Doing well is not enough

The human mind is a very fascinating thing. Many books these days feature its complexities and the complex way it works. I just ordered a book entitled You’re Not That Smart After All. It’s a fascinating read, and I wondered if I was reading a book authored by somebody who isn’t really that smart. Hmmm…

Try to recall history, and former presidents and other government leaders. Chances are, you found it hard to remember them clearly and positively. Ironically, they’re the same persons who had grabbed the headlines in past elections, and who were the topics in coffee shops and restaurants. And yet a few years after they’ve left office, we could hardly remember them, maybe more so in very positive terms.

Harder it is for business leaders to be well-remembered. Try naming the leaders of your business for the last 50 years. How far did you get?

We need to constantly ask ourselves: “How will I be remembered? How do I want to be remembered?”

You and I may be well-known today in our business organizations and maybe even in our communities, but none of us are likely to be remembered for our mastery of PowerPoint or for closing the month end accounts on time.

We need to make our mark. If we want to progress on the leadership ladder, we need to stand out from our colleagues. It’s not enough to have done well, because almost everyone is already trying to do well. Doing well becomes average, and average is not marketable or remarkable.

You and I need a distinctive claim to fame. A good claim to fame is going above and beyond what’s expected of you: taking on a challenging project, leading an initiative which cuts across the organization, developing a new idea or a new way of making something work. Then you’ll get noticed and you’ll get recognition. It may not happen overnight, it may take a little time, but it will happen if you’re consistent.

It’s easy to remember leaders (and people in general) for the wrong things they’ve done. Character faults seem more glaring than virtues, and seem to stick to the mind forever. That’s just how the mind works.

It’s all too easy to be remembered for the wrong things. What we are can be remembered with the same degree of intensity as what we’ve done. That’s why attitude counts, especially when in view of senior management. You can make your mark by being consistently positive, kind, reliable, trustworthy and action-focused – low hurdles by which most people fall.

Go the extra mile. Show a lot of initiative. Exude confidence, but without being arrogant; a competent person is a confident person.

Be remembered for good things. But don’t go grabbing credit – allow others to say good things about you. This makes you more credible. And this is how you move consistently to the top.

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