Focus on the Positive

Although it seems like it would be common sense, focusing on the positive rather than the negative is not always as easy as it sounds. It takes a deliberate attempt and focus to not only gain insight into your employees primary strengths, but also to spend as much if not more energy on improving these skill sets rather than only investing time, energy and training on the areas where they struggle.

I am not advocating ignoring the areas that need improvement, certainly, this is also an important point to focus on however, and if your employees’ strengths are heightened they have the potential to be even better contributors to the organization and to your team.

Enjoy!
David Lammert

Help Develop Employee Strengths - Not Weaknesses
Abridged: www.about.com; By Susan M. Heathfield

A management philosophy, that flies in the face of conventional thinking, compels you to help employees develop their strengths by deliberate practice. This is a substitute for helping employees develop their weaknesses, a concept more traditional in management thinking.

This theory was proposed by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman in in First, Break All The Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently as a result of the Gallup organization's interviews with 80,000 effective managers.

On top of trying to complete their daily work and achieving their annual goals, employees have a finite amount of time for development. Spend the time on what matters. Develop employee strengths - not weaknesses, and in the process, train your management philosophy and company culture.

Using myself as an example, I'm good with people and good at conveying common sense, applicable information. I'm not very good with mathematical story problems though I can add columns of numbers like a speed demon. No matter what, I will never be good at solving complex mathematical problems. Could I get better? Probably. But, why not spend my time honing my strengths? I'll bet you have a parallel in your life?

Yet, the traditional approach to developing employees, one of the critical factors in employee motivation, has been to identify weaknesses, often during an annual performance appraisal meeting. The employee is then sent to training or just told to "get better" at whatever his or her weak area is. Now, if the area of weakness is critical to the employee's job success, developing the weaker area might make sense. But, more likely, the employee is in the wrong job. Consider matching the employee's best skills to your company needs in a different job.

In another personal example, I have always been a good writer. But, strengthening that skill over the past eight years, writing online and for publications, has made me a better writer and a faster writer. Writing is definitely a skill that can be developed if you approach it with deliberate practice.

Once I started writing every single day, with hours of practice and a deliberate commitment to growth, I continued to develop the strength. I still work on my writing every day. I'm sure you have a parallel in your life - or you could. What skill should you develop daily for your own career and your employer's needs?

Raise the Bar

One of the keys to long-term success in business is constant improvement. We’ve discussed in several blogs lately the need to continually access your skills set and to be objective about your place within the organization for which you work.

Here is an additional article with some great tips and recommendations for how to allow continual improvement in the workplace. Hope you enjoy!
David Lammert

Keep Raising the Bar
Abridged: www.wallstreetjournal.com; By: Alexandra Levit

As a society, we're obsessed with achievement. But what happens once you're considered objectively successful, with a great salary and a job that energizes you? It's easy to rest on your accomplishments and your way of getting work done, perhaps even feeling there's not much left to learn.

But in this economy, you can't afford to sit back -- even though it might be tempting.
"Successful people fall into the trap of thinking they don't need to change anything because their behavior is working for them," says Marshall Goldsmith, author of "What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful." "Every time they get promoted...they get positive reinforcement even when certain skills are lacking."

Know Your Weaknesses
But examining where you might have shortcomings can make or break a career.

David Hale of Columbia, S.C., quickly rose to the top of the military police force and was granted the highly sought-after position of polygraph examiner with the Army Criminal Investigation Command.
"I was my own biggest fan, and being cocky, I would try to force confessions from suspects either prior to or based on their exams," he says. But he didn't take the time to understand that criminals are more likely to confess to people they like and trust. "My results fell way below other examiners," Mr. Hale says.

Mr. Hale didn't realize he needed to change until his boss transferred him and said that if his confession rate didn't increase, he would be fired. He studied forensic interviewing, worked on relating to subjects on an emotional level, and pursued courses in leadership, counseling and psychology. Eventually, Mr. Hale began to rise again in his career, and he became known as one of the top polygraph examiners anywhere.

Necessary Skills
Becoming as successful as you can be -- after you've already climbed part of the ladder -- means you need two things.

For starters, you need outstanding people skills: Listen carefully, think before you speak, reciprocate favors and manage conflicts diplomatically.

