Behind every successful man is…

This is a story I often narrate. My success, in the conventional terms has been moderate and I have built my career as what can classically be defined as ‘from the ground up’. But as I look back, I have an irrepressible desire to not just define what is success, but to acknowledge the factors which influenced it.

Find your purpose

As a Talent Leader, I often ask people what their purpose is. When your purpose matches the organizational vision, you are working in an optimal space. This to me is success. This very purpose could change through the course of your career but may still be rooted in similar values.

Invest in your network

Network is not the people you know, but the people who you can rely on. This could be mentors and coaches who enable you, teams who challenge you and, peers with whom you can bounce off your ideas. People are part of work, so it’s important that you invest in those who help you stretch the boundaries.

Be authentic

We are often held back by our inhibitions, as much as stereotypical biases. We each have our Achilles heels – own it and work on it if needed. But work only on things that matter to you. When you are more accepting of your abilities, you will find clarity and become more confident.

Explore diverse experiences

We like being surrounded by common ideas and thoughts. This is our comfort zone. Push yourself to do what you haven’t done before, tackle perspectives different from yourself. The more diverse your experience, the more you can tap into collective knowledge.

Stay true to your roots

Acknowledge your roots. This is who or what you go back to. For me, it’s my family. Your roots determine your sense of contentment and purpose. This keeps you grounded. This helps you manage your energy on things that matter.

Learning is a lifetime commitment

Learning is not the destination, it’s the journey. We constantly learn, but it is important that we are aware and push ourselves to know more and often with childlike curiosity. Learn how to improve on what you are doing better, learn what you do not know, learn ahead of the business. When you push the boundaries, you have a bigger playing field.

People matter

They say the journey to the top is a lonely road. It’s a myth. On the contrary, take people along with you – you cannot do it alone. Slow down to take people along and build partnerships that last. And in this mix, consciously make an effort to promote diversity and inclusion.

While leading Talent, you interact with more people and have a vantage point on many success stories. What I find interesting is that the personal journey I shared here, is a very common narrative.