Monday, May 18, 2020

Change Your Life, Manage Your Inner Chimp

Change Your Life, Manage Your Inner Chimp First of all, allow me to introduce you to Marje. She is my inner chimp. She tends to  become dominant when I have had too much coffee, not enough sleep, have a  situation that I feel is out of control or when my kids refuse to do as I ask for the 9th  time.  She drives me mad. She isn’t wanted a lot of the time, and  yet without Marje, I fear I  would have little passion and energy when all else fails me. Are you aware that you too have an inner chimp? I came across the concept of the inner chimp having read the globally renowned,  groundbreaking mind management book, “The Chimp Paradox: The mind  management programme for confidence, success and happiness” by Prof Steve Peters.  I was recommended reading  it by the head teacher at  my girls’ primary school and it was in  relation to the burgeoning feistiness my daughters were starting to develop through  their junior years. So I spent a week reading this book and without sounding  dramatic… It totally changed my life from that moment onwards The book is all about learning to understand and manage your emotions and thoughts, so you can be the person youd really like to be and remove anxiety. I actually read it whilst on holiday and I made loads of scrawlings in the book (I  know, really bad behaviour but it was Marje’s fault, not mine, honest…) I called out  to my husband really interesting anecdotes or tips and before we knew what we were  doing, we sat reading it together realising this was a eureka moment as a family.  No more losing our cool when the kids start to bicker, and anyone with kids will  know that this is a daily occurrence and usually when you are desperate to get out of  the house/finish an email/return an urgent call etc.  We took some great lessons  from the book as a family and in fact, the most poignant  was an exercise which asks you to imagine you are 100 yrs old on your death bed and  your great great nephew asks you what he should  do with life. We wrote down  various insightful wisdoms and fr om that list, we devised our family mottos of “Be  Charitable” and “Be Kind”. Manage your chimp at home and  work Even 2 years later, if my daughters (who are 11 and 9) start to lose their tempers, you  often overhear the other one saying, “manage your chimp!”…. it is contagious once  people can see the benefits.  Within a work context, “The Chimp Paradox” has been invaluable. The ‘Dear John’  texts or emails from rare candidates who fail to be brave enough to pick up the phone  to withdraw from a process and prior to this mindset, I would have gone off my  rocker (abstractedly as I have never shouted at a customer ever). whereas now  I take  a very calm approach. Marje may doodle something nasty on my page but genuinely  other than a frown, I react very calmly and pragmatically now. Cool, calm collected Following a satnav to a client meeting that sends me around the bend literally when  you are already running late for a new client: now Marje stays firmly in her box and I  simply take the view that by calling ahead to my client to explain I may be a few  minutes late, I no longer get stressed out by these marginal events that otherwise can  cumulate into a really horrid feeling.  Managing junior people is something I no longer do (my choice and I am happy for  it!) but those I have  shared the  â€œmanaging your inner chimp” mindset with, who have management responsibility, have taken my advice and read the book  greedily, realising the potential of how this mindset allows them to take a much  calmer approach to the unpredictable and varied issues that they may have to deal  with on a regular basis. Back in the box I refer earlier to the fact that Marje is still needed. Of course she is, very much so. The  expression “flight or fight” refers to us relying totally on our inner chimps when we  face danger.  But I am happy to say that Marje has a box in which I put her most of the time.  Within the parody, I visualise this as a box of safety for her- it is not a punishment; it  is where she feels safe and comfortable until I need her.  I am not a psychologist (although I would love to explore a degree in the future as the  subject fascinates me and I think with 18 yrs in recruitment I could utilise a lot of  experience gained to illustrate how people think, certainly in a work context) however  I recently did a very unscientific post on LinkedIn asking people which management  book they would recommend to others (predominantly recruitment professionals) and  although a few others were mentioned casually, the unanimous winner was “The  Chimp Paradox” with some, like myself, commenting that it had also changed their  lives. Read for yourself Last October, I held a private party to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Qui  Recruitment and during my ‘Thank you’ address to the guests (who were all hiring  decision makers and business owners), I talked about this book and how it had to be  the ‘eureka’ moment for me; the nemesis of those seeking a different way to think and  work.  I am not perfect and Marje still has certain moments which are unpredictable (she is  the moody me) but I hope those who have read the book agree with my synopsis and  those who have not yet read “The Chimp Paradox” will do so.  Thank you for reading this blog and as ever, I look forward to reading your comments and genuinely appreciate the shares. Image: Shutterstock

