How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
(OP)
One will find employees with same qualification starting at same age reaching different levels in an organisation with in a few years.What are the qualities that distinguish a high flier from others? If we can list up these, the same may help youngsters starting a career.Remember Peter Druckers' "The Effective Executive"





RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Solid Edge V20 SP4 on WinXP SP2
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
JIM
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Communications skills, written and verbal.
Interpersonal skills, relating to others.
Negotiation skills
Political Awareness
Determination
Risk Taking
Time management
Budgeting
Regards,
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Everyone has a client, and everyone has a boss. Work to make your boss and your client look good to their boss and client.
Don't be afraid to be an expert.
Speak up
Be friendly and bright. No one likes a grumpy co-worker.
Always be willing to learn.
Take on as much responsibility as possible.
Ask your boss how to make their life easier.
Find out who the stakeholders and decision makers in a company are and work toward getting into their circle.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
thread731-216753: "How to be a star engineer"
Sad to say the A$$ kissing that lansford says seems to be a bigger factor in many organization than any of us probably like.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Such qualifications are superficial and rarely give a true picture of an individual's character and talent. We are not all created equal.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
I guess the short of it is, figure out what your boss/others are struggling with and get in and help. As I see it, that IS the job of the younger engineers, to make senior engineers/engineering managers life a little easier. Chances are before the younger engineer was hired, they managed to get by, although probably with more stress. Therefore, the young engineer's job is to relieve stress when possible and learn from it. Often the projects that cause the most stress have the most "training" value.
-- MechEng2005
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Heart of gold
Nerves of steel
Knob of butter
Punching above your weight will only give you a bloody nose.
- Steve
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Never, but never question engineer's judgement
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Never, but never question engineer's judgement
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
It may be that you can't get ahead at the job you are in. I would never be able to be a high flyer for a boss that valued brown nosing. That's just not in my personality.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
That is the only correct way to spell it in the UK. We just allowances we make for other nations who choose to spell it differently. That said, if I was writing the word in my CV / resume I would spell it the way that the target reader would expect it to see it: there's no point in attracting negative attention.
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
corus
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
old field guy
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Get out of Eng-Tips, and the technical side of your job, and start working the business side.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Alternate: Catch the boss in bed with a chicken?
Rod
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
These days marrying CEO' daughter also may not help you as a fall in share value may result in loss of shirt for CEO and high flier may end up as a scum.Toadies (let us avoid the word ...kissers)may have short runs, but will not result in permanent success.
The character I have seen in high flyer is the desire /will.He is determined,committed for his target.He has the passion for what ever he does.He enjoys the work that may be a burden for others.
He is ready for that extra mile.As others said it is all perception-but what makes this perception? Let us take a 5 feet six inch man versus 6 feet man.The difference in height is only 10 %.But change in perception is much more than 10 %. In day to day work also this is quite right.The high flier may be putting in only slightly more.But the perception among others immediately changes.
He is not the most knowledgable or studious.But he knows what he does not know and knows who knows it and have the skill/humility to get it done through others.Here comes the net working and inter personal skills. No doubt it has to be some where in your genes, but to some extent you can augment it by reading and deliberately practicing it.
As said by another contributor- he keeps both boss and client happy.How? Understand their needs and integrate it with your targets.Communication skills-language skill is a must.One best way I have noticed is to get addicted to a good newspaper or weekly .Keep a high grade dictionary side by and a journal to write in good expressions,words,pharases from your read -with meaning added-so that after some time these will become your own.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
I'm into vintage auto racing these days and I'm certainly not as smart as my competitors, nor as rich, nor as young...I still run at the front of the pack, even at 68 year old.
Now, if I don't get a cramp from patting myself on the back...Bottom line---There are some people that just succeed. Paris Hilton is famous for being famous type success in some cases. If we could only "bottle it"....
Rod
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Life is a balance between work and play (which can include family etc) and most high flyers I've known end up compromising their play way too much; often they end up divorced early as well.
I work to pay for the things I do outside work. Whilst being a high flyer can mean more money, it will mean less time to spend that money and the one thing money can't pay for is more time.
So, work out what your work-play balance should be and then work to that. In the long run you'll be happier than any high flyer.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Sometimes I wonder why more ppl don't see things that way.
The high flyers at my firm have no life other than work life.
But my greatest pet peeve is when high flyers think all who aren't in their league are worthless and should come on board!
One last note for PRC, some managers are offended by those who push too much, work too much and who just make it ever so obvious that they're out to rub noses with the big boys. If you're new in this field, work hard but make it known that you have a life outside work. Well rounded individuals are always more valuable to a progressive company.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
When I say high flier, I dont mean guys who spend 14 hours in front of their desks pretending to be busy, or doing things which they should never do,carrying files to home etc. Infact the real smart high fliers that I have seen never do any such things.They only do slightly more than the average,never read Harvard Business Review or Economist, but sonme how always push them self in to top.They have some common qualities as our evelrod seems to have.
