Communication – Personal Development – Business

A friend of mine was recently laid off after 26 years of employment with a utility company. Being vested may have triggered his response to this otherwise negative turn of events. Understand that he is a left-brained, serious individual. His choice? Put a pink Post-it note on his forehead for the rest of the day. (Get it? Pink slip?)

One of the managers stopped him in the hall and congratulated him for understanding the financial decision that the company had to make and for adding a bit of wit to the situation. My friend made the choice not to become a toxic person or create conflict in the workplace! He decided to take personal responsibility for his future.

He has made sound life choices to spur this response:

-       Made good decisions and created financial stability

-       Has a “Plan B” on what he will do next

-       Understood the business situation of the company

-       Knew it was realistic that he may be “RIFed” (reduction in force)

-       Is mentally ready to move to higher ground

-       Doesn’t take himself too seriously

If this were to happen to you, how would you handle it? Or if it did happen to you, how did you handle it?

Tags: laid off by Marsha
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Real world: Unemployment is 10.2%. With so many people looking for employment, you must ensure that your talents stand out. Whether you’ve been laid off, are unsure of your future with your current position or are looking for a promotion, here are seven secrets that will help you be the star.

1. Communication development: No matter what happens, you have polished communication skills and are ready to respond assertively in any circumstance.

2. Conflict resolution skills: People are angry and unsettled. When tempers flare, you can move disagreements to amicable solutions.

3. Decision making skill: You are not mired in “analysis paralysis” and can gather information to make a decision that brings needed results to the situation.

4. Effective presentation skills: Your platform skills are polished and on a moments notice, without anxiety and fear, you can address any group concisely.

5. Employee retention strategies: Whether a leader or not, you understand self-leadership and support key people to sustain even difficult times.

6. Personal development expert: You understand the importance of life long learning and continue to polish your skills.

7. Workplace team building: Whether the team lead or not, you help every project move forward in a positive, efficient manner.

It’s your turn to choose what you can improve and polish. These are skills and habits and you can change them if you want!

Would love to hear your comments about this post!

ps: Click here to download the eBook The CEO of YOU: leading yourself to success – my treat! A huge thank you for all of you that purchased my latest release … and it is now on the Bookscan Bestseller List!

Also, please check www.ReactorFactorBook.com – you can download the worksheets from The Reactor Factor: how to handle difficult work situations without going nuclear.

Tags: employment, laid off, unemployment by Marsha
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Problem: You have an employee, colleague or friend who is very talented but when they are given feedback, even of the simplest kind, they start crying. This person is a TOP performer and has great potential.  You are thinking that they either lack confidence, or their expectation of themselves is too high, but then maybe it’s fear of failure.  As a leader, you want to help.  You know that if they do not get their emotions under control and learn to communicate more effectively, they will sabotage their succession to the top.  You interview their past manager/supervisor and determine that this has been an ongoing problem. The good news is it’s not you! Maybe you should get this pin?

Here are some ideas:
1.    Listen to how you mentally react to the crying employee:
a.    Crying does not automatically mean weakness.
b.    Accept that their crying makes you uncomfortable.
c.    Consider that their crying could be a ploy to manipulate you.
d.    Keep an open mind and look past your conventional wisdom and embedded prejudices.
e.    Polish your communications and stay calm. Don’t feel guilty.
f.    Don’t allow their crying to push you into tabling the topic at hand.

2.    Let the employee cry, offer a tissue, and try to empathize. Ask questions to determine what’s bothering them. Show your concern.
a.    Let them vent and when they are done, ask, “Is there anything else?”
Quickly focus on solutions.
b.    Ask, “Have I said something to personally upset you? If so, what?”
c.    Ask, “As a leader, know that I want to help you succeed. What is your concern?”
d.    Ask “If this is of a personal nature and you are not comfortable discussing the issue with me, would you please allow me to find someone to help you?”
e.    “Please let me know when you are ready to continue our discussion.”

