Book SummaryExpect to Win, by Carla A. A. Harris

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Expect to Win

Authenticity and self-awareness

"Expect to Win" by Carla Harris underscores the crucial connection between authentic self-expression, deliberate self-awareness, and professional achievement. Acknowledging your authentic identity, as well as understanding your capabilities and recognizing aspects that need improvement, equips you with a distinct edge in the workplace.

Recognizing and valuing your unique advantage when competing.

Carla A. Harris emphasizes the significance of valuing your distinctive characteristics as your most precious asset. Your employment was secured due to the unparalleled combination of your abilities, character, and future promise, which distinguished you as the superior selection among the pool of applicants. Your distinctive characteristics set you apart from others.

At the time of your selection for the role, you were deemed the most appropriate candidate.

Have confidence that your employer recognized something exceptional within you. As Harris reminds readers, corporations don't hand out jobs out of kindness. Your selection was a result of the distinct combination of qualities you have that perfectly match their specific needs. Maintain awareness of your prestigious position and resist allowing difficult times to undermine your intrinsic worth.

Regularly demonstrating your authentic persona in the workplace enables you to function at your optimal performance level.

Harris emphasizes the psychological toll and obstacles that arise when one hides their authentic self, impeding career progression. Continuously striving to meet a specific benchmark can sap your energy, which is essential for gaining knowledge, fostering creativity, and maintaining adaptability – all vital qualities for thriving in the constantly evolving business world. By prioritizing genuineness, you bolster your innovative potential and confidence, while simultaneously cultivating trust in your work relationships and strengthening connections with peers.

Developing a keen awareness of your strengths and recognizing...

Expect to Win Summary Strategic career planning involves careful administration and oversight.

It is crucial to take charge of steering your career path. Harris advises creating a customized strategy that remains flexible, viewing elements of organizational politics and mistakes as essential components of the journey rather than obstacles.

Create and commit to a tailored plan for progressing in your professional life.

Harris emphasizes the significance of actively guiding your professional path. Devise a strategic plan to achieve success rather than simply hoping it will happen. Crafting a tailored strategy allows you to define your own version of success, remain motivated by your goals, and choose options that are consistent with your larger ambitions.

Formulating clear objectives for your professional journey that encompass both short-term and long-term aspirations.

Allocate specific periods to precisely outline your objectives. Harris recommends creating a detailed strategy that includes broad career goals, such as entering the field of journalism, along with specific, achievable targets, like mastering video editing in six months. This agenda acts as a personal compass, keeping your focus anchored to the primary objectives amidst the daily activities....

Expect to Win Summary Building and leveraging relationships in the corporate world.

In her book "Expect to Win," Harris underscores the significance of building a strong professional network. She advocates for viewing these relationships not as transactional but as mutually beneficial partnerships. Cultivating a diverse network that includes mentors, sponsors, and advisors is crucial for reaching the zenith of success.

Cultivating a diverse group of advisors and advocates, encompassing both mentors and sponsors, is crucial.

Harris contends that a diverse career support system offers significant strength. Acknowledging the distinct and valuable roles played by sponsors, mentors, and advisors is crucial for your career growth. By understanding the unique roles they play and deliberately cultivating these connections, you create a powerful network of mentors who can guide you on the path to realizing your ambitions.

Grasping the distinct roles and benefits linked to various types of connections.

Harris outlines the critical functions of different types of supporters: Advisers provide in-depth guidance for particular questions, mentors offer tailored advice based on a deep knowledge of your goals and challenges, and sponsors actively use their...

Expect to Win Summary Embracing uncertainty and the ability to adapt are crucial.

The concluding part of Harris's book emphasizes the critical importance of embracing risks and being adaptable to succeed professionally. She advocates for a mindset focused on success, which is flexible and anticipates positive outcomes.

Engaging in calculated, well-researched actions that necessitate a bold step into the unknown.

Harris differentiates among the various degrees of risk. She argues that while it's essential to take calculated risks with predictable results for career advancement, it's the acceptance of unforeseen risk elements that can result in the greatest rewards. She understands the significance of progressing with determination even when some uncertainty is present, but she recommends that one should only take such actions in situations where the personal risk involved is low.

Concentrate on the latter, which involves distinguishing between potential and immediate risks.

Harris distinguishes between the inherent risks that are beyond our control, like corporate acquisitions, and the risks that stem from intentional decisions, which, despite their unpredictability, can establish a foundation for career progression. She advocates for a deliberate...