The Career Encouragement Blog

The Role of "Niceness" in the Workplace

Is it possible to be too nice at work?  Yes it is, if your niceness is fueled by a personal style preference rather than by a commitment to do what is best and necessary for the organization to grow and be productive.  Many times what is best for an organization (and for most individuals for that matter) is to face a little challenge and change. 

Not convinced?  Check out this interesting perspective on "niceness" in the workplace and leave us a comment letting us know what you are thinking.   

   

Become Recognized as an Expert

Many thanks to Ann Bares for sharing this terrific article on how and why to Brand Yourself by Keith Ferrazzi.  He advises two key steps to building a fun and interesting career: 

1.  Build expertise.

2.  Get people to recognize it. 

This encouraging article outlines 5 simple steps to accomplish this task.  Don't mistake simple for easy, however - becoming an expert is no easy task.  It takes hard work to acquire knowledge, develop a thought process around how that knowledge can be applied usefully, and then to share it with others in an effective manner.  But if you are pursuing a profession that you enjoy, why not put in the extra effort?

Are you a learner?

People who grow in and enjoy their careers throughought the years are typically "lifelong learners" who enjoy discovering and applying new skills and ideas in their lives.  Are you a learner?  The answer is probably "yes" if you are taking time to read a blog like this one.

As part of my doctoral program I am taking a class called "Teaching in Higher Education" where we explore questions such as "What is knowledge?" "How do we create knowledge?" and "How do we transfer knowledge to others?"  As part of the class, we were assigned to write a reflective autobiography of ourselves as learners and then to share them with each other.  It was absolutely fascinating to hear how the other students the class contemplated the presence of "learning" in their lives.  It was a good reminder to me that we rarely have the same view others have, so its a good idea to develop the habit of asking instead of telling.

I was particularly struck by the autobiography of one of my classmates, as her life experiences were so different than mine.  We are both committed lifelong learners who are enthusiastically constructing careers we enjoy, yet we come at it from such different perspectives.  With her permission, I am posting it (anonymously) below.  It's long, but I think you'll find it encouraging to know that you are not alone in your efforts to be and do good in this world - many, many others are out there on the journey with you.

Autobiography of a Learner

            My first and finest recollection of learning sends me searching through two decades of reflection.  I recall my Auntie Mamie’s request for me to spell the words on a lotion bottle to my Auntie Julia.  The lotion bottle read “Rose Milk.”  I remember my Auntie Julia replying, “Oh Mamie she is very smart.”  I was four years of age, when my Aunt Julia identified me as being smart.  So, in essence, I would attest my Auntie Mamie, who was my caregiver for 7 years, prepared me for kindergarten similar to the early childhood programs of the late 20^th and 21^st century.  As an enthusiastic preschooler receiving informal preschool/early childhood education instruction, I was very eager to attend school.  Since my 7 elder siblings attend school and I would hear there conversation about school, I was excited and often imagined the classroom.  For example, I vividly recall thinking about a desk, a chair and the teacher.  At last, I finally attended kindergarten and was pleased and excited to attend everyday, unlike my siblings, who were often frustrated and unhappy with school.  From my limited experience as a student/learner, it was pleasing to interact with the other children, discover and learn new songs. 

            At the age of 7, my first informal yet effective first instructor, Auntie Mamie died.  As a result, I moved in with my elder 7 siblings, 3 younger siblings, and single mother.  Before my Auntie Mamie died, I remember my mother would visit my Auntie and me every Sunday afternoon following church.  On every visit my mother would bring along a business size manila envelope/folder with mail.  My Auntie Mamie would read the proceedings to my mother and instruct her on how to respond to each correspondence.  After my Auntie Mamie died, my mother decided to visit my Auntie Julia.  Now 8 years of age, I learn that my mother is illiterate.  On bright crisp Sunday afternoon following church, I accompany my mother to Auntie Julia’s house.  During our bus ride, I ask my mother to let me see the envelope and she passed it over to me with a cautioned look in her eyes.  I responded with a passion look in my eye; to assure my mother that I could help her with reading the mail; I read it out loud.  She immediately opened her eyes, which was a sign that I was reading out loud. 

