Showing posts with label talent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label talent. Show all posts
Friday, 16 January 2015
LinkedIn and dating; much the same really!
The business world has changed so much in the last twenty years that it is nigh on impossible imaging returning to sitting in a library flicking through reference manuals or scrolling through microfiche to unearth the information that you were after. If you’re under 30 you’ll probably have to Google microfiche – now how old do I feel!
So, where would we be without LinkedIn, the new business white pages that seems to dominate these days? I bet you couldn't imagine going back to the days before you could find people you'd lost track of or attempt to connect with pretty much anyone in the working world, whether they like it or not. And therein, lies the rub.
In many ways, LinkedIn is a lot like a dating site, except for business.
If you’re old enough you’ll remember the J. Geils Band who had a song called "Love Stinks" that goes like this, "You love her; but she loves him. And he loves somebody else; you just can't win." Trying to connect with people on LinkedIn can be just like that. Moreover, how we network and form relationships in the working world is very similar to how we do it in our personal lives.
It is an almost unquestionable fact that these days if you want to have a career, you've got to have a LinkedIn profile. On top of that it's also a great way to manage your business contacts. But LinkedIn also makes it easy to try to connect with people you don't know to further your career or your business opportunities. However, don’t be surprised that it’s not just beautiful blondes who hit on your LinkedIn profile but the occasional moose too.
OK, not the world’s best analogy, but you've got to admit, it true. I’d be surprised if you haven’t had an opportunist or two contact you on a number of occasions. They put you on the spot and then you've got to reject them. It's annoying. Unless, of course, they've got something you want, in which case you’ve just made a connection. Not for life. Just until you get what you want, get bored and dump them. Just like dating.
As for posting to all those groups and commenting on discussions, that's just like when you were single, wasting your nights bouncing from one bar to another hoping to meet that someone special. Just try to imagine all those desperate, inane, rambling nightclub conversations that ultimately led to absolutely nothing. That's right. LinkedIn is just like that.
Twitter's different. Twitter's a media outlet, an overloaded news source for people with ADD - because very few people really ever have the time to read even a tiny fraction of what is tweeted. Anyway, you're not going to form any real relationships on Twitter. Either personal or business.
I’m over thirty (and quite a bit) so yes this all makes me sound cynical and jaded, but really that's because there's nothing new here, at least not if you’ve been around the block a few times. Working at a company or doing business is all about relationships. Business relationships, personal relationships, they all work pretty much the same way. And online social networks are just a new way to find each other.
Is there anything that can be learned from this? Business life is a lot like personal life. Companies are a lot like homes. Bosses are like parents. Business partners are like spouses. Colleagues are like friends. And employees are like kids. Yes that sounds strange, but if you think about it, it might actually make sense.
As for online social networks, they're just a new way to do the same old stuff. They're another way to find and connect with each other. The same rules apply.
As ever we’re keen to hear from you, let us know your thoughts on networking, social networks and if you must – your dating experiences!!
You can contact us at: blog@chestertongray.com or tweet us at @chestertongray
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
Three habits of effective leaders
It doesn’t matter how old you are or what industry you work in, but over the years the chances are that you will have worked with and for many bosses/leaders/managers, some of whom were awful and had possibly been promoted above their ability, whilst others appear to have taken to leadership like a duck to water. There are natural leaders, but many, if not most, have to work at it and are given ‘management training’ or simply work out from previous experiences of past managers the good and bad of leadership.
Which begs the question; Are you a leader? It doesn’t matter if you’re a Director or a Graduate entry-level employee, leadership is an essential skill that can propel you and your career to bigger, better things. There are countless books and on-line forums dedicated to the subject, but here are a few of our thoughts.
What are three habits a competent leader practices regularly?
The first habit is asking different questions. This is about expanding your curiosity. The second habit is taking multiple perspectives. This habit is about listening well and understanding the perspectives of others. The third habit is looking at systems, and that one reminds us that while the human brain likes to break things down into manageable parts, it is the unwieldy combination of those unmanageable systems that opens us up to new possibilities.
Do even the best leaders make mistakes?
Yes of course. They'll get mad and make mistakes, and sometimes they won't even recognise that they've done that. But the best leaders, like entrepreneurs, never stop learning, never become so arrogant or complacent that they stop believing they have room to grow. John F. Kennedy wrote that "leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." The good leaders (almost) never forget this.
What else separates great leaders from everyone else?
They create environments where people can thrive. We all have the experience of people who make us feel small and less capable than our colleagues versus those who make us more capable in their presence than we are without them. Good leaders remember that their perspective isn't the only truth, and they welcome entire human beings into the workplace -- inconvenient emotions, vague hunches, thoughtless mistakes and all.
If I want to become more of a leader today, how should I start?
Believe that you can change and begin to look for the ways you might need to by asking for feedback from others. Forgive yourself for your limitations (rather than denying them or beating yourself up about them), and then seek to grow beyond the way you understand the world today.
Nothing above is groundbreaking or revolutionary but hopefully a few common sense thoughts.
As ever we’re keen to hear from you, let us know your thoughts at blog@chestertongray.com or tweet us at @chestertongray
Monday, 6 January 2014
‘Tis the season to be job hunting!
The first “proper” working Monday of the New Year is supposed to be the day when disgruntled employees finally decide after the Christmas and New Year break that enough is enough and that it’s time to look for a new job. And ideally a pay rise!!
The big job boards report increased activity, particularly at lunch time (odd that!) and at about 6pm when candidates get home and log on having said hello to the wife/husband/kids/dog/cats/hamster and start trawling for the net for their next career move.
The other incentive to move is that many companies are now in a new financial year and as a consequence have the budgets to hire the next round of talent that’s coming onto the market.
So, if that sounds like you today, then head over to www.chestertongray.com and talk to one of the Directors or consultants about the roles that we are recruiting or if you’re a company come and discuss how we work and can help you unearth your next superstar.
The big job boards report increased activity, particularly at lunch time (odd that!) and at about 6pm when candidates get home and log on having said hello to the wife/husband/kids/dog/cats/hamster and start trawling for the net for their next career move.
The other incentive to move is that many companies are now in a new financial year and as a consequence have the budgets to hire the next round of talent that’s coming onto the market.
So, if that sounds like you today, then head over to www.chestertongray.com and talk to one of the Directors or consultants about the roles that we are recruiting or if you’re a company come and discuss how we work and can help you unearth your next superstar.
Friday, 27 July 2012
Interview preparation & how to be on the ball
As we approach the traditional summer break I thought that I would put a few thoughts together for the post holiday’s blues return to work. Over the last twenty plus years that I’ve been recruiting it has almost always signalled an upsurge in candidates hitting the market and clients finally recruiting after months of inertia. There are 1001 subjects that I could write on but few are more important than that face to face meeting; the interview
Before you walk into a job interview, you want to give yourself every opportunity to show yourself at your very best. Here are six things to do in the hours and minutes before your meeting:
Eat brain food
Put down the doughnut, the Danish pastry, anything sweet -- it'll just leave you susceptible to an energy crash during your big moment. Instead, fill up on meals and snacks that will sustain you and won't leave your stomach growling mid-question. Just as in everyday life you should eat meals that are low on the glycemic index and combine carbohydrates, fats and proteins. There is a huge quantity of research that has showed that proven brain food includes fish, blueberries, spinach, nuts and vegetable.
Warm up your mind
You want to be firing on all cylinders by the time your interview begins. If your meeting is first thing in the morning, consider doing the crossword or Sudoku while you're already stoking your brain cells with coffee. It's a great way to get into the problem-solving mode.
Get handy with deodorant
Sweaty palms leave a soggy first impression and just feeling yourself melting down can cause you to lose focus. Over the years I’ve met many a candidate who occasionally gets sweaty palms under stress, and the best tip that I was given was to rub a dab of unscented deodorant on your palms.
Call a positive pal
Please don't spend time with someone who always thinks that the glass is half empty, who tends to discourage you or makes you nervous, instead, call Mr/Mrs Positive - a friend, partner, mentor or even a relative -- who can give you a last-minute boost. It will work wonders for your attitude when you walk into meet your interviewer.
Put away your notes an hour before
Many candidates have a tendency to rehearse talking points in the car or taxi ride on the way to an interview. But preparing up until the very last second can backfire. Don't over-practice, you don't want to memorise your answers. You have to be genuine and spontaneous.
Take a quiet moment
Before you enter the office where your meeting will take place, try to briefly clear your head. Find a quiet place near your interview - a church, a library or a far corner of a hotel lobby - take a deep breath and try to calm yourself. By doing so you'll enter your interview prepared and on the ball.
If you have an interview, then good luck and let us know if you tried any of these tips and if they worked. If not, what tips have you used that work?
As ever, the team welcome your thoughts at www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 6 July 2012
Simple steps to achieve your objectives
If there was a shortcut to success, would you want it? A strategy to follow that would help you get what you want in the most efficient and effective way possible?
Most normal people have a limited number of hours in the day and a limited amount of energy to get what you need to get accomplished, while at the same time going after your bigger goals.
Reading the autobiographies of successful business people and politicians, it becomes clear that they have all adopted broadly similar strategies, of which these tend to be the key four:
1. Know your desired outcome. When you use your car's sat nav, do you type in all of the addresses you don't want to go to or just the one where you do want to go? Clearly, it is critical to know your desired outcome. What do you want to achieve? What are you going after? Now is not the time to be casual, vague. Imagine you've rubbed the magic lamp and you get one shot at requesting what you want. Be clear and be specific.
2. Take action. Get started. Simply do something -- anything, really. Don't fall into the trap of having to know the best action to take to get started because this will cause delay. In fact, it's the excuse far too many use so they don't have to get started.
3. Focus on feedback. Remember the games that you played as a child? What if you only played them and never moved on? You'd never know if you were getting closer or farther away from the prize. If you try to analyse every conceivable next step, you'll never know if your path is leading you closer or farther away. Taking action is how you get feedback. Take the step, because even if you are wrong, that will give you valuable feedback so you can adjust your approach in the future.
4. Be flexible. If you notice your actions are not leading you to your desired outcome (or maybe not as quickly as you wish), then you have to be flexible in your approach. It's not enough to just notice what you are doing isn't working; you have to shift your strategy. Stop, turn, and take a step in a different direction until you get closer to your outcome even if you've invested a lot of time and energy in your previous moves.
