Facing tough competition? Super smart people know how to gain advantage. So much of business is competitive. Your market competitors are not the only people you will go up against to be successful. Sometimes your colleagues, employees, and partners will compete with you daily for power, ideas, and methodology. In most cases, you can’t win with just brute force or resources. You have to outsmart the competition. Right? You need to carefully consider competitors’ approach and figure out how to win the battles of ideas and acceptance, and ultimately of execution. It’s not always easy or comfortable, but great rewards rarely come to those who sit back and take no risk. Here are six secret ways your super smart competitors are working to gain advantage over you. See if you can rise above their level and defeat them.1. They do their homework.
2. They keep their ego in check.
3. They reduce guessing.
Super smart people will take a little extra time and effort to do as Jim Collins suggests and “fire bullets before cannonballs” so odds of success are greatly increased and resources are reserved.
4. They team up with other super smart people.
There is definite strength in numbers when competing for market share or even just a simple idea. Super smart people know there is little glory in failing alone when you could have won together. That’s why they build a network of other super smart people whom they can consult and partner with for greater success. Having those resources at your fingertips can give you extra advantage over someone who has to find smart people just to get started.
5. They find the shortest distance from A to B.
Time and effort are almost always major factors when competing. Even when you are just battling over ideas, too much time spent going around without getting to the point will result in lost audience and supporters. Super smart people pride themselves on efficiency. They consistently look to find ways they can get their point across or make something happen better and faster even if the method wasn’t their own idea. (See No. 2.)
6. They constantly gauge when to shift or quit.
Once a path is set, people need to commit, but never to the point of going off a cliff. Blind momentum can sometimes be more dangerous in competition than just standing still.
Super smart people believe in constant measurement, because they know that even with the best research and planning, there are always variables that can change the situational dynamic. They work in a constant state of feedback and adjustment so they can create success no matter what fate sends their way. And as soon as total inevitable failure is on the horizon, super smart people are the first to take responsibility and put on the brakes, even at great personal cost. That is because they know they can always work toward a smarter solution.
Interesting, aren’t they? Implement those 6 ways super smart people do to succeed.
This article was first published by Kevin Daum on Inc.com here.
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