Archive for Leadership
What is Your Business Committed to?
Posted by: | CommentsAre you committed to your business? That’s an obvious “yes” or you wouldn’t put out the welcome mat each morning. What is your business committed to? This is a different question. Is your business committed to fulfilling your initial start-up vision? Is your business committed to fulfilling a perceived need? Is your business committed to something beyond the framework of commerce?
Recently while working on my newest mosaic piece, I went to the garage and grabbed a fresh bottle of water from the case we keep out there – being winter right now it stays cool. I set the bottle on my work table and went back to the business of gluing tiny ceramic tiles into my design. I looked up and noticed that the bottle had a big green box on its label with the words “Our Commitment” in dark green text. I got intrigued. My initial thought was that Arrowhead would be committed to providing good quality spring water. However that’s not what the stated commitment on the label was about at all. The label says:
- …”We’ve always been committed to monitoring our springs in order to assess their health and manage long term water supply: both now and in the future. Be Green….”
In part that sentence does refer to the quality of the water, but it also speaks to sustainability. So I went to the website. Arrowhead Brand Mountain Spring Water says that its message is in its mission and says its mission is, “…to responsibly manage resources, reduce waste and maximize recycling efforts. Protecting our world isn’t just important now – but for generations to come.…”
This company appears to be committed to more than just providing its customers with good quality, good tasting water…it is also committed to safeguarding the sources of their product so that others who use those sources and future generations will have access to that same water. This is, to me, is an example of business being committed to something beyond the framework of commerce.
This idea of not just you as business owner being committed to your business’ success, but your business having a commitment to something made me look further. As I’ve mentioned in previous writings, I’m a late adopter of new technology so I must confess I just now got a smart phone. This past weekend I got an iPhone [wow! so cool!]. So, I got curious about what is Apple Inc.’s commitment. Here’s what I found:
- “…Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings….”
Inside that mission statement I read a promise that this business plans to continually innovate. In order to ‘bring the best personal computing experience…’ would by definition require innovation, invention, “thinking outside the box,” anticipating new technology, paradigm shifting and more…this is a huge commitment.
In my opinion the touch interface is just such an innovation. As soon as I began to play with my phone I found its first obvious advantage: not having to use and navigate a mouse saves time and effort. Using a fingertip to point and tap cuts out the need to negotiate a mouse – which also eliminates the need for added hardware…you don’t even need a stylus to tap…just requires the heat of your fingertip.
Is it a relevant question to ask of businesses like that of life coach, business consultant, marketing consultant, web designer, writer, business coach and a host of other professions held by solo-preneurs and small business owners: what is your business committed to? Beyond the initial vision when the business began, is there an element of something that is greater than the whole? In years to come what would be the legacy that your business leaves to your successors?
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
You are paying for a customized marketing tool reflecting your most important commodity…YOU. Customized, one-on-one marketing takes time and a specialized set of skills from a writer who has the ability to dig deep into extracting your key skills and accomplishments.
- A behavioral based trained professional writer has a unique skill set in individualizing and interpreting your core competencies in writing. This takes credentialed training and years of practice which is more than just being a technical writer.
- Strategic writing and appropriately targeting a clients goal is factored into a professionally written resume. When I am asked to write a general resume, I educate potential clients that this is not a service that I offer. A general resume is as useful as trying to catch a variety of fish using one type of bait.
- Researching industry trends, verbiage and current job marketing opportunities takes time. Behind the scenes, a top notch resume writer is busy collaborating with industry peers, researching web sites and bringing forward new information to support the needs of the client.
- Credentials cost money. Most writers have a varied assortment of credentials, education and training to support their writing. For a writer who is continuing to learn, refine skills, seek out new credentials and advanced exposure to global assessment programs, know that the cost of doing business will be aligned according to skills being offered.
Lesson: Invest in your professional brand by having the appropriate tools. If you are going to drive a fancy car, wear high end heels or expensive jeans, become truly authentic and coveted by having a top notch resume in your tool kit.
Why We Need a Woman at the Top
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women On Business writer
The other day I went into the closet where I store my off-season clothes and saw my “Hillary for President” baseball cap. It made me feel sad again. Not that I haven’t moved on – I truly have – but seeing the cap stirred up my sense of frustration that we haven’t been able to put a woman in our country’s top leadership position.
Did you know, according to the organization “50-50 by 2020,” that 63 women have been elected or appointed to serve as prime ministers, presidents or chancellors in 47 countries from Argentina to Yugoslavia? But not in the United States – unless you count the Fox television show “24.” This is their second season with a female president and if you’re looking for optimism, the show used to have a male African-American president – and that was before Barack Obama.
