5 Flaws that Sabotage Success
Lots of people I talk to these
days are looking to start new business ventures or find more fulfilling jobs.
As a real estate agent, I definitely understand the desire for independence and
to do something you love. It can be hard to pursue success in a new venture,
though. I’ve often wondered what stands in the way of our desire and our
ability to achieve the success. Well, recently I found a little insight into
this question.
In Jack Zenger and Joe
Folkman's book, "The Extraordinary Leader: Turning good managers into
great leaders," researchers identified five "fatal flaws" which
were effectively "success killers." In contrast to areas where
professionals had "allowable weaknesses" (i.e. deficiencies in skills
which could be avoided or overshadowed by other strengths), these five
weaknesses were considered absolutely toxic to a successful career. The flaws
included:
1. Lack of initiative
2. Lack of accountability
3. Lack of openness to new or
different ideas
4. Lack of core interpersonal
skills or competencies
5. Inability to learn from
mistakes
It's interesting to note that
these five flaws are generally organized around inactivity as a result of FEAR.
For example:
1. Lack of initiative = fear of
making a wrong decision (fear of mistakes)
2. Lack of accountability = fear we'll have to face our own laziness or inactivity
3. Lack of openness to new ideas = fear we won't be able to adapt, or we're being "left behind"
4. Lack of core interpersonal skills = fear of social interaction, fear of low self-esteem
5. Inability to learn from mistakes = fear of change
2. Lack of accountability = fear we'll have to face our own laziness or inactivity
3. Lack of openness to new ideas = fear we won't be able to adapt, or we're being "left behind"
4. Lack of core interpersonal skills = fear of social interaction, fear of low self-esteem
5. Inability to learn from mistakes = fear of change
To overcome these fears, we
have to transform them into hope. Understanding that growth comes from
adversity, it helps to frame our fears as undernourished hope for change and
prosperity. "Maybe I'll get it wrong," needs to become "What
happens if I get it right?"
If you've found yourself
hesitating out of fear, perhaps this will shed a little light on your own
resistance!
