The Intangibles

‘Where did I fall short?’ — wondered Amy

During a bright summer eight years ago (Or — Amidst a glitzy convocation eight years ago), Amy and Olivia graduated from a premier business school.

Both had excellent credentials.

Both got placed with the same organization in similar roles.

Both worked with sincerity and dedication.

Both gained domain expertise

Both were ambitious and driven.

However, their career trajectories turned out to be vastly different.

Olivia bagged coveted roles, was considered a high-potential resource and was on a fast-track, whereas Amy was chugging along.

‘Where did I fall short?’ — wondered Amy

What do you think made the difference?

With domain expertise, performance, aptitude and attitude being constant, what differentiates those that have fast-track growth are ‘The Intangibles’.

What are these intangibles?

§ Self-confidence, self-assurance and self-esteem — When you have the confidence that you can handle whatever comes your way, it makes everyone want to trust you and rely on you

§ Self awareness — Playing to your strengths and curbing self-limiting beliefs

§ Personal branding and visibility — Speaking up, creating a niche for yourself and showcasing yourself and your work

§ Problem-solving using creativity — The ability to think out-of-the-box and come up with innovative ideas to solve problems at work

§ Inter-personal skills — Ability to network, influence, negotiate and work with teams

§ Active Career management — Knowing where you want to be, how to get there and being intentional about the way you steer your career forward

§ Executive presence — The quiet self-assurance, ability to communicate effectively and carrying yourself in a way that instils confidence in others about your capability

§ Risk appetite — the ability to move of our comfort zone and attempt new things

§ Adaptability — Resilience, optimism and the ability to mould yourself to changing times

While these are the key traits, there are many more aspects that help you stand out from the rest. The way you show up at work every day, the way you communicate, the way you interact with people, your appetite to take on high-impact, risky assignments and delve into the unknown — all these make a difference. Simple things like preparing for meetings and speaking up, makes a huge difference. People begin to notice you, value your ideas and will seek your opinion.

You are the architect of your career — all you need to do is to take charge and steer it.