4 steps for productive disruption

4 steps for productive disruption 4 steps for productive disruption Whether you are a leader looking to advance in your organization, an owner trying to jump-start innovation, or an individual seeking something new, getting started on the path to disruption is not an easy task â€" especially if every opportunity seems out of reach, and every door appears closed. I spoke with Whitney Johnson, a leading thinker on driving innovation through personal disruption. In her new book, Disrupt Yourself : Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work, she shares four key steps to finding an open door: 1. Identify what you do well. What compliments do you repeatedly dismiss? These are the dismissals you do, not because you were being coy, but because the thing you were complimented on feels as natural as breathing. Maybe you’ve heard this compliment so many times, you’re sick of it! The tendency to deflect compliments around what you do reflexively well is understandable, but in deflecting, you devalue the very strengths that are your superpowers. Something that comes easily or seems obvious to you may be rare and valuable to someone else. 2. Match your strengths with unmet needs. Once you have a clear picture of your one-of-a-kind skills, match those skills to unmet needs. Consider jobs where you’d be the wild-card candidate. Or look for ways to combine your passions. Look at problems that the organization needs solved, and ask yourself: Can I fix that? There is no shortage of jobs to be done or problems to be solved. But there’s only one of you. The right problems are those that you somehow feel called to solve, and are capable of solving, because of your expertise and accumulated life experiences. 3. Invite someone to lunch who is not exactly like you. If you are having trouble finding an unmet need, talk with someone who works in a different industry or is an expert at something you are not. Seek out advice from someone of a different gender, ethnicity, race, or age. This can help open your eyes to find open doors. While a closed network reinforces your sense of belonging, you hear the same ideas over and over again. An open network can be a bit painful because you will have to work harder to understand a person not like you, but you are more likely to have breakthrough ideas. 4. Reflect on the last time you were scared and lonely. Now, give yourself a high five. When you are scared because you are trying something new, you’ll not only know that this endeavor matters to you, it probably means you are on the right path to disruption. To do something astonishing will require that you walk through a door no one else has been through before. Think about the achievements you have made by surmounting some huge, probably unexpected, even undeserved, obstacle. Maybe it was your upbringing, health challenges, financial circumstances, or relationship woes. Once you got over the “If only…” thoughts, you allowed your obstacles to become a tool of creation. By reflecting on your past accomplishments, you know you have the courage and strength to overcome fear and take risks â€" and that it will all be worth it. Being able to find the open door and go through it can be scary because it’s uncertain. But because you’re blazing your own trail, you’re more likely to be successful. After all, you can’t find an open door without moving; and you can’t move without taking risks.

