Wednesday December 23, 2009
How to Take Responsibility for Your Life
"We hold these truths to be self-evident," said our Founding Fathers. The truths you will discover over the next ten days are self-evident, too, but they are profoundly difficult to practice. Even as I write this series, I find myself questioning whether I am practicing what I am recommending.
So, consider the pursuit of happiness and success in work and life - a journey. These practices will get you started on that journey. If you start today, you'll complete your ten day journey on January 1, 2010, a time for auspicious beginnings.
I wish life, family, and work were easy. Really. But, they're not. The best of you struggle with concepts such as loving your work, balancing home and family life with work, and making the income that allows you to fulfill your dreams. You struggle with a lot more than that, too. And, this past year has been one for the record book.
You have a current economic meltdown that affects all of your responsibilities: kids to put through college, homes that develop leaks in the roof, saving for retirement, and family and friends who actually want to spend time with you. Wow. You struggle with quite an armful. And, some of you struggle with even more than that. Disabled family members, illness, and life's unexpected and unplanned for events occur.
Recognizing all of this, I have tried to zero in on the ten most important concepts that will help you develop the tools and thinking you need to succeed at work. At the same time, work success is fleeting if you don't also succeed at home. Life is a balancing act, so these concepts are applicable to your whole person, too.
Happiness is as important as success, so I wanted to include happiness in the equation. Consequently, ten days to a happier and more successful future is the theme for this ten lesson series. Read, enjoy, and grow, but, most of all, benefit from this time you spend thinking about you and your life.
Begin the journey with my ten day program: Ten Days to a Happier, More Successful Career and Life. You can join me daily here for the next ten days as we count down through New Year's day; you can subscribe to the email newsletter; or, you can participate at your leisure.
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Monday December 21, 2009
You know my mantra: hire the smartest people you can find; don't make rules that stifle their empowerment, agility, and creativity; make sure they know what you expect of them.
Provide feedback and recognition frequently; have an overall plan they understand and feel part of; provide a magnificent customer experience together; and make your work environment employee-oriented, family friendly, and fun.
In a client company, we are discussing ways to determine and identify the characteristics we want to seek overall in the employees the company hires. These include such characteristics and values as integrity and honesty, team orientation, being customer-focused, exhibiting positive work ethics, willingness to make decisions with incomplete information, talent in their field of expertise, proactive habits, good communication skills, personal courage to participate in positive conflict over ideas, and commitment to the company.
If an applicant exhibits these characteristics, and has the required skills and experience to perform the job, you'll want to hire him or her. The job interview is a good place to ensure that the candidate exhibits these characteristics. You saw evidence of them in the resume and cover letter and may also have experienced a positive connection during the phone screen. For the candidate to get in your door for an interview, evidence was strong. Use these interview questions to complete your good match dance.
Favorite Quotes - More Quotes
"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary." -- Cecil Beaton
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Sunday December 20, 2009
At a client company, a supervisor recently sought a new job. Everyone in the company knew she was looking and no one was interested in creating an offer that would make her stay. Why?
She didn't play well with others. After two years of asking for a more important title so she could tell people what to do, she had clearly not developed the influencing skills necessary to promote her agenda. Nor, has she demonstrated the respect for others that will earn her respect in return.
No career will progress unless you develop the influencing skills necessary to accomplish work. Adults don't take kindly to being told what to do, even when the agenda is worthy. So, accomplishing work is largely about the relationships you develop. Without successful, supportive relationships, your work will never be as successful as it could be.
When your lack of relationship savvy, has minimized your contribution and impact, and you announce you are moving on to a new job, no tears will be shed. No counter offers will come. And, the ad for your replacement will say, "Must play well with others."
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Developing Successful Work Relationships
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Friday December 18, 2009
A simple thank you letter, that recognizes specific employee contributions, goes a long way in helping employees feel recognized and rewarded at this time of the year - or any time of the year.
For companies that are able to give bonus checks or holiday gifts this year, keep in mind that you can double or triple the impact of your thanks and recognition. An employee recognition letter, that accompanies a bonus check or a gift, magnifies the recognition an employee experiences.
If your company process works too quickly for you to write notes, follow up the check with an individualized recognition letter to each staff. Make sure they are sincere; as an example, in a profit sharing system, you don't want to send effusive thanks to your lower performing employees. Here are sample employee recognition letters.
Some employees experience such gratification that they post the thank you and recognition letter in their cubicle, office, or workstation for years. Find out how to write an effective employee recognition letter. See Thank You Letters Speak Powerfully.
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