Category Archives: Reciprical Referrals

Thinking like an owner

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Just because you own a business doesn’t mean you are actually thinking like an owner…..

This is Laura Lee Rose, a business and life coach that specializes in professional development, time management, project management and work-life balance strategies.  In my GoTo Academy: Soft Skill Tools for the GoTo Professional continuous online coaching series, I go into office etiquette on various real-world IT topics in detail.

If you are interested in more training in these areas, please sign-up for the continuing online coaching series.

I was talking to a solo-entreprenuer the other day.  He was staying very busy, but not making much progress on his business growth and recurring revenue goals.  The mistake that most starting entrepreneurs make is the speed of their transition from “worker bee” to “thinking like an owner”.  They stay busy doing the tasks to keep the business ‘afloat’ that they are not doing the things that allow their vision and business to grow.

Some of the mistakes my friend was making was:
1) Doing everything himself.
Take EGO our of the picture.  Just because something needs to be done, doesn’t mean you have to do it.   Hiring part-time assistants, or collaborating with affiliates and partners are some solutions.
2) Not thinking ROI on the things he was doing.
Even though he was spending time publishing articles and speaking at various engagements, he was not collecting any sales leads.  He ‘felt’ he was reaching a potential of 1000 readers — but he had no way of consistently reaching them or understanding what topics or services they could be interested in.
3) Not thinking about up-sales.
He had no product or service (outside of his manual time) that could be sold 24-7.  He wasn’t taking the time to product-ize the things he was doing over and over again, manually.  He was not using his current articles and speaking engagements to up-sale and promote his on-line products and services.  He wasn’t taking any marketing strategies to building, sustain, and retain his current clients.  He didn’t have any follow-up products and services that lead this current clients from introductory to more advanced services — to retain and sustain his current client base while also growing his referral base.

Typical entrepreneur excuses:

  • I stay busy, but am not reaching anyone new.
  • I have a great speaking opportunity to expose myself to people I haven’t connected with before, but I am too busy with the daily running of my business to create the  materials and products to access this group.

 

Being busy is a positive affect of your great work. On the other hand, it can often limit your success because the busy-ness constrains what you can really do with your potential empire. If you would like business coaching assistance on how to expand beyond the activities you are handling today, please keep my business coaching expertise in mind.
Thinking like an owner:Every action should be positioned to give you positive revenue results.  Giving speaking engagement without prepaving for up-sales, product sales, or additional sales leads (in the form of new customer contact information and database growth); is not ‘thinking like an owner’.  Staying busy with “worker bee” activities without tying it to marketing and sales goals is not ‘thinking like an owner’.
As for creating up-sale products –an up-sale product can be as simple as:
  • a free introductory consulting session or evaluation (by phone, skype or visit)
  • a free in-house customized presentation for their department or company
  • a free subscription to your “already produced” newsletter, blogs and/or articles.
As you see, these sample product ideas don’t need any up-front preparation or time-energy — but can lead you to future sales and client contacts. Sometimes we feel we are too busy and that ‘busy-ness” limits our imagination on how we can actually do more with ease.  Just because we are an ‘owner of our own business’  doesn’t necessarily mean that we are ‘thinking like an owner’.

Homework:  Review the items that you are currently doing.  What would change if you actually ‘thought like the owner’.

Try it and let me know what you think.

If you liked this tips, more can be found at www.lauraleerose.com/blog or subscribe to my weekly professional tips newsletter at http://eepurl.com/cZ9_-/

The weekly newsletter contains tips on:
1)      Time management
2)      Career maintenance
3)      Business networking
4)      Work life balance strategies

If you haven’t taken advantage of your introductory time management coaching session, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

15 Etiquette Tips to Get Ahead

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This is Laura Lee Rose, a business and life coach that specializes in professional development, time management, project management and work-life balance strategies.  In my GoTo Academy: Soft Skill Tools for the GoTo Professional continuous online coaching series, I go into office methods on various real-world IT topics in detail.
If you are interested in more training in these areas, please sign-up for the continuing online coaching series.

