54 Expert Tips to Advance Your Career

1 54 Tips To Advance Your Career

Table of Contents
6 ways to pursue excellence in your life and career 2
8 ways to achieve work-life balance 4
7 ways to train yourself to be a forward thinker 7
6 tips for negotiating (almost) everything 10
Mastering the 4 levels of listening 11
12 key tips for success in public speaking 13
6 business rules you should break (but only if you want to succeed) 15
The 5 factors you need to successfully implement your strategy 17
54 Tips To Advance Your Career
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INTRODUCTION
One shortcut on the path to career advancement is to absorb and build on the expertise
of those who have gone before you. Imagine having a panel of experts at your disposal,
answers at the ready whenever you have a burning question about how to drive your
work life forward.
“54 Tips to Advance Your Career” is such a resource, offering advice from leading
business experts who want to share their knowledge and experience to help you get
ahead.
You’ll learn why there are some rules—such as always eating at your desk or never
disagreeing with your boss—that you simply should break. You’ll hear how you should
view a healthy body as a key tool in achieving work-life balance. You’ll discover the
difference between success and mediocrity in the art of negotiation.
Good business is about the pursuit of excellence. In his article “6 ways to pursue
excellence in your life and career,” contributing writer Harvey Mackay defines
excellence as continued personal and professional growth, job satisfaction and
customer service, clear and reasonable expectations, and a strong sense of
accomplishment.
Insights from Mackay and other experts in “54 Tips to Advance Your Career” will help
you pursue excellence as you further your vocation.

“Perfection is
not attainable,
but if we chase
perfection,
we can catch
excellence.”
Vince Lombardi
6
WAYS TO PURSUE
EXCELLENCE IN YOUR
LIFE AND CAREER
HARVEY MACKAY, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Trying to attain perfection can cause stress, hinder efficiency
and create unnecessary conflicts. Perfectionists are frequently
thought of as critical, overwhelmed, unable to see the big
picture, stressed-out, anxious, and rarely able to enjoy their
accomplishments.
Management guru Stephen Covey put it this way: “Real
excellence does not come cheaply. A certain price must
be paid in terms of practice, patience and persistence —
natural ability notwithstanding.”
Excellence means continued personal and professional growth,
job satisfaction and customer service, clear and reasonable
expectations, and a strong sense of accomplishment.
To truly keep on the path toward the pursuit of excellence, give
these points some consideration:
1 Get real
When you find yourself becoming frantic about a goal, stop
and ask, “Is this problem really worth the level of frustration I’m
experiencing?” The likelihood that a result can never be good
enough is counterproductive to progress.

Even if you can’t achieve perfection,
you should never stop trying.MACKAY’S MORAL
2 Establish clear expectations
If you know what’s expected of you, you can better track your progress and draw boundaries
when needed, which will help you move forward with a project instead of obsessing on details
that may not ultimately make a difference.
3 Identify your triggers
Learn to recognize the factors that lead or contribute to your perfectionist thinking and
behaviors — and avoid them. If you can’t figure them out by yourself, ask your colleagues.
They will likely be able to tell you what you need to know.
4 Delegate
Many perfectionists mistakenly believe that they — and only they — can complete the task at
hand. Allow other people to assist you, which will increase the odds that the group will more
easily reach excellence. Then be prepared to be amazed at results that you never imagined
might be possible.
5 Know what’s important
Ask yourself, “What’s most important about this project?” Seek input from supervisors,
colleagues and employees. Setting your objectives and then identifying key points allows
everyone to contribute to the success of the project.
6 Focus on what you can do, not on what you can’t
Do the best job possible within the limits of your resources. Rather than wasting time, energy
and money obsessing about how good it could be if you had more to work with, concentrate
your efforts on how to get the best result within your limitations.

