Midpoint Check-in
Here we are now just past the half way mark of 2012 – where did the time go?!
Now is a great time for a mid-year check-in.
Are you on track with your 2012 goals? New Year’s resolutions?
If so, congratulations and keep the momentum going!
If not, what skills will help you ramp up your job performance?
What two or three new habits would create a significant difference in your personal and professional results?
For example, clients often find the habit taking a few minutes first thing in the morning to identify the top 2-3 goals that would have the greatest ROI is time well invested. This habit creates focus and leads to a higher probability that you will achieve those goals.
Take a moment and review your goals: career, health, personal development, relationship, etc. What one action can make a nice shift during the second half of the year?
Tags: career, coaching, goal achievement, goal setting, personal development
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Get re-acquainted with your library
Have you been to the library in recent years? If not, you may be pleasantly surprised. Let me share a few of the benefits.
A great selection of ebooks, audio downloads, & DVDs, besides books and audio books of course. (I often get business books.) Libraries are often connected so you can request books from other locations, and they'll have it delivered to your library branch – at not extra charge!
Usually you can have a book out for 3 weeks, and if nobody else has requested it, you can go online and extend the time you have it checked out.
DVDs usually have a 1 week limit.
When I find out about a good book, I 'save' it in my online library account. Then when trying to figure out what to read, I can just 'request' the book (again online) and pick it up shortly thereafter.
Then when the they come in or are due back, the library even emails a reminder. Plus no more stacks of books collecting all around the house! It's great for turning the car into a 'classroom' by listening to business audiobooks on the way to work, which can also help to distract from the frustrations of sitting in traffic.
Libraries aren't just for kids – pick up a few for yourself, too!
Tags: business, career, coaching, corporate
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Cool video on motivation – fun to watch!
Have you ever wonder what really motivates you/us?
Daniel Pink, author of the book Drive shares that there are three factors. He has an amazing video about 11 minutes long on YouTube ( http://lnkd.in/Hnwf2E ) that is really fun to watch.
His insights could be powerful to keep in mind as part of your leadership and management style. Also if you're feeling less than satisfied at work, how might you focus more on mastery and contribution both inside and outside the work place?
While so many things can feel outside of our control, we always have the ability to choose our attitude and where we want to focus our intention while doing required tasks. Likewise we have many options for contributing and mastering additional skills outside of work. A hobby of studying French would help you master the language. Volunteering with Habitat For Humanity would help you contribute to your community and those less fortunate, as well as develop carpentry skills that might be useful for fixing your own home. And making connections with likeminded people could foster new friends.
Do share your thoughts of the video!
To your success,
Gwyneth Anne
Tags: career, coaching, contribution, inspiration, mastery, motivation, personal journey coaching, success, tips
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Great book by Marshall Goldsmith: Mojo
Here we are in the ‘Back to School’ season with kids returning to their studies, and reorganizing our calendars and schedules. It is often also a time for us to look forward and identify what we want to achieve this academic year now that the summer vacations are behind us.
So what are your goals? Are you on track with what you had on your list January 1st? Is it time to ramp things up? Get additional support? Or perhaps even take our goals up a notch? If you’re not feeling inspired, perhaps your goals are too small. What is the bigger impact you want to make? What would have you feel completely inspired, energized and in fact so excited that you stop reading this email because you’re going to start taking action right now?
I just finished reading Marshall Goldsmith’s book “Mojo” and he talks about rating our activities based on different components as a way of revealing in a metric fashion if we’re full leveraging out time and energy. You can get a sneak peak at ‘mojothebook.com’.
In the book he also talks about the power of having an accountability partner. If you have someone to whom you have to ‘fess up to’ or ‘celebrate with’, that alone will significantly increase your probability of taking the actions that you really want to take, rather than letting the inertia of the current status quo keep its grip.
What are the components of your work and personal life that give you both short term happiness and long term satisfaction? How can you increase the portion of your day doing these activities?
