Category: Improving Yourself

I love the Olympics. I love watching the amazing things others can accomplish with dedication and practice. That has always been a favorite part of my job as well. Regardless of the organization or role I had within the organization, I have always loved watching others change, develop and grow to achieve amazing things. It’s how I ended up in HR. And no, I am not going to follow up that statement by, “I just love the people side of the business.” I just love business and have found that ordinary people can accomplish amazing things within the business by working hard and putting in the time to develop their talents.

At home, far from the Olympic stage, my son is currently looking to try out for a little league travel team. This is the first year he is eligible and he is excited to try. He doesn’t have as much raw talent as some of the other players but he loves the game. What he doesn’t love is practicing the game especially when the temperatures hover above the 90 degree mark all summer. He sees working on fundamentals boring. He wants to be in the game. So as parents, my husband and I are struggling to get him to realize that if he going to make the team, he has to work for it. He will need to work harder than some of the players. He can be as good as those with the talent, but it will take practice to get there.

So what do you do with your average employees who may not have the natural ability to be superstars, but they love the game? Do you teach them their not good enough to make it or do you challenge them to put in the work? Go ahead; pull out a copy of their IDP. Oh, you don’t have one. You better get busy; they have a lot of work to do.

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For more resources, See the Human Resources library.

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Sheri Mazurek is a training and human resource professional with over 16 years of management experience, and is skilled in all areas of employee management and human resource functions, with a specialty in learning and development. She is available to help you with your Human Resources and Training needs on a contract basis. For more information send an email to smazurek0615@gmail.com. Follow me on twitter @Sherimaz

For anyone who wants to advance in their career, emotional intelligence (EI) is essential for success. How would you rate yourself?

According to Daniel Goleman, who helped make the idea of EI popular, there are five main elements of emotional intelligence. Part 1 focused on these three: self awareness, self regulation and motivation. Here are the last two.

4. Empathy
This means putting yourself in someone else’s situation. If you want to earn the respect and loyalty of your team, then show them you care. How can you improve your empathy?

• Put yourself in someone else’s position. It’s easy to support your own point of view. After all, it’s yours! But take the time to look at situations from other people’s perspectives.
• Pay attention to body language. Perhaps when you listen to someone, you cross your arms, move your feet back and forth, or bite your lip. This body language tells others how you really feel about a situation, and the message you’re giving isn’t positive! Learning to read body language can be a real asset when you’re in a leadership role because you’ll be better able to determine how someone truly feels. And this gives you the opportunity to respond appropriately.
• Respond to feelings. You ask your assistant to work late – again. And although he agrees, you can hear the disappointment in his voice. So, respond by addressing his feelings. Tell him you appreciate how willing he is to work extra hours and that you’re just as frustrated about working late. If possible, figure out a way for future late nights to be less of an issue (for example, give him Monday mornings off).

5. Social skills
Those who do well in this element of emotional intelligence are great communicators. They relate well with most people even those who are different or have different experiences. Because of thier empathy and self awareness are also good at managing change and resolving conflicts diplomatically. Th So, how can you improve your career by building social skills?

• Learn conflict resolution. Everyone – who works with, sells to, leads or helps others, must know how to resolve conflicts with their team members, customers, their peers and even bosses. They also need to know how to maneuver the inevitable politics within an organization.
• Improve your communication skills. How well do you communicate? Our communication quiz will help you answer this question, and it will give useful feedback on what you can do to improve.

Career Success Tip:

The better a leader, manager or professional relates to and works with others, the more successful they will be in their careers. Being competent in these five emotional intelligence (EI) elements (self awareness, self regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills) will help you excel in the future! Also see Career Resilience #1 and Career Resilience #2.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

Here’s a music meditation I put together using a sacred chant and pictures of various temples and scenes in Asia.

Take some time this week to watch this video and reflect on how your heart is open and welcoming.

How open are you to generosity when it appears?

How open are you to friendship when it appears?

How welcoming are you to joy in your life?

Make your heart a Divine Temple of peace, love, joy, compassion, wholeness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COq3QgNphbs&feature=plcp

The music is by Len Seligman. I heard him last fall when he led a session of the Dances of Universal Peace. Visit his website – www.mahbood.com to hear more of this work. His latest CD, “Head Over Heels”, is a collection of sacred chants and songs from various faith traditions.

The pictures are from my niece’s study abroad trip to Asia this winter and spring. She’s a very talented photographer so you’ll enjoy her pictures.

Share this blog post on FB or RT if this spoke to you.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Linda J. Ferguson, Ph.D. is a Job/ Life Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Seminar Leader guiding people to live and work with passion and purpose.

Live your life by design not default!

