7/6/13

The Four Qs of Career Success | LinkedIn

Robert E. Moritz
US Chairman and Senior Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers

4 Posts

11,163 followers

Follow

The Four Qs of Career Success

June 21, 2013

Robert E.'s Recent Posts 328

Why American Businesses Need Immigration Reform
June 3, 2013

84,295

1,330

How Money Works: Why Our Kids Dont Get It and What We Can Do About It
May 1, 2013

See all

Top Posts
Today This Week All

Inge Geerdens In Business, Act Like a Gentleman, Behave Like a Lady

55,163 views

Hunter Walk Internet Etiquette: The Rights & Wrongs of Publicly Criticizing a Friend
19,036 views

Deepak Chopra MD (official) Transformation Is Real - Laying the Groundwork

The National Center for Education Statistics estimates there are 1,791,000 bachelor degree graduates in the class of 2013, many of whom will be entering the job market for the first time. At PwC, we will hire more than 7,000 new associates and interns this year. And this month we will promote 5,400 of our people to the next level. As these professionals launch or accelerate their careers, Im frequently asked what it takes to be successful. Once upon a time, I may have said it simply comes down to hard work (sprinkled with a bit of luck and sponsorship). Its what my parents drilled into me from an early age. While Ive certainly worked hard over the course of my 28-year career, hard work, it turns out, was just a small part of the equation. I attribute success to the development of these four attributes.
See more

11,888 views

Nancy Lublin America's Worst Charities...and How to Avoid Them

9,807 views

Scott Belsky Embrace Critics, Avoid Cynics

8,177 views

1) IQ Intelligence, not surprisingly, is a key predictor of career success. A recent study by an Israeli researcher demonstrates that when intelligence and socio-economic background are pitted directly against one another, intelligence is a more accurate predictor of future career success. What does that mean? It means you need to know your stuff. You need to demonstrate technical competency. It means you need to know how to connect the dots in a complex business environment. A love for learning helps, as does a focus on continually expanding your base of knowledge. And for most of us, that requires hard work. Intelligence, however, is clearly not everything. In fact, its probably the least important of the four attributes. It may come as no surprise that Bill Gates has an IQ of 160. On the other hand, John F. Kennedy is said to have had an IQ of 119. Yet both were highly successful, proving that intelligence is clearly not everything.
www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130621191454-73785410-the-four-qs-of-career-success
More Influencers

Jennifer Openshaw
Consumer Finance Expert & Technologist,

Follow

1/5

7/6/13

The Four Qs of Career Success | LinkedIn

2) EQ That brings me to the second trait -- emotional intelligence. Daniel Goleman, co-director of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations, popularized this concept in the 1990s. Theres been a lot written on this topic, and the focus is about the importance of self awareness and taking control of your emotions. It reminds me of Rudyard Kiplings poem If -- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you....yours is the earth and everything in it. The good news about EQ is that it can be practiced and learned. Individuals who have a high EQ listen and are open to feedback. Even more importantly, they apply that feedback and focus on continuous improvement. They can admit when theyre wrong. They willingly step out of their comfort zones, take risks and are quick to adapt to, change. Theyre people we like to work with, because their quiet confidence is stabilizing and promotes teamwork. Theyre not threatened by others success. In fact, theyre great mentors and coaches. They know that success is not a zero sum game. People want to be on a team that has leaders with high EQ. 3) CQ
Search for people, jobs, companies, and more...
Advanced
1

You dont hear as much about cultural Home Profile Network Jobs intelligence, Intereststhe third trait, yet its a critical capability for navigating todays increasingly global and diverse business environment. Again, the good news is its entirely learned. There is some overlap with EQ in that it requires openness and change agility. But CQ requires sensitivity to the subtle nuances of culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, generational diversity and the myriad aspects in which people and organizations are different. It requires openness to other ideas, ways of operating, and other people. Above all, it requires respect and empathy. Its so important that we made it one of our core behaviours at PwC: We put ourselves in others shoes. Here are two examples: I accelerated the development of my cultural awareness when I took a global assignment in Japan for a few years. Being out of the country for the first time and immersed in foreign business practices expanded my global perspective exponentially. Challenging yourself with an international opportunity offers a great return personally and professionally, and boosts your CQ. The second is creating an inclusive culture, something I talk about in my recent blog post, How companies can lean in, too. Picture this. A small, close-knit team expands and several new members join. A manager with high cultural intelligence recognizes that several of the newer members are having difficulty assimilating. She organizes a team-building event where they are able to connect with their new colleagues around what they do have in common. She also coaches others on the team to increase their sensitivity around how the new members are feeling. Because of this manager, the team was highly successful, as were each of the members. 4) PQ The final attribute is the one you may have heard least about, though I find it to be the most important of all. Its also the one trait you cant cultivate. Its passion. On job interviews, I typically ask people about their passions. Theres no right or wrong answer. It doesnt matter whether its sports, music, or trying to make the world a better place. Im looking for signs that this is the kind of person who will throw their all into something...someone who cares deeply about making a difference, no matter what he or she is involved in. Why is passion important in the workplace? One, I find that passionate people tend to be more focused. They will stick with a problem longer and see it to the end. They dont give up and theyre not easily derailed. Steve Jobs had passion, and his products and his organization were a success because of it. Also, passion and its cousin, optimism, can be contagious. And finally, people with passion tend to have more fun. And if you cant make work fun, you cant sustain through the ups and downs that inevitably will come. And finally, theyre intellectually curious and have unbounding energy. As E.M. Forster wrote, One person with passion is better than 40 people merely interested. I couldnt agree more. Sometimes the fault for lack of passion rests entirely on the organization and its culture. At PwC we frequently engage our people during Town Hall meetings, in innovation contests, and through social media -- so they can share the ideas, perspectives
www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130621191454-73785410-the-four-qs-of-career-success

