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Articles from Jane Cranston | Selfgrowth.com
- Manage Your Time to Fit the Challenge - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2011 from Jane CranstonEveryone is trying to manage time. When you hear them talk, you would think it could be manipulated -- stretched or duplicated. It isn’t possible and for those who think they can, it’s more of a game than a solution. Knowing there are but 24 hours in a day, the challenge becomes more about ...
Views: 1500(1 vote) - Networking Hurdles - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI'm always surprised at how many of my executive career coaching clients are hesitant to contact former colleagues and supervisors when they need advice or information. I call these their “networking hurdles.” It seems particularly true when they’re looking for a job. Why is that? I gave it some ...
Views: 1523(1 vote) - No Off-Season in the Workplace - by Submitted on Sep 26, 2013 from Jane CranstonI was walking in the Times Square area the other day when I spotted a person wearing a very graphic tee shirt. It read, “No such thing as off-season.” While I'm sure he was thinking NFL, NBA, or MLB, my wheels turned toward the workplace. I can't tell you how many times people have told me, ...
Views: 2000(1 vote) - Quick to Say “No”? - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2013 from Jane CranstonI’m standing on line at the supermarket behind a mother and her five year old son. Bored, tired, and cranky, the child wants out, as does the mother. The boy starts asking questions and for things. “No!” says the mother. “No” is the answer so many time that she is ahead of her son’s requests. ...
Views: 1974(1 vote) - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats--SWOT - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonHow do you predict the outcome of a behavior, project, or idea? A few days ago, an executive career-coaching client came to a session with an interesting PowerPoint presentation. It was a proposal to a potential employer. My client hoped the company would gain a better appreciation of his ...
Views: 6353(3 votes) - Too Tough on Yourself and What to Do About It - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2012 from Jane CranstonA behavior common among very successful people is setting high standards for themselves as well as others. Whether the actions are going to be seen by friends or colleagues, or done strictly in private, doesn’t seem to matter, high achievers place the bar at the top rung for almost anything and ...
Views: 1580(2 votes) - Capable of Disruptive Ideas? - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2012 from Jane CranstonThe other night I was watching an interview of two major players at Google Ventures. Google Ventures is the in-house “radical” venture group of the organization, the people who hunt for new ideas and people with ideas, and then invests time and skills with them with the hope of finding the next ...
Views: 1466(2 votes) - Executive Coaching -- What it is and Isn’t - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonOne of things I love about being a coach is the variety of people and situations that come to my office or call on the phone. In no particular order here are some of the presenting challenges brought to coaching sessions. You will note—I fired no one. A client comes to executive coaching ...
Views: 1639(1 vote) - Should I Change Careers? - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonMany people are asking themselves this question. Whether it is because the industry you know has lost its purpose (CD anyone?), your lifestyle demands your increased presence (twins!), or you are unmotivated, disenchanted, burned-out, under-stimulated, or just can’t face looking at that guy in ...
Views: 1495(1 vote) - Time vs. Things. What Makes You Happier? - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2010 from Jane CranstonIn the Business section of the New York Times (August 8, 2010 ), the author, Stephanie Rosenbloom, wrote about people who had successfully downsized their lives, sometimes to a level many of us would deem extreme, particularly when it came to possessions. Whether by choice or circumstances, such ...
Views: 1655(2 votes) - Why am I Talking? Saying too Much at Work - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI learned the W-A-I-T acronym in my graduate school training. I’ve always posted a small note on my wall, out of the client’s view, as a reminder. The letters stand for “Why Am I Talking?” Why do people talk too much in business situations? They’re anxious. Maybe the gathering is about a ...
Views: 5687(1 vote) - The Blended Life (Better than Balanced Life) - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonMy last Competitive Edge Report article “Is the Key Still in Your Ignition?” hit a sweet cord with a number of you and sour note with others. I thought I’d continue the discussion this week by looking back as well as forward. The impetus for the original piece, where I advocated when you take ...
Views: 1534(6 votes) - Are You Networking at 10 Percent - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonConversations with a number of coaching clients have focused on the need to network and develop a networking strategy. While job seekers may not want to “get out there in a big way,” they generally appreciate the role that reconnecting and meeting new people plays in identifying positions and ...
