They show you 'get it, ' sports agent says. Respectful confidence, authentic energy among qualities to embrace.
Intangibles are crucial to succeed in any business. But what are they?
Here are some of my definitions:
Intangibles aren't what you say, but rather they are how you say it.
They aren't what you do, but rather they are how you do it.
Intangibles help demonstrate your honesty, your communication skills and your ability to work as part of a team.
At the most basic level, intangibles illustrate that you "get it." They bring life to your style. They make you 3-D instead of one-dimensional.
Tom Izzo --- the head basketball coach at Michigan State University and winner of a national championship, is a friend and client. "Championships, " he said, "aren't won because of intangibles, but they are lost without them."
Izzo got his job because of his stats and resume, but he won a national title because of his intangibles.
Tangibles get you the job; intangibles can get you to the top. Here are some intangibles to consider on your climb up the career ladder:
Strategic vision: Basically, this means seeing what others don't. Leaders provide it; followers follow it. Athletes do this by implementing good course or court management --- preparing for the next shot or setting up the play. From a business perspective, strategy and vision are part of anticipating trends, identifying niches and capitalizing on your competition's weaknesses.
Selective vulnerability: You must be secure to embrace this skill; smart enough to know your strengths and weaknesses and confident enough to express it appropriately for your advantage. Embrace insight and advice from a select group. Create opportunities by asking questions; most effective leaders gather lots of advice but implement it as they see necessary.
Respectful confidence: I call this the fine line between cocky and insecure. It's where grace meets spunk. Envision a line with "cocky" on the left side and "insecure" on the right. Most people, I believe, like to work with and hire people left of the center, but certainly not too cocky. Think about the style of John Smoltz: Many would agree with me that the former Atlanta Braves pitcher embodies respectful confidence. Find the place on the line that feels real to you as you embrace life's opportunities and challenges.
Authentic energy: This creates momentum for you and those around you. Everyone wants to be around positive and sincere people. It's contagious and it's magnetic. It's fairly simple, if you exude positive energy you are more likely to find or advance your career.
Make these intangibles part of your DNA. If you are looking for a job, stick them in your resume. But, more important, bring them to life in your meetings.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
How to embrace, not resist, change
Change.
We've all heard it: The only thing constant in life is change.
If we know that there is constant change, let's anticipate it. Let's embrace the inevitable. Let's execute in our new reality.
We may not be able to control the change that is forthcoming, but we can control our attitude and work toward successfully executing during the transition and on into the new situation.
Change is particularly relevant with our free-agent baseball players during this time of year, as we evaluate 30 teams and work to secure the best fit for our free-agent clients.
But change can come at any time. A friend and client, Jeff Francoeur, experienced change this summer --- a trade from the Atlanta Braves to the New York Mets.
One Friday afternoon this summer, my phone rang at 5:50 p.m. Players don't typically call me after they get to the field unless something is pressing. It was Jeff calling from Colorado. I answered and I said, "Hey Jeff, let me guess . . ."
"Yes, I just got traded to the Mets, " he said.
"Awesome, " I replied.
That wasn't the reaction he was expecting --- and it was welcomed. All of a sudden No. 7 on the Braves became No. 12 on the Mets.
What characteristics do we need to implement during our changing times?
Anticipate: I was confident Jeff was going to get traded. As time passed, I began to not only anticipate a trade but appreciate what it might provide --- a new beginning. I anticipated that call from him, and when it came I knew he needed to believe that the change could be positive.
The reality is that he was the lead on making the change a positive one, but as his agent I was there to help him capitalize on it.
In this economic environment, we are all experiencing change. The more we anticipate it and plan for it, the more likely we can determine the most efficient and effective way to add value in the new situation.
Embrace: Whether change is a reality for a week, a year or forever, it's healthy to embrace it. Our ability to adjust quickly in trying times has a direct correlation with our ability to be successful. The quicker and more fluidly we adjust and create a platform for success the better.