3.    If you have to, reschedule the meeting and make sure you get back together within 24 hours to resolve the original reason for the meeting.
a.    Don’t launch into the feedback initially.
b.    Do discuss the perception of crying in the workplace. (Lack of professionalism, poor self-leadership, low self-confidence, negative self-esteem.) Make a list with them.
c.    Set a goal to help this person change their mental thinking and emotional habits

4.    Determine the outcomes this person wants in the workplace, their job and their career.
a.    To address this issue at a “non emotional time” consider asking: “I have something of a sensitive nature I would like to discuss with you.  Can we discuss this now?”  You are asking permission to discuss crying on the job.
b.    Be their mentor or help them find one.
c.    Determine if there is a real behavioral or emotional problem. If so, contact the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) person, Human Resources department or someone else who can help.
d.    Emotional outbursts of any kind are not appropriate in the workplace. Consider including such a statement in their job responsibilities and expected outcomes. This should be done for all employees.

Marsha Petrie Sue, MBA, CSP – Professional Speaker and Writer
Annoy People: Take Personal Responsibility

Sign up for The Personal Responsibility for Success Club on FaceBook.

http://t.pm0.net/s/c?6h.bkbz.1.7qpe.

Tags: accountability, job success by Marsha
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When it’s your Birthday in our family, you can do and eat anything you want.  So in celebrating my husband’s special day, he immediately requested The Waffle House.  Visions of clogged arteries, expanding waistlines and indigestion quickly filled my head.

Upon arrival to the local Waffle House, we were greeted by a friendly smile and enthusiastic, real welcome. There was one small booth left in the crowded eatery, so we hurriedly took it.  Franny was immediately at our table asking for beverages, and made a pleasant comment about my husbands Tennessee ball cap. And there it started.

I had never been in a Waffle House and can guarantee that within five minutes, my judgment of a “depressing greasy spoon” was erased because it was about the attitude and joy experienced.  Every employee was engaged, laughing and helping each other.  Without hesitation or asking, they dove into whatever needed to be done.

Self-leadership lessons:
1.    Lighten up and give everyone a sincere greeting.
2.    If you don’t like your job – get out. If you don’t like them, they probably don’t like you.
3.    Pitch in and help whenever needed – without being asked.
4.    Engage in some small talk.  Show that you are interested in the person and the job.
5.    Be authentic. Be yourself. Be kind. Be gracious.

Any thoughts?  What do you think?

Tags: job success by Marsha
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The Arizona Cardinals Matt Leinart learned very quickly how to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive outcome.  In 2004, he was the teams first round draft pick, fueled by his winning the Heisman Trophy presented to the outstanding college football athlete. Enter Kurt Warner to the Cardinals line, who was quickly assigned the starting quarterback by Arizona coach Keith Whisenhunt.

Leinart choose not to mope or become a distraction to the team’s success.  “It took me a little while just to sit back and say, ‘You know what, I can be a distraction. I can be all mad and point the finger and be that guy who is not supportive.’ Or I can say, ‘I’m going to be a good teammate.  I’m going to support Kurt and work my butt off and prepare every day like I’m the starting quarterback, ‘” Leinart says.  His attitude is adjusted because he understands that experience is the best teacher thinking, “I’m not a bad quarterback.  I just happen to be on the same team with this guy, Kurt Warner!”

What else do you think is important to keep your job?  Marsha

Tags: accountability, attitude, job success, success by Marsha
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Thought you would enjoy this!

Marsha,

Kudos for some good advice on resume writing!  As a certified professional resume writer for many years (I no longer actively market this service as I’ve moved onto other interests), your advice is quite spot on.  Even though resumes people have all the information that is necessary to create a resume, few have any clue how to create that “effective” document that will get them a second glance.  A well-written, concise and attractive presentation are critical, especially in competitive job markets.

One point that perhaps didn’t receive adequate comment was that prospective employers are interested in “accomplishments” over “responsibilities.”  I cannot tell you how many resumes I viewed that had these words:  “Responsibilities included …” Presenting factual data that supports what you actually achieved is far more powerful and enticing.

A final point I’d like to make is using the “less is more” principle.  People should not try to include everything about their lives in their resume and especially should exclude personal information, redundancies, unrelated information, hobbies (unless there is some direct correlation to the position), and information that is outdated.

