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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
 Topic: Highly Successful People
Reference: Harper, Craig. “”Fifty Habits of Highly Successful People.” Lifehack.Org: http://www.lifehack.org/articels/lifestyles/fifty-habits-of-highly-successful-people.html.
May 12, 2008.
For some reason the spring time always ushers in a period of self reflection for me, my associates, and employees. Part of it is due to required performance evaluations. Part of it is due to the heartfelt desire to improve in all areas. Part of it is the wanderlust to achieve new highs, climb new mountains and create enhanced results in operations, client satisfaction, and personal satisfaction. When properly directed organizations can benefit from this annual exercise as people look to move up in the pecking order, or move out to find fulfillment elsewhere. In most organizations it is better if people make an accurate self-assessment than having reality thrust upon them by senior leadership. That is one of the things that interested me in what Ram Charan described in the book “Execution” as the GE winnowing process of low performers. Ideally, employees will know well before the completion of reviews if their performance is not satisfactory and formulate a view of their performance and of management that is consistent with management’s view. It has been my experience that this seldom happens and often it can be traced to a lack of successful habits on the part of managers and employees. In the referenced article the commentator put together an outstanding list of the habits of the highly successful. Some of my favorites include #3 they are solution focused; #7 they rarely complain (waste of energy); #19 they take calculated risks-financial, emotional, professional, psychological; and #47 they are more interested in effective than they are in easy. The list has a number of other gems, but at its core it helps clarify what is mostly lacking in the outlook, perspective, and performance of bad management and poor performers in all organizations. Just about everyone can benefit from reflecting on the substance of this highly successful habits list. However, like all lists I am sure that a few got left on the cutting room floor. For example, “they expect success because they prepare for it and support positive outcomes all the way to completion”, or “they share credit willingly and make team outcomes central to their individual success.” I am sure that you have others and I would love to hear your thoughts and approach to this subject matter.
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