6 Show up as a professional

 

In addition to the razor-sharp technology skills you’ve built up to this point in your career, you need to bring something else to work every day: professionalism. We all work in a business environment, or in a businesslike environment. In this environment, certain behaviors help move your career forward; others hold you back.

6.1 Be your word

I’ve long followed three simple rules that I believe have contributed greatly to my success in business and in life. These rules may, in fact, be the Big Three that tell you everything you need to know to be successful.

First, a prediction: you might read these rules and think, “Well, duh.” But they’re not common-sense, “of course” rules. They’re demonstrably not common sense because they’re not that common. In fact, following these rules has enabled me, and past business partners of mine, to rise above the crowd simply because, as simple as these rules are, almost nobody follows them.

6.1.1 Never promise what you cannot deliver

It’s a simple rule but hard to follow. Here’s why: Most people don’t want to be the bearer of bad news. If someone asks you to do something, and you say no, they will want to know why. So now you may feel that you are in a confrontation. Most people hate confrontation, so they’ll say yes instead just to avoid one. People will say “yes” even knowing full well that they cannot deliver what they’ve promised.

6.1.2 Always deliver what you promise

6.1.3 Be easy to work with

6.2 Be detailed and precise

6.3 Cut your losses when the time is right

6.4 Let Blue Sky mode happen

6.5 Draw a yellow line

6.6 Action items