Vinod Jain is an expert in global and digital business, former business professor, consultant, speaker and author of Global Meets Digital.
Ketanji Brown Jackson, the newest member of the U.S. Supreme Court, said after being sworn in that she now has “a seat at the table.” It was a history-making event not just for the first Black woman joining the Supreme Court, but for America as well. It underscores the years of hard work and preparation she undertook before achieving her life’s ambition.
While some may suggest “fake it till you make it” can work, there are a number of cases where the result proved to be catastrophic for the person who faked capabilities they didn’t have. Following this model lacks authenticity, and when discovered, can lead to a damaged reputation or worse—remember that Elizabeth Holmes, former CEO of Theranos, is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for claiming capabilities her company didn’t possess.
Here’s a list of five steps that I believe are needed to achieve extraordinary success—in other words, a seat at the table.
1. Have ambition and a positive attitude.
A strong desire to achieve is absolutely the very first prerequisite to getting a seat at the table. And get rid of the can’t do attitude. A poem by Berton Braley suggests that only people with a positive, can-do attitude can accomplish what they start out to achieve. According to Braley, “There’s a thousand ‘Can’t-be-done-ers’/ For the one who says ‘It can!'”
2. Prepare and strategize.
In his 2011 bestseller, Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell offers his famous 10,000-hour rule. It says if you practice something for 10,000 hours by age 20, you will become a world-class expert in that field.
Gladwell offers many examples in support of the 10,000-hour rule. For example, Bill Gates, in class 8th, had access to the mainframe computer at his school. But, not just having the opportunity like most other students had at the time, he doggedly spent over 10,000 hours programming the computer. Gates’ later success in computers required not just the opportunity and hard work, but also meeting the right people along the way.
Be a chess player, not a checkers player. Both are strategy games, but in checkers, you are concerned about only the next move. In chess, you must consider several future moves—one’s own and the opponent’s—each time.
3. Create a supportive network and establish your brand.
Getting a seat at the table isn’t all about what you know, it’s also about who you know. It has been suggested that you are the sum total of the five people with whom you most closely associate.
Creating a supportive network takes a very long time, so start early and choose well. At whatever stage of life and career you are currently in, try and see the big picture, understand how you fit into the grand scheme of things, visualize the cause-and-effect relationships and see how people got to wherever they are.
No matter how skilled you are, it won’t matter if the right people are not aware of it. Showcase your skills and achievements when opportunities arise; voice your thoughts and ideas in meetings—not bragging but letting your work speak for itself. And, if others don’t notice it, a little bragging won’t hurt. Creating a strong personal brand can help differentiate you from others and make you more visible.
4. Communicate effectively.
Clear communication is critical to making your mark. Whether you’re contributing to a discussion or presenting a new concept, ensure your ideas are presented in an engaging, concise and articulate manner.
In 1999, I designed and chaired a major conference that was broadcast on PBS. A journalist from a local television station asked me for a comment. Not prepared for this, I began giving a long answer. I needed a one-minute elevator pitch to get the journalist interested in what I had to say. The evening news at the local ABC television station did carry a story about the conference, but not what I told the journalist—a missed opportunity.
Written communication is equally important. In 1993, while a doctoral student, I received a prestigious teaching award that was typically reserved for professors, and I was the first-ever student to win the award. Besides meeting the criteria, I believe I received the award because I presented the best-written evidence to the awards committee.
5. Don’t wait to be invited; seize the opportunity.
Indra Nooyi, who worked at PepsiCo for 24 years, 12 of them as CEO, grew the company’s annual revenue from $35 billion to $63.5 billion during her tenure as CEO until 2018.
In a video interview on LinkedIn, she said, “I believe the best way to get a seat at the table is to pull up a chair. Don’t wait to be invited because the invitation may never come.” I believe it is critical to actively seek out opportunities rather than waiting for them to present themselves.
Remember, the road to extraordinary success may be fraught with challenges, but with preparation, a positive mindset and a strong support network, you can better position yourself to achieve your well-deserved place at the decision-making table.
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