I came across this great piece in Fortune. It's geared towards women, however these insights are useful for every one. I've listed the top 5 tips - below. The full article is available - here
1. Take On Important Assignments
In the aftermath of layoffs, remaining employees are often asked to pick up slack. But don't get stuck doing low-impact work just because you want to seem helpful. Identify projects that will be valuable to your company and management team--and then volunteer yourself. If you are asked to take an assignment that you know will have little impact, mention that you've been thinking about another--more important--assignment and have some ideas ready to share.
2. Initiate
Don't hang low and await instructions. Particularly if your company is looking to trim the fat, being seen as not having enough on your plate is a worst-case scenario. Let your boss know that you recognize that times are tough and are willing to do more work to advance the business. Suggest a skill you have that could augment a certain project. Ask to help or take over a project that you know your boss doesn't have the time to get to. And give updates regularly so that your managers know you're working hard and want extra responsibility.
3. Know Your Company
You need to understand what's deemed valuable in your company and who the key decision-makers are. Revisit the basics of the core business model. Consider what value you're adding, and shift focus if you realize you may not be working to your fullest potential. Having the ability to pinpoint how your work affects the bottom line could save your job.
And identify who's really in charge. Always shine in the company of the "big boss." Even if you're at odds with your immediate manager, make sure the key people know what you're worth.
4. Be Adaptable
Change is never "if" but "when," especially in this economy. Research new technologies that might make the business more efficient, and then learn them. Your new expertise may keep you in demand. And if there's a change in management, roll with the punches. Even if you're not happy about it, the worst thing to do is get caught up in gossip or to seem disgruntled and entitled. Think of a new boss as a new challenge. Prove your worth by doing great work and remaining open-minded.
5. Aim for the Promotion
One of the biggest mistakes women often make is hiding behind a desk, awaiting praise from managers and focusing too intently on turning in perfect work. Smart women know that the goal isn't just to stay employed but rather to continue rising up the ranks and gaining greater responsibility--and perks. Experts agree that now's the time to take risks. When your job is on the line, you want to show your potential. Present yourself as a leader by dressing like an executive, speaking up in meetings, projecting authority with your tone of voice and body language and by thinking two steps ahead.
Full Article....
Jul 27, 2009
Jul 17, 2009
The Best Advice I Ever Got...
Just read a great piece in the fortune - titled "The Best Advice I Ever Got". The piece features comments from some accomplished, famous people. You'll find the article here.
I have many personal "best advice" moments as I'm sure most of us do.
Jul 16, 2009
It's been a while.......
Last year, I accepted a role in the Windows Consumer Marketing Team - driving Business Intelligence for some of our key online assets. I've spent the past few months trying to get my head around the Windows Business - as you would imagine, there's a lot to learn.
A few months ago I also launched a second blog - focused on my passion for Leadership Development. It's been a busy time and I haven't had the bandwidth to do post regular write-ups in the World Changers Journal. I'm hoping that will change in the weeks and months ahead.
Hope you're all enjoying the summer - look forward to reengaging with all you fellow World Changers in the weeks and months ahead.
Cheers.....
A few months ago I also launched a second blog - focused on my passion for Leadership Development. It's been a busy time and I haven't had the bandwidth to do post regular write-ups in the World Changers Journal. I'm hoping that will change in the weeks and months ahead.
Hope you're all enjoying the summer - look forward to reengaging with all you fellow World Changers in the weeks and months ahead.
Cheers.....
May 26, 2009
The Essense of "Outliers"
I just finished reading Malcom Gladwell's most recent offering - a book called Outliers. In the book, the author puts forward his views about key factors which contribute to an individuals success. He starts out by examining the causes of why the majority of Canadian professional ice hockey players are born in the first few months of the calendar year, how Bill Gates achieved his extreme wealth, and how two people with exceptional intelligence, Christopher Langan and J. Robert Oppenheimer, end up with such vastly different fortunes.
I enjoyed the book and decided to find out how others felt about Malcolm's ideas. As I read through various reviews and interestingly, most people seemed to like the book - but for very different reasons.
I picked up some new learning's and reaffirmed others - from Outliers.
There are 3 key criteria which working individuals need in order to excel. Autonomy, complexity and a connection between effort and reward. These are the 3 key qualities that work has to have, if it's to be satisfying.
It has to be about more than just - the amount of money we make. We spend so much of our lives working that it would be a real tragedy if our work does not provide us with a strong sense of personal or professional fulfillment.
