Everybody has got a desire to be expertly treated in his/her working area. This situation always brings the sense of purpose. There are many ways a person can use to make sure he/she becomes an expert his/her company can not live without, Let's go together

Pay attention to what’s going on around you.

What skills seem to be in more demand now than before? And don’t forget to check in with yourself too: What skills are you using less frequently than you did in the past?

Keep communicating. 

No matter how much you pay attention to what’s going on, there’s no way you’ll be able to absorb
everything. So, talk to people: coworkers, managers, people in jobs you’d like to be doing. And ask lots and lots of questions: What are the skills they value most? Least? What jobs are most in demand now? What jobs do they think will be most in demand in the future? We’ll talk about how to network in the next chapter.

Make a plan. 

How are you going to get the skills you need? You should always be learning, acquiring knowledge and skills that will benefit you as you advance in your career.

Stay flexible.

Remember, things change constantly. What’s important today may not be tomorrow, and what will be
important tomorrow may not even have been invented yet. As you’ve seen in this chapter, obtaining hard skills and getting known for them can position you to get a job and can enable you to function efficiently while you’re there. But if you really want to get to the next level, to be a manager, or to advance your career at all, you’ll also need soft skills.

We are being judged by a new yardstick not just how smart we are, or by our training and expertise, but also by how we handle ourselves and each
other.

Job results are king, right? Make your numbers, land the contracts, finish on time and within budget. Do those things and it’ll be smooth sailing toward the top. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work? Anyone who’s been in the corporate world for even a little while knows that’s not the way things always play out. You’ve seen deserving people skipped over for promotion  (hopefully you weren’t one of them). You’ve seen underperformers advance. You’ve wondered how the guy who can’t think his way out of a paper bag got to be a manager. So you know that there’s more to career advancement than job results.

So what’s he missing ingredient? Soft skills. On the most basic level, soft skills—sometimes called emotional intelligence—are nontechnical skills. But it’s a little more subtle than that. They’re interpersonal skills, skills that enable you to form relationships with coworkers, fit into the corporate
culture, and communicate successfully. Hard skills, which we talked about in the previous chapter, are what will help you navigate the technical elements of your job, but it’s soft skills that will enable you to move ahead. Soft skills are generally very apparent to the people around you, and if those skills are sharp, people will notice.

By gaining and mastering communication and other soft skills and developing your own emotional intelligence, you’ll become the person everyone wants to work with. You’ll become an influencer and a leader. You’ll also be very much in charge of managing the way you’re perceived by others.
Don’t wait to be judged by others. Instead, focus on highlighting your abilities in a way that clearly demonstrates (as opposed to you having to say anything) the skills you have and the value you and those skills bring to your team and your employer.
The difference between hard skills and soft is kind of like the difference between a single computer and a network. You can do a lot of stuff with the computer, but the network allows you to communicate with other computers, access the company’s intranet from home, and print a document from the other side of the building. One computer gets the job done, but the network lets you get so much more out of every device that’s connected. A  number of managers asked at Fortune 500
companies to tell  about the soft skills they think young employees will need if they want to move up in their careers.

Here’s what they said:

• Strong work ethic 

• Optimism/positive attitude 

• Good communication skills

• Good conversation skills 

• Storytelling abilities for presentations 

• Time management abilities 

• The ability to listen and to speak to the “human needs” of coworkers and customers.

• Being good at reading people 

• Ability to build relationships and connect with others on a deep level 

• Exercise tact when delivering a message 

• The ability to propose solutions to problems, not just talk about problems 

• Meaningfully contribute to brainstorming 

• Ability to write well 

• Problem-solving skills 

• Team player 

• Being likable 

• Self-confidence 

• Can accept and learn from criticism 

• Flexibility/adaptability 

• Can work well under pressure 

• Empathy 

• Integrity 

• Sense of humor

 
Reports earlier this year by Accenture found that 60% of recent graduates in work are underemployed, or in a job that doesn’t require a degree. If you’re one of those graduates or you’re just unsatisfied in your job, then there are steps you can take to change your career.

