Weekly "How to Wow" Strategies
of Frances Cole Jones
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner
Everyone’s looking for that seemingly indefinable “something”
that will make a management candidate stand out from the pack. I
sat down with John Rodenburg, Managing Director of Gunderson
Partners, LLC, a premier recruiting firm in New York City and
together we hammered out the top ten list, below. Find a
candidate with even 6 or 7 of these traits, and we guarantee he
or she is well on their way to cementing their future
success.
1.
Presence- There’s
a fine line between confidence and over-compensation. You don’t
want a candidate who sucks all the air out of the room. You do
want one whose self-possession ensures you’re comfortable putting
him or her in front of your best clients– their balance of energy
and experience should guarantee your clients take them seriously
immediately.
2.
Connect the Dots- One
proven common denominator among many successful people is their
grasp on numerous, seemingly unrelated, topics. The best leaders
can find parallels between disparate subjects and demonstrate how
the ‘success factors’ of one discipline can inform
another.
3.
Confident Enthusiasm- Hope
and enthusiasm are not strategies. A leader must have
enthusiasm based on facts and knowledge. He or she must not
only be committed emotionally, but must also be committed
intellectually.
4.
Strong Vision-
David Gergen was an Advisor to several Presidents including
Reagan, Clinton, Ford and Carter. In his book “Eyewitness
to Power” he observes that within this group of executives,
Reagan was masterful at identifying his central goals and
articulating a vision that was rooted in the core values of the
country. As a result, his entire team knew exactly what he
wanted and were able to move forward the goals of his
administration.
Leaders must have a strong vision that resonates with their staff
and customers. This eliminates the stress of indecision
within an organization, and allows people to move forward with a
like-minded mission.
5.
Ethics- Character
is doing the right thing when no one is looking. You
candidates must share the same high ethical values that are
practiced in your corporation. It affects the standards and
culture within an organization.
6.
Evolution verses Revolution- Revolutions
are rarely successful– change brought about by thoughtful
“evolution” is always more productive. The best leaders
appreciate what is working well, and identify the issues that are
holding a company back. Then they implement their vision in
a thoughtful manner that engages the entire organization.
7.
Power of Sharing- No
one wants to work for someone that has all of the answers.
They want someone with a “strong vision” and an open mind on how
to execute that vision. Look for someone who actively solicits
others’ opinions, and is quick to praise others’ contributions to
the initiative.
8.
Be in the Moment- Someone
that is too wired has a difficult time connecting with people in
the workplace and in social settings. Picking up your BB or
phone while having a conversation sends the message
that…”whomever I don’t know is on the phone is more important
than the person sitting right in front of me”.
Ignoring interruptions and distractions strengthens the
relationship you’re in, and rarely diminishes others.
9.
Sense of Urgency- Although
this might sound like something you would talk to your Urologist
about, it is one of the most important traits to look for in a
candidate. You can hire the smartest person in the world,
but if they can’t move an idea, initiative, or organization
forward then NOTHING happens.
10.
Consistency- Simply
stated, if someone has had a lot of jobs then you cannot rely on
that person’s commitment. Don’t hire them. You have
to admire people who have built careers and run businesses where
they have had to live with their decisions and results. I
have seen too many executives that come in and reorganize a
division, only to leave after fifteen months and never have to
explain why the results didn’t meet management’s
expectations.
Frances Cole Jones is the author of The Wow Factor: The 33 Things
You Must (and Must Not) Do to Guarantee Your Edge in Today’s
Business World.
www.thewowfactor-thebook.com
John
C. Rodenburg, a former senior executive and Time Inc. and
American Express publishing, is currently a Managing Director of
Gunderson Partners, LLC.
www.gundersonpartners.com
Read the original article HERE.
Frances Cole
Jones is an Expert in Communications and
Personal Excellence. Frances founded Cole Media
Management in 1997 to help clients identify and cultivate
their inherent strengths and, through these, develop the powerful
communication skills that enhance personal and professional
performance. Writing The Wow Factor and How to Wow has been her way of reaching a
wider audience, “My goal is to have every person who picks these
up, put them down feel more confident in their ability to present
their best self --in any situation.”
Career Success! Partner Frances Cole
Jones is a
regular contributing expert on our blog site. I hope you
enjoy Frances' insights, ideas and wisdom on the subject
of effective
personal communications-- helping you to "amp up your
brand" by wowing others with your personal presentation
style.
Andy Robinson, Executive Career
Coach
Co-host, Career Success
Radio Show
A leading authority on
career success; 15-year executive coaching
veteran
Contact:
Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575
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