Total Picture Radio with Peter Clayton Does My 2 Year Interview

Total Picture Radio with Peter Clayton Does My 2 Year Interview Peter Clayton has been good to me. Really good. He introduced me to the HR world when JibberJobber was just ONE month old, and that led to many great relationships which I carry on today. I was honored that he would ask me for another interview (the third), to celebrate my two year anniversary. You can find the interview HERE. Its only 22 minutes. He has amazing interviews on his site take some time to scroll through past interviews and listen to what   industry leaders think about careers, employment, the job search, job boards, social networking all the stuff you are interested in. If you have time, you can hear my FIRST interview with him, in June of 2006! Thanks Peter Clayton!! Total Picture Radio with Peter Clayton Does My 2 Year Interview Peter Clayton has been good to me. Really good. He introduced me to the HR world when JibberJobber was just ONE month old, and that led to many great relationships which I carry on today. I was honored that he would ask me for another interview (the third), to celebrate my two year anniversary. You can find the interview HERE. Its only 22 minutes. He has amazing interviews on his site take some time to scroll through past interviews and listen to what   industry leaders think about careers, employment, the job search, job boards, social networking all the stuff you are interested in. If you have time, you can hear my FIRST interview with him, in June of 2006! Thanks Peter Clayton!!

6 Things You Must Do to Be a Great Mentor

6 Things You Must Do to Be a Great Mentor Mentoring is fundamental to being a successful leader. That, in my opinion, is unequivocal! I have witnessed far too many leaders who do not invest time and energy â€" and you need both â€" in mentoring. It is seen as the “soft stuff”, the “fluffy bits” and not critical. I beg to disagree. If you do not mentor, then you will not light the fires in the people you are meant to be leading, and they â€" and you! â€" will be the lesser for it. Oprah Winfrey said it brilliantly: “ A mentor is someone who allows you to see the light inside yourself” You will not help anyone just by “managing them”. Yes, managing them will get things done because that is the job. But mentoring your people will lift performance to a different level. Mentoring will facilitate the burning of that flame that drives us to excel beyond expectation. If you achieve that with your people â€" you are a leader, my friend! So, what are the 6 musts of mentoring? 1) Take your own advice: Very simply â€" get one of your own! If you are engaged with someone as a mentor, but don’t have one yourself, then what does that say? A mentor does not have to be an aged sage, bent over with experience and knowledge! The experience and knowledge is great to have but your mentor can be a member of your peer group who will listen objectively. 2) Clarity about purpose: Be really clear what you are mentoring for and what you hope to achieve. Mentoring is about facilitating change and growth, so there will always be opportunities for future growth. But don’t have unfocused discussions â€" be clear and precise. RELATED:  How to Succeed As A  Leader  [4  Leadership  Lessons] 3) Listen: I referred to this earlier. This is not an exercise in demonstrating how much you know and how wise you are. You must listen really carefully â€" to what is being said and what is not being said. Ask continuously for clarification about the points being made. Draw everything out â€" not just the first things that are uttered. Listen to the tone and the inflection, and watch the body language. 4) Do it regularly: Sounds obvious but these discussions are frequently the ones that get dumped when the pressure on time arises. Ad hoc sessions will only come across as being contrived and “we should have a chat” type of approach. You have to demonstrate that you really care â€" and being committed to regular mentoring sessions demonstrates that commitment. 5) Give of yourself: Give your time, give your counsel, give of your emotions and be involved in the process. The more you give of yourself, the bigger the impact.   Remember what Maya Angelou, the civil rights leader, said: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel” Mentoring gives you the opportunity to set alight that fire â€" and they will never forget you for it. 6) Be a role model: You cannot be a mentor and then disregard your own advice. You must walk the talk. Albert Schweitzer, the Nobel Prize winner, said: “Example is not the main thing when influencing others, it is the only thing” This is a challenge for us all, but real mentors do live up to it. Truthfully, I believe that mentoring is one of the most fulfilling roles you can play, and done properly, is also one of the most rewarding. Winston Churchill said it brilliantly: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give” Please share your experiences of mentoring and the challenges you encountered. RELATED:  Are You a Manager of Teams or a  Leader  of People?

