Are You in the Right Petri Dish/Environment to Thrive?

People Whispering Tip:        

 We’ve had great fun with our recent webinar series “Recession-Proofing Your Career” which you can read about at www.recession-proofyourcareer.com.  As an executive career and leadership coach, it often amazes me how few people spend the time to educate themselves about how to make good career choices based on their unique talents and skills.  So many people just seem to stumble into their careers by default (and not just careers but marriages and children, etc.) based upon what their parents, peers, or society via teachers and the media said they should do at the time.

I tend to favor Auguste Rodin’s, the great sculptor of the Thinker, perspective when he said “The world will never be happy until all men (and women) have the souls of artists – I mean when they take pleasure in their jobs.”  In today’s world, I would extend that beyond the concept of just a job to how one makes their livelihood or way in the world.  In the New Thought tradition based upon the great thinkers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the term creative self-expression is used in lieu of career or job.  It is a broader term encompassing how we make our way in the world.  The Buddhist concept of dharma is similar with its emphasis on purpose and meaning beyond just making a living.  I am interested in helping people to make a better living and a better life.

This is more relevant than ever today when the “average” person has 5 to 7 totally different careers in one lifetime in stark contrast to my father’s day.  My father was an organic chemist and business executive who worked for the same company for 39 years before he retired.  Even if we wanted that level of consistency, if not “security,” that opportunity is just not realistic anymore.  We are called to continually reinvent ourselves such that we are on purpose and are passionate about our lives while we still make a decent living. 

Where on earth to begin?  The first place to begin is to learn more about yourself and your unique strengths, gift, skills, interests, and capabilities as the special person you are.  There are many relevant assessments and ways to uncover these talents which I use with my clients who are searching for direction.  Two factors that are essential to understand and uncover are:  1) Role or Job Fit, and 2) Culture Fit or Match.   

Once you understand more about your value to an organization or field, you can begin to define the job role fit for you.  Tools such as DiSC and MBTI are invaluable to help you understand why you may gravitate towards certain aspects of a field over others.  It is never as prescriptive as “you are this style or type and therefore you should do this” as some practitioners who are not fully trained might lead you to believe.  There are too many elements to us multidimensional human beings for that.  That said, your DiSC style will give you some very strong clues as to what role you would be best suited for all other things being equal. 

For example, someone with a primary preference for D behavior thrives in leadership roles that allow them to be in charge and direct change in an organization.  They also like to focus on tasks and achieve results and to communicate clearly and directly about how to get things done.  Someone with a high I preference thrives in a role where they can motivate and influence others through their persuasiveness and their optimistic, enthusiastic approach to opportunities and problems.  They also love to lead or participate in groups and build alliances to get results.  A high S individual thrives in a role that allows them to work in a steady, predictable, and orderly manner.  They also enjoy working in conventional and proven ways and make decisions through group consensus rather than strictly on their own.  Last, a high C individual enjoys a role that allows them to perform work at high standards of quality where they can apply their own structures, methods, and models within the job’s framework of expectations.  They also enjoy knowing how things work and don’t like surprises to a process or procedure.

In addition to the best role for each style, it is helpful to find a corporate or organizational culture that matches your style.  Even if the overall corporate culture doesn’t match your style, having a work group or team culture match can make all of the difference between surviving and thriving.  Prior to starting my own business, I worked in a few large Fortune 500 companies so I can truly speak from personal experience.  While I was with Equifax for example, I was on both the credit and the insurance side of the house.  As a high I and secondary D, I was the happiest when both my role as a Product Marketing Manager and the work group culture I found myself in while in the Credit Marketing Group matched my behavioral style needs.  For the first time in some time, I was surrounded by other high I’s who thrived on interaction, collaboration, persuasion, energy, and excitement.  I had come home to my people!  In contrast, while on the insurance side of the company, I did market research which I could do, but found relatively boring due to the quantitative nature of the work which didn’t require much interaction with people.

In short, the environment in which you place yourself in addition to the job role you assume, has a tremendous impact on your job satisfaction as well as your performance.  Just like a petri dish in a lab, there are ideal conditions for each type of bacteria to grow and thrive.  Understanding where you will thrive is a big piece of your evolution to your best self.  To learn more, there is still time to order our 3 part webinar series CD package at the early bird rate.  Look for details to be posted soon at our site which is www.recession-proofyourcareer.com.

In the meantime, if you are interested in career coaching for yourself or for your organization, I have some room in my practice for additional clients.  Please contact us at (404) 327-6330 or email us at Laura@lauraadavis.com.

 DiSC Assessment Application: 
       

To learn more about your ideal cultural fit, the classical patterns in the DiSC Classic 2.0 report can offer you a world of insight.  The classical pattern looks at how an individual’s four dimensions of Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness come together in combination.  Since we all have aspects of all of the dimensions within us, it is helpful to know in what combination and level of intensity each of them combines to give us a richer, deeper understanding of individual behavior.

There are 15 classical patterns which arise showing an individuals’ emotions, goals, how they tend to judge or evaluate others, how they like to influence others, and their value to the organization.  It also provides information regarding the behaviors they tend to overuse particularly under pressure due to their common fears.  Last, the classical pattern gives some helpful information regarding how one can increase their effectiveness to the organization.  This pattern is often so accurate people will ask me if I am a fortune-teller or seer.  Often they have received feedback regarding these issues and factors in performance feedback over the years.

In keeping with this month’s theme of planting yourself in a fertile petri dish or soil, it is wise to choose a work culture that fits your emotional needs based upon your classical pattern.  Doing so will increase your chances of being more effective, performing at a higher level, being more satisfied, and feeling more energized on a daily basis.

In short, not all D’s, I’s, S’s, and C’s are alike.  For example, if you are an outgoing, friendly, expressive and action-oriented High I, Moderate D individual, you would feel completely out of place in a culture that values deliberateness, formality, and low-key communications.  On the other hand, if you possessed a Creative classical pattern with an equally High D and C, you might thrive in a more reserved, task-oriented, analytical, focused work environment.  A DC style under pressure might get more detached and controlling in order to fix what is wrong while an iD would likely get more emotional and expressive when stressed.

