Category — Business Practices

Getting Your Great New Job is a five part series based on my experience coaching and helping my clients through their job searches and get great jobs.  Jobs that they are excited about and feel great about, better jobs than they’d been trying for, jobs that are a big step forward on a path toward their chosen future… yes, even in this economy.  You can have YOUR great job too!  This is Part 2 – Your Job Search.   See Article Introduction and Part 1-Your Inspiration

Your Job Search – Getting Your Great New Job

Hopefully now that you’ve read the first two posts of this series you’re thinking about that next job, your new job, in a new and positive way.  Thinking, just maybe, you get to have what you really want.  You’re thinking about working at something you’re passionate about.  This makes a huge difference when you’re looking for a job.  Now the search…

If you just said to someone, “ya, I’m looking for a job.  I work in I.T.  Do you know of any?” that’s not going to get you very far.  That’s what most people do when talking about needing a job.  They talk about what they used to do and that they want a job.  It doesn’t work and the more it doesn’t work, the worse it feels.  Let’s try a new way to search for your job that empowers you. 

Be Specific about what you want from your job, share your passion and get excited.  You’ve come up with ideas about what you really want in and from a job.  You’re more aware of your skills and what you have to offer.  Now get out there and talk about it.  Talking about something your passionate about makes a huge difference…it gets people interested… and that gets you excited too.  When you are specific and passionate, people love to help you.  When that happens, you feel less alone and the job search feels more possible. 

So, how?  If you have a certain type of experience (sales, computer, management, anything) and you’re passionate about say… physical health.  What kind of jobs are there that include both those things?  Let’s play with this so you’ll see what I mean… hmm… let’s say someone has ”sales” experience and they are passionate about ”physical health”.   Let’s say they went for a sales job at a gym, or that had something to do with nutrition… don’t you think they’d be more apt to get it than someone who is just a good sales person?

So, what about you.  What are your skills and what are you passionate about?  Now how can they fit together?  If you’re not sure, start talking about it and searching – get on line, talk to friends, talk to friends of friends, and strangers in coffee shops.  Go hang out in places where people that are interested in whatever it is go and talk to them.  Tell them your idea or ask your questions.

Let’s say you have project management experience and you’re really into boats and water and want to learn more about that, and be around people that share that interest.  (Are you starting to see how different this is than just saying, “yeah, I’m looking for a project management job”?)  

Start talking to people about what you really want, even if you’re not sure of the specifics.  Start talking to them about the job and the passion.  Think of people and places that may have some connection to that passion and start talking.  Share your passion.  You meet someone and say, “I’m looking for a job.  I have project management experience and I really want to get a job working around boat… I really enjoy… I spend a lot of time…I’m thinking of going to school to be a…and want to work in that industry.”

If the person you’re talking to has a passion for boats or knows someone who does they might have ideas for you.  It might be a great conversation that will lead you to the next step. A great company that they know of, the next person to talk to that might have more insight and information… a step forward.

Open up to the possibilities… if your passion was health care where would you hang out?  Who would you talk to?  There are so many possibilities.  It could be in the medical field, a gym, health food store, vitamin store, dance classes… the list goes on.  What type of people or type of group within that arena interests you?  If you’re not sure, ask people.  You don’t have to have all the answers and you don’t have to be 100% specific… share what you know you want and let others share their wisdom, ideas and connections.

Most people love to connect other people.  If you’re looking for a job and someone else is looking for an employee it makes them look like the hero… it’s a great thing to ask and let other people do things for you.  If they see the connection and think it would be a good thing they’ll do the work for you. 

When you talk to people it’s not just asking them for a job, you’re sharing information and your sharing your passion and hope.   How many people out there love their jobs or think of work in this way.  As you talk to them about this, it might just get them excited thinking about what they really want to do next too.  It’s not just asking for a job, it’s connecting, inspiring, having conversations about passion and purpose and possibility.  Take risks, build community, believe that you get to have what you want, that you can ask for help, and go for it.  Talk to people… and follow the leads. 

• If someone starts talking about how hard it is or complaining, walk away.  That’s an excuse.  You don’t need excuses.  You’re going for what you want.  You’re a winner.  Talk to other winners.

