Life skills to help you succeed

If you really want to succeed, you need to honestly reflect on areas of personal improvement, and work on these traits as you would any other career objective.

The attributes below are shared by successful people everywhere, but they don't happen by accident or luck. They originate in habits, built a day at a time.

Here are four traits that the highly successful cultivate.

Resilience:

Good or bad, everyone takes feedback differently. The ones who don’t push back after hard news are the ones who are resilient.

Hold-ups and set-backs are a way of life. Graciously accepting bad feedback won’t hinder you moving forward. Anyone who has been in employment long enough will agree, that a manager who tells you where you went wrong is better than a manager who gives you no feedback at all.

Showing that you can handle criticism will prove that you can endure hardship. Bouncing-back and not falling-apart when times get tough defines you as a strong character.

Inquisitiveness:

Businesses today are all about the ‘willingness to learn,’ rather than the ‘know-how. ’ Asking questions and being inquisitive not only shows high-level of engagement, but demonstrates you’re eager to grow and learn.

Snarky know-it-alls make unlikeable characters and often come across as being arrogant, even if it’s unintentionally. Asking questions and being open-minded leads to innovative ideas; as Google CEO, Eric Schmidt once said; “We run this company on questions, not answers.

We run this company on questions, not answers.” Google CEO, Eric Schmidt

Humility:

We’re all guilty of being prideful at times, especially if we’ve put a lot of time and effort into something. Some of us are also very quick to speak out if someone takes credit for our work.

However, not letting trivial things get the better of you and learning to be humble, will often open you up to new ideas and expand your intellectual capabilities. Taking a back seat now and then, and maintaining a stance of humility, will put you in a superior strategic position. It informs others around you that you do not consider yourself to be beyond refute.

Empathy:

Those who are compassionate and empathetic are often more approachable. Working on your emotional intelligence and being able to relate to one’s situation, will enhance and develop relationships inside and outside of work.

“I was once in a similar situation and it was very stressful. Let me help,” is far more comforting instead of the reply, “that’s annoying for you.” Empathy reassures the people around you are being seen and heard, which will promote a positive environment.

No matter where you are on the career ladder, everyone can and should work on these personal qualities. Self-development will sometimes open more possibilities and opportunities than what you have to offer technically, so make them apart of your objectives.