Seeing Success: A Key Skill for Managers

Several years ago I had a high performer on my team. One of the best out of 12 people on a team that truly dominated. This person was highly skilled, a hard worker, and picked things up easily. He listened and was able to quickly put my "coaching" into practice.

But I could see this high-achiever had higher potential in an unrelated arena.

It was a risk, though. This person was successful. They improved and continued getting better at what they were doing. Changing course would require hard work, dedication, and a different mindset.

But I could see there might be a greater reward.

Long story short. I talked to the boy’s mom. Pulled her aside after my team’s age 9-11 parks and rec soccer practice one day and told her I thought her son, as good as he was on the pitch, had a brighter future in running cross country and track.

I had ran cross country and track in high school, college, and for a Nike team after college. I competed in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in the steeplechase. I could see the potential just from watching him run on the soccer field.

Fast forward several years later when he was competing at the Division I level in cross country and track for the College of William & Mary. Credit to him because with hard work, grit, and the confidence to try something new, he fulfilled what I saw in him.

I was thinking about this in today’s job-hunting climate. So many of us have the skills, the experience, the grit, and other tangibles to do great work for companies.

If only they could see it.

Why perseverance is one of those things that should define you

Everyone benefits from this one thing.

Have this one thing and it will be a difference maker for you. So what’s this one thing? 

Perseverance.

Perseverance sets you apart. It carries you through your professional and personal life.

I can’t stress enough how much perseverance pays off.

By definition, it’s “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” 

It’s believing in yourself despite seemingly endless setbacks. It’s enduring through exhaustion. It’s patience through frustration. It’s not giving up despite numerous rejections.

Don’t quit. Whatever you do, don’t quit.

Don’t be defined by rejections. Don’t let someone else determine your view of what you’ll bring to an organization. View those rejections as opportunities to learn.

After you as a job hunter, or your idea as an employee, or your pitch as an entrepreneur is turned down, take some time to self-reflect. What can you change or tweak? What can you improve?

Use those lessons to inform your next actions and help shape and guide your future applications, interviews and conversations. 

Be purposeful. Seek out expertise. Read. Study. Get to work!

So how does perseverance look for you? We’re on the cusp of a new year, a time for fresh starts, do overs, new commitments, and new goals.

If it’s not already, make “perseverance” a goal of yours. 

Try it. You have nothing to lose. And everything to gain.