Dr. Donald Sonn - Be a Role Model

At its core, a business is simply a group of people bringing an idea to life. It’s never the reverse – that an idea is too big it doesn’t require people to make it happen. It’s something that successful investors are aware of, which subtly explains the saying "bet on the jockey, not the horse." A good jockey is an example of a worthy role model.

In the business world, and especially to startup ventures, the founders are often looked upon as the jockeys of the business. And where the ideal situation is for such an individual to live up the expectations placed upon them, some struggle with the burden of being the jockey. It sometimes feels that the world expects them to be superhuman.

You certainly would not want people to expect superhuman traits from you, nor would you expect someone else to be perfect. If not true perfection, what are some of the qualities and traits you would look for in a role model?

Passion

Show passion for your occupation/calling and you can be sure to inspire others to love their work. Passion is infectious, much like a smile. Indeed, students take to the teachers and professors who are dedicated to their craft and go the extra mile to help and empower students.

Confidence

A good role model is one who is confident in their abilities and personality. As an employee, you don’t want to be looking up to someone who is always questioning their skills and is not striving towards a greater goal. Conversely, convey the positive, confident attitude you would like to see in others.

Walk the talk

Role models are people who live the values they believe on a daily basis, not when the situation suits them. Children, particularly, admire people who support their beliefs through actions. Doing so helps young children to understand the underlying values that motivate such people to stand for their beliefs.

Be willing to learn

Great role models are more than just teachers; they embrace every opportunity to learn. Such people embrace challenges and move out of their comfort zones. They seek to surround themselves with people they can learn from, and often apply themselves in pursuit of getting better.

People-focused

Role models are more often focused on the needs of other people, rather than on their own needs. They are not shy about serving the community by giving their time and talents to help others. Find the time for good causes and commit to them.

Humility

Mistakes are to be expected of everyone. When you stumble, be humble enough to acknowledge your shortcoming, apologize, accept responsibility, and pick yourself up. By doing so, you will be inspiring co-workers to overcome obstacles.

Donald Sonn is an accomplished physician and business leader with more than a decade of professional experience in the medical field.

The Author writes articles for medical and business field. He has also contributed to Wikipedia, Squidoo and Hubpages. His articles have been published in print as well as online magazines.