I encourage you to retake the DiSC Classic 2.0 profile yourself to see where your classical pattern falls.  I will be giving a webinar on culture fit and your ideal career soon so stay tuned for further details.  In the meantime, coaching or a one-time consultation regarding how this applies to you can be arranged by calling us at 404-327-6330 or emailing Laura@lauraadavis.com. 
 

 Transformational Coaching Tip: 
    

Since I am on a “cultural kick” this month, I want to remind everyone about the importance of looking at other cultures and belief systems to broaden your perspective on how you view things.  The truth is not always obvious since we generally see it through the lens of our own perceptions.  In my experience, the more we learn about other times and cultures as well as different beliefs within our own culture, the more we are humbled by the knowledge that our perceptions are based on very narrow, limited views of the universe. 

It may shock you to learn that your way is not the only nor necessarily right way even if you don’t think you have the tendency to believe that.  That is why travel and exposure to other belief systems is so invaluable.  The more we understand that our reality and the meanings we assign to events are influenced by the time and space we grew up in as well as the mass consciousness we are surrounded by, the more we can be open to change and growth as needed.

For my clients who are also in Georgia reading this, you know that only a few years ago, we suffered a major drought and had to operate on severe water restrictions.  Recently, we had record rains and flash flooding causing severe road damage, power outages, and property damage particularly in the Northwest suburbs of Atlanta.  In other words, a farmer experiencing a drought welcomes the rain and sees it as a positive event.  On the other hand, if you are on the roof of a low building as the flood waters rise around you, you’d probably dread the rain and see it as bad.  The meaning we assign to an event is truly relative and is largely a matter of context, perspective, and perception.

As you go through the next month, consider how the following key points impact you and your world.  Are your perceptions serving you or not?

Key Points:

• Perceptions are generally based on a very limited amount of information.

• Your perceptions often exaggerate or minimize the truth.

• A wider array of perceptions sometimes makes the truth appear less absolute and more relative.

• Your reality is based upon your perceptions of the truth which can be changed.

Recession-ProofYourCareer – www.recession-proofyourcareer.com

People Whispering Tip:

I’m getting tired of reading articles that start with the catch-all phrases “in today’s tough economy,” or “in these challenging times,” etc. I brace myself for another round of bad news or ways in which I will be cautioned to be fearful and to hunker down to prepare for the worst.

Mind you, I am not suggesting that we all “pour pink paint” over challenging situations and pretend they don’t exist. That would be as silly as talking about wellness and prevention to someone who has just been hit by a speeding car head on and is bleeding and suffering from traumatic injuries. Obviously, wellness and prevention are still relevant but secondary to dealing with the immediate issue at hand. To continue the analogy though, too many people, once they stop the bleeding so to speak, go right back to their old ways and don’t stay in shape and current with what they need to do to thrive in today’s “new” world of work. I put “new” in quotes as these trends have been developing since the 1980’s and it seems that many are just now waking up to their realities. It’s often a question of timing, common sense, and being empowered with the information it takes to be in tune with the changes in today’s world.

The focus of this article is what you can do from a career management perspective in order to recession-proof your career. It’s also a question of getting back to principles which are universal immutable truths. It is easy to argue that this domino effect of sub-prime mortgages, tumbling stock prices, job losses, and tightening credit were the result of greed and irrationality. These events highlight poor decision-making, poor risk analysis, and the interconnectedness of our global economy.

Very simplistically, when the US housing market began its freefall in 2007, the mounting delinquencies and foreclosures pressured banks to sell or revalue the mortgage pools on their balance sheets. In doing so, they eroded their capital, limiting their ability to lend. As a result, banks had to withdraw credit lines and borrowers had to sell assets to pay back loans taking large losses as asset prices declined. Banks had to further tighten credit causing foreclosures and delinquencies to rise depressing consumer demand which in turn squeezed business earnings resulting in businesses having to cut expenses and jobs.

 While I have an MBA and study economics and investing enough to be reasonably well-informed, what I am an expert in is the job market from a career management as well as a talent management perspective. From personal experience working with thousands of clients over the years, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of educating yourself about the “new” employment contract and working with a more fluid, boundary-less mindset. In the spirit of education and awareness, I’d like to invite my readers to a complimentary virtual event/webinar my associate/colleague and I are conducting Tuesday Sept. 1st at 9 PM Eastern. Register now at www.recession-proofyourcareer.com regardless of whether you can attend live or not.

If you’ve been laid-off or outsourced more than once due to mergers or acquisitions or the economy, this call is for you. If you’ve found yourself in a dead-end job that doesn’t utilize your skills and talents or are in an organizational culture that doesn’t match your style, this call is for you. If you are uncertain as to how best to market yourself and find work that is right for you, this is for you. If none of that applies to you, feel free to pass this information along to a friend or colleague of yours who might benefit. “The 7 Costliest Myths About Today’s Job Market” we will address are:

 1. Nobody is hiring! There truly are opportunities abounding in this market if you know where to look, how to look, and how to “market” yourself. We will address this in the webinar and in an in-depth series to follow.

 2. It’s all about my skills and experience. Competency is expected and your background and skills do matter. But it is even more important to be able to demonstrate what you can do in the future for a potential employer or client for that matter. The principles are the same regardless.

3. All I have to do is be myself in the job search process. First impressions matter whether you are networking, interviewing, or just casually exploring your options in information-gathering meetings. We’ll address the importance of adapting to the person with whom you are interacting in order to put your best foot forward.

 4. I can’t change industries at this point. Many people can and do change industries multiple times throughout their career. It’s a question of knowing your transferrable skills and being able to assess and understand an industry quickly by understanding its strategic drivers, its competition, its future prospects and so on. We’ll touch on how and share stories of those who have successfully transitioned into new industries for inspiration.

 5. The internet is the first and only place to find a job. Today the internet is an important tool in a job search as well as in bidding for contract or consulting opportunities or for attracting opportunities for small business. That said, the hidden job market is still the best way to land an opportunity that will be a good match. Learn the hidden job market’s secrets.