Buddy Up… One of the things that works well with my clients is that we talk every week and look for the gold.  They sometimes feel discouraged until we start talking.  If they’ve done their work for the week and gotten out there in their search they’ll have info.  Sometimes it feels disappointing because they didn’t get a job.  What we do together is focus on what they learned, what forward progress they made, and how to use that to find their next steps.  That get’s them feeling positive and excited again.  That is the path to continue on.

Find your team, a person or a group of people (or a coach), set some boundaries; no complaining or excuses, take full responsibility of your results.  Share your weekly experiences and help each other see what you might have missed as a win or a path to something great.  Sometimes we are so close to things we don’t see them.  And in a job search, especially if we really need it, we can miss the possibility in our disappointment of not getting the job (yet).  Work together to think of leads and new ideas.

Job Search Websites, Headhunters, etc… Talk to people who have been successful at using those tools and find out what they’ve used and who they worked with.  What I’ve noticed is that some people can make almost anything work and some make excuses.  Learn from the ones that make things work for them. 

Now that is a great time to check out the job search websites, companies for job postings, and headhunters because you’re more excited and have a clearer idea of what you want.  It makes the search easier.  Go for it.

The next step is having a resume that fits you and let’s people know that you are the right person for Your Job. 

If you own a company or manage a team within one and have had to lay off employees here are some tips to help you turn adversity into opportunity… to use the lay off to strengthen your team and your position with them.

Any adversity offers us a chance to grow, especially when it’s a group facing a challenge together. Think of those times in your life where you’ve really connected with a group of people through a challenge or catastrophe. Think of the bond that’s built. This is your opportunity to build that with your team.

Here are some tips.

Tip #1. Remember that you are a team, and you’re going through this together. You need to remember that, and you need to remind them of that. This is a hard time for all of you. You’ve got a good team. They’re smart people. They know what’s going on in the world. They know people are getting laid off. They understand the realities of it. They may not like it any more than you do… and that’s the point. You’re all in this adversity together, this uncomfortable situation that you don’t like. It’s not them and you, it’s all of you.

Tip #2. Talk to them, and let them talk to you. Let them know that you aren’t liking it either. Don’t blame the company, don’t complain, just let them know, “I’m upset that we needed to let them go too. This is challenging.” Say more than that but you get the gist. Sometimes we need to be reminded (both management and employees) that none of us like it and we are all in it together.

Let them talk about it too. So many times through things like this, more stress is created because no one is talking which is scary and it makes us wonder. Have an open door policy about this. It’s not just about them wondering what’s going on, aren’t you wondering how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking too? Make it okay to talk about it. Sometimes in work we forget were human… not just human but capable human beings. We can handle it… and it helps to handle it together.

Tip #3. Lead. Many times after a lay off, people are left to just wonder what’s next because the business just seems to continue forward a bit like a funeral march. This is your time to shine. Be a leader. Remind all of you that choices have to be made. The reality is, companies are going out of business. The lay off is to keep yours running. You are the lucky ones. But don’t just talk it… do it. The next part is to start living that, to work on doing more than surviving, work on thriving. It’s your job to lead that.

A long time ago I was demoted. It was very political. You know how those things go. They gave my team to someone else to manage. A few months later, the same thing happened to someone else in the company. We were talking one day. She surprised me. She said, “I wouldn’t have known how to handle it, if I hadn’t watched you. You didn’t complain, blame, lash out, or criticize. You just kept your head high and did your job.”

Be that kind of leader to your team, someone they believe in and have a reason to follow. Which does not mean being perfect, just be someone you feel good about being. It makes all of you feel better and creates loyalty.

Tip #4. Build your new team. Remember that good team of yours? Those people you have left. Have them be your team, your helpers to reorganize. They know their jobs and the department/company. Don’t do it alone, it’s not good for you or for them. Let this time build you as a team. Let your remaining team members know that they are an integral part of the whole, instead of just hanging on to their jobs in hopes that they aren’t next to go.

One of the biggest things I do as a coach is to get you looking forward. It’s easy to look at what we lost and what’s not working. My job is to get you thinking about what you want to build next, get you to start planning forward and even get excited about it. An adversity like this offers an opportunity to reorganize, to build something… maybe even something better. What do you really want? What will you make of this new team of yours?

Tip #5. Vision and Create. Now that you’ve read these but before you do any of these steps… think of your team. Think of the individual strengths that all of you have. Think of what you want to build with them. Create a vision for yourself of how you’d like to it be. This is a ripe opportunity to rebuild your team in a new way. Come up with some ideas and some action steps.