5 Tips for Working Moms to Survive the Back-to-School Hustle -

5 Tips for Working Moms to Survive the Back-to-School Hustle - From the moment my daughter got out of school in May to the end of July, was a complete blur. It was a blur of summer camp, work, travel, deadlines, proposals and pool parties.   The fact that she was going back to school  in three weeks  had not occurred to me. When it did, I panicked. Where did the time go? I frantically realized I had no idea what day school started and had to ask another mom. I got a brisk answer of   “August 20th,” which I like to call the “working mom fail” response. The guilt of not knowing when my child starts 2nd grade and feeling completely overwhelmed set in. Where do I begin? I’ve got to sign her up for fall activities, get a new backpack, lunchbox, some new clothes and also manage my job, meetings, travel and various work expectations. As working moms I think we feel there is no easy way to do all of this and keep a clear head and stay on task, but I have found five great tips for surviving back to school as a working mom: Surviving Back To School Order Online: Spare yourself the hustle of shopping. No need to throw everyone in the car in 100-degree heat to head to your favorite retail super store, fend off the kiddos requests for toys and candy while back-to-school shopping. It is not worth it. Modern technology allows us the ability to order online for backpacks, clothing and supplies. Think of the time and energy you will save by sitting on your couch and checking some boxes and swiping “check out”. This also applies to grocery shopping too, which is becoming more and more common. Download the app for Shipt or Amazon Prime and let them do the grocery shopping for you. Do it a day or two before school starts. The kids can make their requests so they get to put some creativity into their lunchbox choices.   Other positives are that it isn’t expensive to shop online and it saves money because you avoid over-buying in a store. Let the Laundry Lie: Where does your laundry lie? Mine sits on a bed in the guest room. Clean, yet unfolded. But clean. The point here is, let your laundry lie. It is okay to let some things slip during back -to -school time. You will have so much on your plate as it is, don’t let the mundane domestic stuff get to you. Not having every thing completed or accomplished around the house is okay. You will not get a ticket or a fine for letting some things in the household fall behind. Give yourself permission to know that it is okay if you don’t get everything done. It is completely normal, and you will eventually catch up. Get Your Routine Back: In the summer our routines are typically off. As I mentioned, it can feel like a complete blur when so much is going on.   Activities, camp and work will run you, instead of you running them. No shock there. Bringing structure and school back into your life can be a struggle, but welcome it because it brings the return of normalcy.   Give yourself a cushion returning to the routine by practicing earlier bedtimes and waking times week before school starts. This will get us parents and kids back on schedule. Also, create a family calendar with upcoming school activities and your work schedule to make sure that all planets are aligned, and if not, this gives you time to create a family management strategy. Be Guilt Free: I think the hardest thing about being a working mom during back -to -school is missing school events.   The hallmarks of the beginning of the school year like Fall Festival or Meet the Teacher are big events for the kids. Missing them can make you feel disconnected from their little lives and the guilt can take over. This is also difficult because you miss the chance to meet other parents and classmates at these events. You start to feel like a constant outsider because you are the mom who isn’t around enough. Don’t beat yourself up or hold yourself to an impossible standard. Know that you are doing everything that you can to accommodate both school and work and that you are still present in your kids lives, even when you can’t physically be with them. Connect with other working moms: I have a lot of wonderful friends who are stay- at -home moms. They tend to keep me grounded and I rely on them a lot for my sanity.   Working mom friends can be super supportive too because they are most likely experiencing the same emotions and situations. For overall complaining, coping and time management ideas your working mom friends will happily listen and help you.   In addition, their schedules will most likely parallel yours, so for all of those  2:30  play dates you have missed, you can now do play dates on schedules that accommodate the work day. The silver lining here is that you get to solidify strong relationships with other women who will stand by you when you need support. Managing back-to-school time will never be perfect or fool proof, but working outside of the home can bring on some added stress. It is balancing act that can cause disruption as you get adjusted to the new school year and schedules. Know that you are not alone, and we are all muddling through it together. This guest post was authored by Holly Caplan Holly Caplan is a mom, workplace issues expert, career coach and author of Surviving the Dick Clique: A Girls Guide to Surviving the Male Dominated Corporate World. For more information, please visit,  www.hollycaplan.com  and connect with her on Twitter, @hollymcaplan.

