Yasim's Blog

The price of leadership is criticism. No one pays much attention to the last-place finishers. But when you’re in front, everything gets noticed. So it is important to learn to handle criticism constructively. The following four-step process, which I included in my book Leadership Gold, has helped when people criticize me as a leader. I would like to pass it on to you. Know yourself —This is a reality issue. Change yourself —This is a responsibility issue. Accept yourself —This is a maturity issue. Forget yourself —This is a security issue. 1: Know Yourself Aristotle said, “Criticism is something you can avoid easily—by saying nothing, doing nothing and being nothing.” Early in my career, I wanted to make everybody happy. It took me a couple of years to realize that if I was going to lead, there would be tough decisions that were going to make some people upset. I asked myself: Do I want to make people happy or do I really want to lead? I understood clearly that I had to begin to know w...

Lean times be damned! Use this plan to position yourself for a promotion in 2011. Tired of waiting for better days to arrive so that you can ask for a bump up? Maybe it's time to quit being so patient. In this economy, employers won't be handing out new titles left and right, "but the great news is you can still earn a promotion by demonstrably moving your company toward strategic and financial wins," says Stefanie Smith, principal of New York executive coaching firm Stratex Consulting. The higher you are on the ladder, the more responsibility you have to take for your progression. This plan can help you prove yourself promotion-worthy within the next six months. Step 1: Secure your supervisor's support Arrange a meeting with your boss to make sure he or she is aware of your ambition. "If you don't tell people you want to take on more responsibility, how are they going to know?" notes New York City career coach Roy Cohen, author of "The Wall Str...