8 WAYS TO ACHIEVE8 WAYS TO ACHIEVE
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
DANA MANCIAGLI , CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The idea of a balanced work-life relationship seems totally unachievable
to many of us. Either we’re “in balance” or we’re not. However, it would be
much more useful to think of work-life balance as a spectrum, rather than
an absolute.
Chances are, none of us are ever going to feel like we’ve nailed the
perfect balance. But if we approach it in a “something-is-better-than-
nothing” fashion, we can put small actions into practice and enjoy individual,
encouraging successes.
Work-life balance simply boils down to time and what we do with it. Helen Taylor, head of HR
at global office broker, Instant Offices, offers a few tips that will hopefully help you to achieve a
better, and balanced, year.
1 Prioritize balance
If work-life balance is what you want, you need to make it a priority. If something is a priority,
you will be able to make the tough calls and sacrifices that come with the territory. Understand
that achieving the elusive work-life balance will be difficult so when you are faced with
challenges, you’ll be less likely to throw in the towel.
2 Understand your personal utility curve
The utility curve describes an economic theory whereby the amount of money we spend
on a product or service is not always directly proportional to the satisfaction the product or

service provides. Now apply that to your work-life balance strategy. Think carefully about how
much you spend and on what. Is working the extra hours worth it to achieve a more luxurious
lifestyle? Sometimes shorter workdays and an economical car are part of a more effective
recipe for overall success and happiness than a Porsche and 14-hour workdays.
3 Work smarter
In a world where multitasking reigns supreme, it can be difficult to focus on one thing at a
time. However, multitasking may actually be detrimental to your overall time management.
According to Harvard Business Review, when you divert your attention away from one task
in favor of another, it will take you roughly 25 percent longer to complete the initial task as a
result of switching focus. Do your best to tackle one task at a time, and be fully present when
doing so. This will help things run smoother and faster.
4 Plan, plan, plan
At the beginning of the week, take note of everything that’s happening or needs to happen
that week: events, errands you need to run, etc. Looking at the bigger picture will give you a
better idea of where you can save time. You’ll be able to group tasks together and shorten the
time you spend on things other than your personal life. Put both personal and professional
activities on your calendar, including travel time, workout time and blocks of time to get your
“think work” done.
5 Save time where you can
Take a moment to assess your daily life. Is there anywhere you could save time? For example,
if you spend a long time on your daily commute, investigate alternative routes or modes of
transport.
6 Schedule downtime
It may sound crazy, but if you leave relaxing to when you are “done with everything else,” you
will never relax. If you consider downtime a priority (and a fundamental aspect of a well-
balanced life), it belongs where all your other priorities do — on the calendar.

7 Outsource the small things
Some things just aren’t worth doing yourself. Certain errands like mowing the lawn and
cleaning the car can easily be outsourced — costing you less money than the time and effort
is worth to you. All these things take up time you could be spending relaxing and ensuring you
are as effective as possible at your work.
8 Eat well, sleep well and exercise
It’s a cliché but it’s true. Looking after yourself is key to having a balanced life. Your body is
your biggest tool. And if you don’t take care of your tools, getting anything done takes longer,
and you’ll put your work-life balance in jeopardy.
Pick one or more of these strategies and change your behavior. Remember, if you keep doing
the same thing, you’ll get the same result.

7 WAYS TO TRAIN YOURSELF
TO BE A FORWARD THINKER
BRAD SMITH, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Forward thinking is preparing to not only avoid pitfalls and failure, but to also achieve growth
and success through innovation. Below are tips you can put into action and share with your
team.
1. Unify your team around goals tied to one vision
When you make hiring decisions or build a new team, you want
a group of individuals who are looking to achieve the same end
result. Think of yourself as a trendsetter — leading by example to
bring your vision to life. Give your team a chance to bring ideas
to the table in order to create a business environment that has
forward momentum and excitement. I’ve met and hired a few of
the people I’ve worked with at the Consortium, because when you
network with great innovators, breakthrough success typically
follows.
2. Branch out and learn from other organizations
It’s important to get teams thinking ahead to invest in the future.
Not sure where to start? Try looking for an organization outside of
your own that is focused on big issues.
A good place to start brainstorming with others is with your local
chamber of commerce, industry associations, or Toastmasters
International. Investing real time and energy in these organizations

