HBO may have earned all the TRPs for its hugely successful TV series Game of Thrones but the series itself has several worthy management lessons to offer. As young professionals stepping into the corporate world, the most important thing you need to remember is that success in the workplace is determined by continuous learning, hard work, rigorous skilling and re-skilling, and a strong will to grow in your chosen career path. Here are some Game of Thrones tips to help you find your way and win at the workplace.
Never lose sight of your goals and work consistently to improve yourself.
It is very easy to give in to complacency in your career. Once you are comfortably settled in a new job, loss of focus and routine distractions can keep you away from self-improvement.
Robert Baratheon
Remember that success is all about continuous learning and improvement on the job. It is critical to constantly polish your skills and improve your domain knowledge. Staying focused on your long-term goals and motivating yourself through enhanced skills development and targeted career improvements will benefit you in the long run.
Don’t let complacency kill you like it did King Robert Baratheon!
Focus on your core strengths
The workplace is a powerful environment where one gets to analyse and improve one’s strengths and eliminate weaknesses.
It is very likely you will be surrounded by peers and competitors waiting to challenge you on grounds of your inherent weaknesses.
It is important that you identify your strengths and weaknesses and work towards enhancing your strengths and diminishing all such weaknesses that can hinder your progress.
Project yourself as someone who is willing to learn and improve. Broaden your focus and work on your core strengths to stay ahead in the game.
Play to your strengths like Tyrion the dwarf
It’s all about networking
Varys
Information is power and this couldn’t be truer in the corporate scenario. Every little thing you learn about your organisation, industry, colleagues and peers will give you an enhanced perspective of your work and help you improve your skills and expertise.
Networking is the key to survive in today’s competitive professional landscape and making the right connections will help you stay abreast of what’s happening in the corporate world.
This in turn will help a great deal in your career progression.
Make information your slave like Varys did
Having the right mentor is important
Everyone needs a good advisor and a mentor who can help identify strengths and weaknesses and offer expert advice to move ahead on the chosen career path. In the corporate scenario, mentors play an important role in helping new entrants understand their professional abilities and hone their specific skills.
Surround yourself with trusted and accomplished mentors who can help you make structured and planned career improvements and guide you towards the right path.
A good mentor can help you run and fly like Bran
Learn to adapt
One of the most important things you need to remember as you embark on your career is the ability and skill to adapt to changing professional environments.
Arya Stark
The business landscape is constantly affected by numerous changes depending on various external and internal factors and you need to keep yourself flexible to handle all changes confidently, if you wish to succeed in your career. You must learn to adapt to the changing circumstances at work to survive in a competitive environment.
Learn from every hostile situation like Arya Stark
Make the most of every opportunity
Opportunities are ladders that eventually lead to success. In the corporate scenario, you will be offered several opportunities where you can make use of your skills and expertise and move ahead. What’s important is for you to grab these opportunities as and when they present themselves.
The sign of successful professionals is their ability to accept open opportunities and surge ahead on the strengths of their professional calibre.
Make the most of all opportunities that come your way to stay ahead of the pack.
Make hay while the sun shines like Bronn
Be open to learning
The biggest mistake you can make in your professional life is to think you know everything. There is always something to learn from every single individual you meet at the workplace.
By having an open mind to learning on the job, you display humility and a positive attitude that can help you reap great rewards. Besides, continuous learning is essential in today’s highly competitive and ever-changing corporate landscape so utilise all trainings and learning sessions available to you and firm up your knowledge of your chosen field.
Follow what Ygritte says – “You know nothing”
Work life is associated with challenges on multiple fronts and you need to constantly work towards honing your skills. These simple tips will help you improve yourself and be better prepared to lead the way and win in your professional life.