Another Halloween Job Search Horror Story -

Another Halloween Job Search Horror Story - Do you have a job search horror story? Unfortunately, many do. How can we learn from our experiences and wind up with a better ending next time? This is another story that, to me, illustrates how some job seekers create their own results in their search. Thanks to Laurie S. for sharing this tale: After finding myself a smart self starting college educated experienced individual laid off and unable to find work for 15 months you can imagine I have a million stories. The following is just one of many from my journal. The interview lined up for today was for a part-time position. Because there was nothing to chose from in the full time job opportunities. Unless a person is maybe a nurse or a DUI Attorneyit is slim pickings. The interview was with a small insurance company and I had been going round with trying to set up an interview with them. Finally, I received an email from the company saying they would like to set up an interview and when would be a good time for me. This email hit me as a little odd. It would have made more sense for them to call me to set something up Johnny on the Spot instead of playing email games. I replied to their email because there was not a phone number to call. My reply email was greeted with yet another email letting me know the date and time I selected was not available. The sender of the email sent it out late Friday, which means I did not receive their reply to my reply until Saturday morning. The sender of the email let me know they had 9AM or 11AM on Monday morning available. I let them know I would see them on Monday morning at 9AM. This response would have been a reply to their reply of my reply to their reply are you catching my drift about the insanity with this? The office was right in front of me; however, there were no lights on in the office. Actually, there was not a soul in the office. “Great now what?” I said aloud and with much disappointment. I was less and less feeling like being involved with an interview at this moment. I was not in the mood to answer the obligatory question, So, what is your 5-year plan? My mood grew from irritated and indignant to a mischievous twinkle in my right eye. I had decided that I was not leaving until I had an interview. If I had to camp out on the bench I was sitting on all day long, somebody from the insurance office was going to sit down and look at my happy little smile. After about 30 minutes, a young woman came through the front doors and headed toward the office space I wanted to call my new home. She opened the front doors, turned the lights and sat down at the front computer. I gave her a few minutes to catch her breath. I made my way into the office space. I put on my brightest smile. “Hello,” I said warmly. The young gal looked at me and smiled back. “I believe I have an interview for 9am this morning.” I continued. “Okay let me give Jason a call.” She said. She picked up the phone, “Hey your 9am interview is here. Umm.. I do not know. Uhhh yes…sure okay I will tell her.” “Okay Jason will be in about 15 minutes. Have a seat and make yourself comfortable.” She said. “Great thank you.” I replied. I took a seat and thought about the magazine I had left in the lobby. I should have brought it in because I do not want to sit and stare at the wall. I pulled out my day planner and made it look like I was organizing something in my life. As luck would have it, my new friend at the front desk was a chatty. I  learned they received over 500 resumes for this part-time position. “I am sorry I was late today but I had to stop and pick up the mail at our old office.” She said. “No problem.” I answered. “Jason should be here soon. He is actually a friend of mine that is how I got this job.” She laughed. “We all just came back from a weekend trip to Las Vegas.” She smiled Hmm.. I thought to myself. I am not sure about how I feel about that idea. This gal was about half my age. I was getting the feeling we did not have much in common. I lied and said, “Really that is cool your employer paid for you to have a weekend in Las Vegas.” I said “So what do you do now?” She asked. “Well I am one of those casualties of the economy and lost my job. It is tough out there right now so I am bartending at the moment.” I said. A young guy with curly blonde hair whipped through the front doors. “Hi, sorry I am running late I will be with you in a moment. Uhh, actually just follow me back.” he said breathlessly. I followed Jason into a conference room. “Well this is our conference room.” he said. “Have a seat.” He said. I took out a fresh resume for him. I knew since he had been running around at Mach 2 speed this morning and had forgotten our interview he would need to be refreshed about my qualifications. After my conversation with Chatty Kathy, I learned the guy sitting in front of me was 27 and it was his Daddy’s company. He took his time looking at my resume. “Uh huh, uh huh” she said while nodding his head. When he finished he put his hands on the table  and said, “Well you are over qualified for this position. Why do you want to work here?” He looked at me. Now my real answer floating in my head was because I do not have a Daddy to give me a job. However, I smiled my most charming smile I could muster and said, “Look I would like to work in an industry that I know is going to be around. I have a lot to skills to offer a company. I have friends who work in the insurance industry and it seems to be somewhat stable. Job security is really important to me.” I finished. “Well where do you see yourself in 5 years?” he asked. There it was the question I most hated. I wonder if there is some unwritten rule in an interview that this stupid question must be asked by the employer or the 5-year plan association people fine them some exurbanite fee. I took a breath looked directly into Jason’s eyes and said. “Everyone has plans and goals but I have personally found life these days is more about figuring out how to maneuver around all of the stuff that life throws at you. I certainly did not plan on my father dying when I was 22. I did not plan on the economy taking the biggest dump in history since The Great Depression. My brother did not plan on his employer laying him off exactly a week after he told him that he and his wife were expecting their first child. It has been in my best interest to figure out how to not let things get in my way and to continue to move forward.” I finished. I do not think Jason knew what to make of my answer. But it was the truth. It took him a moment to get back on track. “Well we have more business then we know what to do with and that is why we are needing to add to our staff.” He said. “You are very blessed and this is a nice thing to hear.” I smiled. “Would you like a tour of the office?” He asked. “I would love one,” I answered. I think a tour of the office is a good sign. If he were not interested in my filling the position, he would not waste his time with a tour. There was not much to see in the office. He showed me to the part of the office that would have my cubicle. It was not much but it was more then I had now. And as he said in the interview, it was a position that could grow into different things. “Jason, do you know when you would like to have the position filled?” I asked. “By the end of the week,” He answered. “If you are still seriously considering this position when you get home if you could shoot me an email,” he requested. Something about the request felt strange and I could not put my finger on what it was. I mean why I would not want the job? I held out my hand to shake his and said, “It was a pleasure to meet you. Regardless of sending my email to let him know I was interested in the position and several calls to the office I never heard from Jason. Probably a blessing in disguise.   It seems to me that Laurie sealed her own fate here by answering questions in a bit of a defiant manner. Instead launching into a tirade indicating that she wanted job security, she could have given some plausible,  believable reasons that she was applying for the job.  She might have expressed a real interest in the organization itself or in the industry. In describing her future plans, she could have given an answer that did not incorporate her personal story or that of her family. Clearly, she knew she had made the interviewer uncomfortable with her reply. She knew to be prepared for this question, and could have delivered an answer that would have appealed to a prospective employer and given her a chance to land the job and to turn it down. In my estimation, the tour was just a way to end the interview, not a positive sign of an impending offer. On the other hand, clearly, Laurie had pretty much made up her mind that this was not the right place for her. They were late for the interview, traveled as a team for fun and it was a family business. None of this added up in Lauries mind as a great opportunity. However, as a job seeker, it is important to follow through so that YOU are the one turning down the opportunity that is not right. Throwing an interview and not taking things seriously just makes this another in a series of negative job experiences. How great would it have been for Laurie had she landed this job, and then decided whether or not it was not the right environment for her? She could have declined the job, but boosted her confidence level at the same time. So think about itAre your horror stories someone elses fault? Or, are you contributing to your own downward spiral?