It really doesn’t matter what you’re doing, whether it’s in your business or personal life, if you keep to these four steps then they will help you achieve your goals faster and more efficiently.
Please feel free to let us know your thoughts or whether you feel that there are other traits that should supersede these four. www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 13 April 2012
The 10% fee and why it doesn’t work.
Year after year, in challenging economic times, the mantra of cost down is bashed out across almost every business stream and the recruitment world is not immune from it. Those of us who have been around the block once or twice understand the need for businesses to cut costs but also see the number of times that it can actually do you a disservice.
In my best Max Bygraves; let me tell you a story.
Three years ago I won my first retained assignment from a client that I had been pursuing on and off for a couple of years. Good job and an interesting assignment to get my teeth into. As I approached finalising the shortlist they signed off a second role at a slightly reduced fee. I’ve no problem with as it makes sense, so much so that in fact I filled both roles and they recruited a third from the first shortlist. Hurrah!
However, last year as the sector tightened HR & Procurement decided to implement a European PSL and would only work with agencies/recruitment firms/search firms that would agree 10% success only fees.
I declined.
In December they signed off six roles in a new division which went out to their preferred agencies. Much to their surprise eight weeks later they hadn’t received a CV, let alone interviewed a candidate and senior management were jumping up and down on the line managers because the roles were still empty and the projects now really needed the staff.
So why has this situation happened?
Rightly or wrongly recruitment is seen as an overhead cost rather than an investment, with little or no understanding from the procurement and HR teams as to how the agencies operate.
The consultants in the agencies lead very regimented lives in the way that they work and are very heavily revenue targeted, which is why there is such a high turnover of staff in agencies.
Once you send them the 10% fee based job description they will work on it briefly until another client (maybe only hours later) asks them to work on a role with a 20% or more fee, so day by day your role slips remorselessly down the pecking order until quite frankly you’re forgotten in the desire to produce revenue and not be fired takes over. And then there is the other side of the equation. Let’s say that by chance the consultant does find a candidate who matches your brief; are you going to see the CV? Well not necessarily no. Why? Because the consultant’s manager will ask where the consultant is going to send “send out” the CV to and once again the need to satisfy revenue demands takes priority. The manager will ‘encourage’ the consultant to service the 20%+ fee clients rather than the 10% fee client.
Result? Eight weeks later the vacancy still hasn’t be serviced.
To return to my client: Eventually I agreed a 20% fee and in one month had the first three roles in order of priority at offer stage with a one role/one candidate success rate and yes they’re still waiting to hear from their agencies!
Not having people in place for key roles is as every bit, or more, expensive on the bottom lines as paying for the right recruitment firm to find those people.
Invest in expertise and specialist knowledge and it will deliver accordingly.
If you would like to talk with a Director or Consultant about how we can work with you then please contact us at www.chestertongray.com
In my best Max Bygraves; let me tell you a story.
Three years ago I won my first retained assignment from a client that I had been pursuing on and off for a couple of years. Good job and an interesting assignment to get my teeth into. As I approached finalising the shortlist they signed off a second role at a slightly reduced fee. I’ve no problem with as it makes sense, so much so that in fact I filled both roles and they recruited a third from the first shortlist. Hurrah!
However, last year as the sector tightened HR & Procurement decided to implement a European PSL and would only work with agencies/recruitment firms/search firms that would agree 10% success only fees.
I declined.
In December they signed off six roles in a new division which went out to their preferred agencies. Much to their surprise eight weeks later they hadn’t received a CV, let alone interviewed a candidate and senior management were jumping up and down on the line managers because the roles were still empty and the projects now really needed the staff.
So why has this situation happened?
Rightly or wrongly recruitment is seen as an overhead cost rather than an investment, with little or no understanding from the procurement and HR teams as to how the agencies operate.
The consultants in the agencies lead very regimented lives in the way that they work and are very heavily revenue targeted, which is why there is such a high turnover of staff in agencies.
Once you send them the 10% fee based job description they will work on it briefly until another client (maybe only hours later) asks them to work on a role with a 20% or more fee, so day by day your role slips remorselessly down the pecking order until quite frankly you’re forgotten in the desire to produce revenue and not be fired takes over. And then there is the other side of the equation. Let’s say that by chance the consultant does find a candidate who matches your brief; are you going to see the CV? Well not necessarily no. Why? Because the consultant’s manager will ask where the consultant is going to send “send out” the CV to and once again the need to satisfy revenue demands takes priority. The manager will ‘encourage’ the consultant to service the 20%+ fee clients rather than the 10% fee client.
Result? Eight weeks later the vacancy still hasn’t be serviced.
To return to my client: Eventually I agreed a 20% fee and in one month had the first three roles in order of priority at offer stage with a one role/one candidate success rate and yes they’re still waiting to hear from their agencies!
Not having people in place for key roles is as every bit, or more, expensive on the bottom lines as paying for the right recruitment firm to find those people.
Invest in expertise and specialist knowledge and it will deliver accordingly.
If you would like to talk with a Director or Consultant about how we can work with you then please contact us at www.chestertongray.com
Monday, 2 April 2012
Why You Should Stop Being a Wimp
Have you ever met a truly successful wimp?
I didn't think so. Somewhere out there you might find a wealthy wimp, but having money doesn't necessarily mean success. (And not having money doesn't necessarily mean failure.)
Who succeeds in the business world? It's not the person that sits back and doesn't take any chances.
Business owners cannot build their businesses by being wimpy. They take financial and personal risks. They evaluate the market and see what services are missing and try to jump in there or they think that they can do a better job than the people already out there. Sometimes (frequently) they commit themselves to pay other people's salaries before they know for sure if they'll bring in enough income to pay their own.
Successful sales people have to go out every day and risk rejection in order to sell their products. You cannot sit at home (or at your desk) and expect customers to call. If you are easily upset at being told no, you won't be successful in this area.
Senior Directors didn't get there by keeping their head down and doing precisely what their bosses asked of them. They looked for new opportunities. They suggested new paths for the business. They made decisions that perhaps the rest of us wouldn't make, because others might think they are stupid. They didn't go home at night and complain that they weren't being promoted. They asked for promotions, spoke up in meetings, and put themselves in the path of rejection every day.
Creative geniuses didn't achieve genius status just be drawing one picture, designing one ad campaign or auditioning for one play. They succeed because they recognise that they have something to offer and they do not give up. They show their portfolios. They attend audition after audition. They seek out feedback, teachers and mentors to show them where their mistakes are and what they can do better.
A lot of us have some traits that reflect a little of the wimpy side. It's much easier to take the safe path. And, honestly, there's nothing wrong with being safe. But just as being safe reduces your risk of failure, it also reduces your risk of success.
Now, this isn't advice to go in to your boss and announce loudly that you quit because someone told you to. It isn't advice to be irrational. It isn't license to be rude. Wimps are rude. Strong people are politely firm. You must think through your plans--you must have plans in the first place. But it is advice to take your risks where there is potential for payoff. It is advice to speak up in a meeting. It is advice to work extremely hard and then ask your boss for the recognition you deserve.
In short, stop being a wimp.
www.chestertongray.com
I didn't think so. Somewhere out there you might find a wealthy wimp, but having money doesn't necessarily mean success. (And not having money doesn't necessarily mean failure.)
Who succeeds in the business world? It's not the person that sits back and doesn't take any chances.
Business owners cannot build their businesses by being wimpy. They take financial and personal risks. They evaluate the market and see what services are missing and try to jump in there or they think that they can do a better job than the people already out there. Sometimes (frequently) they commit themselves to pay other people's salaries before they know for sure if they'll bring in enough income to pay their own.
Successful sales people have to go out every day and risk rejection in order to sell their products. You cannot sit at home (or at your desk) and expect customers to call. If you are easily upset at being told no, you won't be successful in this area.
Senior Directors didn't get there by keeping their head down and doing precisely what their bosses asked of them. They looked for new opportunities. They suggested new paths for the business. They made decisions that perhaps the rest of us wouldn't make, because others might think they are stupid. They didn't go home at night and complain that they weren't being promoted. They asked for promotions, spoke up in meetings, and put themselves in the path of rejection every day.
Creative geniuses didn't achieve genius status just be drawing one picture, designing one ad campaign or auditioning for one play. They succeed because they recognise that they have something to offer and they do not give up. They show their portfolios. They attend audition after audition. They seek out feedback, teachers and mentors to show them where their mistakes are and what they can do better.
A lot of us have some traits that reflect a little of the wimpy side. It's much easier to take the safe path. And, honestly, there's nothing wrong with being safe. But just as being safe reduces your risk of failure, it also reduces your risk of success.
Now, this isn't advice to go in to your boss and announce loudly that you quit because someone told you to. It isn't advice to be irrational. It isn't license to be rude. Wimps are rude. Strong people are politely firm. You must think through your plans--you must have plans in the first place. But it is advice to take your risks where there is potential for payoff. It is advice to speak up in a meeting. It is advice to work extremely hard and then ask your boss for the recognition you deserve.
In short, stop being a wimp.
www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 23 March 2012
Ironically, being a slacker leads to burn-out
If you were one of the many chronic procrastinators at university who swore you'd turn over a new leaf when you hit the workforce, psychologists have some bad news for you: studies suggest that the tendency to be a slacker actually bodes pretty badly for your career after graduation, and not in the ways you'd suspect.
How was this ominous titbit gleaned by researchers? The British Psychological Society Research Digest blog reports that a pair of psychologists completed standard tests of procrastination and expectations for success for nearly 300 college students. Then they tracked how these same students (now grown up and part of the workforce) were doing in their jobs.
The conclusion:Students who found reason to avoid work-related tasks at university, and who were pessimistic about their chances of success, were more likely, 10, 14 and 17 years later, to report feeling disengaged from their job, and were more likely to report experiencing work-related burnout.
What's the final thought on this? Primarily, that psychologists discover the strangest things, but the findings are also a stern warning that taking it easy and putting off tasks is not a recommended way to keep work easy-going. Ironically, a tendency to slack off seems to actually lead to burn out and boredom.
