If you're a high-performing achiever now, you may have been so back in school. That drive to achieve may have given you a pattern that's blocking your progress. Let's explore.
Maybe you were the achievement-focused student who wanted to head home and get to work on your assignment, rather than take time hanging out with your college classmates. Maybe you were even an introverted achiever, driven, and just not that interested in connections. People were exhausting. Books were easier.
Grades were the supreme award - friendship-building, not so much
After all, what's rewarded for a student? Grades. Specifically, good grades -- or if you're one of those really driven students, superlative grades. Like, A's in every class.
Those were the supreme reward. The demonstration of your commitment and skill. What brought acclaim from your family and school advisors. What ensured you better colleges, better prospects. They represented the credential that was going to stay with you forever on your school transcripts. After all -- what was the ONLY evaluation? Your grades. People telling you "there's more to life than grades"? They clearly didn't know what they were talking about.
You weren't going to get evaluated on building great friendships. You may even have been praised for spending time on your schoolwork rather than with friends.
If you're still living that pattern today, you may be losing out on connecting
You may still be living that pattern, if your drive to produce incredible work is still the thing that keeps you from investing time in networking, professional groups, or after-hours connection building.
After all, the reward you take with you when you work hard and work late is considerable. An awesome work product. A ton of street cred with your boss and team. This is what shows you're a team player, gives you the hours and hustle you can point to, and demonstrates your prowess in the workplace.
You can always get some kind of admiration for saying you worked until 9:00 p.m. on the latest project. Not so much for saying you took time to get out and do some networking.
The problem with that is, you can end up empty-handed down the line, lacking the friendship, benefits and connections of professional relationship-building.
To make it work, build networking into your drives for success
As a high performer, whether academic or professional, those drives for success are strong -- VERY strong. So take some some extra thought and discipline to deliberately reward time for connection-building, especially if you're already strongly dialed in to an intense work schedule.
To make it work, make it PART of your own criteria for success.
Here are a few ways to get started:
Set up a metric for yourself that the intangibles of connecting are as important to your success as your demonstration of an intense work ethic.
Choose how many times this month you'll prioritize connecting with others.
Find groups or individuals that inspire your authentic professional interest. Extra Credit: Find at least one professional conference to attend annually.
If you're already too tapped out or exhausted to mingle, make it part of your success metric that you're engaged with a balanced work life. Grade yourself on your ability to maintain balance. If you're always too exhausted or busy to grow and develop, how sustainable is that, when does it end, and where will it leave you, one, five, or ten years down the line?
Be your own success advisor. If you "hate networking", identify what, specifically, you hate and see how you can change, adapt, or find events that work for you. If you're an introvert, find ways to get yourself out there, including allowing yourself to leave events early to preserve your energies.
Be authentic in your groups, interests, and contributions, and reach out to others who are also authentic.
Make it part of your success metric that you consistently invest in building enjoyable professional connections.
Make it part of your success metric that you consistently invest in building enjoyable professional connections. Imagine how many contacts you'd have if this had been included as part of your academic success. Not merely a good grade, but your ability to create real collaboration, reflection, and connection with those around you.
While this comes naturally to some people, for others it can take deliberate choice to prioritize it as important -- especially if you feel more rewarded for work. Now's the time to change that.
You're driven, growth-oriented and talented -- how will you get "A's" in prioritizing connection-building today?
Keep Growing,
Hi, I’m entrepreneur and mentor Katherine Lieber. I've walked the road of the Wounded Healer and the Wounded Professional, and now I teach others to overcome their barriers as well. Formerly a Fortune 500 tech-guru, trainer and innovator, I help other talented professionals grow in leadership, inner power, and confidence. You're a talented individual on a mission. What's holding you back from getting to all you desire and deserve? The answers will surprise you and the solutions will empower you. Learn to Lead Through What Blocks You and make success your profession.
#success #perfectionist #winning #titaniumblueleadership #katherinelieber #5minutegrowth #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching
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