6. Only “lucky” people have careers they are passionate about. This is just not true. It is true that everything has its grunt work and less fun aspects. But even in “rough” times, those who succeed let their energy and passion and belief in what they do shine through. This is what positively influences the people they impact even more than what they do.

7. Once I have a job, I can coast! Sadly, this erroneous belief is why so many people are shell-shocked and take longer than necessary to land another viable opportunity. Being well-connected and networked is just as important once you’ve landed a job as it is while you are looking for a job.

DiSC Assessment Application:

When I first started working in the corporate world, my father gave me a little pamphlet entitled “How to Get Along With Your Boss.” Corny as it may have been, understanding that your success in a new job is largely dependent upon developing a good relationship with your new “boss” is yet another timeless, common-sense principle for inspired success.

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of teaming with best-selling author and Harvard business professor Michael Watkins through the Forum Corporation with a training program based upon his best-selling book “The First 90 Days. ” Dr. Watkins’ premise is simple in that it he postulates that a new leader must develop critical success strategies within a 90 day period in order to establish trust and credibility. The book is rich and well-researched and beyond the scope of this Ezine.

However, one of my favorite tools in the book is learning to negotiate for success by planning for 5 conversations. These conversations are not subjects to be dealt with in separate conversations but are intertwined threads of an ongoing dialogue. The most relevant to DiSC and the family of Inscape assessments is the style conversation. Everything DiSC Workplace (see my store at www.lauraadavis.com) allows you to understand your style better in terms of how you learn, communicate, influence others and make decisions.

 I’ve written about the importance of understanding oneself and your impact on others many times so I won’t repeat it here. I’ve also written extensively about the importance of adapting to the other person’s style in order to support them and to connect so that you can partner together going forward. What’s new about Everything DiSC Workplace is its Classical Patterns section in addition to the new circumplex model. The Classical Patterns section in this assessment will enable you to know precisely how to interact with others in order to adapt to their needs. It also gives you prescriptive ways to specifically adapt to the person’s nuances of style. In this way it is much more behavioral and useful in practical application.

When style differences arise, it is best to deal with them directly. Otherwise, you run the risk of having your boss or coworker perceive and interpret a style difference as disrespect or even incompetence on your part. In coaching executive women leaders in particular, I encourage them to raise the style issue before it becomes a potential source of irritation with you and your “boss.” Being proactive about how to accommodate both of your styles is the key to short and long-term success in this initial relationship as well as in many others.

For help in “managing up” in a new boss or team situation, call us at (404) 327-6330 or email Laura@lauraadavis.com to find out how to use the Everything DiSC Workplace Profile and Facilitation System to recession-proof your success within your organization.

Transformational Coaching Tip:

Your best bet for thriving and not just surviving in the new world of work is to be agile! Successful leaders develop on the job and learn managerial lessons from day-in and day-out experiences. Some companies invest in their people at the outset, but far too many wait until a crisis is at hand before developing their leaders.

As a coach, trainer/facilitator, and assessment expert, I am often called in when a manager or executive is about to derail. Generally, when someone is about to derail, it’s for one of two reasons. The first is an obvious personality issue or power struggle that an understanding of DiSC and how to use it could have prevented. The second related cause is depending too much upon the competencies that moved them into management in the first place and not learning new skills that are needed to continually perform effectively as a manager. I am continually amazed at the number of corporate managers who are not using any social media tools and aren’t networked inside never mind outside their company for example.

There is a relatively new concept in the management literature called “learning agility” which is increasingly being recognized as essential for long-term success. Learning agility is the ability to learn something in Situation A and apply it in Situation B. It is about forming patterns collected in one context and then using those patterns in a completely new or different context to make sense of something you’ve never seen or done before.

I hear so many Baby Boomers complain about being perceived as too old in the workplace. It’s not about age, it’s about being dated because they are no longer agile. In short, be sure you are continually learning and growing in your field. Stay current with the latest technological trends and learn new skills on an ongoing basis. Invest in yourself for fun and for profit. Don’t RIP or retire in place. Successful managers and executives respond to adversity and diversity by learning new skills and additional ways of thinking on an ongoing basis.

Recession-Proofing Your Career Through Portability of Relationships

People Whispering Tip        

It’s easy to resist the need to stay connected with contacts when you are busy with what is in front of you, whether that’s your corporate job, delivering on a current project with a client, being a parent, or just making sure you exercise and keep up with your friends.  There is no question that the rate and magnitude of change keeps speeding up.  I used to teach two day workshops on this in the late 90’s and even had the opportunity to go to Japan and Korea to share tips and techniques on how to manage change with the Marriott Corporation.  It was a wonderful program which offered some practical tips on navigating through change using skills in four key areas – communication, openness, support, and experimentation.

Many of those concepts and skills still apply today.  That said, many training and coaching programs and interventions still assume a contained world of hierarchical organizations where once you “land” a job or contract, you can breathe easy for awhile.  If this past year has taught us anything, it’s taught us to wake up and assume nothing.  In coaching and consulting circles, we have been talking about thinking about yourself as a portfolio of transferrable skills for a long time.  In other words, you have skill sets and you seek to match your skills with the needs of an organization as you progress throughout your career.  You take your skills with you to another organization as your skills may not be needed at your original company.  Like it or not, the days of working for one company throughout your career are long gone.

However, factors other than skills are important to pack along with you in your portable career suitcase too.  What people seem to be missing in my opinion is the value and crucial importance of energizing and sustaining ongoing trusting relationships with people they’ve done business with in any context.  Of course, skills and experience, otherwise known as competence matter.  But so does that elusive chemistry factor.  Chemistry, compatibility, and “complementarity” are not just for romantic partners but apply in business as well.  Face it, work gets done through people who possess complementary skills, perspectives, and behavioral styles but who can still get along. 

