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6 Posts tagged with the job_security tag Productivity tips from the Priority Pro

Unplug

Posted by Natalie Gahrmann Jul 1, 2010

Fears and limiting beliefs play a big role in our ability to unplug from work.  Many of us fear being replaced if we take time off. If we don't respond immediately to each IM, text or phone call could we really lose our job? Could we be taken less seriously when it's time for raises, promotions, or plum assignments?

 

Possibly!  However, the bigger block from unplugging is likely to be YOU!

 

family sunset.jpgLast year as we spent a week in beautiful Turks & Caicos, there were a number of people who were pbeach at beaches.jpgoolside with their laptop, PDA, or smart phone and others who locked themselves away in their room to handle business. Sadly, some of these people had families with them who were vying for their time and attention and losing big time. The well deserved and needed break from the day-to-day responsibilities was instead being driven by a need to stay connected, to feel important and to be needed. Without establishing clear boundaries, technology makes it easy to stay in touch with anyone, anywhere. On the flip-side, the convenience of readily accessible technology can also make it difficult to get connected to the people you're closest to---your friends and family; it can interfere with self-care, renewal and rejuvenation.  With stress levels at a high, it's more important today to rest and relax because we are truly less effective when we don't take care of ourselves.

 

The reality is that in most cases, you don't have to be available 24/7.

 

Here are some keys to help you unplug either at the end of the day or while on a vacation:

 

  • Set realistic expectations and appropriate boundaries.
  • Communicate when you'll be out of the office.
  • Prepare your co-workers to handle most things while you're away.
  • Set-up out-of-office messages on your phone and in your email. Be sure to provide back-up contacts for urgent needs.
  • Define true emergencies and inform co-workers not to call unless one of those emergencies arise.
  • Establish a time frame each day (at the beginning or end of the day) or specific times every couple of days that you'll be available for phone calls or email check-in.
  • Create a rule in your email program, if possible, for important email to forward to a specified folder.

 

Unplugging begins with your mindset and willingness. The tactics are less complicated than getting around your own fears and beliefs. There's too much on your plate but there doesn't have to continue to be an over-flowing plate while you're away from the office!

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I have a few clients who absolutely hate their current jobs but feel stuck where they are because they believe that there isn't anything else out there. Unfortunately, few people have the luxury in today's economy to leave a job without having something definite already lined up and the job dissatisfaction rate continues to climb. Having a job you hate is not an easy thing to deal with so here are some ways to make your situation easier to handle:

 

1. Maintain perspective: Know what’s motivating you to stay at a job you hate; it’s important to know why.  Is your current job the only one in your area that fits your skills? Or do you need it to keep your children fed and clothed? What attracted you to the job in the first place? Does that reason still exist? Whatever the reason, remembering what it is and keeping it at the forefront of your consciousness makes working a difficult job easier. When you do this, you end up working not for the job itself, but for whatever the motivation is behind your being there. The job becomes more stressed businessman.jpgthan a job— it becomes a way to fulfill whatever desire moved you to take it in the first place.

2. Know what you really want: Often, a terrible job will help you be clearer about what you would want in a better job because you know for sure what you don’t want. Identify the things you desire in your job. It may help to focus on what you don’t like and note the opposite. It may also be helpful to note the things you dream about in your ideal job. For example, are your coworkers too competitive? Then, you may prefer a more team-based environment. Is your boss always second-guessing or changing your decisions? Then perhaps you would like a job where employees are trusted and tasks are truly delegated. Would you prefer a job that requires a lot of problem-solving instead of a set group of tasks? Would you rather work for yourself? Have you always dreamed of teaching for a living? Be sure to create a physical list that contains what you really want in a job. Explore how many of these things you can create in your current job situation or somewhere else in the company.

3. Make a conscious choice: Being in ‘choice’ is very powerful.Therefore after identifying your key motivation for staying at the job you hate, if it’s compelling enough to keep you there, than consciously choose to stay.  If you’re unsure about it, evaluate it further. Maybe you took this job several years ago because you wanted a job close to home beings you had small children and didn’t want to spend an excessive time commuting. Now that the kids are older, is this still important criterion? Or perhaps you took this position because there seemed to be an aggressive career path to a higher level position but it never materialized. Or maybe you realize that you qualify for lots of different jobs of the same type that you're working now, and you realize that a different work environment might make things much more tolerable. Whatever your motivation, consider carefully whether it's enough motivation to stay at the job or if you’d be better off transferring to another department or Division if you’re at a large enough company, or leaving entirely if there aren’t any feasible options within your current work environment.

4. Set weekly goals for yourself: If you really want to leave your job, set weekly goals to help you find the golden opportunity for you. One week you might research the industry, another week you might arrange three informational interviews, send out five resumes or attend a networking event. Having these goals will help you transition to something better. Doing something daily towards a new job will help give you a sense of accomplishment and keep you progressing toward a new job.

5. Re-engage your commitment whenever you feel negatively toward your job: When feelings of frustration, hopelessness, anger, or sadness about your current situation re-surface, review your choice again. Realize that even after you have chosen to stay, there may still be parts of your job that you dislike.  Let go of the negative emotions and re-focus on the positive motivations for staying.  Allow your conscious choice to stay to become the habit and motivator to continue doing a good job and contributing daily.