Yvette Maurice (http://blog.opencolleges.edu.au/perfect-office-manners-check-list-30-rate/) wrote an interesting article regarding Do You Have Perfect Office Manners? Check This List of 30 To See How You Rate!

I liked it very much.  There are great tips for getting comfortable in your current position.  I then took some of hersame tips (just 15) and modified them for the 15 Etiquette Tips to Get Ahead.

They are strictly based on Yvette’s tips with a twist.

Here are some of the things Yvette listed – but with a small twist to get ahead.  For her unmodified advise, read http://blog.opencolleges.edu.au/perfect-office-manners-check-list-30-rate/

1. Don’t “Blame-storm”  – Get the team to immediately focus on the solutions.

When you see the Blame-storm start, initiation the focus on the solution by saying, “Great, we know what we need to fix.  How do you want this to work from this point forward?”  Focusing on how and why something occurred only keeps you in the same ‘thinking state’ as when the problem was created.  Visualizing how you really want the “entity” to work is really where you want your ‘thinking power’ to be focused.

2. Chewing Gum and other ticks

Everyone has a nervous tick or activity.  Some it’s chewing gum, others it’s twirling their hair or tapping their fingers.  When you see yourself doing your “nervous tick”, use it as a trigger to let you know something is not exactly right.  Then ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I bored? If so, start another project on my todo list.
  • Am I nervous?  If so, do something positive and productive to reduce that nervousness
  • Am I angry or frustrated? If so, think about what you can do right now to reduce those negative feelings.

3. Dressing with Respect BUT FOR SUCCESS

Dress like the person you want to be.  Dress more like the next level up then your peers.  If the managers are dressing in more business attire and your co-workers dress very casual – I recommend dressing more like the managers (or the group that you want to be).  Surround yourself with the type of people you want to emulate.

4. Don’t take Personal Hygiene to extremes

Don’t over-do cologne or perfume.  Many people are allergic to scents in deodorants, soaps and perfumes.  Also be careful with scented candles, if you are in a shared working space.  It’s more of a health and safety issue at this point.

5. Cover Your Mouth and Say Excuse Me

In Yvette’s article, she was commenting on how to handle coughing and sneezing.  My recommendation is to stay home when you are ill.  Often people feel that they are being tough when they come into the office – but actually you are costing the company money.  And no co-worker around you appreciates it either.  Think of it this way.  You come in and work with (infect) 5 people.  Now instead of losing 1 day of work from you, the company is losing 5 people the next few days.  You are also only 40% productive while you are there; and others are also distracted with the thought that they will become sick as well.  With today’s ability to work from home – the best solution is to stay home and help out from home.  You’re get better faster and will be able to produce at 100% then you do arrive in the office.

6. Keep Interruptions to a Minimum

In Yvette’s article, she recommends keeping personal calls to a minimum as to not interrupt your co-workers.  If you work in a cube environment, reserve a conference or team room for those important personal calls.  With the advent of text and on-line instant messaging, many can carry on a quick communiqué from their desk.  And then take the longer (necessary)  conversations to a small conference room (or schedule those at lunch or during outside breaks).

7. If Someone Does Something Nice, be Appreciative AND RECIPROCATE

In Yvette’s articles, she mentions saying thank you for these nice things.  If you want to get ahead, actually reciprocate beyond what they did for you.  If they helped you with a project, send a thank you note to them and copy their managers.  If they mentioned you in their presentation, mention them in yours and ask them to stand up when you give your presentation.  Reciprocate one step beyond what most people would be expecting.  And make sure their manager (and your manager) knows they are helping you.

8. Be Helpful and Cooperate with Your Colleagues to a point

In Yvette’s article, she correctly recommends helping others.  If someone needs help with a copy machine or directions to someplace, please be courteous.  But don’t take too much time helping others.  Don’t take on others people’s problems as your own.  You lose time and momentum on your items.  If your colleague’s problem is aligned with your goals, take the time to assist.  If their issues distract and derail you from your tasks, schedule and goals give them your consult and move on.  Call-in and delegate their problem to the appropriate person.  Remember, your colleague is currently stuck and is just asking for assistance to get to the next step (to get unstuck).  They aren’t necessarily asking you to do their work.  Advising them or calling in the right person for the job is helping.  It doesn’t have to be you doing the actual work; just advise them to their next step so that they are no longer stuck.

