Career Success Partners

2012 Personal Plan - Step 18 - Use Change Analysis to Create Possible Strategies

Day 18 of 31 days to Creating Your Inspiring Personal Plan for 2012

By now, you should have developed a robust list of potential strategies that support your compelling Vision. You have potential strategies derived from using Gap Analysis (Step 14), using Strengths Analysis (Step 15), using Core Analysis (Step 16), and using Support Analysis (Step 17).  Hopefully, in formulating each of these groups of potential strategies you used possibility thinking, instead of the all to frequent tendency to use narrow minded, limitations thinking. Often people don’t even realize when they are falling prey to limitations thinking.

Because being open to new ways of doing things is so very important to identifying a robust set of strategies for achieving your Vision, I have included this step for identifying potential strategies that will force you to at least consider radical change in the way you do some things in 2012. As you complete this step, please keep in mind the notion attributed to Einstein: One definition of insanity is expecting changed results without changed behaviors.

For this step, identify five strategies, for achieving your Vision, which would involve radical change. Resist the temptation to analyze whether such a change might be right for you. Just write down five strategies involving radical change for you.

Here is an example of one such strategy: Change my vocation in order to better utilize my strengths and to reawaken my passion for my chosen vocation. For most of us, that is radical change. Note, because this is a strategy, there is no identification (yet) of what vocation to which you would be changing.

Here is another example, this one for someone who is not very spiritual: Embrace a significantly more spiritual life style, in every aspect of my life. Again, note that the details are not yet painted. But, the strategy is clearly articulated.

Try to avoid just relisting a potential strategy you identified in the previous four steps. Your responsibility for this task is to identify five incremental potential strategies using Change Analysis.

Click HERE to continue reading the full "18th Step" article -- Use Change Analysis to Create Possible Strategies.

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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: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Workers More Interested in Changing Jobs, Firms Say

In a number of sectors, workers are giving more consideration to switching jobs - a likely sign that people are growing more confident in the health of the job market.

Technology consulting firm Capgemini, for example, reported recently that employee turnover is increasing. In an earnings statement released this week, the French company noted that attrition among its staff rose in the third quarter.

The attrition rate stood at 18.8 percent between July and September, Capgemini said - higher than in the same period last year.

Offering further evidence that employers are concerned about turnover is a recent Wall Street Journal item on rotational training programs. The programs, which have been introduced by large companies like MasterCard and IBM, give new hires exposure to the many facets of the business world - but, the Journal pointed out, they're also designed to keep young workers from straying.

"New experiences can keep [young] employees from getting bored too quickly," the Journal quoted workforce experts as saying.

While the overall job market is likely to remain sluggish, the corporate world's concern about attrition is a sign that conditions are improving for highly skilled workers. Thinking critically about your current role - and polishing your personal pitch - could be smart moves.

Source: The Blue Chip Career Team.  Read the original post from Blue Chip Career HERE.

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Personal Excellence: Turning Tasks Into HABITS

We recently interviewed Stever Robbins as a guest on the Career Success Radio Show.  In preparation for the interview I read Stever's newest book, "Get-It-Done-Guy's 9 Steps to Work Less and Do More," -- a book I highly recommend.

One of the helpful tips that Stever suggests in his book to overcome procrastination by turning routine tasks into habits -- daily habits, weekly habits, monthly habits, etc.  Establish a habit by making it a regular occurring activity and put it on your calendar to remind you.  When the time comes, treat it as an appointment.

If you don't make your tasks a habit, you're stuck back with deciding when to do them, IF to do them and your natural tendency becomes to put them off -- to procrastinate.  Many times, they don't get done on time or don't get done at all.

Potential habits to develop at work might include:

• Establishing regular times to review and respond to email
• Setting standing meeting times with your direct reports
• Setting aside a specific time to make follow-up phone calls
• Establishing a time each day to focus on social media communication - LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
• Establishing a day and time each week for weekly planning
• Establishing a time each day for a daily recap and review

What tasks can you turn into a habit?  What new habit can you establish beginning today?

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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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: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

2-Minute Challenge: QUIT Waiting for the "Perfect" Time

What Are You Waiting For?

             (Click to PLAY)

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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:  Andy@CareerSuccessCommunity.com

www.CareerSuccessCommunity.com - The Premier Interactive Career Development Community

Feedback .... The Breakfast of Champions

Feedback .... The Breakfast of Champions:

(Click to Play)

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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: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

Lower the Bar FIRST

Changing behavior ... or starting a new routine ... or developing a new habit is DIFFICULT WORK for most of us. You've likely experienced that challenge MANY times in your personal life and in your work life.

Change is tough, it's NOT simply a button that we push -- change requires a strong desire, commitment, discipline and determination .... AND if the change is not clearly aligned with one of our key goals, it typically does not "stick."

So .... what to do?

Lower the bar, make it EASY to take the first small leap, the first small step. EASE INTO the change. Begin with baby steps.

