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Conversations to influence change | Succeeding when the stakes feel high

January 10, 2020CareerGrow StafferCareer management
Conversations to influence change

Sooner or later, most of us will want or need support from others to pursue a goal or bring about change. Perhaps it’s asking for a pay rise. Or talking to your partner about a career move that will significantly impact your free time, finances or location. Whatever your goal, here are some tips to help you succeed in high-stakes conversations.

  1. Prepare. Just like you would for an important meeting or presentation, prepare for the conversation.
  2. Be clear about your intentions. Think about your aims for the conversation and the impact you want to have. Write these down.
  3. Stand in the shoes of the other. The better you can understand their point of view and perspective, the more you’ll be able to create the opportunity to influence. Ask yourself “what’s in it for them”? How might they benefit from helping or supporting you? What do you want them to think, feel, and do after speaking to you? Write it down.
  4. Take care of yourself. If nerves are a factor (which is normal, by the way), take the time to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally and physically. Get enough rest and nutrition, and slow down your breathing. And by all means pick a “good” day – but don’t let it be an excuse to delay the chat indefinitely.
  5. Break it up if you need to. A conversation doesn’t need to have its beginning, middle and end in one sitting. Better to pause and regroup, rather than go too far or off the rails. It’s very reasonable to say: “let’s pause this for now, give us both a chance to think a bit more and revisit tomorrow or next week”.
  6. Pick a suitable setting. Sitting in the park might be better than making a phone call while you’re on the bus. Going out for coffee might be better than sitting across a desk.
  7. Listen actively. Make sure the other person is and feels heard, even if, or particularly if, you aren’t in agreement with them. Show that you are listening – build on their ideas, repeat back what they say (check your understanding), let them finish their sentences, keep eye contact, and be warm if appropriate.

If you are feeling stuck or just want support to prepare for a career conversation, don’t hesitate to reach out to coach@careergrow.coach. We’d love to help.  

[This post is an adaptation of our original blog published 4 July 2017.]

The job’s one thing. But does the culture suit you?

December 15, 2019CareerGrow StafferCareer management

While an organisation’s vision and goals describe ‘what’ gets done, its culture dictates the all-important ‘how’. Beyond cool perks and offices, culture encompasses an organisation’s shared values and encouraged behaviours. A good cultural fit has the potential to bring out your best, so it’s worth considering. 

Start with your own work preferences – the tangible and intangible factors that contribute to your happiness and satisfaction on the job. Among others, consider the values you care about and what leadership, communication and decision-making styles you favour. Is flexibility important? What about teamwork or individuality? And do you like flatter hierarchies where decision-making may be more participative? Or are tiered chains of command better for you? What pace lets you shine – fast and agile (prizing efficiency) or methodical and considered (prioritising quality)?

Then do your homework on the organisation. Their website, social media and Glassdoor reviews (or similar) may provide clues about what’s important to them and what behaviours they expect and reward in their employees. What do they say they stand for (their values)? How do they showcase or speak about their people? Do they talk about career development? And so on.

If you can, visit the office and take in the space (workspaces, common areas) and people’s demeanour. Look up LinkedIn contacts. Or ask to speak with a team member. Why do they love working here? Do they feel valued and heard? What’s one thing they’d change about the place? What kind of person thrives here?

Ultimately, you want to understand if an organisation “practices what it preaches” and can provide you with an environment in which to flourish, to their infinite benefit and yours.

Unleash your creativity

November 9, 2019CareerGrow StafferCareer management
Albert Einstein

“Creativity is intelligence having fun” – Albert Einstein.

According to LinkedIn, Creativity is now considered chief among the soft skills that employers value most. It’s important for innovation and problem solving, and it’s a skill that everyone can develop.

In its broadest sense, creativity is about generating ideas or possibilities that are novel and valuable. There are countless ways to boost your creativity, including exploring creative pursuits. (And no, you don’t need to be an artist.) Not only liberating, creative pursuits are also mindfulness activities because you focus on the sensory detail and not the stresses in your mind.

