The formulas for success that carry you up the ladder will take you only so far. It may be time to take a hard look at your personality.
Here are seven common and deadly executive types, says Toronto executive coach Diane Davies. If you see yourself mirrored in any of them, take heed of the advice to create a new, more personable you.
1. The Taskmaster. Taskmasters spend most of their time at their desks, plugging away at a project; talking to people is a waste of time. And when they do talk, those around them probably feel as if they've interacted with a computer, spewing data and processes. But life isn't just about projects. It's also about relationships. And people are more loyal to, and work harder for, someone they care about.
2. The Trust Buster. This is the person who has withheld information, dropped the ball on a project or generally has a history of not being a team player. They crush those who get in their way. They tend to be self-serving, ego-bound and malign people, alienating everyone around them. As a result, nobody trusts them.
3. Mr. Articulate. You have the presence of a groomed, knowledgeable, successful executive and the right pedigree. But beware - you're in above your head. You have the suit outside but not the stuff inside. And when someone gets close to exposing that deficiency, you turn into Mr. Articulate, a skilled verbal acrobat with an answer for everything.
4. The Politician. You always address the seat of power in any situation, ignoring the underlings around. If the president is present, do you play to his favorite causes and pet peeves? Consider yourself the politician, a consummate brown-noser. Be forewarned, however: Your colleagues can see through it, and you're losing credibility with them.
5. The Victim. Nothing's every your fault, is it? When things go wrong, you blame others: fate, the work environment, the market, etc. The result: You're so busy spending your time trying to figure out how to lay blame that nothing important ever gets done. And nobody respects someone who won't take responsibility for his or her actions.
6. The Expert. This is the know-it-all who always has the answers to everything and never listens to what others have to say. In your mind, your own experience has more validity than that of others. Unfortunately, nobody's listening any more. Your puffed-up prose and attitude are cutting you off from the ears of others - and the real expertise and useful suggestions that can come from the people around.
7. The Bulldozer. You're genial, up to a point, but there's a time limit on your patience. As a conversation or meeting goes on, your tolerance will disappear until, at some point, you're ready to blow. Then, you stop discussion, push through a solution of your making and tell everyone to get back to work. Unfortunately, everyone around you lives in a constant state of fear. And it's all because of your facade.
Changing your personality doesn't come overnight, but it can be done. And the next time that chair above you is vacant, there may no longer be a reason not to let you fill it.
Excerpted and reprinted with the kind permission of Diane Davies, Toronto.
Comments