What elements don’t give you either? How can you reduce the time you spend here?
If you are interested in joining an ‘accountability group’, please email me with ‘accountability group’ in the subject line. If you prefer personalized one-on-one support, please put ‘complementary consultation’ in the subject line. My email is gaf@PersonalJourneyCoaching.com.
To your success,
Gwyneth Anne
Gwyneth Anne Freedman, PCC
Certified Career and Life Coach
408.246.7427
http://www.PersonalJourneyCoaching.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/gwynethanne
Tags: accountability, career, coaching, confidence, goals, Marshall Goldsmith, mojo, personal journey coaching, success, tips
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Submitted a resume? It’s time to follow up!
I just had someone ask me about how to effectively follow up after having submitted a resume, and thought you might also like to see my reply. So here you are:
It seems that everyone has an opinion on the follow up approach, so I'll share mine.
If you have an inside contact, that's best, then perhaps this employee can do the initial follow up, which would remind Human Resources/recruiter/hiring manager that you've been 'internally referred' which makes you a 'safer' candidate. What I mean by safer is that people usually refer people similar to themselves. So if the employee fits in, is well skilled, etc., the probability is that you will be as well. In other words it’s safer to bet on you than an unknown candidate.
What to cover in the initial follow up call with the hiring manager? Confirm that a) they have received your resume, b) express your continued interest (adding some specificity here is always good – to show that it's the specific company and position you're interested, not just because it's a job), and c) learn what their timeframe is for filling the position, perhaps ask next steps and their timing for filling the position. If you befriend the receptionist/recruiter/gatekeeper, you may be able to get the hiring manager's name and perhaps even direct phone number. Yes, following up via the phone is much better than via email as they can get a better feel for who you are and you can better read their level of interest from their tone of voice.
Ask permission to touch base with them every week or two to check in, and assure them that it will just be a quick call, as everyone is busy. Then when you call, they will know that they gave you permission to do so. Of course be sure to do so (give the quick call – being upbeat, enthusiastic, succinct and professional).
I'd suggest too, that you don't leave a message, but call until you reach them 'live'. It may be easiest to reach them directly by calling either before or after normal business hours when they are less likely to be in meetings (such as 5:45 or 6pm or 7:45 or 8am).
After your quick calls, send them a 'thank you note' expressing appreciation for their time and update. Again, be specific. Expressing something new about the position and/or company that interests you, will set you a part and continue to 'sell' you to them.
Another 'opener' for the initial or second follow up call would be to ask *what* questions they have regarding your resume (not 'if' as they can just say no – if it's open ended, they'll be more likely to dig out your resume to see – which then puts it at the top of the pile).
Using ‘keywords’ in all communication with the hiring company can subliminally communicate that you already fit their culture, and a ‘safer bet’, increasing the odd of you getting a call.
To your success,
Gwyneth Anne
Tags: career, coaching, employee, employment, follow up, hiring, personal journey coaching, resume, success, tips
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Wonder what your corporate career might look like 5, 10, 15 years from now?
If you wonder what a corporate career might look like 10 years from now, pick up a copy of The 2020 Workplace for a glimpse of what may come to be. The book highlights a few valuable insights. For example, what are the motivating factors for each of 4 generations (babyboomers through those who haven't yet joined the workforce). What are their expectations? What skills will you need? How will you find work and get hired?
The two authors, Jeanne C. Meister and Karie Willyerd, do an outstanding job highlighting and summarizing key points in an easy to read manner. Biggest skillset you will be expected to know inside and out? Knowledge and use of technology. What will be most valued by companies? Besides being smart and capable in your field, having a wide and deep network/community.
Have you already read the book? Would love to have you share what you think!