            At the ripe age of 8, with a limited elementary education; I was an advanced, critical thinker and learner.  With only four years of experience as a learner, I learned my mother could not read and write.  Also, on another occasion, I learned my older siblings would short change my mother whenever she sent them to the convenience store for grocery items.  My mother located convenience and authority within me.  As time progressed, I eagerly resumed Auntie Julia’s duties.  I read my mother the mail and instructed her on how to respond.  I taught her how to read and write.  The first book we read was A Duck is A Duck.  Later I would go to the library alone and check out books to read to my mother.  Our list included texts by Ezra Jack Keats and other childhood writers. 

            As I continued my education, I educated and empowered my mother.  Later she enrolled in an evening adult basic education course.  I vividly recall her instructor, Ms. Williams.  Ms. Williams enjoyed having me assist her evening adult class.  I would help the other students with Math assignments as well as praise the students when they mastered a concept or idea.  Ms. Williams’s students would reward me with money ($1 or $5 or candy) and inform my mother “your daughter is smart; you better keep her away from those boys and let her finish her education.”  The entire adult basic education class was familiar with my name and would encourage my mother to bring me to class. 

            Unlike most daughter and mother, my mother and I relationship was non-traditional.  I was the instructor and she was the learner.  Yet, I was a curious child, and on occasions my mother would describe her childhood and inability to attend school.  So one day I questioned my mother about her illiteracy and why she did attend school as a child.  She informed me that she was unable because she had to work or was needed in the field.  With only three to four years of education, I was just introduced to civil rights and Martin Luther King.  My mother with limited education was instructing me on my first lesson of poverty, civil rights, segregation, sharecropping and the legal institution of Southern slavery.  She revealed a promised she made to herself, “if I ever have children, they would not work in a field.  Or in a white families’ house. They would attend school.”  My mother was took part in the Great Migration (black southeners relocating to Midwest states like Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, etc.)  Now in a new city and following Brown v. Board of Education, my mother was in a position to access her dream/promise. 

            During my undergraduate experience, I connected all the stories, songs and hymns my mother shared with me as a youth as a learning experience about poverty in Black America, African-Americans underrepresented and underprepared for higher education, and how social and public policy once launched to eliminate poverty has reversed its mission.  I became a critical, reflective teacher from my earliest experiences as a learner.  My experience as a learner prepared me to strive for opportunities to challenge poverty, value education as well as lesson I learned about the injustices of the South, and be my children’s first formal educator.

-End

Living Your Purpose

I am a big fan of Richard Leider's writings on the power of finding and living out our unique purpose in life.  His website tells about his work as an "inventure coach" and has several great articles about how to find and live your purpose. 

A couple of thought-provoking points he makes are:

1. Just as an acorn much become an oak tree, and can only become an oak tree, so each of us has a unique purpose that we must live out.
2. Finding our purpose is an ongoing part of our human journey.
3. Our purpose is cannot be defined by a job title - we can live out our unique purpose whether we are the receptionist or the CEO.
4. Discovering our purpose is hard work and no one else can do it for us - it involves introspection and reflection.

If you are interesting in learning more about your purpose and how to live it, you may enjoy Leider's books The Power of Purpose: Creating Meaning in Your Life and Work and Repacking Your Bags.  He offers great insight and lots of practical tips along with a big helping of encouragement!

You can get started on the journey toward finding your purpose by reflecting on the following questions -maybe take the time to write out some answers in a journal:

What do really want?

How will I know when I have it?

Like point 4 says above - this is hard work.  It's not easy to answer these questions, but I promise it's worth the effort!

Happy journeying!

e-Communication with Potential Employers

Recently one of my clients asked me for a favor.  Would I meet with a young "friend of a friend" who was looking to build a career in Human Resources to discuss her interests and possible opportunities at any of my clients.  Her background sounded interesting so we communicated via e-mail and arranged to meet at a coffee shop last week.  The day before our scheduled meeting I received this e-mail:

"Hey I am so sorry, but I just found out that I have an exam next Wednesday so I won't be able to meet Wednesday morning. My exam isn't until 1pm on Wednesday so I won't be available until around 3pm that day. I don't know if you are free later on that afternoon/evening or not. If not than we could try to meet on Friday or Saturday if either of those would work for you. Again I am really sorry about this. I didn't think I had any exams or papers next week. Let me know what you think when ever you find the time."