It’s important to realize that you get a job not just because of your resume and track record but also because of your personality or behavioral style.  People want to be with people they know, like, and trust.  If a particular job opening or posting generates 800 candidates with 800 resumes, the resume that is hand-walked to the hiring manager’s desk by someone they know, like, and trust is going to get attention. 

What does this mean for you?  First, people need to know who you are and what you do in order to refer you or move your resume or proposal to the top of the stack.  And you need to be someone they want to work with because you know how to adapt your style to the needs of the situation and connect to the other person in their language.  I am not saying you should be anything other than your brilliant self.  I am saying you will need to develop your adaptability quotient by learning how to people-whisper in 4 easy steps.

It is also necessary to reframe how you think about corporate politics, networking, selling, and relationship-building.  If any of these words have any negative connotations for you as they do for many, learn to reframe your perception of what they truly mean.  All you are doing is connecting with people.  They get to know you and you get to know them.  Work gets done in the context of relationships through conversations.

In order to do this effortlessly, the 4 step process is as follows:

1. Know yourself – know your style and needs and your impact upon others.  Know your natural strengths so you can build upon them.  Know your natural areas for growth so you can develop strategies to work around them or supplement them through others who excel in those areas.
2. Know how to people-read – in my DiSC certifications and one-on-one coaching sessions, I teach people how to read others and to understand how to “do unto others as they would like to be done unto.”  In short, people have different needs and treating everyone the same way doesn’t usually work well.
3. Speak to the other person in their language – we all come into this world with preferences in terms of how we like to fully and freely express certain dimensions of behavior.  Sometimes it is necessary to turn the dial up or down on certain behaviors in order to put the other person at ease and to meet their needs.
4. Partner together going forward – once people understand where the other person is coming from and realize that people are unique and special, there is less of a tendency to believe the other is acting in a certain way to be difficult.  Knowledge of oneself and others leads to compassion and greater effectiveness when accomplishing tasks. 

Regardless of economic conditions, knowing how to connect and develop rapport will serve you well.  People will seek you out when the opportunity arises such that you will be in demand when the need is there.

To learn how to apply these concepts and translate them into practical realities for you or your organization, call us at (404) 327-6330 or email us at Laura@lauraadavis.com. Also feel free to check us out on Linkedin and Facebook at Laura A. Davis, to visit our website and store at www.lauraadavis.com, and/or to follow me on Twitter at Coachlad.

DiSC Assessment Application 

Experience the power of self knowledge and understanding first-hand in our upcoming Virtual Webinar series.  In the comfort of your own office without a need to travel or commute, sign up to attend one of our Webinar series today.

Using DiSC is a powerful yet easy to use learning model so that people can learn to understand and appreciate their personal priorities and the priorities of others.  This understanding allows them to better connect with their colleagues, improving the quality of workplace relationships – one relationship at a time.

The virtual showcase gives you the opportunity to experience Everything DiSC Workplace and see if it is right for your organization.  From the comfort of your own office you’ll get insider information on an easy-to-use program that helps you create productive and effective working relationships NOW.  This is relevant for recession-proofing your career and for achieving organizational goals.

WHY ATTEND?

As an attendee you’ll receive:

• Your own personalized Everything DiSC Workplace Profile.  This 20-page report gives you insight into your workplace priorities and what you bring to the table.
• Expert information from a member of Inscape Publishing’s senior executive team.
• Virtual experience with Everything DiSC Workplace from a learner’s perspective by viewing all new workplace-specific video, and reviewing possible classroom activities.

EVERYTHING DiSC WORKPLACE VIRTUAL SHOWCASE DATES AND TIMES:
July 15, Noon to 1:30 PM Eastern
July 21, Noon to 1:30 PM Eastern
July 23, Noon to 1:30 PM Eastern

HOW TO REGISTER:

To register, call us as soon as possible as slots are going fast.  Call 404-327-6330 and leave a Voicemail as we will get back to you as soon as possible.  Likewise, you can email us at Laura@lauraadavis.com and be sure to specify which Webinar time you can commit to and we will register you and send you access codes for the report and provide further details you will need to participate fully.  The fee to attend the Everything DiSC Workplace Virtual Showcase is an incredibly low price of just $30 per participant.  Since it is a Webinar, all you will need is a phone line and a computer with high speed internet access.
   
Transformational Coaching Tip 

When dealing with the overwhelming feelings that massive change can bring and perhaps feeling a tad cranky about it, nothing is a better antidote than a good belly laugh.  It’s no surprise to me then that the current number one UTube video is a cute baby boy just laughing – but over 15 million viewers?  When I had a down moment earlier this week, it lifted my spirits.  Sometimes it comes down to simple things to refresh and rejuvenate.  If you are in the throes of change or need a little refreshing in the summer heat, here are some quick tips guaranteed to make you smile and lighten your heart. 

1. Have a good belly-laugh!  Researchers say that a good laugh increases blood flow, reduces blood pressure, and releases endorphins which are natural pain-killers that increase well-being.  Not only is it fun, it is good for you!
2. Honor your past and what brought you here today.  Many of us Baby Boomers have taken a trip down memory lane recently with the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett.  I am going to my high school reunion over the 4th of July.  Looking at yearbook photos is sure to guarantee a laugh and a change in perspective.
3. Hang out with a 4 to 6 year old.  Children this age see the world as if it were magic, and we can learn a lot from them.  It is said that young children laugh over 100 times a day while adults may only laugh a couple of times daily if that.  Vow to lighten up – this too shall pass.
4. Treat yourself to a childhood goody.  While the 4th of July holiday is now past, you can keep the spirit alive by playing with sparklers, having watermelon or ice cream, or better yet, corn on the cob with butter.  In my family, we had these fun corn on the cob replicas that you poked into the side of the cob so your fingers wouldn’t get too greasy (they probably have an official name I’ve forgotten).  Remember the Norman Rockwell-like moments of your childhood.  Almost everyone has some memories like that to smile about.
5. Watch a silly but uplifting movie.  For me, “Legally Blonde” does it every time and it just happened to be on TV last night when I couldn’t do another “to do” for the life of me.  The thought of Elle Woods in pink at Harvard is just so silly and yet so profound at the same time.  Some corporate cultures could lighten up and take note.

Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July holiday.  I am honoring the talented heart and soul of the man who was Michael Jackson today, and am happy to see that people are celebrating his life and contributions.

It’s Still About Relationships

“It’s Still About Relationships”  April 2009

People-Whispering Tip:

Recently there has been a social networking groundswell.  Everywhere you turn, people are requesting you to link in on LinkedIn, to answer some Facebook request, or to begin Twittering.  I tend to be a relatively early adopter, at least in theory, so I find myself doing my best to keep up.  The internet has provided so many opportunities for us all to connect and communicate that it is truly exciting and revolutionary.

That said, it can all be just a tad overwhelming.  Just when I started mastering the nuances of my email list, I now have several other sources to check every day.  According to a recent Nielsen study, social networks are now more popular than emailing on the Internet.  The study reported that “member communities” are now at 67% participation while email is at 65%.  This same study went on to say that of internet users throughout the world, two-thirds visited a social networking site last year.  Of those, LinkedIn had a 137% increase in users while Facebook had a 168% increase in users in 2008.  To make matters more confusing, the lines seem to be blurring between the personal and the professional, the public and the private domain.

This isn’t all bad.  I’ve always been a proponent of being authentic so that transparency is an easy, effortless, and healthy practice.  The best leaders live their values in all areas of their lives.  Those who say they are very different at home than they are at work are generally not aware of the way they may have needed to mask their true or natural self in order to meet the needs of the environment.  The line between “objective” behaviors and tasks and the perception another has of our intentions based upon those behaviors is the value of the kind of work I do.   A corporate culture is no different in that certain behaviors are more rewarded or at least are not punished.  The issue is how much energy does it take to mask our natural behaviors and gifts and what is the cost to us?

Again, it comes back to what I call people-whispering which is the fine art and science of understanding yourself and the natural strengths you bring to the table, as well as your preferred work environment and managerial approach based upon who you really are.  Whether these interactions take place face-to-face or on Facebook, the principle is the same.  I need to understand me and you, and learn how to bridge the gap into your world in order to connect with you.

In my work as an Executive Coach, Speaker, and Trainer, I continually see the need to pick the right people for the right role, as well as the need to manage the relationship in such a way that people feel validated, heard, understood, and supported.  Let’s not lose sight of the essence of communication because of its ease of access or its newest bells and whistles.  Last August, I wrote an article for the American Society of Training and Development’s online newsletter called ASTD Links.   I was a bit concerned being a tail-end Baby Boomer that it would need to be about the latest in e-learning or blogging both of which are wonderful delivery mechanisms.  But that is what they are folks, delivery methods.

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the medium is actually not the message.  The message is still always about meeting people where they are and honoring their spirit as well as their personality.  Even in today’s social networking, fast-paced, internet savvy, twittering world of overwhelming choices and information, good business is about good communication which is about good solid relationships based upon the principles for inspired success.  Some of these principles include serving rather than selling our clients and customers, forging mutually beneficial relationships, and building trust.  Forms change but the heart of what works does not.  Indeed, it is still about relationships.
 
DiSC Assessment Application :
       
So many companies have a need for front-line leadership training.  I am a firm believer that supervisors and new managers need training in order to know how to bring out the best in their people.  Most people have not had strong role models and are therefore at a loss as to how to become effective managers. 

Everything DiSC Management teaches managers how to understand their own style better as well as how to read employee styles and adapt to meet their needs more effectively.  The Everything DiSC Management Profile is a 26 page management-specific, personalized report that helps managers understand how to work more effectively in the areas of delegating and directing, inspiring, developing others, and working with their own manager.

The Everything DiSC Management Facilitation Kit and Video provides you the opportunity to develop specialized, in-depth, customizable training programs for your needs.  The video highlights each styles’ priorities and preferences and provides great interactive exercises for getting buy-in, motivating each style, and for the right/way wrong way to connect with each style in a variety of settings.  This demystifies the art of people-whispering in a management context and gives your managers some concrete suggestions for what to do to increase their managerial effectiveness.

For further information regarding how this tool can help you and your team or organization, feel free to call us at  (404) 327-6330, email us at Laura@lauraadavis.com and visit our site at www.lauraadavis.com.

Transformational Coaching Tip: 
    
Relationships are about mutual respect, trust, and reciprocity.  Understanding how to use DiSC effectively can be a powerful tool to assist people in developing and maintaining healthy relationships personally and professionally.  I want to be sure that everyone also understands that it is not enough to just understand and apply these tools from the level of intellect alone.

Deep coaching incorporates the wisdom gained from understanding your life and your choices as a cohesive whole.  Once you understand your behavioral needs, your values and beliefs, and can identify your thinking and feeling patterns underlying your behavior; you are at choice instead of at effect.

An example might prove helpful to clarify what I mean.  Everyone has heard of “control freaks” or has dealt with people they thought were controlling.  Releasing the need for control and the fear behind that is helpful for all of us.  There is a big difference between releasing the need for control and abdicating responsibility however.

Ask yourself if you tend to use fear-based or wisdom-based control?  Fear-based control shows up as trying to have some kind of power over others and might out-picture as adversarial posturing, threats, passive-aggressive behaviors and so on.  Yet, wisdom-based control comes from a deeper place of respect whereby guidance is offered while at the same time keeping everyone safe and thriving without squashing anyone’s spirit or taking away anyone’s free will.  This kind of “control” might be necessary in the case of managers and employees, mentors and students, society and its citizens, as well as parents and children.

Make the shift to wisdom-based “control” and watch your relationships in all areas of your life transform and flourish.

Clues to Uncovering Your Creative Genius Regardless of a Recession

Clues to Your Creative Genius: What Are Your Unique Gifts and Talents?

People-Whispering Tip:

Each and every one of us was born with incredible gifts and talents that are unique and special to us as individuals. For the moment, I’d like you to forget about what you do for a living. I am temporarily uninterested in having you think about your background and experience in terms of skills, training, and experience. Let’s disregard even your current life choices.

