Career Success Partners

Ensure Your Personal Brand "Speaks" Kindness - Tap Into The Power of Being Nice

This morning I re-read one of my favorite "quick read" books -- "The Power of Nice - How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness," written by the team of Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval.  This book reminds us that "nice" companies have lower employee turnover, lower recruitment costs and higher productivity.  Nice people live longer, are healthier and make more money.  The book identifies the following Six "Power of Nice" Principles:

• Positive Impressions are Like Seeds.  Evertime you smile at a messenger, laugh at a coworker's joke, thank an assistant, or treat a total stranger with graciousness and respect, you throw off a positive energy wave that rolls out endlessly in all directions.

• You Never Know.  You really never know who that next person that you're nice to knows or how they ultimately may connect back to you in some way.  It is therefore important to treat EVERYONE nicely.  Simply make it a habit not to discriminate when it comes to being nice to others.

• People Change.  People change, grow and take on new roles.  None of us know who MIGHT become quite important to us five, ten or twenty years from now.  Again, the simple message is to treat everyone with kindness -- the bank teller, the grocery store check-out clerk, the young waiter who is paying his way through school to become a doctor.

• Nice Must be Automatic.  It important to become skilled in the art of being nice -- being nice must become a habit -- something that is "second nature" to you.  Small gestures and random acts of kindness can have an enormous impact.

• Negative Impressions are Like Germs.  Just as positive actions are like seeds, rude gestures and remarks are like germs -- you may not see the impact they have on you for a while, but they are there, silently infecting you and everyone around you.

• YOU Will Know.  Even if you never see a person you have treated with rudeness or bad behavior again, YOU will know.  It will be on your mind and heart when you walk into a meeting and try to convince the people in the room that they should put their faith in you.  Your belief in yourself will be compromised and the negative energy you carry with you will ultimately manifest in some way to your disadvantage.

Be the role model for being nice to others.  The energy of consistently being nice to others will return to you many times over.  That is the POWER of nice.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

Some New Year's Resolution Ideas to Consider for 2010

We're swinging into the end of another year; it's a great time to think about what you'll do different or do better next year.  In addition to your work goals, personal goals and family goals, consider the following "New Years Resolution" ideas -- all of which should complement all of your 2010 Goals:

Some 2010 - Resolution Ideas:

Commit to Your Learning and Personal Development This Year

Make this the year that you rededicate yourself to your own learning and personal development.  Those who make learning and professional development a priority will create significant competitive advantage for themselves, which in the current job market and economic times, has never been more important.  Reading and listening to audio tapes is THE easiest way to gain knowledge and new information.
 
Re-Connect With and Nurture Your Contact Network
Your network of business, professional and personal contacts is the most valuable and transportable asset you have....period. A properly nourished and up-to-date network can truly work wonders for your career.  Make a commitment now to reconnect with your contact network and look for ways to "give" and add-value to others.  Build your bank of goodwill now so there is plenty available when you need it.
 
Make Your Health and Fitness a Top Priority
Your health and fitness has four dimensions: (1) Diet and general weight control - achieved through healthy eating habits, (2) Cardiovascular health - achieved through regular cardio and aerobic exercise/activity, (3) Strong bones and optimal muscle mass - achieved through weight/strength training, and (4) Flexibility - achieved through stretching, yoga, pilates, etc.  Set goals associated with all of these elements and incorporate weekly activities designed to help you achieve those goals.
 
Commit to Focusing on the Positive
Make this the year that you give relentless focus on the positive without dwelling on the negative. Become a role model for a positive mindset -- avoid being overly critical of others, avoid gossip, and discourage complaining. 
 
Commit to Getting Organized - At the Office and at Home
Begin the year by getting rid of the clutter.  Commit yourself to organizing your work space and home before the end of January.  Make it a team or family effort.
 
Say "Thank You" More Often
Saying "thank you" does as much or more for you and it does for the other person.  Saying "thank you" or writing a quick note of appreciation has the physical and emotional effect of "shot" positive energy.  It does the same for the person receiving the message.  Give this gift to yourself on a daily basis.
 
Recognize the Performance of Others
Celebrate the achievement of others whenever possible.  Recognize the extra effort and positive performance of others - your team members, your colleagues, your friends and your family.   LOOK for good things and you'll be amazed at how many good things you see.
 
Get Your Personal Finances Under Control

This is definitely the time for us to hunker down, reign in our spending habits, work within the framework of a budgeting system and make every effort possible to set aside as much as we can for the future.  Financial control and discipline is an excellent personal and professional development opportunity right now - become an expert in these philosophies and methodologies and it will pay huge rewards for you in the long term.

