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8 ?Thurvival Skills? for 05Just what is a "thurvival skill?" It's a skill that let's you thrive and survive at the same time. In today's economy it's not enough to just be good. You need to be better than your counterparts and colleagues. It's all about creating an action plan to keep you name in the limelight and on the top of the list. What list am I talking about? The one that says call X, hire X or X is the best person for the job. Or event he list that reads we can get rid of everyone but X. Is this person you? It could be. It takes a particular skill set. 1. Flexibility-You need to go with the flow. There are things you can't change so be prepared to accept the consequences and move on. Be adaptable no matter what the circumstances and don't let adversity get you off your game plan. 2. Accessibility - Opportunities happen in a flash. You need to be where people can reach you: cell, phone, fax, and email, whatever. Let you number two person know how to reach you in case that once in a lifetime opportunity presents itself. If people need you, respond that day if at all possible. If you don't, someone else will and you will have lost your edge. 3. Visibility - Who are you? Can people find you? Do an ego search on GOOGLE. Type in your name and see what shows up. At the very least, you should see some basic listing about yourself. So you want to improve the odds of your being found? Get a personal website and use your name as the domain. 4. Credibility - Are you an expert at something? If not, why not? It's easy to become one and then use need to use that expert status to your advantage. The more credentials you have in your CV, the more power it wields when you seek out opportunities. 5. Connectivity - Who can you call when you need help? Remember it's a quid-pro-quo world so just don't start calling people when you are in a bind. They probably won't call back if you already haven't established a relationship. 6. Your Me-factor - You simply have to think about yourself. Yea, I know the cheers for the team and all that stuff. Well, the cold hard truth is that the team isn't going to cut it when your you-know-what is on the line. You need to look out for numero uno. Allocate time for personal enhancement and enrichment every day. Don't get caught up in the party line that you are too busy to manage your own career. 7. Technologically savvy ? Big deal. Do you know how to use email? Do you know how to use it to your advantage? Do you use it to keep in contact, solidify a relationship, alert someone as to how and where you can be reached or get new business? Your technology skills will make you or break you in coming years so spend a little time developing this particular knowledge base. 8. Investment programs-Not your 401K or IRA investments, but investments in you as a person. What's going to affect your bottom line? Have you kept up with current industry technology? Do you know what skill sets are in demand for today's top employers? Keep that knowledge base at the cutting edge and you will have leverage over your competition. If you hone these skills, you are on your way to successfully negotiating the balance of the year both employed and enjoying your job. Invest in yourself as part of your personal portfolio. Make 2005 the year of you where you can both thrive and survive. JoAnn Hines' specialty is PACKAGING PEOPLE. Whether you want to be paid more, you just lost your job, or you want to progress in the one you have, Ms. Hines advice and expertise can help you transform your personal brand. She can show you how to package yourself and make your brand a hot commodity. It's easy once you know the ropes and begin to utilize her insider's secrets. She shows you step by step how to increase your visibility, credibility and marketability with easy to use tutorials and templates. It is time to get started "Packaging Yourself." Email me the Chief People Packager @pkgcoach@aol.com |  | | | RELATED ARTICLES Getting Your Online Health Care Administration Degree Are you thinking about getting your online health care degree but don't know where to start? Afraid of choosing the wrong college or school? Here's a simple guide to help you get started building the career that you've always wanted. It Takes Time The story goes that after one of Ludwig van Beethoven's performances, several people were offering him their congratulations, when one woman commented, "I wish God had bestowed me with such genius." "It isn't genius, madam, nor is it magic." Beethoven replied. "All you have to do is practice on your piano eight hours a day for 40 years." How Well Do You Manage Your Boss? Are you in this situation? You and your boss just don't seem to connect and work well together. It isn't that you are having knock down fights. It's just that you know things could be better. You don't want to look for another job so you have to figure out how to make it work. Basically it's your responsibility to manage your boss. Here are tips that can get you on the right track. Counteroffers: Should I Stay or Should I Go? If "resignation" is the word that strikes fear into all employers, then "counteroffer" is the one that strikes fear into an employee's heart. "What should I do? They've matched my offer?" Are You Suited for Self-employment? A recent poll conducted by Yahoo! Small Businessshowed that nearly 3 out of 4 Americans have consideredstarting their own business. In fact, of more than 2,200 adults surveyed, over half (51 percent) said they wouldlike to launch their small business within the next 5 years. The Importance of Background Verification Today's society has created an environment that requires business owners to be armed with numerous tools. Many employers currently spend little time verifying the accuracy of employment applications and the cost of not doing normal due diligence can be staggering. What To Do When Your Boss Is a Butthead I've never worked for a boss I didn't like or respect. Sure, some were better than others, but I never considered quitting my job because of a bad boss. Unfortunately, many employees aren't so lucky. Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Try, Try, Again This article relates to the Career Opportunities competency and explores issues such as internal growth opportunities, potential for advancement, career development importance, and the relationship between job performance and career advancement. Evaluating the Career Opportunities competency in your organization will determine whether your employees believe they have a chance to grow within the organization. Studies show that lack of career opportunity is one of the top reasons why employees leave an organization. Also, continually hiring open positions from outside the organization can be detrimental to morale when a qualified candidate is available internally. Topics covered in this competency are: perceived opportunity for advancement, existence of a career development plan, and organizational commitment to staff development. Preparing For An Interview When preparing for an interview, you need to know your skills, experiences and achievements, and how to answer interview questions. You Are Lucky in Your Career! You Are Lucky in Being Satisfied in Your Career Planning To Work Abroad Working abroad can be an exciting, rewarding and horizon broadening experience; and if you take the time to plan ahead carefully before you go, you will make your transition into the overseas work place a smooth and successful one. We Rejected Your Résumé Today Hi, I am Mr. Employer. Working On A Farm In Kent Being a student, a person needs to look for summer jobs, to keep up with the expenses for school and fun activities. This task is not always easy, especially when you are studying at an American branch university and you have to pay tuition as well. So getting a summer job obviously rules out getting a job in your home Eastern European country as that would pay for only a couple of beers the most. Networking Masterclass - Part 1 - Practicing Empathy Practicing Empathy A vital part of your networking skills is your ability to build rapport quickly and effectively with others. To build rapport successfully with another individual you need to understand 'where' they are coming from and have 'empathy' with them.  People often think of empathy as a mystical commodity, a special, almost uncanny ability to experience the thoughts and feelings of someone else. In fact 'empathy' is quite simply applied imagination and only requires a little exertion and discipline. The next time you are sitting in a room conversing with three or more people, try this very simple activity: Temporarily remove yourself from the conversation. Be very quiet for a few moments. Pay particular attention to the person doing the most talking. Imagine the following things: Imagine the physical sensations the speaker is experiencing. Mentally place yourself in that person's body, sitting or standing in a particular position, eating the same food, drinking the same drink. Mentally become that person. Do you feel energised? Tired? Irritated? Imagine what kind of day the speaker has had - using all your knowledge about the speakers' day. If you know little about the person, guess. Continue to imagine yourself as that person. How does your day colour and affect what you are saying? Imagine the person's relationship's to everyone in the room - including yourself. Continue to mentally be that person. What kind of feelings are generated by the people around you? How do they affect the things you say? Now step back into yourself and rejoin the scene. Does your own role in the conversation feel different?  Empathy, like memory is a creative act, not a mystical property and it requires imagination and practice. It lies within the grasp of all of us. 5 Simple Rules for A Great Job Interview Many years ago, when I was a young job-searching greenhorn, I ventured to New York City to take a bite out of the big apple of opportunity. 4 Niche Job-Search Tips Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting. Where do you start? What Web sites are best for your industry? Thank-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career Design There is one little practice that is vital to generating the interest of potential employers. It is critical, but very few job seekers actually do it. Using Your Whine Factor Brian's work was exceptional. Still, as his boss, I rarely offered him additional responsibilities, never thought of promoting him or selecting him for a critical project. Why? His whine factor got in the way.  He was quick to complain to anyone who'd listen how much work was on his plate, or how hard or how late he worked. His whine factor was a protective shield that insured he didn't get more work to do. But, it also shielded him from getting the opportunity filled assignments, more interesting work, and the highest pay raises. Stephanie was a different story. She was masterful at weaving vivid details with a precision that explained exactly why the expected outcome didn't happen. This week it centered on a miscommunication, last week it was the delayed delivery, or the reduced advertising, an incompetent supplier or a staff illness. Every story was accurate; every reason plausible; every explanation justifiable; always a good reason why she couldn't deliver the promised quality, precision or timeliness. As her boss, it took me time to realize that Stephanie's accountability decreased each time her whine factor increased. As she became more entrenched in offering reasons why something didn't happen, she became less personally involved in the actual results. I've seen the whine factor derail projects and people in my twenty years in management. Whining shifts a mindset from can do to can't do, allows potholes to become sink holes, turns challenges to complaints and reframes opportunities into woe is me. You can use your own whine factor as a barometer to keep you on track. If the factor is high, be alerted that your actions are, most likely, becoming less accountable. That should signal you to tune into what you can personally do to control, adjust or correct the current course so you can deliver the expected results. I think that point is worth repeating because it differentiates performance in significant ways. If you want to control the outcome, you'll need to get your hands a bit calloused along the way. Learning to listen to your whine factor is a helpful self-feedback mechanism to guide you towards greater accountability and winning at working behaviors. Less whine means more accountability. Higher accountability typically means better results. And better results are what most of us are after. (c) 2004 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved. What is Mystery Shopping, and Can You Really Get Paid to Shop? Mystery shoppers visit businesses "disguised as normal customers," and do the things other customers do-ask questions, make a purchase, make a return-but with a twist. These undercover customers are there to evaluate the businesses and their employees. After a visit, the mystery shopper completes a report or questionnaire detailing what occurred. Finding Employees For Insurance Industry Jobs Finding the right employee for any job opening can be a challenge to say the least, and this is no truer than in the insurance industry. With considerations ranging from experience and education to their personal skills, the decisions faced by recruiters and employers can be of critical importance. |
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