Top 10 Words to Avoid on Your LinkedIn Profile

Top 10 Words to Avoid on Your LinkedIn Profile LinkedIn have compiled a list of the top 10 overused buzzwords on their profiles, and when compared to last years report   it shows some interesting results. At the end of 2011, LinkedIn was home to 135 million members. Now, this number has reached over 187 million worldwide (with over 10 million in the UK alone) and still, the number one buzzword used on profiles globally is creative. In 2010 (the first year in which this study was carried out), the number 1 buzzword was extensive experience. The words on your LinkedIn profile have to be exactly right to ensure you attract the right people on LinkedIn. If a word is being used too much, it can be seen as trying to hard, or not being original enough. LinkedIn suggest that users should choose simple language to show what skills they have and the projects they have worked on so give examples, results and testimonials. Here is a look at the Top 10 overused buzzwords on profiles in the US and worldwide. The most overused buzzwords on LinkedIn profiles in the US and worldwide: The top 10 overused buzzwords on LinkedIn profiles in the United States in 2012 were: Creative Organizational Effective Motivated Extensive experience Track record Innovative Responsible Analytical Problem solving Elsewhere in the world, these were the number 1 buzzwords in the countries where the study was carried out: Australia: Creative Brazil: Experimental Canada:  Creative Egypt:  Multinational France:  Responsible Germany:  Creative India:  Effective Indonesia:  Multinational Italy:  Responsible Malaysia:  Motivated Netherlands:  Creative New Zealand:  Creative Saudi Arabia:  Motivated Singapore:  Creative South Africa:  Motivated Spain:  Specialized Sweden:  Creative Switzerland:  Analytical United Arab Emirates:  Motivated United Kingdom:  Motivated Similar to last year creative, organisational and effective are all in the top 3. However, in 2012, more users are describing themselves as responsible and analytical with motivated overtaking extensive experience. What will make the list next year? If your profile is filled with these buzzwords you may need to do some changes. Here are some tips to help improve your profile and make it sparkle through 2013: Become an Endorsement magnet LinkedIn allows you to add Skills and Expertise to your profile and your first-degree connections can endorse you for these. However, make sure you use the system correctly, and dont become one of the Bad that  Stacy Zapar outlined  earlier this year. Also, you can only add up to 50 so be selective but dont overdo it! Make the most of the headline! When searching in LinkedIn, one of the aspects of your profile which appears is your professional headline.  By default, it is based on the title you entered for your most recent position, but you can edit it and you should. Getting your headline right  is crucial think of it being just like the headline of a news article. You want to draw people in and entice them (whether they are potential hiring managers, business partners or clients), so they click through to read the whole story â€" and in this case, this is  your LinkedIn profile.

Want A Better Work-Life Balance Flexible Working Could Be The Answer

Want A Better Work-Life Balance Flexible Working Could Be The Answer Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comThe days of working 9-5, Monday to Friday might be well and truly behind us. Next year is tipped to be the year when flexible working arrangements become the norm, with over 50% of employers offering them.And by 2020, 70% of organisations will promote mobile working. This is a nice thing to think about for the future, but what does it mean for today?In the UK, every worker who has been with an employer for 26 weeks is entitled to request flexible working. This can mean anything from going part time, working irregular hours, working during term time or even just working from home on certain days of the week. The key to this working practice is the world flexible.evalThe idea is that the popular 9-5 office job is dying out, and instead we’re all moving towards a better work/life balance. Most office jobs don’t require workers to be present in the office, and instead this is simply a way of keeping track of employees and their productivity. However, resear ch has already shown that working from home boosts productivity.Not only this, but encouraging employees to enjoy a healthier work life balance can benefit businesses in many different ways. The days of staying with the same company for the duration of your career are over, so staff retention is a struggle for employers.By supporting employees through different stages in their life, they are more likely to stay with the same company, and this means the company benefits from their experience and in-depth company knowledge. It’s a win-win for everyone.How can I arrange flexible working?evalEven if your company doesn’t advertise it, if you’ve been with the company for more than 26 weeks you have the legal right to request flexible working. You will have to have a serious think about how changing your current working setup with impact the business and be prepared to offer some solutions.Put your request in writing and make sure you state it is a statutory request for flexible work ing. Outline how you plan to manage the change, and any proposals you have for minimising the impact on business. Some companies may be open to an informal arrangement, but it’s still important to get everything in writing.What do I do next?Once you have submitted your request, your employer has up to three months to deal with your request according to employment law. They may request more time to consider their decision, but you would have to agree to it.There are only eight reasons an employer can turn down your request, and you are able to appeal if you feel you have been discriminated against. If your request is turned down for reasonable reasons, then you will have to wait 12 months before submitting another request.evalIt’s important to leave plenty of time between putting in your request and the time you will need the changes to come into effect. Realising a week before your kid starts school that you will need to leave work early to pick them up isn’t a realistic times cale to allow your employer to make and implement the changes to your working day.By giving as much notice as possible, your employer will be much more likely to respond positively to your request.

