How do you measure success?
The term ‘success’ is something that everyone strives for, yet has a different meaning among people.
Some people measure success based on their bank balance, material possessions or job status.
Others may take a holistic approach and consider other factors such as health, relationships, mental wellbeing or having an in-demand and highly-paying skill.
Regardless of its definition, there are some universal skills that would provide a strong indication of an employee’s likelihood of success.
Even if that employee has not reached their ideal bank balance, driven their dream car or ticked everything off their bucket list, these skills demonstrate a strong possibility of future success.
Some of these skills include:
Human psychology insights
This skill does not require you to be a trained or certified psychologist.
Instead, it involves a practical understanding of how human beings operate. It requires understanding people to determine:
- What motivates a person to think, speak and act the way they do?
- How can one person persuade or encourage another to achieve their goals?
- Can I put myself in other people’s shoes to see from their perspective?
- How to read people – their body language – words, gestures and expressions to identify who they truly are?
- How to communicate and build rapport with people of various socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds?
Possessing this skill requires a deep sense of self-awareness, deliberate observation, and genuine interest in getting to know people on a deeper level.
Understanding people on a deep level leads to success because the world is made up of living human beings.
All of whom have motivations, agendas, desires, concerns and experiences. When you understand how human beings are made up, it becomes easier to work, build rapport and establish healthy relationships with them.
Healthy relationships are essential to success for every employee.
A collaborative spirit
While the term ‘self-made’ is still debated in some circles, it is generally understood that people need each other.
There are multiple quotes that allude to the fact that human beings thrive better in collaboration.
Quotes such as, “No man is an island”, or “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
These quotes reinforce the belief that collaboration is an ideal way to work and live.
Employees with a collaborative spirit will undoubtedly be able to achieve success and go further in life.
No one has all the talents, skills and competencies in the world. Which means we are all dependent on each other at some point.
Collaborating with each other, particularly in the workplace is not only a desired quality, but a skill that can reap numerous rewards.
People are naturally drawn to people who can not only work together well, but also make the experience of working together an enjoyable one.
When people enjoy having you around, your chances of success greatly increase.
Numerical Skills
While numerical skills may not come easily to everyone, it cannot be dismissed these left-brained skills do produce some of the highest-paying jobs. Numerical skills are diverse in that they are used virtually in every career to varying degrees.
They are most prominent in high-paying careers such as:
- Technology-based careers– coding, programming, network infrastructure building, software development etc.
- Financial services – accounting, financial management, actuary, underwriting and auditing
- Analytical careers – Statistics, research, risk management and engineering
- Business careers – Entrepreneurship, management, sales, and economics.
Being proficient in numerical skills usually means that an employee is analytically and logically skilled. This indicates high-problem solving abilities. Your marketability within your industry increases as your problem-solving abilities develop.
Employers are always in need of persons who can work proficiently with numbers, interpret results, and help them make informed decisions.
For example, when evaluating which marketing campaign to launch, which investment to consider or a negotiation strategy, it always boils down to the numbers.
Once the numbers look lucrative, employers will get engaged.
As such, employees with a knack for numbers will always be seen as valuable resources by employers and will enjoy a fast track to success.
Artificial Intelligence Skills
It’s no secret anymore that Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. As it quickly becomes part of the 21st century living experience, it will be a skill in high-demand within the foreseeable future.
AI is changing everything from the way people live, work, consume information and most importantly, make decisions.
With a plethora of AI tools available and more on the way, an employee honing this skill will be in high-demand.
A fundamental reason why AI skills would be a good indicator of success is because it signals several things about an employee:
- They are aware of the economic times, market conditions and business landscape.
- They are willing to embrace progress, innovation and change
- They do not fear technology and its capabilities
- They’re willing to learn new skills and develop themselves to thrive in the market
- They take initiative – they realise AI is part of 21st century culture and therefore are proactive in getting acquainted with it.
Employees with refined AI skills are prone to enjoying a great deal of career success.
Self-Investment
Investment skills do not only refer to financial investment in stocks, shares and bonds.
Self-investment skills enable employees to know how to manage their resources for maximum benefit.
These resources include:
- Their time, which is arguable the most valuable resource
- Their money – income and expenditure
- Their health – physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
- Their network – trusted people in their circle who they can count on
- Their skills – competencies that signal their worth to the working world
Managing one’s resources and leveraging them is critical for both personal and professional success.
As mentioned previously, success can mean different things to different people.
While financial achievements are important and are often revered as the primary indicator of an employee’s success, a person who does not invest in their growth and development remains stagnant.
Self-investment involves upgrading one’s capabilities, taking care of health, managing money well and making time for the people in their circle.
An employee who knows how to invest in their resources to generate positive outcomes in their relationships, health, time and financial wellbeing will undoubtedly be seen as a success.
