5 Types of Behavior at Work of Highly Successful Professionals

What are the behaviors at work that highly successful people share? Business Optimizer considers the characteristics that professionals need to develop to drive success.

Passion

Entrepreneur Richard Branson’s number one top tip for success is to “follow your dreams”. It’s an approach he shares will legendary Apple boss Steve Jobs.
Jobs argued, “You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.”

Humility

Lao Tzu, author of the Tao-Te-Ching, the foundation of the philosophical system of Taoism, cited three qualities that he valued above all: “I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize.

The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.”

Perseverance

Benjamin Disraeli, the nineteenth-century British politician, and writer said: “Through perseverance, many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.”

Picking yourself up and dusting yourself off and never taking “no” for an answer is probably the single greatest secret to success.

Curiosity

Mahatma Gandhi recommended that one “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Life is about learning; successful professionals draw on the best talent to help create a culture of learning and continuous improvement where everyone can improve. Through delegation and empowerment, we will get the best out of ourselves and our teams.

It’s also about accepting you will fail occasionally – and knowing that these are often the times when we learn the most.

Great Communication

Writing for McKinsey, Shimon Peres highlights the importance of clarity and connection:
“Words are the connection between leaders and the public. They must be credible and clear and reflect a vision, not just a position. The three greatest leaders of the 20th century were Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, and David Ben-Gurion.

Each had a brilliant mind and a brilliant pen. Their ability with a pen demonstrated many things: curiosity, memory, courage. They understood that you lead not with bayonets but with words. A leader’s words must be precise and totally committed.”

Passion can’t be learned, but you can choose to work with your passions.

Humility, perseverance, curiosity and great communication, on the other hand, all can be nurtured. To maximize your own success, these are the characteristics you should nurture in yourself and your team.