How was this ominous titbit gleaned by researchers? The British Psychological Society Research Digest blog reports that a pair of psychologists completed standard tests of procrastination and expectations for success for nearly 300 college students. Then they tracked how these same students (now grown up and part of the workforce) were doing in their jobs.
The conclusion:Students who found reason to avoid work-related tasks at university, and who were pessimistic about their chances of success, were more likely, 10, 14 and 17 years later, to report feeling disengaged from their job, and were more likely to report experiencing work-related burnout.
What's the final thought on this? Primarily, that psychologists discover the strangest things, but the findings are also a stern warning that taking it easy and putting off tasks is not a recommended way to keep work easy-going. Ironically, a tendency to slack off seems to actually lead to burn out and boredom.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Criticism and how to gain something positive from it.
We all want to feel like we're "good" at our jobs. More than ever, our identities are tied up in our professions. The first time that we meet someone new, the initial question is usually, "What do you do?" not, "What are your favourite hobbies?" or, "What kind of parent are you?" Nowadays work defines us in such a substantial way, even constructive criticism can feel like a blow.
Yet being able to accept and process criticism is crucial to success in the workplace. "You are not paid to be a diva, and if you act like one, you won't get promoted," said Roy Cohen, author of The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide. Eventually, resistance to criticism may even get you fired as Lord Sugar has pointed out on numerous occasions. If you get defensive and shut down when criticised, you won't be able to turn those negative remarks around so that they can now have a positive affect on your career.
We have compiled 5 tips to help you use criticism to your advantage:
Listen and ask questions
It's very important to listen carefully and to ask questions -- not only will it help you understand the issue, but it'll show that you want to solve it. Showing a degree of empathy for the person giving the criticism will also work in your favour. A positive response such as: 'I wasn't aware of that -- where do we go from here?' will help you move forward.
Think about the source
Some criticism needs to be taken with a grain of salt. For instance, is this critique coming from someone who you need to impress and/or respect (such as your boss or mentor) or someone who might want you to second-guess yourself (such as a competitive colleague)? If the person is an expert who understands you and your skills and background, the criticism may well be valid and useful. If the person is not an expert or doesn't know you then the information may be less helpful. By the same token, it's probably best to ignore unhelpful career advice from your hairdresser or mother-in-law.
Consider sleeping on it
Particularly if you a highly defensive individual, you might consider listening to criticism, then asking for a follow-up conversation the next day. It is extremely helpful to revisit [the issues] with your boss the next morning, and that action will make you appear as a thoughtful employee. Not only will you be less likely to blow up or get defensive, but you may begin to solve the problem so you can make the criticism an opportunity for future success.
Give thanks for the critique
It's important to give genuine thanks for constructive criticism, especially if you consider it at all helpful. Expressing your gratitude conveys your belief that: 1) the person giving the feedback is someone you respect and trust and 2) you are open to constructive feedback. Showing that you are open to receiving criticism demonstrates that you are a team player, not a prima donna.
See the silver lining
The world is split into the optimists and the pessemists and even if you’re one of the latter, try to see the glass as half full. It may not feel like it in the heat of the moment - but criticism is actually a learning opportunity. If it is received in a positive light, it can be used to advance personal growth and development and may ultimately further your career. If the powers that be didn't think you brought value to your team, they wouldn't offer criticism -- they would just wait for an opportunity to either make you redundant or simply fire you.
Which situation would you actually rather go through?
The five reasons that we’ve come up with probably only scratch the surface, if you have others that are better or simply different then we’d love to hear them.
As ever the team can be contacted as www.chestertongray.com
Yet being able to accept and process criticism is crucial to success in the workplace. "You are not paid to be a diva, and if you act like one, you won't get promoted," said Roy Cohen, author of The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide. Eventually, resistance to criticism may even get you fired as Lord Sugar has pointed out on numerous occasions. If you get defensive and shut down when criticised, you won't be able to turn those negative remarks around so that they can now have a positive affect on your career.
We have compiled 5 tips to help you use criticism to your advantage:
Listen and ask questions
It's very important to listen carefully and to ask questions -- not only will it help you understand the issue, but it'll show that you want to solve it. Showing a degree of empathy for the person giving the criticism will also work in your favour. A positive response such as: 'I wasn't aware of that -- where do we go from here?' will help you move forward.
Think about the source
Some criticism needs to be taken with a grain of salt. For instance, is this critique coming from someone who you need to impress and/or respect (such as your boss or mentor) or someone who might want you to second-guess yourself (such as a competitive colleague)? If the person is an expert who understands you and your skills and background, the criticism may well be valid and useful. If the person is not an expert or doesn't know you then the information may be less helpful. By the same token, it's probably best to ignore unhelpful career advice from your hairdresser or mother-in-law.
Consider sleeping on it
Particularly if you a highly defensive individual, you might consider listening to criticism, then asking for a follow-up conversation the next day. It is extremely helpful to revisit [the issues] with your boss the next morning, and that action will make you appear as a thoughtful employee. Not only will you be less likely to blow up or get defensive, but you may begin to solve the problem so you can make the criticism an opportunity for future success.
Give thanks for the critique
It's important to give genuine thanks for constructive criticism, especially if you consider it at all helpful. Expressing your gratitude conveys your belief that: 1) the person giving the feedback is someone you respect and trust and 2) you are open to constructive feedback. Showing that you are open to receiving criticism demonstrates that you are a team player, not a prima donna.
See the silver lining
The world is split into the optimists and the pessemists and even if you’re one of the latter, try to see the glass as half full. It may not feel like it in the heat of the moment - but criticism is actually a learning opportunity. If it is received in a positive light, it can be used to advance personal growth and development and may ultimately further your career. If the powers that be didn't think you brought value to your team, they wouldn't offer criticism -- they would just wait for an opportunity to either make you redundant or simply fire you.
Which situation would you actually rather go through?
The five reasons that we’ve come up with probably only scratch the surface, if you have others that are better or simply different then we’d love to hear them.
As ever the team can be contacted as www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 24 February 2012
The Three Types of Multi-taskers
It is an alleged well known fact that men cannot multi-task, or can they? But in this age when we all have to buckle down and do more roles as departments become leaner, the question is: What kind of multi-tasker are you?
"Bleary-eyed," might seem like the most obvious answer, and for many who juggle multiple roles, it's no doubt true. But a study by Montreal's Concordia University and University of Toronto finds that there are actually three distinct types of multi-taskers and that some styles are definitely healthier than others.
The Universities studied people who had three hats to wear: student, employee, and family member. How did they cope? It appears in three ways:
Problem solvers.
This group face the problems of juggling multiple roles head-on, but, ironically, their can-do attitude can eventually get them into trouble. Problem solvers are great planners, but often fail to realise that even the best planning isn't going to create more hours in the day. They often have trouble accepting the fact that if they keep trying to do it all, they'll eventually burn out. The researchers say it's better to admit at the outset that energy and time are finite, and that things are going to slip through the cracks no matter what.
Talkers.
So-called talkers use venting, complaining and commiseration to help them deal with the stresses of multiple roles. As in the other two styles, this comes with both positives and negatives. On the positive side, talking to family and friends can result in new ideas about how to get things done and encourage other folks to lend a hand when possible. On the negative side, it's very easy for commiseration to become an end in itself, reinforcing feelings of hopelessness and eating up way too much time.
Avoiders.
These folks are in denial, and it's hard to blame them. They cut back on stress by trying to avoid it, and often resort to bad habits-sleeping too much, drinking too much, using drugs-to keep them from thinking about the stress they're under. Yet this 'type' has something to teach the others, too. Everyone who juggles multiple roles needs a break now and then, and healthy diversions are much-needed.
How to Cope
The study went on to give some advice for multi-taskers:
• Find areas where you can do double duty. Is there work-related projects that could also earn you class credit? If you're looking after an elderly relative, bring your own kids along and ask them to cook dinner.
• Talk to your employer about flexible work arrangements, even if they're only temporary.
• Give yourself a break. Dodge the stress, at least for a short time, with a small indulgence - even if it's only watching a favourite TV show.
• Let things slide. The house is going to get dirty. There's no use fighting it.
So there according to the Universities we have it. What do you think is the best way to deal with the conflicting, constant, and overlapping demands of being a spouse, parent, student, employee maybe all at once?
Answers and thoughts, as ever, to the team at www.chestertongray.com
"Bleary-eyed," might seem like the most obvious answer, and for many who juggle multiple roles, it's no doubt true. But a study by Montreal's Concordia University and University of Toronto finds that there are actually three distinct types of multi-taskers and that some styles are definitely healthier than others.
The Universities studied people who had three hats to wear: student, employee, and family member. How did they cope? It appears in three ways:
Problem solvers.
This group face the problems of juggling multiple roles head-on, but, ironically, their can-do attitude can eventually get them into trouble. Problem solvers are great planners, but often fail to realise that even the best planning isn't going to create more hours in the day. They often have trouble accepting the fact that if they keep trying to do it all, they'll eventually burn out. The researchers say it's better to admit at the outset that energy and time are finite, and that things are going to slip through the cracks no matter what.
Talkers.
So-called talkers use venting, complaining and commiseration to help them deal with the stresses of multiple roles. As in the other two styles, this comes with both positives and negatives. On the positive side, talking to family and friends can result in new ideas about how to get things done and encourage other folks to lend a hand when possible. On the negative side, it's very easy for commiseration to become an end in itself, reinforcing feelings of hopelessness and eating up way too much time.
Avoiders.
These folks are in denial, and it's hard to blame them. They cut back on stress by trying to avoid it, and often resort to bad habits-sleeping too much, drinking too much, using drugs-to keep them from thinking about the stress they're under. Yet this 'type' has something to teach the others, too. Everyone who juggles multiple roles needs a break now and then, and healthy diversions are much-needed.
How to Cope
The study went on to give some advice for multi-taskers:
• Find areas where you can do double duty. Is there work-related projects that could also earn you class credit? If you're looking after an elderly relative, bring your own kids along and ask them to cook dinner.
• Talk to your employer about flexible work arrangements, even if they're only temporary.
• Give yourself a break. Dodge the stress, at least for a short time, with a small indulgence - even if it's only watching a favourite TV show.
• Let things slide. The house is going to get dirty. There's no use fighting it.
So there according to the Universities we have it. What do you think is the best way to deal with the conflicting, constant, and overlapping demands of being a spouse, parent, student, employee maybe all at once?
