Successful people are normally defined largely by their willingness to lean into difficulty and transform it. They do not avoid or cast blame when the going gets tough. Some of their most consistent and outstanding traits involve being individuals who see opportunity in challenge. They are also skilled at strategising in the face of crisis when others react emotionally. Interestingly, these people aren’t always the most visible individuals in our life– and even if they are, they wouldn’t be flashing their own self-development around.
But one thing is for sure, they teach us that life will consistently present different circumstances and we are in control of how we respond to them. If we really are able to pick their brain, we might just be able to identify the true essence of a leader. So how can we change the way we view challenges as growth while others see crisis? Here, 8 of most difficult things that highly successful people learn to do early on:
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1. Admit fault and flaws
As a leader, owning your mistakes is your greatest opportunity to learn and grow. The sooner you can acknowledge a mistake, the sooner you can take action to rectify it. When you admit to your mistake, it is a sign of strength. And honestly, it takes character and leadership to do it well. Getting past the ego-block of denying wrongdoing not only holds you back further, it also looks like a poor display of character.
2. Being good is different from being right
Highly successful people are never the smartest person in the room. If they are, they are in the wrong room. To achieve this, you forfeit the need to always be right with the commitment to always do better. Your goal is not to be the best, but to create something that is the best, in collaboration with those capable of making that happen.
3. Maintain humility
No one likes dealing with egomaniacs. While being humble means you should never let a few standout achievements define you, true humility requires self-awareness. The first step towards self-awareness is to recognize and be open about the stressful things you’re experiencing. Do not use your success as away to disconnect with others, positioning yourself as “better than” someone else.
4. Embrace failure as a process
Does failure scare you? Is failure the end of the road? Well, for those of you who fear failure, and subsequently avoid risk, usually see it as a permanent mark against one’s character or reputation. In reality, Success and failure are two sides of the same coin. It’s an ongoing process, and the former almost always has to precede the latter.
5. Communicate with precision
Anyone can talk. But the value of a good communicator cannot be understated. To speak with precision is an art. Not everyone can find and use the correct combination of diction and tone to express an idea as clearly as possible. This requires clarity of thought, and the objective to convey ideas, not to elicit emotional responses such as awe, pity or intimidation.
6. See obstacles as opportunities
What do you do when you’re faced with an obstacle? Do you turn back or do you find ways to surpass it? Highly successful people are never the victim of their circumstances. They see life as being a reflection of who and how they are. It is a field of potential onto which they can actualise themselves through committed practices and steadfast mental strength.
7. Team up with competition
Your business competitors may deter people in your target audience from choosing you. While this immediately makes them seem like the enemy, the truth is that competition is not all bad. Working with those you deem as “competition” not only makes your business stronger and more visible, but the principle of seeing others as partners as opposed to threats is a sign of good character.
8. Never exaggerate a situation
Anyone can make an issue more complicated than it needs to be, and in fact, most people subconsciously do despite all odds. It takes a true genius – and a touch of tact – to simplify a situation. Stop wasting your time and energy on a situation that may not matter. When you stop conflating issues, you will automatically have rooms for things that matter most.
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