Key Habits of Exceptionally Successful People
By Sandy Schroeder
Understanding what makes extremely successful people tick has got to be an intriguing subject for most of us. Perhaps that is why Travis Bradberry, the co-founder of TalentSmart, an agency used by many Fortune 500 companies, recently dug into the subject.
Bradberry says very successful people are often complex and full of contrasts. They may exhibit both sides of an issue, using it to their advantage.
Here are a few of the contrasts they use so well.
They are intellectuals and free-thinkers. The very successful usually are logical people who also know how to think outside of the box. That’s why they do so well. They can come up with an off-the-wall scheme and have the rational thought skills to know if it will work.
They play as they work. Because they enjoy what they do, they get a kick out of every phase of a project. At the end of the day, they don’t have to look for an escape, because they have been having fun every step of the way.
They are quiet but outspoken. Bradberry says they are the ones who always raise their hand and ask, “Why not?” or “What if?” They may sit quietly in a meeting, but then speak up when a subject needs correcting. They do not ramble on, but when they do speak you can be sure it will be good.
They are involved but reasonably detached. They are totally committed to their projects, but also willing to listen to criticism to get the best possible answers.
They are shy/party goers. Sometimes they blend right into the crowd. Other times they may be the first ones onstage leading the whole production. It just depends on what the situation calls for.
They are interested and motivated. You can be sure they will be deep into a project, with a firm grip on the wheel. They know how to power the project, while deftly steering it in the right direction.
They are skeptical believers. When they support a cause they are totally on board. But they are never ready to blindly accept limits placed by others.
They are low key achievers. They are pleased with their work, but they know most projects take the efforts of many.
If this list sounds like a real mix, that’s probably because it is. But looking closer, it could be a lot of combinations that rely on key strengths that we could all benefit from using.