Also – be careful you are not training people to continually come to you with their issues.  Teach them to fish.

10. Look After New Employees to a point

The only thing I would add is that – if you are taking much time with a new employee; make your manager aware.   The new employee should already have a ‘helper’ assigned to them.  Get the “helper” involved in orientating the new employee.  If you company doesn’t have an orientation program for the new folks, then make your manager aware that you are helping a new person.  As long as your manager understands where your time is going, your manager can assist with the issue.  Don’t be afraid to talk to your manager about your project progress, your interruptions, and your challenges.  It’s your manager’s job to manage the normal ebb and flows of a project.  Keep them in the loop at all times.

12. Instead of Wait Your Turn to Speak in a Meeting – Create Your Turn

My only recommendation is to get your topics on the meeting agenda.  Meet with the meeting facilitator to add your issues to the agenda.  Tell the facilitator that you will need to leave the meeting at a certain time and ask him/her to put your agenda toward the front end of the meeting.  This way, you can relax and really listen to what’s going on in the meeting, without being worried that you won’t get a turn to speak.  If you want to get ahead, you will want to participate in meetings.  But, as Yvette mentioned, you don’t want to unnecessarily interrupt.  Showing initiative to place your topic on the agenda will allow you to calmly have your turn.

13. Respect not only Your Elders

The only thing I would add is to RESPECT EVERYONE.  You never know who these people will be next year or even next month.  Your co-worker may become the next manager of a sibling department or your department.  You may find that – in order to be on your dream project – you will have to work alongside someone that you don’t normally associate.  You may find out that in order to complete your task; you will need to ask a favor of a sister-department.

14. Manners at All Times but with balance

Although I agree with the general thought of “mind your manners”; don’t be a doormat either.  Take respectful initiative in everything you do.  Be considerate but selective where you put your time.  Keep your own business commitment in mind at all times.  Don’t risk not completing your tasks to assist others with their jobs.  If someone is having a lot of computer problems, call IT for them.   If someone needs a lot of help, advise them to seek their manager.  It’s their manager’s job to make sure his/her employees are running smoothly (not yours).  Make sure your manager is aware of what’s going on with your project – so that he/she may help manager some external distractions that you are encountering.  Keep external interruptions to a minimum, to allow yourself to stay on track.

Keep the airplane rule in mind:  “Put on your oxygen mask before helping others.”

30. And Don’t Nit – Pick!

I’m just skipping to tip 30.  My general rule is to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.  Everyone is actually doing the best that they can with the information and expertise that they currently have.  Everyone wants to do a good job.  Everyone wants to do the right thing.  If you have that attitude, things will look differently to you.

 

Try it and let me know what you think.

If you liked this tips, more can be found at www.lauraleerose.com/blog or subscribe to my weekly professional tips newsletter at http://eepurl.com/cZ9_-/

The weekly newsletter contains tips on:
1)      Time management
2)      Career maintenance
3)      Business networking
4)      Work life balance strategies

If you haven’t taken advantage of your introductory time management coaching session, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

Leveraging Links

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This is Laura Lee Rose, a business and life coach that specializes in professional development, time management, project management and work-life balance strategies.  In my GoTo Academy: Soft Skill Tools for the GoTo Professional continuous online coaching series, I go into office etiquette on various real-world IT topics in detail.

If you are interested in more training in these areas, please sign-up for the continuing online coaching series.
Most professionals have a LinkedIn.com account and profile.    They accept requests from friends, coworkers and family members that they already know. Then they stop there.

  • Is your social media connections assisting you in your professional and career goals?
  • Are you using your social media contacts smartly?
  • Are you connecting only with people you already know instead of the people that can help
  • you in your development?

