A Few Good Ideas
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By Ken Chapman, Ph.D.
Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

            As you move up the ladder at your company, there are certain habits you need to develop in order to remain successful.  If you do these three things, you will establish a solid relationship with your peers and employees and build a network of colleagues who respect and support you. 

            1.  Reserve a half hour every day to return phone calls even if it means cutting into your lunch hour.  Develop a reputation as someone who “always gets back to people right away.”  It sends the message that you respect others.  Also, people will be much more likely to return your phone calls in a timely manner. 

            2.  Insist that people criticize you.  There are two types of leaders, those who avoid criticism at all costs because they think it makes them look weak, and those who encourage criticism and use it to improve their performance.  Be the latter kind of leader.  Let your colleagues, supervisors, and employees know that you welcome criticism as long as it is constructive 

            3.  Reputations are built at the bottom not the top.  Remember the low level manager who helped you so much when you were first starting out.  When was the last time you took her to lunch?  What about the team of employees who worked so hard on a project that garnered you so much praise?  Did you thank them and point out their accomplishments?  As you move up to the next level, do not forget about the people on the previous level.  These people are responsible for your success and they hold your reputation in their hands. Extend to them the respect and gratitude that is rightfully theirs.