The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum induction ceremony, held in late July in Cooperstown, N.Y., celebrates unique individuals' historic contributions to the sport. Baseball fans aren't the only ones who should take notice, though. The strategies these players used to become legends don't apply solely to the diamond; their secrets to success could aid your career, too.
By following in their footsteps, you can become a Hall of
Fame employee. Here are some simple yet effective rules to remember:
Be Consistent
Cooperstown inductee Cal Ripken Jr. played in 2,632 consecutive games, an all-time record. Throughout that stretch, which spanned more than 15 years, he maintained a high level of performance, winning two Most Valuable Player awards in the American League.
Consistency is equally important on the job. Though it's easy to feel satisfied with your performance, with the workplace continually changing, it's even easier to fall behind. By keeping your talents up-to-date and adding new skills to your repertoire, you'll increase your value to your firm and enhance your marketability the next time you seek a new position.
Stay ahead of the curve by pursuing training
opportunities in areas you need to strengthen. Soft skills, such as leadership
and communication abilities, are in particularly high demand. Explore training
courses provided by your company or outside classes through a local college or
professional association. Your employer may even offer tuition reimbursement or
flexible scheduling options to help you pursue professional development.
Be a Team Player
Yogi Berra was on 10 World Series-winning teams, and
Mickey Mantle was on seven. Both of these legendary players are in the Hall of
Fame not only for their individual achievements but also because of the
contributions they made to their teams.
What does it take to be a good team player at work?
Reliability is important. With success often tied to others' efforts, coworkers
appreciate being able to count on their team members to honor obligations and
exhibit the necessary follow-through. Good team players also have strong
interpersonal skills, including the ability to be open-minded, remain calm in
stressful situations and resolve disputes diplomatically.
Avoid Controversy
Despite having outstanding careers, allegations that some
former players may have used performance-enhancing drugs have cast doubts on
their accomplishments -- and chances of being voted into Cooperstown.
Some people may try to cover up mistakes made at work,
hoping they won't have to admit what happened. Hiding an error can cause even
greater problems later, however, and other people may be blamed when the issue
is uncovered. The reality is that everyone makes mistakes from time to time.
What's important is how you respond. Apologize to those affected and work with
your manager to determine ways to prevent a similar error from occurring in the
future.
A final piece of advice: Don't shun fame and attention on the job. Visibility can help ensure your contributions are recognized and that your name is near the top of the list the next time an important project pops up. Build your visibility by keeping your manager informed of your current assignments and recent accomplishment, as well as by sharing your ideas and opinions during meetings and brainstorming sessions. Start building your reputation now, and it's only a matter of time before you become a Hall of Fame-caliber player, too.
Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit workvine.com.
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