Friday, May 15, 2020

Writing an Objective Statement For a Resume

Writing an Objective Statement For a ResumeIf you are just starting out in the field of business, writing an objective statement for a resume is something that you will have to do. You may be wondering what all this is and why it's necessary. Let's look at what you need to know about writing an objective statement for a resume.First of all, let's examine what a statement is. A statement is simply a writing and summarizing of the idea that the person writing the essay wants to communicate. It's a way of clearly communicating an idea. However, when writing an objective statement for a resume it's very important to ensure that you have a clear idea of who you want to communicate the idea to. You don't want to get this wrong, as it could lead to potential problems later on.If you haven't already done so, you should read a few articles about writing an objective statement for a resume. You want to make sure that your writing conveys the correct message. A well-written statement for a resu me can help you land the job that you've been looking for.When you write a statement for a resume, you're essentially using it as an outline of your resume. This means that you'll need to write a statement for a resume which provides the writer with the basic information about your background. However, you'll also need to include a detailed description of your interests and how they may relate to the positions that you're applying for.Writing an objective statement for a resume is all about communicating the intended purpose of the resume. This is important because you don't want to leave yourself open to someone getting to your resume by reading through the information that's included in the statement. If you can communicate the actual purpose of the resume, you'll avoid any potential issues down the road.Another thing that you'll want to keep in mind when writing an objective statement for a resume is that it will be a solid outline of your resume. However, it isn't the complete r esume. In fact, most employers won't be able to see the rest of your resume. You'll still have to provide them with all of the other information that they need to make a decision.The last thing that you should keep in mind when writing an objective statement for a resume is that it shouldn't be too detailed. Don't try to explain everything that is included in your resume. Instead, just summarize what's on the resume and show off the things that you're good at.Finally, remember that this is a short statement and you should be able to quickly get through the details that are included on your resume. All in all, it's a great way to provide the employer with a brief overview of who you are and what skills you possess.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Taking Credit Where Credit Is Due

Taking Credit Where Credit Is Due Why is taking credit where credit is due  such a difficult thing for you to do? Your career depends on it, so its time to get over it! The title of this post from Forbes caught my eye.   It is something I know I have trouble with and so many others do too!   The Right Way To Sell Yourself at Work.   The author, Helen Coster confesses: The more time I spend in the workforce, the more I realize that my aversion to self-promotion can limit my career. The article makes these recommendations: Have a pitch ready when you need to introduce yourself. If you are an introvert, enlist the help of colleagues/friends to help spread the word about your successes (remember to reciprocate) Your reputation is about stories, not adjectives touting your good work William Arruda, the president of Reach Personal Branding, says: Building a strong personal brand isnt about telling people how great you are  Its about showing people how great you are. Keep track of your accomplishments.   Why? Peggy Klaus says: At this time of absolute chaos in the workforce, bosses are often doing two or three jobs instead of one.  They dont have the bandwidth to remember what you do every day. Heres How To Take Credit Many many years ago, ahead of his time, a wise manager provided me with GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS to document my accomplishments.   Ive shared it with others along the way.   It is a simple solution to setting and recording measurable goals and accomplishments! What tools are you using to take credit where credit is due?

Friday, May 8, 2020

Companies Lose Brand Momentum When Handling Employee Departures Poorly - Pathfinder Careers

Companies Lose Brand Momentum When Handling Employee Departures Poorly - Pathfinder Careers Companies Lose Brand Momentum When Handling Employee Departures Poorly The other night, a couple of girlfriends and I got together to have an after-work walk, with drinks following afterwards to chat about work and life in general. One of them recently just left a business to take a job at a different company and was filling us in on the details of her new position. But then she paused. And provided a startling insight that many businesses often overlook which is very shocking. At her previous employer, no one (still) has not bothered to check voice mails being left at her old extension, NOR on the business cell phone she had turned in.  Messages coming into her former email address were also still going unanswered, according to a former colleague still working at the company. Unbelievable.  Given the fact that this person was in a high-profile sales role, its not too hard to imagine that many of the inquiries coming in are potential customers looking to get a quote or even book business. What happened in that moment of inaction and lack of proactive thinking meant that the company has actually exposed a brand weakness: they are not taking care of their clients and sending a clear message: the leadership doesnt care.  All of which further underscores the inelegant handling that many companies engineer around the departure of employees. Of course, some businesses get it and immediately redirect inbound inquiries to interim personnel or support staff to make sure that business continues on uninterrupted. But many dont. In this same conversation, I found out that another industry colleague had left their job at a separate company. There was, in this case, an auto-responder put on this persons email notifying people of the following:  I am not here.   Given this is also a high-profile business and position, what on earth is that saying to potential customers if they send an email and get this kind of reply?? I was horrified. This would absolutely turn off any potential customers  I know I would send my business elsewhere if I got this kind of message in return to a booking inquiry! The reality is that truly effective HR departments will take steps to smooth over employee departures to make sure the company doesnt lose any brand momentum and sales.  They will: 1) Determine an appropriate (and capable) interim person to direct callers to who can handle inquiries. 2) If no one is specifically tapped to handle inbound inquiries, then a staff member should be appointed to routinely check voice mails and emails to let customers know that there is a live body at the company who cares about their business. 3) If the departing employee is leaving on good terms with the company, it helps to smooth over the transition if they can leave a friendly, helpful outbound message letting customers know how their request will be handled by the company. It preserves the employees brand during their time at the company while solidifying the companys commitment to the customer by making sure they are serviced. Id love to hear themfrom my own experience, this is a chronic problem that is not addressed at many businesses. What horror stories have you heard about companies shooting themselves in the proverbial foot during employee transitions?

