Seven Career Killers
by:
John McPhee, Forbes.com
Kudos to the paltry 14% of us who keep New Year's resolutions. The vast majority -- a full 86% -- go right back to our counterproductive ways as it relates to personal health, careers, relationships, and otherwise. Forgo the ever popular New Year's resolution to lose weight and, instead, commit to avoiding a simple list of career-killers that so often result in hearing the feared words, "You're fired," again and again in the course of a career.
Avoiding these seven deadly sins will also help individuals balance their "whole life" and assure they are ready to take on new workplace challenges as they are presented -- and execute them well.
Peter Drucker, the famed management author, guru, and teacher said it best: "Lifting a person's vision to higher sights, is the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard." Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes.
Deadly Workplace Sins
At least seven "deadly workplace sins" detail key emotional offenses professionals should avoid at all costs to better assure upward career mobility. A few common sense tips will help aspiring pros get on the path to the ever-elusive paycheck promise land.
Pride
First, there's pride. Far too many who experience "workplace wins" take full credit for these achievements, regardless of any support or assistance received in the process. What often goes unrecognized is that people around, and especially below, the serially solo-successful resent the egocentricity, and may actually begin to actively undermine that person's efforts in the future. While one's pride wants all due recognition, a team philosophy can build the grass-roots support that can fast-track a career. Indeed, a dose of acknowledgment of and appreciation for one's peers and subordinates, so they may share in some of the glory, can go a long way to foster one's long-term success.
Envy
Moreover, while it's OK to recognize other individuals or organizations as they achieve, lamenting "what should have been yours" can be destructive and can adversely impact your own ability to focus on the job tasks at hand. Becoming envious of others in the workplace can sabotage your self esteem, which is one vital characteristic of every successful worker or executive. Rather than being envious, let the accomplishments of others become motivational fuel for your fire in working toward your own successes.
Anger
Anger is another motion that needs to be held in check. Begetting nothing but disagreement, dispute, tension or conflict, anger provides no benefit in the workplace. There is simply nothing productive about anger, which impairs one's objectivity, poise and self control. Don't let a bout of righteousness damage your reputation and image in the workplace. It's fine to feel passionately about your job or a project at hand and to disagree with others, but learn how to channel those emotions into actions that will work to your benefit in the eyes of others -- especially your superiors -- rather than against it. Those prone to angry outbursts rarely get promoted; they are seen as being poor leaders who cannot inspire or motivate others.
Short-sightedness
One's selfish desire for "more, sooner" is what motivates many in the Western culture to achieve their career goals. But taking this notion to the extreme can and will be self defeating as core values become misguided and life becomes unbalanced in the process. The road to success requires a long term approach in all aspects of one's job duties. Those laser-focused on quick, short-term gains may do well for the moment, but will be ill-prepared to take things to the next level.
Complacency
At the other end of the spectrum, sloth, or simply put, complacency and laziness have no place whatsoever in the workplace -- especially for those with high aspirations. Expecting one's past achievements and successes to carry them forward in their long-term career is imprudent. Today's uber-competitive global marketplace ensures that only those who continue to grow, evolve and make fresh contributions of value will succeed. In a global environment where outsourcing is becoming a norm, everyone at all levels of the employment "food chain" is now replaceable. So treat every work day and every project as if your job, and your future at large, depends on it. It very well may.
Imbalance
Many individuals move up the corporate ladder so fast that they actually end up failing as a consequence. More isn't always better -- especially if you're not ready for the challenge at hand. It's important to ensure that you are not only professionally ready to take on a new and bigger challenge, for which expectations are equally bigger, but also that your personal life is ready for the new demands and strains to be placed upon it. Achieving career success also includes maintaining a life balance, and a misplaced professional desire can create a backlash both at home as well as amid peers for your perceived obsessiveness.
Lust
At times this can spill over to lust. An overly intense desire for what others have achieved at work, or being chronically dissatisfied with one's own status, is a surefire career killer. Spending an inordinate amount of time fixated on what you don't have rather than what you do will foster a bad attitude and negative overall demeanor.
Above all, one's overall "presence" in the office plays a big part in who gets promoted and who doesn't. No matter how ambitious, it's prudent to be present and make the most out of your current position at this moment in time. Organizations recognize and reward those with a good attitude who make the most of a situation. Winners recognize other's success with sportsmanlike conduct, while at the same time exhibiting an air of confidence that they, and their team, will realize their own great achievements.
John McKee, founder and president of BusinessSuccessCoach.net, is the author of "Career Wisdom - 101 Proven Strategies to Ensure Workplace Success" and "21 Ways Women in Management Shoot Themselves in the Foot."
