How to become that kind of person?
Been in the industry a few years, every now and then, you meet someone who’s both smart and incredibly good to people. Some people have high eq but are political, while others are good at their job/ good people and good to people.
In an industry with so many a-holes, so much stress, volatility and pressure, how do you become someone who is good at their job and a hold person?
Thanks
Be a cunning sociopath
That, or have something/someone to look forward to seeing when you go home everyday. Most successful people aren't miserable because of work stress, they're miserable because they don't have anything outside of work to look forward to.
+1 to this. My current manager on my project has a very social life it seems outside of work. She's awesome to work with and I don't mind going the extra mile for her when asked.
She's also protected me against a toxic situation with a partner earlier in my career (that may have saved me from a formal PIP, with her help - the situation disappeared right before a review cycle and my relationship with that partner drastically got better). I think some of that stems from some toxic interactions she had with leadership over her ~2 decades in consulting. It's clear, she's made an effort not to replicate their leadership style.
how do you develop this skill?
To become someone who is both highly competent and genuinely good to people in a high-pressure industry, here are some actionable insights based on the most helpful WSO content:
Develop Emotional Intelligence (EQ):
Master Your Craft:
Be a Team Player:
Maintain Integrity and Maturity:
Balance Empathy with Boundaries:
Communicate Effectively:
Prioritize Self-Care:
By combining technical excellence with emotional intelligence, authenticity, and a focus on relationships, you can become the kind of person who thrives professionally while being genuinely good to others.
Sources: How to be a good employee, How to accept not being good enough?, Lessons Learned., Principles; What Are Your Main Governing Principles in Navigating Life and Your Career
Bump, interested in more insights as well
The way I approach my job (and I've seen others I respect and personally like) can be summarized in just one phrase: Try to be as helpful as you can.
For me this manifests in a few ways:
I dont know if any of it makes me a good person to work with necessarily, I like to believe it does of course, but you'd have to ask others if that's the case. The reason for doing this is because others have helped me too over time and I dont believe that we're ever too busy to spare 5-10mins to help someone. Maybe not 10 times a day. but certainly once or twice. Also the line of thinking "Well, someone else will help them." is a slippery one, so I try not to succumb to it.
I think it’s pretty straightforward. You need to stop being a Sub-5 BTN Chud. Otherwise, the HTB-foids and the HTNs won’t respect you. Ascend.
Gua Sha 3 times a day. Derma roll before bed. Eat only red meat, eggs, and carbs. 300g of protein daily. Lift heavy 14 times a week. Arm stretches 5 times a day (widens your clavicle). Ceiling jumps - 5 sets of 10 per day in the morning (basic laws of evolution- the more you try to jump for and/or reach something - the taller you will grow to adapt). Chin smashes - 3 sets of 15 before bed (smash your chin into the wall repeatedly- builds stronger jaw muscles and bones).
Day in the life of an investment banker videos - you have to make some of these. Otherwise, people won’t know that YOU are THAT kind of person. As always - don’t actually do anything in these videos that’s important. People should walk away from these videos with 0 clue of what it is that you actually do.
Create a solid 5-9 before your 9-5. And of course, don’t forget to create an even more solid 5-9 AFTER your 9-5. Ask women on dating apps unhinged questions. Remember, they’re all evil and out to get you. They’ve cheated on you before you’ve even matched with them. In person, you have to maintain a calmer, nonchalant facade - so approach them at places like the gym or in the office and simply ask “May I meet you?”
Once you’ve mastered these habits - you’ll ascend to an Alpha Chadsworth HTN-5. Once you’ve reached this level, start selling an online course about how to ascend and how to become that kind of person.
"They’ve cheated on you before you’ve even matched with them."
This is gold. Where did you get this
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