We have reached the fourth rung up the c-suite ladder and discovered that it is time to Invest in Your Skills.
If you don’t understand the financial side of the business, take the steps to learn. What are the skills that will make you more successful? Financial acumen? Project management? Leadership – creating a vision, motivating others to that vision and building teams to accomplish the vision? There are numerous opportunities to gain this knowledge, invest in yourself as you invest in others.
Every employee in the organization is expected to be on the cutting edge of his/her profession. The financial staff is expected to understand finance in today’s terms, not what was current in 1995. The sales staff needs to understand the market today not 2002. Everyone has to be current in the latest technology, systems and thoughts for your organization to remain competitive, this includes HR.
Become a life-long learner. Read at least one current book each week, read two professional journals a month; attend at least one professional meeting each month. But, don’t limit yourself to just HR related titles; you have to understand the workings of business, your industry, and your competitors. We will discuss more of this in the coming steps up the ladder.
Bruce Riggs, President COO of Career Development Partners and of PerformOne Training, says that everyone is in sales. Just think about that statement. Invest in some sales coaching. Bruce shared with me that if you are meeting with someone and they would be willing to pay you for your time because of the knowledge and insight you have just given to them, then you understand the nobility of what you are doing.
Find a coach. If your company won’t invest in your career by providing a coach, invest in yourself. Bill Gates co-founder of Microsoft will tell you that every successful person in the world needs to have a coach. Good advice from one of the richest men in the world. You are worth the investment.
Contact myself or Bruce Riggs about how Career Development Partners can coach you and your company in the area of Leadership.
TRAVIS JONES CEO
Travis has been an entrepreneur and business owner in Tulsa for over 30 years. He is a well-known community servant and is dedicated to providing world-class service for everyone we encounter.Travis is a certified Life Options Retirement Coach and is certified to facilitate and deliver the Manager As Coach Learning Series (MACLS) through CPI. He serves on the board of Career Partners International (CPI) and is an equity partner in CPI, offering a global reach with over 220 offices. Travis serves on the Elder Board at Tulsa Bible Church, on the board of New Life Ranch and is a proud member of Tulsa Executives Association (TEA) and is active with several other organizations serving the community and beyond.
Email:Â travis@cdpartnersinc.com