Visit www.lindajferguson.com

Click here to order Linda’s book “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Click here to order Linda’s book “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand: Awakening Soul Consciousness for the New Millennium”

Linda has a Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson “Like” this page if you want to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

I’ll never forget the day I met Stephen Covey in person. I was at a FranklinCovey conference as I recently became a certified instructor to train The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People at my organization. Hearing him speak was amazing, but meeting him was unforgettable. This picture of us is more than a decade ago. While we only had a few moments to connect, I remember it fondly. He was very interested in who I was and in my dreams. I shared how I wanted to start my own business around spirituality in the workplace. Not only did his inscription on the book he signed shared his encouragement for my dream, but his loving presence to me, a HUGE fan, left a inscription on my heart.

Live

Learn

Love

Leave a legacy

There are a number of examples in the news currently of people whose legacy has recently changed from positive to negative. The removal of the Joe Paterno statue at Penn State is one that shows how poor decisions can wipe out years of positive acts. Paterno will now be remembered more for the scandal surrounding the university and less about wins and losses of a football team.

Another example is the CEO of Yahoo who misrepresented his educational credentials. This one is a more common scenario and usually has less recourse. I have even heard many suggest that “fluffing” the resume is an accepted practice in the workforce and that recruiters expect it. While recruiters may actually expect it, it doesn’t mean it is an accepted practice. The “everybody does it” argument in business is flawed.

There are times when many of us find ourselves in critical moments and may not even realize the significance of the moment and the choice we are about to make. There are so many justifications one can find to do the wrong thing. I often hear employees make statements about their value in organizations. Top performers (and sometimes not so top performers) often develop a sense of ego that makes them feel as though they are irreplaceable and can get away with anything because the organization cannot function without their presence. This sense of ego drives poor decisions and sometimes decisions that change their legacy.

For many, the ramifications of the choice may only be a lost job; they may be able to move to a different company or industry and start over. Regardless, at some level their legacy has changed.

Use these situations as an example. Do a self-analysis. And always choose well. Your legacy may depend on it.

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For more resources, See the Human Resources library.

Smiles are so contagious. They are a glorious gift you can give for free.

Smiles cost nothing and have great value.

Pass a smile along today for no good reason.

In case you can’t think of anything to smile about, here’s a cute video of two sisters singing and laughing. They so freely share their laughter and joy. http://youtu.be/9W6Uh8jUahk

These girls are a good reminder to connect with your inner joy and smile today. I dare you not to smile when you see this 😉

Make someone’s day special

Pass this along to a colleague who can use a smile or little laugh.

Even Monkeys know it’s important to have a good smile every now and then.

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

Click this link to order Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for information about her coaching, keynote presentations, seminars, and books.

For anyone who wants to advance in their career, emotional intelligence (EI) is essential for success. After all, who is more likely to succeed – a leader who shouts at his team when he’s under stress or a leader who stay in control and calmly assesses the situation?

According to Daniel Goleman, who helped make the idea of EI popular, there are five main elements of emotional intelligence. Here are the first three. How would you rate yourself?

1. Self-Awareness
If you’re self-aware, you usually know how you feel. Most importantly, you know how your emotions and your actions can affect the people around you. Being self-aware when you’re in a leadership position also means having a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses. So, what can you do to improve your self-awareness?

• Keep a journal. If you spend just a few minutes each day writing down your thoughts, this can move you to a higher degree of self-awareness.
• Slow down. When you experience anger or other strong emotions, slow down to examine why. Remember, no matter what the situation, you can always choose how you react to it.

2. Self-regulation
That means in high charged situations, you focus on staying in control of your emotions. You rarely verbally attack others, make rushed or emotional decisions, stereotype people or compromise their values. So, how can you improve your ability to self-regulate?

• Hold yourself accountable. f you tend to blame others when something goes wrong, stop. Make a commitment to admit to your mistakes and face the consequences, whatever they are. You’ll probably sleep better at night, and you’ll quickly earn the respect of those around you.
• Find ways to calm. The next time you’re in a challenging situation, practice deep-breathing exercises to calm yourself. Also, try to write down all of the negative things you want to say, and then rip it up and throw it away. Expressing these emotions on paper is better than speaking them aloud. What’s more, this helps you challenge your reactions to make sure that they’re fair!

3. Motivation
Self-motivated leaders consistently work toward their goals. And they have extremely high standards for the quality of their work. How can you improve your motivation?

• Re-examine where you’re at. It’s easy to forget what you really love about your career. So, take some time to remember why you wanted this job. If you’re unhappy in your role and you’re struggling to remember why you wanted it, find the root of the problem and then decide what actions to take.
• Be hopeful and find something good. Motivated people are usually optimistic, no matter what they face. Every time you face a challenge, or even a failure, try to find at least one good thing about the situation. It might be something small, like a new contact, or something with long-term effects, like an important lesson learned. But there’s almost always something positive – you just have to look for it.

