{"id":14482,"date":"2015-05-26T09:28:07","date_gmt":"2015-05-26T13:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondphilosophy.com\/?p=14482"},"modified":"2019-10-15T08:57:19","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T12:57:19","slug":"if-i-were-22-being-qualified-doesnt-entitle-you-to-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondphilosophy.com\/if-i-were-22-being-qualified-doesnt-entitle-you-to-success\/","title":{"rendered":"If I Were 22: Being Qualified Doesn’t Entitle You to Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this series, professionals share what they’d do differently \u2014 and keep the same. <\/em>Follow the stories <\/em>here<\/em> and <\/em>write your own<\/em> (please use\u00a0#IfIWere22 in your post).<\/em><\/p>\n

George Bernard Shaw (no relation) said…<\/p>\n

Youth is wasted on the young.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As it becomes more and more of a stretch for me to claim youth, I must admit I see the wisdom in Shaw\u2019s words. When I was 22, I hated it when people said, “You need more experience for this role.” I really hated it, but now I realised they were right… I needed more experience to make good decisions. I guess you could see from my jacket and my hair style, in this picture above, to see that my decision making needed improving! \ud83d\ude42
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So if you are 22, here are some of the key things I have learnt that hopefully help you short-circuit the process.<\/p>\n

5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 22:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

#1: Being qualified is good, but it\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0entitle you to success.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Colin\u00a0Powell,\u00a0<\/strong>Statesman<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I have met many people who believe their qualifications mean the world owes them a living. Well, it doesn\u2019t. Many clever people fail because they choose not to work hard. In my experience, employers want people who do things, not talk about doing things. Success is not just about being clever as measured by a qualification. A key ability is to apply your intelligence to implement things. In other words, having qualifications isn’t enough; you have to use them!<\/p>\n

#2: Getting people to do things requires positive reinforcement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Properly used, positive reinforcement is extremely powerful. \u2014\u00a0B. F. Skinner, Psychologist<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When it comes to getting most people to do what you want<\/a>, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Human behavior<\/a> is driven by many factors, not the least of which is emotional rewards and positive feelings. Negative feedback has its place, of course, but the best motivators tend to be positive. Find ways to give people positive feedback, and you will be surprised how effective a manager you become.<\/p>\n

#3: None of us are as clever as all of us.<\/strong>
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“Many of us are more capable than some of us\u2026 but none of us is as capable as all of us! \u2014\u00a0Tom Wilson, Cartoonist<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At the beginning of my career, I thought it was my job to know everything and make all the decisions. I couldn\u2019t have been more wrong! I learned over time my job is to inspire people, create the work environment culture, and give them room to do their jobs. It\u2019s important to hire people who are smarter than you because they make your team stronger and your organization better. We all learn from each other, and we all bring different strengths to the table. When we put all those together, we can accomplish much more.<\/p>\n

#4: Leadership is everything.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLeadership is doing what is right when no one is watching. \u2014\u00a0George Van Valkenburg<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Leadership is putting your team first and yourself second. Leadership is never asking your team to do something you wouldn\u2019t do. Leadership means recognizing that everyone is equal. I am not their better; I am their equal. I travel the same economy class as the team; I sit in an open office. Leadership is about setting guidance lines, not walls. It\u2019s about accepting people make mistakes. It\u2019s about being transparent and honest. It\u2019s also about being comfortable in your skin, understanding your faults, and trying to minimize them. It\u2019s about encouraging and developing people, watching people blossom and then being pleased when they fly from the nest to better things.<\/p>\n

#5: Body language speaks volumes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPart of being out there, campaigning, talking to people is being able to read body language. \u2014\u00a0Gary Johnson, Politician<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What you say with your body language<\/a> is what people often hear first. The self-awareness of one\u2019s body language in social situations can make a huge difference in people remember you. Whether it\u2019s a first impression in a job interview, a keynote speech at an important convention or an interaction with a long-time client, your body language communicates many details about you. Make sure you know what yours is saying.<\/p>\n

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There are pros and cons to everything. Part of me wants to be young again, but not if I have to go back to the skills and knowledge I had at the time. I want to know what I know now and use it back then. Alas, it is not to be for me. However, if you are young, I hope you heed these words and use them to your advantage. They have taken me 57 years to discover, I hope they give you the edge I didn\u2019t have at your age.<\/p>\n

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\nCustomer Experience<\/a> Management (CEM) Certification <\/em><\/strong>Course beginning on <\/em>April 20th<\/em><\/strong>. Registration is ending soon! Use code CX200 to save $200 on course price.<\/strong><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

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