Long Term Vision with Short Term Action

Going through the first years experiencing the real business world after eating tons of books, case studies and magazine articles in the university is certainly an exciting stage in which you may feel you want to conquer the world!. On the other hand it may be also a confusing one which can be even compared to Mary Poppins’ purse, you never know what is gonna come out from it!...unless… you start getting ready for that.

Well, here the good news! Companies are dying to find high potential young people. Perhaps you’ve heard this business term before or the so commonly known hi-po. But how do they define high potential! I’ve heard this word from many different companies and here it is one of the most credible answers coming from the Top Leadership organization that conducts researches all over the world, the Corporate Leadership Council.

Companies base their talent pipeline in the following 9 must have skills:

1. People Management:
- Ability to recognize and reward achievement
- Commitment to diversity
- Ability to clearly communicate expectations

2. Strategic Management
- Ability to identify and articulate long-term vision for future
- Alignment of skills with future business strategy

3. Personal Characteristics
- Honesty and Integrity
- Quality of relationships with other Senior Managers
- Interpersonal skills

4. Process Management
- Ability to allocate resources across competing priorities

And you know what the most incredible part is? That you can actually start developing some of those. How? There are tons of options, from a speech club such as Toastmasters to a non-profit organization, that’s really up to you but the secret is experience and develop yourself. That will be the only way in which you will actually put into practice whatever Jack Welsh lived in GE in your own teams. How about looking beyond the border of your country not only through CNN but with your backpack in your shoulder discovering new cultures and ways of thinking?.

Certainly, an internship abroad after or during your career will make a big difference, our generation realizes that this world does not longer have borders, most importantly, in our way of thinking rather than geographical borders.

Discovering yourself through assessment tools is also very important, here some ideas, some from the organization that I’m working for and some from external sites:

Career Explorer

That suits you!

Are you aiming for a leading position in management, or for a more specialized career? Expert knowledge or management qualities - what is your road to success?
http://www.dpwn-karriere.de/cms/en/testcenter/career_explorer.jsp

Discover your strengths, your styles for communications, learning and leadership. See what career is best for you.
http://www.assessment.com/

Cultural Explorer

Fit for an assignment abroad?

Different countries, different customs - can you handle them? Do you understand foreign cultures? Find out with this unconventional test.
http://www.dpwn-karriere.de/cms/en/testcenter/cultural_explorer.jsp


If you are looking for an interesting reading, I strongly recommend you to take a look at the recently published CEO Survey from PWC which will actually give you a taste of where the world is going and what will be needed from the society as well as the top management in the close future.

http://www.pwc.com/extweb/home.nsf/docid/2AE969AC42DD721A8525725E007D7CF2

Wish you a successful career experience!

Karina Trujillo
Human Resources Development Sr Specialist, DHL Express International Americas
Coordination of business efforts to attract, retain and develop people through solutions related to Leadership and Talent Development for Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America.