Career Success Tip:

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage both your own emotions and those of the people around you. People with a high degree of emotional intelligence usually know what they’re feeling, what this means and how their emotions can affect other people. See the last two elements of EI in the next post.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

The first Noble Truth in Buddhism is that life is suffering. There are various off-shoots of this Noble Truth. One I particularly like is: “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional”.

How many of you feel pain, anxiety, stress, discomfort in some way at work?

How can you move through those feelings to reach greater compassion? To be of Service to others in need?

Consider this Buddhist story when you feel discouraged or beaten down by your work or stresses.

Suffering and Compassion

A woman whose son had died could not get over the pain and grief she felt. Days turned into weeks turned into months and still she suffered. Her grieving did not cease. Many in her village noticed her pain and suggested she seek council from a Buddhist monk known for his wise teachings.

At the arranged time the woman met the monk and shared her sorrow and her pain. The monk listened patiently. Finally the woman finished and asked, “What can I do to relieve my grief?”

The Buddhist monk smiled kindly and said, “There is a simple remedy for you. Go and find someone who has not experienced such pain and ask them for a small mustard seed. When you have gotten this mustard seed, bring it back to me.”

The woman felt some hope as she heard this news and she hurried off to put an end to her grief.

Find Someone Who Has Not Suffered

The woman went from door to door first in her village and then neighboring villages asking to speak to someone who has not suffered. She heard many stories of people who had lost a loved one, or who was dealing with a dire illness.

Not finding a home nearby, she went further, scouring the villages throughout the kingdom. Weeks turned into months as she walked across the land, knocking on door after door in search of a home where she could obtain the mustard seed.

Finally, after not finding such a home, she returned empty-handed to see the monk.

The monk asked her to retell the stories she heard in her travels. As she shared the stories, she wept for all the families who were touched by grief.

Then the monk asked her to talk about her own grief, of her loss. She looked up and said, “My grief is the same as theirs”. To which the monk replied, “So you see the first Noble Truth is that Life is Suffering. We can not escape it, we can only move through it. Tell me, do you have more compassion for those who weep, for those in pain?”

The woman thought of the many families she met and she felt her heart open to their pain. She nodded slowly and said, “Yes, I see how we all suffer. Is there any way I can help those who are in need?”

The monk smiled and replied, “Now you understand the point of the suffering.”

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

Click this link to order Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for information about her coaching work, keynote presentations, seminar topics, and books.

Let’s face it: life happens. We get sick, we care for aging parents, we have babies or we go back o school. All of these are important and at times necessary situations to take time off from work.

However, returning to work after a long absence can be challenging for you, your boss and even your colleagues. So how do you do it? How do you adjust your goals, which may now have changed, to fit with your work environment? And how to you readjust to the discipline of the workplace? Here are three tips to make that transition go more smoothly.

1. Plan your return
First discuss with your boss the right time to come back . Make sure you decide on a date that’s easy for both of you. If your boss is managing a big project for the next three weeks, he may want you to retun right now. If possible, it’s usually better to choose a time when things aren’t too busy.

Also think about returning in smaller steps. For example, you could work one or two days per week, then increase to three days, and then go back to full-time. A slow return can be much easier than immediately going back to a full-time schedule, especially after a long illness or maternity leave. It’s also important to let your co-workers, clients and other key people know that you’re returning.

2. Reassess your goals
Whatever your reason for being away, it was most likely a life-changing event. This means that your priorities may now be very different from what they were before. Take some time to assess where you are right now and where you’d like to go. Are there things that you cannot, or will not, tolerate anymore? Or are their things that are important to you now that weren’t before?

You also need to consider those around you. For example, you may no longer be able to work late. However, just because you have to leave at 5:00 pm promptly, that doesn’t mean you should automatically expect co-workers to stay late and finish up. Perhaps you could shorten your lunch break, or come in a little earlier one day a week, to help others in return for the help they give you.

3. Learn what you’ve missed
Talk with your boss, your co-workers and your temporary replacement, if there is one. Also to get up up speed, read past company newsletters, contact clients and get hooked back into the grapvine. A lot may have changed since you left. Also pay attention to what hasn’t changed. That’s important to know as well.

Career Success Tip:

Realizes it’ll take time to get back in your comfort zone.Returning to work is probably going to feel strange at first. You may find it difficult to adjust to the discipline and sometimes the dress code of an office environment. You probably had a different routine while you were away. You can do it just give yourself time to adjust and take one small step at a time.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?