For now, let’s just look at what you love to do. You may or may not be able to say what that is. For most people, it is infinitely easier to state what they don’t like to do and to explain what is wrong with their daily life than it is to express what brings them joy. It’s okay. This kind of collective amnesia is rampant in today’s environment of “just being lucky to have a job.” 

Maybe you’ve just lost yours through no fault of your own. Maybe some moments you even see this time in the world as an opportunity to go forth and do what you really love to do. But maybe you’re scared and don’t know where to begin. Maybe you are holding your breath waiting for things to “return to normal.” I recommend exhaling and rethinking your approach to your career.

Don’t worry, while everything is always changing in the world of form, “who you really are” at your core is something that remains the same throughout your life. I believe we each have a vital design or blueprint that needs to express itself through the medium of your whole life. This life purpose of yours is not lost. The clues to your own unique pattern of talents and gifts are just scattered in fragments from your past or may even be hidden in plain sight, right under your nose.

“The Wizard of Oz” is not just a charming children’s story with some beautiful songs in it. It is a classic because it speaks to the truth of our being, namely that whatever we need is with us and within us all the time. We just get distracted on our journeys by what we perceive as people and circumstances that have power over us in the forms of wicked witches, poppy fields, flying monkeys, and interesting winding roads that lead us outside of ourselves until we go back home again. We must go back to reexamine what has always made our hearts sing.

Best-selling author of  “The Tipping Point”, and “Blink” Malcolm Gladwell, has written another fascinating book about geniuses called ‘”Outliers.” The book studies why the people who we consider to be geniuses got to be the way they are escaping the call to mediocrity that so many fall prey to in society today. I love the concept of the book but not the title. Realizing our potential needn’t be so uncommon as the potential for genius is within us all and yet few of us realize it for a variety of reasons. Genius is a focused attention to a subject and usually a subject that we love.

The people that we call geniuses are just men and women who somehow escaped having to put that curious, wondering child within themselves to sleep. Instead, they devoted their time and energy to equipping themselves with the tools, skills, structure, and support to keep playing at what they loved on an adult level. For example, Gladwell’s recent book tells how Bill Gates used to sneak out of his house late at night as a teenager to go “work” i.e. play with computers without his parents discovering where he was.

What did you love to do as a teenager and as a child? Let your mind wander back to your childhood and think of the times you were allowed to play or daydream or do whatever you wanted to do. I’ve adapted the following quiz from a wonderful book by career development author and speaker Barbara Sher. The book is a jewel and is called “Wishcraft.”

Here is the exercise:

Grab your journal or a fresh sheet of paper and do your best to answer the following questions:
1. What especially attracted and fascinated you when you were a child?
2. What sense – sight, hearing, or touch did you live most through?
3. What did you love to do, or daydream about, no matter how “silly” or unimportant (read that impractical) it may seem to you now?
4. What were the secret fantasies and games that you never told anybody about?
5. Is there a part of you that still loves those things?
6. What talents or abilities might those early interests and dreams point to now?

DiSC Assessment Application:

Much has been written about the Myers-Briggs Assessment in regard to career development and creative self-expression. While not as much has been written about the DiSC assessment and how to use the self-knowledge that can be gleened from taking it in this context, it is just as relevant if not more so in my opinion.

The theory behind the DiSC assessment begins with the acknowledgement that we all come into this world with a predisposed set of personality and behavioral energies and characteristics that want to be fully and freely expressed. I often think of the Christmas special “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer” with the one elf who is unhappy in his role as an elf as he’d rather be a dentist. He was an elf with high “C” or “Conscientiousness” characteristics trying to be a high “i” or an Influencing elf without much success or happiness!

It is important not to stereotype by style and to recognize that all styles can perform many types of work with the proper training for skill and will. That said, within any given field, we do gravitate and tend to do better at something we are naturally drawn to as a result of our DiSC propensities.

For example, a high “D” individual thrives on challenge and achieving results. They are often not content to have a steady, routine job whereas a high “S” personality would appreciate a job with predictable step by step processes in place. A high “C” personality generally is content to perform research and analysis by themselves in a quiet, controlled environment while a high “i” personality would go stark-raving mad without the opportunity to talk with people on a daily basis.

When used correctly, the DiSC-based tool to help people be placed in the right job or role for them so that they have an opportunity to shine and create results for the organization, is called the “Role Behavior Analysis” which can be purchased from the store at www.lauraadavis.com.  For information on how to use this tool properly to get the most out of your team and to do more with less, call us at (404) 327-6330 or email Laura at Laura@lauraadavis.com. Also, see Laura’s article on her website entitled “Beyond Mars and Venus at Work or at Home: The Original DiSC as a Transformational Tool.” 

Transformational Coaching Tip:

I’ve been doing more career transition work than leadership development work in the last few months as a result of the current business environment. While they are different fields, they are really two sides of the same coin. I assist people in developing the self-knowledge and the skills to not only survive but to thrive in the new world of work. The same principles apply whether you are leading others within an organization or whether you are leading yourself to find your best role in a new situation.

One of the barriers I see getting in the way for many individuals is what I call an unhealthy, almost pathological sense of needing to “make it on my own.” Many Americans were raised to be rugged individualists. Self-reliance is a wonderful ideal but in today’s global, interconnected web of ever-changing technologies, players, and economic situations, it is not enough.

All successful people know when to ask for help. You don’t have to be the expert in everything. You will make yourself very tired trying to figure it all out by yourself.

Magic happens when you build on the knowledge, skills, and contacts of other people. By becoming a good receiver, you give others the gift of adding to your life. Consider this as a mindset-shifting transformational tip: Ask for help in the areas in which you need assistance and be willing to offer your expertise in your areas of strength in exchange. Cocreation and collaboration can turn your dreams into realities. All the best to you and email me your inevitable success stories!

