Keep Raising the Bar

from the Wall Street Journal

• 
  

  By ALEXANDRA LEVIT

  
  

As
a society, we're obsessed with achievement. But what happens once
you're considered objectively successful, with a great salary and a job
that energizes you? It's easy to rest on your accomplishments and your
way of getting work done, perhaps even feeling there's not much left to
learn.

But in this economy, you can't afford to sit back -- even though it might be tempting.

"Successful people fall into the trap of thinking they don't need to
change anything because their behavior is working for them," says
Marshall Goldsmith, author of "What Got You Here Won't Get You There:
How Successful People Become Even More Successful." "Every time they
get promoted...they get positive reinforcement even when certain skills
are lacking."

Know Your Weaknesses

But examining where you might have shortcomings can make or break a career.

David Hale of Columbia, S.C., quickly rose to the top of the
military police force and was granted the highly sought-after position
of polygraph examiner with the Army Criminal Investigation Command.

"I was my own biggest fan, and being cocky, I would try to force
confessions from suspects either prior to or based on their exams," he
says. But he didn't take the time to understand that criminals are more
likely to confess to people they like and trust. "My results fell way
below other examiners," Mr. Hale says.

Mr. Hale didn't realize he needed to change until his boss
transferred him and said that if his confession rate didn't increase,
he would be fired. He studied forensic interviewing, worked on relating
to subjects on an emotional level, and pursued courses in leadership,
counseling and psychology. Eventually, Mr. Hale began to rise again in
his career, and he became known as one of the top polygraph examiners
anywhere.

Necessary Skills

Becoming as successful as you can be -- after you've already climbed part of the ladder -- means you need two things.

For starters, you need outstanding people skills: Listen carefully,
think before you speak, reciprocate favors and manage conflicts
diplomatically.

Second, you must regularly take a hard look at yourself and address
your weak points. For example, if you have a communication issue with
one person or a group of people, step away from the blame game and ask
yourself, "How can I be better?" Make sure people are honest with you
by requesting feedback anonymously and confidentially.

If you're employed by a large organization, consider contacting
human resources to see what training is available. You may have the
opportunity to take leadership-development courses online or in-person
for free.

But the most important thing to keep in mind is that just because
you're skilled or talented in a particular area doesn't mean you should
simply pass go and collect your $200.

I, for instance, was hesitant to work with a speaking coach because
my audience evaluations didn't mandate it, but once I learned that the
top speakers in the world -- from Tony Robbins to President Barack
Obama -- have worked with coaches, I changed my mind.

Says Mr. Goldsmith: "Strong leaders don't coast."

Write to Alexandra Levit at reinvent@wsj.com