The only way we can succeed in our careers when competing with a global workforce is to build an impeccable reputation. This is your ticket to success and ticket to entry to a world of new possibilities. This is your personal ethics and competence that allows people to trust you to deliver on your promises.

To build an impeccable reputation, here are some characteristics that you need to cultivate:
1. Be transparent. Transperancy = Trust. People find it easier to trust people with no hidden agendas. In today’s world, where we interact with people who don’t look or sound like us, it is important to be out in the open. Make sure that you keep your promises, walk the talk, deliver satisfactory results, talk straight and your proposal benefits both parties.

2. Results driven: When you need to build trust, you must focus on results. It is easier to trust a person who has a track record of success. It confirms your competency to get the job done and presents you as a responsible and committed professional.

3. Listen: I have constantly heard people frustrated by sermons. This is natural. As women, we find it harder to learn to listen. We do love speaking and want out voice to be heard. As professionals, we are competing with a lot of uncertainties and it is critical to learn to listen. Especially, if you are working in a multicultural and multinational organization, you need to stress on building listening skills. In this environment, you are more exposed to being misunderstood. It is possible that you are not able to understand the concerns of your manager and your work would not be aligned to his expectations. The price is to high to pay. So, we need to acquire listening skills.

4. Drive accountability: We need to be accountable for our tasks but more importantly we need to drive accountability within others. A competent manager, team player, entrepreneur, executive, artist needs to be live up to what is expected of her and also bring out the accountability in others. This is important as this is the first sign of leadership. To be the next generation leaders this is critical.

5. Get better: There is a reason why Tiger Woods insists on having the best coach. No one can succeed in today’s marketplace if they are not consistently working on improving themselves. Be the best in what you do. Also, surround yourself with teachers to learn from them. Continue education and building skills. There is no place for complacency in today’s world. If you don’t believe me, look around, product life cycles have reduced, technology gets obsolete before we know. In this environment, if you are an Engineer, you cannot rely on your bachelors degree to succeed. You will have to constantly work on learning new skills and new technologies.