At first glance communication with another person seems relatively easy. This month I had two different experiences that showed me how tricky it is to understand what a person does or doesn't say. Taking the time to listen to others is important whether you are lawyer, a manager or an ... Views: 2704
This article was written because this past week I have seen three examples of emails that were read by people other than the intended recipient. In one case an attorney published a whole email exchange between the attorney and an applicant for an associate position in her firm. It should have ... Views: 2469
How many times were you asked as a kid, "What are you thankful for?" You probably got that question frequently around Thanksgiving. Being a good child when I was asked I always answered it in the expected way without much thought or passion. My list always had my parents and teachers first ... Views: 2353
A recent issue of a magazine includes a list of 10 activities to boost your brain health. The list includes many activities I would call important for overall wellness. In this competitive environment there is a tendency to forget health and focus intensely on a job search. It is important to ... Views: 2115
Meaningful and engaging work is the key to a profitable business. When people feel their work is meaningful the end result is a more productive office with a satisfied and fulfilled workforce. What do I mean by meaningful and engaging work? Here is a story to illustrate:
There once was a ... Views: 1963
Waking up every day excited and happy to go to work has always been a goal for me. Some jobs were like that for me and others were not. I remember once literally dragging myself to my job because it was so stressful. It was easier for me to write this list when I thought about what I hated ... Views: 1945
My client told me her department was being reorganized for the hundredth time. The call center she managed was being converted to an email and chat response center instead of a telephone call center. She was sure customers would be angry when they found that they could not get their technical ... Views: 1842
You've started a job search. You are excited about the prospects of finding the perfect job. Of course you have a concern about how long the job search will take but you want to make sure your job search is effective. Here are some mistakes you'll want to avoid.
1. No strategy - Someone ... Views: 1834
What makes you happy? It is easy to stay happy when times are good. It is more challenging when life has thrown you a curve. In difficult times it is important to be resilient. Resilience is that quality that enables people to face adversity and adapt to it without lasting difficulties. A ... Views: 1789
Working more than 40 hours a week seems normal today - at least in the US. My clients tell me they consistently work into the night and over weekends. Blackberries and other smart phones enable employees to be on call at any hour day or night. It has become an accepted way of life here. Is ... Views: 1768
Everyone wants to start a new job on the right foot. Having a strategy for making your mark in the first few weeks is a great idea. Here are 10 traps that can undermine your efforts during your first couple of months on the job.
1. Going against the cultural norms before you've looked to ... Views: 1701
It seems to me if we are working 8+ hours each day, that work should add meaning to our lives and thus make us feel fulfilled, satisfied and happy. Leaders lead first by example (find meaning in their own work) and then by inspiring others to find meaning in their own work. What are the ... Views: 1615
Many years ago I was turned down for a job at a company that I really wanted to work for. I was surprised when the interviewer told me that he did not think I wanted the job. He could not have been more wrong about that. I was puzzled by his conclusion even after he explained that I had not ... Views: 1549
One aspect of meaningful work is being compensated adequately for the work that you do. It is important then to negotiate a good job offer.
Several people have told me recently that they had job offers. I hope that means that the economy is improving. Some tell me they were willing to take ... Views: 1490
How do you manage a boss who seems unapproachable? I had one once. His office door was open but no one ever disturbed him. I was new to the staff but I noticed that he never came out of his office and no one went into it unless he called to invite them. I had a job that no one had had before. I ... Views: 1417
Your confidence can erode during a job transition. As you move from the known to the unknown you feel unsettled and off balance. It is easy to begin to doubt your own abilities. This can happen during any type of job transition. Whether you doing a job search, have accepted some new ... Views: 1393
When looking for a job, most people focus on the responsibilities of the job to find a good fit. While getting hired to do a job that is interesting and well suited to your background is important, there are three other pieces of the equation that should not be overlooked - your fellow workers, ... Views: 1347
When I got my job with AT&T in 1982 my father told me I was set for life. His generation really admired Ma Bell as AT&T was called. Having lived through the Depression job security was very important to my father. I was pleased my father was happy for me but I wasn't quite sure I wanted a "life ... Views: 1335
A recent NY Times article focuses on a group of women in their 90s that play bridge with each other regularly.