Write Down Your Business and Personal Goals - Review Them Weekly
Write down all of your business and personal goals.  Formulate them in "SMART" goal format, and for each goal, clearly identify your very next step.  Schedule those steps into your planning tool(s) - your calendar, your "to do" list, etc.  Review your goals weekly and update next steps accordingly. 

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

What Matters NOW - Big Thoughts, Small Actions; Repeat Daily

The world is changing; OUR world is changing and the pace of change continues to increase.  What matters NOW, is THINKING BIG and undertaking small actions -- baby steps, if you will, -- on a day-to-day basis focused on making those big things HAPPEN.  It all begins with new ideas and new ways of thinking.

I recently came across an excellent (free) eBook assembled under the direction of one of my favorite pundits, Seth Godin.  According to Seth .... "Now, more than ever, we need to shake things up. Now, more than ever, we need a different way of thinking, a useful way to focus and the energy to turn the game around."  I completely agree with Seth, and the eBook he has assembled is full of wonderful, inspiring ideas to help you make big things happen in YOUR world -- your business, your personal life, your community.  More than seventy big thinkers have contributed to this amazing eBook, each sharing an idea for you to think about as you head into the new year.

Here's the deal: it's free. Download it here. Seth's big goal is to get this free eBook in the hands of 5 million people.  You can find an easy to use version on Scribd as well. Please share with anyone in your world whom you care about.  Let's watch the magic happen together!

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

10 Personal Branding Trends for 2010 You Must Pay Attention To

Dan Schawbel, author of Me 2.0 and host of the Personal Branding Blog wrote an excellent article on 10 Personal Branding Trends for 2010.  You'll definitely want to consider these as you formulate and implement your own Personal Branding Program for 2010.  Dan's Top 10 List notes the following:

1. New Content Models are on the Rise
2. 2010 Will be the Year of Building Lists of Connections
3. Expect the Web to Become More Saturated
4. Reputation Management Will be Key
5. Transparency Will Rock Your World, Literally
6. Brand Realization Will Rapidly Emerge
7. The Cream Will Rise to the Top and Niches are Inevitable
8. The Value of Information Will Increase Substantially
9. The Video and Mobile Scene Will Catch Fire
10. You Will Be Judged on Your Voice, Not Your Resume

I strongly encourage you to review Dan's article, published on SmallBusinessTrends.com.  You'll also want to take a close look at some of the great comments posted on this excellent article.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

Tips for Understanding and Coping with Job-Loss Grief

I ran across the following article when working recently with a career transition coaching client who was experiencing a tremendous sense of grief as he was dealing with a recent job loss.  I found the following article to be very helpful and highly recommend passing this article on to anyone you know who has recently lost their job.  The author of this article, Jim Davis, also wrote The Job Loss Survival Guide, which provides additional insights and perspectives on the job loss grieving process.  Information on Jim can be found on his website - The Family Corner Network.

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Understanding and Coping with Job-Loss Grief:

Grief is perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of human life. We treat grief as an enemy. We fight it, or we try to pretend that it doesn't exist. The truth is, however, that grief is a healing process that is just as vital as the physical healing of cuts, bruises, and broken bones. And just as a severe physical injury can take a long time to heal, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or even a job loss normally means a substantial period of grief. Just as it is important to know how to take good care of ourselves during the recuperation from a physical trauma, we also need to understand how grief heals and what we must do for the healing to be complete.

Grief is usually associated with the death of a loved one, but there are other areas of life in which loss results in grief that is just as real. One of these is being experienced more and more often due to the current trend of companies to "down-size." The majority of today's working population are likely to experience at least one job loss in their career lives. Job loss can bring about a grief that is in some ways more difficult to deal with than when a loved one dies. This is because of the increased complexity of job-loss grief in today's society.

Read more and learn some excellent tips, suggestions and ideas for handling grief and the other emotions experienced as a result of a job loss:  Coping with the Emotions of a Job Loss.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

A Holiday Mindset Adjustment - Celebrating the Season

The holiday season is here, and it's time to focus on the positive aspects of our life. Focus on family, focus on the spirit of the holiday season and look for the opportunities that are present -- they're all around you if you look hard enough. Prospering in tough times in definitely possible, but not if you dwell on the negative.

This blog posting offers some tips for staying positive during the down cycle we're currently in. Emotions and how we all "feel" about things will ultimately play a big role in driving us back into prosperous times. A positive mindset is a great starting point.

