Four Fundamentals of Professional Success

    Success in our chosen profession is an important dimension of our life without which the wheel of happiness is not complete. This is the reason most of us try and devote maximum amount of time and energy in this direction often at the cost of other pillars of life. The success on this front however is elusive as well deceptive. Most people even at very late stage in life are confused if not unhappy with their professional achievements. Also, this subject would possibly be the most researched and written about but we continue to see more and more work from the management gurus and professionals from various walks of life. 

   At the outset it may be prudent to revisit our understanding of professional success which does not necessarily mean to be sitting on top of the hierarchical ladder. To put it simply, professional success means doing work that is purposeful and that you enjoy, getting recognition for your contribution, having opportunity for growth, ability to balance work with personal life and financial wellbeing.   

The formula for professional success is very simple, known to all however the problem is that we tend to forget, ignore and do not pursue the  basics thereby resulting in under achievement. In my life, I have seen many highly gifted individuals not realising their full potential as they ignore the essentials of professional success while on the other hand many average people have achieved success purely by tenaciously sticking to the fundamentals. Let us see what are these basics which are so essential for achieving professional success.

Do What You Like. If feasible take up a profession that interests & excites you as it will take care of many professional challenges related to learning, motivation and focus. While agreeing to the fact that most people do not have the luxury of choosing a profession they like but as per a Washington Post Study only 26.5 percent degree holders work in the fields they are qualified. 

There is no comparative study for India but things are no different and it is quite common to professionals changing their jobs and fields of work frequently. If that be the case, I will take the liberty to recommend "blend your profession with passion" and further suggest that "it is never too late". 

    Clear and Realistic Goals. You must define clear professional goals for yourself but these must commensurate to the level from where you have started, educational qualification and your competencies. It is my experience that most of us are under or over ambitious with our professional goals. The biggest disasters occur when many of us do not align our expectations with our capabilities and the hard work we are willing to put in. While it is not feasible to exactly define what you want but it may be wise to "broadly identify the place where you wish to reach" while accepting the fact that missing the target by a notch or two is part of life.

 Upskill for Success. Every profession requires technical and managerial/leadership skills that need to be upgraded on a continuous basis. Technical skills are the foundations of your profession hence a must, but leadership skills are indispensable without which successful outcomes are not feasible.

    At this stage in life, I can accept that I along with many other senior colleagues from various walks of life lacked many of the leadership skills like goal defining, decision making, delegation, effective listening, consensus building, conflict resolution & interpersonal relations.  Best way to upskill is to practice although you can join certified/non-certified, paid/unpaid, on/off campus courses.. Writing/blogging on matters related to your profession is an interesting way of ensuring that you read, carryout research and remain upskilled all the time. 

Work on Personal Qualities. Success in your profession like all other achievements necessitates certain personal qualities like discipline (to follow a routine, time management and avoid distractions),  hard work, focus or  ability for deep work, positive attitude, integrity, self control, and emotional stability. In my opinion solid personal qualities are most critical element of professional success however most challenging to imbibe and follow therefore everyone must continue to make an effort to improve on this account. Honest self introspection with with a tinge of spirituality helps a long way in evolving as a better person. 

    In conclusion I would like to say that professional success is a must for all of us to be happy and the key for the same is in our own hands. We just need to leave our comfort zones, choose our calling and pursue it with sincerity and dedication.