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New Year…. New Image……Image is Everything 

Everyone knows that your voice changes when you smile, but did you know your voice changes when you stand up over sitting down. Now tell me how people perceive you when you have that inner glow of confidence. You feel different don’t you. After a long job search that glow can sometimes fade and you wonder if you will ever get it back. Sometimes a look at your image, or a check on your perception of yourselfis a good thing which can in turn jump start your job search. Sometimes knowing where to start causes the problem. The following steps may help you succeed in modifying your image for 2010. 

What do you think your current image is?  Take a few minutes to write down what you think you present to others. Think about how you dress, your posture, your voice, your presentation. What do you say? How polished is your two minute drill? 

What do other people say about your image? Go ahead and ask them. Get candid feedback. Prepare for a few surprises, just like the last 360 results you were given. 

Now, do you want to make some changes to your image?  This is where you have you have to be honest with yourself. Think about what the consequences are of you do not change. What is the worst thing that could happen if you make a change? 

Why should you want to change your image?  This depends on the feedback you received from others and whether you think a change would assist in your job search. 

If there was one thing you could change to project a better image what would it be? It could be hair, clothes, improving your network, revving up your two minute drill, or many other things, athleticism, sophistication, fashion, intelligence….. 

Select one and then identify someone you would like to emulate. Ease into it slowly. There is no need to rush and make a dramatic change. Take it slowly. 

Take stock. Did it make a difference? To others? To you? How do you feel now? 

Keep it going. 

Good luck for 2010.

I recently came accross an article by Steve Beseke which I felt was well worth sharing. We have all been knocked down in the past and with the state of the economy more people have had this happen to them recently. It is not time to give up however, and Steve raises some interesting strategies to combat knockeddownism.

Check out Steve's life resiliency article at http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-13474-Minneapolis-Career-Resiliency-Examiner~y2009m8d24-Being-Knocked-Down-Means-Getting-Up-Again-Stronger .

Have the bad economy and the associated belt-tightening, layoffs, and furloughs totally distracted you from the impending crisis you were thinking about a couple of years ago? How will your company fare if and when the economy recovers and an avalanche of baby boomer retirements occurs?  Do you have any idea whether you can really count on them staying longer because of the damage done to retirement portfolios?

Recap of the Christmas Holiday JOB Rush

December 24^th – Candidate 1 received an offer at 7pm. To quote their words it was “The best Christmas gift ever received”

December 26^th – Initial phone interview for a position. Candidate 2

December 29^th – Face to face interview Candidate 2

December 29^th – Later in the day – Email offer to Candidate 2

December 31^st – Candidate 3 receives a call for a phone interview late afternoon.

January 5^th – Candidate 4 has a face to face interview

January 6^th – Candidate 4 receives the written offer

Change, change, everywhere we turn. As a top executive, you can’t delude yourself into thinking that your entire management team and employees really like it. While there are those who thrive on change, most people experience it as a stressor. To succeed, executives must become masters at transforming the fear associated with change into workplace creativity and enthusiasm. Therein lies a major challenge. If there’s fear anywhere in the executive boardroom, it often has little or no avenue for escape. Realistic or not, executive fears can be crippling when it comes to driving a business through this abysmal state of the economy.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Nov 10, 2008) – In today’s tight economy, most of us know at least one person if not several who are out of work and looking for jobs. To brighten the holidays for these friends or family members, there are seven special gifts you can give, and they don’t cost you a dime.

I am going to finish that project!

I am going to try and finish the project!

Who do you think finished the project?

Well we sometimes defeat ourselves without even realizing it. How often have you said you will try to get to a meeting knowing that you have another event the same day? Or, when you say you will TRY to make a party and you really mean there is no way I will be there.

TRY is one word that is hard to erase from your vocabulary, but with coaching and practice it eventually disappears.

That makes you more straightforward in your speech. Makes you more respected in what you do. More confident in yourself as you know when you say something it is your word and you will stick by it. Others view you with more respect as they know where you are coming from. You even feel more confident saying, NO, I cannot make the meeting, but, I will have someone attend in my place. Or, I will follow up with you tomorrow to find out what I missed.