Copyrighted, Forbes.com. All rights reserved.
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Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
5 Step Scheduling Plan
Now, finally, you have reached the climax where you learn how to put together an effective, time management schedule aimed at providing you with the very best results. It takes just five steps to make this successful.
Step One: Identify and implement time for your tasks. If you are working at home, you need time to be scheduled to be dedicated to the job at hand. If you work in an office, be sure to note that your time is from 9am to noon then from 1pm until 5pm, for example. Your personal life can be scheduled around as needed, but schedule time for work specifically.
Step Two: Now, schedule the time you need for accomplish the regular activities of your job. This may include things like working with others, giving direction, paying invoices, organizing your schedule and so forth. This should be time that you must dedicate to making your job successful. These are items you do not have a choice but to do even if they are at a set time.
Step Three: Use your To Do List to help you to schedule in the important activities on your schedule. Start with all of your number one or highest priority items and block them in on your schedule. Then, move on to the next times until you go through your entire list, allotting time to each of the most important tasks.
Some items may not make it into your schedule. That is to be expected. That is not necessarily a problem if they are truly the bottom of the line. If their priority changes over time, change them to fit into your schedule as you see fit. Be sure that all tasks that can not be given to anyone one else are scheduled for you here.
Step Four: Extra time schedule as necessary. Here, you need to begin by knowing how long it will take you to complete the task. For example, if you have to write that column you may know that it will take you one full hour to actually write out the column. Block in that hour.
But in addition to this, do give yourself what is called contingency time. This is time that is provided to you as a padding because as you know it is not likely that you will get an entire hour that is uninterrupted by something or someone. Over time you can make better decisions on how much of this time you will actually need.
Step Five: Available Time. You should also plan in extra time for the items that you need to plan for such as time to go over your goals, plan your next Action Plans and to achieve what you need to achieve.
You will need to be sure that you are giving yourself enough time here. You may actually find yourself struggling to find the time to accomplish this task too. Yet, go back and find spots and locations where you can grab a few minutes here and there so that at the end of the day you do have this time.
You should also remember that delegation is a key to success. If you have to handle something yourself, by all means do so. But, when you can give off a bit of that to someone else, go for it. All successful business people must master delegation to gain the most benefit for their time and their money.
As you can see from this five step program, managing your time can be quite simple when you work through the program. You will need to consistently revisit your goals, tweak them and your Action Plans to actually help you to make all aspects work at their best, but that is a simple method of achieving success that can not be avoided.
Be sure to take full advantage of the benefits that scheduling can offer to you. Don't jump ahead and try to have a schedule without goals as it will not produce the same results!
Step One: Identify and implement time for your tasks. If you are working at home, you need time to be scheduled to be dedicated to the job at hand. If you work in an office, be sure to note that your time is from 9am to noon then from 1pm until 5pm, for example. Your personal life can be scheduled around as needed, but schedule time for work specifically.
Step Two: Now, schedule the time you need for accomplish the regular activities of your job. This may include things like working with others, giving direction, paying invoices, organizing your schedule and so forth. This should be time that you must dedicate to making your job successful. These are items you do not have a choice but to do even if they are at a set time.
Step Three: Use your To Do List to help you to schedule in the important activities on your schedule. Start with all of your number one or highest priority items and block them in on your schedule. Then, move on to the next times until you go through your entire list, allotting time to each of the most important tasks.
Some items may not make it into your schedule. That is to be expected. That is not necessarily a problem if they are truly the bottom of the line. If their priority changes over time, change them to fit into your schedule as you see fit. Be sure that all tasks that can not be given to anyone one else are scheduled for you here.
Step Four: Extra time schedule as necessary. Here, you need to begin by knowing how long it will take you to complete the task. For example, if you have to write that column you may know that it will take you one full hour to actually write out the column. Block in that hour.
But in addition to this, do give yourself what is called contingency time. This is time that is provided to you as a padding because as you know it is not likely that you will get an entire hour that is uninterrupted by something or someone. Over time you can make better decisions on how much of this time you will actually need.
Step Five: Available Time. You should also plan in extra time for the items that you need to plan for such as time to go over your goals, plan your next Action Plans and to achieve what you need to achieve.
You will need to be sure that you are giving yourself enough time here. You may actually find yourself struggling to find the time to accomplish this task too. Yet, go back and find spots and locations where you can grab a few minutes here and there so that at the end of the day you do have this time.
You should also remember that delegation is a key to success. If you have to handle something yourself, by all means do so. But, when you can give off a bit of that to someone else, go for it. All successful business people must master delegation to gain the most benefit for their time and their money.
