10 Habits of Highly Successful Careers: A Roadmap for Personal Development

We often look at leaders and top performers and wonder, "How did they get there?" While technical skills are important, long-term career success is rarely a result of luck or raw talent alone. It is the result of intentional habits and personal development.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to break through to the executive level, specific behaviors can accelerate your trajectory. Based on expert insights into personal development, here are the 10 habits of highly successful careers that can help you avoid "career derailment" and achieve your professional vision.

1. Relentlessly Acquire Information

Successful professionals never stop being students. To advance, you must continually acquire information, experiences, and knowledge. This isn't just about reading industry news; it is about understanding your specific environment.

To master this habit:

• Ask for feedback: Don't wait for your annual review. Be persistent in asking for feedback and ask specifically how you are performing relative to your peers.
• Understand the business: Learn how your business operates to understand exactly what is required to succeed.
• Be proactive: Don't wait for a manager to come to you. Identify the experience you need and ask for opportunities to gain it.

2. Build and Support Your Team

You cannot succeed entirely on your own. Building and supporting a team is hard work, but it is essential for leadership.

True leaders act as role models and actively look for opportunities to transfer their knowledge to others. You should aim to "stretch" your people—allowing them to take ownership and even allowing for occasional failure if it turns into a learning opportunity.

3. Be a Mentor and a Coach

Mentorship is a cornerstone of professional development. Successful people take the obligation of mentoring seriously.

To be an effective mentor:

• Invest in Emotional Intelligence (EI): Develop the skills necessary to connect with your mentees.
• Acknowledge others: Vocalize the difference people make to you.
• Provide constructive input: Don't just point out what is wrong; provide input on how to fix it.

4. Build Multiple Relationships

Networking is not just about handing out business cards; it is about building genuine relationships both internally and externally.

Take a look at your current network. Is it balanced among influencers, decision-makers, and advocates?. To expand your reach, try to go to lunch with new people at least twice a month and attend industry events to establish contacts outside your immediate circle.

5. Listen Generously

Most people listen only to reply. Successful leaders "listen generously". This means listening to new ideas, listening for others' perspectives, and hearing what is important to them.

You must learn to hear what people are really saying, not just the words they are using. Ask yourself: "Am I really listening to the other person's agenda, or am I waiting to interject?".

6. Get a Champion for Yourself

There is a distinct difference between a mentor and a champion. A mentor gives advice; a champion advocates for you. You may have a great relationship with a manager, but they may not be a champion for you.

Champions are key influencers who can provide intervention or influence during promotions. To attract a champion, you must determine your value to the organization. Create a "scorecard" that demonstrates your contributions toward the firm's goals and present it to key stakeholders.

7. Maintain Balance in Life

Burnout is the enemy of a long career. You must align your career aspirations with other aspects of your life.

• Cultivate a life outside work: Tend to your personal life enthusiastically.
• Set boundaries: Balance isn't just better time management; it is better boundary management.
• Utilize benefits: Learn about your organization's tools and services (like wellness programs) that support your personal goals.

8. Take Responsibility

If you want results, you have to make them happen. Take responsibility for your own trajectory rather than assuming the firm or your manager is looking out for you.

This involves clearly identifying the specific actions you need to achieve your goals and periodically assessing your progress. Furthermore, don't be afraid to ask for help or delegate—taking responsibility doesn't mean doing everything yourself.

9. Develop Emotional Intelligence: Self-Awareness

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is often what separates "stars" from mediocre performers. The first half of EI is focused on the Self:

• Self-Awareness: Recognizing your own emotions and how they affect your performance.
• Self-Management: The ability to control your emotions, adapt to change, and maintain a drive for achievement.

Ask yourself if you remain calm when interacting with others or if you tend to withdraw or get angry when stressed.

10. Develop Emotional Intelligence: Social Awareness

The second half of EI focuses on Others:

• Social Awareness: This is primarily about empathy—putting yourself in another person's shoes and flexing your style to match theirs.
• Relationship Management: This is about influence—having a positive impact on others and convincing them to support your agenda.

To improve here, try to understand the "informal structure" of your team and identify the unspoken rules of your organization.

Conclusion

Career derailment often happens when we lose sight of these fundamental habits. By actively building your network, securing a champion, balancing your life, and sharpening your emotional intelligence, you take ownership of your professional destiny.

Ready to take the next step? Choose one of these habits today—perhaps scheduling a lunch with a new contact or creating a "value scorecard"—and start investing in your future.