Researchers believe there are a couple of components to longevity - social interaction and using the mind. The game of bridge has both.
Similarly when you are managing your ... Views: 1307
It is no secret that it is hard to find work these days. That makes it doubly difficult if you are still working and are miserable at your job. Other people will tell you that you should be happy to be working and bringing in a pay check. Being unhappy at work makes your whole life feel ... Views: 1240
So many of my clients tell me they go to a networking meeting or two but give up because nothing happens. My response is usually that you must give the group a fair trial. Building relationships takes time so you will need to attend a few meetings of one organization to see any progress. That ... Views: 1236
Many attorneys and other business owners start interviewing people for a job without clearly understanding what kind of person would best fit into the organization. Hiring is often done out of desperation. The attorney or business owner has a large amount of work to complete and knows he/she ... Views: 1233
Are you happy at work? Do you have passion for the work that you do? The notion of passion was something that mystified me early on in my career. I was usually happy at work but the feeling of passion eluded me. In fact up until I retired from AT&T, I only got brief glimpses of what got my ... Views: 1232
Recently one of the women attorneys in a mentoring circle that I facilitate expressed her dissatisfaction with her current job. She worked in a small firm where the partners brought in the work and distributed it to the various attorneys in the firm.
The partners then checked the completed ... Views: 1228
Time Management – Time for Quiet Reflection
"It's been weeks since I've had a few minutes of time for quiet reflection." my client said to me. Have you ever been so busy that you too had that feeling? I know I have.
As I begin to write on the topic of "quiet reflection" I can't help but notice ... Views: 1207
Amy, my client (not her real name), set a goal when we began our coaching sessions to find a position where she could achieve professional success and be happy at work in 3 months. She had been working in her position for about 6 months and was miserable. The environment was toxic, there was ... Views: 1204
The key to meaningful work and a fulfilling life is first to become more self aware. Really understanding yourself and what is important to you in your life and in your work is the key to getting satisfaction out of work and life. Over the years many people have talked about different aspects ... Views: 1189
In difficult economic times it is easy to let go of standards and take on a client who does not fit your vision of your ideal client. When few clients are in the pipeline it often looks attractive to take the ones that show up. When you do this you run the risk of having an angry client or ... Views: 1159
The key to having meaningful work and a fulfilling life is to become more self aware. Know what you want - sounds simple doesn't it? But is it really? It takes time for self reflection to get in touch with yourself. If you are looking for meaningful work, gaining self awareness is the first ... Views: 1148
When was the last time you asked a client for feedback about your services and how your office staff works as a team? You might turn up some useful information by doing a client feedback session when their work is complete. I recently had an experience with a hospital that is an example of how ... Views: 1145
Are you having a hard time finding your passion? Many of my career coaching clients wrestle with this. It was hard for me too.
This month though I discovered a new way for my career coaching clients to find their passion. Although the circumstances are not what I would wish for anyone, ... Views: 1132
Making a list of your accomplishments at work is a way to acknowledge yourself and your work. In 1997 when I had just started my coaching practice another coach sent out a newsletter suggesting that her readers make a list of 100 accomplishments for the year in their personal and work life that ... Views: 1129
Have you written some goals for this year? How are you doing with them? What are the accomplishments you most want? To insure that you get exactly what you want here is a list of tips for writing good goals.
1. Connect your goals to your vision. Check each goal to be sure that if you ... Views: 1111
Career transitions create discomfort. Often times it is not clear where you are headed. At other times you aren't sure if you really want to make a change. Like a snake shedding his old skin you had adjusted to the "old skin", your current career, but it just doesn't fit any more. As you get ... Views: 1103
Several years ago I had a series of SCORE clients who wanted to start businesses making and selling greeting cards. The cards that they showed me were usually very beautiful and every one was unique.