Work that fulfills these 3 criteria - is meaningful. I truly believe that if you work hard enough, assert yourself and stay focused on purposeful goals, you can accomplish some great things.
Hard work can be very hard - if it doesn't have meaning. Once it does, it's no longer work - it becomes a means to an end. A happy, fulfilling and invigorating end.
Malcom makes two interesting assertions about children's upbringing. The first is that parents who take an interest in their children early, and teach them to be confident, self assured and assertive, are preparing actually preparing them to grow up with a healthy sense of "entitlement". Having grown up in a country with a very high respect quotient - I see the value in striking the right balance between teaching children to be respectful of their elders whilst simultaneously building their self-confidence.
The second key point which Malcom makes - is that the children of Eastern Jews who relocated to the U.S and started their own businesses - benefited from the can do environment in which they grew up. They watched their parents accomplish some great things through sheer determination - and this had a very positive and indelible effect on their view of the world.
There's no doubt that it helps to grow up in a home where your parents and relatives are smart, resourceful, driven - go getter's. However, the most important point here is that the Jewish families which Malcolm profiled were likely very close knit and worked hard to provide their children and relatives with great opportunities. That trend is likely the single most important reason why their children grew up to be successful Doctors, Lawyers and White Collar workers.
I enjoyed the book and decided to find out how others felt about Malcolm's ideas. As I read through various reviews and interestingly, most people seemed to like the book - but for very different reasons.
I picked up some new learning's and reaffirmed others - from Outliers.
There are 3 key criteria which working individuals need in order to excel. Autonomy, complexity and a connection between effort and reward. These are the 3 key qualities that work has to have, if it's to be satisfying.
It has to be about more than just - the amount of money we make. We spend so much of our lives working that it would be a real tragedy if our work does not provide us with a strong sense of personal or professional fulfillment.
Work that fulfills these 3 criteria - is meaningful. I truly believe that if you work hard enough, assert yourself and stay focused on purposeful goals, you can accomplish some great things.
Hard work can be very hard - if it doesn't have meaning. Once it does, it's no longer work - it becomes a means to an end. A happy, fulfilling and invigorating end.
Malcom makes two interesting assertions about children's upbringing. The first is that parents who take an interest in their children early, and teach them to be confident, self assured and assertive, are preparing actually preparing them to grow up with a healthy sense of "entitlement". Having grown up in a country with a very high respect quotient - I see the value in striking the right balance between teaching children to be respectful of their elders whilst simultaneously building their self-confidence.
The second key point which Malcom makes - is that the children of Eastern Jews who relocated to the U.S and started their own businesses - benefited from the can do environment in which they grew up. They watched their parents accomplish some great things through sheer determination - and this had a very positive and indelible effect on their view of the world.
There's no doubt that it helps to grow up in a home where your parents and relatives are smart, resourceful, driven - go getter's. However, the most important point here is that the Jewish families which Malcolm profiled were likely very close knit and worked hard to provide their children and relatives with great opportunities. That trend is likely the single most important reason why their children grew up to be successful Doctors, Lawyers and White Collar workers.
Mar 29, 2009
President Lula
Zakaria's interview with President Lula, was interesting for many reasons. Hear what Lula says about Obama's inauguration.
President Lula "I told my people, during my inauguration address - I do not have the right to make mistakes, I cannot afford to fail". I believe that God put Obama there for a reason - I told him that he cannot afford to fail."
Undoubtedly, Lula has come a long way since his days as a Machine Operator, in a factory. His comments regarding democracy, socialism and the role of emerging industrialized nations - were insightful and well presented. Undoubtedly, many will disagree with his position on U.S relations with Venezuela & Cuba - as well as the role which emerging nations should play, in global affairs.
Still, it's important to understand different perspectives of World Leaders, especially those from nations like Brazil.
President Lula "I told my people, during my inauguration address - I do not have the right to make mistakes, I cannot afford to fail". I believe that God put Obama there for a reason - I told him that he cannot afford to fail."
Undoubtedly, Lula has come a long way since his days as a Machine Operator, in a factory. His comments regarding democracy, socialism and the role of emerging industrialized nations - were insightful and well presented. Undoubtedly, many will disagree with his position on U.S relations with Venezuela & Cuba - as well as the role which emerging nations should play, in global affairs.
