10 ways to professional excellence

EVERY ONE one wants to be up there, but very few take the trouble to go all the way. Making an effort to look at the finer details, and polishing up your act accordingly can go the distance in helping you become the success that you wish to be. Professional excellence should be the goal of every true professional. Cultivate the habit of doing-it-right every time. Although rewards may be slow to come by, the process itself can teach you much in terms of patience and consistency. For those who want to make an attempt, here are a few ways to start-

Meet deadlines before time. This way you can perfect whatever you are doing, and also have a time buffer in case there's a slip up. Maintain a diary. Almost all successful people have kept one.

When you're given a task, get to work immediately. First, plan out how the work can be evenly spread over the time allotted. Remember that last minute efforts give way easily, and cracks will show up soon. Planning and timely execution therefore is essential to do a good job.

Learn to talk about things. Discuss matters with your colleagues and subordinates. Sometimes just keeping in touch and being open about your progress can keep a lot of unwarranted trouble at bay

Teach others. This helps to reinforce your learning.

Never think you've reached, or achieved the acme of perfection. This is a sure-fire way to a professional full-stop!

Keep an open mind. Don't go by others' ideas or beliefs. They could be wrong.

Respect authority. Learn to consider suggestions given by experts. Have a guide or a mentor, and get all the help you can without making a nuisance of yourself.

Treat peers with respect and dignity too to avoid jealousy and insecurity.

Keep workplace relationships from hindering work commitments; in short, don't let your friendship keep you from meeting targets, or from offering constructive criticism.

You may have to fight procrastination, and indifference. These negative attitudes can sound your professional death knell

"Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude." Reaching towards excellence is a matter of minding the small matters. The big ones can then be handled with ease.

ARCHANA JAYAKAR

archana.hyd@cnkonline.com