What exactly does it mean to be “smart”, anyway? There are several types of intelligence;
apparently, at least nine, including interpersonal, logical, naturalistic, linguistic, and the list goes on.
At this point in the game, I am positive that you need to be smart enough to survive in this
corporate world we live in. Globalized, interconnected, fast, social, and even hypocritical at times.
Let’s dive into practical things to do in order to move faster up the ladder, with a mission and work-
ethic values to stand for.
Table of Contents
Loyalty – Underrated yet Invaluable
Loyalty comes from honesty. You can’t have one without the other. But what does loyalty mean to
you? Or to your manager? Or your peers? The people you lead. The owner, the directors, the
stakeholders of the corporation you work for? They all often have a different take on these values
because they all also come from different upbringings, families, and life experiences. So how can
you expect teamwork in your company and trust amongst your employees? Easy. Be truthful and
provide them with honest, proper and valid information. When you hide stuff -even hard truths-
from people who seek you for guidance, it becomes impossible to gain their trust. And that’s how
teams collapse and fail at meeting their goals, over and over again.
Your True Calling
There’s only one way to be successful in my opinion: be happy with who you are and what you do.
This concept applies to everything in life, but let’s focus on the professional aspect of it. You can
only excel at your tasks if you enjoy them to the fullest of your capabilities. Find your purpose in
this lifetime and work towards creating a daily routine that you enjoy the most. Isn’t it so much
easier to read a book you find entertaining than one you find boring? Be smart about it. Chances
are you will do a much better job at something you are excited about than something you are
obliged to and find dreadful.
Is money all there is in it for you?
For some people, yes. For most people though, no. Countless surveys and studies in the past
decades show employees prefer flexible hours, working in comfortable locations, productivity-
oriented metrics, and benefits of all sorts instead of only high salaries. It is well known for every
recruiter out there that candidates usually prefer a lower paycheck with great benefits than higher
paid roles where work-life balance is non-existent. Everyone needs a vacation every now and then.
Everyone wants to enjoy a holiday with their loved ones. Everyone is a better person working for
even a better leader. Mentoring is key. If you don’t have the patience or the resources to take your
team under your wing and vouch for them, you are in the wrong seat at the table. Plus, if you don’t
have real empathy for those around you, nobody will follow you.
Collaboration – Teamwork at its best
If you are a leader – or you want to become one – understand your strengths and your weaknesses
better than everyone else around you. If you don’t know them yet, you should find out. Listen to
constructive criticism, and learn from it. Use your best thinking into a proactive approach to your
tasks and your objectives. Once you have learnt the basics, and with patience and coaching, you
can start learning new things and growing so as to train new hires and delegate to them later. Who
is good at the same exact role for over two decades? Furthermore, who would want to be? Would
you? I highly doubt it.
Leadership & Mentoring
The common point of view used for employees in leadership positions is that people are “natural
leaders” or no leaders at all. I just explained how management is a craft you master with time and
experience. Don’t forget humility is needed, too. If you think you are too good to continue learning,
there’s nothing I write that will help you. So this article is for the ones wanting to improve
themselves. As human beings first, not just as professionals. The best professionals are usually
the ones with the best intentions at heart. Take a look in the mirror. Who do you see? A “smart
cookie”? A kind-hearted one? I hope you do; you can be both at the same time.
Integrity, passion, and core values are sometimes hard to find. But very much needed in times like
these.