There is lots of advice (some conflicting) available to people through the Internet, in resume books, and through professional resume writers, though often people cannot afford to hire a professional.

Thanks for passing along some great tips!

Becky

Tags: job success, resume by Marsha
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I was asked on a radio show what are the real secrets to getting a job in this economy. With so many people looking for employment, you must insure that your resume stands out.  There are 7 secrets that will insure that you are the star that your future employer plucks out of the sky. Remember that the goal of a resume is to get an interview, so take a leadership stance and total personal responsibility to make it a great one. Glad I’m not sending out a Resume!  There were typo’s in this post!!

1.    What is your job objective? You can’t scribe before this step. This is your hook, and the statement that most people don’t even consider.  It is the key that gets you noticed. And always write it from the employer’s point of view.
Self-serving objective: To obtain a responsible (as opposed to irresponsible?) and challenging (what, you don’t like dull work?) position where my education and work experience will have valuable application (like finding a cure for cancer?)
Attention-getting objective: Mid-level management position in sales where over 10 years of experience will add value to the sales department and company profits.
2.    Companies now scan your resume and will look for key words.  Pay close attention to the posting of the job and use their words that have been chosen by the hiring manager. If you use paragraphs, your resume will wind up in the circular file. Chose bullet points for your concise statements. You should always use %’s, $’s and #’s.  Percentages, dollar totals, and numbers stand out in the body of a resume.
Incorrect: Was the top sales producer for the region
Correct: Managed 20% of all accounts with sales in excess of $20M annually

3.    Customize your resume for each company. This will increase your chance of an interview and remember – that is the goal! It’s all about personal responsibility, and self-leadership for you to find your business success.
4.    Read a book about graphic design. Look at ads and pay attention to where you look first.  Design is important on your resume! Open space or “white space” is good. Font should be no smaller than 10 point and use Times New Roman or a similar style.
5.    Stay upbeat and positive.  There is no room for toxic behavior and negative stories. If you don’t want there to be an issue with your age, do not include your year of graduation.  Remember this also when listing your positions and companies.
6.    Focus only on what is relevant to the job you are seeking.  Leave off irrelevant information such as race, gender, and other personal statistics. Have someone else read and critique your resume with specific examples of why it is good or bad.  You are way to close to be objective. Remember to limit the resume to one page!
7.    Choose a high quality of 24-pound cream or white colored paper on which to print your resume.  Consider water marked paper and envelopes. Make sure the envelope is well formatted, the return address is clear and even check that the stamp is square in the corner.  It is all about first impression.
Now that your resume is done, email me for your copy of The Ten Commandments of Cooperation so your interview rewards you with a job offer!

Do you have any other great ideas?  Would love your comments.  Marsha

Tags: Job Interviews, job success by Marsha
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Oops!  Hitting the Reply All button strikes havoc once again.  The State Department’s email was almost shut down because of the size of an email. One person decided to hit this email choice, clogging the system to a noticeable level. So here are some considerations for better e-mail etiquette.

1. Select only the people in the cc: list that care about or need the information.  Rarely is it everyone on the carbon copy diatribe.

2. Re-title the message as the theme and topic changes. For the receiver of the message, it keeps the focus on what you are addressing.  For you, it makes it easier if you are searching for a message previously sent.

3. Obvious, but people still do it.  Don’t type in all caps.  It is hard to read and can be interpreted as shouting.

4. If you have a questions that has not been answered in two emails, pick up the phone or walk to other person’s office. This will save you time and build better relationships.

5. If you are upset and sending an email to address the situation, write it and save it as a draft.  Wait at least one hour, reread the message, and you will find that you need to rewrite part of the message and extract the emotion and anger.

6. Be concise and to the point. Think about using bullet points.  Most readers find this much easier to read, especially when you are receiving so many emails every day!

7. Make sure the original message (called a message thread) is included in your reply.  Otherwise the recipient may not have the context of your answer.

