Monday, December 20, 2004
Workplace Goals for the New Year...
http://www.confidencecenter.com/art15.htm
I especially like the last topic...
Keep an Accomplishment Journal
Buy a separate notebook for an Accomplishment Journal. At the end of the day, write the date on a new page and write something that you accomplished. It doesn't have to be something major. Even little steps of progress need to be acknowledged.
For example: “I dealt with Mr. Jones, a difficult customer, in a very kind and professional way.” “I wrote two pages of a special report.”
Writing such a journal increases your enthusiasm as you look for things to accomplish and write in your journal. Your focus will be on what you did instead of what you didn't do. Keeping the journal will also give you more confidence during employee reviews or when asking for a promotion.
ONE LAST THOUGHT: When you follow through on your work resolutions and make them daily habits, you'll experience increased productivity, more energy and enthusiasm and the joy of accomplishment.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Transferable skills article that was forwarded on to me...
Transferable Job Skills
By Beth Jackson
December 2004 (CareerBank.com)
It seems like every job posting comes with an extensive wish list of required skills. Sometimes it's difficult to judge whether you're qualified for a position or not. Luckily, there are some skills that are necessary no matter what you do. These are known as transferable skills, and it's important to know what they are and use them to your advantage.
Communication: No matter what position you are seeking, communication is crucial. Whether you are speaking with clients, your co-workers, your superiors or writing documents, communication skills can contribute significantly to your success.
Some useful communication skills include:
- Writing Concisely. Be sure that your writing makes sense and is easily understood by others.
- Interviewing. Ask the right questions to get the answers you need.
- Listening Attentively. Don't just hear - LISTEN.
- Facilitating Group Discussion. Don't be shy. Toss out your ideas to the group so everyone can give you feedback.
- Negotiating. It's important to discuss ideas with others to reach an agreement.
- Persuasion. Use reasoning to get your point across.
- Research and Planning. The ability to research and plan is very important regardless of what career path you choose. Being able to conceive ideas, identify problems and develop alternative solutions is useful in both career situations and everyday life.
Problem solving skills are also a great asset to your job. Other research and planning skills are:
- Setting Goals. Always proceed forward with a final purpose.
- Defining Needs. Be able to know what your necessities are for a project.
- Analyzing. Be able to understand the parts of a project, without losing sight of the big picture.
- Gathering Information. Know how to research for information.
- Management and Leadership. Not everyone is a born leader, but basic skills and decision-making abilities can help you to become a great manager.
Some other management skills include:
- Managing Conflict. Be a conscious mediator when conflict arises.
- Teaching. Help to train others. Help them to help themselves.
- Counseling. Be a good listener and provide positive feedback to others.
- Delegating Responsibilities. A leader is only as good as the team supporting him/her. Remember to give important responsibilities to your teammates and follow-up to see if they need help.
- Coordinating Tasks. Take the time to make sure that time is allotted to certain tasks and that those tasks are delegated to the right people.
Human Relations: How you interact with others (clients, co-workers and superiors) defines you and can ultimately make or break your career. It is important to understand the nuances of human interaction.
- Develop Rapport. Work to gain the trust of the people around you.
- Being Sensitive. Work to recognize the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others.
- Listening. Pay attention to others and hear what they are saying.
- Motivating. Provide others with an incentive to achieve their goals.
- Sharing Credit. Be sure to include all teammates when accepting kudos for a job well done.
- Work Survival. Know what to do and what not to do in order to make your work experience as pleasant as possible.
- Setting and Meeting Deadlines. Be sure to know your timeframe and set deadlines in order to keep your projects under control.
- Accepting Responsibilities. You are responsible for your actions.
- Cooperating. You and your co-workers are ultimately part of a team. The team cannot be successful unless everyone respects everyone else.
- Managing Time. Time is precious. Be sure to plan and use it wisely.
© 2004 CareerBank.com. Reprinted with permission.