This is an article by Luke Douglas who writes for Ripped.Me a site dedicated to everything fitness. In this article Luke talks about how to dominate at work and become an alpha at work. Enjoy.
Gentlemen, have you ever seen or admired a man who works out like a beast, but fails to impress his superiors at the office? Or have you ever found a truly complete man who doesn’t have a career as fulfilling as his love life? The simple truth is that being an alpha male requires an all-encompassing character, and there is no way you can half-ass the role. You either epitomize the term, or you don’t.
However, one isn’t born an alpha, one becomes an alpha through years of discipline and hard work, which means that even those among you who feel professionally incomplete can do many things to work their way up towards the title. Consider the following five your pillars of alpha-hood, and use them wisely on your way towards becoming a true leader of the pack.
1 – Build the right mindset
We all have to start somewhere, right? In this competitive world, we are bound to make mistakes and meet worthy adversaries on the way to the top, but what will set the winners apart from the losers is the mindset that pushes them to never surrender. As primal as this may sound, applying the principle to your work life will help you identify and build the traits your specific role requires.
Among them, you’ll need grit as a key ability to work past the obstacles and learn from your failures. No matter what you do, you’ll also likely need to find the “look on the bright side” fellow within you who will help you stay realistically optimistic about your chances at work. Leaders are built on adversity and challenge, hence the need to become the person others will gladly follow when they face a crisis – a reliable, passionate, devoted man who thrives in hardship.
2 – Look the part
As much as we’d like to stick to the illusion that looks don’t matter, we will always be left in pure and utter awe when we meet that guy who puts Apollo to shame. It’s not just about brawn, which in and of itself is inspiring, but in the work and dedication that lead to such a physique. However, since not all of us are graced with the genetics of the Greek gods, we can at least work towards being strong, fit, and looking splendid in a suit.
The 21st century comes with so many convenient ways to work out and fine-tune our diet, that there are no excuses to fail to do so and carry a beer belly in a clear white shirt to work. A fit man is the personification of health and virility, and it’s no coincidence that the strongest as well as the wisest are picked to be leaders of a pack. It’s time to hit the gym, men.
3 – Suit up
Yet another aspect of your appearance that does impact the impression others will have of you is what you pack in that wardrobe of yours. You don’t have to be a fashion guru or read Vogue on a regular basis to know what makes a decent suit and what type of shoes are best for your own office and the given occasion. Add to that the fact that studies show that suiting up helps you become more productive by putting you in the right mindset, and there’s yet another reason to add a few more assets into your wardrobe.
There’s a client meeting ahead, or you need to pitch a potential candidate to join your team? Impress your bosses and all those present by putting on a brand new navy suit and arm yourself with a handsome briefcase to stash all your essential files. Accessories can be manly as hell, only if you balance them with the right style for the office. After all, there’s so much you can learn about a man when you see the wallet he takes out of his jacket.
4 – Level up your skills
In the professional world, the modern man leaves nothing to chance. Almost anything can be learned and mastered to perfection, from the pitch of your voice, the firmness of your handshake, all the way to the art of negotiation. However, each profession comes with its own learning curve, so you need to be aware of the skills and knowledge required to be at the very top of the food chain in your industry. Is it having impeccable listening skills? Being perceptive? Or reading other people’s body language? Or a blend of all the things listed?
The beauty of being an alpha male is that the learning process never truly ends. An alpha always looks for ways to improve in all aspects of his life, his career included. So, if there’s something you know to be your weakness, learn from the best, look up to other alphas, and find your own style.
5 – Form alliances
Even in the wild, alpha males do not rely solely on brute force or intimidation to win over their top position in the pack – most importantly, they use their intelligence to stay leaders. This is where the law of the jungle translates so well into the world of man for you to make the most of your alpha journey towards the top.
The mark of the true leader is not simply defining who the threats are and sticking to aggression to solve issues, but to discover who your most powerful allies are. Partnering up with the right people, in life and in the business world, will open many doors and ensure your alpha throne for years to come.
