Managing Oneself

Just as people achieve results by doing what they are good at, they also achieve results by working in ways that they best perform.

finally, What results have to be achieved to make a difference?

It takes far more energy and work to improve from incompetence to mediocrity than it takes to improve from first-rate performance to excellence.

They must make sure that meetings are work sessions rather than bull sessions.

Energy, resources, and time should go instead to making a competent person into a star performer.

What one does well—even very well and successfully—may not fit with one’s value system. In that case, the work may not appear to be worth devoting one’s life to (or even a substantial portion thereof).

Allocating the best people to the right positions is a crucial, tough job that many executives slight, in part because the best people are already too busy.

Successful careers are not planned. They develop when people are prepared for opportunities because they know their strengths, their method of work, and their values.

What should my contribution be? To answer it, they must address three distinct elements: What does the situation require? Given my strengths, my way of performing, and my values, how can I make the greatest contribution to what needs to be done? And