In my work with business executives, I have come to the conclusion that most individuals in positions of influence got there accidentally. This may sound harsh to those of you in the business world reading this article, but the truth CAN be harsh, much like the medicine our mothers gave us as young children. There is a bright side, however, to this fact: Those of you who put in the effort can rise far above the average executive. Here are three tips to do that, and quickly:

1. Learn to love responsibility

As strange as this may sound, to be a better executive in the business world, you have to want to assume more responsibility - not only for your actions but for the actions of those you lead. This means taking on tough assignments early in your career (or all the time)- the ones that nobody wants. It also means that you must learn to make decisions, and make them quickly and effectively. To do this, most executives follow a two step process.

A. They figure out what data they need to make their decision. I always ask those that I