Premium Solutions

Upgrade

2/5

7/6/13

The Four Qs of Career Success | LinkedIn

and points of view. You can unleash a lot of potentially suppressed passion by engaging your employees, enabling them to have a stake in the future and letting them help create it. As a father, I think about my daughter in college and son who just graduated this month from high school. I do wonder what the future will bring. Yet, I trust that theyve been listening and watching. Ive also told them about the 4Qs. And, ok, more than once Ive caught myself telling them the value of working hard.

Featured on:

Your Career Robert E. Moritz Follow (11,163) See all Robert E.'s posts

Posted by:

1-4 of 20

People who read this post also read:

What a Hit and Run Taught Me About...

Social Media is Hard: The 2013...

The Reasons Why Great Success Can Bring...

Embrace Critics, Avoid Cynics

Type @ to mention someone...

and 1,325 others like this post

328 comments

Elsie A. nursing at MOH This is a 'must read' article. Thanks for sharing
Like 1d

Yijing C. Student Service Department Summer Intern at KAPLAN China Thank you for sharing. To summarize, IQ helps you succeed in the first basic but critical step: get your job done in the ever-changing business environment. EQ helps you become a team player and add synergy to the team. CQ gives you the essential ability to succeed in the global environment where people coming from different backgrounds often work together. PQ is a multiplier to your work and life experience.
Like (1) 2d

Elsie A.

Steve M. Senior Consultant at Lee Hecht Harrison Great to see PQ starting to get some traction in the marketplace of the workplace. Let passion be your compass... thanks Robert
Like 2d

Judith L. Global Research/Program Associate | Applied Research| International Development| Bilingual| Open to new opportunities GREAT article

www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130621191454-73785410-the-four-qs-of-career-success

3/5

7/6/13
Like 2d

The Four Qs of Career Success | LinkedIn

(Bo) Babak A. Student at Ryerson University / George Brown College Great article. I think the nail was hit right on the head very accurately. I will share the article with those around me.
Like 2d

Marie D. RN, BSN Home Care Liaison South Shore Hospital Home Care Division Excellent article. I will share this with my family and collegues
Like 3d

Patrick K. Human Resources Professional well researched

Like 3d

Jecinta C. Student at University of Nigeria,Nsukka. It is really very educating to know that there is more to career than just academics, The most strIking part-PQ which is the most important of the four should be given more attention,for an effective career building
Like (1) 4d

Steve M.

Picho O. IT Officer at Uganda Development Corporation Great post very insightful i must say
Like 4d

Ayiku L. M. Auditor at Harrington Group CPAs, LLP Very insightful.Thank you

Like 4d

Mallory B. Accounting Advisory Services: Senior Associate at PwC Truly insightful and thoughtful piece. Especially appreciate the focus on the 4th "Q" (PQ) absolutely true.
Like 4d

Michele C. Career Coach Great article. Another way to re-think how you are the right candidate
Like 4d

Jeffrey F. Warden at Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office Outstanding. Great points to share.
Like 5d

www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130621191454-73785410-the-four-qs-of-career-success

4/5

7/6/13

The Four Qs of Career Success | LinkedIn

John Itafemeh F. Z. Mental Health Specialist/ Health Informatics Insightful, informative and eye-opening. Excellent article.
Like 5d

June M. Professional Business & Personal Coach. PR Consultant at Excel Centre & Simon Ryan Theatre Tipperary Excellent article . You attribute "Success " to the development of Four attributes. I am delighted to see "Emotional Intelligence" is number two.
Like 6d

Ragavan D. Senior Vice President Project Procurement at Reliance Industries Limited, Mumbai Excellent. Every young graduate and post grafuates in any discipline should read, understand and put in practice.
Like 6d

faith M. Project Intern/Volunteer at Innovate Kenya very insightful

Like 7d

VijayaSarathi P. Administration at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Every Management student should read this. Although it speaks all quotients, Values in Life added to each, will improve the quotient count to grow...
Like 7d

Conan C. SDET at TEKsystems Passion is a magical ingredient ... an interesting article on increasing motivation http://www.productivitycubed.com/the-secret-to-being-highly-motivated/
Like 8d

Eyal M. Sales Manager Respiratory Care Great article ! EQ,EQ,EQ it is the most valuable point , for my opinion and passion is part of my DNA team.
Like 8d

SHOW MORE

Help Center

About

Press

Blog

Careers

Advertising

Talent Solutions

Tools

Mobile

Developers

Publishers

Language

Upgrade Your Account

LinkedIn Corporation 2013 User Agreement Privacy Policy Community Guidelines Cookie Policy Copyright Policy Send Feedback

www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130621191454-73785410-the-four-qs-of-career-success

5/5