12 Holy Grail habits for career acceleration

Imagine this for a second.

You wake up tomorrow morning and have travelled back 200 years. It’s 1823. As you look out the window your mouth drops.

Where the f*ck have you landed up!

This is too much to take in at 7 am so you go downstairs to make yourself a coffee.

You push the kitchen door open but as do, it creaks open to this scene:

Before you can make a swift exit, these French nobles have locked eyes on you.

What do you think they’re doing subconsciously?

Exclude the part about having an uninvited guest in their home 😂.

They’re judging your social signals.

Social signals are indicators you display that either increase or decrease your social status, credibility, trustworthiness and value.

E.g.

• The way you dress.

• The way you speak.

• The way you solve problems.

• The way you present yourself.

• The way you treat yourself and others.

As they did 200 years ago, the people you work with, including your manager, are all subconsciously judging your social signals.

Researchers have found that your social signals are a form of silent communication.

We can use this to our advantage.

Career acceleration is a balance = actions you take + support of others.

We need to signal our value, credibility, authority, thought leadership and judgement to the decision-makers around us.

They have the final say on our promotion and pay rise.

The top 1% have mastered this balance by building 3 Holy Grail Skills.

The 3 Holy Grail Skills

1. Psychology

   • Knowing how to be a leader.

   • Being influential and persuasive.

   • Knowing how to work with yourself and others.

2. Problem-Solving

   • Being solutions-orientated.

   • Knowing which problems to solve.

   • Knowing how to solve problems smarter.

3. Effective Communication

   • Speaking so people listen.

   • Getting buy-in from those around you.

   • Knowing how to communicate your value.

So how do you build these 3 skills and secure a 30% pay rise in the next 12 months?

By leveraging the power of habits. Every skill is built on a framework of habits.

These 12 habits will be your competitive advantage.

12 Holy Grail Habits to Build Your Holy Grail Skillset

Problem-Solving Habits:

1. Define the Problem Clearly

• Actionable Step: Before attempting to solve a problem, write down a one-sentence statement that clearly defines the issue. Make sure it's specific and concise.

2. Break Down Complex Problems

• Actionable Step: Identify and break down the problem into its fundamental components. Ask yourself, "What are the essential elements of this problem, what do I know to be absolutely true about it?"

3. Prioritize and Execute

• Actionable Step: Identify the one task that, when accomplished, will make everything else easier or unnecessary. Focus on that task before moving on to others.

4. Iterative Improvement

• Actionable Step: After implementing a solution, gather feedback. Identify one aspect that can be improved and make a small adjustment. Repeat this process iteratively.

Effective Communication Habits:

5. Active Listening

• Actionable Step: After someone speaks, repeat what they’ve said in your own words. This not only shows you’re listening but also ensures mutual understanding.

6. Clarity in Expression

• Actionable Step: When explaining ideas, structure your communication in sets of three. This helps simplify complex concepts and enhances retention.

• How to be persuasive - Try this.

7. Adapt Communication Style

• Actionable Step: Observe the communication styles of others. E.g. do they zone out quickly? Mirror and adapt your style to match theirs to enhance understanding and connection.

8. Feedback Loop

• Actionable Step: Encourage open feedback by asking for it. After a conversation or presentation, ask individuals for one thing you did well and one thing that could be improved.

Leadership / Psychology Habits:

9. Emotional Intelligence

• Actionable Step: During interactions, identify and label the other person's needs based on the six core human needs: certainty, variety, connection, significance, growth, and contribution. Tailor your approach to help fulfil these needs.

10. Build Trust

• Actionable Step: Provide regular, transparent updates on your progress and challenges. Open communication builds trust.

• Try this:

  1. Use this outline:

     • Here's what you asked me to do.

     • Here's what I did.

     • Here are the risks/blockers (if any).

     • If given more time, I'd do this…

   

11. Delegate Effectively

• Actionable Step: Delegate tasks to individuals with more experience or skill in that area. This not only ensures quality but also allows you to focus and spend more time on high-visibility projects.

12. Continuous Learning

• Actionable Step: Spend 90 minutes every morning learning a new skill for the next 90 days. Repeat this process to broaden your experience and become a unique asset.

So, remember, If you can:

• solve problems,

• speak so people listen,

• and work with yourself and others.

You WILL become unstoppable.