Working long hours is a cultural malady.In such socities not high fliers, all are expected to put in long hours.When your boss and subordinates are sitting after working hours, how can you run away.I do agree that this is not worth while and a balanced approach should be the target.But to be a high flier -above average -should be the motto of every professional.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Society: An enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another.
Just a FYI, some don't understand the differences/similarities. ;)
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Additionally, from personal experience, I have two sons. One is extremely talented airbrush artist with several customs making the cover of several car mags. Now working as a tatoo artist and forever neck deep in s**t. He is hard working but cannot seem to make any correct decisions.
My other son is a 200 IQ Mensa and never actually 'worked' at anything other than getting someone else to do his jobs. Throw him in a pile of crap and he'd land on a diamond. Anything he does comes out on top, no matter how stupid it seems to me. He turned down Harvard, much to my disappointment and joined the Army. Although that did not come out all that well, even in disability he got 100% and ask any ex soldier how rare that is.
Rod
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
I too have two sons and similar disappointments.But we cannot expect our children to thread the same line like us.Type of job is immaterial, I think, it the capacity,zeal to excell,that is important.I had a Japanese friend for long years.( poor soul,no more)He had only high school education,but by sheer hard work and diligence he rose to become star electrical designer in a reputed transformer company for many years.His only son was not prepared to go to university, but decided to work as a hair dresser in a small town.My friend was upset initially,but later confided to me that he had no regrets as his son was excelling in his job,rather he was becoming a high flier in his trade!
I could not understand what message ctopher is giving me.Does he mean I am usig words without understanding meaning? May be.But I would have obliged if he pointed out appropriate word to me.English is not my mother tongue,but the third language for me and I dont claim any authority on it.( probably on anything!) But I know that in language, words have different meanings at different areas and in societies.I am a follower of Queen's English and my favourite Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2000) give the following meaning:
Society = people in general,living together in communities( eg today's society)Community of people who share same customs and laws.(modern industrial society)
Cultural = connected with the culture of a particular society or group, its customs or beliefs
Culture= way of life, the customs and beliefs ( working class culture)A country ,group etc with its own belief
Malady= serious problem
I dont think I was far out in conveying my thoughts.
But in the part of India where I live now, a society means a cluster of houses and forms part of our address.Does it mean that is the only meaning of that word?
Words apart, what I want to stress was the compulsions of society in moulding certain behavioural patterns.In my younger days I was working with a Japanese company, I lived there and watched in close quarters their cultural norms.During parties, it was a pattern for even middle level executives to boast that they are seeing their child only on Sundays, because they will start for work too early and reach home very late.I was wondering what they were losing in life.But I found the same people sticking to 8 hour schedule once they were working in a different country.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
In my experience high flyers never "only do slightly more than the average". They usually put themselves up or are picked to do the want of their bosses; some of these can be fun, some are not but all take lots of time and you are constantly are the whim of the boss.
But it is getting all pervasive. I don't want to be contacted at home/on holiday by mobile or Blackberry unless (and its a big 'unless') there is no alternative. I work from home and put in the hours to finish the job and make the decision to work holidays (including Christmas once) if necessary. But I want to be in control.
In the past I've seen more than one person break under the pressure of "how many hours do you do ?" sort of philosophy and its not for me. Whilst this can happen to non high flyers, the high flyer does put themselves at more risk - in my opinion.
My philosophy changed a few years ago. I now treat all people from the junior to the CEO the same. They are all human(hmmm, well maybe not ...) and can be treated as such rather than some higher level being. And I can always walk away knowing that I'm in control of my life balance.
This has been a very interesting thread, thanks for starting it.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
If you mean "rising to increasing positions of leadership", then perhaps demonstrating leadership would help you to get there. YOu therefore need to seek out opportunities to demonstrate that leadership, and sieze them.
If you mean "increasing in earning potential", then probably the most important single thing to know is, to the dollar, how much money you're making (or saving) your employer. Knowing what your colleagues or competitors will pay you is also helpful. You may also learn that it never hurts to ask. Keeping yourself in a financial position such that you're never a wage-slave and are free to find another job when that becomes necessary is important too.
If you mean "increasing in responsibility", then demonstrating a willingness and ability to accept responsibility and deal with it competently, would help. That does NOT mean being willing to work 12 hour days every week year after year- that will buy you nothing but bitterness and an early grave. Or perhaps you're one of those rare people for whom their work is sufficient to be the entirety of their life. They usually croak a year or less after retirement, so that's a short-sighted solution at best. Find yourself a family and something to do outside of work that is not structured around impressing your work colleagues, and chances are you'll be healthier (mentally and physically) and much more interesting as a human being.
If you mean all three, then you need to demonstrate all three. Bosses too have to demonstrate success: if you show ability and the boss isn't the pointy-haired guy in the Dilbert cartoons, you represent less risk of failure in the boss's scope of responsibility, and hence you are more likely to make your boss look good when given the harder tasks.