Identify your ideal job

The first step is to pinpoint what your perfect job would be. Visualise what it looks like and ask yourself why you want a change. Perhaps it’s for a new challenge, better environment or to improve your prospects? Don’t let your reasons for change be clouded by pay offers if the rest of the job isn’t right.
Second, set yourself a personal mission statement which should be specific to your current and future needs. For example: “I want to earn $24,000 a year working in software development; with a good training programme, modern working environment, a commute of less than 30 minutes and the option of flexible working.” The more specific you are, the closer you will be to finding a job that ticks most of the boxes.
But be honest and think about your individual qualities, characteristics and skills. You may love the idea of working in fashion but if you’re not keen on crowded, after work events perhaps a role that takes you behind the scenes of a fashion organisation may suit better?
Also, consider what skills could be transferable as this may open your eyes to other types of roles which you hadn’t considered. Many roles require similar skills, for example – being able to communicate with people at all levels, listening or good time management.

Land your perfect career 

Research the companies you want to work for, and find out about their environment, goals etc, to decide if they match your mission statement.
Online forums are great for gaining insight and feedback from workers already in the field. Talking with people face to face is even better.
With your shortlist in hand, register with recruitment agencies and check the career websites of your target companies to apply directly. Over half of world companies use social media to screen potential employees so make sure your profile is up to date, displays your skills, and if possible advertises that you’re open to new jobs. Follow your target list online and, if you really want to impress, write a blog connected with your ideal job.

Once the vacancies come in, take time with your application. Match your skills to what they are looking for and sell your personality so it suits the business, both in your cover letter and CV. If you want to stand out from the crowd, consider a video CV as it shows how you present yourself and that you can use technology creatively and effectively. Charts, graphs and infographics in CVs are also a powerful way for the reader to quickly see all your accomplishments at a glance – which will be gratefully received by any busy employer.
Before you attend an interview, be clear on the job role and research the company. Prepare any questions and practice your interview technique; consider your voice, tone and pace, and pay attention to body language. Answer interview questions in detail but do not ramble, and maintain eye contact throughout to show you’re interested and enthusiastic. First impressions count so wear smart business dress and arrive five minutes before the interview.

New starter expectations

Starting a new job is daunting, but there are ways to make a great first impression. Arriving 10 minutes early shows that you’re eager and raring to go. Likewise, make sure you dress according to the company dress code. Quickly get up to speed on the employer’s policies and procedures such as staff conduct and attendance and, if possible, avoid taking holidays within the first three months on the job.
Take notes during your training and don’t be afraid to ask questions – this is a new job and no one will expect you to know everything. Finally, take a proactive approach to work. Although it can be nerve-racking, if a phone is ringing and everyone is busy, answer it. If you’ve finished the tasks you’ve been set, request more or ask team members if you can lend a hand. The most important thing is to show that you’re interested, keen to learn and that you have the right attitude.
Adopting an optimistic and proactive approach to your career will not only help you to find your ideal job but will give you the positive mindset you need to excel in your career in the New Year.

 

·    Study the company’s profile; its mission, vision, core values, brands, strategic plan etc.

·    Study the job description; role and responsibilities related to a position.

·    Anticipate basic interview questions and try to think about examples in tackling them.

·    Practice interview out loudly

·    Pick appropriate outfit, your hair should be smart.

·    Neatly prepare your references, if they are needed  at your interview.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate : our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves who  am  I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually who are you not to be?….As we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same” Nelson Mandela

I am opening my article with the great and valuable quote said by Nelson Mandela. He was a great leader , his leadership, many people has shed the light to many people in this world.

John Maxwell defines Leadership as “influence. That’s it! Nothing more and nothing less! He who thinks he leads and has no one following him/her is only taking a walk” Hogan  et.al (1994;493) argue that leadership is  “persuasion, not domination; persons who can require others to do their bidding because of their power are not leaders”

Generally the term can be defined as the process whereby an individual influence other in attaining the particular goals. These influenced individuals become to see those particular goals as theirs.

When we put our grasp to these definitions, we capture the frequently appeared terms which are Influence, People and Goals.


 
Influence; Is an act of making a person to do what you want him/her to do. Naturally every person has got an influence to his/her fellow but the degree varies from person to person, as Maxwell  puts as “Did you know that each of us influence at least ten thousands other people during our life time……?

People; In leadership arena, people are grouped into those who lead (leaders) and those who are led (followers/subordinates). People as thinking animals are the same, but under leadership arena they are grouped due to their personalities. Personalities are of two kinds; internal personality which involves person’s status and predictability. Another kind of personality is external which involves person’s reputation.

Goals; These are expected situations or conditions after accomplishment of a particular task.Goals are the sticky substance that bring together leaders and their subordinates in attaining such particular goals.