We typically associate with folks of the same socioeconomic circles.  Studies show that your salary and income are typically within 20% of the group of people you regularly hang around with.  So, if you want to jump to a different salary or professional level, we may need to change who we hang around with.  If you want to leap to the next professional rung, we may want to find ways to network with people that are of that next desired level.  In other words, surround ourselves with the success we want to achieve.

We can use our social networking profiles to do this.

For a quick review of the steps, watch the video  and  purchase the Leveraging Links Zipinar Ebook.

To create your individual networking strategy, sign up for our free workbook at: http://eepurl.com/njCWz

Make a quarterly goal of increasing your networking circle by 10% in the right direction.

Other things to consider:

1) Invite the authors of your favorite technical journal articles to your LinkedIn.com network
2) Socialize at the cafeteria and create intellectual discussion groups.  Add them to your LinkedIn.com network
3) Conduct Brown Bag Lunch series on important topics to your industry.  Offer to send the presentation and whitepaper to those that connect with your on LinkedIn.com
4) Work on white-papers with your manager on items that can be shared and published.  Invite your readers to link with you on LinkedIn.com
5) Select a side-hobby and invite those folks to your linkedin.com network.

Try it and let me know what you think.

Turning competition into collaboration.

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A friend of a friend was visiting from Berlin, Germany.  Although I regularly teach a private group lessons at my friend’s home, she wanted to postpone (cancel) our January group classes — so that her group can take lessons from their visiting friend.  Although I could have seen this as a negative, I didn’t.  It would not make much sense to do so.

  • My friends have been taking from me forever; and they will continue when their friend returns home.
  • Their friend will only be here through January.  I’ll be here long after their friend leaves.
  • My friends enjoy all different types of dances; and it’s fun for them to learn from different instructors.
  • Although I have connections into the Argentine Tango community, I don’t  teach Tango (which is my friend’s friend’s expertise).
  • When their friend leaves, I can still help them stay in practice with Tango during our regular dance lessons.

So I immediately went into collaborative mode.  When my friend mentioned why she was canceling our January classes,  I forwarded my friend all the Argentine Tango community information that I could find.  I also introduced some local Argentine Tango instructors to my friend’s friend.   Local instructors could then offer guest workshops and private lessons with an international Argentine Tango instructor without much overhead or hassle.  I also connected her with a local Argentine Tango instructor that has her finger on the pulse of everything Tango.  This allowed all sides to benefit from the connection.

Even though making these connections between the guest instructor and others may not directly or immediately benefit me — both sides realize that I was thinking of their best interest.  And like any good dance partner, we look out for each other (both on and off the dance floor).

On the dance floor or work environment, we don’t want to show-off, out-do, or struggle with our partners.  We don’t want to make our partner feel uncomfortable or ungraceful.  If the moves aren’t coming out exactly as we had initially envisioned, just relax and co-create a new movement from the blending of your styles.  If your follower isn’t exactly paying attention to you OR if your leader isn’t giving you any play time — just ease into the space and make the best out of this current situation.  You may be surprised  what will develop.  This specific song/task will only last a very limited time.  But the steps and care that you in invest in this time will give you lasting results.

If you are interested in knowing how to take these  concepts into the professional environment, please sign up for my professional and career management (free) newsletter at : http://eepurl.com/cZ9_-/

On the Move? Things to Consider Before Relocating for Work

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Moving boxes in empty roomTraveling across the country for a new job may be just the adventure you’ve been waiting for. Like all adventures, relocating for work comes with its share of challenges. Being honest about the benefits and drawbacks of moving for work can save you time, money and family struggles down the road.

Show Me the Money

One big relocation incentive is a pay increase. But extra zeroes may not make much difference when the boxes are all unpacked. Ask yourself these questions regarding price vs. rewards before relocating:

  • Can I sell my home and break even or make a profit? If you can’t sell your house in a timely way and make enough from the sale for a down payment on another home in the new location, the difference in salary may not be worth the move.
  • Is the pay substantially better than where I am? Although the pay may look like enough to make moving worth the effort, some serious number crunching can help you get a clearer picture. Compare utility costs, fuel costs, taxes, as well as the cost of food in the new location. Are there added perks to the new job, like a car that could save you money? Take time to compare 401k plans, profit sharing and potential bonuses between your current job and the new offer. Adding everything together helps you get a clear picture of how much more you will make if you relocate.
  • Will the new company help with moving expenses? Moving across the country is expensive. Calculating how much the move will cost and whether your new job will to pay for it is an important part of your decision-making process.
  • Will the company cover temporary housing? If you are moving to a large city like, say, Phoenix, finding the right neighborhood for your family can take a lot of time. Many companies offer a short-term housing allowance to cover apartment rentals to give you and your family time to find the right house, neighborhood and school district.

