It may be a good idea to see the past in order to get direction for the future.
This may be the obvious for the seasoned managers, but this may help a few of you who are just starting out.
It had been weeks since I received the advice from my boss, "I needed to develop my people skills.
" Hmmm.
I still had a very narrow idea of what he was talking about.
People Skills to me meant: I was pleasant with the customers Got along well with all of the other staff members Took pride in my appearance Reported to work a few minutes early for my shifts, and Always did a better than average job.
In my mind, I had become 'the model employee.
' But, I was still making close to minimum wage and not getting anywhere fast.
I wanted more.
I wanted more than just being an employee, and I wanted the benefits that came along with it.
I wanted to make more money.
It was time for me to make a big change.
It was time to take charge of my own development.
It was time to admit that I had more to learn, if I expected my dreams to come true.
I made a vow to myself, "I would change, I would take charge of my development, I would learn whatever it took to get what I wanted.
" And so the journey began: I learned several valuable lessens that had previously seemed to be hiding from my view.
These are but a few: You have to be the one to start the ball rolling.
Ask for help.
You are being observed by someone, all of the time.
Life is not fair.
The bottom line is money and profits.
You have to be the one to take the first step.
Don't expect someone else will take you under their wing and show you everything you need to do so you can advance your career.
You have more vested-interest in your personal success than they do.
You need to ask for help.
Let the person that can get you that promotion know what you want.
He or she may not even realize you are interested.
Remember they also have their own set of objectives.
Your needs may not be their top priority.
People form opinions about you on a continual basis.
If you are looking for advancement to a management position, start acting like a manager.
All your actions and reactions to situations which occur in your business everyday should consistently follow the company rules and standards of operation.
Life is not always fair.
You can use "the wait and see method" for your success, and hope someone notices your exceptional skills and offers you everything you think you deserve.
I can tell you from first-hand experience, this doesn't work.
Know that life is usually not fair, so I suggest you do things that tip the scale in your favor.
Use your head, be creative and make a difference.
Making a difference is 95% related to the company's bottom line, the bottom line meaning, the amount of money the company is actually making after all the expenses are paid.
If you can contribute to generating more dollars in sales and profits, you are well on your way to being recognized as a valued employee, a leader, and an ideal candidate for becoming a MANAGER.
Bill "Helping You Achieve Your Greatest Self"