How to Succeed As A Leader [4 Leadership Lessons]

How to Succeed As A Leader [4 Leadership Lessons] By: Moyan Brenn I recently heard Candace McGraw, CEO of the Cincinnati-Kentucky International Airport, speak at a Business Networking event. As she referenced her career growth and achievements, four  competencies  stood out for me as contributing to her  success as a leader: 1) Think Critically Ms. McGraw shared that her ability to look at an issue in several ways, otherwise called analytical thinking, has created opportunities for success at every stage of her career. The Conference Board, a non-profit, independent organization that conducts research on business and leadership issues, identifies  Master Strategist as an important leadership competency in the 21st Century. Today’s business with uncharted territories, unclear expectations, fickle customer needs and increased technological advances demands greater cognitive complexity. This requires superior strategic thinking combined with an ability to make high-quality decisions in a shorter time to stay competitive. What can you personally do daily to strengthen your skills in analysis and critical thinking? Respectfully, ask your colleagues what is possible and achievable; ask people about one problem they would like to solve, ask individuals and teams to engage in “why not?” scenarios. Purposefully, invite solicited and unsolicited feedback from all parts of your organization â€"pick a mistake and showcase learning, resiliency and potential growth from that experience. Tactically, identify future trends that will shape your business and dedicate time NOW to discuss and create innovative ideas that will stop the future pain. 2) Find and Mentor “Right-Fit” Talent In her message, Ms. McGraw applauded her team and shared stories about how leading with an exceptionally talented team has paid off for her. The Conference Board identifies Talent Identifier as another leadership prerequisite to staying ahead of the game today. The workforce today is techno-savvy, globally connected, geographically dispersed and culturally diverse. Albert Einstein once said: We cant solve problems  by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. This statement is true for people development too. Ignoring employee personal and professional development can come at a high and almost irreversible cost to a company. With training dollars and time at a premium in organizations, what questions must be asked to ensure that each employee is aggressively innovating, executing results beyond their functional areas and increasing market share? What can you personally do daily to identify and empower your talented people? How is personal and professional growth defined, understood and aligned (by you and your team) to your organizational mission and future needs?   Describe one of your talent development efforts with lowest cost and maximum impact. What skills, individual or team might be invisible to your eye? Would you be able to identify why a certain project completed itself with little supervision from you? What talent matrix might be useful for you to identify the current state of talent and flexibility in defining roles for maximum and sustainable business impact? 3) Embrace Change The ability to embrace change has helped Ms. McGraw, “pick up and soldier on.” A third leadership competency, Change Manager  on the Conference Board list  suggests accountability, while calling for transparency in the face of uncertainty and   commanding high performance in the midst of disruption. Even the most resilient person balks in face of change because even a very small shift in routine is ALWAYS chaotic and unsettling. Ignoring the reality of how poorly prepared people can be when faced with change suggests that leadership must stay a step ahead, make this leap at a larger scale and build a culture of resiliency that permeates the very fabric of organizational cloth. What can you personally do to build and strengthen resiliency and adaptability? What structures help employees create robust and highly collaborative networks based on trust, common purpose and accountability? If an outsider were to describe your employees, how would they do so?   Would they say that the majority of your employees are curious learners, have a sense of humor, are realistically optimistic, possess high self-awareness and are willing to ask and receive help easily? How is risk taking, if at all, rewarded? And, how are mistakes handled? 4) Build Relationships By: ShashiBellamkonda It wasn’t a surprise to hear Ms. McGraw talk about being a Relationship Builder, the fourth competency that completes the  the Conference Board list. Clearly what use is a leader’s vision when there is no buy-in? As human beings, we crave for both, an emotional connection and a rational explanation for why we must give our best talent and commitment to a cause. That decision to lead and follow very often comes from shared conversations and countless hours of listening carefully to build trust and accountability within relationships. Unless leadership can define and gather shared aspirations, the best that can happen is business as usual, not extraordinary transformation by people unleashing in full force their collective potential. What can you personally do to build and strengthen your relationships? What have you done recently to reach out and connect in a caring, compassionate way? Why must it matter to you? How does your work environment shape and reinforce everyone’s contributions in a way that each person is noticed and appreciated? What formal and informal ways are used to recognize and applaud others? What behaviors show that you lead with clear and uncompromising clarity, communicate powerful expectations with defined metrics and  display trustworthiness in every interaction? Master Strategist. Talent Identifier. Change Manager. Relationship Builder. What do you think? How have you seen these traits help you make connections, between your past successes, present challenges and future opportunities? I’d like to hear your stories!