Presented below are some tips and suggestions for things you can begin doing immediately and ongoing to shift yourself into a positive mindset and become a positive role model for others:

• Turn off the news and talk radio. Avoid the negative talk and chatter. It's just too easy to get swept up into the anxiety and uncertainly fueled by the broadcast media. At least with a newspaper you can choose what to read and what not to read. Make a commitment to be very selective of what you allow to into your mind.

• Stay productive and engaged. Look for ways to stay busy, productive and engaged. Seek out interesting and intellectually challenging projects and assignments. Consider volunteer activities at worthy charitable organizations during the weekends. Seek out learning opportunities. Add value and make a difference.

• Celebrate all successes -- big and small. Take every opportunity you can to celebrate and recognize progress -- any and all good news, individual and team successes and extra efforts of others. Lead and encourage others to celebrate successes.

• Avoid negative talk....just don't go there. Why dwell on the negative? Avoid negative talk and gossip .... politely excuse yourself and walk away. Better yet, look for an opportunity to turn the encounter or conversation around to something more positive or productive.

•  Look for opportunities to help others. Make an extra effort to offer kind words of support to those in need or to associates who seem to be having a "bad day." Look for opportunities for random acts of kindness to others -- at work and outside of work.

• Read positive and inspirational material. Develop a daily habit of finding time to read uplifting and inspirational material. There's no better way to begin a day in a positive mindset. Listen to positive and inspirational material in your car -- there is a wealth of wonderful audio books available in multiple media formats these days.

• Nurture and cherish your family and personal relationships. Spend quality time with your family and friends. Work proactively to strengthen and deepen those relationships. Enjoy the time you spend with each other -- laugh and have fun.

• Smile! Display an outwardly upbeat presence. Smiles are contagious and do wonders for improving our looks.
  

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  Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
  Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
  A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
  Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

  

How Emotional Intellience Significantly Impacts Your Job Search Success

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Career Success Radio Show

Emotional intelligence ("EQ") may be one of the most overlooked factors in job seeking.  EQ expert Lisa Kappesser was recently interviewed on the Career Success Radio Show and shared her insights as to how to SIGNIFICANTLY improve your job search success by focus on improving and optimizing your emotional intelligence skills. 

Research has shown that those who score high in EQ skills are much better performers on the job.  Companies and HR professionals understand this correlation and are doing a much better job of assessing candidates' EQ strengths.  How do yours stack up?  Listen in to Lisa as she shares some tips on how to assess your EQ skills and how to take steps to improve them.

Lisa Caldas Kappesser, author of The Smart New Way to Get Hired, is a leading expert in emotional intelligence, with certification on the EQ–I (emotional intelligence assessment). As a counselor, certified career coach, and licensed social worker, Kappesser has counseled individuals in overcoming obstacles and initiating changes that lead to an improved quality of life, satisfaction, and happiness. 

She is a facilitator of career transition seminars and a consultant for Right Management, the leading global provider of career transition services. She has created emotional intelligence programs for elementary schools, high schools, and colleges.

Kappesser is the founder and president of EQ Coaching Solutions in Cincinnati and earned an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame. She is certified through the College of Executive Coaching and is a member of the International Coach Federation.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

Shift Your Focus to the Highest Impact Job Search Activities During the Holidays

Fact: The Holidays are here.

Fact: We ALL have more to do right now than we can handle.

Fact: Jobs ARE available out there.

Fact: Companies ARE hiring right now and will through the end of the year.

Fact: A LOT of job seekers are putting their job search process on hold till AFTER the first of the year.

Fact: Fewer people are ACTIVELY focused on their job search during the Holiday period.

OPPORTUNITY: The "doors are open" in the job marketplace for those people who choose to knock and take steps to enter. 

BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!

The Holidays are NOT a time to set aside your job search activities.  Those who do will be at a competitive disadvantage to those who stay active with their job search.  Demands on our time definitely increase during this period, so it is VERY IMPORTANT that you leverage your time wisely .... focusing on the highest impact activities.

Your job search will only be as effective as the level of effort you put forth (the amount of TIME) and the the QUALITY of that effort (focusing on the HIGHEST IMPACT job search activities). I have spoken with dozens and dozens of individuals over the past 90 days who are actively seeking new job opportunities.  Those who are seeing little to no results are either: NOT spending sufficient time and/or are NOT focusing the time they are spending on the highest impact activities. The job search process simply CANNOT be "Short-Cut" in the current market environment -- neither short-cut in terms of time spent nor short-cut in terms of focus on the right things (and usually the "tougher" and more "involved" things).

