2. 1. KNOW YOURSELF
Honestly complete your own SWOT
(strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
threats) analysis vis-à-vis your job and
organization
Find strengths to exploit, weaknesses to
work on, weaknesses to hide, opportunities
to go after and threats to manage
Understand how each of these may impact
your career
3. 2. FOCUS ON YOUR SUCCESS
Find role models a level or two above you
and emulate their good traits
Set your personal performance goals
based on standards for the next level
Understand your value to the organization
and increase it
Always be well-prepared and never be
caught off-guard in a meeting
4. 3. FOCUS ON THE SOLUTIONS
Never take just a problem or an issue to your
team or supervisor – always suggest one or
more possible (and plausible) solutions as well
If you cannot think of any solutions to your
problems, ask your peers before you ask your
supervisor
If you still cannot come up with a solution,
explain to the supervisor the effort undertaken
to find a solution
5. 4. KNOW THE OPINION
LEADERS
Never have high opinion of your own work
– it does not mean much and it inhibits
continuous improvement
Ensure that your team appreciates your
true value and commitment to the work
If you are not being recognized, either your
work is not up to par, or it is perceived as
such – and both are equally bad
6. 5. FIND AND ENGAGE
MENTORS
Have multiple mentors, both at your
workplace and outside
Have frank discussions with mentors on
your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats
Have your mentors at work watch out for
your best interests (e.g., in performance
review meetings or promotion decisions)
7. 6. HAVE A SUPPORT NETWORK
Find a diverse group of team members that
like you and/or think highly of your work
Ensure that they watch out for your best interests
by watching out for their best interests
Help them whenever they need it so they can
help you when you need it
Use your network to be in the know
Never be the last one to find out important
information affecting your career
8. 7. LOSE NEITHER THE FOREST
NOR THE TREES
Be detail-oriented in your work and never
make small mistakes (e.g., spelling,
grammar, calculation)
Be objective-oriented in your outlook (i.e.,
know the value of your work and what it
needs to accomplish)
9. 8. NEVER COMPROMISE ON
VALUES
Ensurethat those you work with know your
value system and/or religious obligations
Make it non-negotiable but at the same
time a non-issue (i.e., assure the team that
your religious obligations wont compromise
quality of your work)
Findhalal alternatives for teaming instead
of ignoring it
10. 9. EYES ON THE PRIZE – ALWAYS
As Muslims, the goal is the Hereafter, so
understand – and be motivated by – how
your work helps you achieve that
A good Dunya-Aakhirah Balance™ means
never compromising on the Aakhirah (and not
that you do some good deeds to balance the
scales)
Seek out ways to do da’wah through your
personal excellence and through making
yourself available to discussions
Know that when a Muslim screws up, it is Islam
that screws up!
Editor's Notes
For example, if public speaking is your weakness, you can either decide that it is an important skill to have and choose to work on it by taking public speaking classes … or you can find a way to avoid ever having to do public speaking.
An internal locus of control is an important trait in all successful people … an external locus of control in many diagnosed with depression. You control your own destiny. Iqbal’s concept of khudi.
Have enough credits with everyone that you can debit when you need to…
In client service, the key question always is: are we adding value to the client? If not, sooner or later we will be exposed.
For example, if teaming at your work primarily happens through after work drinks, find opportunities to have lunch and coffee with team members on a much more frequent basis.
When I didn’t know the people I worked with well, it was difficult to start conversations. However, as I got to know them, they became more comfortable in asking me questions about my faith and Islam – there are ample opportunities nowadays with everything that is going on in the name of Islam and if we don’t do our part to fix the perception, we will be failing as Muslims.
