Blog and Twitter hiatus
Followers have suggested that I explain why I haven’t posted or tweeted for months. The reason is that I’m writing a book for McGraw-Hill and it’s consuming every waking hour outside of my normal coaching and speaking assignments. The book is titled THE CEO DIFFERENCE: How to Climb, Crawl, and Leap Your Way to [...]
Learn MoreExpect Acceptance
You as an individual have someone who possesses a sense of “power” over your existence. For instance, your boss has a say in what you do at work, how high your annual salary is and whether you deserve a promotion or not. This degree of control over your life is by all means intimidating. In fact, just being around these certain people makes you sweat because you do not want to put your foot in your mouth by saying the wrong thing. Yet, this fear or pressure you may feel while interacting with these people is all avoidable if you simply, expect acceptance.
Put yourself on par with any other member of the human species. No one is above you or below you. All people are on the same level. Take for example, an interview situation. The interviewee may find themselves to be anxious, uneasy and fearful. But it is more than likely that the interviewer is not totally in their comfort zone. By going into this same interview with a feeling of equality you will be able to communicate in a relaxed manner and likely get what you want out of the situation.
Put some trust in your abilities. Ask GE’s chairman, Jack Welch, what’s your secret to success? “I hire people smarter and better than me,” he’ll tell you. Therefore, you better live up to Mr. Welch’s expectations! Getting hired by a company likely means that they believe you will be able to further their organizational goals. You are just as valuable to the company as anyone else. Don’t insult their judgment by sitting back and not expressing your true aptitude.
Reception from your peers starts with personal acceptance. Tell yourself that you’re adequate. You deserve to be where you are and you want to be there. Then behave as though you look forward to acceptance from others. By doing this, no one will question you and you’ll receive the support that you need. Finally, if at first you don’t succeed, try again. I am not naïve to the fact that you will not always receive instant acceptance. If you find yourself in this situation do not roll over and die. Keep your head high and continue to put yourself on par with everyone else. Because the moment when you stop doing this, will instantaneously become the moment that you allow people to walk all over you.
- Guest Blogger, Daniel Smith, Intern from Colorado State University
- 2 Comments
- Tags: acceptance, secret to success
Great post, Daniel! Insightful and well-written.
Debra, I’ve read your books /Lions Don’t Need to Roar/ and /How to Think Like a CEO/. I’m soon to be a college grad, and would like to know if you had any words of advice to those about to begin their careers in such rocky times as these. I am particularly interested in the writing of cover letters/resumes and how to go about the job search– online job engines, asking around, university career assistance, etc.
Wish you both well!
ReplyEmily, I’m probably so late in responding that you are already on your second job! But wherever you are in your career:
Reply1.Be the one in charge of it, don’t let others control it. 2.Strive to differentiate yourself in everyway. 3.Keep your sense of humor. 4.Be doggedly tenacious in going after what you want. That is a little trite, but a lot true.