On Careers
-
6 Ways to Be a Great Listener
Continue reading… 2 CommentsI knew an executive whose career success was widely attributed to his extraordinary ability to listen. When he was with you, he was with you. He recognized that listening carefully is one of the greatest of compliments.
Here are some basic listening tips:
Listen for a theme. Rather than getting distracted by trivia, listen for the main message. It may be hidden amid unrelated facts but your job is to determine what the person is trying to say.
-
You're Not Scaring Me
Continue reading… 5 CommentsI deal frequently with people who are less than pleased with a management decision. Usually this decision involves a layoff. Fine, I understand. I wouldn't be pleased with being laid off.
When this happens—and the employee wants me to say: "You are right. Even though you are screaming at me and using foul language, we never should have selected you for termination. Let me re-activate you right now or perhaps double your severance"—sometimes they pull out the "big gun."
"I'm going to call my lawyer."
-
What if Success Is Inevitable?
Continue reading… 2 CommentsThere's a well-known self-exploration question that goes, "What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?" It's a way to help people shine a light on their dreams. Unfortunately, when it comes to taking those dreams back to the real world, too many people default to a negative response.
They look at a dream and say, "I can't do that," or, "That's not possible," or, "I'll just fail anyway, so why bother trying?" Of course, if that's what they believe, odds are good that they'll turn it into truth.
-
Help Your Kid This Summer
Continue reading… 13 CommentsMuch has been written about helicopter parents being too involved. The stories—attending college classes with their kids, calling bosses at their first job—are embarrassing. Parents need to let go and let the little darlings blossom or fail.
Except for this: Most kids get summer jobs—"internships" if they're of college age—with no idea what they are doing. Still, any job is good for these kids. They learn basic skills, like getting up on time and showing up with brushed teeth. Personally, hard work made me what I am today. I spent summers helping my dad farm and I wanted NO part of it as an adult. The point is, we all learn from these first jobs.
-
What to Ask at Your Interview
Continue reading… 10 CommentsThe best job interviews aren't one-sided interrogations but rather two-way conversations designed to let both sides figure out if they'd be a good fit. Since your goal shouldn't be just to get a job offer but to land in a position in which you'll thrive and in an environment you won't dread as you come to work every day, you should be interviewing the interviewer right back.
Yet, I encounter many candidates who don't have many—or even any—questions when I ask what I can answer for them. While this isn't fatal, asking the right questions shows a level of thoughtfulness and engagement. After all, your interviewer wants to know that you're interested in the details of the job, the department you'll be working in, your prospective supervisor's management style, and the culture of the organization. Otherwise, you risk signaling that you're either not that interested or just haven't thought very much about it.
-
How High Gas Prices Can Help You
Continue reading… 3 CommentsWith sustainability issues and astronomical gas prices dominating the evening news, now is the perfect time to take these unfortunate circumstances and attempt to use them to your benefit.
Ask for a Raise. The cost of living is rising dramatically, but rather than pay people accordingly, most companies are tightening their belts. Even if the organization denies your request, you've accomplished two very important things. First, you've laid the groundwork for a salary bump later in the year. Second, you'll feel better that you asked and were rejected. It's better than not asking at all. (Never make a threat, but don't forget that hiring new staff is an expense, one your company might not want to incur at this time.)
-
7 Things to Avoid in a Job Interview
Continue reading… 0 Comments1. Excessive use of "I." When it's "I" this and "I" that, the interviewers may wonder if you ever worked on a team and, if so, how much credit you gave to your colleagues. Conversely, if you never mention the advances you were able to achieve, they may fear that you are team-dependent. Seek a balance.
2. Getting lost in the weeds. Far too many applicants prepare for the complicated questions and then fall into a blank stare when asked basic ones, such as "Why do you want this job?" and "Why should we hire you?"
-
3 Lessons From the Golf Course
Continue reading… 3 CommentsMy golf buddy and I play a weekly nine holes. This week the weather was irritable to say the least. The parking lot was cold, the first fairway warm, the fourth tee rainy, and at the fifth tee it hailed.
Needless to say, I played one of my worst rounds in a long time. But, it got me to thinking about the business lessons that can be learned on the golf course.
-
Just Say No to ObamcCaintalk
Continue reading… 4 CommentsIt is hard to remain neutral when everyone is talking presidential politics and taking sides. But if you lead or manage anyone at work, my advice is: Be like Switzerland. Stay neutral, keep your PIN number safe, and carry a funny-looking little knife.
Conversations around the water cooler start off informative and may even be helpful to new voters. Some people want to know about the issues and how positions taken by the candidates will help or hinder. Fine and good.
-
Be Patient—and Impatient
Continue reading… 2 CommentsIf you're feeling the itch to change careers, you're probably ready for it to happen, ohhhhh, like, yesterday. While that impatience can be a great source of motivation, by itself it can also get in your way.
Making substantial, sustainable change takes both impatience and patience. It's about combining the urge for immediate action with the awareness that it's a long-term investment that unfolds over time.
