Years ago I read a great book called “How to Be a Star at Work” by Robert E. Kelley. This book became and continues to be one of the “100 Best Business Books of All Time” and the “#1 Career Book” ranked by The New York Daily News. The author argues that “stars are made, not born.” This is great news for anyone looking for ways to become a star at work.
According to Kelley’s book, there are 9 innovative strategies you need to be successful. Here are his strategies and some of his ideas, as well as my thoughts on how to awaken the star within you:
1. Take the initiative. Look for opportunities to differentiate yourself from others. Many employees do not take the initiative. It’s too much work, they’re too busy doing their job or they’ve become complacent. High performers constantly go the extra mile. Initiative is what many employers and recruiters look for in new hires, but it’s very rare in the workplace. Take initiative by taking on additional responsibilities beyond your current job description. Look for ways to help co-workers or the department with specific goals or projects. Don’t be afraid to take some risks by being proactive.
2. Become a good networker. It is said that we are only 4 or 5 people away from anything we want to be, do or have. A good network can help you fill in the gaps. You don’t know everything. But if you have a good network of people to turn to, you can usually find someone in your network to help you, or at least someone who knows a person who can help you.
3. Excel in self-management. Self-management is not about being super organized. It is about evaluating which activities are important and not important and then balancing them with the urgent and non-urgent ones. It’s about taking control of your own career path by developing a plan and connecting with the work you enjoy most and that benefits the company. Stars discover how to harness their talents and add value to their organizations. It is important to increase personal effectiveness and efficiency.
4. Build perspective. I have a metaphor that I love to use with my clients to gain more perspective. I make them think of a hockey game in a stadium. As a hockey player, you focus on moving the puck, passing the puck, scoring, etc. The action is fast and very focused. The game moves quickly. By moving from player position to coach position on the sidelines, you can gain a broader perspective of what’s going on in the game. The game slows down, the view is wider, and you can think more strategically about what needs to be done. Now when moving to an observer position at the top of the stands, the game slows down even more. You can get even more perspective as you can see not only the game and training, but also the stats and anything else going on on the fringes. Much larger perspective and a much larger point of view. As you awaken your star power, gain insight into not only what you do, but also what’s going on around you and how that affects your job, department, and the company as a whole.
5. Generate followers. Follow-up focuses on the relationships you have with leaders and people who have power and authority over you. To be a good follower, you need to know how to lead yourself. Good followers have focus, commitment, and develop competence and credibility as a way to influence others in the workplace. They maintain an honest conscience and a lot of integrity. His own ego is managed and controlled to work cooperatively with the leaders.
6. Be a leader. Not only with the people you already formally lead. Be a leader among your peers and colleagues, as well as among others. As a leader among your peers, you must seek to be respected for your knowledge, experience, and proven judgment. He especially wants your respect in the area of social skills. Show that you care about people and your colleagues.
7. Be a team player. As a good team player, you can contribute by making sure the team knows and understands its purpose, doing team work, and paying attention to and contributing to group dynamics in a constructive and positive way.
8. Increase your organizational knowledge. According to Kelley, organizational intelligence is defined as: “the ability to manage conflicting interests in the workplace to advance an idea, resolve conflict, and most importantly, achieve a goal.” The organization can be a political minefield, so it’s important to be smart. Find an organizational mentor who can help you move through the organization. Build and nurture strong relationships and increase your personal credibility.
9. Be effective and persuasive. Impact and influence skills are key to reaching the desired results. It is important to understand your audience and tailor your communication to them. Remember that resistance is a sign that you have not created enough report.