6. Honor your needs: Allow yourself to acknowledge whatever emotions come up for you. Don't try to hide it inside, or it will just blow out later. If you need to take a walk, or go to the restroom, take a day off, or even write it out in your private journal, do that. Letting things build up until they might explode is never a good idea. And, in the midst of your feelings, reflect back on your motivation for choosing to stay. Control your stress by respecting your needs.

7. Be realistic: If you really hate your job, don't expect to love your job some day soon. Instead, expect that you won't like it. Expect that the things that have frustrated you since the first day will still frustrate you now and will probably continue to do so as long as you stay at the job. If you expect that, the job will never sink below your expectations. However, at this point, you know that you are more than the job. You don't expect all of your satisfaction to come from that, because there are more areas in your life than just that.

8. Enjoy the Perks: Some jobs are terrible, but still have some great perks. Almost every job has at least one good perk such as a good salary, tuition reimbursement, health benefits, gym discounts, stock options, or opportunities to travel. Take advantage of whatever perks are available because even focusing on some of these more positive things may make things easier, at least in the interim until you find something else.

9. Increase your Self-Care: Going into a job you hate will be worse if you get to the office feeling rushed, stressed and frazzled and lack self-care. Set aside some moments of solitude each morning. Develop some positive daily rituals such as treating yourself to a latte, listening to upbeat music, going for a walk outside at lunchtime, getting up early enough to hit the gym before you go to the office, or connecting with friends for fun diversions. Add some humor to your day buy posting a “joke of the day” calendar near your work space. Enjoy an activity regularly that helps you unwind and get rid of tension. Be willing to treat yourself to simple pleasures to help you feel better inside. By focusing on you, your well-being, health and happiness your present situation will be more tolerable.

10. Maintain your job performance. Although you’re dissatisfied at work, it’s important to continue to do your work and do it well. Hating your job doesn't mean you can't learn new skills or be a good performer at work. Use your time to make yourself a better candidate down the road. If your company offers training courses, take advantage of them. Use downtime to learn something new on your computer. Pick up a management development book and read it (or listen to it) at lunch. Turn your job into an opportunity for self-improvement. Set personal performance goals that you’ll be able to highlight as accomplishments in future job interviews. Be sure to avoid burning any bridges at your company because you are unhappy. Instead, maintain positive relationships and grow your network.


Right now, it might seem like you will be stuck in this job forever. Keep your chin up and remind yourself that you are in charge of your destiny. Search internal postings for new positions. Start your search for a new job externally. Realize that this too shall pass!  

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In my last BLOG, I shared some reports about the drastic decline in employee job satisfaction. In this BLOG post I will share some observations and strategies for increasing the prospect of job satisfaction, even in a doom economy.

In my experiences working with people both employed and unemployed, I’ve found that many people have not taken responsibility for their own career growth. When I worked for years in the corporate world, over two decades ago, we were told that the company was no longer responsible for our career growth but rather we were responsible for creating our own. Many employees had a difficult time adapting to this new way of thinking because they were used to earlier times when they created a career plan and followed it within one company.

Strategy: Own your career! Seek out the right opportunities for your interest and abilities both inside and outside the company. Have a career plan.

I’ve also seen people get complacent. They stopped taking continuing training and development and looking for opportunities to expand their skills and network of contacts. They didn’t have an up-to-date resume and couldn’t remember the last time they had a job interview. Often, with training budgets being cut, employees blamed the lack of funding for their discontinuance of learning and professional development.

Strategy: Keep learning & growing. If there’s a skill you want to develop, look for opportunities, to build and demonstrate that skill, even if it’s outside of the workplace. Having new skills in diverse areas may help distinguish you while increasing your job satisfaction. Enroll in classes. Meet new people. Challenge yourself!

Often, people dissatisfied at work are also unhappy at home. People allow their work grind to follow them home. It is possible to improve your life even if you can't improve your work.

Strategy: Instead of letting your work displeasures to invade your home, invest in your private life and create a happiness that can make work more palatable. Consciously create fond family memories, indulge in a hobby, 'date' your spouse or partner, take classes, or enrich your life in other ways! Make laughter a part of your every day life.

Lastly, people feel stuck at their dissatisfying job. They don’t believe they have an out so they don’t look for other opportunities. Unfortunately, whatever you believe becomes true for you based on your thoughts and actions. In this case, it would be the inaction of looking for other career prospects.

Strategy: Seek out alternative job opportunities while you are still gainfully employed. You are more likely to ask the right questions and not take something out of desperation or fear. Also, in the meantime, find ways to change your current job even if your actual job description or boss can’t change. Your perception and your attitude can change and that by itself can make a world of difference with your job satisfaction.

Want to be more satisfied at work?  Then, create more happiness and satisfaction!

