Yahoo Finance 8 things the top 10 percenters do differently
Who are the top 10 percenters and how do they do it?
Top 10 percenters are the people who are successful and at the top of their game. They know how to get from A to B in business and they have great soft skills.
And they all have one thing in common: they follow basic business rules of engagement.
Here are the top 8 things of what top 10 percenters do consistently to make them stand out from the rest of the crowd:
1. They don’t put barriers up: They are individuals and they don’t allow barriers to be put in front of them – and they certainly don’t put any barriers in front of themselves. When looking at opportunities either within their current organisation or external - they go for it. They don’t care how many boxes they tick or that they may be too junior for the role, they back their capabilities over having years of experience.
2. They are confident – not arrogant: They don’t feel the need to overstate their achievements (because they have them). They don’t differentiate levels and they treat everyone with the same respect. They understand, good contacts come from all levels.
3. They are true leaders and clear communicators: Top 10 percenters believe in what they are doing and are people of action. They lead by example and inspire their teams with their passion. They are firm but fair in the way they communicate, and everyone understands what is required. They make quick decisions if there are performance issues and address with help first and respect.
During down times there are still companies achieving good profits over their competitors. The Top 10 percenters focus on keeping a positive communication flow within the team to ensure motivation is kept up. They look at what they can do, not what they can’t and how to turn a negative into a positive.
4. They know how to build their brand: Top 10 percenters effectively stakeholder manage and get to know people outside their division and in their industry. They take time to identify who they should be meeting and make the effort to reach out. They return staff, stakeholders and client phone calls and emails within 24 hours. They know the importance of relationships and how this effects how they are seen within their organisation and the industry they are in.
5. They own their mistakes: They don’t blame the organisation, the systems, the culture, the economy, other people, you name it for their mistakes. They fix what needs to be fixed, take accountability, and make sure it doesn’t happen again. In addition, they take critique from others to learn and it is not seen as criticism.
6. They delegate effectively: They give staff the opportunity to learn and don’t micro-manage.
7. They deliver what they promise and on time: If there is a delay, they inform others well before the deadline, so there are no surprises. They make sure their employees work in a structure of responsibility and accountability.
8. They have mentors: Just like a company would have a board of directors helping with their success and direction, Top 10 percenters have their own board of directors, called mentors or advocates. People who are more senior than they are and who they trust for advice and guidance. By the time they are in a management position they have between 9 and 12 people in their corner helping them.
The sad part of the list above, is that most people think they are a top 10 percenter. However, top 10 percenters practice all the above consistently and that is the key.
Judith Beck is the author of No Sex at Work (Major Street Publishing), which shares the do’s and don’ts from her experience as founder of executive search firm, Financial Recruitment Group. Over her career, Judith has successfully placed thousands of candidates at senior to managing director level with some of Australia’s most successful financial institutions. Judith also founded Financial Executive Women (FEW) and is a sought-after speaker and media commentator. For more information visit www.judithbeck.com.au
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