Demonstration of capabilities with real, measurable impact builds a 360-degree confidence. These 360 degrees include your superiors, colleagues and team. More importantly your clients. Every profession including professional services has supervision mechanisms which include periodical reviews of performance versus goals. In the past few years what has driven core performance parameters to a merit-based review system is setting monthly deliverables and reviewing performance based on these deliverables. Less and less performance judgements are left to intangible or subjective parameters. This is truly a golden opportunity for performers who continuously work smart and their deliverables as well as overachieve in some areas, therefore standing out as star performers.
While management centres on delegation and control, it’s been my experience working in multiple countries over the past many decades that when leaders see and experience self-driven resources and develop regular positive moments of truth with them, they value them and empower them. In my case whether it was an Arab, a Sri Lankan, Seychellois a Westerner and even an Indian, being self-driven built a deep sense of reliability and trust with my superiors and clients. Deep relationships developed which I cherish even today. Now coming back to what actually does self-driven mindset mean.
“A self-driven mindset is an internal drive to take initiative and achieve goals without external pressure” (Source- Internet). Any individual who has developed and mindset like this just keeps going focused on the predetermined goals that lie ahead. This turbo mindset is change or challenge neutral and is actually a branch of the mother of all mindsets- the growth mindset. Here are some simple and practical tips on how you can develop the ‘Self Driven Mindset’
Pause and only then leap
I have said this before bit some of these mindsets need you to actually understand well – the basic changes you need to make in yourself before you actually take this challenge on. You should be completely convinced that you would like to evolve to this new mindset before you take your first step of behavioural change. The next immediate self-scan is to see if you can make the changes needed to cultivate this mindset, sometimes people are too hardwired. You know what I mean.
Refresh your goals
It’s like deciding to climb Mt. Everest. So, you just don’t kick-start your bike and head off. Besides, the mindset change should help you to achieve your goals faster and better. When you refresh your goals, update them based on where your organisation is heading. Are there any changes in the organisational strategy? Are there new technologies or new market entrants? Any movements in the top leadership of your organisation. All these affect your goals. Therefore, update, update and update
You are the captain of your own flight
When you ‘self-drive’, you become the captain of your own ship. As I have mentioned in many of my previous articles one real trick of the trade is to get a ‘co-captain’ or your own dependable ‘mindset change buddy’. The only qualification of this key resource is that the individual should be a genuine well-wisher and should have the courage to give you real and frank feedback. Share your own personal SWOT with this person and get continuous progress feedback. Make mid-course corrections to ensure you are on track. Its, your flight!
Live the bouquet of your changes
You cannot change into this new mindset unless you live the bouquet of your changes. There is a maxim used in the profession of communications which is that an organisation is known more by its behaviour that the positive perception you try to project. Your new bouquet of behaviour includes many new qualities that include- deep discipline, perseverance, positivity, passion, accountability, emotional intelligence and hard rooted commitment to name a few. These changes will create an auto self-prompt to progress slow and steady.
Last but not the least. With every milestone of achievement, celebrate and reward yourself. And please don’t forget to ask your mindset buddy to join you!
“I am, I can, I will, I do.” Christine D’Ercole
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