How Long To Wait After An Interview 5 Reasons It Takes So Long - Algrim.co

How Long To Wait After An Interview 5 Reasons It Takes So Long - Algrim.co

Why Hating Your Job is a Waste of Time

Why Hating Your Job is a Waste of Time Todays post will resonate with many twentysomethings who dont like their jobs and still have the opportunity to do something about it.  I agree with author, Jesse, when he says you dont HAVE to accept career  dissatisfaction  as part of growing up.  Although changing jobs or industries may sometimes take a LONG time, it is entirely possible. BUT, it requires consistent action instead of consistent complaining.  Do you hate YOUR job?  What are you doing about it? -Nicole Some people will have you believe that hating your job is something you will have to come to accept as a part of growing up and entering the workforce. Although there are aspects of every job that may be less than ideal, being filled with dread before each work day is a much more serious condition than facing minor annoyances throughout the workday. Regardless of the compensation that you may receive from a job you hateâ€"higher pay, shorter hours, health benefitsâ€"the trade-off for your happiness and sense of purpose within your job often makes the perks seem insignificant by comparison. Remember that the main reason to have a job in the first place is to enjoy autonomy and financial security. When put in this perspective, having a job that forces you to sacrifice your happiness and well-being seems counterproductive in its very nature. Ask Yourself What You Want Although the job market may not necessarily be welcoming to newcomers, there are still opportunities available that can help you advance in your current career or switch to a new one to receive more fulfillment from your job. The first thing you have to do is identify what it is about your job that causes you the most dissatisfaction. Identifying problems within the job is the only way you will be able to determine appropriate and effective solutions. For example, if your biggest concern is your salary and benefits, this could potentially be solved by moving up within the company. If your problem lies with the industry you are in, you might have to seek more drastic solutions. Take a Second Look at Education One of the best ways you can set yourself up for advancement in your industry, or get your foot in the door in a preferred industry, is by extending your education. Acquiring an advanced degree in your field or a standard degree in the field of your choice can often be as easy as opening up your laptop. Widespread availability of online programs, or online class alternatives at traditional institutions can give you the opportunity to work toward furthering your education while keeping up with the demands at work. Although you can commit to a degree track, it may also be beneficial to just take a few advanced classes to give you an extra edge in your job search. Get Info The Internet is also an excellent tool for expanding your professional network after office hours. Conducting an effective job search while still meeting the requirements of your current job can be difficult, but websites like LinkedIn make it more accessible and convenient for you to connect with individuals in the industries of your choice. Additionally, social networking can allow you to increase your visibility and appeal in the job market, which means that potential employers can find you instead of the other way around. Through LinkedIn and other social networking websites, you have the opportunity to reach out to professionals of all kinds to obtain job leads and advice on how to find a job that is better-suited for your needs. Your job shouldn’t make you feel trapped or unfulfilled. Understanding and taking full advantage of the opportunities available to you is the only way to find success in your preferred industry, while gaining more self-satisfaction from your job. If youre unhappy at work, do you know what type of job or career youd prefer instead? If you dont know what you want to do yet, how are you going about finding your path? What would you recommend for others who are unsure of their next career move? Do you think some people will always be unhappy at work?