The Relationship Factor

No matter how good the job offer, relocating can be difficult on relationships. Spouses, significant others, children and extended family are all part of the equation. Consider the impact your move will have on those you love by asking yourself these questions:

  • How will the move affect my spouse’s career? If your spouse has achieved certain career goals or is working toward them, relocating for your job may not be in her best interest. Be willing to say “no” to a new offer for the sake of your spouse.
  • What about the children? Moving can be harder on children than anyone in your family. Changing schools, making new friends, getting used to a new neighborhood can be devastating for children if not planned intentionally and strategically. Consider carefully how relocating will impact your children and, if they are old enough, get them involved in the conversation.
  • How will my extended family react? If you live near aging parents, consider how moving will impact them. Do they need help with their daily routine? Will moving mean multiple trips back and forth each year to meet their changing needs? Do your parents provide support like babysitting? How will your family replace this in a new town?

Are you a free bird or a butterfly?

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I know the title is a little strange, but indulge me for a moment.  Most of us really appreciate the freedom and lightness of flight.  We are attracted to a stress-free environment that allows us to flow in our areas of genius and passion.  We all realize that we are more productive, effective and empowered when we are work and passions are closely aligned.  And when we are so aligned, we feel we are a bird in flight, floating on air, flowing where our genius takes us.

Even if 100% of our day isn’t in-flight like that; most of us have pockets.  We often find ourselves in the ZONE or flowing.

Now — when we’re in those pockets or zone … are you a free bird or are you a butterfly or a combination?

Some definitions:
Free Bird:  Has lots of experience and freely shares it.  A bird is light, free and flowing.  Consumes just enough to stay light; confident that more opportunities will become available exactly when you need it. The abundance mentality allows the bird to stay unencumbered and light.  They soars, shares (drops) their experience on others and flies away.  When their knowledge drops on the right flower or field, it fertilizes, feeds and energizes.  When their knowledge lands on unexpected people, cars, benches; it annoys.

Butterfly: Has lots of experience and freely shares it.  A butterfly is light, free and flowing.   During the process of collecting nectar, some pollen sticks to their belly and legs.   This allows them to continue to fly unencumbered (like a bird) but have more beneficial affect on those it touches and lands on.  While they are going about their normal activity of gathering nectar, they deliberately  focus on where they land; therefore, their knowledge and experience land on those that are asking.

Using this in the office:
How can we be the best of both?  Maybe we want to be a hummingbird of such.  Something that is a combination.  What is the one thing we can do TODAY, that  allows us to be an opportunity agent to others and ourselves? An Opportunity Agent collects appropriate contacts (pollen) as they go about their regular business (their nectar).  Because they are building a network and contact database, they can cross-pollinate among their contacts at the appropriate time.  Instead of only providing their singular experiences, they can connect their important contacts with other high-caliber contacts, resources, and networks.  This provides an exponential benefit to those they land or connect with.

By deliberately and mindfully staying in contact with the significant people you cross paths with,  you have the option to extend your wonderful network to others in the future.

Available free tools like Linkedin.com  helps you do this almost automatically (like the butterfly or humming bird).  I have a short free videos on how you can easily do this with the social media tools of your choice.

Check out http://lauraleerose.com/snapebook/   for the It’s a SNAP video
Check out http://lauraleerose.com/leveraginglinks/  for additional tips on leveraging the links you already have.

Send me your tips to staying in touch with your significant contacts.
And if you don’t already have a Business Networking Plan for 2013 — check out my Individual Networking Strategy Workbook.  It is intended to help you create a networking strategy to supports and propels you toward your career goals.