Still, it's important to understand different perspectives of World Leaders, especially those from nations like Brazil.
Mar 15, 2009
The Key To Leading A Purposeful Life
The key is to help someone - anyone
analogy for church -
mentoriship
holding ones self accountable to somneone else, or some initiaitve
it's not about one goal or another - if so, what do you do when you've achieved the goal or you realize that there's no way you can accomplish the goal.
It's great to be goal oriented - but what happens when you hit the goal.
Tyler Perry said in a recent interview with Larry King, that he was depressed after buying his multi-million dollar studio - because he'd achieved a major goal - probalby much earlier than he had previously though he could (he's not yet 40 years old).
He's since set a new goal - to own a Television Network. (but check this - he wants to own a network which would ALWAYS provide uplifting programming, for others). That goal is tied to his childhood - a period of his life when he endured physical abuse from his father and probably didn't have too many people lifting hime up....
The Leadership Journal
Last month - I launched a new blog called "The Leadership Journal". It's been a long time in the making - I'm glad we're finally up and running.
Key Objectives: I created the Leadership Journal with one purpose in mind - to create a repository for the types of leadership training, insights and resources which could help improve the skills of aspiring leaders, anywhere in the world.
I am convinced that Truly Effective Leaders are made - not born. The quest to be a great leader is a never ending journey of continous learning. I'm hopeful that the Leadership Journal will be a good source of information for all leaders.
World Changer....
Key Objectives: I created the Leadership Journal with one purpose in mind - to create a repository for the types of leadership training, insights and resources which could help improve the skills of aspiring leaders, anywhere in the world.
I am convinced that Truly Effective Leaders are made - not born. The quest to be a great leader is a never ending journey of continous learning. I'm hopeful that the Leadership Journal will be a good source of information for all leaders.
World Changer....
Are Your Truly A World Changer?
Are people better off because they know you? Do you think others have a more positive attitude, a more cheerful demeanor or a brighter outlook on life - in part, because they're associated with you? In Church this morning - I heard a song with these words - "People's life's should better because they know me". It set me thinking about what it really means to be a World Changer. Are we really leading purposeful lives?
We all live very busy lives - constantly juggling the urgent with the important. We often have to re-prioritize work items and deliverables as I try to accomplish my goals. Smart Companies are learning to reward employees not just for hitting agreed upon goals, but for doing so in a collaborative manner, non-destructive fashion.
During the course of my (admittedly) short career - I've been guilty of being too overbearing in some cases and overly deferential, in others. I'm learning to be assertive and express myself in a non-confrontational fashion.
Every day, we are presented with great opportunities to have a positive impact on others - simply by the way we present ourselves and the approach we take to dealing with challenges.
I try to look for the win-win - I hear you all saying that's much easier said than done. That's true - sometimes we do have to compromise or even give in, but even when that happens, we need to maintain a positive outlook.
I'm hoping this post will be a therapeutic one for me - I don't always project a positive attitude. I certainly can't categorically state that any of my colleagues are better off because they've worked with me, although I do hope so.
It's a fact that we're all affected by the environment in which we live, the words, actions and attitudes of those around us.
World Changers: The song reminded me that we all need to keep trying to have a positive impact on those around us. That way, we're sure to continue to change and affect people's lives - for the better......
Peace.
We all live very busy lives - constantly juggling the urgent with the important. We often have to re-prioritize work items and deliverables as I try to accomplish my goals. Smart Companies are learning to reward employees not just for hitting agreed upon goals, but for doing so in a collaborative manner, non-destructive fashion.
During the course of my (admittedly) short career - I've been guilty of being too overbearing in some cases and overly deferential, in others. I'm learning to be assertive and express myself in a non-confrontational fashion.
Every day, we are presented with great opportunities to have a positive impact on others - simply by the way we present ourselves and the approach we take to dealing with challenges.
I try to look for the win-win - I hear you all saying that's much easier said than done. That's true - sometimes we do have to compromise or even give in, but even when that happens, we need to maintain a positive outlook.
I'm hoping this post will be a therapeutic one for me - I don't always project a positive attitude. I certainly can't categorically state that any of my colleagues are better off because they've worked with me, although I do hope so.
It's a fact that we're all affected by the environment in which we live, the words, actions and attitudes of those around us.
World Changers: The song reminded me that we all need to keep trying to have a positive impact on those around us. That way, we're sure to continue to change and affect people's lives - for the better......
Peace.
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