Melting pot. That was a moniker used by previous generations in America to describe the human fabric of our society. We are a nation of immigrants, many of whom were instrumental in bringing America into greatness. These men and women helped foster the industrial revolution and, later, our successes in engineering, astrophysics, and technology that propelled the United States into the global leader it has become today. And while the fabric of America’s immigrant population has shifted from post-war Europe to citizens from other continents, there is a remarkable set of characteristics common to many immigrants who are looking to build a new life in our land and contribute to the success of America.
Greg Savage, honored recently as Australia’s most influential business voice on Twitter, has written that your career will take off when you adopt several character traits of an immigrant. In his article “Think Like an Immigrant,” Savage outlines seven essential qualities of hard-working immigrants that help them meet the challenges of a new world (or a new job) and succeed. While Savage focuses on recruiting careers (his specialty for 35 years), these traits can apply to anyone who honestly wants to keep moving forward in his or her career.
Here are the seven traits:
- Immigrants are optimists.
- Immigrants are brave.
- Immigrants learn new skills.
- Immigrants are opportunists.
- Immigrants embrace new ideas.
- Immigrants are humble.
- Immigrants work harder to get ahead.
“All these immigrant traits,” explains Savage, “are also those of the modern recruiter. Or should be. In a sense, all recruiters are immigrants because we have just arrived in this ‘new world of recruitment’, where everything is changing. We need to embrace that world, using the skills we learned in the ‘old country’ if they still apply, but wide open to change, hard work and fresh thinking.” (Read his full article here.)
Do you see changes in your job? In your industry? Is technology overtaking management styles? Are there specific skills from the “old country” – your particular set of proven skills or solutions – that will help your company or your team streamline these changes from the old to the new? Or, are there new skillsets that you need to embrace in order to succeed, not just survive, in your job?
Consider thinking like an immigrant in your office. Be optimistic about facing the changing landscapes in your company. Be brave in finding ways to adapt and excel in your work. Be teachable when new skills are required to succeed on your team. Be opportunistic, in a good way, by remaining alert to specific opportunities for you to bring your experience and skills to the table in order for the team to succeed. Be proactive in discovering new ways, new solutions, new potential cost-saving technology or new revenue streams for your company. Be humble and learn the value of serving – even as a leader. Be productive and work hard, never letting your value be ignored by others.
We can all learn from these characteristics and other traits could be added to the list. The point is that when we up our game in whatever job we have, we will win. And whatever new challenges face us in the morning, our new way of looking at our work will strengthen our resolve to go above and beyond for the success of our company, yes, but ultimately for our own success for the rest of our careers.