Answers and thoughts, as ever, to the team at www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 10 February 2012
The Eeyore Candidate
During a recent assignment we were interviewing candidates for a position that had been open for months and it felt like we were never going to find the right candidate who. That was until we found the perfect CV.
Before redundancy the candidate had a proven track record and had worked for some major companies in the right sector. Without any hesitation, we set up an interview and I was certain that as long as they showed up and were breathing, they’d get the job.
A week later it was time for the interview and I went to the reception where I saw two candidates waiting. One was sharply dressed and exuded confidence. The other looked like they had slept in their suit. Considering the importance of the role, the smart candidate had to be mine. I walked up and introduced myself, but a small, quiet voice behind me in the scruffy suit corrected me and introduced themselves as my candidate
What followed was the longest and most boring interview of my life. We gave them every possible opportunity to impress us, but every question was answered in a ho-hum tone and it became apparent that they weren’t all they seemed to be. Needless to say we didn’t include them on the shortlist but they definitely left an impression on me. We described them as Eeyore, the depressed donkey from “Winnie the Pooh.”
I understand that being unemployed and looking for work can turn even the best of us into an Eeyore, but keep in mind that Eeyores don’t get jobs.
If you think you might be an Eeyore candidate, try these 10 tips…
1) Surround yourself with positive peopleIdeally everyone you come across will be supportive of your job search, but some people’s idea of support is actually detrimental to your success. You will come across people that make up excuses for you, like “The job market just sucks right now. It’s not your fault.” Try to distance yourself from these people. While they are trying to help, their “solutions” will only keep you down. Instead, if you have friends, family, and colleagues who say things like “I know you can do it,” or “Keep it up!” or do things like e-mail you jobs to apply to, keep these people close. Their support is positive, and being around them will give you a more positive outlook.
2) Don’t take it personallyThe most amazing job seekers will encounter rejection from time to time. Most of the time, the reason for rejection has nothing to do with you anyway. The reason you don’t get the job or don’t even get an interview might be because of budgeting, internal candidates, or a complete revamp of the company or department you’re applying to. Don’t focus on things you can’t control. Focus on yourself and your abilities.
3) Tell yourself you’re hirable
If you’ve worked at least one day in your life, then you must have some hirable skills. You are good enough to get a job, but no one will hire you if you don’t think you deserve it. And besides, beating yourself up every day gets downright exhausting.
4) Practice interviewing
There’s nothing as depressing as completely blowing an interview. There’s one easy way to combat this: practice the interview. Most recruitment people will ask the same questions over and over again. You can find articles and books online of standard interview questions. One word of caution though: a successful interview isn’t just about being able to answer the questions. It’s about how you answer the questions. Practice how you will answer the questions you anticipate being asked. Set up a mock interview with a friend, a recruiter, or even your other half. Acting out the scenario in a friendly setting will help you prepare for the real deal.
5) Get out of the house
When you’re looking for a job, your job search should be one of your top priorities, but it should not be your only priority. You can only sit in front of your computer and send out CV’s for so long before you get cabin fever. Getting out of the house is okay. Reward yourself for your hard work by going out for a walk or a treat of some sort. Just getting outside, being around other people, and being in sunlight will have a dramatic effect on your outlook.
6) Network
Find some professional networking groups in your area or in your industry. Many of them may even have events that cater to people who are “in transition.” The people you meet at these events may be able to give you advice on how to be an effective job-seeker and may even point you in the direction of companies that are hiring.
7) Set small, achievable goals
It’s great to start with the end in mind, but don’t let the end be your one and only goal. If you wake up every day of your job search thinking, “Today is the day I get the job,” the fact of the matter is that you will fail from achieving your goal every day except for the very last day of your job search. That feeling of failure isn’t exactly motivating. Focus on the smaller steps you need to help get you there. Tell yourself, “I will apply to 15 jobs today,” or “I’ll RSVP for two networking events today.” These are small, achievable, attainable goals, and you will feel good about yourself when you cross them off your daily to-do list.
8) Go shopping and give yourself a job seeker makeover
As I commented at the start; Clothes definitely make the man (or woman), so take some time to go shopping for a new interview outfit if necessary. Apparently the act of shopping makes you temporarily happier!! Investing in a new outfit that makes you look like a success will also make you act like a success. When you like the way you look, you will exude the confidence, happiness, and positivity that Eeyore candidates lack.
9) If it’s really serious, then get serious help
Being unemployed, especially for a long period of time, can easily lead to a serious depression problem. If you notice any depression warning signs over an extended period of time, such as having difficulty getting out of bed every morning or heightened alcohol consumption, go to your doctor right away and get help. Your job search is important, but your mental health should always be your top priority. Also, if you are clinically depressed and not getting proper treatment, your depression will be a major hindrance to your job search. Take care of yourself and everything else will fall into place.
So let’s look forward to a positive year and make sure that it’s the one where we all achieve our objectives.
www.chestertongray.com
Before redundancy the candidate had a proven track record and had worked for some major companies in the right sector. Without any hesitation, we set up an interview and I was certain that as long as they showed up and were breathing, they’d get the job.
A week later it was time for the interview and I went to the reception where I saw two candidates waiting. One was sharply dressed and exuded confidence. The other looked like they had slept in their suit. Considering the importance of the role, the smart candidate had to be mine. I walked up and introduced myself, but a small, quiet voice behind me in the scruffy suit corrected me and introduced themselves as my candidate
What followed was the longest and most boring interview of my life. We gave them every possible opportunity to impress us, but every question was answered in a ho-hum tone and it became apparent that they weren’t all they seemed to be. Needless to say we didn’t include them on the shortlist but they definitely left an impression on me. We described them as Eeyore, the depressed donkey from “Winnie the Pooh.”
I understand that being unemployed and looking for work can turn even the best of us into an Eeyore, but keep in mind that Eeyores don’t get jobs.
If you think you might be an Eeyore candidate, try these 10 tips…
1) Surround yourself with positive peopleIdeally everyone you come across will be supportive of your job search, but some people’s idea of support is actually detrimental to your success. You will come across people that make up excuses for you, like “The job market just sucks right now. It’s not your fault.” Try to distance yourself from these people. While they are trying to help, their “solutions” will only keep you down. Instead, if you have friends, family, and colleagues who say things like “I know you can do it,” or “Keep it up!” or do things like e-mail you jobs to apply to, keep these people close. Their support is positive, and being around them will give you a more positive outlook.
2) Don’t take it personallyThe most amazing job seekers will encounter rejection from time to time. Most of the time, the reason for rejection has nothing to do with you anyway. The reason you don’t get the job or don’t even get an interview might be because of budgeting, internal candidates, or a complete revamp of the company or department you’re applying to. Don’t focus on things you can’t control. Focus on yourself and your abilities.
3) Tell yourself you’re hirable
If you’ve worked at least one day in your life, then you must have some hirable skills. You are good enough to get a job, but no one will hire you if you don’t think you deserve it. And besides, beating yourself up every day gets downright exhausting.
4) Practice interviewing
There’s nothing as depressing as completely blowing an interview. There’s one easy way to combat this: practice the interview. Most recruitment people will ask the same questions over and over again. You can find articles and books online of standard interview questions. One word of caution though: a successful interview isn’t just about being able to answer the questions. It’s about how you answer the questions. Practice how you will answer the questions you anticipate being asked. Set up a mock interview with a friend, a recruiter, or even your other half. Acting out the scenario in a friendly setting will help you prepare for the real deal.
5) Get out of the house
When you’re looking for a job, your job search should be one of your top priorities, but it should not be your only priority. You can only sit in front of your computer and send out CV’s for so long before you get cabin fever. Getting out of the house is okay. Reward yourself for your hard work by going out for a walk or a treat of some sort. Just getting outside, being around other people, and being in sunlight will have a dramatic effect on your outlook.
6) Network
Find some professional networking groups in your area or in your industry. Many of them may even have events that cater to people who are “in transition.” The people you meet at these events may be able to give you advice on how to be an effective job-seeker and may even point you in the direction of companies that are hiring.
7) Set small, achievable goals
It’s great to start with the end in mind, but don’t let the end be your one and only goal. If you wake up every day of your job search thinking, “Today is the day I get the job,” the fact of the matter is that you will fail from achieving your goal every day except for the very last day of your job search. That feeling of failure isn’t exactly motivating. Focus on the smaller steps you need to help get you there. Tell yourself, “I will apply to 15 jobs today,” or “I’ll RSVP for two networking events today.” These are small, achievable, attainable goals, and you will feel good about yourself when you cross them off your daily to-do list.
8) Go shopping and give yourself a job seeker makeover
As I commented at the start; Clothes definitely make the man (or woman), so take some time to go shopping for a new interview outfit if necessary. Apparently the act of shopping makes you temporarily happier!! Investing in a new outfit that makes you look like a success will also make you act like a success. When you like the way you look, you will exude the confidence, happiness, and positivity that Eeyore candidates lack.
9) If it’s really serious, then get serious help
Being unemployed, especially for a long period of time, can easily lead to a serious depression problem. If you notice any depression warning signs over an extended period of time, such as having difficulty getting out of bed every morning or heightened alcohol consumption, go to your doctor right away and get help. Your job search is important, but your mental health should always be your top priority. Also, if you are clinically depressed and not getting proper treatment, your depression will be a major hindrance to your job search. Take care of yourself and everything else will fall into place.
So let’s look forward to a positive year and make sure that it’s the one where we all achieve our objectives.
www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 9 December 2011
What's better than a salary?
No, this isn't an eyeball-catching headline to get you to click. There is a strong train of thought that says that if you spend your career solely focused on salary, you'll lose out in the long run.
Times are hard and your salary pays the monthly bills. But if that's your primary job criteria, there’s a good chance that you'll never get ahead of the game and you'll be living hand to mouth your entire life.
Then there’ll be the nagging feeling that so many people are doing better than you. I'm not saying money doesn't matter. The goal here is to achieve financial success, enjoy the process, and feel good about the result.
However, when it comes to your career, you need to look at the big picture. If your focus is too myopic or narrow, you won't achieve big things. A higher salary doesn't trump working at a company with greater opportunity for promotion to the next level. Does it?