In my GoTo Academy: Soft Skill Tools for the GoTo Professional continuous online coaching series, I go into these things in detail.
If you are interested in more training in these areas, please sign-up for the continuing online coaching series.

What we can learn from Judge Judy.

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Back in the old days (when I was growing up), daytime television was composed of soap operas.  Today it’s slightly different.  Today there are a plethora of judge TV shows.

Is there anything we learn professionally from Judy Judy that we can use in our career advancement?

      ABSOLUTELY!

 

 

 

Some of the things are:

  • Most disputes stem from miscommunications
  • Document expectations to reduce miscommunication
  • Answer the questions being asked
  • People get pissed-off when they think you are hiding something

To avoid miscommunication:  Paraphrase everything you think they are saying back to them. This gives them the opportunity to correct you or agree with you. Ask them to repeat what you say to them. This gives you the opportunity to see if they heard what you meant to say.

Document expectations:  Write down your agreement to include measurable criteria , who is responsible for what, and reasonable time line. Also include consequences on any missed goals and deadlines.  Sign and date.  If you verbally alter agreement, then document the changes, sign and date.  (For more information on Change Management Strategies, contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info)

Answer the questions being asked: I recently asked a vendor about their status on my project XYZ. They quickly told me the status of their project ABC.  That was nice, but I was interested and asked about my project.    The deflection frustrated me and I had to ask again.

People get pissed-off when they think you are hiding something:  The above Q&A repeated once again, until I lost patience.  I imagined that they had not spent any time on my project; and didn’t have any status to report.  Since I had a signed contract that identified expectations, time frames and consequences,  I was able to discontinued their service without payment and found a better fit.

How can you re-use these lessons in your profession?

 

Don’t miss another professional tip — sign up for the weekly professional tip newsletter at

How To Say No/Tactfully Leave Volunteer Positions

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I recently received the question ” How do I say ‘no’ to volunteer positions I don’t have time for or don’t want?”
How does one tactfully leave a volunteer position that has become overwhelming, stressful, or is requiring too much time? How do I take better charge of my time in the new year?  Read on www.lauraleerose.com/blog
Although this is a common situation —this really isn’t as difficult as we often make it, if you truly understand and accept your value AND acknowledge all the opportunities there are to help.
CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE:
1) You are in the driver’s seat in a volunteer position.
2) Legitimate volunteer organizations appreciate your un-paid time, energy and talent. They don’t really want to do anything that would burn your bridges with them. The ‘tact’ responsibility is therefore, on their side; not yours.
3) Any time, energy, attention you can provide is appreciated with nonjudgmental hearts, at any legitimate volunteer organization. Volunteer organizations do not expect these volunteers to be long-term. It’s not how they work.
4) Volunteer organizations expect short-term stays and large turn-overs. Retention rates are 0. They are equipped to handle this. It’s not a big deal to them. This is in their wheel-house. So – don’t make it a big deal. Don’t make it personal.
4) If it has become too time consuming and overwhelming — this is on you. Therefore, consider reducing your hours or limiting your task responsibilities. Volunteer organizations are appreciative of any level of assistance. They are not the ones telling you that you need to put in these hours or do these tasks.
5) If you can not assist at all at this time, don’t apologize for taking care of yourself. You can not help others if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Things change. Lifestyles and events ebb and wane. Volunteer organizations understand this and they do not take it personally.
6) The volunteer organization has the entire community as a resource; you have yourself. They have better opportunities to fill their positions than you have in accomplishing your personal goals. Therefore, offer to keep an eye out for other people that might like to volunteer for them. Continue to refer others. Although the work needs to be done, it doesn’t have to be done by you. Helping them to find a replacement will be of value to them (although I would not agree to stay in that position until they find a replacement. Doing this gives them no incentive to find a replacement).
7) Realize that if the work you are doing is truly a MUST DO for their organization — they will find someone else to accomplish that task. If they don’t have someone to replace you — that means it wasn’t a MUST DO in the first place.
Sometimes (but not all of the time) it’s not the volunteering that you don’t have time for — it’s the way you are going about it. The way you can make a difference is unlimited.
Volunteer differently:
1) You can reduce or limit your time or tasks — so that it does fit your current lifestyle.
2) You can ask them to contact you in 6 months (or whenever you feel you will be able to donate again). Or contact you when they have a special occasion that needs some extra hands.
3) Consider re-aligning your tasks to support your own career and professional goals. If you are a software developer, then instead of agreeing to clean out the cat-litter at your local ASPCA — offer to work on their website. If you are in marketing and sales — offer to handle their promotions and marketing projects. Integrate your volunteering directly into your professional business development plans.
4) Refer both business opportunities (money making opportunities) and other volunteers to this organization.
5) Use your social media contacts (i.e. facebook walls or linkdin contacts) and blogs to tell people about your experience at this volunteer organization. Ask this organization is there are specific highlights or emphasis that they would like you to publicize.
6) Donate a portion of your Visa or Mastercard Reward Points to this organization to show your appreciation. Since Reward Points really don’t cost you anything — suggest that they create a Reward Point Donation center…such that others can easily donate a portion of their reward points.
7)Offer to keep an eye out for other people that might like to volunteer for them. Continue to refer others.
If you relax into the knowledge that volunteering isn’t an off-on switch or yes/no opportunity, you will be more at ease with handling these types of changing situations. Stress often comes from limited thinking. For example: “If I help, I have to help this way. I want to help — but I can’t do it this way.” This causes an internal dilemma and therefore stress. Volunteer organizations are open to all sorts of collaborations. I recommend that you be open as well.