can help build your innovative muscle. You can learn best practices
from others and participate in finding solutions to common
problems outside your own organization. You can then bring
this knowledge back to your own team and discuss what can be
learned from it to make your business stronger.
3. Remember the rule of three
Innovation typically requires three tries to get it right. If you try
something once and it works perfectly, it probably wasn’t all
that innovative. Doing things three times can force you to have a
persistent forward-thinking focus. By the third time you practice an
idea, you’re able to see how the innovation may develop or unravel
down the road and what’s needed to produce sustainable change.
4. Take risks, kick tires, and experiment
Businesses need to put processes into motion in order to see
how they’ll turn out. Risk-taking can sometimes be an imperative
factor to success. Taking the risk to experiment with a new process
or idea for your team allows you to identify new areas for future
growth.
One of my mentors was Carol Bartz, the former CEO of Yahoo,
and one of her favorite sayings was “Fail fast forward.” You will fail
eventually, so just do it quickly, learn from it and then try again.
5. Abandon control
Give up the illusion of control, because it’s deceptive. You can’t
control every aspect of a business or project. Working with
individuals whose knowledge, experience or potential you trust
makes it easier to relinquish control. Remember that all knowledge

workers are volunteers — we can’t force people to give up their
knowledge or experience. We only volunteer for things we care
about.
6. Read and watch
In order to be a forward thinker, you need to have some substance
behind your thoughts. Reading makes it much easier to identify
trends and gain perspectives on success and mistakes. Being able
to take a look into the mindset of others can benefit your own
thought process.
7. Set aside time for forward thinking.
My never-ending daily task list can distract me from putting focus
on forward thinking. I know I need to dedicate at least one day
each month to planning ahead. By simply scheduling this personal
appointment for yourself, you’ll be impressed with how many new
ideas you can create. Try setting up time during this specified
day to meet with your team or others outside of your team to
brainstorm even greater ideas for both the short and long-term.

06 BE READY TO
WALK AWAY
TIPS FOR NEGOTIATING
[ALMOST] EVERYTHING
GARY COHEN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
No matter what industry you’re in, or how far you go in your career, the ability to
effectively negotiate can make the difference between success and mediocrity.
Whether it’s a multimillion-dollar contract or a job offer, keep this advice in mind:
6
03
UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE OTHER
SIDE WANTS
05 DON’T RUSH
04DON’T CONCEDE
UNILATERALLY
01 KNOW WHAT
YOU WANT 02 ASK FOR WHAT
YOU WANT
Don’t go to the table without a
clear, realistic idea of what you
want to achieve. It will help you
negotiate with confidence.
Let the other person make the
first offer, then respond and set
the tone for the discussion. That
way you’ll know how far you need
to go to get what you need.
A successful negotiation should
satisfy both sides. Find out what
he or she hopes to get, and try to
work together toward a solution
that works for you both.
Usually one side or the other has
to give something up. If you do
that, be sure to get a comparable
concession from the other person.
Time can be your friend if you are
willing to wait for the right deal. Be
patient and let the time pressure
work against the other side.
Avoid being backed into an
agreement you don’t want. Keep
an ally in reserve. This can give you
an out if you need to turn down a
deal, or motivate the other side to
make the best offer possible.