Views: 1354(2 votes) - Balancing Your Life--Is Your Key Still in Your Ignition - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonLast week, while I was considering subjects for this article, I found myself thinking about a tip my daughter-in-law, Mary, gave me. Since she was trained by the military as a truck mechanic, I take her automotive advice seriously. Then, I had to laugh. I think this is the third Competitive Edge ...
Views: 1452(2 votes) - Is Your Best Employee About to Quit? - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonThe job market in many parts of the United States and the world is shifting for the better. I have a number of clients and colleagues who are voluntarily choosing to make a move, often for more money and a better title. It should put all of us who work with and for others on constant ...
Views: 1779(1 vote) - Learn from Success not Failure - by Submitted on Jun 26, 2013 from Jane CranstonYou’ve heard people say again and again, “I learned more from my mistakes than my successes.” My reply is “I doubt it.” They’ll spend hours, days, and endless energy trying to correct (or worse defend) a mistake by analyzing and dissecting in post mortem, generally producing a patched up ...
Views: 1758(2 votes) - Marketing Lessons Learned from a Yard SaleSubmitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI decided autumn was a great time to clean out the garage. Thought, while I was at it, to get rid of the things that had been replaced or whose time had come. The answer was clear—sell it at my first ever yard sale. Here’s what I learned and how I think we can all apply some of the lessons to ...
Views: 1288(1 vote) - Other Ways to Communicate Besides E-Mail - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2011 from Jane CranstonHas someone IM’d you recently? I don’t mean someone down the street or in another region, I’m talking about the person sitting next to you. Is every “conversation” you have with your boss on e-mail? Gotten a text condolence note lately? (I did, no kidding, can’t say it was very consoling.) Have ...
Views: 1796(2 votes) - Responding is Key to Your Success - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2012 from Jane CranstonIt shouldn't surprise me anymore, but it does. When a potential coaching client contacts me, I often ask two questions, "How did you find me?" and "What made you interested?" Ninety percent of the time, the answer to the first question is "I Googled 'career coach.'" No surprise, I work hard to ...
Views: 1808(2 votes) - So You Want to be a Leader - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI hear it all the time from my coaching clients, “I want to get to the next level and in order to do that, I have to take on a leadership role.” “Really? And do you want to be a leader?” “I don’t know, seems like I have to if I want to get ahead.” This is a treacherous and potentially ...
Views: 1318(1 vote) - What Do I Really Want and How Can I Find It? - by Submitted on May 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonI was working with an executive coaching client the other day developing a strategy for the next steps in her career. For reasons unclear to me, I thought our discussion was off course. Was I not asking the right questions? Not hearing the underlying comments or insights? Influencing her answers ...
Views: 1305(1 vote) - Winning Managers Compromise - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonThere aren’t many people who could say their opponents shed a tear at their funeral; however, that is reportedly what happened at the services for the late Edward Kennedy. As with most current events, I found myself curious for the lesson(s) behind the story. While researching Kennedy’s ...
Views: 1519(2 votes) - Increase Effectiveness with Checklists - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Jane CranstonAtul Gawande is an accomplished scholar (Mac Arthur Fellow), a staff writer for The New Yorker, and a Harvard professor, in addition to being a well-respected surgeon. He is also an astute observer with a curious mind. In the world of surgery, infection kills more people than the operations. ...
Views: 1459(3 votes) - Tips to Being a Better Boss - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2013 from Jane CranstonNo matter what type of workplace you choose to operate in, you undoubtedly have to manage people. They might be direct reports, clients or customers, interns, freelancers, vendors, colleagues, and of course the often most challenging of all, your boss or business partner. Here are a few tips on ...
Views: 1643(2 votes) - What Top Employees Complain About - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2013 from Jane CranstonI am fortunate to work as an executive coach with people at many levels, in different stages of their careers, and in a variety of industries. Even though there is significant variety and diversity in my client base, I am often struck how similar their thought processes and experiences are. This ...
