Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer identified six main character traits, six main qualities that become the key to effective work, success in life and achievement of a high level.
Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer analyzed the personality traits of some of his most successful students, including former President Johnson and famed urbanist Robert Moses, who renovated New York from 1930 to 1970.
Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer identified six main character traits, six main qualities that become the key to effective work, success in life and achievement of a high level. Nevertheless, the scientist not only examined the common features of the "champions", but also tried to determine what was lacking in the rest.
The first line concerns energy and physical stamina … In this regard, a strict selection is already being carried out: not all people are able to work ten hours a day and 60-65 hours a week. As Professor Pfeffer points out, the desire and ability to work hard is a common trait of many influential people. This amount of work done allows them to bypass others, even if they are smarter and more knowledgeable. In addition, such a work enthusiasm will push others to work harder as well.
The second key to success is ability to focus and concentrate … The professor cites the example of a student who turned down a great job at an oil company. Why? More than anything, he wanted to get into the oval office, and working in the oil field would be a serious threat to that dream. As Jeffrey Pfeffer points out, successful leaders of large companies tend to focus their entire career efforts within one or very few businesses.
A bit of humanity in the brutal pursuit of success: the third key trait is attention to others … Because understanding what others want makes communication easier. At the same time, you need to be able to draw a line between what the other person wants and what he will receive. At this moment, negotiations come to the fore.
The fourth most important quality is flexibility … And here everything takes on much more complex and even schizophrenic forms, notes Pfeffer, citing Machiavelli as an example.
According to him, although flexibility can achieve a lot, it directly contradicts trait number 2 and indirectly line number 3. In relations with other people, flexibility can be perceived as a sign of weakness … Thus, a competent combination of all these qualities is of great importance. The penultimate moment is coping with conflicts … And this is not about avoiding them invariably. In a way, this is the same as winning a battle or war … Finally, the sixth quality concerns ability to keep the ego in check, step over your own pride. Because the ego can become the worst enemy.
The conclusion is a bit discouraging: while in some cases it may be better to work your way up the corporate ladder alone, sometimes it is worth forging alliances and friendships. According to Jeffrey Pfeffer, people who are able to climb to the very top are able to change their behavior depending on the opportunities that open up before them. That is, in a certain way, they are slightly schizophrenic … But if you have these six main qualities, you can achieve considerable career success. If, of course, you yourself want it …
