THE KEYS OF SUCCESS

THE KEYS TO PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

Author: Constantino Díaz Fernández

Dedicated to my daughter, Sonia Maria, with the fervent wish that it will serve as orientation and guidance in the exercise of their profession .

     In the professional life, are many, and very varied, the factors that may contribute to the achievement of success. For each sector of activity, organization, job, etc., will require a certain personal and particular characteristics  that, properly conjugate , can help achieve this objective. Attempt, therefore, of summarize in a few lines a so complex issue in its entirety and, moreover, to do it with a practical orientation, it would be difficult and, especially, very few applicable; however, within this diversity, there are three commons determinants factors, condition sine qua non, which necessarily must be present in order to have a realistic chance of success in any profession: the seriousness, the responsibility and the competition. The person serious, responsible and competent, has in his backpack  the best weapons to take the path that can lead to personal and professional success. Each deficiency that manifests itself in any of these factors, will add a burden that will reduce, significantly, the chances of achieving this goal. The analysis of these concepts, considered as key success factors, is the principall purpose of this brief reflection.

     We must understand the seriousness as a balancing factor in the trial; the moderation in the actions and procedures; the sincere behavior, real and true, that is, without deception or insincerity. The honesty and loyalty, which always should govern our actions come from this principle, which, in turn, has great potential to build trust, a essential prerequisite for to get success in professional life.

     The responsibility, understood as the capacity associated with each individual for to carry out their obligations and exercise their duties with due care and diligence, fully integrated in the work team to which is belong, it is, equally, an essential attitudes needed for the normal functioning of the organization, and highly valued by the company. The flexibility to fit the equipment and accommodate what is required of us, with the effort that we have assume for this, is a clear expression of the exercise of this responsibility.

     The competition, as a body of knowledge and experiences that make us fit for a profession, complete, with the two above, the three basic pillars that distinguish a good professional from another that it is not, and, of course, are the best arguments that we can to offer someone who may be interested in hiring our professional services.

     The seriousness and responsibility are attitudes developed wiht our personalities; are, therefore, an integral part of our being, and must manifest in every act of our lives. The competition is a learned aptitude that must be renewed every day, with effort and perseverance to the limit of our capabilities. In a highly dynamic world that we live in, without undertake a our permanent training, we would quickly lose our competency, we would fall into obsolescence, and we will become a problem rather than a solution. We must keep in mind that an organization is not a station that is reached, but a train that travels permanently.

     To succeed in the professional life, besides that we need to gather the basic conditions set out above and meet another set of requirements, which vary depending on the circumstances, it is absolutely necessary to have full conviction that we have the power to do so.

     In addition to all the refered above, it is always useful to have some general recommendations:

<> Maintain always the best spirit of collaboration .- It is very important to have in mind that the actions of each individual within an organization are part of a chain that has to be fully interconnected. Each day is more important  the team's work than the isolated individual, and, for this reason, we must always be ready to offer our collaboration to others and stay open to receive it. The good relationships at work make a decisive contribution to achieving this objetive.

<> Stay always motivated .- The discouragement is the prelude to failure. Is very important tackle and overcome the difficulties that will always exist, and to make good use of opportunities.

<> To have always an innovative spirit .- Must never fall into the routine of work, doing always the same thing the same way. Is necessary to seek continuous improvement, implementing initiatives to make better the management who have entrusted us, and, in addition, improve the results of the organization that we serve. All this without falling into the risk of making hasty proposals that could lead to failure. Any proposed of improvement must first be analyzed and documented. For the same reasons, we must remain always open and flexible to accept changes, although they affect us personally.

<> Look always for the results.- Everything that is done must always have a positive result. More than to worry about to do many things,  we must concentrate on achieving the objectives of the organization.

<> Maintain the good sense in making decisions .- if you have to make decisions, must do it without haste. We never make decisions, especially if they are important, until we have the minimum information necessary to do so.

<> Observe a strict order.- Is very important to know how to manage, in every instant, the time and the space. Observe always the principle of "every action in its moment and everything in its place."

<> Keep always a attitude the modesty and naturalness.- The haughtiness, arrogance, selfishness and vanity, will distance us from others and can be a major impediment to our professional development. Our success in management than has been entrusted to us will be the measure of our merits and will always be our best introduction.

<> Never persevere in error.- Even though we have acted with great care and thoroughness, our human condition always can lead us to make a mistake. If this happens, we have have the humility to recognize it, immediately, and the best readiness to amends. There is no greater mistake that concealment or denial of that we has been made, although this may have been serious. The upside is that you can always learn more from mistakes, own and others, that of the successes.

<> Always avoid generating conflicts. wherever possible, we must escape the personal eference, maintain a frank and open relationship with all colleagues, superiors and subordinates, and avoid situations that could lead to sterile polemics that lead only to generate tension; always negative for own individual and the organization.

    Exposed and developed the essentials of this brief introduction to the issue of principle, we can summarize in a decalogue of concepts, those most representative and relevant for professional success:

Honesty.- Loyalty.- Solidarity.- Sociability.- Diligence.- Creativity.- Illusion.- Vocation to service.-  Constant training.-  Positive perseverance.-

   It can be concluded that professional success, and even the personal, is responsibility to each one of us. We only need the will and a firm proposal to achieve it.
 

Oviedo, to January 30, 2011

Postscript:

   This article is the English translation of another, already published in this blog, dated October 3, 2010. This English version is done in gratitude to all the companions of work of my daughter, in London, who have expressed an interest in its content, thanking them for their confidence, and apologizing  for possibles syntax errors that I has committed.