Networking...AHHHH! Such an often fearful topic among young professionals. We like hanging out with our friends, shooting the breeze, very informal. In my opinion, networking is a very deliberate act. You have to seek out what events to go to and who you should be talking to. In our current busy lives trying to balance career, family and social lives seems to be enough, then we have to add this element of networking to help enhance our career. I think this gets pushed to the back burner more often than not because it takes work and is not that comfortable of a situation.
As a young professional, as a human, we consistently look at a situation and apply the WIIFM concept - What's In It For Me? Networking has huge benefits. Here are a few:
1. Make connections - This helps establish you in our industry or obtain new customers by getting leads.
2. Build knowledge and skills - You can learn from others in your field or parallel fields in order to boost your own knowledge and skill level.
3. Sounding board - By meeting new people, you have additional minds that you may leverage as a sounding board in your own career or situations with which you may be dealing.
These are just a few benefits with so many more to be named. Additionally, life is unexpected. You may have a planned or unplanned change in your career. By networking, you have a web of people to reach out to about new career opportunities.
A shameless plug - my cousin is a Career Coach and Counselor (I have attached her LinkedIn address). She is the one that inspired this blog as she recently posted an article about networking without wearing out your welcome. I have attached the article's link below as well. This includes great tips about how to leverage your network.
What networks are you a part of? How do you choose? What benefits have you gotten from these? Please comment! We can all use each other's insight on this topic.
Links
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jyl-mclaughlin-m-ed-mcdp/6/245/b48
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/01/network-without-wearing-out-your-welcome/
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Communication, Negotiation, Conflict....Oh My!
Tonight I got to spend a nice evening at a Torchbearers event. (Shameless plug: If you are unfamiliar with this organization, definitely check it out www.TorchbearersAkron.com.) For each new class we have specific leadership classes/seminars to attend and they are always very insightful.
Tonight's session focused on Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Management. I think these are three areas that most of us can agree are not at the top of everyone's "love to deal with this" list! Good communication, successful negotiations and effective conflict management are all hard topics to tackle as young professionals and up and coming leaders. Heck, they're hard for seasoned leaders to navigate.
We had three great panelists: Mary Jones, Dan Flowers, and Mike Moore from FedEx Custom Critical. The session went really well and all three speakers had wonderful information, tactics and experiences to share with us. I wanted to share some of the highlights with you too.
Mary Jones, VP of Administration and Legal Counsel at Oriana House Inc, spoke about building trust relationships. Just a few of her tips for us included: be accessible, listen openly, own up to mistakes, speak the truth, be a coach, and speak in a straight forward manner. Each of these pieces is key to our success. If you are open, honest, loyal and engage your team members, you will surely be successful in building your trust relationships and thus your success in your career and life will come.
Dan Flowers, President & CEO of the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank spoke about his top ten list for managing communication, conflict and negotiation. A couple take aways from Dan's list were these: be nice, use your boss, remain in the awkward moments, and run toward your fear. I really liked these. Part of Dan's message was to just let go a little bit, focus on what your mission is, treat your people with respect and don't let fear or insecurity stop you...get help when you need it!
Mike Moore, Managing Director of Finance and Controller at FedEx Custom Critical spoke on some of his life/career experiences that got him to the place where he is today. Mike shared some of his key points such as being sure to build a strong foundation of faith, hope, love, loyalty, honesty and integrity. Further your education, additional learning and continually add to your toolbox and do it early on before "things happen." And one piece that struck a chord with me was to enjoy the journey. We get very wrapped up, and I'm guilty too, of where's the next step, avenue, project, job, etc, that we don't take a minute to celebrate the now and how far we've already come. Don't miss that celebration.
We always hear that executives are "real people" and that we shouldn't be worried to approach them and ask questions. These panelists were just that...approachable, accessible, honest, straight forward and engaging. Thank you to Mary, Dan and Mike for spending your time with Torchbearers.
To everyone else - Sorry for a long one today! I hope you took something from tonight's session as I did. Are there other tactics that you have heard of or employ in these three big areas that would help others add to their toolbox? Please share! Your info can benefit us.
Parting quote shared by Mike Moore for leadership, and it comes from Zig Ziglar. "You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." Good stuff!
Tonight's session focused on Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Management. I think these are three areas that most of us can agree are not at the top of everyone's "love to deal with this" list! Good communication, successful negotiations and effective conflict management are all hard topics to tackle as young professionals and up and coming leaders. Heck, they're hard for seasoned leaders to navigate.
We had three great panelists: Mary Jones, Dan Flowers, and Mike Moore from FedEx Custom Critical. The session went really well and all three speakers had wonderful information, tactics and experiences to share with us. I wanted to share some of the highlights with you too.
Mary Jones, VP of Administration and Legal Counsel at Oriana House Inc, spoke about building trust relationships. Just a few of her tips for us included: be accessible, listen openly, own up to mistakes, speak the truth, be a coach, and speak in a straight forward manner. Each of these pieces is key to our success. If you are open, honest, loyal and engage your team members, you will surely be successful in building your trust relationships and thus your success in your career and life will come.