Second, you must regularly take a hard look at yourself and address your weak points. For example, if you have a communication issue with one person or a group of people, step away from the blame game and ask yourself, "How can I be better?" Make sure people are honest with you by requesting feedback anonymously and confidentially.

If you're employed by a large organization, consider contacting human resources to see what training is available. You may have the opportunity to take leadership-development courses online or in-person for free.

But the most important thing to keep in mind is that just because you're skilled or talented in a particular area doesn't mean you should simply pass go and collect your $200.

I, for instance, was hesitant to work with a speaking coach because my audience evaluations didn't mandate it, but once I learned that the top speakers in the world -- from Tony Robbins to President Barack Obama -- have worked with coaches, I changed my mind.

How to Stay on Top

A wise person once told me that “offense is the best defense”. Being aware of your standing in the work environment is as critical now as ever; however, being cognoscente of some of the major pitfalls that could encourage your demise in the work place may even be more important.

Part of the plan to stay employed: be aware of all the things you are doing well and improve upon those areas where you provide less than stellar results. Being honest with yourself and candid about where you exceed (and where you miss!) expectations will ensure a lengthier tenure.

Below is an article discussing the “10 Ways to Damage Your Career”. I hope it begins a journey of potential self-discovery or confirms that you are on the right track for a solid employment future.

Enjoy!
David Lammert

10 Ways to Damage Your Career
Abridged: www.careerbuilder.com, by: Rachel Zupek

All workers share the common fear of getting fired. Today, people are not only scared of being fired; they fear getting laid off from their jobs. Neither is a situation any worker wants to face. What's worse, many factors that play a huge role in making these decisions are out of your control, such as the economy, performance and longevity in the company. To best avoid being faced with a pink slip of any kind, employees should make sure they aren't doing anything to themselves that might affect this decision.

Avoiding self-destructive habits at work seems like common sense, but reasonable thinking is sometimes forgotten when employees try to stand out or learn new habits, styles and techniques in order to stay afloat in their lines of business.

To avoid your own career self-destruction, avoid these 10 habits:

1. Not keeping track of your accomplishments
Let's say the boss is deciding whether to keep you or your co-worker on board. He sits you down and asks, "Why should I keep you?" If you have nothing to show or tell to prove your case, chances are, you'll be the one getting the boot. Additionally, it's good to keep a running list of awards, promotions and accomplishments to showcase when it comes time for annual performance reviews or when asking for a pay increase. Plus, you never know when you'll end up looking for new work. If you don't keep track of all the good you've done, you might not remember them when it's time to update your résumé.

2. Not keeping your skill set current
The business landscape is ever-changing, as exemplified by this tough economy. Right now, you're just trying to keep your job and the best way to do that is to show your employer they are getting the maximum return on their investment: you. Keeping your skill set current, along with expanding it, will show your employer you're worth their money, especially when companies are looking for ways to reduce expenses.

3. Not delivering results
Common sense will tell you that business is about accountability. If you don't contribute to the bottom line, if you cost money instead of make money or if you harbor a sense of entitlement for simply having put forth effort, you are guaranteed to fall by the wayside.

4. Efficient does not equal effective
Those who think that communicating via e-mail, because it's faster than actually talking with people, fail to recognize the importance of personally connecting with others in today's highly automated, technological and competitive environment. One thing that will keep you afloat in this economy is your relationships with people, and those relations can't be grown through e-mails, text messages or BlackBerry chats.

5. Thinking you're irreplaceable
There is no room for "divas" in the workplace. There are millions of people looking for work right now and, chances are, more than a few of them could do your job. As soon as you convince yourself that you and only you can do the job "right," your star will surely start to fall.

6. Knowing all the answers
Knowledge is power. Professing to know it all, however, will stall your career as it shows that you're uninterested in learning about new ideas and approaches. To stay afloat in today's job market, workers need to ask questions, stay current and listen to new ideas.

7. Surrounding yourself with "brownnosers"
The old adage remains true: You are the company you keep. If you associate with brownnosers, it's most likely because you like having others boost your confidence. This fact will not be lost on those around you. Managers and other professionals will have no problem replacing you with someone who accepts and encourages intelligence and creativity in others.

