Communication - Personal Development - Business

I have reinforced many things I already know through the news this week by paying attention to the headlines. 

Big Brown was a shoe in to win the Triple Crown.  Didn’t happen.
A few months ago Hillary Clinton was a shoe in to win the Democratic convention. Didn’t happen.
Donald Trump expected Casinos to fatten his fortune. Didn’t happen.

Winning takes focus, discipline, flexibility, self-awareness and more to gain the success you want and deserve.

From Big Winners and Big Losers by Alfred A. Marcus
The big winners:
1. Occupied sweet spots – they found their niche.  Think about your job.  Are you in your sweet spot?  If not, why not?

2. Possessed the ability to move into these spots. Evaluate your skills.  Do your talents match what is necessary to excel?  If not, get the skills or find a new “spot.”

3. Disciplined themselves to defend their spots. Be able to keep the focus and get rid of the distractions and diversions of life. Learn how to keep your eye on the target.

4. Exploited and extended their positions. Network, and build successful alliances.  Exploit is not a bad word.

The reports revealed big losers:
1. Occupied sour spots. Didn’t take the time to really figure out what is needed.

2. Were rigid. Not flexibility is a killer.  The “My way or the highway” attitude doesn’t work, especially with people in the Generation Y category.

3. Could not defend their positions. Haven’t given much thought to the “why” behind their position.

4. Could not take advantage of their positions.
Learn to successfully manage the tensions between agility, discipline, and focus. Go to the library; check out a book, buy a book or two so you and your company don’t become one of the negative headlines.

Comments welcome - so please post!  Thanks, Marsha

Tags: job success, personal responsibility, success by Marsha
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What do you do with difficult people and generally bad employees? Now is the perfect time to do a little Spring Cleaning. Here’s the dirty little secret. Think about cleaning up your own communication skills in dealing with toxic people. I found an interesting Forbes Article and it reminded me that there are considerations for cleaning up the bad employees and difficult people:

1. Don’t gossip. Stay as far away from the grapevine’s trash can as you can and the official Director of Chaos. People that involve themselves in the “whine and geez” parties rarely move up the ladder. Don’t let the “bad apple” of the bunch suck you in. Take personal responsibility for your own positive attitude. Get out the mental vacuum and clean up your thinking.

2. Communicate what you need, want and expect. People are not mind readers. You will be amazed on how many communication skills we know but do not use. Just like your cleaning supplies, dig through them, find the best, and most importantly, USE THEM!!! Here is my favorite assertive communication model:

• Acknowledge their request or issue
• Use “I” language (I think, I want, I need, etc.)
• Verbalize two alternatives, solutions or whatever and when possible, let them choose.

3. Stop trying to save the world. Understand your own values and worry about cleaning up yourself. You are tremendous role model for others and mentoring will take place naturally. Don’t try to solve other people’s problems and work on your own personal development. You don’t have to clean up after them!

Bad employees don’t like personal responsibility, positive attitudes and good communications. Create a forward thinking environment and your cobwebs of problems will be swept away!

What will you do to begin your Spring Cleaning? Maybe start with your home first to get you in the mood!

Marsha

Tags: Gossip, bad behavior, job success by Marsha
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Did you read the brilliant post from Noel? Absolutely spot on! Now here is the real news. Gen Y expects you to constantly train them with personal development ideas and move them to the next level. If you don’t do it, they will leave you and find someone else that will! Or if they don’t leave, they will become a difficult person and create a chain reaction of low morale.

So if you already know that, why wouldn’t build loyalty by helping them build a resume that will help them succeed! The downside is if you don’t have a “next step” for them, they will take their marbles to the next game. The upside is the building of trust and loyalty.

Do you have any new ideas for recognition?  Marsha

Tags: Gen Y, job success, resume by Marsha
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I was recently asked by a reader how they could possibly be overlooked as an expert on the job when, in fact, they are the expert and someone else is getting the credit.  Here are the facts.  If you don’t let people know how good they are, they will never know!

You must blow your own horn without becoming arrogant or a pain in the rear.  It is just that simple.  In the fast paced word of business today, leaders just don’t have time to seek you out.  You must take the lead.

Keep a success journal so when it’s time for your review and appraisal you have a tool that will recap all the great things you have done. Uncover problems and issues before anyone else does and take a couple of solutions to the team or your leader.  This is where stars are born.

In addition, do not take it personally when they don’t recognize your contributions. Do take control so that your lack of speaking up doesn’t hold you back in your job success! Learn to promote yourself!

The only two helping hands you will ever have are at the end of your elbows.

Marsha

****************
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Tags: communicate, communications, hiring, job success, promote yourself, success by admin
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