As you can see from this five step program, managing your time can be quite simple when you work through the program. You will need to consistently revisit your goals, tweak them and your Action Plans to actually help you to make all aspects work at their best, but that is a simple method of achieving success that can not be avoided.
Be sure to take full advantage of the benefits that scheduling can offer to you. Don't jump ahead and try to have a schedule without goals as it will not produce the same results!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Elements Of A Resume
ELEMENTS OF A RESUME THAT WILL IMPRESS
The primary element of an ideal resume contains powerful and assertive statements about your talents, characteristics and accomplishments. No need to be shy. You are going for the gold so sell yourself with all that is in you!
The secondary element of an ideal resume will show “you know your stuff” and know it well! This will be proven by education, experience, work history and any other relevant affiliations that shows the prospective employer that you are a person of substance and not only of design.
Keep in mind that the more standard resume will simply be a chronological account of a very boring life and most people will not give it a second glance. Write your resume to be interesting and even impressive and watch as your phone rings for that important interview!
You will write a resume that does much more than just inform; you will write a resume that compels to action! Your resume will become as a good bargaining tool! Your prospective employer will be interested and will stand up and take notice! This is exactly what you want.
Be bold about your assertive statements, but, not too bold. Leave them wanting for more. Tease a bit with nuggets of information and let them be interested to know more.
The primary element of an ideal resume contains powerful and assertive statements about your talents, characteristics and accomplishments. No need to be shy. You are going for the gold so sell yourself with all that is in you!
The secondary element of an ideal resume will show “you know your stuff” and know it well! This will be proven by education, experience, work history and any other relevant affiliations that shows the prospective employer that you are a person of substance and not only of design.
Keep in mind that the more standard resume will simply be a chronological account of a very boring life and most people will not give it a second glance. Write your resume to be interesting and even impressive and watch as your phone rings for that important interview!
You will write a resume that does much more than just inform; you will write a resume that compels to action! Your resume will become as a good bargaining tool! Your prospective employer will be interested and will stand up and take notice! This is exactly what you want.
Be bold about your assertive statements, but, not too bold. Leave them wanting for more. Tease a bit with nuggets of information and let them be interested to know more.
Template for Cover Letters
BASIC COVER LETTER TEMPLATE EXAMPLE
Using a good cover letter template, you can simply fill in the blanks. You might want to do this until you feel entirely confident in designing your own. All of the samples given are just a few appropriate ways to write a good cover letter.
Your full name
Your full mailing address
Your City, state, and zip
Your Telephone number(s)
Your Email address
Today’s date
Your addressee’s full name
Their professional title
The Organization name
Their mailing address
Their City, state and zip
Dear Mr. (full name here) or Ms. (full name here)
Open your letter with something that will command attention—a statement that establishes you to your reader. Briefly state which job or position you are applying for.
The secondary section of your letter should be highly relevant to the position applied for. Offer one or two (brief) paragraphs that point to why you are the best one for the job. Do NOT simply summarize your resume!
Your closing paragraph is critical to your success! You need to initiate action! Do this by explaining what action you will take, such as: I will call you at such and such a time to arrange an interview. If not being so forward, end with: I look forward to your response. If you leave the calling in their hands always state: Please contact me to set up a good time for an interview and make certain they have your contact information at hand.
Always finish your letter with:
Sincerely yours, or Yours truly, or similar
Your signature written by hand
Your name (typewritten)
Enclosure (you can type in “resume” after Enclosure, or leave blank)
Using a good cover letter template, you can simply fill in the blanks. You might want to do this until you feel entirely confident in designing your own. All of the samples given are just a few appropriate ways to write a good cover letter.
Your full name
Your full mailing address
Your City, state, and zip
Your Telephone number(s)
Your Email address
Today’s date
Your addressee’s full name
Their professional title
The Organization name
Their mailing address
Their City, state and zip
Dear Mr. (full name here) or Ms. (full name here)
Open your letter with something that will command attention—a statement that establishes you to your reader. Briefly state which job or position you are applying for.
The secondary section of your letter should be highly relevant to the position applied for. Offer one or two (brief) paragraphs that point to why you are the best one for the job. Do NOT simply summarize your resume!
Your closing paragraph is critical to your success! You need to initiate action! Do this by explaining what action you will take, such as: I will call you at such and such a time to arrange an interview. If not being so forward, end with: I look forward to your response. If you leave the calling in their hands always state: Please contact me to set up a good time for an interview and make certain they have your contact information at hand.