This isn’t made up, it’s serious stuff culled from a number of professionals who have been giving career advice that works in the real working world. With that in mind, let’s look at the issues.
10 Things More Important Than Your Salary
1. Your goals. Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you may not get there." He was right. You need to have goals and a plan. You can (and should) revise them anytime, but you need to have them and focus on them. If you're smart, opportunistic, adaptable, and work hard, you'll achieve great things ... including financial success.
2. Loving what you do. Steve Jobs commented "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle."
3. The company you work for. There is one common secret to career success that’s mentioned by many. Think of every company as a possible spaceship to the moon. You've got to get on the ship, but if the ship can't get you there, what's the point? Work for a winning company where you'll have room to advance or an entrepreneurial company where you can wear lots of hats. You have choices. Exercise them.
4. How opportunistic you are. Given the choice between skill at negotiating a fat package and being adept at creating your own opportunities and making your own luck, most would choose the latter.
5. How hard you work. These days it's more popular to talk about working smart than working hard. You need to do both. Success does not come without hard work. You need to be willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals.
6. Your attitude. If you believe that you earn everything you get, are willing to work your socks off to get that promotion, and have a can-do attitude no matter what's thrown at you, then that promotion is yours, guaranteed.
7. Making an impact on the business. Business is about business, and the closer you get to making a real impact on the business, the more valuable you'll be to the company, the more opportunities for growth and advancement you'll have, and the more money you'll make.
8. Opportunity to get out and network. If you're locked away behind a desk after day, your opportunities are limited. But a job where you can get out into the industry and network and shake the right hands is like gold to a young up-and-comer. In terms of future opportunity, it's worth far more than a fat paycheque.
9. Equity ownership. In my experience, your salary pays the mortgage and bills and they have a funny way of rising to meet your salary. Equity, on the other hand, is a potential windfall that, by definition, you absolutely cannot count on until it's liquid. It also adds an element of diversity to your income since it's based on the whole company's performance, not just yours.
10. Pay for performance. Salary is only part of the compensation picture. If you're aggressive and believe in yourself, you can benefit more from a healthy, well-structured, and somewhat open-ended bonus plan where your goals are clear and achievable and you can knock them out of the park.
It is our belief that if you focus on these 10 things instead of purely on your salary, you'll do far better in the long run. Especially financially.
One final thought. If you're challenged, gratified, engaged, like your boss, have better benefits, flexible conditions, etc., you'll be happier and perform better in the long run. That goes without saying, doesn’t it?
As ever, thoughts and comments are welcome. http://www.chestertongray.com
Times are hard and your salary pays the monthly bills. But if that's your primary job criteria, there’s a good chance that you'll never get ahead of the game and you'll be living hand to mouth your entire life.
Then there’ll be the nagging feeling that so many people are doing better than you. I'm not saying money doesn't matter. The goal here is to achieve financial success, enjoy the process, and feel good about the result.
However, when it comes to your career, you need to look at the big picture. If your focus is too myopic or narrow, you won't achieve big things. A higher salary doesn't trump working at a company with greater opportunity for promotion to the next level. Does it?
This isn’t made up, it’s serious stuff culled from a number of professionals who have been giving career advice that works in the real working world. With that in mind, let’s look at the issues.
10 Things More Important Than Your Salary
1. Your goals. Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you may not get there." He was right. You need to have goals and a plan. You can (and should) revise them anytime, but you need to have them and focus on them. If you're smart, opportunistic, adaptable, and work hard, you'll achieve great things ... including financial success.
2. Loving what you do. Steve Jobs commented "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle."
3. The company you work for. There is one common secret to career success that’s mentioned by many. Think of every company as a possible spaceship to the moon. You've got to get on the ship, but if the ship can't get you there, what's the point? Work for a winning company where you'll have room to advance or an entrepreneurial company where you can wear lots of hats. You have choices. Exercise them.
4. How opportunistic you are. Given the choice between skill at negotiating a fat package and being adept at creating your own opportunities and making your own luck, most would choose the latter.
5. How hard you work. These days it's more popular to talk about working smart than working hard. You need to do both. Success does not come without hard work. You need to be willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals.
6. Your attitude. If you believe that you earn everything you get, are willing to work your socks off to get that promotion, and have a can-do attitude no matter what's thrown at you, then that promotion is yours, guaranteed.
7. Making an impact on the business. Business is about business, and the closer you get to making a real impact on the business, the more valuable you'll be to the company, the more opportunities for growth and advancement you'll have, and the more money you'll make.
8. Opportunity to get out and network. If you're locked away behind a desk after day, your opportunities are limited. But a job where you can get out into the industry and network and shake the right hands is like gold to a young up-and-comer. In terms of future opportunity, it's worth far more than a fat paycheque.
9. Equity ownership. In my experience, your salary pays the mortgage and bills and they have a funny way of rising to meet your salary. Equity, on the other hand, is a potential windfall that, by definition, you absolutely cannot count on until it's liquid. It also adds an element of diversity to your income since it's based on the whole company's performance, not just yours.
10. Pay for performance. Salary is only part of the compensation picture. If you're aggressive and believe in yourself, you can benefit more from a healthy, well-structured, and somewhat open-ended bonus plan where your goals are clear and achievable and you can knock them out of the park.
It is our belief that if you focus on these 10 things instead of purely on your salary, you'll do far better in the long run. Especially financially.
One final thought. If you're challenged, gratified, engaged, like your boss, have better benefits, flexible conditions, etc., you'll be happier and perform better in the long run. That goes without saying, doesn’t it?
As ever, thoughts and comments are welcome. http://www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 7 October 2011
5 Things you should never say in a job interview
Sometimes it feels as though I’m stuck in Groundhog Day where everyday, or an event, is a repeat of a previous one. Earlier this week I overheard a colleague having to explain a few basic interviews techniques to a candidate who has changed jobs several times before but who plainly felt the need for guidance and reassurance.
We all know that job interviews are never easy and they’re especially stressful when opportunities are so few and far between, as they are at the moment with the European economy going through its travails.
When you have at last secured an interview, the single most important thing you can do is prepare and practice, by doing both a run-through with a savvy friend, and then doing a self-review. This practice should help settle your nerves and help you work on weaknesses. So, on the back of some surreptitious eavesdropping here are 5 things never to say to the line or recruiting manager:
1. Something they’ve heard a million times before
Some people just love interviewing others and spurring them to be creative and compelling in their answers. Others ask the same dull questions they’ve been asking for years. Whether your interviewer is inspiring or barely conscious, you’ll need to come up with new answers to what are likely old questions. Never be cliché. For instance, don’t tell the interviewer you are a people person. Prepare and practice your talking points prior, and you’ll be less likely to rely on stock answers.
2. A request for any kind of concessions
You can’t do overtime because your children’s day care finishes at 5. You’d like to work from home part-time because you have a new puppy. You need an ergonomically-sound mouse and phone set-up. You’re not so into working on weekends, holidays, or your birthday. Especially in a first interview, you want them to want you — badly. Once they do, you can then ask for what you want, which includes specific questions about salary, benefits, or holiday time.
3. Anything that shows you’re over or under ambitious
Inevitably you will be asked the question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” A question which can make certain candidates answer too honestly (”I have no idea!”) or show their true colours (”Hopefully, in your job…haha…”). Helping you find your true passion isn’t really their problem, and the fact that you want to advance ASAP can also raise concerns that you’ll jump ship quickly.
4. Anything negative
You probably know better than to criticise your former boss. But you should be positive throughout the interview process. Don’t be negative about anything including your previous office, your old company’s personnel policies, traffic on the way to the interview, or the weather. That said, there are certain times to be constructively critical of your former corporation as well as the company with which you’re interviewing. The key is constructive input. What can you do to improve their situation with your skills and experience, instead of merely mocking it?
5. That you have no weaknesses
Yes, the question “What is your biggest weakness?” is incredibly annoying, boring, and irritating (see “Something they’ve heard a million times before,” above). But asserting that you are a perfect human being isn’t the answer either. That way you certainly won’t come across as credible if you say that you have no weaknesses. Ideally you should talk about a real weakness that is not central to the position that you are seeking and show how you have overcome that weakness. This will help the employer see you as a three-dimensional potential employee, instead of as a two-dimensional resume.
I truly don’t believe that any of the above is ground breaking news to the majority of job seekers, but equally it never does any harm to refresh one’s knowledge before you find yourself in the one interview situation that you didn’t want to be in.
As ever, thoughts and input more than welcome.
www.chestertongray.com
We all know that job interviews are never easy and they’re especially stressful when opportunities are so few and far between, as they are at the moment with the European economy going through its travails.
When you have at last secured an interview, the single most important thing you can do is prepare and practice, by doing both a run-through with a savvy friend, and then doing a self-review. This practice should help settle your nerves and help you work on weaknesses. So, on the back of some surreptitious eavesdropping here are 5 things never to say to the line or recruiting manager:
1. Something they’ve heard a million times before
Some people just love interviewing others and spurring them to be creative and compelling in their answers. Others ask the same dull questions they’ve been asking for years. Whether your interviewer is inspiring or barely conscious, you’ll need to come up with new answers to what are likely old questions. Never be cliché. For instance, don’t tell the interviewer you are a people person. Prepare and practice your talking points prior, and you’ll be less likely to rely on stock answers.
2. A request for any kind of concessions
You can’t do overtime because your children’s day care finishes at 5. You’d like to work from home part-time because you have a new puppy. You need an ergonomically-sound mouse and phone set-up. You’re not so into working on weekends, holidays, or your birthday. Especially in a first interview, you want them to want you — badly. Once they do, you can then ask for what you want, which includes specific questions about salary, benefits, or holiday time.
3. Anything that shows you’re over or under ambitious
Inevitably you will be asked the question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” A question which can make certain candidates answer too honestly (”I have no idea!”) or show their true colours (”Hopefully, in your job…haha…”). Helping you find your true passion isn’t really their problem, and the fact that you want to advance ASAP can also raise concerns that you’ll jump ship quickly.
4. Anything negative
You probably know better than to criticise your former boss. But you should be positive throughout the interview process. Don’t be negative about anything including your previous office, your old company’s personnel policies, traffic on the way to the interview, or the weather. That said, there are certain times to be constructively critical of your former corporation as well as the company with which you’re interviewing. The key is constructive input. What can you do to improve their situation with your skills and experience, instead of merely mocking it?
