Unlearning and relearning
By · CommentsBefore we can learn something new, we have to unlearn the way we’ve always done it.
How is this possible?
See my article.
the-art-of-unlearning-and-relearning
What do you think?
Can leaders gain wisdom without years of experience?
By · CommentsI have created and given a presentation on how to accelerate the development of young leaders.
Drawing on the work of David Rock, Bruce Tulgan, Daniel Goleman and others, I created a model called ABC – for Alliance, Brain Development and Context – that outlines how to help young leaders mature so they can move into leadership positions.
Here is the slide deck (minus the case study).
developing-young-leaders
What do you think? Do we all have to learn about life the hard way, or are there things that can help us mature more quickly?
Do you know who you know?
By · CommentsWhen you need a solution to a problem, who do you go to? A family member, friend, neighbour, or perhaps your online communities?
The web has opened up the idea of who is an expert, and even who is available for advice.
If you’re thinking about a career transition, it makes sense to let the whole world know what you’re looking for. (Of course, first you have to define what it is that you want. If you need help with that, I’m available.)
That means contacting everyone you know with a brief description of the career move you’re looking for. And don’t forget to ask how you can help them — to reap the rewards of networking you must focus on what you can give, not what you can get.
So, who do you know? I’ll bet there are a whole lot of people who you don’t think of on a regular basis but might be able and ready to help you. Take a large sheet of paper and draw a circle in the middle — that’s you. Then draw lines out from the circle for each area of your life. These could include school, current work, sports groups, recreational groups, online communities, extended family — you get the idea. There are no bad contacts. You never know where your next lead will come from. And, it’s just polite to give everyone equal courtesy when you contact them or meet new people for the first time.
So take advantage of who you know and who they know. You never ‘know’ where it might lead!
Hope is a choice
By · CommentsWhat does that mean?
When your body feels so heavy you can’t seem to take a step, hope hangs out there on a limb that is just beyond your reach.
When you feel so discouraged that you believe all doors are closed to you, hope is like a far-away planet that you can barely glimpse.
So how can hope be a choice?
Several years ago I faced a huge transition that included marital separation, a move across the country, and looking for work that would meet expenses for me and my daughter.
I had wonderful support from family and friends, but still felt unsure of how my life would ever come together again. There seemed to be just too many losses to overcome.
Just when I was at the point of desperation, I received a call offering me a 6-month contract job for which I had applied. I took it, and it turned into a four-year gig with an organization where the people were both fun and compassionate.
What did I learn?
It’s okay to cry until you think you will break, it’s okay to mourn your losses, it’s okay to struggle over and over again, and finally, it’s okay to trust – trust in yourself and in the world around you.
I’m a great planner, but when all hell broke loose in my personal life, the plans met their match. I had to let go of the former dream, and start taking actions one step at a time towards a new dream.
The more open you are to hope, the more likely it is to help you find your way.
This is how I know that hope is a choice.
What do you know about hope?
There are no wasted experiences
By · CommentsSometimes on the road to a meaningful career there are unexpected stopovers. Maybe you’re in a job that really isn’t where you want to be, but you haven’t yet figured out where your true path lies.
Is there anything important that you can learn from your current job? Absolutely!
Try asking yourself these questions:
What new skill are you using that you have developed because of the job?
What makes you comfortable or uncomfortable about the work environment?
How are you doing working with others? Can you make your voice heard as part of a team? Can you listen to other points of view and really try to understand them?
What’s one part of your day that you really love or really hate?
No matter what work you’re doing, whether paid or unpaid, ideal or not, you have many opportunities to learn about yourself while you contribute to the organization.
Maybe you’ve developed a new procedure that saves the company time and/or money.
Perhaps you have a special gift for teaching others.
Maybe you’ve created a new way for the company to communicate with its stakeholders.
So, just because the job lacks the ideal qualities you are looking for, it still can provide you with a wealth of information about yourself and valuable ways to contribute.
How are you contributing to your workplace?
Is Spring Your Season?
By · CommentsJust as the natural world has its seasons or stages of development, so does your career life. What season are you in?
The signs of Spring
If you’ve recently graduated from college or university and want to start your career, you’re in Spring. But with so many options in front of you, you may be overwhelmed by all the choices. How do you know what will be right for you?
A quote that I have loved for years says, “Every day become a little more of who you are meant to become. This is your work.” (Ian Percy)
How do you find out who you are meant to become? Every experience you have is a signpost to this discovery. But often we don’t see these signposts for what they are.
Using others as sounding boards can help you gain objectivity and a new perpsective on who you are. The gift of coaching is speaking your thoughts out loud to someone who receives them without judgement.
Your path is unique. Through coaching conversations you can discover your own route to career happiness.
What would you like to converse about?