Views: 1605(2 votes) - Commitment to Diversity in the Workplace - by Submitted on Jun 26, 2013 from Jane CranstonOver past decades the issue of diversity has taken a very visible place in the growth and structuring of the workplace population. Whether it was caused by mandates or natural shifts in population, the job sites look quite different. The challenge, as I see it, is not only to continue to push ...
Views: 1604(3 votes) - Building Trust at Work - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2011 from Jane CranstonI had a boss, I’ll call him, Ted. Ted was very political and used his high emotional intelligence to play all sides of every issue just to make sure he was always covered. I heard him lie by fact and omission. So clever was the man that when opinions were asked, he was able to shift positions ...
Views: 1607(1 vote) - Creating Awe-inspiring Presentations like Steve Jobs - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2011 from Jane CranstonWe all have attended presentations. I’m sure you will agree most were terrible – boring, redundant, and/or visually offensive. I am guilty of giving a few myself. You too? To improve my knowledge base and skills, I started studying the product launches of Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, Inc. I then ...
Views: 1925(1 vote) - Encouraging and Making Progress - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Jane CranstonDo you have days when you feel like you’re getting nowhere or sense a project will never end? Worked on initiatives where you were only part of the solution and would never see the finished product? Wonder what happened to that suggestion that received such a positive reception and now seems to ...
Views: 1612(2 votes) - Extroverts in the Workplace - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2011 from Jane CranstonIn contemporary psychological terms, “extrovert” is used to describe a individuals whose temperament type or preference directs and receives their energy from external sources. In the practical sense, they are action people who plug into others for their juice. They’re not generally drawn to ...
Views: 7319(1 vote) - Finding Abundance in Tough Times - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonTimes are tough. It is hard to avoid the challenges of the day whether it is your job, wallet, optimism or health that has been impacted. Earlier in the year I was redoing my kitchen. Clearing out twenty years of accumulation was a bigger task than I expected. I was shocked at how much ...
Views: 834(1 vote) - Hire for Skill, Retain for Results, Fire for Chemistry - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2011 from Jane CranstonWhen working with managers and executives in a coaching relationship, I’m often struck as to how naïve some are to the realities of the day-to-day operating on the job and the politics of the workplace. All too often people tell me how many hours they work and about all the effort they ...
Views: 1601(1 vote) - Humanizing Your Work Place - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2011 from Jane CranstonThe statistics speak. Most people spend more time at work than in any other activity; more than hours with their family, eating, sleeping, or interacting with friends. That said, wouldn’t it seem logical that we would spend an hour and some effort making our workspace as conducive to the job at ...
Views: 1758(1 vote) - Introverts in the Workplace: How They Operate; How They Succeed - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Jane CranstonIn modern behavioral terms, “introvert” is used to describe individuals who are most comfortable in the inner life of the mind, come across as more reserved, and are less likely to seek numerous or large interactions. They represent approximately half of the population. In the workplace their ...
Views: 3441(2 votes) - Leadership Lessons Learned from My Father - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Jane CranstonNo matter how much individuals like their jobs, they’re entitled to be paid. Years ago the company my father was an executive with was purchased in a hostile takeover. The new owners were unable to deliver the paychecks on payday. Their response was, “They’ll just have to wait ‘til Monday.” “My ...
Views: 2423(2 votes) - Raise the Bar -- Focus on Successes - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2012 from Jane CranstonThe story tells of an interaction between a parent and his high school-age child. The adolescent presents with a report card of four As and one D-. Because of our prejudices and experiences, we the reader are inclined to think the parent is going to either lecture or at least focus on the low ...
Views: 1629(1 vote) - The 3Cs of Communication: Clear, Concise, and Correct - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonBob Sheppard, the announcer for the New York Yankees, for more than almost six decades, applied three simple principles to his extraordinary delivery. Surely his beautiful baritone made him highly listenable and memorable; however, it was his discipline that made him a lifetime member of the ...
Views: 8689(4 votes) - Curb Anxiety -- How to Keep Calm and Carry On - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonThe tone and stiff upper lip image the phrase “Keep Calm and Carry On” portrays tells a lot about its origins. It’s 1939 and Hitler’s forces are bombing England day and night. The government prints motivational posters telling the people “Keep Calm and Carry On.” And they did. Fast forward ...
