Leadership Traits That Catalyze Success:
Rewritten Article:
From the sage wisdom of a mentor: "Watch your habits, they've got the juice to make or break you." With over three decades of career under my belt, I can testify to that mentor's advice being the gospel truth.
Entrepreneurship, investing, and leadership – I've tread these paths as the CEO and founder of ERG Enterprises, and habits have been my steering wheels. Here are five handpicked leadership habits that have propelled my journey, moving the needle beyond hard work:
1. Tend to your circle
Partners, not opportunities, are the real treasure. Think leaders, investors, or vendors – these folks often bring lasting value to your table, introducing new business prospects, talent, or opportunities. My long-standing relationships with partners from yesteryears prove this. That's why cultivating and maintaining your network is an absolute must.
Here's my lowdown on networking:
- Stick to a weekly schedule: Set time weekly to grow your network.
- Nurture existing connections: Don't neglect your existing partners – frequent check-ins are key to relationship sustainability.
- Lend a helping hand: Be there for your partners, not just when you need help.
- Soak up knowledge: Curiosity is the fuel for growth – always stay open to learning from others.
- Hustle: Leverage both digital and physical communities to expand your circle – be ready to dive into social media, join professional associations, gather referrals from current connections, and so on!
2. Get curious, stay curious
Growth is just the outcome of how you spend your time, talents, and resources. To maximize potential, you need to zero in on the right focus – choosing where to invest for the best return on investment. Yet unlocking the right focus is a complex challenge that demands continuous questioning.
Ranching in the "why" helps uncover importance and functions as a key lever for maximizing the output of scarce inputs. That's why the Harvard Business Review hails the "five whys" exercise – asking "why" something is important five times – as a game-changer for getting to the root of things. It's also why, in all my interactions, you'll soon discover that I've got a burning curiosity for "why."
Here are my top tips for grilling the "why":
- Skip assumptions: Learning is the goal; assumptions only reinforce biases.
- Seek proper context: Discover the full picture by digging deeper into the situation, avoid stopping until you've got it all.
3. Never walk past an opportunity
A five-minute pitch set the stage for one of my most impactful career moves. I almost skipped the meeting because I was swamped. Fortunately, I didn't. The moral of the story? Don't let fleeting impulses sideline promising opportunities. After all, "serious" opportunities are worth the attention – anything that has the reasonable potential to create value for you.
Whether you're a founder, leader, or professional, dismissing opportunities is a costly blunder. Here's what I'd advise:
- Keep an open mind and objective perspective: Give serious opportunities fair consideration, and avoid reaching premature conclusions or judgments.
- Seek context and data: Gather information to better assess opportunities and their potential returns.
4. Keep knowledge and skills diverse
Specialization or generalization – that is the question. In my book, both strategies have their merits. As a physician, specializing was the jumpstart I needed, while generalizing has been a force multiplier in my success building businesses and making investments.
Generalizing broadens your horizons – it expands your skill range, supports smarter strategizing and collaboration, aids decision-making, and more. For career professionals, a comprehensive perspective can be a game-changer.
Here's my playbook for generalization:
- Follow diverse media: Ingest knowledge from a variety of sources – books, podcasts, YouTube channels, whatever floats your boat.
- Tap your network: Learn from others in your circle – their insights and experiences can enrich your perspective.
- Keep exploring: Stay curious and open to learning new things and experiencing fresh ideas.
5. Ban complacency from the premises
History is littered with success story gravesites, and complacency often is the culprit. A successful enterprise isn't invincible—not even to self-inflicted wounds. Stay vigilant against complacency to keep competition at arm's length.
As a leader, eliminating complacency ensures you stay sharp, ready to tackle whatever challenges come your way. Here's how to stay on your toes:
- Set stretch goals: Having clear, challenging objectives keeps you focused on executing for success.
- Stay accountable: Keep yourself and your team on track by holding them accountable for performance benchmarks.
Your habits steer the course of your success, inch by inch. I hope these five habits serve you well and help you reach new heights. And remember: the Forbes Business Council? It's a growth and networking powerhouse for business owners and leaders like you. So, hop aboard and supercharge your journey!
- Dr. Eric George, an entrepreneur and the founder of ERG Enterprises, emphasizes the importance of maintaining and cultivating partnerships to create lasting value for one's business,: "Partners are the real treasure, not opportunities. They often bring new business prospects, talent, or opportunities to the table."
- In his pursuit of continuous growth, Dr. Eric George advocates for a persistent curiosity, he acknowledges the "five whys" exercise as a valuable tool in gaining understanding and unlocking the right focus for better returns on investment: "Ranching in the 'why' helps uncover importance and functions as a key lever for maximizing the output of scarce inputs."
- Dr. Eric George underscores the need to seize opportunities instead of brushing them aside due to present busyness: "A five-minute pitch set the stage for one of my most impactful career moves. I almost skipped the meeting because I was swamped. Fortunately, I didn't." His advice is to keep an open-mind and objective perspective and gather information to assess opportunities and their potential returns.
