Your Strengths - and a Sundial

Consider this: only 17% of people within the workplace play to their strengths most of the time. That means they feel energized and powerful and are enjoying their day MOST of the time. That also means that the other 83% of people are struggling, feeling depressed and fatigued a lot of their time in the work place. (Source: Career Coach Institute)

I was talking with a friend this weekend about the importance of organizations playing to the strengths of their employees – helping them (and in doing so, the organization itself) by building on what they are good at rather than focusing so much on improving their weaknesses. As individuals, we must do the same for ourselves by first noticing how things keep showing up for us and accepting and appreciating the recurring tendencies we have. Research shows that we are happiest and most productive at work when we’re using our natural talents, which when combined with knowledge and skill, develop into our strengths.

Let me give you an example: Say you are in a work situation playing a role on a team comprised of 1 or 2 analytical types like yourself but mainly more outgoing, sales-oriented folks. If you are not well known on this team, your tendency to want to analyze and review data before speaking up in a client meeting may be misinterpreted as not participating or creating the “right” impression. In this case, others aren’t appreciating the strength that you bring to the team – that of being the one who can mind the details, ask the right questions, and keep a project on track. Chances are, you aren’t appreciating this strength either. Rather than beating oneself up and struggling to be more outgoing or more spontaneous to fit in, accept this trait and let people know how it benefits everyone involved.

The Clifton StrengthsFinder, based on over 30 years of cross functional and cultural research (aided by The Gallup Organization) measures the presence of 34 themes or recurring patterns a person exhibits. This tool helps you “sharpen your perception” of yourself and provides you with your top 5 Signature Themes. And yes, they can change over time although this assessment says you really have a top 10 and they just reshuffle themselves depending on your life situations. Here’s the important thing in all this: There is not any one specific theme that is more appropriate than another – no right or wrong answers! Each theme you have is simply “the promise of a strength”, an area you can develop and maximize into an opportunity of aligning yourself with the right job, manager, or business.

Shed some light on what Ben Franklin called wasted strengths – “sundials in the shade”.

If you’re interested in learning more about this particular tool, visit http://gmj.gallup.com/book_center/strengthsfinder/default.aspx or purchase the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths which includes a code for accessing the online assessment.

I invite you to post a comment and to visit my website at www.LousbergUnlimited.com

Handling "Crucial Conversations" at Work

In a regular column in the San Diego Union Tribune where they ask “what would you do” questions to inspire readers’ thinking, they recently asked how we would handle delivering a comment to a friend about a potentially unsafe, emotional situation. This made me think of some experiences, at home and in the workplace, where direct communication could have made all the difference to me and others.

Direct communication, sometimes leading to confrontation, is a hot button for many, especially in the workplace. The skill of handling ourselves in an intense conversation is not something commonly taught. Emotions get in the way and the tendency may be to avoid anything feeling slightly uncomfortable. Many of us were even taught to not question authority and not speak up for fear that we offend or hurt someone’s feelings.

In their 2002 book, “Crucial Conversations, Tools for talking when stakes are high”, the authors have valuable advice for making it safe to talk about most anything, at work, home, and at play. They say that “skilled people find a way to get all relevant information (from themselves and others) out into the open.” Further, they say that the skills we need to master “high-stakes interactions” are moderately easy to learn. Their first tip is this: “Remember that the only person you can directly control is yourself” and then to “Focus on what you really want” by paying attention to your motives.

Can this information really help your career? Absolutely! The research conducted for this book teaches that “individuals who are the most influential – those who can get things done, and at the same time build on relationships – are those who master their crucial conversations”. (Think standing up to your boss on a hot topic, talking to a team member about not keeping commitments, delivering an unfavorable performance review)

Priceless information here! I’m interested in knowing about your experiences and successes in handling crucial conversations, so drop me a comment.

By the way, as you may have noticed, I make mention of several books in this blog. Many of my recommendations pertinent to work life and careers are now listed on the Resources page of my website (www.LousbergUnlimited.com), along with a handy link directly to Amazon.com.

Marketing Yourself Online

Have you “Googled” yourself lately? Probably a good idea… here’s why:

I heard recently that 87% of recruiters “google” their candidates to see what’s out there on the internet about people they may consider hiring. Especially if you, or someone you know, are in job search mode with a resume in circulation, I’d advise checking what comes up when you enter your name in the search engines. Anything on the internet such as blog entries, association membership news, articles, and donations to charities with your name, may be listed and available for anyone to read. Even your Amazon.com wish list could be there as that is public knowledge (I recently asked Amazon about this one myself). Make sure all information that comes up, even your wish list of books, is familiar to you and enhances your reputation.

Another way of looking at this is as a valuable marketing tool. Make it work for you, not only in job searches, but also in building your professional credibility and marketing yourself and your business. Here are just a few ideas:
Post to your own blog or make comments on others related to your area of expertise
Write articles and submit to local publications and online article directories
Speak at association meetings and ensure they’ve listed you in their online newsletter and calendar
Write book reviews on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites
Join one of the online social networking groups like Linked-In
Take an active role in an organization where your contribution may be noted online and be sure you’re listed in their membership directory

Next time you are “googled” by a client, investor, or potential employer, having implemented a few of the above ideas, you’ll make a much more impressive splash on the web. The world is much smaller, thanks to the internet, and information about us is out there whether we like it or not – let’s use it to our advantage!

I invite your comments! For more information about my company's Career Development Services, please visit www.LousbergUnlimited.com

Masterminding

What did Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Wrigley and Harvey Firestone all have in common years ago? And what do they have in common with today’s top successful business people? They were and are members of Mastermind groups. Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, wrote in 1937 about the importance of Mastermind groups in ensuring one’s success in business. He said “When two or more people coordinate in a spirit of harmony and work toward a definite objective or purpose, they place themselves in position, through the alliance, to absorb power directly from the great storehouse of Infinite Intelligence.”

In setting out to achieve New Year’s goals, I encourage my clients to enlist a Mastermind group as an accountability partner in achieving their goals. What if you met regularly with a trusted group of up to 6 people to discuss not only your goals, but also ideas, thoughts, information, and feedback regarding your business or career? Think how you could benefit by others’ knowledge, perspective and resources. Still, after over 70 years, Masterminding is a powerful way to do this.

For those of you already engaged in “masterminding”, kudos to you. You know the value of what I’m writing about today. For those of you interested in joining or starting a group, look around at the people you enjoy being around and are already learning from. Look inside, as well as outside, your industry and find those you want to know better and who are achieving things you want to achieve. Find out if your church or business associations have groups in action. Enlist the participation of others who want to grow, learn, and support others through a commitment to come together on a regular basis.

I’ve had the good fortune of being involved in three different Mastermind groups over the past 2 or 3 years. Each has had a different focus, comprised of different types of people with varied backgrounds and experiences. One met weekly, others bi-weekly; some in person at one location or homes, and the other is over the phone since we all reside in different states. The benefits to me are immeasurable – not only are they my friends, they are my confidants, trusted advisors, and partners that help me move safely along on my personal and business journey.

Simply stated, “two heads are always better than one”. Find or build a group to Mastermind with. It’s another incredible way to ensure your success.

I welcome your comments and success stories regarding Masterminding. I also invite you to to visit my website, www.LousbergUnlimited.com.