Jeff had a lot of things to process as he boarded that plane from Colorado to New York. He had a lot to process as he changed his closet from the red and blue of the Braves to the orange and blue of the Mets.
We talked about the importance of those first games as a Met. His results in the second half of the season in New York demonstrate how well he embraced the trade.
Execute: His results in the second half of the season in New York demonstrate how well he executed these philosophies. Jeff arrived in New York with a new energy and the desire to prove to his new team that he would contribute at the plate, in the field and in the clubhouse.
He wanted to prove to manager Jerry Manuel and hitting coach Howard Johnson that he could contribute in a positive way to the club. He did just that.
In 2009, in 82 games with the Braves, Jeff hit .250 with five home runs and 35 RBI. In 75 games with the Mets, he hit .311 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. After he arrived in New York, he led all Mets players in both home runs and RBI. Defensively, in just half the season he still tied for team lead in assists.
As you walk into new roles, sit in new board rooms, work with new co-workers, deal with new clients , you need to anticipate, embrace and, most important, consistently over-deliver.
So wake up every day and anticipate, embrace and execute in these ever changing times. You will find the roller-coaster of change to be less jarring and even positive.
We've all heard it: The only thing constant in life is change.
If we know that there is constant change, let's anticipate it. Let's embrace the inevitable. Let's execute in our new reality.
We may not be able to control the change that is forthcoming, but we can control our attitude and work toward successfully executing during the transition and on into the new situation.
Change is particularly relevant with our free-agent baseball players during this time of year, as we evaluate 30 teams and work to secure the best fit for our free-agent clients.
But change can come at any time. A friend and client, Jeff Francoeur, experienced change this summer --- a trade from the Atlanta Braves to the New York Mets.
One Friday afternoon this summer, my phone rang at 5:50 p.m. Players don't typically call me after they get to the field unless something is pressing. It was Jeff calling from Colorado. I answered and I said, "Hey Jeff, let me guess . . ."
"Yes, I just got traded to the Mets, " he said.
"Awesome, " I replied.
That wasn't the reaction he was expecting --- and it was welcomed. All of a sudden No. 7 on the Braves became No. 12 on the Mets.
What characteristics do we need to implement during our changing times?
Anticipate: I was confident Jeff was going to get traded. As time passed, I began to not only anticipate a trade but appreciate what it might provide --- a new beginning. I anticipated that call from him, and when it came I knew he needed to believe that the change could be positive.
The reality is that he was the lead on making the change a positive one, but as his agent I was there to help him capitalize on it.
In this economic environment, we are all experiencing change. The more we anticipate it and plan for it, the more likely we can determine the most efficient and effective way to add value in the new situation.
Embrace: Whether change is a reality for a week, a year or forever, it's healthy to embrace it. Our ability to adjust quickly in trying times has a direct correlation with our ability to be successful. The quicker and more fluidly we adjust and create a platform for success the better.
Jeff had a lot of things to process as he boarded that plane from Colorado to New York. He had a lot to process as he changed his closet from the red and blue of the Braves to the orange and blue of the Mets.
We talked about the importance of those first games as a Met. His results in the second half of the season in New York demonstrate how well he embraced the trade.
Execute: His results in the second half of the season in New York demonstrate how well he executed these philosophies. Jeff arrived in New York with a new energy and the desire to prove to his new team that he would contribute at the plate, in the field and in the clubhouse.
He wanted to prove to manager Jerry Manuel and hitting coach Howard Johnson that he could contribute in a positive way to the club. He did just that.
In 2009, in 82 games with the Braves, Jeff hit .250 with five home runs and 35 RBI. In 75 games with the Mets, he hit .311 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. After he arrived in New York, he led all Mets players in both home runs and RBI. Defensively, in just half the season he still tied for team lead in assists.
As you walk into new roles, sit in new board rooms, work with new co-workers, deal with new clients , you need to anticipate, embrace and, most important, consistently over-deliver.
So wake up every day and anticipate, embrace and execute in these ever changing times. You will find the roller-coaster of change to be less jarring and even positive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)