8. Use proper punctuation, structure and layout.

9. Do not use email to discuss confidential matters and consider adding a disclaimer to your message.

10. Try to read and proof your email before sending it. (This is one I’m working on!!)

Here a couple other posts on email that will help too!  http://decontaminatetoxicpeople.com/category/email/

Tags: communications, email by Marsha
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Headlines today: Job losses forecast to continue during ‘09.  So here is the problem.

The number one New Years Resolution is to be more healthy and lose weight. Actually paying attention to your fitness and girth can help your business success. Here’s how. Did you know that some companies are penalizing people for being fat?  Outrageous you might say. The fact is companies are choosing this route in an effort to cut health care costs and reduce the number of people having to be laid off. It is a bottom line, business decision and has nothing to do with fat acceptance or non-acceptance. Does this resonate with you? Have you pledged to better self-awareness to manage your health?

Scenario: The manager has been told to lay off one person. There are two that have been identified as candidates and they both have the same skills and background.  One is fit and one is not. Which one would you RIF (Reduction in Force)?

If you are trying to deflabbify yourself, think about the TLC.
Take it: You know you need to drop a few pounds but right now you have so much on your mind that you choose not to tackle your over active fork.  You have a plan to tackle it in 30 days and mark it on your calendar. The decision is to tackle it from a life style change vs. going on another yo-yo diet.

Leave it: You decide not to take any action and to reject the idea of losing weight.  Dieting is such a drag and you are always hungry. Buying larger clothes isn’t so bad anyway.  Who is going to notice or care.  Look at Oprah.  She just continues to yo-yo and you don’t want to fall into that trap.

Change it: You pledge to yourself to make a life style change.  You want to replace your six-pack with a six-pack. Your thighs rubbing together and igniting on fire is no longer funny. You make a flexible action list that will be your guide to feeling better and being healthier.  It’s not about dieting, it is about taking personal responsibility for your choices.  You are in control of what goes in your mouth. Yes, you need to change some habits and that is a good thing.  Some of your affirmations can include:
•    I save money because eating more costs more.
•    When I eat fast food, which is be less often, I make better choices.
•    I feel better about myself and I know I look better.
•    My insurance premiums are reduced because I am not in a high-risk group.
•    I enjoy the children in my life and am a better role model.
•    I understand that being overweight is an unspoken issue in business. I am not overlooked for my next position because of my girth. Obesity doesn’t carry the same protections as race, gender, age, etc.
•    My productivity is improved because I will have more energy and better focus. I know this can chip away at my earning potential and efficiency, so I choose to control it!

According to a Stanford University study, obese people with health coverage may already be punished on the job. Those surveyed were paid an average of $1.20 less per hour than non-obese workers. Why? Employers may intentionally adjust overweight employees wages to account for health care costs. Bottom line: it costs them more so it will cost you more!

So the real info that can help you NOT get laid off, is to lay off the candies, goodies and junk food.  Any other ideas on this dilemma? I would love for you to post your comment or question!

Marsha Petrie Sue

Tags: bad habits, health, laid off, outsourced by Marsha
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Think about how you will be better and different in 2009.  Here is a list for consideration:

1. Take Personal Responsibility for everything

2. Decide to decide and make better choices

3. Learn something new at least weekly

4. Choose to reduce conflict and improve communications

5. Spend wisely and save more. Don’t buy junk you don’t need

6. Celebrate more and create joy

7. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Peace, love, HOPE and happiness.
Have a safe, prosperous and Happy New Year!  Marsha Petrie Sue
__________________
Marsha Petrie Sue, professional speaker and author, is the Muhammad Ali of communicators. She can dance and look pretty, and she uses the entire ring, but she knows how and when to land a knockout punch.  Get the smelling salts! Her presentations are charm school with live ammunition. From Dave Rawles – President, Career Solutions

Bestseller on the “What Corporate America is Reading” from CEO-Read, Barnes and Noble and Amazon
She has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek On Line, Business Journal, Reuters, Investors Business Digest and more! www.MarshaPetrieSue.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgPaiX7exm4

Tags: ability, accountability, career, personal responsibility, success by Marsha
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