When the going gets tough...the tough get going...

Almost all of my client briefings start the same way: we need a good, natural leader. Tricky one of course because a good leader is different for each individual and success in one company may be a disaster in a different environment.

Nevertheless, there is one leadership trait that is the foundation of excellence: perseverance.

Perseverance is not giving up. It is courage, persistence and tenacity, the effort required to do something and keep doing it till the end, even if it's hard.

With this definition in mind, it is easy to detect if you are an excellent leader. I will look at how you have faced the challenges that have come your way.

Great leaders will excel in the face of difficulties: he (or she of course) will have the guts to step up, to take some risk and to keep his focus on the desired goal. This behavior will foster trust and will set a crucial example for those who prefer to wait with their heads down for the storm to pass.

There is one great thing about perseverance. You can actually learn it.

It is all about facing and overcoming fear, about confronting your anxiety and dealing with it.

From the very start of your career you will face challenges, situations where you have no manual that will tell you what to do. It is a natural inclination to run way from these circumstances and the associated fear. Building courage and perseverance is all about facing that fear.

There are 3 main traits that you can develop that will help you.

• ·       The right mindset

Our mind is a powerful thing. If you are convinced that you can do something, it is much easier to motivate yourself to get through the tough times. Keep your eye on the goal and navigate through the difficulties with a pragmatic sense of optimism. Wining about the things that you don’t have, never got anybody anywhere.

• ·       The right motivation

No one overcomes difficulties just for the sake of it. Define a clear picture of what you want to achieve and why you want to achieve it. Find motivation from within and nothing will be able to stop you.

• ·       The right skillset

If you cannot swim, you may overcome the fear of jumping of a cliff but you will not reach the shore in spite of your optimistic mindset and your strong motivation to survive.

Gradually build a strong skillset that will allow you to be creative and to look at difficulties from a different angle.

Combining these 3 traits will allow you to overcome most obstacles and if you fail, they will help you to get up, learn from the experience and move forward.

Tell me, what do you do when the going gets rough?

I look forward to hearing from you,

Isabel

Don’t forget to register for our webinar on September 21st at 20h on the ‘5 secrets to successfully pass a headhunter’. You can register through the link http://makemefly.be/webinar_september/.

Through a personalized and tailor-made approach, Ingenium Executive Search aspires to assist you in attracting the right talent that matches the DNA of your company

Check out our website http://www.ingenium-search.be

Follow me on Twitter @IngeniumSearch

Why everyone is looking for drive…

It is strange that regardless of the industry or company size, everyone seems to be looking for the same capabilities in their candidates. Capabilities that have nothing to do with technical skills but all revolve around personality attributes.

Every client is searching leadership, capability to deal with change, accountability but above all drive and energy.

The first 3 characteristics will be for next time, today it will be all about drive.

In preparation of this blog, I decided to go the scientific way and look for a definition on-line. This is what I found: drive - the trait of being highly motivated with as an example "his drive and energy exhausted his co-workers"

What a start…apparently drive is not always considered a good thing!

So why would companies want to hire leaders who have drive as a core capability? Does this mean that a successful manager cannot be an introvert?

Much more than what meets the eye, drive is about motivation to succeed. It can express itself in all shapes and forms but it comes down to this: the most successful people have an internal drive to achieve, develop and keep moving forward. It is what pushes them to complete something when they feel like giving up. It is about being pro-active instead of reactive, spotting and taking advantage of opportunities as they arise and persisting in the face of setbacks.

When looking at drive from this angle, it is obvious why companies value this characteristic.

Drive comes from within, it is the desire to achieve something out of interest, enjoyment or the inherent satisfaction you get from achieving a goal. It is not triggered by external motivation factors such as salary or approval from others.

Everyone can have drive, you just need to detect what motivates you. Usually, it is doing what you love.

But drive also needs to be nurtured. There are a few easy ways to remain motivated, even in the face of setbacks.

• ·       You can surround yourself with enthusiastic people. Avoid negative impulses and seek out positive, well-motivated people. It is a lot easier to be motivated if the people around you are.
• ·       Keep a positive attitude, see problems and set backs as learning opportunities
• ·       Build on your strengths and work on ironing out your weaknesses

And last but not least DO IT...try not to focus on the risks or the problems but keep working toward your goals!

I look forward to hearing from you,

Isabel

Through a personalized and tailor-made approach, Ingenium Executive Search aspires to assist you in attracting the right talent that matches the DNA of your company

Check out our website http://www.ingenium-search.be

Follow me on Twitter @IngeniumSearch