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While I don’t believe that success can be linked to any single personality trait, I do think that there are certain characteristics that can be found across the board in successful people. Below, I have attempted to outline 6 of these attributes and link them to well-known successful people who clearly demonstrate them. This is in no way an exhaustive list so feel free to add more in the comments!

1. Integrity

Dr. Alan Greenspan - As chairman of the US Federal Reserve, he advised leaders across the political spectrum from 1987 to 2006 (a record setting tenure). He showed steady leadership during bull and bear markets, worked to strengthen the authority of the Fed and earned an unwavering worldwide reputation for integrity and reliability in his judgment. He is still generally considered a leading authority on American domestic economic and monetary policy and his influence continues to this day.

Integrity is the trait that allows others to view you and your work as trustworthy.  A person with integrity bases their actions on a consistent set of principles based on established core beliefs, values and morals. Those with a strong sense of integrity are seen as responsible and reliable.

2. Vision

Steve Jobs (Co-founder and CEO of Apple) and Bill Gates (Co-founder and Chairman of Microsoft) - While having two very different views, both men perfectly demonstrate how creative vision helps build success. Both men saw opportunity in their dreams of the future. Before the idea of computers even existed for most people, they were developing cutting edge technology. Both companies have managed to stay on top (in very different capacities) throughout the technological revolution due to the guidance and leadership of these two men.

Having vision involves seeing opportunity that others don’t. Visionaries have a unique way of viewing the world and they apply it to their work through innovation and creativity. They see beyond existing limitations and push things forward. Without visionaries we would remain stagnant.

3. Confidence

Donald Trump - Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Mr. Trump has the confidence to do and say exactly what he wants. Of course, wealth provides a certain amount of that confidence, but his financial life has encountered many bumps along the way. However, he has always been seen as an outspoken and recognizable media figure, expanding his business at times too quickly to remain financially stable. Still, he never lacks conviction and proudly displays his name on properties and products he owns and endorses. Never one to shy away from controversy, Mr. Trump embodies confidence with his ability to jump into enormous projects, at times failing, and then continue to do it over and over again.

Jack Welch (former chairman and CEO of General Electric) once said: “Confidence gives you courage and extends your reach. It lets you take greater risks and achieve far more than you ever thought possible” (Capitalism Magazine, 2002). To be successful, you must have faith in yourself and be willing to take risk based upon the belief that you can achieve your goals. Having a strong sense of confidence allows others to feel you are capable. The fact of the matter is, even if you have no idea what you are doing, having confidence can make people believe you are an expert. Of course, you must always be careful to display honest confidence; otherwise people will begin to doubt you. And without trust, little can be accomplished. Be confident in your abilities and encourage others to believe in you by always performing at your best.

4. Patience

Al Gore - Over 30 years ago, he began educating the public on the dangers of Global Warming. Enduring ridicule, political attacks and personal assaults, Mr. Gore continued to research and publicize the phenomenon that was widely disregarded in the past. Only in recent years has the environmental crisis truly been recognized and his persistent work appreciated. Mr. Gore has shown a steadfast determination in getting the truth out and changing social and political policies to help slow the pace of the impending environmental crisis.

Patience is necessary to persevere when times are difficult. Have the strength to hold tight even when others may not support you. Methodically sticking to your goals will eventually get you there. Do not become impatient. Typically, when we try to rush something we end up cutting corners. Do things right and eventually, others will take notice. Patience involves remaining calm, level headed and working at a steady, consistent pace.

5. Inspiring

Oprah Winfrey - The media giant who has enlightened and inspired millions of viewers for over two decades seems to have an unparalleled ability to motivate individuals to action. Known as the “Oprah Effect”, her endorsement (or boycott) is a virtual guarantee of success (or failure) for various products including books, food, music and possibly even politicians. Her influence crosses gender, race and socio-political lines making her ability to inspire millions incomparable.

Successful people have the ability to motivate others. They breathe excitement into the world around them. This is truly a characteristic of leadership. To be a leader means you are moving people to want to follow in your footsteps, to support you. They want to see you succeed. To be inspirational, you must be a role model. You must show enthusiasm for what you are doing. You must believe in your actions and your goals. This is perhaps the most innate characteristic on this list. It’s hard to teach someone to be inspirational. Most of the time it’s a gift - people like Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and John Lennon all seemed to have that natural charisma that moved people. When you believe in something passionately, your own natural gifts for inspiring others will shine through.

6. Energetic

Bono - Lead singer and lyricist for the popular Irish rock band, U2, Bono has an incredible enthusiasm for life and lending his fame to causes he believes in. Most notably he is known for his activism concerning Africa. He regularly organizes benefit concerts, meets with politicians, and travels around the world to help publicize his efforts. He has collaborated and recorded with numerous artists and has participated in many different business ventures. Bono has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, was granted an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom and was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine.

