Just like successful cooking, the ingredients make all the difference. In any job, there is a recipe for success. The recipe for job success calls for having the right “ingredients” (your personal characteristics), and putting them together in the right way.
The ingredients for job success are these: Competence, Conscientiousness, Commitment, and a dash of Positive Politics.
Competence. Although this sounds obvious, being competent at your job is the foundation for success. That doesn’t mean you have to be an instant expert. Even novices can demonstrate competence befitting their level and experience. The key is to learn to master key work tasks as quickly as possible.
I often tell colleagues that “competence will win out.” Even in organizations that play favorites and/or reward mediocrity, competence will eventually prevail. Either the organization will recognize (and reward) your competence, or you will be successful elsewhere (in a company where they do value someone who can get the job done). [Don’t be afraid to quit your job if your competence is not valued.]