Staying ahead of the competition

I gave a talk a few weeks ago and when it came to the Q&A Session someone asked me "What does it take to stay ahead of the competition when you start working for someone?". Unfortunately, 'hard work' just  doesn't cut it anymore. Neither will technical knowledge know how. Those are expectations employers have of their employees. If you don't have either one you better be worried.

But let's assume that you are a hard worker and you are a really smart cookie. How do you stay ahead? 

In my  line of work, I meet with HR managers and speak to them about what they want to achieve from their employees. And not surprisingly, most HR managers want their employees to be able to interact better with each other.

SO - the answer is simple -  you gotta be a people's person! You got to be someone people like to deal with. This also applies to would be doctors and professionals who will end up owning their own practices. You need to know how to interact with others to stay competitive.

And don't mistake this for licking ass or anything like that.

It's gotta do with being able to manage your relationships with others and how to be aware of their emotions and yours. That's what employers are looking for out there. They already have smart people. They need people people.

So how do you become a people's person? Well that's a huge topic that will take a few more blog posts. Google EQ, leadership styles abd interpersonal skills. That should give you a head start.

If you're a leader then focus on what makes a good leader. If you're part of a team then focus on EQ skills and how it applies at the work place.

That's how you stand out.