5. That you have no weaknesses
Yes, the question “What is your biggest weakness?” is incredibly annoying, boring, and irritating (see “Something they’ve heard a million times before,” above). But asserting that you are a perfect human being isn’t the answer either. That way you certainly won’t come across as credible if you say that you have no weaknesses. Ideally you should talk about a real weakness that is not central to the position that you are seeking and show how you have overcome that weakness. This will help the employer see you as a three-dimensional potential employee, instead of as a two-dimensional resume.
I truly don’t believe that any of the above is ground breaking news to the majority of job seekers, but equally it never does any harm to refresh one’s knowledge before you find yourself in the one interview situation that you didn’t want to be in.
As ever, thoughts and input more than welcome.
www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 23 September 2011
How to Relieve Boredom at Work
We all have boring, tedious tasks. Some of us have to sit behind a desk doing the same thing all day long. It can drive you crazy. And some of us, for whatever reason, can’t cope with boredom at all. I think that I’m one of those people.
After I left school I had a number of temp jobs and one of my first jobs was working in a factory that made old fashioned electric fires. I took a strip of metal from by my left hip, put it in a machine that punched half a dozen holes in it and then placed it in a pile by my right hip. That was it. All day long. Nothing else.
I couldn’t stand it. Bored out of my wits I got into all kinds of trouble trying to make people laugh, singing songs very badly, amongst many sins. After a week I left before I became institutionalised.
So I gravitated toward a career in recruitment which meant a bit of travel to meetings with candidates and with clients, from engineering to sales to marketing and now back again and I jumped from company to company. Anything at the time to stop me sitting at a desk 24/7.
A few conversations with colleagues later and we’ve compiled a short list of things, apart from playing games, which should help you relieve boredom at work.
• Know yourself. If you love what you do, you’ll be successful at it. Unfortunately, the opposite is just as true. If you’re not the kind of person who can stand a straight desk job or boring tasks, don’t do that for a living. You’ll be miserable and not very good at it.
• Travel. Most people hate work travel so those jobs aren’t as hard to get as you might think. But if you travel 10/20 % of the time you can strike a balance between relieving boredom and living in a constant state of chaos.
• Take your job to the next level. I know it’s a cliché, but if you think out of the box, you might actually be able to turn your mundane job into something more exciting. Set lofty goals for yourself that nobody would think are possible. It’s doable. Just don’t make crazy commitments you can’t deliver on.
• Get into sales and marketing. Most sales and marketing jobs involve quite a bit of travel, getting out and about, team meetings, customer interaction, that sort of thing. Never a dull moment. Outside sales, product marketing, communications, PR, project management, they’re all good.
• Work in a busy retail environment. Believe it or not, some people actually like talking to strangers, helping people find things, and working on their feet all day. And if it’s a product area you’re passionate about, all the better. If you love shoes, get into the shoe business.
• Do not start your own Internet-based business. That’s the real dark side of being an Internet entrepreneur. You’re tied to your computer, 24×7. If you love that sort of thing, more power to you. But if you’re not, forget it.
• Take long breaks. Don’t laugh. If your job permits flexible work hours or if your company values you and your work, you can probably get away with taking plenty of long breaks. You can even work longer hours to make up for it. Go out to lunch, work out, run, and take walks, whatever it takes.
• Climb the corporate ladder. That’s right; very few executive management jobs are boring. How can you be bored when you’re under all that pressure to perform? Seriously, some people live for that type of existence. Many then burn out. But still … good times.
And, if you’ve got a tip for relieving boredom at work or an exciting career that most people wouldn’t think of, please please tell me so that I can pass it on.
www.chestertongray.com
After I left school I had a number of temp jobs and one of my first jobs was working in a factory that made old fashioned electric fires. I took a strip of metal from by my left hip, put it in a machine that punched half a dozen holes in it and then placed it in a pile by my right hip. That was it. All day long. Nothing else.
I couldn’t stand it. Bored out of my wits I got into all kinds of trouble trying to make people laugh, singing songs very badly, amongst many sins. After a week I left before I became institutionalised.
So I gravitated toward a career in recruitment which meant a bit of travel to meetings with candidates and with clients, from engineering to sales to marketing and now back again and I jumped from company to company. Anything at the time to stop me sitting at a desk 24/7.
A few conversations with colleagues later and we’ve compiled a short list of things, apart from playing games, which should help you relieve boredom at work.
• Know yourself. If you love what you do, you’ll be successful at it. Unfortunately, the opposite is just as true. If you’re not the kind of person who can stand a straight desk job or boring tasks, don’t do that for a living. You’ll be miserable and not very good at it.
• Travel. Most people hate work travel so those jobs aren’t as hard to get as you might think. But if you travel 10/20 % of the time you can strike a balance between relieving boredom and living in a constant state of chaos.
• Take your job to the next level. I know it’s a cliché, but if you think out of the box, you might actually be able to turn your mundane job into something more exciting. Set lofty goals for yourself that nobody would think are possible. It’s doable. Just don’t make crazy commitments you can’t deliver on.
• Get into sales and marketing. Most sales and marketing jobs involve quite a bit of travel, getting out and about, team meetings, customer interaction, that sort of thing. Never a dull moment. Outside sales, product marketing, communications, PR, project management, they’re all good.
• Work in a busy retail environment. Believe it or not, some people actually like talking to strangers, helping people find things, and working on their feet all day. And if it’s a product area you’re passionate about, all the better. If you love shoes, get into the shoe business.
• Do not start your own Internet-based business. That’s the real dark side of being an Internet entrepreneur. You’re tied to your computer, 24×7. If you love that sort of thing, more power to you. But if you’re not, forget it.
• Take long breaks. Don’t laugh. If your job permits flexible work hours or if your company values you and your work, you can probably get away with taking plenty of long breaks. You can even work longer hours to make up for it. Go out to lunch, work out, run, and take walks, whatever it takes.
• Climb the corporate ladder. That’s right; very few executive management jobs are boring. How can you be bored when you’re under all that pressure to perform? Seriously, some people live for that type of existence. Many then burn out. But still … good times.
And, if you’ve got a tip for relieving boredom at work or an exciting career that most people wouldn’t think of, please please tell me so that I can pass it on.
www.chestertongray.com
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
4 Reasons your CV will be replaced by your online profile in the future
The last few years has seen the rise and rise of social and business networking sites. Putting aside for one moment Facebook, there is a plethora of business sites that you might have been advised to look at. If I’ve lost you already and you weren’t aware of these sites (really?) then here is a very small list, in no particular order of preference, to start with: LinkedIn; Viadeo; Xing; Plaxo; BraveNewTalent. So, the real question is; how important is your online presence in your career these days? I would suggest that it is more important than you might think.
A number of “expert” surveys on both sides of the Atlantic are predicting that CV’s will fall by the wayside while your online presence takes over your career. Here are a few reasons taken from these surveys as to why they believe this will happen:
Today’s job hunting strategies are mostly online. Gone are the days of looking in the newspaper or applying in-person for job openings. Consider how reduced are the broad sheets Sunday appointment pages compared to a few years ago. Today’s job seekers are spending most of their time and effort networking online, searching company websites, and participating in web communities — and that will only increase in the next few years.
Everyone needs to be ready for a job transition at all times. Now that the days of landing a “traditional” job with stability, benefits, and tenure are gone, candidates need to be ready for a transition at any time. Maintaining an online profile on professional networking sites is more logical than creating a new CV every few months, because it allows for immediate changes and is visible to your entire network.
A recent article in Forbes commented: “By building your online presence, employers can find you and thus you have more opportunities. If you don’t have an online presence, you won’t appear to be relevant and you will be passed over for more savvy applicants that have visibility. You need to be creative in your job search by developing your own product, eBook, viral video, or personal advertisement. Finally, you need to treat your life as one giant networking event, and meet as many people in your field as you can.”
Entrepreneurship is becoming the choice profession for many job candidates. The state of a number of the European economies has seen a rise in redundancies and with little opportunity for some job seekers; many have resorted to setting up their own business or to freelancing opportunities to support themselves. In order to be successful in their new venture, they are realising the importance of a strong online presence and network in order to make their new business successful.
CV’s don’t convey passion or personality. With today’s technology, a job seeker can do a better job at selling themselves through a professional portfolio website or networking profile than a traditional CV. An employer has the opportunity to get to know that candidate in more depth through these online tools than a traditional recruitment process.
There is a natural proviso that goes along with any online presence that hasn’t changed from a traditional CV and that is how you present yourself, what you say about yourself and any images that you choose to post. Whilst I’m sure that you will all maintain the utmost professionalism on the business networking sites, my colleagues and I have seen far too many candidate profiles and pictures on sites such as Facebook that would embarrass their parents and should definitely never ever see the light of day.
If you would like to talk with any of us about creating an online presence and the networking sites then please don’t hesitate to do so at www.chestertongray.com
A number of “expert” surveys on both sides of the Atlantic are predicting that CV’s will fall by the wayside while your online presence takes over your career. Here are a few reasons taken from these surveys as to why they believe this will happen:
Today’s job hunting strategies are mostly online. Gone are the days of looking in the newspaper or applying in-person for job openings. Consider how reduced are the broad sheets Sunday appointment pages compared to a few years ago. Today’s job seekers are spending most of their time and effort networking online, searching company websites, and participating in web communities — and that will only increase in the next few years.
Everyone needs to be ready for a job transition at all times. Now that the days of landing a “traditional” job with stability, benefits, and tenure are gone, candidates need to be ready for a transition at any time. Maintaining an online profile on professional networking sites is more logical than creating a new CV every few months, because it allows for immediate changes and is visible to your entire network.
A recent article in Forbes commented: “By building your online presence, employers can find you and thus you have more opportunities. If you don’t have an online presence, you won’t appear to be relevant and you will be passed over for more savvy applicants that have visibility. You need to be creative in your job search by developing your own product, eBook, viral video, or personal advertisement. Finally, you need to treat your life as one giant networking event, and meet as many people in your field as you can.”
Entrepreneurship is becoming the choice profession for many job candidates. The state of a number of the European economies has seen a rise in redundancies and with little opportunity for some job seekers; many have resorted to setting up their own business or to freelancing opportunities to support themselves. In order to be successful in their new venture, they are realising the importance of a strong online presence and network in order to make their new business successful.