Resume Writing for New College Graduates Ideas

Resume Writing for New College Graduates Ideas What the In-Crowd Won't Tell You About Resume Writing for New College Graduates Potential employers don't want to spend a great deal of time reading them. Recent graduates may be experiencing the exact circumstance. Everyone has desirable abilities and experiences to provide employers including you! Spend a while to recall your previous jobs and write down what type of work you did. In case you have some work experience and an appropriate internship, you might not have to go into much detail about class projects. Skills gained through volunteer work can enable a college grad land their very first job. It's possible to also list summer jobs. You'll make certain that your employer will have the ability to open it. Or you might be unexpectedly laid off, and must start work search. It is simpler to change jobs and industries early in your career. Think about the skills you learned from every one of your jobs in college and the way they apply on your resume to the job which you're applying for. Choosing Resume Writing for New College Graduates Each word on your resume can be a trigger for a question via an interviewer, and you'll often be requested to provide examples of the skills you've referenced. Wherever you opt to place your skills on your resume, be certain to tailor your list of skills to the specific job. To begin with, examine the job description to see whether it indicates the kind of skills the provider is seeking. A crystal clear statement about how you'll utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role you're applying for 3. The Debate Over Resume Writing for New College Graduates School teaches us concepts that we'll use at work. Virtually every new graduate feels the same manner. Ensure you list any honors. The Appeal of Resume Writing for New College Graduates Without such a section, the possible hiring manager may be left wonde ring why he or she's reading your resume in any respect. Nearly all new graduates start complaining that their resumes fail to produce the perfect impression and cannot help them to have a work interview call. Volunteer positions often require the ability to do certain tasks. The summary statement is a brief paragraph summing up your experience and abilities.

The Secret to The Position from Which You Write about Your Subject Is Called Your

The Secret to The Position from Which You Write about Your Subject Is Called Your What to Expect From the Position from Which You Write about Your Subject Is Called Your? As a rule of thumb, you should address just one key idea per paragraph. Make an Assertion Once you've identified the topic, you are able to now develop it into a thesis by producing an assertion about it. You could be surprised to hear that the word argument does not need to be written anywhere in your assignment in order for it to be a significant part your task. Present each argument fairly and objectively, rather than attempting to make it appear foolish. The Debate Over the Position from Which You Write about Your Subject Is Called Your In many instances, the reader will be unprepared to adhere to the issue you discuss if you don't provide some historical background. You've run into a book in the card catalog which you think will be helpful in your research of famous labor leaders. It is possible to a lso list the subjects or units applicable to the job which you're applying for. The same is true for any social media accounts related to your professional brand. The aim of your paper may be to review an issue or controversy and to discuss contributing factors. It's sometimes simpler to persuade someone whenever you are passionate about a subject. Put `who' and `what' in the front of the verb to see whether you can get the subject. So it's far better that you limit your subject in advance, before you make an effort to write about doing it. Getting the Best the Position from Which You Write about Your Subject Is Called Your Knowing what type of essay you're attempting to write can help you choose a topic and structure your essay in the very best way possible. The thesis will often be utilised in your introductory paragraph. The very first step to writing an essay is to choose what type of essay to write. It might be possible to compose a persuasive essay about the should feed all the hungry children on earth, but nevertheless, it wouldn't be a particularly intriguing essay because no sensible person would declare that each of the hungry children deserve to starve. A specific period of thread or yarn based on the kind of fiber is known as a hank. Since the subject line is your very first impression, you wish to be sure your writing is very clear and totally free of errors. Ensure you make the most of the name of the individual who referred you in the topic line. If considering a counterargument changes your position, you need to return and revise your initial argument accordingly. Moreover, the decent argumentative essay will always work to take into account precisely what the opposition or contrary position may need to say and include or handle that within the paper. All positions continue being delta-neutral (BTC price change doesn't impact the last yield). Quite often, a teacher will request that you compose a position statement on a controv ersial subject, or your boss will request that you draw up a position statement for an advertising campaign. Your email address ought to be a combo of your name or your name and the work title you are searching for. You have to make sure your subject line is going to be of interest and considered relevant to be able to acquire your email read. You don't want some personal information about you to go in the official record. Follow-up email may be one of the most difficult kinds of email to write. The One Thing to Do for the Position from Which You Write about Your Subject Is Called Your You might be able to locate a contact there. Because the topic of a composition is similar to a crystal with many facets, you ought to A. provide a positive idea for each and every negative one.

