Good Advice: You According To Them

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Even I have to take a break from the daily grind of bad news about Obama and the Democrats. Here's some good advice for everyone that works just as well outside the business world as in:

After extensive work in this area, I’ve identified a number of common blind spots that consistently block professionals from reaching their full potential. Here’s just one example that demonstrates how these subtle “perception disconnects” can be responsible for derailing what should be a thriving career:

Think about the professionals who are often quite sharp and industrious, but habitually resist what they perceive to be the cruel constraints of authority – unnecessary rules that limit their individuality, their creativity and, most of all, their freedom. Because of their ability to perform at superior levels, they believe the rules don’t apply to them. Consequently, they are often categorized as rebellious or uncooperative, difficult and even defiant, despite their extraordinary achievements.

For those who struggle with this professional blind spot, they can begin to change those negative perceptions by thinking about the structure and norms of business in a new way. Just because they adhere to the corporate guidelines or protocol doesn’t mean they are being smothered by authority or shamelessly catering to office politics. Business is a game, and following the basic rules is a prerequisite for participation. Playing the game is a smart, savvy way to get ahead…not a humiliating, white-flag-waving surrender. A slight shift in thinking can make a big difference in their actions, the perceptions that follow, and the reputations they are hoping to improve.

Other common blind spots include people who feel they are:

Intelligent and highly qualified but are perceived as condescending and elitist
Decisive and candid but are perceived as abrupt and insensitive
Supportive and personable but are perceived as soft and lenient
Extremely energetic and driven but are perceived as relentless and unrealistic
Composed and steady but are perceived as robotic and indifferent
Methodical and compliant but are perceived as inflexible and overly cautious
Humble and understated but are perceived as bland and forgettable
Assertive and enthusiastic but are perceived as self-serving and inappropriate
Spirited and passionate but are perceived as intense and overzealous
High performing and reliable but are perceived as one-dimensional and over-functioning

These are just a few of the classic blind spots that seem to be most common in derailing careers and preventing even the most brilliant people from reaching their full potential. Thankfully, there are ways to fix our blind spots so that we are not paralyzed or stalled in our careers. The solutions involve gathering candid feedback from our colleagues, increasing our self-awareness, and applying what we uncover in that process to adjust our behaviors. When our intended messages and our perceived messages match, we can achieve much more and generate even greater results.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/48899863