style="font-size:15px;"> Here are some typical trends of the individual PCM "floors": People with a certain personality element enjoy/value different aspects of success:
● Thinkers enjoy successes that seem meaningful to them and worth the time invested.
● Persisters are completely in their element, if they are true to their values.
● Promoters are proud when they've achieved something great with their efforts.
● Harmonizers value success with and for others the most.
● Imaginers are happy if their imagination and creativity were involved.
● Rebels prefer to remember things that made them go "Wow, that was great!"
Where are you most likely to recognize yourself? Where do you see yourself a little and where maybe not at all? You may now have clear indications as to which of the six "floors" of the PCM you are particularly inclined to and which could be your base.
As soon as you have identified which successes are particularly important to you, you will almost automatically have the first indications of the way in which you would like to achieve your successes. Behind what satisfies and fulfills you the most, your personal success strategy is often already apparent.
For example, you have already read that some people believe that they owe their successes to other people above all else. If the highest spikes in the "temperature curve" of success for this type of person now have to do with other people, i.e. if it makes this person happiest to have achieved something with and for others, then one thing seems clear: success and interpersonal contact are inseparable in this combination. The professional success strategies of an empathic person are very likely to have to do with teamwork, mentoring or an intense feeling of cohesion. And personal happiness here would be incomplete without a partner, family or friends.
The personality aspect oImaginer forms a certain counterpart to this, as he needs peace and quiet and time for himself to be successful. For example, some poets are entirely absorbed in their creative writing and experience themselves as successful, regardless of whether their work sells millions of copies or is only read by a few.
Decoding your personal success strategies
Feedback from another person who reflects your successes will give you the best insight into your previous success strategies. It is always amazing what accurate and helpful feedback people provide each other during my seminars, even though they often did not even know each other a few hours ago. We are all experts for other people! However, there is often a blind spot when it comes to ourselves, and we fail to see even the most obvious things. On his hike to the summit of the Drachenkogel, Patrick accidentally meets Eddy – because the universe in the form of the author of this book wants it that way – who provides him with feedback on the patterns behind his successes.
Eddy initially listens attentively to Patrick. This is the first and probably most important step. The people giving feedback offer their full attention to their conversation partner. Then they give back what they have perceived. Eddy does not use any methods or testing tools, he simply trusts his intuition. That's what we all should do! There are no "wrong" observations here, only honest feedback. So, you do not need experts to provide you with feedback. Ask a colleague, your mother, a golfing friend, your tax consultant – it doesn't matter. The only prerequisite is that the person is willing to take some time for you and to listen to you closely at first.
Exercise: Feedback from another person on your greatest successes
Choose a person who is allowed to give you feedback and ask them to take at least 30 minutes of their time. Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. The person giving feedback should have a pen and paper, a tablet, etc. in order to take notes.
Now ask your conversation partner the first question: "What do you think is the secret of my success? What patterns do you see in the success stories I'm about to tell you?" Then ask your opposite to listen to you closely and take notes about the patterns and possible strategies they may recognize in you.
Now tell the person giving feedback about the successes you have written down on the sticky notes. You can talk about all your successes or only about those with the highest spikes on the "temperature curve". If you feel that something is too personal, just leave it out.
Finish your story after ten to fifteen minutes. Now ask for feedback on the patterns that your conversation partner has identified. Listen carefully and do not interrupt your opposite number. Hold back comments and assessments. Take notes instead.
At the very end, discuss with your conversation partner how you perceive their feedback. Thank them for their time and attention. If necessary, ask one or two other people to provide you with feedback and then proceed as described here.
What did you learn from the feedback? To what extent does this feedback match your initial assessment of what is the main reason for your success? (assertiveness, other people, luck and coincidence or …?)
In one of my seminars, for example, a male executive received the following feedback on his strategies for success: "You always seem to be looking for new challenges. Variety is important to you. If you want to do something new, you don't question whether you can handle it. You set out on an adventure. You network quickly with people everywhere and establish the necessary contacts. You enjoy learning 'on the job' and so you learn quickly. Theory is not that important to you. You are positive and optimistic. This is infectious to others and you make sure that they enjoy supporting you."
It is rather unlikely that this executive would have recognized many of his patterns on his own. Nevertheless, it is helpful to reflect on your success strategies on your own. You can do this before asking for feedback or thereafter. It is best to reflect from time to time for a certain period of time.
The following questions help you with self-reflection on your success strategies:
● How have I achieved my important career goals so far?
● What have I used for this and what has helped me?
● What has motivated me – also and especially after setbacks?
● How did I celebrate my successes and with whom?
● What influence did my personal life have on my job – and vice versa?
You have already come a long way in terms of discovering what your most important successes to date are and what strategies you have used to achieve them. Now the question is how you can draw strength from this for the present and use the strategies for future success. You will then be able to recognize your personal resources and use them in a targeted manner. In the end you will develop confidence in your own success story. You will look forward to new tasks and challenges and tackle them courageously.
Targeted use of success strategies and resources
Susan, a marketing executive and expert in customer relations, was 42 years old when she joined an automotive manufacturer and became head of department. Whenever she changed jobs she always followed the same pattern: Within the first one or two years, she recruited several trusted individuals from their previous employer to her new company and either provided them with permanent jobs or gave them consultancy contracts. As a result, she created a core team of trusted associates, which she
