Do you want to become your very best?

I overheard a conversation at Starbucks today in which an employer was talking to his manager about upcoming job interviews.

I heard him say that he is looking for candidates with “people skills. We’re looking for those soft skills. We can teach them all the technical stuff.”

Wow, what a statement! If you’re looking to rise up in your organization, change careers, or find your dream job, focusing on interpersonal skills is going to be your greatest differentiator.

Personal Development guru Jim Rohn used to say the best way to improve in your job is to work harder on yourself than you do your job.

I’m in the middle of reading Brendon Burchard’s “High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way.” It contains some very powerful content for people who want to take their career and businesses to a new level and perform at unprecedented levels.

According to Burchard, high performers have clarity on the person they want to become. In fact, Burchard specifically states that high performers think about their “ideal future self,” almost sixty minutes more per week.

Have you ever thought about your ideal self? What does that person look like? Are you kind, thoughtful, compassionate, fair but firm with those who report to you? Do you project integrity, excellence and strive to be of service to others?

In the book Burchard suggests writing series of questions to review and answer for yourself every day. How do I want to interact with each person in my meetings today? What tone will I use in my phone calls? What intention will I set for the energy I want to create when I’m with friends and family?

These are a few suggested in the book. What questions can you ask yourself on a daily basis to help steer you toward your ideal self?