During my career I have had the privilege of working with a number of extraordinarily talented individuals. Some have been in academia (both teachers and students), some in business leadership roles, some in the arts, some in consulting, and quite a few in safety. My collection of expert friends and colleagues is quite diverse. But I see some common denominator characteristics clearly visible among the most competent and successful of them, regardless of their profession. The following skill sets are distinctive of leaders in their fields, and defines the kinds of top-notch associates that others want to work with.
People who succeed tend to be generally pretty smart. Their intelligence may be the conventional “book smarts” measured by IQ tests, or cleverness and creativity, or political acumen/”street smarts,” or a combination of the above. Whatever form their intelligence takes, they are smart, quick, interested, thoughtful, inquisitive people. They want to know more and to get better at the things they do. They are deeply curious.