Why You Shouldnt be Too Nice at Work - TheJobNetwork

Why You Shouldnt be Too Nice at Work - TheJobNetworkIt always pays to be a nice person. Almost always. Some people who are genuinely (or un-genuinely) too nice are less likely to be taken seriously, and less likely to stand up for themselves or otherseven in cases where such action would be just. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Perhaps youve also heard the phrase nice guys schliff last. While thats leid necessarily true, there are certain situations in which you should curb the niceties and just concentrate on effective communication. Here are a few reason to keep in mind.1. Give, Give, Give, and Never GetIf you consistently give more than youre asked, and take very little in return, rather than be lauded for your generosity, people will start to get accustomed to this being the pattern. Youll get none of the thanks and you may even come to resent the imbalance.2. Quid Pro QuoIf you up your niceness level too much, you might find yoursel f expecting a similar level of niceness out of everyone around you. When this fails to materialize, you might grow a little peeved.3. Youll Be Like an ATMPeople will start coming to you only when they need something, which can be extremely alienating. Youll feel like a doormatlike youve become a tool to help others succeed, while achieving very little for yourself. You may even attract needy people, like a magnet.4. Youll Project WeaknessYou might be perceived as weak, particularly if you never say no to anyone. If youre always doing favors and putting others first, people will not only come to take advantage of you, they will also just assume you have no control over what you will and wont agree to. They might come to mistrust you for this.5. You Wont Take Care of YourselfSometimes its important to say no to others so you can say yes to yourself. Remember self care? Yeah, thats not just something you make sure others do to reach their ideal fulfillment. No one can make sure youre t aken care of but you. And if you arent getting your own needs met, you might become needy in return with your friends or family.6. Youll Seem InauthenticIf you just automatically are generous and nice and kind, then it might not seem like true generosity, niceness, or kindness. Make sure that when youre being super nice or going above and beyond that you really mean it. Be friendly when its deserved. Pick up slack when its equitable to do so, not just an expectation.7. You Wont ContributeConstructive criticism is extremely important, betweenboth friends and colleagues. If youre so nice that youre reluctant to give anything but praise, then chances are youre letting people down. Focus more on helping the team succeed, rather than on being well-likedand too nice to give honest feedback.