Sometimes, as we go from day to day, working and pushing ourselves to reach our goals, we suddenly realize we’re exhausted. It takes a significant amount of energy to remain motivated when you feel like you’ve been dedicating a lot of time and effort to something - especially if you aren’t seeing immediate rewards. The most successful people all seem to have huge stores of energy from which they gather strength to push forward continuously. I often wonder how they do it all. While there are things we can do to increase our own levels of energy (like staying fit and getting enough sleep), energy also comes from passion. When you are dedicated to your own success and when you truly love what you are doing, the energy will come naturally.

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Every week here at The Executive Assistant’s Tool Box, we provide “Cheat Sheets” with links for different articles and sites that provide valuable information relevant to 5 of our core subjects -  communication, career and/or personal growth, organizational skills, people skills and productivity. Enjoy!

Communication: My e-mail addiction continues….and as long as it does, I might as well learn a few tips (from Lifehacker). Maybe you’ll learn something from it too. Most are tips I’ve already known but it’s still good to get a reminder. Next week I’ll bring the focus back to breaking the habit. For now, I’ve fallen off the wagon…

Career Growth: John Place Online produced this Guide to Money and Meaning - a profound analysis of the realities of balancing dreams with necessities. It’s especially powerful this week since John recently announced his return to the workforce and thus the end of his “pro-blogger” dream (at least for a while).

Organization: A vital step in organization is getting rid of your disorganized habits. Here are a few steps for Exorcising your Demons of Disorganization.

People Skills: Wow, Dumb Little Man had a BRILLIANT guest post this week entitled, “How to Diffuse a Explosive Situation“. It focuses on conflict resolution strategies and the author sounds like she really knows what’s up (if I do say so myself….).

Productivity: I’m a big fan of working fast. Nothing bores (and irritates) me more than slow workers. That’s why Getting Things Done….Faster appeals to me. It’s a nice breakdown of what needs to be done to get you moving. Of course, watch out for accuracy. It’s easy to move fast but moving fast while still doing the job right is a difficult thing.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty bad at hiding my emotions. I’m the world’s worst eye roller. I’m a big fan of the heavy sigh that unquestionably signals boredom, And nothing whips my boyfriend into a panic more than my single eyebrow lift.

Sometimes, my body conspires against me and displays my emotions with no specific instruction from my brain. For example, my typically pale face turns flaming red whenever I’m angry or embarrassed or (dare I share this?)…a little flirty.

In the last few years however, I’ve discovered that showing your every little emotion at work isn’t necessarily a wise idea. In fact, it can potentially cause a lot of unnecessary problems, embarrassment and career roadblocks. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to walk around like a zombie. Emotions do play a role in business. The key is to use them effectively. You can’t simply let your emotions run the show. Here are a few questions to ask yourself that will help you in this process:  

What is the emotion?  

Is it positive or negative? This is the basis on which all other decisions should be made. Are you feeling excited, passionate and energized? Or are you feeling irritated, frustrated and stressed? Take a few minutes to completely identify exactly what you are feeling. Be aware that emotions like to disguise themselves. (For example, I’ve found that excitement is often disguised by fear. Once I can get past the fear, the excitement can truly shine through. )

Where is the emotion coming from?

Try to pinpoint the source of your feelings. Is it your job? Your co-workers? Your personal life? What is true cause of the emotion? Again, be aware that the subconscious often displaces emotions. This simply means that frustration at home may build up and spill over into work (and vice versa). So, while you may feel frustrated by someone at work, the emotion might actually be rooted in something (or someone) entirely different.

Will “showing” the emotion be productive?

Let’s say you’re angry with your co-worker. Ask yourself,”Is the situation likely to improve if I share my feelings?” Probably not. It’s best to let the anger wear off and then address the underlying issue - the work issue, not the emotional one. Do your best to distinguish between feelings and concrete fact.

Let’s say your co-worker had failed to do their assignment which caused your work to be negatively impacted. Yes, you have every right to be angry. But that emotion won’t get you anywhere. Let it fade and then approach your co-worker by telling them the impact their actions (or lack thereof) caused on you and your work. You can explain your feelings much more professionally, clearly and understandably when the emotion is no longer there and you’re only dealing in facts.

Is this emotion something that strengthens me or weakens me?

This question is incredibly empowering. Focus on your goals and try to see if your emotions are helping or hindering them. Generally speaking, positive emotions (such as excitement, passion and joy) encourage productivity while negative emotions (such as anger, frustration and fear) inhibit productivity. Of course, this isn’t always the case. There are plenty of things that happen as a result of negative emotions. However, these things are not typically “good” things. Often, people find that decisions made based on negative emotions (whether trying to heal them, ignore them or feed off of them) have negative consequences. Do your best to identify those emotions that may weaken your spirit and don’t act upon them. Let them pass with time.

I hope this helps you and I’d love to read some comments from you guys. Let me know how you deal with emotions at work!

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It’s easy to be a pushover at work. It doesn’t take much effort to be agreeable and just do exactly what you’re told.  But where does that get you at the end of the day?