Time Commitment.  An effective job search campaign should be considered "a full time job."  If you are currently unemployed, then the 40 hours or so you'd normally spend working should be devoted to your job search.  At a minimum, you should follow an "80/20" approach to your time commitment -- with 80% of your available time during the week devoted directly to your job search, and 20% focused on other important activities -- personal time, community activities, training, education, professional development, etc.  Rest assured that your top competition in the job market is taking this approach -- without question.

High Impact Activities.  When it comes to highest impact job search activities, I am finding that most job seekers are following AN "80/20 Rule" but definitely not THE "80/20 Rule."  The Rule that many job seekers are following is spending 80% of their time on lower-impact activities -- "surfing" and responding to job board opportunities, posting their resume on line and connecting with executive search professionals; and 20% of their time on high impact activities -- networking and reaching out directly to leads and potential employers.  The effective job seekers are doing just the opposite -- they're spending 80% OR MORE of their time on the high-impact, "human interaction" oriented activities, including:

• Talking to and meeting with their network contacts
• Attending and participating in networking functions
• Aggressively utilizing social media applications for network communication purposes (LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, among others)
• Identifying target companies and aggressively contacting those companies directly or through a referral from their network
• Scheduling daily phone calls, daily meetings and getting out and "shaking hands"

What percentage of your time are you dedicating to your job search?

What percentage of your job search time are you focusing on high impact activities?

Are you achieving the level of results you desire in your job search campaign?

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

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You can read what my colleagues at The Career Collective
suggest for job searching during the Holiday Season here:

@MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes, “Season’s Greetings and your Job Search”

@GayleHoward, The Executive Brand, “It’s Christmas: And a ho-ho-ho-hum?”

@KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Gift Every Laid Off Job Seeker Needs”

@resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog,“Holiday Resume Sparkle: Outshine the New Year Job-Search Mob”

@heathermundell, life@work, “Have a Holly Jolly Job Search”

@sweetcareers, Sweet Careers, “Holiday Job Search Tips for College Students 2009″

@careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Cheers”

@careerealism, CAREEREALISM.com, “Holiday Tip for Job Seekers: 4 Ways to Impress Others with Your Professionalism”

@heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, “4 Tips for Making the Most of Holiday Job Hunting”

@LaurieBerenson, Sterling Career Concepts, “Three Resolutions to Take It Up a Notch”

@KatCareerGal, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, “Avoiding the Holiday Blues in Your Job Search”

@WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithillness.com, “Avoid this Minefield: No Holiday Here!”

@DawnBugni, “The Write Solution Could that sound really be opportunity? During the Holidays?”

@andyinnaples, “Shift Your Focus to the Highest Impact Job Search Activities During the Holidays to Leverage Your Time”

@erinkennedycprw, Professional Resume Services, “How to keep up the Job Hunt during the Holidays”

@keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, “Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year”

@ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, “Navigating the Mistle Toe of Job Search”

@GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, “Merry Christmas! Can I Buy You Coffee to Talk About Me?”

@BarbaraSafani, Career Solvers, “Holiday Networking Can Facilitate New Year Opportunities”

@expatcoachmegan, Career By Choice Blog, “Expat Networking: Holidays Are a Great Time to Nurture and Grow Your Network”

@chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, “Footprints & Associations: Job Search Tips for the Holidays”

@JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, "(Holiday) Party Your Way to a New Job"

A Job Search Can Feel Like a Lonely Process (But It Does NOT Have to Be!)

A common theme I am hearing from those in career transition and job search mode these days is that "it's a lonely process."  A job search is very much NOT a team or group process -- it really IS YOU versus the competition, and the competition these days is awfully intense.  However, it IS a process that involves other people and there are plenty of ways you can solicit participation and help from others throughout the process.  Consider these ideas:

• Reach Out to EVERYONE.  Losing your job CAN affect your self-confidence and self-esteem if you let it.  It is not uncommon for job seekers to withdraw from their broader circle of friends and personal and business relationships.  It is VERY important , however, to resist this tendency.  You really need to be doing the exact opposite -- reaching out to everyone you know and letting them know your situation, giving them a CLEAR IDEA of what you're looking to do next and SOLICITING THEIR HELP.

• Connect With Other Job Seekers.  "Team up" with a friend or business associate who is also in career transition and actively involved in a job search.  Meet once a week over coffee to discuss issues, challenges, successes and plans.  Help each other solve problems and give each other morale support throughout the process.  This is a great way to develop and strengthen personal relationships.

