The Behaviors Blueprint
Excellence vs. Corporate Conformity
In the last two posts, I encouraged you to master “expected behaviors.” And some of you asked: “Are you telling us to become corporate drones?”
The answer is Absolutely Not!
Career growth isn’t about being a drone; it’s about Excellence.
Excellence means mastering the game by knowing which behaviors are ‘No-Brainers’ to demonstrate. These lay the foundation for excellence, no matter which organization you work for. Excellence also means knowing that certain behaviors will need a ‘Smart Rebel’ approach to navigate your organization.
The North Star Behavior: Start with the customer
To keep your work impactful, always start with the customer. Filter every task, feature, and decision through one simple question:
Does this really help the customer?
Focus on real-world value to ensure you are solving the problems that matter most to your customer.
Career No-Brainer Behaviors. Master Them
The market demand for the following core behaviors never goes down. Master them, and you’ll be indispensable anywhere you go.
Ownership
Owning the business means focusing on outcomes, being resourceful, and acting with urgency. Don’t wait for perfect clarity or permission—see a problem, fix it, and get results.
Work Ethic & Professionalism
Be on time, be prepared, and be ready to deliver impactful outcomes. Follow through on every commitment by delivering high-quality work. Flag risks the moment you see them. And finally, maintain your professionalism, especially under pressure.
Adaptability & Resilience
Adapt quickly when tools, constraints, and priorities change. Stay positive under pressure, and re-frame challenges as opportunities to identify workable solutions.
Integrity
Integrity means being honest and ethical in every interaction, and telling the truth, even when the conversation is difficult or uncomfortable. Don’t make excuses or blame others when things go wrong. Take full responsibility for your actions and resulting outcomes. Finally, protect the trust others place in you by handling confidential information properly.
Continuous Learning
Your value depends on the skill set and perspective you bring to the table. You must evolve your skill set and perspective to remain relevant and valuable. Don’t wait for someone to train you; proactively up-skill to stay ahead of new technologies. Keep an open mind and seek fresh insights to evolve your perspective.
The Smart Rebel Approach: For The “Tricky” Stuff
Taking Calculated Risks and Transparency
Take calculated risks and always be transparent about failures and decisions. But these behaviors work only in a culture that rejects blame and scapegoating. So ensure you are in a safe environment where failures aren’t punished.
Collaboration
Everyone expects you to be collaborative. Watch out for credit-taking, turf wars, and silos. If you can’t break down the silos yourself, stay open to collaboration and do your best to work with others. Complaining about the lack of collaboration from others will not help you.
Challenging the status quo
Challenge the status quo with influence, not outrage. Pick your battles wisely, stay calm, and focus your energy on the issues that matter most. If you can’t drive the changes you desire, know when it’s time to move on and find an environment where you can.
Mastering the “No-Brainers” isn’t about conforming.
It’s about building a foundation that makes you invaluable.
And the “Smart Rebel” strategies? Those are your survival tools. Use them to navigate the complexities of your organization without losing your initiative.
Use this blueprint. Master the game. 🚀
The road ahead is yours to shape!
Suresh 😊