Hire your boss! While that statement without context is contradictory it does deserve your attention as you advance in your career. While vision, responsibilities, advancement opportunities, position, strategic plans, staffing, benefits and salary are all important, the single most important factor impacting and influencing your future success (besides your own work ethic, commitment and quality) is your boss. Having said …
How to staff your team during training
Providing training to your team is essential in order to continue improving the quality of services you offer as well as to enhance career development opportunities. However, when training takes place, it is important not to neglect services you currently provide. The actual staffing process depends on the size of your team, services you provide and training opportunities and schedule. …
Information is meant to be shared
Information is meant to be shared as its primary purpose is to inform others of what is or will be taking place. As soon as you have access to information that other people would find useful please pass it along so that they can find value in it. Don’t hide, hoard or shelter information, it is not yours to keep …
Why avoiding conflict can hurt you and others
Avoiding conflicts is generally a solid advice to follow. However, at times, disagreements (perhaps a better term) are unavoidable. By this I refer to those moments when someone needs to speak up in support of others and with collaboration and progress in mind. However, even during these disagreements one needs to remain professional, respectful and polite, but the points of …
Focusing on success and managing project expectations
Project management is an acquired skill, one that doesn’t come over night and is certainly not for everyone. As you are joining new project teams it is essential to do so with an open mind without any prejudices or preconceived notions. Listen to all ideas, think about them and consider them seriously. Learn from past collective experience, but leave any …
Top 3 areas to focus on at a new job
Top 3 areas to focus on at a new job may vary when it comes to specifics and details. However, the overall theme of the three areas that deserve and need you attention once you join a new organization are: Meet your coworkers – learn what their hopes, goals and ideas are. Leverage their institutional knowledge and experience in adapting …
Client experience is the starting point
Client experience is the starting point of all service offerings. When designing services to support your organization it is essential to start with the experience of your users (both internal and external) in mind. Once you are aware how your services impact the lives or responsibilities of others that’s when you reverse engineer the process to make sure proper people …
Make progress and don’t compare yourself to others
Make progress, don’t chase perfection and most importantly don’t compare yourself to others. Move towards your goals each day and don’t get discouraged by seeing someone who is at this time further along the path than you may be. Most of them have started from zero, and with time, effort, hustle and commitment have advanced to their present state. You …
Today’s setbacks don’t define your future success
Overcoming personal and professional setbacks is part of life. It is one of those “absolute truths” in a sense that life is not always smooth, easy and doesn’t develop according to plan. Having said that, what we do with those setbacks and how we react to them is of even greater importance. It is important to understand that nearly all …
Career advice: be thoughtful and intentional, be strategic
When it comes to your career and your professional future (same goes for many personal goals as well) it is essential to be thoughtful, intentional and strategic. Think long and hard about where you would like to be in 10, 15 or even 20 years and then design your strategic plan. Once you have identified your current professional summit (as …