Maintaining Forward Momentum in a Recession

“Maintaining Forward Momentum” 

        People Whispering Tip        

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It is true that I am an optimist by nature.  That said, I am a practical grounded one rather than just a starry-eyed dreamer.  Dreaming is important, vital even in my experience.  Having an idealist vision for your life and for the world is what keeps us moving forward.  I believe we are entering a time in history that we will look back on as being truly transformational.  If anyone needs evidence that the old ways of greed, hoarding information and knowledge, and/or consumerism solely for instant gratification is damaging, you’ve been living under a rock the past six months.

 

Just as Christopher Columbus sailed the oceans with erroneous assumptions and yet uncovered a new land, we are in the process of discovery as well.  Just as his despairing sailors saw signs of land in the form of twigs and branches in the water before they reached the shores of the new world, we are in the process of creating new forms of empowering leadership and collaboration.  Globally as well as personally, this growth can be messy.

 

In my own work, I have seen much of the training and developmental efforts of well-meaning companies get put on hold as they struggle to survive.  This is sometimes prudent and the wisest thing to do.  When someone is hungry, you give them food and take care of their immediate need.  You don’t give them inspirational lectures and training courses until their basic needs are met.  At the same time, while we are doing what we need to do to meet our needs and cover our expenses, an education in the art of transition can prove beneficial. 

 

At present, I have the privilege of working with Macy’s employees who are being outplaced in the Atlanta market.  We are teaching people how to assess their talents and share the wonderful accomplishments they have made to the corporation and to their customers over the years.  We are sharing how to research opportunities and consider options that they may not have considered before.  Assisting people with the art of thinking about their work lives in a new way is a passion of mine.  Once people have hope that they can navigate their own transition because they have more influence than they realize, they can focus in and match their talents to the current needs.  There are opportunities out there even though uncovering them may require being creative and thinking in completely different ways than previously.

 

So much of success in life is a strong and yet balanced belief in yourself.  Ask yourself what are your unique talents and skills and how can you leverage them in a variety of situations and contexts?  There are great resources to help you in doing this including my book, A Guide to Getting It: Self Esteem, Po Bronson’s book What Should I Do With My Life?, the classic by Richard Bolles What Color is My Parachute 2009?, any book by Barbara Sher and many more.

 

Most importantly now though is to recognize that you may be going through a sense of loss.  If you have lost your job or your business is slow or you are in any way uncertain about your future (and who isn’t?), you can soothe yourself by realizing that it is very normal to experience a roller coaster of emotions in these times.  Avoid judging yourself if you feel a loss of identity.  Rest assured, you are not your job or what you do although our culture is certainly oriented that way.  Even if you have not been directly affected by the current economic situation, even seeing those who have or seeing local stores and restaurants going out of business can be a sense of loss.  Sometimes, people experience “survivor guilt” when their friends and colleagues lose their jobs while they remain with the organization.

 

In this month’s Transformational Coaching Tip, I will share strategies to manage your emotions so you can move forward in whatever form of transition you may be experiencing.   I am a strong advocate of the power of thought and attitude in creating your experience personally and professionally.  When you understand how this really works however, you understand that it is not a matter of covering up what you are feeling by putting a bandaid on the wound.  The wound does need to heal by acknowledging that it is there.  In the same way, acknowledging a loss even if you are happy about your next prospects is a healthy thing to do as long as you don’t wallow in it.  Here is what to do to acknowledge the loss and release it:

1. Create a dialogue and ask for support from qualified people.  Ask for advice and support from people who have career transition expertise and not just from friends and family who are well-meaning but don’t have the answers.  In all of the career transition work I am doing right now, I see many people who share what their friends, family members, or colleagues say about job search techniques, the market, etc.  You wouldn’t ask them about brain surgery would you?  There is an art and science to finding the right opportunities for you and landing them.  Ask people who have expertise in that arena.
2. Be patient with yourself and others going through this process.  You can expect to go through a roller coaster of emotions so know that that is normal and natural.  Now is the time to practice extreme self-care and to create opportunities for structure and support in your daily routines.  Also, surround yourself with positive people and environments.  You want to be with people who can provide empathy and not sympathy.  Be with people who are moving forward and not with those who are “awfulizing.”
3. Focus on your strengths.  From a practical job-hunting or creating a business stand-point, what you want to share with prospective employers and/or customers is what you have accomplished in the past and what you can do for them in the future.  It is not enough to share what you’ve done, or like to do.  Be prepared to share how you can create results for them.  This also allows you to feel more confident that you do have a lot to offer and are valuable and important.
4. Look for links and clues.  In career coaching, we ask people to look for transferrable skills.  Where else can you leverage your talents and apply your skills?  Likewise, where and why have you thrived in the past and how can you recreate those factors in your new work environment.

 

DiSC Assessment Application
     

Since this issue has been focused on collaboration and teamwork as key components of leadership, it seems most appropriate to highlight the Team Dimensions profile this month.  The Team Effectiveness section under Training and Development at www.lauraadavis.com goes into further detail about this assessment as well.  Despite all of the gloom and doom about the economy, some companies are still thriving.  They are the companies that provide excellent customer service and take a long-term relationship approach to their business.  It always amazes me when I hear people saying something to the effect that “this is just business.”  Who do they think runs a business, buys from a business, makes the business what it is?  That’s right – people.  So business is inherently personal, no exceptions.  

 

One of the best ways to ensure that people feel well served and treated as individuals is to understand their style and by employing the art of people-whispering.  The assessment tool I’d like to highlight this month is the DiSC Customer Service Action Planner.  This tool allows a customer service professional or anyone on the front line of any business operation to read their customer’s style so that they can adapt to them accordingly.  This prevents misunderstandings and greatly contributes to the customer’s sense of being treated as a unique and special individual.  When competition is fierce, this personalized service can make the difference so that your customers keep coming back to you.

 

For more information about how to use the DiSC Customer Service Action Planner and/or for support in your career transition, please call us at (404) 327-6330 or email Laura@lauraadavis.com.

 

   
Transformational Coaching Tip 
    

At present, I am doing more career transition coaching than I usually do.  While a job or business loss is seldom pleasant and can be frightening, it truly can be an opportunity to reassess and regroup. 