If you're starting a new exercise program and you haven't been doing ANYTHING fitness related recently, then begin with a once-a-week routine. Totally commit to that one day -- make sure it's on your calendar at a time that is convenient AND less likely to get rescheduled, and at a time when you have the energy available to have a productive work out.

Once a week -- a small and doable first step. Try that for a few weeks. Soak in the good feeling of getting it done. Talk about it. Journal about it.

Then .... Take a small next step. Maybe it's a SMALL adjustment to your diet -- dessert ONLY once a week (maybe as a reward on the same day you work out). Try that for a few weeks.

Keep taking small steps, with a comfortable gap of time between each step. Notice the difference in your body, your energy level, your attitude. Talk about those differences, journal about them.

What SMALL STEP can you make this week toward a new routine or new habit?

Take it .... Begin down the path to a better you .... one small step at a time!

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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: Andy@CareerSuccessCommunity.com

www.CareerSuccessCommunity.com - The Premier Interactive Career Development Community

30 Days to a New Habit

Is there something you've always meant to do, wanted to do, but just ... haven't?

Matt Cutts suggests: Try it for 30 days. This short, lighthearted "TED" talk offers a neat way to think about setting and achieving goals.

Step Onto the Stage of Boldness

Leadership, professional development, and personal growth require us (DEMAND us) to take risks, to "push the envelope" and to occasionally (frequently?) step onto the stage of "boldness."

Being bold requires courage, being bold may put us in a vulnerable position; but being bold also creates opportunity, opens doors and gets the attention of others -- others who can help us, others who can partner with us in making amazing things happen, and others who can champion our cause.

What does "being bold" mean to you? 

Consider an upcoming appointment on your calendar or an important task on your plate this week, and ask yourself: "What is ONE BOLD -- 'step-out-of-my-box' -- action I can take that could incite positive momentum or breakthrough results? Go ahead and jot down a few ideas now, mull them over, then pick one bold idea that you intend to put into play.

In follow-up to the appointment or upon completion of the task/project, reflect back on the impact your act of boldness had on the outcome. What did you learn? How will this affect your behavior next time? When is your VERY NEXT opportunity for boldness?

Accelerate your success by embracing the vulnerability of being bold.  Make deliberate, planned and well-thought-out "boldness" a habit.

Andy Robinson
Executive Coach
CRG Leadership Institute LLC
239-285-5575
Andy@CRGLeaders.com

Executive Coach Tip: Turning Problems Upside Down

In his book, "Charging the Human Battery," Mac Anderson noted that someone once asked Norman Vincent Peale, "Don't you think life would be better if we had fewer problems?"  Peale said, "I'll be happy to take you to Woodlawn Cemetery, because the only people I know who don't have any problems are dead."  The point is we can't avoid problems, so we might as well expect them and embrace them as opportunities to learn and grow.

Problems are nothing but opportunities in disguise.  Always ask yourself:

• "What is the learning opportunity here?" 
• "What changes do I need to put into place?" 
• "How has working through this problem made me stronger?" -- as a colleague, as a leader, as a manager, as a parent, as a friend, etc.

Consider right now the things in your life that you currently refer to as "problems."  Write them down .... then challenge yourself to note the learning or growth opportunity with respect to each problem.  In what way will dealing this this particular problem make you a better person -- how will you ultimately benefit?  Allow those "benefits" to bring renewed energy to creatively solving the problem.  Be grateful for the learning opportunity and move on.

Going forward, replace the negative energy that you formerly associated with problems with positive energy.  This simple paradigm shift is transformational to your growth, to your personal development and to your peace of mind.

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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: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

Executive Coach Tip: It's Time to Revisit Your "Rule Book"

We all have an inner "Rule Book" we follow, whether we realize it or not.  If you're like most people, you probably have a lot of out-dated rules that determine what you do, don’t do, should do and shouldn’t do, can do and can't do.  It is important to understand that many (or most) rules limit your thinking and limit how you act and respond. 

Maybe it's time to take a fresh look at your inner rule book -- perhaps even start a NEW book with a clean slate.  Keep the rules that align with who you are now and your vision of where you're going.  Question every rule and discard the ones that are no longer relevant.

Take a few minutes, and do the following:

• Old Rules: Write down two or three rules that you tend to blindly follow or follow out of tradition
  • Are those rules serving you well?
  • Do they truly represent who you are NOW and how you want to be?
  • Are they SOMEONE ELSE's rules that no longer apply to you (and maybe never did)?
  • Which ones should you drop or replace with a new rule?
    
• New Rules:  Write down two or three NEW RULES that you'll adopt going forward in replacement of the ones you drop
  • Look for an opportunity TODAY to act on one of those new rules
    

Tear up your old rule book, and start a new one today -- and notice how free you are to make great decisions.

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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: Andy@CareerSuccessCommunity.com

www.CareerSuccessCommunity.com - The Premier Interactive Career Development Community

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