Tags: 2020 workplace, career, coach, corporate, personal journey coaching, success, tips
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Power of connection
This week I'm going to share something a bit more personal. I've recently lost a classmate I had known for many years, and it has me thinking about the power of connection and friends. I had know this individual since grammar school and was shocked and saddened to learn he was no longer with us. Two of the things I really appreciated about him was how he didn't seem to let anything bother him (even when we were teenagers – pretty unusual!) and how I often heard him offer to lend a helping hand. He was quite handy with building and fixing things, and did this as a career. He would offer to make a long drive and help friends on the weekends when he must have been tired, and perhaps would have preferred to stay home. Actualy though, I believe he really would have preferred to be with and help his friends.
You've probably found that one of the most powerful influencers of how much you enjoy work is how much you enjoy your colleagues and the boss for whom you work. What is it about them that you really enjoy? Their sense of humor? How they add fun? Don't let you take yourself too seriously when you get stressed out? Or perhaps how they stretch your thinking?
I'd like to encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what the people in your life mean to you. It's easy to take that for granted. To enrich your relationships, share with that person one (or more!) of their attributes you really value and why.
Of course sharing in the same way with friends can deepen those relationships too.
Enjoy the connection.
Sincerely,
Gwyneth Anne
Tags: career, coaching, connection, friends, influencers, personal journey coaching, relationships, success, tips
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maximize your weekend
Here we are on Friday evening, and have you ever returned to work Monday morning, not feeling quite as rejuvenated as you thought you would?
What activities help you to decompresss after a long week?
What adds meaning and fulfillment?
What are the two things, that if you were to include them in your weekend routine would greatly add to your quality of life and sense of well being?
Some possibilities may include: getting out in nature – perhaps going to the beach or a lake; spending time with friends sharing deeply what's going on in your life; exercise – with the Tour de France as an inspiration, perhaps setting a triathalon goal.
Personally I find that when I include variety and meaningful connections during the weekend, I can start the new week refreshed and energized.
Would love to hear the tips and tricks that work for you.
Tags: career, coaching, fulfillment, meaning, personal journey coaching, restoration, success, tips
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freedom
Having just celebrated Independence Day, I want to give a shout out of appreciation to all of our service people who protect our country and freedom, and their families who likewise make sacrifices on all of our behalves.
With that freedom, we have the opportunity to pursue our dreams and careers while they stand watch, rain, shine, in the heat of the dessert and cold of the winter.
Thank you.
Tags: appreciation, career, coach, freedom, military, personal journey coaching, service people
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Success Tips for second half of year
Here we are already at the end of the second quarter, which is a great time to step back and reflect on the past 6 months, and put some thought into what you’d like to accomplish during the second half of the year.
Areas to consider are:
· Your professional goals. Are you are target with what you will be benchmarked against during your performance review? What can you do to deserve an ‘exceeds’ or ‘far exceeds expectations’?
· What additional structures could bring you closer to your longer term goals? For example having lunch with someone whom you admire in your work place? A former colleague with whom you’d like to stay in touch? Attend one professional event a month/quarter to expand your network?
· Skills. What one or two additional skills would increase your marketability (including inside your current company)? How can you best learn this skill? For example from observing a mentor? Building your leadership skills through volunteering? Subscribing to a trade magazine? Reading books on the subject? Taking classes?
What will make you feel really great/proud/successful when you wrap up 2010?
Now that you have that goal/intention, what strategy(ies) will get you there? What are the steps to each strategy, that when written out will make it easy to follow through?
Mid-year is a great time to draw a line in the sand and not beat yourself up for what you haven’t yet accomplished, rather to reignite your passion and focus on what will bring you the greatest results and personal fulfillment.
To increase the probability of achieving these goals, make a promise to someone that you will achieve them, and identify what you will sacrifice if you don’t. These two steps can work wonders for keeping you motivated!
Which 1-2 strategies will make the difference for you? Are you willing to invest in your future and implement them? Feel free to reach out if coaching would be the impetus to shift from considering the concept to implementation.
Would love to hear if you’d like to share.
To your success,
Gwyneth Anne
Tags: career, coach, goals, personal journey coaching, planning, skills, structures, success, tips
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