Always finish your letter with:
Sincerely yours, or Yours truly, or similar
Your signature written by hand
Your name (typewritten)
Enclosure (you can type in “resume” after Enclosure, or leave blank)
Cover Letters
HOW TO WRITE A GOOD COVER LETTER
Top left hand corner of letter, write your contact details, date
Howard Johnston Tilly
2150 Orange Grove
New York, NY 55555
(555) 555-5555
January 2, 2008
Write contact details of prospective employer
Mr. John Smythe
Director
Icon Management
5854 Tombon Road
New York, NY 55555
Dear Mr. Smythe
Opening paragraph - Use an opening that will bring yourself to the attention of the reader and make clear the exact job you are applying for. Use one of the following:
1. Summarize the opening
2. Name the opening
3. Request an opening
4. Question the availability of an opening
Secondary paragraph(s)- Provide descriptive information to provide the reader with good reasons to invite you to an interview. Use a variety of the following:
1. Education
2. Work experience
3. Ability to work with others and/or alone
4. Interest in your field
5. Interest in the company
6. Responsibilities in previous positions
Closing paragraph - This will be written so your prospective employer will take action!
Take the initiative and suggest a good time for you to come in for an interview. Be sure to include all of your contact information, including your email and fax numbers.
Close with:
Sincerely,
Enclosure (this will be your resume)
To review, you will always begin your cover letter by placing your full name, address, telephone number and email address, if you have one, in the top left hand corner of your letter. You will follow this with the same information addressing your letter to your prospective employer.
When addressing your prospect, always use full name, address, etc., and do not use abbreviations.
Address your letter directly to the person in charge of hiring.
Sign your letter by hand.
KEY PHRASES TO BE USED IN YOUR COVER LETTER
1) I am writing to you in response to your advertisement in the Washington Post, dated May 13th, 2004.
2) As you can see from my enclosed resume, my experience and accomplishments match this position’s requirements.
3) I would like to point out......(add text that is most relevant to the position.)
4) During my 5 yrs. with Amsted and Querns, I initiated extensive improvements that resulted in garnering 30 more clients for the period ending....
5) I would appreciate the opportunity.... to meet with you to discuss my qualifications for your position, OR,...to speak with you in person.
6) Please accept this letter as an expression of my interest in the position of...
7) A copy of my resume has been enclosed for your review.
8) I believe that my skill-set matches perfectly with your requirements.
9) I possess the right combination of nursing skills to be an asset to your organization.
10) I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my potential contributions to your company.
11) I look forward....to hearing back from you....OR.....to your reply.
Top left hand corner of letter, write your contact details, date
Howard Johnston Tilly
2150 Orange Grove
New York, NY 55555
(555) 555-5555
January 2, 2008
Write contact details of prospective employer
Mr. John Smythe
Director
Icon Management
5854 Tombon Road
New York, NY 55555
Dear Mr. Smythe
Opening paragraph - Use an opening that will bring yourself to the attention of the reader and make clear the exact job you are applying for. Use one of the following:
1. Summarize the opening
2. Name the opening
3. Request an opening
4. Question the availability of an opening
Secondary paragraph(s)- Provide descriptive information to provide the reader with good reasons to invite you to an interview. Use a variety of the following:
1. Education
2. Work experience
3. Ability to work with others and/or alone
4. Interest in your field
5. Interest in the company
6. Responsibilities in previous positions
Closing paragraph - This will be written so your prospective employer will take action!
Take the initiative and suggest a good time for you to come in for an interview. Be sure to include all of your contact information, including your email and fax numbers.
Close with:
Sincerely,
Enclosure (this will be your resume)
To review, you will always begin your cover letter by placing your full name, address, telephone number and email address, if you have one, in the top left hand corner of your letter. You will follow this with the same information addressing your letter to your prospective employer.
When addressing your prospect, always use full name, address, etc., and do not use abbreviations.
Address your letter directly to the person in charge of hiring.
Sign your letter by hand.
KEY PHRASES TO BE USED IN YOUR COVER LETTER
1) I am writing to you in response to your advertisement in the Washington Post, dated May 13th, 2004.
2) As you can see from my enclosed resume, my experience and accomplishments match this position’s requirements.
3) I would like to point out......(add text that is most relevant to the position.)
4) During my 5 yrs. with Amsted and Querns, I initiated extensive improvements that resulted in garnering 30 more clients for the period ending....
5) I would appreciate the opportunity.... to meet with you to discuss my qualifications for your position, OR,...to speak with you in person.
6) Please accept this letter as an expression of my interest in the position of...
7) A copy of my resume has been enclosed for your review.
8) I believe that my skill-set matches perfectly with your requirements.
9) I possess the right combination of nursing skills to be an asset to your organization.
10) I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my potential contributions to your company.
11) I look forward....to hearing back from you....OR.....to your reply.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Sunday, December 23, 2007
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