Author Archive
The mystery of Agent Stan Conch…SOLVED!
Posted by: | CommentsDo you know Agent Stan Conch? More importantly, can you manage working with him? He is in every part of our work life and personal life. We ALL know and work with Agent Stan Conch. He is wildly unpredictable, can be furiously stormy and always seems to show up at the least opportune times.
How does one prepare to deal with his/her Agent Stan Conch? The strong, the mighty and unflappable remark that when they are faced with the agents’ turmoil, they rely heavily on their greatest strengths.
As a behavioral guru, I thrive in helping others realize their greatest work potential through their core competencies. You were born with them and carrying them with you your entire life. Are you however, aware of what they are?
Core competencies are the natural strengths that you embody, assisting you in all situations, good and bad. If you know your competencies, you can call upon them in times of turmoil and times of celebration.
Recommended competencies needed to deal with Agent Stan Conch:
While the assortment of competencies range in the hundreds, focusing on your top key strengths are the most important. Listed below are my TOP 10 picks to muscle up when the agent arrives.
Where have all the leaders gone?
Posted by: | CommentsFlip-flip, flip-flip, flip-flip, flip-flip…the sound of the revolving doors at Kaufmann’s Department Store more than 30 years ago in downtown Pittsburgh. If you grew up in the suburbs, you knew that the best place to meet your friends for a day of shopping was under the clock at Kaufmann’s.
The memories of shopping in retail stores is marked with exceptional service, quality of product and a superb experience. Shopping in the city was an event. Display cases always full, sales associates pressed and polished and shopping bags overflowing. Flip-flip, flip-flip.
Fast-forward, it is 2010. Flip-flip, flip-flip, flip-flip, flip-flip, the revolving door continues however, this time, it is the revolving door of corporate retail and the short term leaders.
Where have all the leaders gone?
Today’s most effective leader is far and few between. We live in a throw-away world. While there is merit in making change to grow in a career, today’s leader seems to be changing every 2 years at the executive level in many retail companies. Is it greed? Incompetence? Or is it that these are good leaders working for CEO’s who are inept?
Presentation skills are more than “talk”
Posted by: | CommentsCourageous leaders have an organic skill that shines above all else…Presentation Skills. The ability to engage others through presentation skills exercised daily through one-on-one conversations, group interactions and conference calls is more than just “talk”. To present effortlessly increases credibility, confidence and commands attention.
A skilled leader with presentation ability is one who can discuss topics 24-7. This leader likely is a subject matter expert, can engage in controversial topics and maintain a sense of calm. Presentation skills are fluid and can be changed midstream to support questions being asked.
So what does a skilled, credible leader with strong presentation ability look like behaviorally? Listed below are a few examples to help you identify a polished presenter.
1- You can answer questions ad hoc, in meetings, hallways, during one-on-one discussions and are seen as a confident subject matter expert.
2- Peers, bosses and subordinates come to rely on you as a person with an opinion, courage and perspective. People want to be on your team, involved in your projects and be associated with you as a brand.
Top 5 must haves this season…on Linkedin
Posted by: | CommentsYou wouldn’t think of going on a job interview in mix matched attire and tattered shoes as this would be a poor reflection of your personal brand right? So why present your personal brand on linkedin with anything less than the best representation of YOU?
The top 5 picks that I recommend you have in your Linkedin wardrobe include:
1 – Complete your profile 100% and be active. Take an hour and follow teh simple guidelines. Write your information in short bite-sized paragraphs or bullet points. Lead with an interesting cocktail pitch that will attract others to want to connect with you. Have you taken Strengths Finder 2.0, DiSC, Lominger or other profile assessement? Post your results! Let others know who you are and what makes you tick!
There is a reason social/professioanl sites are called NETWORK sites. Think…NETWORK = NOT WORK. If you showed up at a networking event, you would likely show up to network. Do the same on linkedin and be active. A stagnate profile may be viewed as a stagnate professional. Make new contacts weekly and keep others interested in who you are!
If you were Brick and Mortar, would you Shop (Hire) YOU?
Posted by: | CommentsAsk yourself honestly, if you were going to shop for a stellar, top-notch player for your team, would you shop you? A simple yes or no will suffice. If you answered yes, fantastic! Read on and see if your answer is still yes at the close of today’s read.
For my retail fans, I am dedicating today’s blog to you! This includes corporate Product Managers, Buyers, Operations, Merchants, Senior Executives, HR Professionals as well as field District Mangers, Regional Directors and Store Management. Over the past few months, I have been hit with numerous questions regarding resumes, packaging your pitch for cocktail talk and interview coaching.
A common theme has surfaced…packaging you as a commodity.
Supposing you are a store…what compelling value do you have to offer? Would you shop you?
There are 5 essentials in marketing you that many retail professionals simply overlook. You pride yourself in knowing what is HOT and NOT in fashion trends however, you may be falling short of what is HOT and NOT is marketing your skills.
Pull out your resume (or advertising campaign) and examine it thoroughly using the sticking points below as a guide.
