5 skills that will put you at the head of the pack

If you think doing a good job is what it takes to get to the head of the pack, you’re naive, confused, delusional or all three. 

Here’s why: Doing a good job is the starting point, the baseline. It’s what’s expected. There are plenty of people doing a good, even a great job. But they’re dead in the water. They aren’t going anywhere, other than out the door in the next restructure.

Tough words, but they don’t need to be the last words. Here’s what to do:

1. 1. Drop the idea that doing a good job is good enough.
   2. Next, stop dwelling on what your company should do for you. It will only make you angry, resentful and useless.
   3. Now that you’re rid of the junk that’s in your way, focus on getting to the head of the pack.
   4. Develop a skillset for solving problems, which is how you will get attention.

Skill No. 1: Make stuff make sense.

Very little of what passes as communication in business — emails, letters, memos, reports, webpages, proposals, ads or presentations — makes sense to those who can benefit from their message. Or, to put it bluntly, very few people make sense even with 140 characters.

See also: What are you really communicating?

What causes this incredible communication failure, which ends in massive misunderstanding, wastes time and money, crushes productivity, and drives customers bonkers?

The answer is that most messaging starts with everyone asking, “Will what I’m saying pass the boss test?” And it doesn’t take long to learn what’s acceptable and what isn’t. When people think and write this way, what comes out is gobbledygook, mealy-mouthed nonsense.

Now, the good news. If you rid your mind of what’s acceptable, you can make sense to your audience by moving the focus to them — whether they’re co-workers, vendors, or those you want to do business with. Picture these people looking over your shoulder. Ask yourself what they want to hear.

If you do it, you’ll be in demand — and maybe even named “Director of Making Sense,” or, better yet, the boss.

Sometimes, simply letting your mind roam can produce creative, ‘out of the box’ thinking. (Photo: iStock)

Skill No. 2: Step outside of yourself.

Is this really a skill? You bet it is, although most people don’t see it that way. They think if they take the right classes, get the right degrees, and have the right experience, they’re all set. They can do any or all of that, but it won’t be enough to get to the head of the pack.

We beat up on millennials for being too self-centered — obsessed with selfies and constant texting. Maybe we’re just jealous and feel left behind, overrun, and out of place with these 79 million young adults. Could it be that we’re the ones who feel entitled and expect accommodation just because we’ve been in line longer?