Secrets to Taking Command of Your Own Performance Review

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Professional development series

This is Laura Lee Rose, a business and life coach that specializes in professional development, time management, project management and work-life balance strategies.  In my GoTo Academy: Soft Skill Tools for the GoTo Professional continuous online coaching series, I go into office etiquette on various real-world IT topics in detail.
If you are interested in more training in these areas, please sign-up for the continuing online coaching series.

In the recent interview with Steve Wynkoop (founder of SSWUG.org) we covered some tips to taking more control of our own performance evaluation process (don’t miss another professional newsletter tip—signup for the free newsletter here). This article covers the topic in more detail.

It’s natural to shy away from evaluations, judgment, risk of rejection and confrontations.  A performance evaluation or performance review meeting with your manager certainly falls into this category. Most of us postpone or even avoid such conversations until it is too late.  When we feel we are doing well, we don’t think we need to discuss it.  When we feel we are not doing well, we avoid it.  In both cases, we’re postponing the cure.  The cure, of course, is to take command of your own performance and the management of your own career.

How do we take more ownership of our performance evaluation process?  It’s my manager’s responsibility to review me, isn’t it?

This is an easy out.  Although it is true that your manager evaluates you, your career and performance isn’t really your manager’s responsibility.  Your manager has 10-12 people to manager (as well as his/herself).  You are not his/her only concern.  You, however, can devote the majority of your time on your professional career and development.  You are the only one that can effectively influence your own performance.

Step 1:  Take ownership of your own career.

Clearly articulate what you want in your career; what you would like to work on; the type of people you would like to team with; even the atmosphere and working environment.  Once you can clearly and concisely articulate it, you can effectively convey it to others in your business network (See my articles on business networking in the professional environment for more tips on this; or subscribe to the weekly newsletter here)

Step 2) Understand how performance ratings are created.

There are at least two parts to the performance ratings.  Part one is your individual contributions to the business goals.  Most companies are in business to make money.  Even when business mission statements announce client satisfaction and quality products as their primary goals; the underlining reason for retaining clients with quality products is so that customers will purchase more products (and/or refer others to purchase more products and services); which will create more sales and prosperity for the company.