What’s interesting, often in corporations people aren’t as busy as they’d like to be. They are bored. People want to feel useful and work at something that feels like it’s worth doing. Creating a leaner, more powerful team that really values it’s members may be the best thing to happen to your group.

A personal note to you. I know this is hard. These are challenging times. Make the best of it for yourself. Focus forward on what you want to create. Remember each adversity offers an opportunity, and make the most of what you have. Keep your eye on your vision, not just of getting through this but of making something great of it. Now go do it. Build that new team of yours, with their help.

If you feel stuck through any of this and want help, call me 206.937.1037 or email me at Lisa@LisaKBradley.com. We can do a single coaching session to get you focused on the opportunity you have in front of you to build something good. We’ll come up with a plan and action steps for you. If you’d like help with talking with your team, have me come and do a Mastermind Session with all of you. I’ll support you in coming up with a plan and actions, and build a powerful team. We can get you thinking forward, empowered, inspired to take on the world in a new way.

When things are challenging, like the current times, we can get focused on what’s wrong in our businesses and what we don’t have. Here’s a Thanksgiving tip to help you turn your business around, and help you enjoy your holiday more. The Power of Appreciation.

What is appreciation? Is it just a word or a positive thought? No, think of it this way… You buy a house. Let’s say it’s a good, solid house but not in great repair. Now, you have the opportunity to appreciate or depreciate it.

You can feel bad that you couldn’t get a better house. You can look at it, focus on all the things wrong with it, all the work that needs to be done, get overwhelmed, see it as a problem and too hard. You then let the lawn go, park cars in the yard, let it fall apart. You’ve seen the houses, you know what I mean. It decreases in value. You then have less than you started with.

Your other option is to feel glad that you got a house and know that this house can be great. It may even be a step to a better house. You can focus on all that’s right with it. Pay attention to what’s good about it. Is the foundation good? Is there something about it that you really like? Maybe it’s a room or a certain feature. Focus on what’s good, create a vision for yourself of what it could be, what you could do with it and start making those changes. As you do, make the most of it by continuing to appreciate it. Noticing how much better it’s getting and how much closer it’s moving you toward your next goal. Also appreciating you for what you’re doing to make it better, what skills you’re learning and who you’re being by your being thankful. You’re property appreciates… and so do you.

So, what about you and your business (or maybe it’s your work history, skills and resume, or even your current job) are you appriating what you have? Are you taking the good that is and adding value? When was the last time you really focused on all that is good about it… or you? When was the last time you really took stock?

We can get so caught up in all that there is to do, all that we don’t have, and we can get overwhelmed or frantic. Instead of writing a “To Do List” how about writing a “Look What I’ve Accomplished and Built List” a list of all the positives and assets in you and your business (or job/past skills and job experience).

After you’ve created that list, take some time to really sit with all the good that you’ve built. Think of the skills and talents you’ve grown, and who you’ve become in the process. I’m visual so I like to think of it like with the house… I imagine walking from room to room putting your attention on what’s right. What do you have? A website? Some skills…which ones? Really look. How about your connections, past clients/customers, contacts, people that you have or could partner with? What else?

Get caught up and excited in appreciation of what you have, get excited about it. Now see where you can add value. What can you do to make it even better? What skills or traits do you want to grow to make your self even more valuable…to get you where you want to go?

Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful… I like to use life lessons in business, and business lessons in life. Appreciate what you have and what you have built… of your business, of your self, of your life. Find and pay attention to your value and see what happens.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with blessings and love!
Lisa

Have you ever been at a networking event, barely meet someone and then automatically get added to their newsletter or worse yet, have them start forwarding tons of emails to you? That’s part of their brand. What? Yep, your brand is who you be in the world.

One of my specialties is breaking things down, making them really simple… taking words like; niche, target market, and branding and reducing them down to what they really are. On the human level, what is your brand? A big part of it is who and how you’re being in the world, and how you treat people. Now let’s expand that into business, mixing humanity and business because without humans, there’s no business. Right.

In business is not just what we say but how we say it and how we do it. I did a ton of networking last week and consequently ended up added to a few newsletters… eight so far, that I wasn’t asked if I wanted to sign-up for.