8. Taking all the credit
Give credit where credit is due. Most managers are smart enough to realize when you inappropriately take full credit for positive outcomes despite the help or input received by others. If you credit other people where they deserve it, you'll be seen as team player, a key element to any successful group. Plus, you'll probably find that you start seeing the same acknowledgement from your co-workers.

9. Not tooting your own horn
Chances are your boss doesn't have time to keep a running tab on each of his employees, so how else will your boss know how valuable you are to the company unless you tell him? Bragging is one thing, but letting colleagues in your industry know of your success through case studies, promotion bulletins or other such tools is another. It's important to recognize the value of letting others know about your accomplishments as long as you go about it in the right way.

10. Losing perspective
Those who fail to recognize their shortcomings are destined for the unemployment line.
Intuitive business people recognize that, despite their best attempts to do everything right, they may sometimes approach roadblocks and need to seek the advice and perspective of a respected friend, colleague or even a business coach. Acknowledging that you aren't perfect will earn you respect in the office.

Stuck in Your Job?

71% of 18-29 year olds say that they are likely to look for new jobs once the economy turns. Are you one of those prospective candidates who are in a job you dislike but unable or unwilling to take a chance on looking for a new opportunity? Or as an employer, should you be looking to the staff you have left and try to secure them in their positions for the future?

I found this article interesting and hope you do as well. It certainly does get you to think about the possibilities for the near future. With so many people hunkering down in their current position, even though they are not satisfied, what will happen when opportunities start to open up? Will the vast amounts of employees leaving positions for new opportunities hurt a rebounding economy or help it? Will the learning curve of new employees hurt your organization or will fresh ideas and energy only help?

Enjoy!
David Lammert

Stuck in a crappy job - tough
With few new jobs openings, those who haven't been laid off are staying put.

Abridged: www.cnnmoney.com; By: Jessica Dickler

The recession has left a lot of people out of a job, but many of those still employed aren't very happy at the office. That's because layoff survivors are often stuck with increased workloads, fewer benefits and even less pay. But they're staying put -- at least for now.

Fifty-four percent of employed Americans plan to look for a new job once the economy rebounds, according to a survey from Adecco Group North America.

The sentiment is even stronger among younger workers. Of those ages 18-29, 71% say they are likely to look for new jobs once the economy turns around, the survey said.

"In times of uncertainly people tend to hunker down and protect their turf, as a result of that they are staying in their current positions," explained Gautam Godhwani, CEO of job search site Simply Hired.

Waiting on a rebound
Lois DiTommaso, 28, is frustrated with her current situation, even though she has remained fully employed as a trim assistant, responsible for details like buttons and zippers, at a well established fashion label over the last year and a half.

Layoffs at her office have left her with more responsibility, longer hours and no annual salary increase.

Despite growing dissatisfaction at work, "no one is going to quit," she said of herself and her coworkers. "There's nowhere for me to go, I need my job," she explained.

"I can't wait for the job market to improve," DiTommaso said in anticipation of finding another position in her industry.

She is also realistic about the competitive pool of applicants she will face, including those with greater skills and experience willing to take a paycut and demotion. "Some of the people that got laid off are higher up and I'm not as competitive," she admitted.

Laura Wheeler Todd, 35, has already started looking for a new job, with no success. She is an accountant at an adolescent rehabilitation center in Alabama, but layoffs at the facility have left her in charge of medical billing and insurance coding as well.

"I'm doing two people's jobs right now," she said, which means late nights and often taking work home. "If there was more stuff out there I would absolutely quit."

Now, Todd says she is considering jobs outside her field as well -- even waiting tables like she did in college -- if it means a fresh start.

Making lemonade
Disgruntled workers shouldn't necessarily switch jobs the first chance they get, said Joanie Ruge, senior vice president of Adecco Group North America. Before jumping ship, Ruge recommends that workers approach their employers first. "If you're feeling a little bit burnt out you should talk to your employer about flexibility or working from home," she said.

As conditions improve, business owners may be willing to offer flexible work hours, telecommuting or other perks to hold on to their top talent.

In the meantime, "try to play chess when the world is handing you checkers," suggests Rusty Rueff, career and workplace expert for Glassdoor.com. Workers struggling with increased workloads can take this opportunity to partner with their coworkers, become a team leader, take on more responsibility at a higher level and expand their skill set.

"This is a tremendous time to experiment in the jobs they are in," Rueff said. "Make the most out of it."