I really don't know what I am supposed to do with this whirling circle of words, so - as of yet - I have not responded. Which brings me to my point today.  If you are going to communicate via e-mail with potential employers, try following these suggestions for making a better impression and forging a connection:

1. Be succinct!  The note above contains TIM - too much information.  The reader is left wondering if a) the writer is completely out of control of their life; b) the writer doesn't really want to meet and that's why she is being so vague; c) the writer is simply an immature professional - not a bad thing, but not a good impression to be making either; or d) you fill in the blank.  It would have been more effective to simply say, "I am so sorry for any inconvenience this causes you but I have an unavoidable conflict with our Wednesday AM meeting.  Could we reschedule at a time that would be convenient for you?  Some dates and times I can suggest are..."
2. Use proper capitalization, punctuation and grammar.  This one needs no explanation - if it does, then you might not be ready to look for a corporate job.
3. Give a clear subject for your e-mail.  Your subject line should briefly summarize the content of your note - such as "Follow-up to Phone Call" or "Bill Jones Resume for Ops Manager Position."  For business correspondence don't use subject lines such as "Hi" or "Let's get together!"  Leaving the subject line blank is just plain annoying. 
4. Name your attachments effectively.  If you e-mail documents someone, give them a name that helps the receiver use them effectively or find them easily if they look.  For example, if you send your resume, name the document "Laurie Candidate Resume" or even "Lori Candidate Resume for Ops Manager".  Many recruiters comment on how often they receive resumes simply named "Resume" which keeps an individual resume from standing out.  Occasionally I receive resumes with interesting names that may be useful to the candidate for locating them on his hard drive but aren't helpful to me at all. I have received resumes called "Bill Smith Resume - Mom's edits" and "Bills Kick Butt Resume". 
5. Send attachments in as simple a form as possible.  Unless you know what type of technology system your recipient has, send any attachments in as simple a form as possible - no pictures, no funky fonts, no large files to download. 
6. Assume anything you send can and likely will be forwarded.  If you are looking for a job, and your resume catches the attention of the Recruiter or Hiring Manager, she will likely want to send it on to a few others in the company so be sure your message is succinct and professional.

The list could go on and on - but you get the main point: 

Be professional, and try to think about the perspective of your recipient. 

What tips have you found to be effective for communicating with prospective employers via e-mail?  What things would you definitely NOT do?  Please leave a comment and share your wisdom!

This stuff really works!

About two years ago, a woman I worked with asked me if I would help her husband with his resume.  He was applying for an internal opportunity (promotion) at his company and she was concerned that his resume was weak.   She was right - his resume was weak.  Fortunately for him he was very coachable and took all my advice about his resume and cover letter to heart.  The new version he produced was clean and professional, and netted him an interview. 

(SIDE NOTE:  I've often been told that I should write a book or create some sort of software to help people develop good resumes. I'm not interested in doing that because there are already so many great resources out there.  Simply following the advice in 10 Ways to Get Your Resume Ignored by Laura Morsch will help you craft a great resume.)

So, next I spent some time helping him prep for the interview and again he was quite coachable.  The ultimate result was that he landed the job!  I was excited to know that the information I had to share and my coaching led to positive results.  He and his family were excited because the new job meant more money and less travel.

I ran into this fellow a few weeks ago.  He's still in the same job.  As we were catching up he said to me, "I think of you nearly every day since you helped me get my job........because I HATE it so much!"  He was joking (a little) of course, but still he made a good point - by following some sound coaching, he was able to land a job that might not even be what he really wanted. 

So what is my point in telling you this story?

First, be clear about what you want in your career before launching off on a search effort.

Second, if your job search strategies aren't working, get some help from a professional.  There are tried and true strategies for advancing your careers.  As I've said over and over, most people fall down on the basics, so if you aren't clear on what the basics are, seek help.

Third, know that your career needs and desires will change over time.  As this gentleman and I went on to discuss, the job he landed actually was a good fit for him for the first 18-24 months.  He really did appreciate the extra money, the reduced travel was a blessing to his family as they had just had a new baby, and it definitely built his resume.  Just because he is starting to desire different things now doesn't mean that the move was wrong in the first place.  They key is that you don't confuse a plateau with being in the "wrong" job. 

After further discussion, we developed a simple plan for him to start investigating what his next step might be and he feels re-energized in his career now.  He is fortunate not to be in a desperate situation where he needs to find something immediately, so he can take his time.  The mere fact that he is being proactive about looking for a way to grow in his career is also helping him enjoy his current role much more.  This makes him want to contribute more, which in term makes him a stronger performer, which in turn is going to eventually help him land in his next opportunity! 

Events like this always remind me how much I really do enjoy my work!