Why don’t people recognize and take advantage of opportunities?

My career was mostly divided between two very specific roles.

As an internal auditor, I had the opportunity to have real influence within my organization, even early in my career. It’s something I wouldn’t have had in a different role.

And, in a variety of team leadership roles, I had the opportunity to create a performance culture that delivered meaningful and visible results. It doesn’t take long before people notice that you have a habit of delivering results.

In both roles, I recognized that I could make a deeper impact than what was in my job description.

We often just keep our heads down and crank out the work. Not that productivity is bad. But if we understand how our roles can also have a meaningful, strategic impact then we will be recognized for our value beyond our immediate job descriptions.

I think that we can all benefit by being more strategic. So that’s why I’m focusing on these two specific projects.

One is for internal auditors. It’s to help them build a professional brand that delivers a meaningful impact, regardless of their level within the organization.

And the other is for team leaders of all types. It’s to help them build their reputations by establishing an effective performance culture and building high-performing teams.