I think it’s great that we have a few women (including Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State) who are powerful and visible as representatives of our country. However, the real breakthrough will come only when a woman is elected to the highest office in the land. Why? I believe the prescription for finally breaking down stereotyping and vanquishing ignorance is for people to become accustomed, on a day-to-day basis, to having a woman in charge – with all her strengths, failings and unique leadership skills.
Research has shown that most women have very different leadership styles than men. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see how those differences play out in the office of president? Would a female leader change the paradigm through more comprehensive communication, longer term decision-making and valuing success above power? Would she be collaborative, ethical, and empathetic? Studies have shown these as some of the strengths that women possess. However, they are gender-specific behavioral stereotypes and in reality, the way in which our hypothetical female president leads will depend on the specific woman elected and her individual style.
The path to gender equality will only come through greater understanding and appreciation of individuals and their unique talents, and cannot be achieved until precedent is broken and a fundamental shift takes place. In business, a critical mass of women is necessary at the top echelons of organizations in order for women’s voices to be heard. In politics, there’s only one top job – and for women to be seen as true equals without limitations, a woman must hold the office.
What do you think? Please join the conversation!
Women Leaders and Male Partnership
Posted by: | CommentsIn any learning process, there is a tendency to go to extremes before finding middle ground. Take driving, for example. Most teens start by driving very, very slowly, learning when to accelerate and when to put the brakes on. Then there is a time when we all want to experiment with speed, until either fender hits fender, or a ticket is handed by an unsmiling policeman.
Most of us then find the safe space of the middle ground where fast and slow are dependent on the territory.
So it is with all relationships. Sometimes a hug is perfectly timed, in other situations a metaphorical “right to the jaw” is called for. In all partnerships, all life happenings, it is all in the timing.
Margaret Thatcher was a woman leader who had a great sense of timing. She was strong and gracious. She entered the territory of male domination early on and set the stage for women to follow, to learn the art of push and pull.
I am reminded of a Margaret Thatcher story: she was disappointed with her cabinet, one she felt was weak and unwilling to take stands. Her frustration came out at a dinner, so it has been told, when the waiter taking meal orders asked her “Chicken or Steak” to which she replied “Steak please”. Next question was “And what about the vegetables”. She looked up and said “Oh, they will have steak also”.
We are now in an era where the fine art of timing is even more important because the world is moving so fast. There is not the luxury to ponder, to hesitate. As women, we need to become experts in timing, when to hug and when to hit.
Patterns of behavior handed from generation to generation have kept many women in the “hug” category. Often, the extreme of “hit” has been indiscriminate. This is a major learning process for men as well as women, and what we can learn from leaders like Margaret Thatcher is not so much about policy perspectives as about the push and pull of power.
The most important learning for leaders is how to find that magic balance.
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!
#2 Keep the Personal Out of Professional
Remind yourself that you accepted your position to offer professional skills in lieu of pay. That is it! Nothing more! While it is a bonus if you make a friend or two in the workplace, your primary focus must be on your skills and honing them. If you have a jerk as a boss or a leader who leads you to feel uncomfortable, steer clear. You are under no obligation to take part. If you think you can out maneuver the person…perhaps you can but you will be far better served if you develop a strategy focusing on your accomplishments and becoming successful than trying to “play the game”.
#3 Remove Fear from your Vocabulary
There is a reason the famous quote “there is nothing to fear but fear itself” has stood the test of time. Use it. Get out from behind your fears and exercise your courage. This does not mean randomly acting out, but rather, put a plan in place on making your move to either sustain the existing workplace dysfunction OR exit the company. Planning your work and working your plan is powerful. Have dedicated hobbies outside of work. This will give you something positive and productive to look forward to and feed your focus on you.
#4 Stop living above your means NOW
If you cannot quit your job due to financial restraints, start cutting back on your luxury spending and live beneath your means. Start paying yourself first by banking as much as you can. Make a game out of stashing away extra money. You will gain power over yourself which will bring a heightened sense of confidence into the workplace. Your boss may be curious about seeing a change in your however, never needs to know why the change. Remember Rule #2??? Keep personal to yourself.
#5 Take Action.
If you have been spoken to inappropriately, asked to divulge personal information, felt emotionally violated to the point of crying or coerced to conform in what may be perceived as a borderline “touchy feely, cultish” environment, stand your ground and exercise your voice. The EEOC is always available to file charges especially if on the job allegations are not being dealt with. Environmental harassment is NEVER ok. Once you speak up, you are protected by the law from any further wrongdoing. Get Moving!
For more information: www.eeoc.gov.