CV’s don’t convey passion or personality. With today’s technology, a job seeker can do a better job at selling themselves through a professional portfolio website or networking profile than a traditional CV. An employer has the opportunity to get to know that candidate in more depth through these online tools than a traditional recruitment process.
There is a natural proviso that goes along with any online presence that hasn’t changed from a traditional CV and that is how you present yourself, what you say about yourself and any images that you choose to post. Whilst I’m sure that you will all maintain the utmost professionalism on the business networking sites, my colleagues and I have seen far too many candidate profiles and pictures on sites such as Facebook that would embarrass their parents and should definitely never ever see the light of day.
If you would like to talk with any of us about creating an online presence and the networking sites then please don’t hesitate to do so at www.chestertongray.com
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
What the successful people do before breakfast.
Some weeks ago when I was eating a bowl of cereal and flicking between the news channels I saw a (brief) snippet of an interview about city high flyers getting into the office before the rest of the world wakes and I wondered if their time really was that much more effective than anyone else’s.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that mornings are a mad-cap time in many households. Everyone’s so focused on getting out the door that you can easily lose track of just how much time is passing. A little bit of web research has shown that there appears to be a gap of roughly 90 minutes or more between when people wake up and when they start the commute or school run. That would be fine if the time was used intentionally, but I suspect that far too often it isn’t.
The most productive people, however, realise that 90 minutes, 120 minutes or more is a long time to lose track of on a busy weekday. Add that time up over a week and we are talking about a significant chunk of a day lost. If you feel like you don’t have time for personal priorities later in the day, why not try using your mornings? Streamline breakfast, personal care and your children’s routines. I canvassed a few friends and colleagues for thoughts and these were the four most common suggestions with what to do with 30-60 minutes of morning time:
1. Play, read, or talk with your children. Mornings can be great quality time, especially if you have little kids who go to bed before or soon after you get home at night, but wake up at the crack of dawn. Set an alarm on your watch, put away the iPhone, and spend a relaxed half an hour reading stories or doing projects with them.
2. Exercise. You shower in the morning anyway, so why not get sweaty first? Trade off mornings with your partner on who goes out and runs and who stays home with the kids. Or, if your kids are older (or you don’t have any) work out together and make it a very healthy morning date. As a runner I know that I prefer to run before the heat of the day and certainly feel more up for the day if I do so.
3. Indulge your creative side. Lots of people would like to resurrect a creative hobby like painting, photography, scrapbooking, writing, even practicing an instrument. What if you went to bed a little earlier three times a week? Skip that last TV show or those last emails and get up a little earlier the next morning to put in some time at you’re your hobby before the day runs away from you.
4. Think. There are endless professional business consultants out there who will tell you that strategic thinking time is incredibly important for seizing control of our lives. Spend 30 minutes in the morning pondering what you want to do with your time. You could also use this time to pray or read a different business magazine, to meditate or write a journal or a blog!
All of these will help you start the day in a much better place than if everyone’s running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
If you do decide to adopt any of these, then why not drop me an email and let me know your thoughts? www.chestertongray.com
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that mornings are a mad-cap time in many households. Everyone’s so focused on getting out the door that you can easily lose track of just how much time is passing. A little bit of web research has shown that there appears to be a gap of roughly 90 minutes or more between when people wake up and when they start the commute or school run. That would be fine if the time was used intentionally, but I suspect that far too often it isn’t.
The most productive people, however, realise that 90 minutes, 120 minutes or more is a long time to lose track of on a busy weekday. Add that time up over a week and we are talking about a significant chunk of a day lost. If you feel like you don’t have time for personal priorities later in the day, why not try using your mornings? Streamline breakfast, personal care and your children’s routines. I canvassed a few friends and colleagues for thoughts and these were the four most common suggestions with what to do with 30-60 minutes of morning time:
1. Play, read, or talk with your children. Mornings can be great quality time, especially if you have little kids who go to bed before or soon after you get home at night, but wake up at the crack of dawn. Set an alarm on your watch, put away the iPhone, and spend a relaxed half an hour reading stories or doing projects with them.
2. Exercise. You shower in the morning anyway, so why not get sweaty first? Trade off mornings with your partner on who goes out and runs and who stays home with the kids. Or, if your kids are older (or you don’t have any) work out together and make it a very healthy morning date. As a runner I know that I prefer to run before the heat of the day and certainly feel more up for the day if I do so.
3. Indulge your creative side. Lots of people would like to resurrect a creative hobby like painting, photography, scrapbooking, writing, even practicing an instrument. What if you went to bed a little earlier three times a week? Skip that last TV show or those last emails and get up a little earlier the next morning to put in some time at you’re your hobby before the day runs away from you.
4. Think. There are endless professional business consultants out there who will tell you that strategic thinking time is incredibly important for seizing control of our lives. Spend 30 minutes in the morning pondering what you want to do with your time. You could also use this time to pray or read a different business magazine, to meditate or write a journal or a blog!
All of these will help you start the day in a much better place than if everyone’s running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
If you do decide to adopt any of these, then why not drop me an email and let me know your thoughts? www.chestertongray.com
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Should I resign?
Most of the time when we meet candidates it is for a specific assignment that we have approached them about, rather than for a “chat” and yet although the majority would ostensibly claim that they are happy in their roles we are surprisingly frequently asked this question. After a little probing it tends to transpire that in fact they’re not very happy in their current job because it doesn't seem like there is much opportunity for movement or promotion at the company.
Whatever you do don't start clearing your desk just yet – at least not before you've fully evaluated your current situation. You should determine if the problem is really with the job and the company or whether there's something else at play such as your energy level or dissatisfaction with other areas of your life.
Changing companies or roles may not be enough to make you happy. There are a number of important questions you'll want to ask yourself. For example: Have you explored all of your options at the company? Have you taken the time to fully evaluate your development and career path with your manager? Could there be other non-work areas affecting your level of engagement and fulfilment? What do you like and not like about your current situation? What do you want in your career moving forward?
Even if you already know the answers to these questions and still feel like you're ready for a move, there's no need to rush. Start by contacting people in your various networks to explore what opportunities exist and consider making a strategic move. If you want to explore another kind of work, it may be wise to stay put for a time while you evaluate your next steps.
It is equally important to evaluate what you can offer a new company. Take a hard look at your “brand”, professional reputation and any other qualities and skills you bring to the job. If you can, forget for a moment that you are a company employee and instead picture yourself as a "business-of-one,” Businesses who decide to 'fire' a client that gives them the majority of their income must make sure they have a strong brand or reputation they can market, know their ideal target audience and the best way to reach them, and be certain there is enough of a demand for their services.
Now you should identify at least 25 companies where you would want to work and ensure that they employ people with your types of skills. Then you should try to network with individuals who have been hired at these companies to see if they can shed some light on what is valued by the organisation and the best way to get considered for a position. Networking often leads to learning about 'unpublished' jobs. If you can't or are unwilling to do these steps, then you're not ready to move on. Over the years most of us here have seen too many people jump out of a bad job and into a worse one.
Naturally we would very seldom advise any candidate to resign without having a new role to go to, unless there were significant mitigating circumstances.
If you would like to chat over your career options then please feel free to contact one of the team at www.chestertongray.com
Whatever you do don't start clearing your desk just yet – at least not before you've fully evaluated your current situation. You should determine if the problem is really with the job and the company or whether there's something else at play such as your energy level or dissatisfaction with other areas of your life.
Changing companies or roles may not be enough to make you happy. There are a number of important questions you'll want to ask yourself. For example: Have you explored all of your options at the company? Have you taken the time to fully evaluate your development and career path with your manager? Could there be other non-work areas affecting your level of engagement and fulfilment? What do you like and not like about your current situation? What do you want in your career moving forward?
Even if you already know the answers to these questions and still feel like you're ready for a move, there's no need to rush. Start by contacting people in your various networks to explore what opportunities exist and consider making a strategic move. If you want to explore another kind of work, it may be wise to stay put for a time while you evaluate your next steps.
It is equally important to evaluate what you can offer a new company. Take a hard look at your “brand”, professional reputation and any other qualities and skills you bring to the job. If you can, forget for a moment that you are a company employee and instead picture yourself as a "business-of-one,” Businesses who decide to 'fire' a client that gives them the majority of their income must make sure they have a strong brand or reputation they can market, know their ideal target audience and the best way to reach them, and be certain there is enough of a demand for their services.
Now you should identify at least 25 companies where you would want to work and ensure that they employ people with your types of skills. Then you should try to network with individuals who have been hired at these companies to see if they can shed some light on what is valued by the organisation and the best way to get considered for a position. Networking often leads to learning about 'unpublished' jobs. If you can't or are unwilling to do these steps, then you're not ready to move on. Over the years most of us here have seen too many people jump out of a bad job and into a worse one.
Naturally we would very seldom advise any candidate to resign without having a new role to go to, unless there were significant mitigating circumstances.
If you would like to chat over your career options then please feel free to contact one of the team at www.chestertongray.com
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Write a Covering Letter that Gets Noticed
The subject of this blog isn’t new and it follows on from my last one about how to speed up your job search. And what I’m about to say has been said many times before, but as ever it all bears repeating. Most of our team who sift through covering letters all agree that far too many are just boring, vague or ineffective. Those go straight into the bin.
So what does a covering letter need to get noticed? Here are 8 tips from the team:
1. Sell yourself. A covering letter is a sales pitch. All of us who believe in something important are selling – be it a proposition, an idea, or maybe ourselves. This, by the way, doesn’t mean you steal credit–just that you emphasise your achievements.
2. Demonstrate interest in the job. Sounds obvious doesn’t it? But so many people don’t bother to do homework on either the company or the role for which they are applying. Reference something about what you have learned in your covering letter. This is where you can tailor the needs of the company/role to the expertise that you offer.
3. Address it to the right person! Every day we receive covering letters addressed to the wrong person and even to people who don’t work for our firm. The letter has been cut & pasted from one to someone else in a different firm. Sloppy and insulting.
4. Be declarative. A good covering letter is a page. Get to the point quickly, telling us what you’ve accomplished. “This is what I have accomplished…”
5. Omit the conditional. Avoid statements such as, “As conditions warranted..,” or “Given the circumstances…” Conditionals detract from the power of your message. Drop them.
