GUEST POST by Mr. Credit Card
Today, Mr. Credit Card from Ask Mr. Credit Card is going to share some thoughts about the importance of improving yourself and learning new skills as an employee. Mr Credit Card has recently compiled a review of identity identity theft protection services, which you might want to check out.
If you hang around the blogosphere enough, you will notice a recurring theme; the desire of many to get out of their JOBS’ and work for themselves. Very often, the reasons cited include:
- Poor job fit
- Spend more time with family
- Hate answering to a boss
- Lack of job security in corporate America
Most the reasons cited above are true to a certain extent. But instead of drooling about the prospect of starting your own business, why not use your time as a corporate employee to improve yourself and acquire new skills? You might actually find that doing so may get your a promotion or a leg up when you strike out on your own. Check out these skills to further your career.
1. Learn to delegate – One of the things employees must learn as they progress up the organization is to delegate. We’ve all seen this again and again. The best salesperson on the team is a terrible manager or the smartest programmer stinks as the boss. There is a transition from team member to manager. Very often, the person who is successful at a specific task fails when he or she gets promoted because they never learn to delegate.
Learning to delegate is a very important skill to learn. You frequently hear successful entrepreneurs talk about working ON their business, not IN the business. If you fail to delegate, you may find it difficult to grow your own business.
2. Learn to be productive – I guess in certain corporate jobs, it is easy to just coast along. But if you want to rise to the top, you have to be productive. That means getting your most important task done first. And not being overly distracted by things that do not really matter.
3. Polish up on presentation skills - Demonstrating good presentation skills is crucial in the corporate world. But they are also very important if you have your own business. After all, you have to pitch to venture capitalists, vendors, and other organizations if you are seeking any partnerships. If you lack presentation shills in a corporate setting, likely you will be poor at promoting your own business too.
4. Enhance your people skills – Some folks do not succeed in the corporate world because they have poor people skills. You could make the argument that perhaps this is an impetus to strike out on one’s own. And there are many professions where you can get away with poor people skills. For example, a freelance computer programmer or writer may not need these as much as someone in other professions. Still brushing up interpersonal skills can go a long way towards advancing your career or even growing our own business. A business owner needs people skill to deal with employees or his/her business partners.
5. Build relationships – Very often, folks who are shy of promoting themselves view others who are “close” to their bosses as brown nosers. I used to think that way too. However, having become my own boss, I actually appreciate employees who update me, ask my opinion, and ask questions when they are unsure. I enjoy a close relationship with my employees. Here is the truth. In the real world, you will only be promoted if you have the trust of your superior and this only happens when you build a strong relationship with him or her. Furthermore, you can only get things done with peers if you’ve built sound relationships.
If you have your own business, the ability to build relationships is even more important. Business owners who lack this skill are at a disadvantage because strong business relationships relate to future success.
6. Get things done – There are many folks who simply do not get things done on time or properly when given a project to do. There are plentiful reasons and excuses. But to be truly successful in whatever you do, you must develop the habit of getting things done by hook or by crook.
A key attribute of successful executives and business owners is the ability to get things accomplished on time.
Summary
There are many folks who are unhappy with their present jobs for a variety of reasons and want to eventually “start their own business” or “earn passive income”. But I would suggest that even if you are unhappy with your present corporate job situation, there are skills to learn that could earn you a promotion, increase your job fulfillment and even a higher salary. At the very worst, improving yourself will give you a better shot at success when you do strike out on your own.
So do not moan and groan about your present situation. Instead, make use of your time now to improve yourself (and obviously plan your next venture). You will be much better off with an action-oriented attitude no matter what the future holds.
Mr. Credit Card, Thanks for sharing your ideas here! Best regards, Barb
These are some good tips. Also, I think if we are successful in starting our own businesses. We should want to have done right by our future employers so hopefully our employees will do right by us.
@Shawn-I like the implication of “what goes around, comes around.” It’s a sound way to live life!
I also think a positive attitute makes a world of difference.
If you are in an environment of blame-storming, both you and your company are ultimately poised for failure. If you can be supportive and encourage passion and ideas in others, your much more likely to be successful.
Shawn – I agree with you on that one. One has to learn to give and obey orders – to be a good follower as well as a good leader.
I think the morale at many companies has gone in the dumpster with all the downsizing and pay cuts. I can see how so many people would want to go out on their own given what I see and hear in the workplace. I think it can be hard to be super-positive in a very negative environment. If you can do that, then you are a great employee.
@ Car & Tips – Thank you for the comments. Resilience and mental toughness will lead to success in the workplace and on one’s own. Sometimes it is easier said than done.
That said, the current economic climate is the worst in decades, and that adds to the difficulties both in the workplace and for entrpreneurs.
Its interesting that my post regarding lifelock fraud was removed. Well I guess this blog doesnt encourage posting facts to educate customers. What a shame that people/blogs promote companies like LifeLock just to earn some affiliate bucks. What happened to common sense?
Excellent post. I have always wanted to start my own company, but before doing that, I inculcated a lot of the aforementioned skills that allowed me to be promoted to Assistant Manager – Operations in my last organization. The experience gained at such a level proved to be very helpful in my current organization.