None of this is possible if you hate what you do for a living. You need to be passionate about your work. Enthusiastic without being saccharine about it.
And you need to be noticed. You need to communicate, both above and below your station. Silent suffering may earn you brownie points with your favourite deity, but your boss won't notice. Any effort and sacrifice and performance you offer to your employer will be accepted, but not necessarily acknowledged, celebrated or rewarded unless it is noticed. This doesn't mean bragging about or exaggerating every minor success- that's @ss-kissing and an indication that you don't really know what's important. A little is OK- too much makes you a pariah.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
I would also add that hard work misdirected is worth as much as no effort at all. I have found one of the best was of becoming a "star" is by directly impacting the bottom line. If you can make or save the company money, that will get you noticed. It doesn't need to be an elaborate idea either. For instance at my current job I found a big money saver after being on the job for just a few weeks. We do most of our machining outside with one vendor. When I spoke to the vendor I found out that his machine shop is equipped with all of the state of the art machines. I learned that when we send him drawings he takes our drawings and converts them to 3D models for programming the machines. We pay for this as part of the setup time for the job. How stupid is this? Our drawings are generated from 3D models, and we pay a vendor good money to turn our paper drawings back into 3D models for his CAM software. We determined that he could use or 3D models directly. This was a very easy cost savings in terms if both time and money. Very little effort went into this.
Effective communication can not be over stressed. Many engineering managers are idiots who barely know your name, let alone what you do. It took me a good number of years to realize that there are very few good managers out there who really engage their employees and have any handle on what is going on. If I wait for my boss to come to me, well, I am going to be waiting until performance review time, and I might not like what I am going to hear. I make an effort to keep my boss informed about what is going on. This is especially important of you do something good that is outside of your assigned tasks. This also gives the boss a feeling that he is important. Sometimes I go and ask him questions I already have answers to, or seek his advice (even though I know what to do and have no intention of listening to his advice anyway) just to keep him engaged and make him feel important.
Communication is important across all levels-peers and subordinates as well as your management. People who are well liked will generally do better than those who are disliked even if they are just as smart and work twice as hard. Like it or not, life is a popularity contest to some extent.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
In '97 my crew netted the company some $250,000 for the year. I even got a really nice bonus come Christmas time.
A few 'up and comers' took offense at that and since upper echelon management is not static, one managed a very high job appointment...high enough to see to it that I was out of a job by April '98 !!! No problem, after 38 years, I just retired. "I don't need no stinkin' job", comes to mind. Best decision I ever made.
Rod
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
1) The idea of working harder to help out the more senior people has always been my approach. While it seems to be appreciated at first, it becomes something that people take advantage of. Finally and in all of my jobs, I start to take on more and more until I reach a sort of breaking point. The breaking point normally means I get stressed, I make some errors that are criticized and i get pissed. I feel little respect and start to look for a new job. I realize the problem is very much my own and I should have a more proactive viewpoint but unfortunately I haven't solved this particular situation and it is even present in my current job.
On top of that I have always admired this particular boss for his work ethic. But working extra hard won't always impress such a boss since they work extremely hard to. What impresses him is this sort of natural brillance one of my other less diligent co-workers has.
I think this has something to do with the fact that for some people, we are sometimes only impressed by attributes we don't already hold.
2) Taking on the high profile jobs is a smart idea. However this can't always be done as effectively if you are already employing strategy 1. If you do, do it, you'll find yourself working an extradorinate amount of extra hours and getting bitter.
3) Smoozing the boss is always good. Backstabbing a co-worker or two never hurts. Following the moods of your boss and agreeing can only help.
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Sadly, schmoozing and being a yes-man can work with some kinds of bosses. Not the kind of boss one ideally wants, but the kind of boss that does exist.
Backstabbing the co-workers, though, can backfire. I've run into people who think they can make themselves look better by putting others down, but I don't think even other backstabbers buy into that when they see it in someone else. The worst offender I know eventually failed to get a promotion that he'd kind of been on track for, and I suspect that complaints about his backstabbing behavior had a contributing effect. More passive forms of backstabbing like claiming credit or failing to credit will, sadly again, work in many environments.
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Luck is a difficult thing to verify and therefore should be tested often. - Me
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
knowing that you will get the job done quicker
find tools to get the job done better
don't be arrogant, I hate arrogance, might still like the arrogant person, but arrogance turns me off completely.
don't reinvent the wheel, we know your smart
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
re: bonus envy
I would just once like to hear a company owner say to such a whiner, "F#¢^ you, it's my money and I'll do what I please."
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
Don't ya just love it when a plan comes together?
Rod
RE: How to become a high flyer in any organisation?
If you want more respect. Quit and come back as a consultant. You get the money in your hand and the chance to work for other companies. The level of respect paid to you will beyond your highest measure. Just look around you at any 'experts" who are brought into to consult.
You are always at the cutting edge because of the spread of ideas.