Tips for unleashing creativity

Whether it’s to help generate ideas for a career change or to introduce more creativity into your work or life, here are some tips and resources that we think may help unleash your creative side. (As with most things, start with a growth mindset – creativity can’t flourish under criticism.)

  1. Try collage. Create a picture of your dream career or future life and use it for motivation or planning. Or just do it for beauty or fun.
  2. Try colouring in. There are loads of colouring-in books for grownups. Google it.
  3. Join a choir.
  4. Can’t draw? But you can probably doodle lines and shapes, which Harvard Health suggests has “thinking” benefits too.
  5. Cook for enjoyment or take a cookery class.
  6. Create a pin board of ideas and inspirations – check out Pinterest.
  7. Go to a gallery, if you don’t usually. Or if you regularly attend, check out a different one.
  8. Listen to music or play an instrument. (Can’t get to an instrument? There’s an app for that.)
  9. Go for a walk in nature and take photos – experiment with filters and camera settings.
  10. Ever considered handicrafts? The options are endless – from woodwork to paper, sculpture to mixed materials. Get inspired on Etsy or other handmade platform sites.

Top Books
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (2015)
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (2002)
A Whack on the Side of the Head by Ron Von Oech (2001)

Top Sites
Skillshare: find loads of inexpensive creative online courses.
Ted Talks: watch creative and inspirational talks.
Pinterest: discover and save creative ideas.

How are you giving light to your creativity at home or work?

What one daily practice gets you ahead for that next performance review, interview or pay rise conversation?

July 29, 2019CareerGrow StafferCareer management

Career development involves doing your job well while deliberately growing your skills and experience base. At its best, it’s being conscious of how what you’re doing today is helping to build your resume for tomorrow. After all, continuous learning is the new job security. But what does that mean in daily practice?

Build your resume

Building your resume means thinking about how your tasks and progress are adding value for you and your organisation. Every day. It requires curiosity, initiative, generosity, awareness and courage – not to mention some artful delegation (also known as new opportunities for others). If you go to work thinking “This is good, I’m learning x or y”, then you’re likely on the right track. 

Track your progress in a work journal

To help you stay mindful of your career goals (more on these in a future blog) and therefore where to focus your efforts, try keeping a work journal. Set aside an hour each month to record and reflect on what you’re consciously doing to deepen or broaden your skills and experience. Ask yourself:

What have I done in the last month that shows I’m reaching my goals?
What am I good at?
What can I do more of?
What have I done that shows I’m ready for another challenge or role?

And before you think ‘who has the time to journal?’, consider the potential return on investment. Aside from sharpening your goal focus, you’ll be identifying and gathering concrete examples of how you’re consciously growing – which will help you get ahead of that next performance review, interview or pay rise conversation.

What deliberate action could you take today to help you build your resume?

Articulate and ‘own’ what you have to offer

July 15, 2019CareerGrow StafferCareer management

Even if you think you already know what you do well, it is worth giving this some structured thought. This will build your confidence and readiness to articulate it to others.

Try this exercise

You will need to block out some time and perhaps even try a neutral setting such as a park or café. The aim is to list as many answers as you can under the following headings:

• All the achievements that you are proud of in your career to date.
• All the times when someone has given you positive feedback.
• All the achievements away from work about which you feel proud.

Think behaviours – it’s not just what you did but how you went about it.

Keep adding to the list over the next few weeks. You may be surprised by how it continues to grow.

What does this mean for you – both for yourself and as a leader of others?

Seek progress not perfection

July 8, 2019CareerGrow StafferCareer management

In other words, don’t let best be the enemy of good.

Sometimes in our career we need to take a transition step, one that gets us back into the game so that we can plan and prime for our next step. Often, people know they don’t want to stay with their current field of work, but they choose to do so because it’s easier. The important thing is to keep up the research, networking, brainstorming, and learning. That way, you are well placed to take the subsequent step when the time is right.

If you have perfectionist tendencies…

Perfectionists can either achieve loads but run themselves and/or others ragged, or, conversely, they can achieve next to nothing because no one solution is deemed ‘right’. Do either of these resonate with you? If so, we would recommend finding a sensible friend, mentor or coach to support you.

