Goals and Priorities

If you wait for total security and perfection you may paralyze your leadership development. You can minimize risks by defining a clear goal, setting priorities, and getting organized. Make sure you understand how your boss and your organization measure performance and then meet those standards through your actions.

• Putting in long hours and becoming obsessive about your job performance isn't the same as taking action. A balance between your work life and your personal life will go a long way toward making you more productive and keeping you successful.

• Don't put off what needs to be done. Decide what tasks are most important to accomplishing your goal and take care of those first. Remember the old 80/20 rule: 20 percent of your efforts accomplish 80 percent of your goal. Determine what the 20 percent is for you and set your priorities accordingly.

Excerpt from Keeping Your Career On Track: Twenty Success Strategies