Category: Getting Better

The smart-ass at work

My one strong piece of advice to those entering the work force; Don’t be a Smart-Ass. Here’s what smart-asses do at work: [list style=”circle”] They do not take instructions well. Work is about doing what you’re asked to do-the way the boss or the company wants it done. If you want to do it differently,…
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FYI to Boss? Boss says ANW

Many people I coach have challenges communicating effectively with their boss. They often think the boss automatically understands them, and that what worked previously will work again with a new company or boss. I had coffee with one such person last week. He explained that he greatly respects his boss–thinks he’s smart, experienced, knowledgeable, someone…
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The CEO of your career

I went to a New York Times talk the other day, moderated by Tom Friedman. The subject was the Global Future, which could have kept people on the dais for years, but fortunately it was only one day.. Among the comments whizzing by was how to take ownership of your career, and in Friedman’s words…
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How to not screw up a hire–10 tips on what to avoid

10 pointers for companies now interviewing and hiring. Want to attract and gain good talent? Then don’t do the following: [list style=”circle”] Have time gaps between interviews, weeks with no idea of what or whom is next. It’s a warning sign of internal uncertainty, no sense of urgency (the role may be unclear or under…
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Ain’t no one gonna save ya, honey

I recently met with someone who wanted career help. When we sat down to talk, she came unglued. Her company was going through a large re-org (who isn’t..) the team’s budget had been cut, uncertainty over who or what would arise from the ashes of the re-org, and she was being pulled 100 different directions.…
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Why A CV Still Matters

I look at CVs every single day, which gives me license to know how a well written one should read. As people usually despise writing their CV, many are in need of repair. The benefit of grappling (only for a few hours at most) with your own CV is that it forces you to confront…
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Learning to Subtract

Learning how to subtract, to let go, delegate, outsource, reduce—eliminating to be stronger—is easily lost when the talk tilts towards “more on the plate to do”. This is not meant to a counter intuitive Zen-like blog post, and we will now chant mantras virtually. It is a reminder that we can all subtract certain things…
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My Father and Bragging Rights

I seldom write about myself or my family, not that sort of blog, but this is an off-line one. My father (and mother) are in their 86th year, closing in on their 61st anniversary. Both in fine fettle, and as he says to me, “all problems are minor”–although not sure my mother would agree. A…
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6 points on how to not hire your reflection

How well do we know what talent “looks” like when looking to hire? I recently wrote how ‘like attracts like’ (link). Companies say one thing–”We need more diversity”–but often do another when hiring. Organisations are composed of people; we’re all full of contradictions, and the unpredictability of who gets hired isn’t always surprising. Yet surrounding…
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Moments of Realisation-Good Morning America, How Are You?

Opportunities always come your way. Challenges as well, but the opportunities are harder to see, often disguised. How to decipher what exactly is worthwhile or not is the million dollar question, and no one has a crystal ball. I can say some people have better antennae than others, but more important, opportunity is seldom in…
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