CAREER SPECIAL..10 CAREER TIPS

10 career tips

No qualification even if it is from an Ivy League institution anywhere from across the world is an eternal passport to success in life and business. Academic qualifications, at best, serve as an entry point in business. Subsequently, every one has to face challenges requiring capability and skills beyond what has been imparted in schools and colleges. The world is all performing and delivering consistently.
While there are no cast in stone do's and don'ts for a great career, yet, one must adhere to some basic tips to enhance one's career.
1. Be known for at least one core competency:
Each domain of management whether it is marketing and finance; branding and positioning; production and engineering; commerce and law or such like, offers myriad specializations. No one truly can acquire dominant knowledge in each. To make a mark in one's career, it is imperative that one is known for authoritative domain knowledge not only within the boundaries of the company one works in, but also in the industry segment
2. Build interface with the industry and academics:
To build a great career, it is important that one finds time to interface with the industry segment and the academics as a thought leader. This interface will impart much needed ingredients of growth. Besides, this also establishes one's credentials both within the company and outside.
3. Hone up public speaking and presentation:
Perception can be more important than reality. In the present day scenario, in fact perception is the reality. Moreover, those who anchor and present to the stakeholders of the business internally and externally draw higher attention to their business. For someone aspiring for a great career, communication and presentation skills become important as the higher you move up, the more of an impact it has. Those who present and speak with confidence and conviction also win the hearts and minds their audiences.
4. Acquire cross functional knowledge and skills:
Generally, accountants are confined to accounting, lawyers to law and engineers to technology since they derive comfort in their respective areas. Businesses today require an integrated knowledge. No one specialization by itself can take one to the top for an enduring rise. It is important that one begins to acquire knowledge beyond the confines of one's academic specialization. In the present day reality, one needs to acquire a good blend of knowledge in the domains of information technology, legal and finance as the businesses are getting highly regulated and globalised.
5. Think out of the box:
There are no set rules for running any business. There are no fixed assumptions either. The success of any enterprise indeed depends upon its appeal to both customers and investors. Following an assembly line approach to business builds no differentiators. In the present day buyers market, differentiators are very important. Creative thinking and imagination can help build brand advantage. For a bigger share of the wallet, one needs to go beyond logic and rationale.
6. Deliver beyond the targets:
Those who constantly strive to deliver higher value and higher results, stand to get higher rewards. In the age of merit, companies will always promote those who deliver more than the targets. For a constant rise in career, one has to respect the targets as one respects the Bible.
7. Keep preparing for higher responsibility:
Entrepreneurs need internal business leader. Those executives who help in the cause of saving the time of the promoter and seniors would always get preference in promotions and elevations.
8. Be a team player:
There is no room for solo players in the organization. Team-Work and Inter-personal relationships play an important role in making of one's career. Even if one has a higher intellect, yet, one could end up as an assorted player, if one is not a team player
9. Groom and build your successor:
Those who hold on to their position by holding information to themselves, they do not grow both hierarchically and intellectually. Others, who build their second in command, will get placed in higher position as they have built next someone who could take over their role.
10. Acquire the traits of a story teller:
The ability to tell a story plays an important role in the life of business leaders. When a CEO/CFO is presenting his company to shareholders/investors or a marketing director is presenting to the customers and a HR director is hiring a resource, basically, they all are telling a story.

-- Ronesh Puri :The writer is the Managing Director of Executive Access, an International search firm. TASC 18/05/2011