An exceptional professional is one who is constantly operating close to at his/ her potential at that point in time.
You could also validate this by always asking yourself is this the best you could have done and then listening to your heart!
The points below come from my personal expereinces and are not neceesarily complete nor are they universal but will hopefully be good starting point.
What are the obstacles we face in our endeavour to be an exceptional professional?
1. Lack of sufficient role models
2. Peer environment influence of coasting along = chalta hain = resulting in passive dissatisfaction and tolerating mediocracy
3. Environment Influence
a. Industry influence – Service Industry – what you do costs $20 per hour but how much do you value it as ?
b. Company and its structure how is excellence recognized? How are you encouraged to improve yourself?
What are the steps one can take?
1. Maintain a super strong positive attitude at all times
2. Investing in yourself = learning new skills (not just technology but people skills as well) and Practicing what you have learnt. Treat your work environment as a laboratory
3. Building a better understanding of the problem Challenging status quo – Is there a better way of doing stuff?
4. Understanding the business and how we make money?
5. Sell your ideas/ thoughts/ approaches at various levels in the organization.
6. Benchmarking yourself with the best and exceeding them.
7. Taking ownership of everything you are associated with
8. Taking feedback – how can I be better?
9. Giving feedback ---How can you be better and how can our working relationship be better
10. Keep getting into unfamiliar territory (newer responsibilities) and give it your best.
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I agree..
ReplyDeleteShekhar,
ReplyDeleteGood points, all.
I have always tried to find an answer to the question, that in the final analysis, why do I need to become an exceptional professional? True, that being one such helps in progressing in one's career. Agreed, that this leads to easier fulfilment of life's common goals. It may even be argued that being an exceptional professional in one's professional life, is perhaps connected to a more disciplined and positive personal life. But, beyond all these, there is this small thing of being true to oneself - I need to feel good about what I do and how I do it, everyday. This feeling should precipitate in my mind, not by expecting any material benefit in return! In my experience, this particular parameter is very loosely held in most peoples' minds. As I see it, presence of this ingredient is a must for becoming an exceptional professional.