Part two is how you compare to other employees in your same rank or band.  Most organizations compare their employees (of the same rank or band) across departments.  This is because most companies have a policy regarding how many people can get an Exceptional Rating, an Above Average Rating, an Average Rating, a Below Average and even a Needs Improvement Rating.  For instance, they may have a percentage policy like 5%, 10%, 45%, 35%, 5% (respectively).  This would require all the employees of a certain band or ranking to be compared, ordered and sorted.  Once everyone is in sorted order, most companies will draw the line at the appropriate percentage.  To do this, managers of the same level meet to discuss their employees and rank them in order.  Therefore, the more managers in that room that knows you (in a positive light) the better.  This is where your business networking strategies come into play. (See my articles on business networking in the professional environment for more tips on this; or subscribe to the weekly newsletter here)

Step 3: Declare your Personal Business Commitments upfront.

If you and your manager agree (up front) what is expected for an Average Rating, an Above Average, and Exceptional Rating, it’s much easier to achieve.  This agreement is often called the PBC or Personal Business Commitment.  It is what the metric in which the performance evaluation is cultivated.  My upcoming “Taking Command of Your Performance Review” Workshop will go into detail on this topic.  It’s a three-hour workshop (75 minutes of presentation content and 90 minutes of actual hand-on coaching of the provided worksheets). At the end of the workshop, you will have a customized PBC and IDP started.

For more information on this critical workshop, see

https://www.lauraleerose.com/take-command-of-your-performance-reviews/

 

Who writes the PBC?  Does my manager or do I?

In the idea world, the PBC is a two-way street.  Your manager would share his/her PBC goals with you.  Then you would create your PBC and commit to your SMART goals that will support your manager in his/her goals.  Your Business Commitments are just that; commitments to the business to make the business prosperous and successful.  (See my articles on always ‘thinking like the owner’ for more tips on this; or subscribe to the weekly newsletter here)

 

Conclusions:

Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for your performance review. Consider everything that you do in the work environment as input into your performance evaluation process.  Keep an achievement folder to continually collect your accomplishments (until waiting until the last minute to remember them).  Read the follow-up articles in this series for more information.  Or better yet; attend the workshop at https://www.lauraleerose.com/take-command-of-your-performance-reviews/

 

If you liked this tips, more can be found at www.lauraleerose.com/blog or subscribe to my weekly professional tips newsletter at http://eepurl.com/cZ9_-/

The weekly newsletter contains tips on:
1)      Time management
2)      Career maintenance
3)      Business networking
4)      Work life balance strategies

If you haven’t taken advantage of your introductory time management coaching session, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

 

 

 

Networking Dilemma: The Net Taker

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As a success and business coach, I received the following question:

  • There is a person in your network who is smart, reliable and competent at what they do – providing a service that is highly specialized with few (if any) reliable competitors.
  • Over the years, you have referred this person many great clients and this person has always thanked you for this business. Further, without exception, the people you have referred have been ecstatic with the price and quality of service this person has provided, which reflects well on you.
  • The problem is that even though this person’s clients (and other contacts) could be great clients for you, this person has never referred you anyone. Not one. Never!
  • You have talked with this person about this and they openly acknowledge the lack of reciprocity. They assures you that it is nothing personal. This person does not refer anyone, as they simply have a personal policy against referring clients or making any referrals (of any sort) in general.

I recommended the following — but what would you have said?

Your first priority is to your client. If this “net taker” is truly the best person for your client’s situation, then focus on your client’s needs and go ahead and recommend the best person for their situation (until your find a suitable replacement). This way you are doing right by your important client or potential client.

In the meantime, continue to network with others that are expert in the “net taker’s” domain. When you find someone comparable with even more positive attributes, then you can confidently guide your clients appropriately.

Recognize that you have full control of this situation by finding other comparable experts. This “net taker” is not the only expert in their field. I recommend having an open conversation by saying “Mr/Ms X, I totally understand your positions and I want to continue to be sensitive to your principles. You are a dear friend and I value our relationship. In addition, I want to collaborate with someone of your caliber that is open to referral and recommendation reciprocation. I was wondering if you can help me in my goal. Who are your competitors? Who do you feel have similar expertise and is comfortable in reciprocating?” In this manner, you are telling them that your are openly looking for a replacement in your network for his/her position.

You are not trying to sway them in their principles, but you are being forthright in your decision to find a better referral match to your business goals. And there is nothing wrong with that.