MASTERING THE 4
LEVELS OF LISTENING
GARY COHEN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Listening has become a lost art, perhaps because we’ve become
so focused on ourselves. We’re used to getting what we want
when we want it in this on-demand world. Listening is about
others. It’s about giving them what they want and need. It’s about
connecting with others on many different levels.
There are four levels of listening: being an attentive presence,
clarifying and interpreting meaning, providing empathy and
acting generatively.
1 Being an attentive presence
People like to be heard. They look for physical cues that indicate
you’re giving them your full attention. Become the sun and allow
the one you’re attending to feel your warmth with your S.O.L.E.R.
listening skills:
Squarely face the person.
Open your posture.
L ean toward the speaker.
Eye contact maintained.
Relax while listening.
“Most people do
not listen with
the intent to
understand; they
listen with the
intent to reply.”
Stephen Covey
Management guru

2 Clarifying and interpreting meaning
It’s reassuring and comforting for people to hear what they’ve said. Sometimes they want
confirmation that you’ve understood their meaning, and sometimes they need or want help
interpreting the meaning of what they’ve said. Here are three ways you can help:
Restatement: Restate exactly what has been said, and ask for clarification if there’s
something you don’t fully comprehend.
Paraphrasing: This reflects the essence of what was said. When you paraphrase, you
communicate that you’re listening, but you’re also aware that the speaker likely wants
to continue speaking.
Interpretation: You move beyond what was actually articulated to the meaning,
beliefs, values, assumptions or goals behind the words.
3 Providing empathy
This type of listening demonstrates that you are in it with the speaker. Empathy fuels
connection while sympathy drives disconnection, according to Bren Brown. Theresa Wiseman,
a nursing scholar, suggests these four attributes are present with empathetic listening:
> See the world as the other sees it. Put yourself away. Be non-judgmental.
> Be in touch with the other person’s feelings. Be aware of how those feelings might differ
from your own.
> Communicate your understanding of the speaker’s feelings. Rather than saying, “At least
you...” or “It could be worse...” try instead, “I’ve been there, and that really hurts.”
4 Acting generatively
This is when you listen beyond the words and feelings. It is when you forge a connection with
the person in such a deep way you become generative with your hearing — adding more,
much more than what is being said. You are helping the other person experience hearing
themselves. You will need to let go of your self-awareness to be this present with the other.
When you’re listening at level four, you experience life as the other. You fully enter their world.

1. The most important key on giving a good speech is room size. You want
the excitement and chemistry of a standing-room-only, bumper-to-bumper
crowd. Extra space is a killer. Also try to avoid rooms with high ceilings.
2. Have the first row set very close to the stage. Too much space between the
speaker and the first row can destroy connection with the audience.
3. Studies show people remember more and laugh more in brightness. Turn
the lights up full blast, unless you are showing a presentation.
4. Practice. Don’t ever give another speech without it being entertaining as
well as educational.
12 KEY TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN
PUBLIC SPEAKING
From the time you get up in the morning until the time you go to bed at night, you are
continually communicating, negotiating, persuading, influencing and selling ideas. When you
can get up on your feet and talk extemporaneously on a lot of subjects, this instills confidence,
develops poise and breeds conviction. You become more convincing in your meetings and
your encounters. And you become a better leader, manager and salesperson.
TOOLS AND TIPS:

7. Find out who the group’s last three to five speakers were and how they were
received. Ask why they were successful or why they failed.
8. Contact the Chamber of Commerce of any city you are to speak in. It will
give you loads of information to familiarize you with the local surroundings
and help you personalize your remarks.
9. Stick to your allotted time and don’t go over it.
5. Never mispronounce a person’s name. If you’re not sure, then double check.
10. If you don’t have a smashing “opener” and “closer,” go back to the drawing
board. Don’t step up to the microphone until you do.
12. Above all, you must know your audience.
Debrief yourself within 24 hours of a speech, and take 10 minutes to write
down what you could do better the next time. Try something new every time
you speak and you’ll never become stale.
11.
6. Never end your program with a question and answer session. You cannot
control the agenda or the quality of the questions. Start the Q & A five
minutes before the end of your talk, then end with an awesome story.