Pricing the cards was always a problem to them. The market would not pay a price to cover ... Views: 1091
Several years ago when I was preparing to start my own business I decided to take an accounting class. I took the course at a local college. Each week I set out for the school which was in a nearby city after working a full day.
I drove during rush hour and left more than enough time to ... Views: 1077
“You don’t have to like your banker, you just have to trust him”. I read this quote of Honore Balzac in an article on the web and thought it would be perfect to start an article on trust. Trust is the key to building relationships even today. Balzac, a French writer, was born in 1799. Some ... Views: 1057
The Internet was abuzz this past year with the Steven Slater incident on the Jet Blue flight. He was the flight attendant who got annoyed with a demanding passenger and announced his irritation on the plane’s PA system and then quit his job by dramatically taking a beer and sliding down the ... Views: 1052
When I was laid off in 1997 I was told by many to let everyone know I was starting a job search. I had been successful at my last job and was a star sales performer for many years. People who knew my history were eager to help me. But I knew something wasn't right about their advice.
Don't ... Views: 1049
Dovid Grossman, a coach and father of nine, recently told me that his father and he had fought constantly through his growing up years. Through it all, his mother was the referee. Finally when Dovid was 17 years old he sat down with his father and said, “I want to have a close relationship ... Views: 1021
At a time management presentation for a group of paralegals one of the participants asked what to do with something on her “To Do” list that she keeps putting off doing. Procrastination! What a stress producer! Nearly everyone present said this was an issue for them too.
I have to admit that ... Views: 1012
Cash flow is critical to any professional service firm but especially small ones. How do you prevent clients from delaying paying their bills or worse not paying at all? Here are 10 tips:
1. Establish ground rules during the initial appointment with the client. If you don’t have a written ... Views: 994
There is a big payoff to a successful job search and that is finding the job of your dreams. Imagine being asked to work at a job that seems totally suited to your skills and talents. Better still you find that the work environment of the company is one in which you know you will thrive.
So ... Views: 980
Having a clear vision of where you are headed is really important. If you have no vision then any direction will be acceptable even going round in circles! :) To begin finding your vision you must allocate some quiet time. Since I coach busy people I know that sitting quietly without doing ... Views: 980
Having a community is important to your health, happiness and well being. “There are few better antidotes to unhappiness than close friendships with people who care about you”, says David G. Myers, author of “The Pursuit of Happiness”.
"Sadly, our increasingly individualistic society suffers ... Views: 965
As the economy shrinks businesses must think in terms of cost cutting. Business owners must start by looking at all costs. Finding ways to save money may be challenging but it will be important for surviving and thriving in a down economy. Here are 10 ideas that the Kiplinger Letter lists as ... Views: 964
Cindy was a new manager in a mid-sized company. She had worked for years for a manager who had discussed strategies with her and encouraged her to try new things. He had given her constant feedback and approval. When her manager got promoted Cindy was promoted to her manager’s job. ... Views: 961
One aspect of meaningful work is being compensated adequately for the work that you do. Whether you are currently in a practice having survived a lay off or negotiating for a new job, you are probably finding that raises are small or non existent and offers are lower than what you were used to. ... Views: 946
Storytelling for Fun and Profit
Storytelling - It’s a hot topic these days. What do I mean by storytelling? One website says that it is “a narrative account of a real or imagined event or events” That same website (http://www.eldrbarry.net/roos/st_defn.htm) says “Stories connect us with our ... Views: 936
Whether you are a business owner or a job seeker you have probably been told to network. Networking is often an important part of a marketing plan. Frequently people resist networking because it seems overwhelming and they are not sure how to do it. Others try it once with little success and ... Views: 931