More than ever, I am hearing top talent from various positions and industries express their discontent with lengthy interviews processes, poor recruiting etiquette and indecisive decision-making on behalf of companies. While we are still experiencing an employers market, the employer needs to regain focus and treat candidates with dignity and respect. Until that happens, taking control of managing your own brand and your employment satisfaction is the best gift you can give yourself.
Reportedly in recent studies that I have conducted from a cross-section of talent, candidates are going through as many as 8 and 9 interviews without any closure. Interestingly, this is happening in world-class coveted brands.
Privately owned companies seem to be gaining momentum in tapping into the lost art of candidate courting! One candidate reported dedicating as many as 35 hours interviewing for a position with a well known brand. This went on for 5 months. Ultimately, the company decided to go with an internal candidate. 35 hours is significant and nothing to sneeze at. Interesting enough, the candidate was NOT looking for employment and was approached by a recruiter. The bait and switch seems to be pervasive in recruiting today.
Bullying Leadership…to Sign or NOT to Sign
Posted by: | CommentsPerformance management and documenting performance issues are a mainstay for any size business or company. In my experience, the majority of leaders effectively use the process correctly, constructively educating team members by engaging in two-way dialogue and course correcting actions, behaviors or allegations according to policy, procedure or company core values.
Currently, I work in various roles; HR consultant, resume writer, profile assessor and career strategist for my own small business. While I have seen and heard most everything all over 20+ years, I am still simply amazed at the number of leaders who continue to try to bully employees into quitting their jobs.
While working on an employee engagement project during my corporate tenure, I noticed a trend repeating itself which was an immediate red flag; leaders strong arming employees to sign documents that were incorrect. As an HR leader, I immediately brought the strong arming technique to the HR department VP during our action plan session. She was receptive and we immediately determined leadership education was necessary. Due to an isolated case, we were fortunate to be able to rectify the situation to prevent further liability. The leader was new to the company and admitted she had a rough approach.
Top 5 Reasons to Embrace a Job Loss
Posted by: | CommentsWith unemployment wavering at 9%, layoffs are likely to continue throughout 2010. Bleak, dismal and discouraging are words the half empty use to describe the current state of the economy, while the half full see this as a new challenge to overcome or a welcome opportunity to make a long awaited change.
Having polled a number of experienced professionals in recent months both gainfully employed and unemployed due to being laid off, I have come to the conclusion that the unemployed seem to be in a better place.
Top 5 Reasons to Embrace a Lay-off
#1 You will no longer be stretched so thin at work that you have lost sight of what your position responsibilities entail.
#2 You can start over with a clean slate after a short hiatus which you likely needed. Let’s be honest…tough times produce compiled challenges in the workplace that can become a pressure cooker. Even the best supervisor, leader, or CEO eventually starts to “crack” when sales slide.
#3 If your environment was dysfunctional, you now have a pressure free opportunity to find something better suited for you.
What are you worth? The cost of branding you.
Posted by: | Comments“The cost of doing business” speaks for itself. You have to put money out to make money; feed the investment so that it grows becoming lucrative and prosperous. A fundamental basic that business leaders process regularly, right? Absolutely!
Why then do many business professionals treat themselves and their own career marketing tools with substandard expectations? As a career strategist and resume writer, pricing of services is one of the top #3 questions asked of clients. Certainly understandable and always welcome!
If you are willing to spend money on high end clothing, hair salon upkeep or high end handbags, perhaps you may want to redistribute where you are investing your hard earned dollars. Are you buying into someone else’s brand or are you taking care of your own?
While most professionals realize the time, complexity and strategic writing that goes into developing a solid and effective marketing tool, there are always a few folks who see their resumes as a typeset piece of paper tracking the basics of their work history asking, “Why does it cost so much”?
Top 5 Reasons Professionally Written Resumes Cost Money
Work for a Jerk?
Posted by: | CommentsAt one point or another, we have all worked for a jerk. Trending analysis, client feedback and underground communication clearly indicate that mismanaged employees and boundary violations are on the rise. Managing through tough times and poor leaders is often time more difficult than the work itself. Poor leadership can range from an immediate supervisor to poor HR leadership. Noone is exempt.
Taking charge of your career and disengaging from negative forces, including a jerk of a boss is within your reach. As a Career Strategist with an organic and practiced track record of problem solving, I am focusing this weeks blog on the employee relations aspect of managing poor leadership, self preservation and maintaining your sanity.
5 Strategies to Activate NOW
#1 Document…Document…Document
Venting is short lived whereas documenting is soothing, has long range positive effects and will set you up for a chronicle of events if you need to take legal action.. Hand write your discontent in a strategy journal. This is a journal specifically dedicated to you, your work, your accomplishments and your discontent. Keep it is a safe place and use it daily. Date, time stamp and openly journal details of what is occurring. Always be sure to credit yourself for one or two accomplishments per writing. When leadership is lacking, you need to start truly leading yourself. This means crediting your daily accomplishments and cheering for yourself!