Views: 2218(2 votes) - Are You the Boss to Work For? - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2013 from Jane CranstonFirst let me correct my title — I would prefer the phrasing, “Are you the boss people want to work with?” because “with” sends a message of partnership and collaboration rather the servitude. Let’s hope we’re past the later. I’ve spent most of my career(s), be it in a corporate environment, ...
Views: 1854(1 vote) - Are You Tone Deaf in Your Workplace? - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2013 from Jane CranstonAre you tone-deaf in your place of work? Do you miss cues when people make a snide remark? Or, are you dismissive, insensitive, or judgmental in tone with your verbal comments that would seem benign on paper but have real bite when said? Do you say things to people in a tone that would make them ...
Views: 1520(1 vote) - The Sorry State of Apologies - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2011 from Jane CranstonAll of us make mistakes, say things we didn’t mean, forget, or are rude when we may not have intended to be. Experience has taught me most people don’t intentionally harm others but once they do, they’re reluctant, or find it difficult, to take responsibility for the damage. According to ...
Views: 1420(1 vote) - The Sorry State of Apologies - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2011 from Jane CranstonAll of us make mistakes, say things we didn’t mean, forget, or are rude when we may not have intended to be. Experience has taught me most people don’t intentionally harm others but once they do, they’re reluctant, or find it difficult, to take responsibility for the damage. According to ...
Views: 1443(1 vote) - Advance Your Career -- Get Out of Your Comfort Zone - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Jane Cranstons I see it, there are really three places you can exist in your career--Comfort, Growth, or Fear zones. Let’s assess where you are. Think of a work issue, your current status, or even take a bird’s eye view of the recent past. Ask yourself “Where am I?” “Am I operating mostly in my comfort ...
Views: 1681 - Are You a Renter or an Owner of Your Career? - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2010 from Jane CranstonAre you a renter or an owner? The question is generally asked about living space or maybe an office. Today, I ‘m asking about it with regards to your job and/or career. Think about it. A renter generally has a defined time commitment, a lease. They may have an exit plan from the get go “we’ll ...
Views: 1095 - Are You Bold Enough? - by Submitted on Sep 26, 2013 from Jane CranstonRecently, my assistant, Naomi, shared a TED lecture with me. The speaker told an incredible story of a childhood riddled with extreme poverty, homelessness that was saved by love and encouragement. He spoke of taking bold moves to create an adult life of true abundance, contribution, and ...
Views: 1574 - Are You Telling Yourself the Truth? - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane Cranston“Liars, Bigger Liars and d’em that figure.” An uncle often used this expression when knocking politicians and accountants. This week his words resonated with me as it seems everyone is accusing everyone else of either not telling the truth or lying by omission. The political debate is more about ...
Views: 781 - Articulate Your Workplace Brand - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2014 from Jane CranstonOver this past weekend, I had my annual “lunch on the lawn” party, big long tables in the garden laden with fresh food from the local farms and the ocean. It is an event people look forward to, so no one ever turns down the invitation. Note to readers — invite people to lunch on weekends. They ...
Views: 1999 - Aspects of Personal Branding in the Workplace - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2014 from Jane CranstonWhen working with my executive coaching clients, or presenting to a group of leaders, I am struck by how often people identify with what they do versus who they are and what they have to offer. In the extreme they spend more time selling their employers than themselves. Good for Company X, bad ...
Views: 1368 - Become a Better Boss - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Jane CranstonEach of us, at some time in our career, dreamed of “designing” the perfect boss. You know what I mean. Type in the specifications and out would come exactly who you needed to get your job done with none of the flaws we’ve all tolerated in mere mortals. The question is “what would you want in a ...
Views: 1385 - Become More Creative By Remembering Less - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2012 from Jane CranstonMy first kindergarten assignment was to go home and find out the family home phone number. The next day we practiced memorizing those digits. As I recall the teacher helped us put the number sequence to some kind of rhythm not dissimilar to those 800 ads that help you remember where to buy a ...
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