Secret of success - look to a leader to set expectations

Most employees in business organisations are answerable to someone else. From the head of the organisation in the organisation chart to the bottom, nearly every manager and employee must look to a leader to set expectations and dictate deadlines, review progress and measure results.

Whoever gives this direction is called the boss. The boss decides how employees should perform their jobs. How well an employee meets requirements set by the boss determines whether that employee succeeds or fails, receives rewards or penalties, and earns praise or criticism.

Going beyond goals set by your employer

However, the judgement of an external boss isn't enough to make a job personally fulfilling and rewarding. That's something an employee decides for him or herself. Everyone who works must also answer to an inner boss, a personal, internal power who provides guidance on whether a job is worth doing and whether it is done well.

Accepting personal accountability for your work means your inner boss sets demanding goals. After all their is no one else who understands your capacity more.

Employees of business organisations who want to increase effectiveness at work, while exercising more control over their own day-to-day activities should develop a sense for their own inner goal-setting and performing against those for self- satisfaction.

More optimistic employees would go beyond the employer set goals to fully tap into the inner capacity for greater output and faster growth.

Self challenge - best stimulation

You might argue, what if the employer sets unrealistic or near impossible targets? Yes, I hear you. It's a huge de-motivating factor which wouldn't help either party.

Yet, don't give up hope. Try hard to see if you can convert the impossible into the possible with your creativity, innovation and mind power. Find ways of doing the same thing for better results. Look for creative and innovative strategy and smarter execution not always incremental effort to deliver extra.

Employees need a self challenge for optimum stimulation. A goal with self stimuli is the best winning combination which will naturally gets the best out of you.

If you are dissatisfied with your current circumstances, workplace or your boss, admit that no one can fix them except you. It doesn't do any good to blame the economy, your boss, your spouse or your family.

Change can only occur when you make a conscious decision to make it happen.