Lay a Solid Foundation for Your Leadership Career

On the way up? Lay a Solid Foundation for Your Career

by Sharon Graham. Filed under: $100k+ Job Seekers.

The Globe and Mail recently announced the recipients of the Top 40 Under 40 awards. Every year since 1995, a group of industry and community leaders from across Canada select 40 Canadians who have achieved significant success before reaching the age of 40, through Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Program. The Top 40 Under 40 awards are a veritable “Who’s Who” of Canadian achievement.

As it takes many years to establish strong business relationships, it is vital to begin early in your career, and the individuals honoured as Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 clearly understand the importance of this.

By laying the foundation early in your career, you will be able to reap the benefits for years to come. Here are some of my thoughts on how you might draw upon the Top 40’s “secrets to success”:

Do only what you love.

Stay true to your values and capitalize on your talents. Listen carefully to your gut and do only what you are passionate about doing. Pursue a dream of a better world and go after such worthy goals relentlessly. Give generously of your time, talents, and treasures.

Value your relationships.

Surround yourself with great people, as they are your greatest asset. Garner support from your spouse and family members. Associate with like-minded individuals, similarly passionate co-workers, and people who display integrity and quality. Collaborate with talented people. Draw upon them for inspiration. Listen carefully to your team members and treat them with respect.

Dream big.

Dare to dream and think creatively. Be open to new ideas. Seek inventive solutions to complex problems. See obstacles as an opportunity to develop new solutions. Take risks and learn to fail well.

Execute on ideas.

Constantly challenge your assumptions and find new ways to approach issues. Anticipate, identify, and address critical business concerns in a timely manner. Set challenging goals and vigorously chase them. Be purposeful in everything you do. Commit to the process, work hard every day, and never drop the ball. Do whatever it takes to reach your goals.

Focus on your future.

Regularly remind yourself of how little you know and work towards expanding your horizons. Search for opportunities to continuously grow and develop. Prepare for growth, rather than reacting to it. Take on leadership roles on boards and associations. Never stop learning or challenging yourself to improve on your weaknesses and develop new skills. Display unwavering commitment to excellence. Strive for perfection. Never be completely satisfied with yesterday’s results. Always keep your eyes on the prize.