ASK FOR ADVICE
Send your career questions to Dr. McIntyre
Self Help Strategies
The most effective people are lifelong learners. They grow their careers by leveraging their strengths, compensating for their weaknesses, taking on new challenges, and “playing well with others”. For do-it-yourself career coaching, check out our free success tips.
SELF HELP STRATEGIES TOPICS
Although no one enjoys being criticized, we should try to view criticism as useful feedback. At best, we may learn about habits or traits that we need to change. And at the very least, we will better understand the other person’s viewpoint. Critical feedback can help you improve, both personally and professionally. The most effective people invite helpful criticism through Critical Feedback Discussions.
“Self-talk” refers to the dialogue that goes on inside your head – the way you communicate with yourself. This internal dialogue affects how you feel about yourself, your colleagues, your job, and your life.
The good news is that although you may not be able to control everything that happens, you can control the way you think about and react to those situations. Positive self-talk can encourage you, relieve stress, and improve your self-image. Negative self-talk, on the other hand, increases stress, chips away at self-esteem, and can cause you to overreact.
Think of your positive and negative self-talk as the voices of two different people. One is supportive, caring and encouraging. The other complains frequently, puts you down, and is quick to find the worst in everything. Who would you rather listen to?Here are a few tips for making self-talk work for you, not against you:
In every career, there are certain moments when you can either make an outstanding impression or commit occupational suicide. The key to success is recognizing when those moments occur and responding appropriately. Here are ten situations where many careers have been made or broken.
To become more effective at work, we often need to change longstanding habits or behaviors. The acronym AMESH sums up the five steps required to accomplish any personal behavior change: Awareness, Motivation, Education, Substitution, and Habit Replacement.
If you believe that certain behaviors are creating problems for you – or if others have told you so – then the AMESH formula may help you figure out where to start the change process.
The cultural differences described below are often observed in organizations. Since these are stereotyped descriptions, many organizations will exhibit characteristics of more than one type.
First impressions are powerful! In the space of seconds, we draw instantaneous unconscious conclusions about someone when we meet them for the first time. The information upon which we base these conclusions is gathered in a flash by all of our senses. And these opinions are quite resistant to change.
Your exposure to higher level managers is usually limited, so you need to make a good impression when you have the opportunity. After all, the managers above your boss can affect your pay, promotions, assignments, and even your job security. Whether they are in business, government, or the non-profit sector, all executives appreciate certain things. Here are a few ways to make the most of your encounters with the higher-ups.
Recently, a manager sent us this email: “Some of our employees are clueless about how to dress or act in a professional office, but they become hurt or angry when told about the problem. Would you please write something about unprofessional office behavior?”
Based on the mail we receive, many managers and coworkers are concerned about this issue. So here are the Top Twelve complaints that people send us. Are you or your employees guilty of these “professional sins”?
The only thing certain in life is change, and people react to change in different ways. But since change is a constant at work, the wrong reaction can sometimes be a career-killer. Can you spot your “change personality” in these five descriptions? See if you are an Optimist, a Follower, a Worrier, a Resister, or an Advocate.
Webster’s defines stress as “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation”. I define it as that “overwhelming feeling that makes you want to throw your computer out the window, strangle your co-worker, scream, or take the next plane to anywhere but here.”
Are you a “difficult employee”? Your answer to that question is probably a resounding “no” – but would your manager agree? You may assume that you would know if your boss held this view, but managers often fail to tell employees what they’re thinking. However, they may freely share their opinions with others. Getting a reputation for being “hard to manage” can definitely limit your career.
To succeed in any job, you must be able to get along with management. So take a minute to look at things from your boss’s point of view. See if you’re guilty of any of these “unmanageable” behaviors.
Mentors can be extremely useful in your career development. But how do you know what to look for in a mentor? And what exactly do you do with one? Here are some suggestions for making the most of a mentoring relationship.
Office parties represent both opportunity and risk. On the one hand, you can develop better relationships with your colleagues and get to know people that you would never meet otherwise. Some people use parties for serious strategic networking.
Outstanding Administrative Assistants need three things: (1) a cheerful temperament, (2) great people skills, and (3) a desire to always do their best. See how you stack up . . .
One of the primary reasons that managers exist is to make decisions. But since managers are just human beings, their decisions are often influenced by certain personality traits or flaws in thinking. Assess yourself on the decision-making biases listed below, then try using the balancing strategies to make better decisions.
Have you ever found yourself saying any of the following: “No one ever knows how much I contribute around here!” “People only get promoted because of who they know, not what they do.” “I never get considered for any of the big assignments.” If so, you may be an Office Wallflower.
Office Wallflowers can usually be found eating lunch at their desks, working alone at their computers, sitting quietly in meetings, and avoiding all social contact. As a result, they are often overlooked. To assess your wallflower tendencies, try answering the questions below.
Please answer each question with a “yes” or “no”. Then see “How to Become More Assertive” below. The more “YES” answers you gave, the more wimpy you are. To become less wimpy and more assertive, check out the suggestions below.
Secrets to Winning at Office Politics
“Very informative & insightful!”
“I wish I had read this book years ago.”
“Has changed my work life for the better.”
Ask The Coach
Have a question for Marie? Send your concerns to the Office Coach.
Interested in Career Coaching?
Are you dealing with difficult workplace issues, considering a career change, or facing challenges in managing your business?