Teach Yourself About The True Cost Of Outside Training

Teach Yourself About The True Cost Of Outside Training Training. We’re all agreed it’s crucial for business, right? Whether you focus on teamwork or company values, it’s essential you get on top here. As well as ensuring your company runs the way you want, efforts here will make a significant difference to employee morale. In fact, a tempting course could be all it takes to bag the best in the business. So, it isn’t unusual for entrepreneurs to look to external courses which do the job for them. You may even be in the habit of sending new employees away for a week of training before they start. All the better for ensuring they’re up to standard. The only problem is, you have no way of knowing what that external course involves. It’s not tailored to your business, and so it might not teach the values you want. What’s more, sending staff away can get expensive, especially if you do the same for every employee. Instead, it might be best to take over training onsite. If you aren’t convinced this is the route for you, let’s look at some of the expense it could save you. Commute and accommodation costs When employees travel for training, you’re obligated to cover their costs. What’s more, you’d need to pay for accommodation. Even if you send your team in groups, that’s going to get pricey. What’s more, if you do this before working with new employees, there’s every chance it’ll become wasted money. You have no way of knowing whether they’ll take the training straight to another role. But, if you keep training in the office, you don’t have to worry about any of that. You won’t have to pay anyone to commute to the workplace, and your meeting room will be all the accommodation you need. The training itself You’ll also need to pay for the course itself, and that can be most expensive of all. Even standard training is pricey. After all, the company in question have to cover costs of the training space and the person teaching. And, you can bet that’ll leave you out of pocket, too. But, if you took over training, you could that cost altogether. You could use a spoken presentation or simple activities to get your point across. Or, you might want to spend a little on professional training videos. You can check out companies like Lifetime Media for more information on how much that would cost. But, you can bet it’d be less than you would pay otherwise. What’s more, you can use those same videos for every employee and save yourself a fortune. The cost of lost labor Sending staff away would also cost you in lost labor. You may have to take on temporary staff to cover or pay overtime. On top of everything, that’s a cost you could do without. And, by training onsite, you could do just that. In fact, by designating small groups for training each time, you can ensure your efforts here don’t impact production at all.

Career Corner Interview Tips from ReFocus on Careers - Face-to-face Interviews Prepare for the Interview Part V - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner Interview Tips from ReFocus on Careers - Face-to-face Interviews Prepare for the Interview Part V I recently spoke to a great networking and career search group, Re:Focus on Careers, about creating a kick ass elevator speech. Keep an eye out for all of these free interview tips in my Career Corner posts: Prepare for the Interview The best way to ace your next job interview is to prepare for it. This may sound obvious, but its not. Too many applicants walk into an interview without knowing as much as they should about the industry, the company and its problems. Remember: You are there to solve a problem. Otherwise, the company wouldnt be hiring. Follow these steps: 5. Prepare questions of your own. Employers are as interested in your questions as they are in your answers. And theyll react favorably if you ask intelligent questions about the position, the company and the industry. (Examples: Where does this position fit into the company as a whole? Is there any problem on this job with waste/accuracy/meeting quotas, etc.? What is the largest single problem facing your staff now?) Extra Tip from Career Coach Hallie: This is so important. If this is a place you really want to work â€" make sure that it’s the right fit. You don’t want to jump into something without knowing the full story. Choose wisely. This is as much about the job being a fit for you as it is for the employer. If you’re interested in having me speak at your next event about finding a career you love, go here: www.halliecrawford.com/appearances.html. I’d be happy to discuss! Career Transition CoachCareer Speaker