4
Rules bring order to life. They give us permission to do the things we want to do, and excuses
not to do the things we don’t. They are handy. And sometimes very limiting.
Many of us also adhere to rules that jeopardize success at work.
Do any of these apply to you?
6 BUSINESS RULES
YOU SHOULD BREAK ( BUT ONLY IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED )
I ALWAYS EAT LUNCH AT MY DESK TO SAVE MONEY AND GET MORE WORK DONE.
Find another way to economize and jump at the chance to network and hear the latest
scoop on what is happening around the company. It needn’t be an everyday event —
but shoot for once or twice a week.
I DON’T NEED TO TALK UP MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I’m sure my boss and everyone else knows what I’m capable of doing. You can take
credit without bragging. Own your work, and be proud of it. Keep your boss, or
whomever you are working with, up to date with emails or meeting updates. And on
the occasion that someone else takes credit for your efforts, be gracious but firm in
reminding that person that you helped create that success.
I NEVER DISAGREE WITH MY BOSS.
I go along with whatever he or she says. If you have information or a different idea
that would make a project work better, share it. Your boss may or may not act on your
suggestion, but you have demonstrated your willingness to step up when needed.

I wait to be asked to join committees or take on extra work.
Jump on opportunities to stretch your limits or showcase your talents. Volunteer
for a new challenge and increase your visibility within your organization.
I take myself very seriously.
You can take your work seriously. You can take problems seriously. You can take your
boss seriously. But you have to be able to laugh at yourself. You need to step back
and see yourself as others see you. You will do yourself a great favor by maintaining a
sense of humor and letting go of the need to be in control.
I never mix business with pleasure.
Your work time is a big part of your life, and it should bring you pleasure. Getting
together with co-workers away from the office is a great way to forge stronger
relationships. It’s important to have friends outside your work life, but it is also
important to see other dimensions of those you spend so many hours with. That’s why
many companies schedule regular company outings or volunteer opportunities.
As the old saying goes, rules were made to be broken. Better yet, review the rules you have
imposed upon yourself and evaluate whether they are useful or destructive. You could actually
be sabotaging your own success by adhering to bad rules.
Let me suggest a few rules for your consideration.
I will take risks and stretch beyond my comfort zone to grow in my profession.
I will accept new challenges & responsibilities that benefit me and my company.
I will never blame anyone but myself if I break these rules.
4
4
4

THE 5 FACTORS YOU NEED TO
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT
YOUR STRATEGY
JIM SISSON, SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Every organization has to balance the sophistication and complexity of its strategy with the
challenges of implementation. There are several factors that seem to have a major impact on
an organization’s ability to implement.
1 Commitment
Commitment starts at the top but it must not end there. Middle management and front line
supervisors must have the commitment needed to communicate the plan and enroll the
employees in the strategy. If they are not committed, the rest of the organization won’t be
either.
2 Ability and willingness to change
Strategy implementation requires change. Some organizations embrace change while
others resist to the bitter end. GM has known for years what it needed to do to become more
competitive. It simply was unable or unwilling to do it. Apple on the other hand has reinvented
itself from a computer company into an entertainment and communications company. If
you have been following the same strategy for 50 years, there is a good chance it is time to
change.
3 An organizational structure that supports the strategy
One of the most powerful implementation tools available to a company is its organizational
structure. A strategy’s priorities are usually reflected in its organizational structure.

A strategy may require centralized control or decentralized flexibility. It may be designed
to encourage product development or generate efficiency through standardization. The
organizational structure must be designed to support the priorities required by the strategy. A
significant change in strategy almost certainly must be accompanied by a change in structure.
4 Ability to measure progress
Every implementation effort has an element of trial and error learning. However, the
learning opportunity is missed if you cannot measure your results. A learning
organization must be able to define success and measure its progress so it can learn
what works and what doesn’t.
5 A clear understanding of priorities
I believe you don’t have a strategy until you are willing to identify who you won’t serve.
Management is often distracted from its strategy by opportunities that continually pop up.
Opportunity driven is just another way of saying you have no focus. Resources are always
limited and if you don’t have clear priorities, you dilute resources chasing the unimportant.

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