In today’s business climate, it is important to be viewed as a significant contributor to the success of any project, program, or organization. An extremely important skill to demonstrate in Leadership. I would define the act of taking leadership this way- when there is a void or absence of progress or of results in a specific area of endeavor, who is proposing and contributing the most in advancing progress towards the goal. Whether it’s in education, business or in government, the person who raises their hand, stands up and has a proposal that makes sense to the bulk of the people is demonstrating leadership through action. You do not need to have authority, given to you by anyone for you to exhibit leadership. You are not granted leadership you assume and demonstrate leadership.  Leadership is something that is done very professionally.

To illustrate this point, you will all recall the TV ad “When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen” This TV ad placed E.F. Hutton  squarely in a position of influence and leadership, because it created followers by virtue of the company’s performance track record and credibility in the financial markets..Followers will not want to follow people or organizations that they do not like, know and trust.

A key aspect of professional growth and development is Mentoring. I believe that is essential to accelerated growth and progress, is absolutely essential. There is a great little book which is excellent on this subject.  The book costs under $10 and is titled, Mentoring 101, by John Maxwell. I have no association or affiliation with author, but this a great book/primer on mentoring.

Mentoring is important for several reasons. Firstly, you have to select the right mentor and you have to have the right mindset. You have to have a student’s/beginners mindset, not an expert’s mindset. Once you find someone that you want attached to you as a mentor, because they are smarter than you, due to life experience’s and training/expertise. These may be people in your company, outside the company, in your friend and family, then you approach them to solicit thee help in mentoring you.

How do you search for a Mentor? This morning I did a Google Search for mentors, coaches, trainers etc. It took Google about 31 seconds to find 58 million coaches and business mentors. Wow. Now 58 million, is a lot of people. How do you select the right one person? You’ve to have a  list of criteria, and begins with an in person or telephone interview. What are your looking for: qualifications.

1. What have you done?
2. When did you do it?
3. What industry or business did they do it in?
4. How many people have they coached in the past?
5. have them provide a list of references and testimonials.
6. What’s their track record of performance in the area of expertise that you are seeking?

I will cover more ideas for improving your results in your quest for promotability within the next two weeks.