Posts from the success Category
It’s Not Just Who You Know – It’s Your Brand too!
September 30th, 2010 by Beth Kennedy
Branding is not just for big companies anymore. All of us need to be aware of what makes us unique and the strengths we bring to the world of work. I have four strategies that I think will make you stand out and assist you to define your brand! Figuring out your brand is a process that does not happen overnight. We need to be patient as we begin the journey but the most important part is to get started.
The first strategy is to determine your unique strengths that make an impact in your career. Are you prepared to answer the often asked interview question: “What are your top strengths that you would bring to this position?” We should always be prepared for this question because it is important whether we are working or job hunting. A great way to find your unique strengths is to get feedback from colleagues, customers, your Manager and anyone that sees you in action. Many companies have 360 tools and many times I recommend that my clients create their own mini feedback survey or if comfortable ask the individual for feedback.
The second strategy is developing an online presence. Too many people wait till they are out of a job to focus on social networking. Having a connection plan is key to your success! Being able to develop relationships with others needs to be a proactive plan. Connecting face to face is most effective but we cannot underestimate the power of the internet. I often ask during training sessions, “how many people in the room are on LinkedIn?” Many professionals think LinkedIn is another version of Facebook. I am clear to my clients that LinkedIn is a professional business networking site than can have an enormous impact on your career. Make sure your profile reflects your brand. Add updates so individuals know if you are attending seminars or professional conferences. This is an important second step in your brand journey.
The third strategy Is ongoing professional development. Make sure you spend the time to stay updated on the competencies that are key to your brand. Even with our busy schedules it is so important to make sure you are taking time to sharpen your skills. There are many positive outcomes from taking a day to attend training. In addition to helping you recharge, it is important to stay up to date with the latest strategies and initiatives. It also gives you a time to connect with others and share your brand. I will be attending in October, Career Directors International Conference in San Diego. It is an opportunity, I look forward to every year to learn the latest career development trends for my clients and to continue to refine my brand. My branding journey continues…
The fourth strategy is focused awareness. It is so important to realize that what can energize one colleague can stress another. Be really clear on your behaviors that energize others but also create conflict. This key step is crucial because by having awareness of your personality style and how you problem solve can make a huge impact on your work success! By having heightened awareness you can also present your brand to others so you stand out and are better than the best! In the song “Its my Job” written by by Mac McAnally and covered by many musicians including Jimmy Buffet, he shares his brand of being better than the best as a street sweeper. If you get a chance, listen to this song…it will change how you face your day tomorrow!
Summer Planning For Fun & Success!
August 14th, 2010 by Beth Kennedy
Once August hits, I hear at least once a week how fast the summer is going. This is when we need to really focus and make sure we have plans to do some of the special activities we were hoping would happen this summer. I call it my summer bucket list. In June, I write down all the activities and plans I hope to do with friends and family so I can begin to plan. Sometimes, August will come and I realize that my list may have been over ambitious. Like this year, buying a kayak… sounds great but I think will postpone to next year. It is also important to have something to look forward to for the next summer!
The other important question to ask is, “Are we feeling recharged or more exhausted this summer? I know the hot days do not help but how are we spending our work time and personal time. The summer is a good time to gauge if we may need to make some tweaks in our life. Usually in summer we have time to think about our vision and what we want our life to look like.
I just taught a full day career exploration class at a company in Cambridge, Massachusetts and after the class someone asked me how do you really get the balance you need and want in such a fast paced world. I shared that the first step is to acknowledge the challenge. We are so connected now in so many ways that it is difficult to recharge. We need to remind ourselves that we still have choices. On the weekends we need to take some sort of break from the constant intensity of e-mail and make sure we are truly connecting on a personal level with people that recharge us. For those who are interested, I recommend reading, Hamlet’s BlackBerry where the author asks the questions we all need to ask in this digitally driven time to make work life and personal life more effective.
Starting in September there will be a Seminar series “Success at Work” being taught publically and internally in companies. Click here to read more about this.
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Celebrate Today and Recharge!
July 12th, 2010 by Beth Kennedy
My husband and I just returned from a trip to celebrate our Anniversary! When we were first married, we began the tradition of trying to get away and celebrate our Anniversary every year. Some years they are very simple trips and other years we splurge a little, like this year, to see palm trees and escape it all! It is the one week a year that I actually detach from e-mail. I was very proud that I was able to turn off my Blackberry and put it in the hotel safe for an entire week.
Research has shown that relationships in which partners respond positively to each other’s successes have a high level of happiness! The psychologist at the University of California at Santa Barbara who led the study found that the ability to celebrate for one another is one of the strongest predictors of current and future relationship satisfaction. I may be on the extreme side of celebrating, thanks to my Dad, but I really think too often we go through life getting stressed out from the day to day craze and we forget to celebrate our success! I recently had a client decide to leave a job to pursue a consulting opportunity that he was offered. He shared with me the excitement of this new opportunity but also the concern of whether he made the right choice. The first question I asked him was if he celebrated this major career step. He was shocked by the idea at first, then after some thought he agreed with me and said this was one of the biggest changes he had ever made in his life! We need to celebrate the small milestones on the way to success because many times it takes longer to get the big goal completed and the process can be so overwhelming.
It is not just birthdays, anniversaries, etc. that should be celebrated. We need to celebrate the times in our life when we make important choices that will bring us closer to what we want in our career or life! Sometimes it is the simple celebrations that are the best!
So, think about the relationships in your life and if you are supportive to success? The summer is a great time to celebrate and recharge! Have you planned your summer vacation yet or a mini getaway to recharge? If you have not, please put vacation planning on your to do list for this week! Celebrate, recharge and have fun!