Bewitching Leaders
Guest article by Helena Sharpstone from Sharpstone Skinner .
In today's people-powered world, some professionals stand out from the crowd. While you may not know their skills or experience, they exude an in-demand vibe that attracts opportunities. What's their secret? Actually, these high performers share three key traits: a growth mindset, an inclusive approach, and resilience.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset
High performers develop a growth mindset by continually looking for ways to add value. They identify and maximise their natural strengths, whether that's listening, problem-solving, generating ideas, or more. Additionally, growth-minded professionals work to improve in other areas too. They come to teams ready to contribute rather than just take. While a "can-do" attitude can sound cliché, finding ways to say "yes" more often boosts your in-demand status.
To cultivate a high-performance mindset, take time to reflect on your natural abilities and how you can best leverage them. What value do you naturally add to teams? Are you an empathetic listener who helps others feel heard? A big picture thinker who excels at strategic planning? Or someone with a gift for bringing out the best in people? Maximising these innate strengths is key.
Also examine opportunities to stretch and grow. Can you, for example, become more detail-oriented if you tend to think big picture? Can you improve your written communication skills if public speaking is more natural? Broadening your skill set expands the ways you can contribute. Don't be afraid to ask trusted colleagues for development areas to focus on.
Embracing an Inclusive Approach
In-demand professionals know that diversity powers innovation. Rather than only seek out similar colleagues, they welcome different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. Although it may feel more comfortable to surround yourself with people like you, resisting ‘groupthink’ keeps teams fresh. Leveraging different viewpoints sparks new ideas and stronger solutions. An inclusive approach also allows you to fluidly navigate across teams and organisations.
Try to connect with colleagues who have a different background to you. Have lunch with someone from a different department or someone much earlier or later in their career. Seek diverse perspectives when problem solving. Expose yourself to ideas outside your normal circles. This cross-pollination acts as a fertiliser to creative thinking.
Building Resilience
Today's ever-changing environment requires resilience. To strengthen your backbone, read about growth mindset pioneer Carol Dweck. Her research shows that success stems from hard work more than innate talent. She encourages a "not yet" mentality, recognising that you haven't achieved something yet versus writing yourself off after failure. Coaching yourself to think "not yet”, but “getting there" fuels persistence. Teams value this hopeful, effort-focused approach.When you encounter setbacks, avoid labelling yourself a failure. View them as feedback to guide your growth. Setbacks often provide pivotal information on how to improve. Reframe the voice saying "I can't do this" to "I can't do this yet." Apply strategies like breaking large goals into smaller milestones to build your capabilities. Eventually, the very skill that once challenged you will become a strength.
In summary, developing an in-demand mindset requires cultivating growth, embracing inclusion, and building resilience. With these three traits, you can stand out and attract exciting opportunities. High performers recognise that continuous development, diverse connections, and persistence pave the path for success. Follow their lead and watch your in-demand status take off.
