- Take the broad view but don’t ignore the significant detail:
‘Ill can he rule the great, that cannot reach the small’
(Spenser). It is sometimes necessary to penetrate beneath the
surface to find out what is really happening – on the shop
floor or in the field. But do this selectively. - Adapt to changing demands. ‘The executive who keeps on
doing what he has done successfully before is almost bound
to fail’ (Drucker).
PERSONAL QUALITIES AND BEHAVIOUR
■ Be enthusiastic and show it.
■ Innovate and create – come up with new ideas and react
positively to other people’s ideas. Don’t sulk if your ideas are
not accepted. Try again another way.
■ Show willing – there is nothing worse than the person who
always moans when he is given something to do. Don’t say:
‘How can I possibly do that?’ Instead, respond immediately
with something like this: ‘Right, this is what I propose to do –
is that what you want?’
■ Be positive – in the words of the old Bing Crosby song:
‘accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative’.
■ Work hard – people who get on are hard workers. But they
don’t work for work’s sake. Effectiveness is never a function
of how late you stay in the office. It’s what you do while you
are there that counts.
■ Present yourself well – life is not all about making a good
impression, but you might as well make sure that your
achievements are known and appreciated. And if people are
impressed by executives who are decisive, punctual and
answer promptly, why not impress them that way? More
good than harm will come of it.
■ Be ambitious – ‘A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or
what’s a heaven for?’ (Robert Browning). But don’t overdo it.
Don’t appear to be more concerned about your future status
than with present effectiveness.
■ Be courageous – take calculated risks, believe in what you
are doing and stick to your guns.
■ Be assertive but not aggressive.
■ Put your points across firmly and succinctly.
How to Get On 87