The art of the fifteen-minute break

The art of the fifteen-minute break The reason you need to take breaks from your work is that if you dont pick your head out of the trees youll never see the forest. Great ideas do not come to those continually mired in details. Your brain needs a moment to relax. Most of us know this intuitively. The problem is that most of the ways we relax at during work are destructive: candy break, smoking break, online shopping. I thought of this because today Chads Reviews, which is totally over-the-top workplace commentary, pokes fun of the idea of taking a break to do something destructive: If You Get A Smoke Break, Then I Can Punch The Wall For 15 Minutes. (If you like Chad, you must read his blog raison detre: Why Im Frickin Doing This) I find that I usually degenerate from doing something hard to surfing to eating to biting my nails. Its a frustrating path and I always wish that I took a true break at the surfing and saved my nails. I have actually taught myself how to meditate, and it works every time. But sitting on the floor next to my computer, which takes no energy and less than two seconds to do, somehow has become as difficult for me to do as going to the gym. Being with yourself is hard. Turning off the input is hard. Believe me, it is so much easier for me to read Chads Reviews than it is to clear my head and think of nothing. But when I meditate, even for a minute, which is acceptable but on the too-short side, I see huge improvement in my ability to do good work. And I am not crazy. Researchers have found that meditation improves work performance. I have to be honest, though. Training myself to meditate took a lot of practice, and I learned it in order to perfect my jump serve in volleyball, not to be better in an office. (Visualization is a proven technique among Olympic athletes.) But you know what? I really dont think Id have reached the professional ranks of volleyball without having added meditation to my training. (The book I used: Peak Performance: Mental Training Techniques of the Worlds Greatest Athletes.) Just typing the name of the book reminds me of what a big impact it made on my life in terms of my ability to focus and think big. I really believe meditation will improve my office work, too, if Id just sit on the floor and do it. I thought maybe if I blogged about how important it is, then Id be more likely to do it next time I find myself going to the fridge when the only thing Im hungry for is a break.

Effective Tips to Find A Job Without Any Past Work Experience

Effective Tips to Find A Job Without Any Past Work Experience Graduation ceremonies are over, the tears and excitement are behind, and now you face the harsh reality â€" you need to continue your life and find a good job. You struggle with writing a resume Here are some tips for you to get rid of the frustration and find a job of your dreams.BE CONFIDENT IN WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVEevalMost of the people think that their university degree isn’t an experience â€" that’s not right! We all current employees started from something without having any experience, you have never been alone in this! The actual problem is when you want to get the position that requires more skills than those on the beginner level in the company.But you can start one step lower on a career ladder and succeed faster! Follow these recommendations to make your CV look strong enough even without the experience section:1. Apply for any entry position in the company â€" corporate representatives do not expect people with several years of experience there.2. Turn your lack of w orking experience as a strong motivation to learn and develop in the new field â€" use the motivation letter option to describe your intentions.3. Concentrate on your skills â€" list all you can do with computers, in communication, and while researching and solving problems. Don’t hesitate to mention your readiness to help, eagerness to train, and professionalism â€" these skills are crucial while working in a team!4. Reflect in your application that you are exactly the person the company is looking for â€" address all the requirements in job offer carefully and honestly.eval5. Try volunteering to collect some experience â€" that’s one of the best options to spend time and learn something new and exciting, trust us! INVESTIGATE YOUR CONNECTIONSEven with a great CV, it often happens that your candidacy is not chosen. How to make sure you’ve done everything possible? Believe it or not, but your friends and acquaintances can help you even better than a great profile on a couple o f pages.Surprise? But that’s how any company works â€" they first ask their workers whether they know someone interesting and good, and then place a job offer for everyone. So make sure you have someone who can advise you!A great social network to check whether your connections can help is LinkedIn. This website has several degrees of your connection to company representatives â€" and if it’s a first or second one, it means that you have a connection to the company of your interest, congrats! In this case, ask for the help from your friends â€" talk to them or propose to introduce you to the person in the company. That personal recommendation can work much better for you than an excellent work experience!evalBut what if no connections found? Too early to be upset â€" you can establish it by following this step Notwithstanding, it mostly requires no experience for you, so it is a great start for you to choose the best job for you by trying different occupations and establishing c onnections. In any case, you can reward yourself by buying something on Amazon after a good working day!START WRITINGAs the last option that requires no experience, consider writing. Of course, you can bake, draw, or dance, but this skill is basic and is taught to everyone in a school. Everyone has thoughts worth expressing; try doing it for money!You can start from micro tasks offered by Clickworker and practice writing, product description, data entry, research, and translating; if you need more space to write, submit your 1,500-word paper to Listverse â€" they’ll pay you if it is catchy; or write for business in Blogmutt and translate for 1-800-Translate.However, if you are actually invited for the interview, don’t hesitate and share all your knowledge you have and show all your strengths. Be ready to present your most valuable knowledge in order to create a great first impression of yourself that will lead you to further career achievements.Good Luck!eval

