Simply Good? Or Spectacularly Great?

"Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline." Powerful words from Jim Collins in his best-selling Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... and Others Don't. Can this not also be applied to personal career paths and advancement trajectories?

How do you define yourself? Perhaps more importantly, how do others describe your managerial style, leadership efficacy, and success? Would great be a word selected by those who know you to describe the legacy you leave behind in your career? What steps are you taking to consciously move your performance (and that of your organization) from very, very good to truly exceptional? Are you disciplined and focused in taking the right steps? How consistent are you?

Whether it is preparing for a 90-day review ... putting in place key tenets to review in a 360 evaluation ... or merely updating your resume and other career documents to a state of "readiness" (you never know when the next recruiter may be contacting you with a stellar opportunity), thinking about making the leap from good to great can be inspirational and rewarding. Give it a try.

Posted by Jan Melnik

Comments

[Dan Schawbel]

Feedback about perception is great, especially to help you develop your career and knowledge about your leadership and social abilities.

[Jan Melnik]

Dan, you're absolutely right. It's one thing (and a good thing, at that) to be introspective and self-aware .. but it's of incredible value to have the opinions of those you trust and admire relative to competencies and characteristics.