Speak the truth without fear or favour
This is not the same as licence to expound your own worldview as though it alone were correct. Rather, ask yourself in every situation, "is fear or favour motivating or censoring what is coming out of my mouth"? If it is, then do something about it. This is the major cause of personal and professional unhappiness and the reason that rods get created for other people's backs. If it is happening, then resolve to deal with it. Stop the rot. Now.
Relearn the art of conversing
Start phoning people again. Whilst email is now ubiquitous, a conversation sits better with the human psyche and, based on good hard-nosed experience, you can 'train' your associates to phone you rather than email you. Simply respond to each email that warrants a response with a phone call. Keep this up for a week, and people then get the message that you prefer to talk. Works every time...
'Dare to be different'
Resolve to do something that breathes life into potential new work approaches and methods. If it's gamification, then DO something in that space. Be the prime mover. Find a foothold however tenuous on the smallest boulder you can find and just get up there and do something! You will soon find supporters and if you don't? Move on. Simple as that.
Be yourself
We all wear different hats in different situations but, when you feel like you are selling your soul or, are starting to feel like a personality chameleon, then look elsewhere. Every year people start their job with lofty ideals, a spring in their step and within weeks they are ground down to rubble under the weight of having to compromise their own authenticity. It's not worth it. You deserve better than the over-demanding boss, the nose to the grindstone job, the lack of respect and the lack of acknowledgement of your talents. Resolve to find the space and profile that is you and come what may, never compromise it. You will be a happier and more productive person for it.
Stephen Cahill is a senior decision maker who has spent over 25 years improving effectiveness in a wide range of organisations. He believes that the time has come for the fundamental repositioning of the role of information professionals in organisations.
Picture courtesy of Pink Sherbet Photography via Flickr.