Go ahead. See if you can stop yourself using the “TRY” word one time today. Two times tomorrow and so on. Make it a habit.

If you cannot do it yourself, get a coach. What else can a coach help you with?

We are proud to announce and introduce Sherri Elliott as the new President of Optimance Workforce Strategies.  Sherri immediately strengthens the Optimance team.  We will now enjoy expanded capabilities to provide an integrated range of time and cost saving business solutions.  Sherri and the OWS team will deliver Human Resource audits, compliance, outsourcing, recruiting and training programs.

The headlines offer lots of free advice.  There are many articles focused on how each of us can be smarter, happier, and healthier in 2008.  Some articles are focused on our money and what we ought to do with it.  Some articles are focused on our bad habits and how we can fix ourselves.  Then we have articles focused on how we use and waste our time. 

It’s the time issue that struck me as relevant today.  At our most recent Age Impact series, the question of how one leader used her time started a conversation.  What are some time management behaviors that seem to separate top leaders from others?  How do the best managers utilize their own limited time? 

The best take the time to manage down.  Top leaders take the time to connect with subordinates.  The best managers take the time to listen to those working for them.  Top leaders know what subordinates are thinking.

We have witnessed falling leaders and managers when they’ve lost touch with their subordinates.  We’ve seen leaders lose out when they’re focused entirely on their own superiors.  We’ve seen managers lose support from lack of communication with subordinates.

Sherri Elliott, SPHR of the Elliott Consulting Group, reports that exceptional leaders are rare.  “Leaders need to see the organization from the employee’s perspective.  They need to make it easy and rewarding for employees to express themselves and their ideas, and they need to figure out how and when to delegate responsibility.  Keeping your employees in the dark is not a good measure of control, it creates distrust, and managerial silence needs to be eliminated.” 

“It has been my experience that many leaders fail to recognize the positive impact of sharing their great moments–often called challenges or perceived failings,” says Sharon Roberts of Roberts & Roberts, Executive Team Development.  Sharon indicates “I urge leaders to immediately begin encouraging their subordinates.  It is so important for leaders to be totally present when interacting with an employee whatever the amount of time is allocated.”

What do you think?  Is it appropriate for managers and leaders to spend 20% of their time, 40% of their time, or 60% of their time connecting with subordinates?   Should managers set aside a portion of their schedule for subordinates?  What portion of each day should leaders dedicate to subordinates?  Would you agree that managing down is critical?

Here’s to better leaders in 2008.

The holidays are not the time to search for a job?  WRONG!

The conventional wisdom is idiotic. Who says, "companies don't make decisions at year end"? Who says, "no one's around"?This may be the best time to make your drive into the company of your choice. Put your resume aside, start thinking about intelligent topics to discuss, and get on the phone now.

Asleep at the wheel
While other job hunters are out of the picture, make your calls to companies and people who aren't being deluged with the regular requests for interviews and information. This is a time of less competition. Capitalize on it!

The switchboard is dead
And the receptionist is bored. With fewer calls coming in, it's easier to strike up a conversation with the person who answers the phones. Ask for information, names, advice and contacts. And get the receptionist's name -- when you call back in a couple of weeks, you won't be a stranger.

I know you're alone
Lots of managers work through the holidays -- and so do lots of their team members. The place is quiet. Nerves are calm. Information is more easily had. A tactful, no-pressure call from you can yield a useful discussion -- and valuable advice and insight.Do some research, we use One Source, and be prepared to have an interactive discussion with the manager you'd like to work for. Try to stick to one subject: the work that you and the person you're calling both do. Do not ask for a job outright -- but do explain that you're considering a job change in the New Year. "I've heard a lot about you. Your company is one I'd want to work in, and I wanted to learn about the organization. By the way, congratulations on winning the XYZ deal. I read about it in ABC magazine."If the manager responds well, ask if you could stop by in a couple of days for "the cook's tour" and maybe a bite of lunch in the cafeteria. (This approach works best if a company insider refers you to the manager, but it can work regardless.)

In a recent Survey of US Business Leaders completed by Grant Thornton one of the challenges they identified to achieve superior execution was "Putting the right leaders in place".