Big Personalities Win
What do you think the secret to success is? Is it being street-smart or book-smart?
Many will argue that you need both. And while technical understanding is a good foundation, it’s personality, grit, and creativity that take people to that next level.
The best teams of the highest-performing companies don’t just have technical skills, but they also have emotional intelligence and the ability to communicate effectively. Overall team success requires everyone on the team to operate harmoniously. This cohesiveness can only be achieved when the people involved are kind, cooperative, and inquisitive.
The problem with some organizations is that they put too much emphasis on functional roles and place people in teams hoping that cohesion and cooperation will happen naturally. However, not everyone is a “team-player” and some people don’t know how to work well alongside others.
When it comes to achieving team goals, a positive attitude and natural ability to connect with teammates can be more powerful than skill. Technical skill can be learned. Knowledge can be expanded as long as you have the right mindset. But unfortunately, there is no course that teaches its participants how to be generous, compassionate, and humble. They can learn it by definition but can they truly embody these characteristics based on a tutorial?
To succeed, you need your own opinions and not rely on everything you have read. You have to be inventive and not imitate. You must be willing to abandon your goals for the success of the team.
People with personality are genuine. They are humorous without being disrespectful. And those who are authentic about who they are, always do what they say. Their values are aligned with their actions. Others will trust you because you show integrity and honesty. Consistency and continuity are essential to success.
In organizations, it isn’t always the one who has the most technical skill that has the management role. And the one who has been with the company the longest doesn’t always get the promotion nor does the person who has the best attendance or the highest KPI scores. This is because leadership is so much more than being smart.
Leaders aren’t always the ones with the “best grades.” In high school, the valedictorian is the one with the highest GPA, but it’s the kid that has the most courage and ability to communicate their vision that can persuade the student body to vote for them to be class president.
Synergy cannot be achieved by merely hiring the most skilled candidates because camaraderie and desire to work with others is not a learned skill but a natural trait.
Dr. Yashima White Azilove
I am an international speaker, certified coach and skilled consultant with over 20 years of corporate brand communications executive experience in the media, entertainment, healthcare and financial service industries. I now use my expertise in brand communications to ELEVATE audiences, corporations, celebrity/talent and faith organizations.