Dan Flowers, President & CEO of the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank spoke about his top ten list for managing communication, conflict and negotiation. A couple take aways from Dan's list were these: be nice, use your boss, remain in the awkward moments, and run toward your fear. I really liked these. Part of Dan's message was to just let go a little bit, focus on what your mission is, treat your people with respect and don't let fear or insecurity stop you...get help when you need it!
Mike Moore, Managing Director of Finance and Controller at FedEx Custom Critical spoke on some of his life/career experiences that got him to the place where he is today. Mike shared some of his key points such as being sure to build a strong foundation of faith, hope, love, loyalty, honesty and integrity. Further your education, additional learning and continually add to your toolbox and do it early on before "things happen." And one piece that struck a chord with me was to enjoy the journey. We get very wrapped up, and I'm guilty too, of where's the next step, avenue, project, job, etc, that we don't take a minute to celebrate the now and how far we've already come. Don't miss that celebration.
We always hear that executives are "real people" and that we shouldn't be worried to approach them and ask questions. These panelists were just that...approachable, accessible, honest, straight forward and engaging. Thank you to Mary, Dan and Mike for spending your time with Torchbearers.
To everyone else - Sorry for a long one today! I hope you took something from tonight's session as I did. Are there other tactics that you have heard of or employ in these three big areas that would help others add to their toolbox? Please share! Your info can benefit us.
Parting quote shared by Mike Moore for leadership, and it comes from Zig Ziglar. "You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." Good stuff!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
How Do I Get Into Leadership?
I have always been intrigued by leadership and being in a position where I can influence action in a company and in people. Leadership is not for everyone, but I always kind of knew it's where I wanted to be. As a young professional, we face challenges in trying to get to leadership sometimes. Some people think we're too young to take on these responsibilities, some don't think we have the "experience" necessary, and some places just don't take the time to help young professionals develop for leadership. So I always had to ask myself and those around me, "How do I get into leadership?"
Some people get into leadership because they're technically good at what they do while others are simply good leaders. In reading articles about leadership and young professionals, I came across some tips on Monster.com. It is an article called Six Steps to Leadership for Young Professionals by Jason Kent. Below are the steps mentioned in the article and my interpretation.
1. Do Good Work. Seems kind of obvious, but some may miss this step. Be the best at what you do!
2. Get a Mentor. I like the idea of a Career Board of Directors. I have "Megan's Board of Directors" that include people in my company as well as outside in order to gain various perspectives.
3. Take on an Initiative or Side Project. This can help develop skills that you may not be as strong in as well as help with your own exposure to other leaders.
4. Speak or Write About Your Work. Communication is key. Whether this is inside your company at team meetings or externally at other organizations. Again, another way to get your name at the top of people's minds and gain credibility.
5. Stay Above the Fray. Who wants their name associated with the water cooler gossip? Stay out of it and help to minimize it.
6. Ask for Advancement. If leaders don't know your goals, why would they consider you for the next leadership position? Ask for the opportunities! The worst they can say is "not this time," then you go back to number 1 here and repeat.
Diligence is key! Make sure people know who you are, what you represent and where you want to go.
What are you doing to get into leadership or keep yourself top of mind for the leaders in your company and community?
NOTE: For the full monster.com article, copy and paste the link below in your browser.
http://career-advice.monster.com/career-development/getting-promoted/leadership-for-young-professionals/article.aspx
Some people get into leadership because they're technically good at what they do while others are simply good leaders. In reading articles about leadership and young professionals, I came across some tips on Monster.com. It is an article called Six Steps to Leadership for Young Professionals by Jason Kent. Below are the steps mentioned in the article and my interpretation.
1. Do Good Work. Seems kind of obvious, but some may miss this step. Be the best at what you do!
2. Get a Mentor. I like the idea of a Career Board of Directors. I have "Megan's Board of Directors" that include people in my company as well as outside in order to gain various perspectives.
3. Take on an Initiative or Side Project. This can help develop skills that you may not be as strong in as well as help with your own exposure to other leaders.
4. Speak or Write About Your Work. Communication is key. Whether this is inside your company at team meetings or externally at other organizations. Again, another way to get your name at the top of people's minds and gain credibility.
5. Stay Above the Fray. Who wants their name associated with the water cooler gossip? Stay out of it and help to minimize it.
6. Ask for Advancement. If leaders don't know your goals, why would they consider you for the next leadership position? Ask for the opportunities! The worst they can say is "not this time," then you go back to number 1 here and repeat.
Diligence is key! Make sure people know who you are, what you represent and where you want to go.
What are you doing to get into leadership or keep yourself top of mind for the leaders in your company and community?
NOTE: For the full monster.com article, copy and paste the link below in your browser.
http://career-advice.monster.com/career-development/getting-promoted/leadership-for-young-professionals/article.aspx
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