Review of Heather Huhmans New Book Entry Level Tweet - CareerEnlightenment.com

Individuals in your life love you dearly and give you advice with the best intentions. But they are probably wrong.Thank you Heather for sparing me the read of an entire chapter, when youve made the point in 140 characters.Dont beat yourself up for not making the right choice at first most of us dont!If you are like me, you are busy, and want to get to the point fast, then this is the kind of career book you will read many times. Dont worry though, it only took me 15 minutes to get through it.Apart from the philosophical, Heather also shares some VERY practical advice. For instance, read her excellent advice about your job seeking business cards:On the front of your business card, include your name, major, phone number, e-mail address, and link to your online portfolio.On the back of your business card, include a version of your professional profile from your résumé.Who Should Read Entry Level TweetThe book is very clearly geared toward the new graduate. If youve been in the workf orce for more than 2   years, you may find some of this advice common sense by now. However, there is quite a bit of value in her guidance around personal branding and it never hurts to get those reminders about proper networking.Overall, if you are looking for a fun light read to inspire your job search, then you cant really go wrong with this one. At the very least, youll have some helpful, pithy, reminders for keeping your job search on track.Where Do I Get a CopyThe book is available on The Publishers Website. And if you send in your receipt to Heather Huhmans Blog by Feb 19th, 2010 youll got some free stuff from the author.If youve also read the book and would like to share your thoughts, please feel free to do so here.

How to Write a Great Teaching Resume

How to Write a Great Teaching ResumeIf you have been thinking about getting a teaching position, then maybe you are in the market for some help in writing your teaching resume. In this article, I will share some ideas on how to write a great teaching resume.One of the first things that you will want to do is identify what you are really looking for in a teaching position. Maybe you are looking for some extra paid time off, an online course, or even a summer teaching internship. Whatever your reasons for wanting to get into a teaching position, remember that it doesn't matter if you have a Bachelor's degree or not - you should always try to make sure that you are looking for a job with a teaching college that is recognized by your state.Once you have identified what you are looking for in a teaching job, you need to think about how you are going to write your teaching resume. How are you going to describe your experiences? Do you want to describe yourself as someone who has experience teaching English as a second language? Perhaps you are seeking a teaching position in elementary education or in special education.When looking for a teaching career, you may want to consider working on your current level of education. For example, if you already have a Masters in Education, then you may be able to find a teaching position with a private school without too much trouble. However, if you are not a qualified teacher or are only at the very beginning of your teaching career, you may want to consider focusing your teaching resume on a private or public school teaching program. While your resume is tailored for the teaching position, it will also be geared towards how well you have handled the different teaching courses that you have taken.After you have written a teaching resume, you may want to print out the document and do some edits to it. You may want to include a few sample teaching assignments that you have completed, or you may want to add in some information abo ut your personal goals, interests, and skills. You may want to add a section that explains why you were looking for a teaching position in the first place. Or you may want to take some time to clarify the teaching curriculum that you plan to teach in your classroom.When you are writing your teaching resume, you may want to take some time to look at what other people are doing with their resumes. Think about how you would like to be remembered and why. You may even want to highlight any areas where you excelled. Remember, your teaching resume is for the first impression - so take the time to make sure that it is one that people will remember.Remember, there are many ways to write a good teaching resume. You don't have to spend a lot of time doing this; all that you need to do is identify what you want and get started. Remember, your resume will be the first thing that a potential employer sees, so you need to make sure that it is a good one.