Here are this month’s top suggestions for staying positive and solution-focused while going through a transition.

1. Cut back on the amount of time you spend watching the mainstream news and never watch before you go to sleep.  Put yourself on a mental diet and watch the Jim Lehrer hour on public television.  Read anything by Dr. Joseph Murphy and/or other inspirational literature.  Read Ode magazine for the intelligent optimist.  Mainstream media can be sensationalist and unbalanced so monitor your intake like you would any potentially unhealthy substance.
2. Take some time each day to play or otherwise enjoy life.  People often tell me they don’t have time.  I understand as everyone is busy.  Still, having a sense of play and wonder about your daily activities is key.  Get over the Puritan work ethic and enjoy your life.  Personally, I take walks in nature and have a little chocolate every day.
3. Do some form of meditation or deep breathing every day.  The scientific evidence regarding the value of meditation is overwhelming.  There are so many positive benefits that it is well worth your time and attention.
4. Write a gratitude list and keep reviewing it.  So much of going through change and transition successfully is around perspective.  Write out what you are grateful for each day even if it is as silly as being able to get out of bed that morning.  Watch your life get better and better with this simple practice.
5. Take some time for self-assessment and then act purposefully.  So many people put their resume together quickly and send it out to anyone or post it online without giving any careful consideration to who they are, what they want, and what they bring to the table.  Think this through before you act so you can land something that is a match to you and your gifts where you will thrive and not just survive.
6. Write out a detailed action plan or create a mind map regarding your job search or business plan.  There is great power in putting things on paper so you can sequence tasks and manage your time and energy more effectively.  Just getting all of the thoughts and feelings that are swirling around in your head out on paper can be useful too.
7. Keep a journal to express your upset in rather than take it out on those around you.  Many people resist keeping a journal for a variety of reasons.  Regardless, getting your thoughts out on paper can be a great form of release.  You can look at them, laugh at them and avoid conflicts with those you care about because you’ve cleaned up your own emotions prior to interacting with them.
8. Do some volunteer work to feel useful and to connect with others who need support.  Making a difference in someone else’s life is the key to inspired success in my opinion.  It will help you to feel worthwhile and will provide you with perspective when needed.     

Creating an Inspiring Climate in the Face of Fear by Laura A. Davis, www.lauraadavis.com

What a week it was last week with the presidential inauguration and the outpouring of emotion the event prompted in so many of us. While it is a scary time for many given the current economic conditions, no one can deny the hope and positive expectancy this shift in leadership has prompted.

As an Executive Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Trainer, I’ve become curious about why President Obama is able to inspire so many people from different walks of life. What is it about him that makes us feel empowered again? How can we emulate him in the sense that we catalyze that feeling in those we lead in whatever context we find ourselves in as leaders? This is not intended to be a political treatise in any way but merely a short analysis of what we can learn about successful leadership to apply to our own lives and business organizations.

First and foremost, he inspires confidence. He seems to have a centered and clear belief in the possibility of change in a hopeful and yet realistic way. He is self-confident without arrogance and readily admits that he will need help to turn our country around. This attitude reflects the seemingly paradoxical truth that greatness lies somewhere between an outrageous sense of confidence and a respectful humility of the enormity of the vision to be accomplished and fulfilled.

In organizational life, we talk about culture and climate as being key success factors. Culture can be hard to define but refers to the values, beliefs and myths an organization embodies. It is an “I know it when I see it” kind of thing. We know there are distinct cultures at UPS (where I worked for several years) vs. FedEx, at IBM vs. Apple and so on. It is like a company’s personality if you will. A company’s climate is related and yet is more about people’s perceptions of the work environment and what it feels like to work in a place. An ideal climate engenders a positive outlook and promotes employee participation and engagement.

Leaders encourage a positive climate in 3 primary ways according to research done by The Forum Corporation with whom I am proudly associated. The first way is by “managing the temperature” which refers to involving others in decision-making and by communicating authentically. This is what President Obama seems to do so well. He speaks with candor and acknowledges the challenges ahead while being visible and accessible.

Second, Forum’s research points to the need to “narrow the focus” by learning from key customers and identifying and developing key talent. By all accounts, Obama asks for input from qualified people and is intent on seeking a diversity of opinions. I am sure he is not perfect and yet he is a wonderful model of a qualified servant leader.

Third, and most revolutionary perhaps, a positive climate is developed by “bringing people together.” This involves building relationships and making it safe to raise questions and bring up new potentially “radical” ideas. Many organizations today are subject to the “tyranny of the ordinary” where people have been trained not to take risks. Especially in today’s environment of downsizing and contraction, it is easy for people to hunker down and become territorial and risk-averse. I have seen this in clients and associates to my dismay. While it is a natural and normal reaction, it is the least effective approach to the situation. In times like these, collaboration is more important than ever before.

Instead, now is the time to invest in people and professional as well as personal development. Now more than ever, “survivors” in organizations need training and coaching on how to give and receive feedback, on how to manage change, on how to work more effectively in teams to develop strong leaders at all levels.

In the months ahead, I encourage you to look to Obama and many others who are exhibiting these leadership qualities to see what you and your organization can learn. If you don’t agree with his positions, that is fine and that is not the point. The point is, what can you learn that is relevant for you and your unique situation?

I invite you to visit our new, updated, revised, and revitalized website to see how we can assist you on that journey. The url is www.lauraadavis.com. Also, please feel free to make comments and let us know your thoughts on our People-Whispering blog. You can access it on the left hand navigation bar of the home page and/or reply right here.

Welcome to my blog

Hello All!

The purpose of this blog is to share ideas and insights and dialogue about the fine art of “people-whispering.”  “People-whispering”  is about the ability to connect with people of all personality styles, cultures, ages, and belief systems.  It involves keen self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

It also entails being able to “people-read” the other person so that you can understand them more deeply.

Once someone feels heard and understood, you can cross the bridge into their world to partner together with them going forward.

Please feel free to comment on this thread and add more to the conversation!

Laura