What does that possibly tell me on a human to human level about that person and their business?
– Are they respectful of me – my choices, my time?
– Who’s agenda is the most important to them?
And, even without consciously being aware of it, might this attract a different type of person to their business?

Now, what if they’d sent me a quick email, said something personal, “I really enjoyed meeting you at the event the other day…I liked what you said about…”, told me the value and benefit of their newsletter, maybe sent me an example, and invited me to join? What would that show me?
– That they’re nice, respectful…someone I might like to do business with.
– That they want to help me… if it’s right for me.
- That they believe in their newsletter/product.

See the difference. Seth Godin wrote a book on this called “Permission Marketing”. (And.. by the way, if you want my newsletter, you will have to sign up. I won’t just add you… and it’s a great newsletter. If you’d like some inspiration and a little poke or prod to go for your dream and play big, sign up. Oh… and soon my e-workbook will be out too. It’s daily practices to help you stay focused and on track and performing optimally, giving you a greater chance for success.

Here’s another example:

When I was in coaching school, I did my first “30 second introduction”. I’d never done one before and I was so nervous. I started off and the first words outs of my mouth were not what I’d spent the whole evening before practicing. What did I do? Did I make a scene or get really frustrated? Did I get embarrassed and lose my way? What I did… I stepped to the side, stepped back in place, and started over.

What does that tell you about what it would be like working with me?
– I don’t get stuck on mistakes. We notice them and try again.
– I’m okay being human and give myself, and probably my clients, the opportunity to practice and grow.
– I’m respectful of my self and my perfectly imperfect humanity.

To give credit where credit is do. It was one of my instructors, Kathy Mallory, that pointed this out. She noted that how I handled that situation would show prospective clients as much as what I’d said about what it would be like to work with me. It’s obviously stuck in my mind, it’s also simple and true. And it’s something we might not be consciously aware of but when looking for a service provide, our gut notices those things.

We tell people what we’re like to work with not just by our business, our bio, we also do it by the choices we make one human to another.

John Maxwell was once asked to write a book on business ethics. His response, “There’s no such thing as business ethics – there’s only ethics.” And he goes on to talk about business based on the Golden Rule – do unto others. I think it’s so important to remember this in all we do in business.

Who do you want to be through your business? What’s your brand/statement to the world?

Here’s an interesting dilemma I have… Twitter. In some ways it sounds great for me to tweet, maybe send out little motivational messages now and then. I’m good at it, and it might be good for my clients. And… as a coach and the person that I am (who I am and want to be through my business and what impact I want to have on you) it doesn’t feel right to add another distraction to your life. I feel that it’s important for us all to have time to be present, to not be inundated with information, to be in touch with ourselves. I often turn my phone and computer off. So…right now my gut says no, and it’s fun to roll the idea and the implication around in my head. Will it hurt my business not to have it… or will not having it and expressing my values in that way be one more attraction to the type of clients I want to work with?

So, what about you, your brand, your business… who you want to be?

By expressing you, who you are and your values through your business you can become more successful and attract those clients you really want to work with. You also create a more sustainable business because you feel good about your interactions, they fit with who you are. You’re brand will also be bolder because you’re expressing it in many different ways – through you messages (what you say and how you say it), your choices and also your products and services.

You’re also sending your self a powerful message by valuing you, your way, and what’s right for you. That’s incredibly powerful for you personally and for the success of your business.

It’s not always easy to see how we’re putting ourselves, our message, our brand out there in our businesses. Sometimes it helps to have someone from the outside listening and sharing what they see. If you’d like some help in being your brand and attracting clients and customers that are people you love working with, my coaching can help you.

When your brand is true to you and how you want to be in the world, and your target market, niche and brand are clear, defined, and bold you will naturally and more easily attract the quality clients you want… the type of clients that will inspire you to be the best you can be because you love serving them and helping them be more successful (I know or I wouldn’t have spent my afternoon writing this blog). How much would that impact your business and your future. Oh… I’m in Seattle but I coach over the phone and have clients internationally. If I can help you be more successful, I’d love to do so. Go to www.adversitydoctor.com and sign up for a Free Strategy Session.

“Be yourself! There is something that you can do better than any other. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that.” (Unknown)

To Our Success!
Lisa, The Adversity Doctor
Your guide to helping you go beyond adversity and Have the Adventure of a Life!
www.adversitydoctor.com