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Managing versus being a worker bee - Hallie Crawford

Managing versus being a worker bee I was excited to be interviewed for this recent article on WSJ.com, So, You Want a Raise  I wanted to discuss a few additional thoughts with you. I think that new managers under-estimate how different managing is versus being a ‘worker bee’ is in terms of not just their role in an organization, but also the skills it takes to lead a team. You go from having your agenda set for you, to being a part of the bigger picture. It requires that you see your job from a much broader perspective. Also, managing people requires communication skills and an understanding of people. At least a higher level understanding than being an employee does. I advise that people take it seriously and take the time to develop those needed skill set. Yes, you can survive and muddle through while learning along the way (that is part of the process as well). Just be thoughtful about it and observe yourself as a manager. This way you can adjust as needed through the process. Don’t just dive in without looking. If you’d like more help with your career path, contact us today for a complimentary consultation. Job Search Coach P.S.  Are you in the ideal career for you?  Find out if you’re in the right career with our  Ideal Career Quiz.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Writing an Email With Resume

Writing an Email With ResumeIn order to write an email with resume to an employer, there are certain things that you need to know. This is a very important communication tool and you will need to be aware of how it works in order to use it effectively.The first thing you need to know is that it is more than just sending a message to an employer. You need to be careful when you are emailing an employer. This is so important that you will want to be sure that you keep this in mind.First of all, if you are trying to make a new company contact, you want to be sure that you do not look older than you actually are. You want to avoid having people doubt you. You also want to make sure that you are not scaring them with the very first message you send.When you send a message to an employer, you should use a signature that shows that you are serious. This is important because it shows that you are serious about the person you are contacting. You should also be careful not to become defensive when you are trying to make a new contact. You do not want to be making the first move in the email with resume.When you send a letter to an employer, you need to be careful to include the right information. You should always keep to the letter length when you send a letter. You need to be careful to make sure that the letter is formatted properly.When you are writing an email with resume, it is also important to make sure that you keep your tone down. You do not want to come across as a pushy sales person or an unprofessional person. Keep in mind that it is an important communication tool and you will want to make sure that you keep it that way. When you are emailing an employer, you need to be sure that you do not get too personal. You will want to make sure that you are being as professional as possible. You will want to make sure that you are being as polite as possible.

Monday, April 13, 2020

The Appeal of Best Resume Writing Services 2016

The Appeal of Best Resume Writing Services 2016 You ought to be very cautious when picking a resume writing service as everyone can put up an indication they write resumes. How to discover the very best executive resume writing service can be as simple as picking up the telephone. Even though you can brag and compose every single of your work and feel taller than ever bur it isn't the expert means of resume writing. Lots of people don't like their existing job or career. What's more, you can get assistance with the ideal approach to acquire the job offer and salary you have earned. It is possible to depend on us because we've helped hundreds of different folks get the jobs they've always dreamt of. There are hundreds and hundreds of career service professionals around who provide resume writing services. Not all resumes are suitable for all sorts of jobs. Ok, I Think I Understand Best Resume Writing Services 2016, Now Tell Me About Best Resume Writing Services 2016! Bea r in mind, your resume is the easiest way for you to receive your foot in the door for a desirable job. If you are thinking about where to receive a professional resume or cover letter, then you've come to the correct location. Your resume should be formatted in an easy, professional method. You can receive your resume accomplished in a day and prepared for submission. The Resume Writing industry gives a vital, valuable support. You are going to want to select a resume writing service which stands behind their product. Resume writing services often provide a whole package strategy to resume writing. Resume writing services have a personalized approach to come up with a sort of resume that will certainly supply the maximum quality of professional resume writing. Best Resume Writing Services 2016 - Dead or Alive? You can receive your resume written professionally and boost your odds of landing your dream job. The genuine task which you're likely to do will probably be sign ificantly simple whenever you currently understand how it is possible to soak up concerns and uncertain teeth. Resume writing is the most significant step in presenting your abilities and receiving the job that you desire. The procedure is easy and straightforward. Again, you could be surprised. A professionally written resume or CV supplies a lot more than simply listing your skills in a normal way. Instead replace of all of them with action verbs that most describe what you've done before.