable Doer - When you can be trusted to | | | | tiredness). on that day get someone else to lead |
| be loyal, calling a spade a spade, being a person of | | | | while you are re-sharpening and refreshing. |
| your word, reliable and open, then you are | | | | 9. Decisively Direct- You must be able to make |
| positioned for promotion. No one wants to give | | | | decisions quickly and directly. Professionals who |
| power and influence to someone who is hard to | | | | take long to make decisions tend to miss |
| understand, someone who shows signs of | | | | opportunities for promotion to leadership. |
| disloyalty and lacking trust. When you are | | | | Leadership is about making decisions that move |
| dependable then everyone around you knows you | | | | the business forward. Modern business requires |
| do what you promise and sometimes beyond. | | | | quick, direct decision making as the world has |
| They know you to DO more by going an extra | | | | become a lot faster. Information moves faster |
| mile to ensure quality is achieved. | | | | than it used to in other centuries hence your |
| 4.Destiny Directed - No one would enjoy working | | | | decision making process has to be quicker and |
| with someone who has lost his or her moral, | | | | yet direct. |
| emotional and psychological compass. Direction | | | | 10 Dynamic Deliverer - When you are dynamic, |
| towards Destiny here speaks of focus and vision | | | | you are full of energy and new ideas. Every |
| and living purposefully. Every professional must | | | | employer has one expectation on you as a |
| answer the question on purposes succinctly. | | | | professional, they want you to deliver results. |
| "Where am I now and where am I going?" When | | | | When you can deliver results, you make your |
| you can not answer this question without | | | | company or department proud. |
| stammering then you are likely to be tossed | | | | |