6. Avoid the passive voice. Using the passive voice makes you sound like a bystander. Instead of “Our effort was led by me,” write, “I led our effort.” Remember, you are the initiator.
7. Proof it. Take it from us: don’t click send until you have a trusted friend or your spouse read your letter several times to check for clarity – did you mean to say that? — and typos – Oops!
8. Be humble. This is a caveat to the first item on this list. You are pitching yourself but remember that as a leader you achieve good results through the efforts of others. It is always good to mention how you work well with and through others.
Good luck and good letter writing. Your next job may depend upon it… but of course you already know that. If you would like to discuss how to write a CV or covering letter, please feel free to contact one of the team at www.chestertongray.com
So what does a covering letter need to get noticed? Here are 8 tips from the team:
1. Sell yourself. A covering letter is a sales pitch. All of us who believe in something important are selling – be it a proposition, an idea, or maybe ourselves. This, by the way, doesn’t mean you steal credit–just that you emphasise your achievements.
2. Demonstrate interest in the job. Sounds obvious doesn’t it? But so many people don’t bother to do homework on either the company or the role for which they are applying. Reference something about what you have learned in your covering letter. This is where you can tailor the needs of the company/role to the expertise that you offer.
3. Address it to the right person! Every day we receive covering letters addressed to the wrong person and even to people who don’t work for our firm. The letter has been cut & pasted from one to someone else in a different firm. Sloppy and insulting.
4. Be declarative. A good covering letter is a page. Get to the point quickly, telling us what you’ve accomplished. “This is what I have accomplished…”
5. Omit the conditional. Avoid statements such as, “As conditions warranted..,” or “Given the circumstances…” Conditionals detract from the power of your message. Drop them.
6. Avoid the passive voice. Using the passive voice makes you sound like a bystander. Instead of “Our effort was led by me,” write, “I led our effort.” Remember, you are the initiator.
7. Proof it. Take it from us: don’t click send until you have a trusted friend or your spouse read your letter several times to check for clarity – did you mean to say that? — and typos – Oops!
8. Be humble. This is a caveat to the first item on this list. You are pitching yourself but remember that as a leader you achieve good results through the efforts of others. It is always good to mention how you work well with and through others.
Good luck and good letter writing. Your next job may depend upon it… but of course you already know that. If you would like to discuss how to write a CV or covering letter, please feel free to contact one of the team at www.chestertongray.com
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
What’s in a name?
The eagle eyed amongst you who have struggled into work after the Christmas and New Year holiday period will have noticed that whilst this blog retains some of the traits that we’ve all come to know and love, there has been one significant change.
Yup, we’ve changed the company name. Which begs the question, why?
After eleven years as the UK partner of InterSearch we made the decision in December that it was time for a change. The boss and I have spent several weeks’ soul searching and scratching our heads whilst debating the pro’s and con’s of the change before setting up the new name, which we believe has a certain ring to it and reflects our beliefs in the way search should be delivered.
We’re not alone in leaving InterSearch, as a number of other countries have also terminated their membership and gone their separate ways. The team here remains unchanged and has proved over the last twelve months that it has the capability to successfully deliver global searches based purely on its own abilities.
Far from looking back with any form of regret, we are looking forward to a New Year with considerable hope and expectation. The vagaries of the global economy in 2011 will ensure that the year will be a challenging one, but one that with the right people in place yours and our businesses will be well positioned to take advantage of the market as it recovers.
If you’d like to discuss the name change or how we can work with you in 2011 then don’t hesitate to contact us at www.chestertongray.com
Yup, we’ve changed the company name. Which begs the question, why?
After eleven years as the UK partner of InterSearch we made the decision in December that it was time for a change. The boss and I have spent several weeks’ soul searching and scratching our heads whilst debating the pro’s and con’s of the change before setting up the new name, which we believe has a certain ring to it and reflects our beliefs in the way search should be delivered.
We’re not alone in leaving InterSearch, as a number of other countries have also terminated their membership and gone their separate ways. The team here remains unchanged and has proved over the last twelve months that it has the capability to successfully deliver global searches based purely on its own abilities.
Far from looking back with any form of regret, we are looking forward to a New Year with considerable hope and expectation. The vagaries of the global economy in 2011 will ensure that the year will be a challenging one, but one that with the right people in place yours and our businesses will be well positioned to take advantage of the market as it recovers.
If you’d like to discuss the name change or how we can work with you in 2011 then don’t hesitate to contact us at www.chestertongray.com
Friday, 26 November 2010
Can problem leaders ever change?
Being a relatively sporty person I don’t watch very much TV, but one Saturday morning I found myself channel-surfing for about 15 minutes. I was amazed at how many of the ads were about getting in shape. Some of the “promises” they made were:
“Six-second abs.” “Easy shaper.” “Incredible — a miracle!”
“Quickly turn your flabby abs into that sexy six-pack!”
My favourite was one that claimed that “visible results” could be achieved in two three-minute sessions. Excuse the language, but a phrase from my childhood captures my feeling for these claims: “What a load of c**p!”
If you want to know why so many goal setters don’t become goal achievers, you can pore over a bunch of enlightening academic studies about goals, or you can watch webinars for hours on end. Where did we ever get the crazy idea that getting in shape is supposed to be quick and easy? Why do we think that there will be almost no cost and why are we surprised when working out turns out to be arduous?
In the search industry we see the impact of this kind of thinking all the time. We recently received a call from a HR Director who was dealing with the integration of people and systems after their company had made a large acquisition. They had concerns over one of the senior Directors and his management style and the CEO had suggested they get an executive coach to work with the Director. They hoped to see a dramatic change in him within a couple of months. Could we help us and when could we start?
Like anybody who buys miracle products to help them get in shape, they wanted a miracle coach to immediately change the Director.
It was pointed out that he was a 56-year-old executive and just as with diet and exercise, his behavioural habits took years to develop and wouldn’t go away overnight. We all set goals to get some aspect of our lives in shape. All too often, we fail to meet them. Why? There are five major challenges that we usually underestimate:
Time: “This is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I don’t have time for this.”
Effort: “This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I’m tired. It’s just not worth it.”
Distracting events: “I had no idea I would be so busy this year. I’ll just have to worry about this later.”
Maintenance: “After I got in shape, I celebrated by drinking beer and eating curry. Now, for some unexplained reason, I’m back to where I started. What am I supposed to do? Go on some kind of diet for the rest of my life?”
Rewards: “After I lost weight, I thought that everyone would fall in love with me. I still can’t seem to get a date, so why bother?”
We often confuse the words “simple” and “easy.” The changes we help people make are generally very simple. However, they are never easy. Just as with diet and exercise, changing behaviour involves hard work and takes time.
During the next year, he will be barraged with distracting events that will take him away from his efforts to change. He needs to realise that lasting leadership development is a lifelong process. A temporary change in behaviour to “look good” in the short term will only create cynicism if he doesn’t stick with it. We can help if he is willing to put in the time and effort. If not, hiring us would probably be a waste of everyone’s time.
Look in the mirror. Not just at how you look, but at who you are. If you want to be a better leader, a better professional, or just a better person, don’t kid yourself. To achieve meaningful goals, you’ll have to pay the price. There’s no product, no diet, no exercise program, and (I hate to admit it) no executive coach who can make you better. Only you can do it. If your source of motivation doesn’t come from inside, you won’t stick with it. This may not be good material for a Saturday morning infomercial, but its great advice for any real achievement.
“Six-second abs.” “Easy shaper.” “Incredible — a miracle!”
“Quickly turn your flabby abs into that sexy six-pack!”
My favourite was one that claimed that “visible results” could be achieved in two three-minute sessions. Excuse the language, but a phrase from my childhood captures my feeling for these claims: “What a load of c**p!”
If you want to know why so many goal setters don’t become goal achievers, you can pore over a bunch of enlightening academic studies about goals, or you can watch webinars for hours on end. Where did we ever get the crazy idea that getting in shape is supposed to be quick and easy? Why do we think that there will be almost no cost and why are we surprised when working out turns out to be arduous?
In the search industry we see the impact of this kind of thinking all the time. We recently received a call from a HR Director who was dealing with the integration of people and systems after their company had made a large acquisition. They had concerns over one of the senior Directors and his management style and the CEO had suggested they get an executive coach to work with the Director. They hoped to see a dramatic change in him within a couple of months. Could we help us and when could we start?
Like anybody who buys miracle products to help them get in shape, they wanted a miracle coach to immediately change the Director.
It was pointed out that he was a 56-year-old executive and just as with diet and exercise, his behavioural habits took years to develop and wouldn’t go away overnight. We all set goals to get some aspect of our lives in shape. All too often, we fail to meet them. Why? There are five major challenges that we usually underestimate:
Time: “This is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I don’t have time for this.”
Effort: “This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I’m tired. It’s just not worth it.”
Distracting events: “I had no idea I would be so busy this year. I’ll just have to worry about this later.”
Maintenance: “After I got in shape, I celebrated by drinking beer and eating curry. Now, for some unexplained reason, I’m back to where I started. What am I supposed to do? Go on some kind of diet for the rest of my life?”
Rewards: “After I lost weight, I thought that everyone would fall in love with me. I still can’t seem to get a date, so why bother?”
We often confuse the words “simple” and “easy.” The changes we help people make are generally very simple. However, they are never easy. Just as with diet and exercise, changing behaviour involves hard work and takes time.
During the next year, he will be barraged with distracting events that will take him away from his efforts to change. He needs to realise that lasting leadership development is a lifelong process. A temporary change in behaviour to “look good” in the short term will only create cynicism if he doesn’t stick with it. We can help if he is willing to put in the time and effort. If not, hiring us would probably be a waste of everyone’s time.
Look in the mirror. Not just at how you look, but at who you are. If you want to be a better leader, a better professional, or just a better person, don’t kid yourself. To achieve meaningful goals, you’ll have to pay the price. There’s no product, no diet, no exercise program, and (I hate to admit it) no executive coach who can make you better. Only you can do it. If your source of motivation doesn’t come from inside, you won’t stick with it. This may not be good material for a Saturday morning infomercial, but its great advice for any real achievement.
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