What does this mean for you – both for yourself and as a leader of others?

What would a grown up Ferris Bueller do on his day off?

September 19, 2017CareerGrow StafferCareer change, Career management

Remember Ferris from the iconic 1980s movie? Teens watch it still. Why did it capture our imagination and why does it endure? Perhaps it was the naughty but likeable character. Or maybe because it’s relatable in some way. Or even aspirational.  Probably all and more.

Why not be Ferris for a day? Instead of nicking a car and risking jail and expulsion, however, you could be a little more productive. Days off work are spare and precious. Does it seem reckless to take one and devote it to just you? We won’t think so. In fact, a day off devoted to you and your career is smart – especially if you’ve ever wondered whether you could be doing something better, or different, or if you’re really making the best of yourself.

Eight hours at the kitchen table (or a beach or park) stopping and thinking about what really matters to you gives you an opportunity to consider what’s possible alongside what’s necessary. Ask yourself, what would you do if you had to and what would you do if you could? There are lots of tools and resources out there to guide you through some of the key steps. Just google career planning books or search Booktopia, Amazon, or your local library.

If you’re after more than a book though, we’d love to help. CareerGrow.Coach is an online self-paced program that mirrors the process a career coach would step you through. It’s cost effective and based on research and 3,000 hours of face to face coaching. And it can be done in 4-6 hours. The best bit? It sets you up to confidently take your next step and strategically manage your career from here. Find out more in our 2.5 minute video.

Help! I’m stuck in a role trap

September 12, 2017CareerGrow StafferCareer change, Career management, Resumeactive career management, career direction, career management, career skills, role trap

Taking stock of skills and values can be immensely helpful, especially if you’re looking to change careers. But if you’ve held the same role for some years now, you may find yourself struggling with role trap. And be seriously short-changed in the process.

Role trap can go unnoticed at first. Perhaps it starts with a reference to your role as shorthand for your skill set, and over time you confound the two. You think, “I’m a five-year lawyer” or “I trained as a journalist” or “I’ve always been an Executive Assistant”. A career change suddenly seems so much more intimidating. The fear of being stuck grows as your perception of what’s possible bottoms out. You feel confined to doing only what you are already on track or trained for. In short, more of the same.

You are much more than your role, however. And here’s how you can prove it to yourself and others (and bust right out of that role trap).

Look at the skills behind your current job. 

What skills and experiences are needed to do what you do? Think about all the different components and tasks of your role. Be specific AND comprehensive. For example, let’s say you draft briefs as a lawyer. Among other things, drafting requires research skills, critical analysis, and the ability to synthesise and summarise a lot of information. These are highly transferrable skills! (That is, they can be applied to lots of roles.) Sometimes we don’t have the language to describe our skills and we say things like “I just do stuff”. If this is the case for you, look up your role on LinkedIn or Job Ads and see how others describe the skills that you are likely using.

Take a ‘big picture’ view of you.

Consider any previous roles and work experience. Reflect on your whole career to date. What personal, interpersonal, business, or technical skills have you used over the years? Consider your experiences outside of paid work, too. What have you done, and what skills and talents have you used at home, in your studies, travels, or in other personal and social arenas? If you need some inspiration, check out Bolles’ list of 246 skills.

Think about what you love to do, and what you’re good at.

What skills do you really enjoy using? What are you most praised or prized for? Do you find yourself repeatedly (or enthusiastically) raising your hand to do certain things at home or work? For example, maybe you’re the go-to for holiday planning – that usually means good research, organisation and decision-making skills (not to mention influencing and negotiation skills, if planning with others!) If you’re really struggling to pinpoint what you’re good at, ask supportive friends, family and colleagues for their views.

Logically, there are bound to be numerous roles that your skills and experience can be applied to! Next step – research the new roles you’re after. Identify any skills gaps, and don’t forget to consider how you might enhance before you advance.

The Reverse Resume – build it before you need it

September 5, 2017CareerGrow StafferCareer change, Career management, Resumeactive career management, career advice, career management, career skills, resume

Enhance in advance.