For those of us who have a hard time saying no (and believe me, I’ve been there and I still struggle with it at times), the problems can be enormous. People will continue piling work on you relentlessly because, hey - you keep doing it! They’ll talk you into taking on projects that aren’t your responsibility, they’ll pressure into doing the job no one else wants, and before you know it you’ll be buying the whole gang lunch because you couldn’t find a way to say no. In some serious circumstances, you may even find yourself put in a compromising situation, with your integrity and reputation on the line; all because you didn’t have the backbone to stand up to someone who wanted you to do something you knew deep down that you shouldn’t.

Though there are many times when it is appropriate to say “No” in the workplace, here are a few of the more common instances:

• You are feeling overwhelmed and unable to keep up with your workload

• You feel the work is irrelevant or unnecessary to your job

• You believe the work would be more appropriately handled by another individual

• You feel your workload is unfair or inappropriate

• You feel the work you are being asked to do is unethical or conflicts with your personal morals

Face it: you know when you should say “No”. You feel it deep in the gut. But something stops you. I think there are two basic reasons people don’t say “No” when they should.

1)  It’s easier to say “Yes”
Yes is positive. No is negative. We’re taught that we should be positive and enthusiastic in the workplace. We’re told that you have to prove yourself, be willing to get your hands dirty, be a go-getter who’s willing to do anything to move up.
Well, this is all true to a point. Of course you want to be positive and enthusiastic. But you have to set boundaries in order to gain respect. While you definitely should be willing to work hard, learn new things and challenge yourself, you have to decide for yourself what your limits are. You also have to know when your limits have been reached. Of course, you must also make them realistic and appropriate.

2)  Fear of “No”
Many people hold a deep fear of the word “No”. It feels like a punishment to hear it (probably a scar from childhood) and it feels mean to say it. They’re also afraid of the consequences of saying “No”. They think that it will enrage the person they say it to. Ultimately, people don’t say “No” at work because they fear losing their jobs. While I can’t speak for every job out there, I can say with a high degree of confidence that this is highly unlikely if you are saying “No” in a respectful, professional manner.

How to Say “No” Appropriately
Most people worry that if they say “No” and set limits for themselves, they will end up sounding rude, or lazy, or stubborn, or arrogant, or any-number-of-things. However, there is an appropriate way to say “No” in the workplace:

• Be respectful and professional

• Explain the reason - be heartfelt and honest

• Show a sincere desire to solve the problem - offer alternatives

• Discuss the matter with a supervisor if you feel uncomfortable

Example:
John, I wish I could take over that project for you. It sounds very interesting and I know you could use the help.  Unfortunately, my workload just doesn’t allow for it right now. I’m actually feeling a little overwhelmed as it is. Maybe next time I can help you out. For now, you might want to talk to Patricia. I know she is very knowledgeable on that topic. Maybe she can help you get going.

See how easy that was?

As someone who works with a very clear “boss”, I approach this somewhat differently (and you may too). However, the overall theme remains the same. When I feel I have to say “No”, I follow all of the above points and simply end my statement with a question such as, “Is that understandable?” or “Will that work for your needs?” I like to offer my boss the ultimate control while, in reality, I’ve stated my feelings and set my limits very clearly. It simply allows for conversation should he feel the need to “push” the issue - which is (thankfully) quite rare.

I’d love to hear some feedback and some other ideas for how you guys handle this sort of thing in your offices. I think it’s an issue that comes up often and we all could use some pointers on the delicate art of saying “No”. Please contribute in the comments below!

 I just wanted to invite everyone to read an article I wrote for Suite 101 entitled, “Understanding Perspective: How Your Views Influence Your Reality.” It’s a little different than the kinds of things I normally post here, but please leave comments if you have something to add to the discussion. I think it’s a pretty interesting topic and, though the article is fairly short, it’s certainly something I’d like to explore more in the future. Let me know your thoughts!

Every week here at The Executive Assistant’s Tool Box, we provide “Cheat Sheets” with links for different articles and sites that provide valuable information relevant to 5 of our core subjects -  communication, career and/or personal growth, organizational skills, people skills and productivity. Enjoy!

1. Communication - Ok, here’s the plan for Curing My Email Addiction. I’m not sure I can do it…but I know I have a problem. Isn’t that the first step???

2. Career Growth - This article provides an interesting way to look at career planning - hey, it’s not an exact science! But personally, I don’t think it’s a complete waste of time either.

3. Organizational Skills - I’ve fallen in love with another blog! Organize IT had an excellent article this week on Dealing with Doubts. I really think the posts here are thoughtful, interesting, and well….organized!

4. People Skills - Another new favorite blog provides a post on How to Resolve Arguments Like a Pro. I highly recommend that you stumble around this site for a while - I guarantee you’ll laugh a lot! Among my favorites: Top 4 Lessons I Learned from a Horsefly Attack. Prepare yourself…this guy is funny! And smart!

5. Productivity - Leo (from Zen Habits) writes for Dumb Little Man and here he gives us loads of tips for getting ahead (at work and life!)

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