"Take advantage of your job search as a time to
reconnect with friends and former business associates.
Reach out to others and use this as an opportunity to
develop and nurture your network.
"

• Find a Local Support Group.  A number of churches and community organization are offering group support and a forum for sharing ideas, job leads and learning effective job search skills.  Many of these groups invite outside employment experts to present tips and give advice as a service to the group.  Check your local newspaper and church bulletin.

• Aggressively "Work" Your Network. Now's the time to connect and reconnect with your business and professional network. Reach out -- share your story, share information, send birthday and greeting cards, ask if you can help them in some way, pass on news, refer contacts to each other, look for ways to "give."  Share your "target employer list" with your network and keep your network current on your situation.

• Get Active In Your Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, etc.  Make a habit of attending weekly meetings, lunches, etc. at these types of organizations. Develop and strengthen relationships, share your situation, be an active participant.  Visibility is key.

• Join a Local Toastmasters Club. A great way to meet people, network AND strength a very important skill -- getting comfortable speaking effectively in front of others.  Toastmasters is a wonderful organization that offer a supportive environment to build your confidence in public speaking.

"Not is a GREAT time to get involved in clubs and
professional organizations.  Broaden your network through
participation in meetings, seminars and conferences."

• Find Support Through Social Media Groups.  Social media platforms offer a myriad of groups oriented around career change and job search.  Join these groups, "listen in" on the discussion forums and participate.  Strike up individual relationships and export those relationships into real conversations outside the media platform.  Help each other out, offer advice, offer support.

• Find an Accountability Partner.  Find someone who can help "hold your hand to the fire."  Let that person know their role and arrange for a weekly or bi-weekly meeting to discuss progress and lay out action plans.  Possibilities would include a good friend, a former business associate, a former mentor, a former boss, your spouse, a parent, etc.

• Connect With an Executive Recruiter.  Identify an executive recruiter (or two) that specializes in your industry or discipline and stay in touch.  Offer referrals to the recruiter for position they are focusing on.  Share industry news and events. Executive recruiters can also give you great interviewing tips and job search process tips.

• Attend Seminars and Conferences.  Identify key upcoming conferences and seminars specific to your industry and career interests. Prepare in advance for these events; plan ahead to connect with target individuals.  Be participative and visible.  Collect business and cards and FOLLOW UP.

"Surround yourself with positive people -- friends, family
members and associates who support your efforts.  Lean
on others and seek advice, counsel and ideas."

• Sign Up for a Class to Learn a New Skill or Strengthen One.  Use this opportunity to learn a new skill or hone an existing one. Connect with classmates, instructors and professors -- develop new relationships, share your situation and interests.

• Hire a Career Transition or Job Search Coach.  Consider hiring an outside professional to help you structure, develop and implement a highly effective job search campaign.  Your coach will also hold you accountable to a plan and offer advice and counsel through every step of the job search process.

• Use This Opportunity to Enjoy More Time With Your Friends.  Take the opportunity to ENJOY your friendships.  Spend time with those you enjoy being with.  Enjoy the fellowship and emotional support.

Special thanks to Carrie Robinson (www.linkedin.com/in/careersinconsulting) for submitting this article.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575

How to Answer the "Weakness" Question During a Job Interview

"Tell Me About Some of Your Areas of Weakness" ....

Oh....that dreaded question; the one we know they ALWAYS ask.  Why do we find this question so tough to answer?  Many people really trip on on answering this question.

A couple of ideas:

• Focus on a weakness that might actually be viewed as a strength, e.g., I tend to work long hours, I tend to be a perfectionist, I tend to push my team really hard to accomplish their goals, etc.

• We all have weaknesses.  Some could be fatal weaknesses with respect to the job at hand, but many are likely not fatal weaknesses.  Choose a non-fatal weakness -- one that's been part of your personal history BUT one that you've also focused SIGNIFICANT TIME and effort on improving.  Discuss all the things you've done to improve upon that weakness -- be specific.  Talk about how you HAVE improved -- give examples. 

I tend to lean toward the second of the two ideas above.  The second approach demonstrates that you (1) understand your weaknesses (self knowledge is a desired trait in an employee-to-be) AND (2) have the motivation and self-direction to work hard to either overcome them or significantly mitigate them (another highly desired trait for a potential employee).

Learn to answer this question with CONFIDENCE.  It WILL be asked sometime during the interview process.  PRACTICE your answer -- ask others for feedback.  Be prepared for this question and you'll do a MUCH better job of addressing it.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575