Imagine. You’re a fly on the wall of your next employer-to-be’s office, witnessing their reaction to your resume in the year 2020. There’s no doubt about it, they are impressed. Your resume is an enviable record of your burgeoning skill set and experiences. As you take the scene in, you reflect (with pride) on the small but powerful steps you took in 2017 to help you reach this happy juncture in your career.

Back in 2017, you hadn’t even decided to change jobs yet. Nor had you given thought to any specific career development. You simply knew that career development was not just about securing a promotion. It was about growth – building your skills and experiences; building your resume.

So, what savvy choices did your younger (but enlightened) self make?

#1. You adopted a Growth Mindset.

And you let go of the Fixed Mindset.  The Growth Mindset is a powerful concept that was brought to life by Stanford Psychologist Carol Dweck. It focuses on potential, embracing the idea that through experience and application we can develop our brain’s capacity to learn and solve problems. Accordingly, with each role, you welcomed challenges and feedback, engaged in persistent effort, and drew inspiration from others’ achievements. (Brain Pickings has a great article on Growth Mindsets versus Fixed Mindsets, if you want to learn more: https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/).

#2. You didn’t wait to be asked.

Driven to learn, you actively sought out opportunities to find and flex new muscles in each role you held. Early on, you realised that almost any experience in and of itself was valuable for your resume (and career development). Beyond doing your job well (important, of course!), you looked for ways to grow your contribution and make things better for your team. Not only did your skills deepen and expand, but you signalled, in a very tangible way, that you were a self-starter. Music to any employer’s ears. Including the employer of 2020.

#3. You moved up before moving on.

Thanks to your initiative and sustained effort, you built a strong reputation at work. Your network grew and you came to know many parts of your organisation. So, before you moved on, you made sure to make the most of these home advantages. Promotion within your current organisation was made easier because of your track record as a self-starter. And by moving up, you put yourself in a stronger position for when the time came to move on!

What choices will you make today to enhance in advance?

Growing doesn’t always mean going

July 31, 2017CareerGrow StafferCareer management

The signs are all around. You’re ready for that next step. And you’re pretty sure you want to change jobs. But does that always mean heading straight for the door?

No! At least not without first considering your home advantages. You are already known within your current company. You know the culture, the players, and the possibilities. And quite often, moving “up” before moving “on” puts you in a stronger position.

So, before you reach for that door or a recruiter, why not look for internal opportunities to grow and boost your resume? Doing so could be a real win-win for you and your employer.

First, figure out what opportunities you want or need.

Be crystal clear about the type of role you want next and the skills and experience needed. In other words, clarify your stretch goals.

One way to do this is to pretend you’re preparing for the interview – what skills and experiences will you want to have under your belt? List them, research them, look for ones you already have but are perhaps in a different guise. Avoid falling into ‘role trap’ – break your experience down into its component parts rather than just listing roles (like “lawyer” or “mechanic”). And remember, you don’t need to find opportunities to fill every gap. Almost any new experience in and of itself will enhance your resume!

Think broadly about growth opportunities.

Look around your organisation. What IS available? Think in concentric circles: your own team; the broader department; other departments? You might find your organisation has stretch opportunities galore!

Are there group projects you could volunteer for ? What about a team priority that never seems to get off the ground? Offer to crack that nut, especially if it aligns with your stretch goals. What about someone going on leave – sabbatical, parental or even annual leave?  Can you babysit someone’s work?

Don’t forget about formal learning. Seminars, conferences, even courses – attend everything that is offered at your company.

Prepare your approach.

Ideally, your first approach would be to your manager, if they are supportive of people seeking new opportunities. (Otherwise, talk with your People and Culture team.) Who are your mentors and champions? How might they help you plan your approach?

Do your homework too. Ace that important conversation with your manager by preparing properly. Rather than saying “I’m getting ready to leave”, ask what projects might be coming up. Or offer to take something on.

If you’ve already identified an opportunity you want, present a clear business case outlining what’s in it for your manager and the company. And be prepared to illustrate how you’re going to do the extra work or re-distribute your other tasks. Who knows: perhaps your work could even be a stretch project for someone else? (The trifecta!).

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