How To Be A Good Manager

How To Be A Good Manager Becoming agood managerrequires a balance between technical skills for work deliverables and soft skills to effectively manage thediverse personalitiesthat make up work gruppes.Experts identify various leadership styles based ondifferent personalities, emotional intelligence levels, and work situations. As a manager tasked with leadership, you might find that you tend togravitate toward a specific approach. However, getting the fruchtwein out of your kollektiv and creating a favorable work environment requires dynamism in applying the style that works best for each situation. Doing so enables you to accommodate the differences in your gruppe and enhances your effectiveness as manager.Regardless of where you are on your management journey, asking yourself the following questions will set you apart as a capable and qualified manager, help you navigate career challenges, and prepare you to take on larger responsibilities.1. Does my team work well in my absence?T he answer to this question defines your ability to empower your team to work independently in delivering organizational goals. Effective delegation is contingent on building a competent team who share a common understanding of expected deliverables, their responsibilities, and performance standards. Additionally, enhancing communication, teamwork, planning, and time management within your team will ensure that everyone works efficiently and cohesively.When you delegate effectively, it frees up your time to focus on other responsibilities, and allows your team to learn, grow, and handle responsibility.2. Is my team motivated?Effective delegation does not necessarily mean that your team is motivated. Motivated employees move beyond doing what is required of them to become initiative takers who are engaged and driven to achieve results. As a manager, taking the time to inspire your team by making them feel valued is critical in developing a motivated team. To achieve this, aim to recog nize and appreciate their efforts, outcomes and achievements, and do your best tosupport your employees individual goals, too. Even when things dont work out as planned, keeping your team motivated requires you to support them, mentor them, correct them, understand them, and inspire them to do better through continuousfeedback.3. Does my team trust and respect me?Trust is anchored in a teams belief that their manager is competent and capable of leading them, providing direction, and giving oversight at work. A good manager builds trust by demonstrating competency, consistency, problem solving, and decision making capabilities, as well as impartiality in conflict resolution.Gaining respect from your team is not synonymous with instilling fear in your team. Neither does it require you to be best friends with your teammates. Instead, respect develops based on your ability to be a compassionate but firm leader who is grounded and emotionally mature. It is indeed possible for your team t o trust your technical abilities yet not respect you as a leader. A good indicator of respected managers is in the professionalism and integrity with which they manage themselves and their teams.4. Am I building a talent pipeline within my team?As you make your way up the career ladder, there is no greater marker of your effectiveness as a manager than the ability to leave behind a team that can fill the roles you leave behind. Quite often, managers focus on their own growth and development without helping their teams achieve the same. A good managerdevelops talent and productivity in the teamby fostering professional growth, learning and skills transfer within the team. Together with Human Resources, managers can play a key role in identifying and nurturing employees within the team to take on greater responsibilities.Developing others is not simply an act of selflessness, it is also the recognition that as you move up the career ladder, you need to be able to rely on the teams you leave behind to help you excel.5. Can I identify what my team members are passionate about?I like this question because it introduces the importance of empathy and relationship building in talent management. Successful organizations and managers know that getting the best out of their employees is measured by both competence and passion. As team leaders, managers can play a critical role in identifying what employees are truly passionate about and help guide them toward career paths that recognize their motivations and bring out their unique talents and gifts. In turn, employees who feel that they are valued offer the best of themselves to their employers. To excel at this, take time to know, observe and talk to your team to learn about what they enjoy and what roles they feel bring out the best in them.6. Am I growing as a manager?Asking yourself this question allows you to engage in candid self-assessment and use feedback for self-improvement. As a manager, you will experience tr emendous personal and professional growth as you interact with the diverse people you lead. Take time to periodically evaluate your management skills and progress, and take corrective action where necessary. Aim to be honest with yourself, celebrate your successes, take responsibility for your failures, and commit to work through your shortcomings. By doing this, you will become and more self-aware manager, and you will be well on your way to success.--Kathambi Kaaria is a sustainability strategist and writer. She heads the consulting practice at CREIDE.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer

Why Law Firms Should Consider Using Video Interviewing - Spark Hire

Why Law Firms Should Consider Using Video Interviewing - Spark HireWith video interviewing technology becoming more prevalent, its increasingly common to see businesses from all industries utilizing this highly effective and efficient means of finding the next addition to their team. In fact, many law firms have begun to use video interviewing technology when theyre looking to expand the firm. Some of the perks they enjoy by making use of this technology includeIt opens up the talent poolFlying a candidate in for a face-to-face conversation takes time and money, but having a phone conversation just isnt quite the same. Video interviewing solves both of these problems. Youre not forking over hundreds of dollars for a plane ticket, but you can still see a candidates facial expression and mannerisms.It makes scheduling the interview much more convenientParticularly for attorneys with hectic schedules, finding time to interview candidates isnt always feasible. Because of this, the hiring process can drag on for weeks or months, simply due to scheduling issues. Video interviewing helps to eliminate some of this, as candidates can record answers on their own timetable. Employers are also free to watch the responses at their convenience. This streamlines the process and helps to speed it up.It promotes consistencyYou want to be consistent as you interview in order to give each applicant a fair shot, however this can be hard when youre having an ongoing dialogue with someone face-to-face. Video interviewing helps to level the playing field. Each candidate gets the same questions to answer, so everyone is being judged based on the same standards. Also, candidates can have a chance to re-record their answers. This is an added bonus, particularly for those who may be feeling a bit nervous about the interview.It shows that youre tech savvyPeople are becoming increasingly tech savvy today, particularly millennials. If you want your law firm to stand out, its important to sh ow that youre open to new technology. Utilizing video interviewing helps to illustrate that your firm embraces new methods and isnt stuck on outdated technology simply because thats what youve always used.Video interviewing can be a huge benefit to law firms looking to add to their team, while also providing a number of perks to the candidates being interviewed. No longer reserved just for startups and tech companies, many law firms are already making use of video interviewing technology to enhance and streamline their hiring process.Image AndreyPopov/BigStock.com