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Manage Your Workload

Posted by Natalie Gahrmann Oct 15, 2009

 

If your workload is rapidly increasing, you are not alone! Most people complain that there’s “Too Much on their Plate!”. Each time I visit corporations, associations, or non-profits I hear the same level of overwhelm, frustration and stress. It's funny though that everywhere I go they tell me that they have it the worse, stress is at its highest and they are working under the poorest conditions. Problem is that this issue is widely prevalent!

 

As downsizing continues, many employees are given additional responsibilities without any being removed. The workday keeps expanding and the expectations are increasing. Deciding what needs your immediate attention may be a huge challenge. Determining priorities is difficult because often they keep changing.

 

So, what's a super busy person to do to better manage everything on your plate??

 

Start by doing a quick inventory of all the tasks you perform daily and determine which can be...

·       eliminated

·       combined with something else

·       delegated (upward, downward or laterally)

·       changed in frequency from daily to weekly or even less frequently

·       automated

·       stopped altogether

·       less than perfect

·       avoided

·       covered by someone else who attends

 

Then, after off-loading or eliminating some of your more mundane tasks, seek opportunities for more challenging assignments, more visible projects, or more critical tasks to the bottom-line. This can boost your career satisfaction and performance!

 

Energizing programs are available for your workplace or professional association. Contact The Priority Pro for more information.

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Market Brand YOU!

Posted by Natalie Gahrmann Oct 2, 2009

I have had the distinct pleasure of helping several unemployed groups of professionals by delivering one of my sought after workshops.  Although it's important to distinguish yourself when you're employed, it's even more important in this time of high unemployment rates to be sure you stand out from the crowd.

One of my clients was an IT Director suddenly laid off and afraid he wouldn't find another comparable position.  However, within 3 weeks he was gainfully employed in a similar position!  Not having much experience as a job seeker he wanted to get this off of his plate very quickly.  He turned to me, as his career coach and asked for my help and support.  We did all of the 'normal' things....updated his resume, talked to headhunters, had his resume reviewed and critiqued, networked with former colleagues and clients, practiced job interviewing, and researched potential employers and the job market. In the end, what really made him stand out in the pool of potential employees was the fact that he is a strong technical leader with the up-to-date skills to diagnose and fix problems.  Not only could he provide the leadership needed but he could do much of the work himself without hiring consultants and contractors or expanding the technical team.  He had an excellent track record and positioned himself based on what he knew the potential employer needed.  He marketed his personal brand!

brand you.jpgPersonal branding is about fully understanding your unique combination of qualities—your strengths, values and passions—and using these qualities to differentiate yourself and guide your career decisions. When you're well branded, packaged and positioned you attract people and opportunities that are exciting, fun and a great fit for your gifts and abilities!

Some of the benefits of creating your own brand include:

  • understanding yourself better
  • increasing your self-confidence
  • building your visibility and presence
  • differentiating yourself from the competition
  • expanding your opportunities
  • out-performing 'non-brands'

 

 

 

Your career success lies in producing the clarity and authentic presentation

that is the essence of a brand.

 

 

For expert help managing everything on your plate or distinguishing yourself in the marketplace, contact natalie@theprioritypro.com.

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These days with high unemployment resulting from layoffs, reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, many people are concerned about losing their job. My client, John Stuart had joined a pharmaceutical company less than five years ago. Although he had survived two other downsizing efforts, Stuart wasn’t sure he would make it through this next one. He felt like he needed a miracle!

 

To help sift through his options, Stuart met with his mentor, a senior-level manager in another department of the company. He also hired me as his professional career coach to provide an objective unbiased sounding board.  Although no one is truly irreplaceable, Stuart’s goal was to make himself so indispensable to the division that his managers couldn’t afford to lose him.

 

As part of the process, Stuart assessed his strengths, weaknesses and value to the division. He also analyzed his competition before developing a strong personal strategic plan with both short- and long-term strategies to increase his value within the company. This became his personal brand message.

 

His career-enhancing strategies helped him thrive in the ever-changing job market. They increased his confidence and helped him more clearly and consistently communicate his value across the company.

 

Are you valuable to the company? Test your indispensability with this quick quiz!

Directions:  Use the rating scale to the right with 1 representing "not at all" and 5 indicating "this is a strength of mine".

 

Standards

Never------------------------Always

I take ownership of my responsibilities and continually look at the bigger picture before making a decision.

1

2

3

4

5

I take responsibility for my career.

1

2

3

4

5

I maintain a positive attitude, even when I’m stressed or overwhelmed.

1

2

3

4

5

I save the company money by hiring outside experts, contractors or consultants when necessary rather than staffing with extra bodies.

1

2

3

4

5

I have identified a task that I can do better than it’s being done now and have asked my boss for the challenge.

1

2

3

4

5

I strategically broadcast my accomplishments.

1

2

3

4

5

I excel in an area where my boss is weak.

1

2

3

4

5

I represent the company in outside organizations or community events.

1

2

3

4

5

I am an effective team player.

1

2

3

4

5

I continually invest in myself and my career.

1

2

3

4

5

Scoring: 40-50 points – Your are indispensable; 30-39 points – Identify 5 areas to improve upon; Below 30 points – Polish up your resume.

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