Extraordinary Leadership: Five Ways to Get Noticed and Rewarded
We live in a culture that awards trophies to people for simply showing up. I actually had a baseball coach who purchased HUGE trophies for everyone on our team and I kid you not, that season we didn’t win a single game. It felt fake, hallow, and as if he was putting a bandaid on our failures and losses. No one felt good walking home with our trophies.
Former CEO of General Electric (GE), Jack Welch would speak to managers of GE around how to reach their potential and expand their capacity. He called this “getting out of the pile.”
To distinguish yourself, get noticed, and advance your career, you need to do and be more. I’d like to offer five ways to get noticed and truly rewarded:
1. Begin by expecting more of yourself than others expect.
I call this “and then some.” Do what would be reasonably expected of yourself, and then some.
2. Go beyond what others expect.
Surprise and delight others by providing more value and going the extra mile when it comes to service, care, and attention.
3. Maintain high standards for yourself
Years ago I traveled with a prominent leader who stopped to get his shoes polished in the airport. We were going to an important meeting and he said, “Steve, you have 60-90 seconds to make a good impression, always shine your shoes.”
4. Look after the small details.
My Executive Assistant, Jamie provides me a detailed “event sheet” for every speaking engagement I travel to. It has all the key information for the event including my speaking time, event venue and address, hotel stay information, flights, event contact and phone numbers…. every key (small) detail is noted. It takes the pressure off of me knowing the smallest of details are there for me to reference.
What small detail can you provide to your clients or your team to take the pressure off of their agenda?
A great way to get noticed is filling in the details for others.
5. Earn a reputation of consistency.
Don’t be hot and cold, be consistent. You will be noticed and rewarded accordingly.
This week, this month, or even today, set yourself apart because of your excellence. And, don’t forget to shine your shoes!
Here’s to getting noticed and rewarded!
—Steve
As a master storyteller, Steve has unparalleled ability to communicate dynamic business and leadership truths through stories, anecdotes and humor. Harness the power of the “number one” predictor of professional success, impact, leadership, high performance and sustainable relationships in business and life. Steve’s highest rated keynote presentation.
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“The purpose of Leadership Quest is to help professionals develop their personal leadership, vision and emotional intelligence. Everyday I strive to help leaders and teams achieve their desired goals in sales productivity, leadership, time maximization, and life-balance. ”
About the Author
Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle-based leadership development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly-sought-after speaker who has delivered more than 2,500 presentations to a list of clients including Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Pandora Radio, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, the Ritz Carlton group, and the U.S. Social Security Administration. He recently was voted #1 by the readership of Huffington Post as the Most Inspirational Leader on Social Media.
A published author on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve resides near Seattle with his wife Julie where they enjoy time with their three adult children and six grandchildren.
