Category Archive for ‘Advancement’ at DrivenLeaders.com

Archive for the 'Advancement' Category

The 3 Greatest Networking Myths

Published

on August 4, 2009

. 0 Comments

“Leveraging the power of networking is essential for ongoing career and professional success.”

Yes, I know it sounds like a broken record, you’ve heard it before, but can you honestly say that you’ve mastered one of the simplest and most powerful forces that exist in business?

Unfortunately to this day, the term “networking” often conjures up many negative stereotypes and countless misconceptions as to what networking truly is. As a result, one of the most effective (and inexpensive) allies to your success routinely sits on the sidelines as “more important things” hold your attention. Networking continues to be an incredibly effective way to gain new clients, find strong employees, and overall move forward in your career. While there are many great resources on how to expand your network, the focus of this post is to help jumpstart your efforts and get past the false impressions and misconceptions that may be holding you back.

“Although the concept of networking has been tainted by misconceptions, wise leaders know how to prioritize relationships, recognizing them as the surest sources of prosperity and stability.” – John Maxwell

I came a cross a quick passage where leadership guru John Maxwell addresses some of the most widely held myths that hold us back from proactively networking.

Myth #1: Networking is for self-promoting schmoozers.

Networking isn’t solely the realm of desperate job seekers or overeager socializers. Nor do you have to hand out business cards like candy in order to network. Networking simply involves making mutual connections, and everyone benefits by forming them. By tapping into our connections, we can share ideas, pass along opportunities, and benefit from one another’s expertise.

Myth #2: Network is only for salespeople or outgoing personalities.

You may not be a salesperson and you may not be outgoing, but you can’t deny that business, at its core, is founded upon relationships. Regardless of your position or personality, you’d be wise to intentionalize your social interactions. If you neglect your network, you’ll be isolated when your life hits a rough patch. Conversely, if you cultivate your network, you’ll be buoyed by support whenever hard times come your way.

Myth #3: Networking, by nature, is uncomfortable, forced, and contrived.

We tend to imagine networking as speed dating awkwardly applied to the professional level. Nothing could be more inaccurate. The best networkers authentically share themselves (their talents, knowledge, resources) to benefit others. This can happen casually and genuinely, both at work and in informal atmospheres.

networkingcircle The 3 Greatest Networking Myths If you find yourself falling victim to these or any of the countless reasons that could hold you back, stop today! Challenge yourself to meet to people, make new contacts, and develop these associations into mutually beneficial relationships. You’ll be surprised where they might lead you.

Business Networking Tips (buzzoodle.com)
Networking Isn’t a Dirty Word (hardknoxlife.com)
Why LinkedIn Reccomendations are Valuable (personalbrandingblog.com)

Tips For Getting Promoted in Down Economy

Published

Anthony Portuesi

on July 9, 2009

in Advancement and Personal Development

. 2 Comments

With unemployement numbers higher than they’ve been in years (9.5% as of June 2009), it sounds odd to be talking about promotions. When businesses large and small laying off employees, the natural inclination is for us worry about holding on to our jobs. Who wouldn’t! Yet for some, these challenging times may present an opportunity to differentiate yourself, get noticed, and position yourself for a step up the ladder.

Even admist restructuring, when there are fewer employees in an organization, those who survive often have increased opportunities to move up. Speaking to this, renowned career coach Marty Nemko presents an interesting video for U.S. News & World Report with advice on how to position yourself for a promotion in a down economy.

Video - “Getting Ahead in a Down Economy“

1. Hitch youself to a star.
2. Get involved in the companies core.
3. Get involved in professional associations.
4. Utilize online tools to brand yourself.

Creating Your Personal Career Vision

Published

Anthony Portuesi

on May 20, 2009

in Advancement, Personal Development and Vision

. 3 Comments

career vision4 Creating Your Personal Career Vision

I know this sounds easier said than done, trust me. I was that kid who never had a straight answer to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I had new idea every few weeks, feeling that it was too hard to pick just one thing to do for the rest of my life. As time passed and experience came to my aid, I quickly learned that without a defined goal, vision, or endpoint for where I wanted to be later in life, the road to getting there was going to be that much tougher to travel.

Since those early days, I have become strong advocate of setting goals and creating a vision for one’s future; career ambitions included.

Even in a tough job market there are opportunities, perhaps reserved for the most talented, best networked, or best prepared, but they do exist. For many, the difference between being in that group verses being on the outside, is having an unyielding personal vision. Defining your career goals and developing a plan to reach them is the first step to achieving them. Expectedly this is only part of the equation; the execution is what will ultimately determine its level of success.

For Gen-Y, achieving our career ambitions will take much longer than we had once hoped; a blatant fact that may be discouraging, but is nevertheless true. This creates a perfect time to revisit (or create) your own Personal Career Vision and figure out where you truly want to be later in life. i believe we each need to define this vision before we can take the correct action on it.

“Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” - George Washington Carver

Creating your vision - Where to Start

Like most things, getting started is often the hardest part. Steve Bohler, Director for the Oxford Program of Career Change, offers some suggestions on how to approach creating your personal vision. If done correctly, this exercise may be a little eye opening. Get started today by asking yourself the following:

What is my CORE? Your core defines how you are hard-wired - your natural abilities and personal traits. Using these traits is required for a fulfilling work life. If your work makes it impossible for you to express these essential aspects of yourself, self-actualization will be just about impossible. The best way to understand your core is through a “triangulation” of objective testing, reflection, and external validation.

Objective Testing: Results from a sound interests/personality assessment can help you identify your role in life. For example, at work are you supposed to be a “creator” or a “doer?”
Reflection: Look over your employment history and identify themes that run through the jobs you’ve loved and those you’ve hated. Does the objective testing help to explain why those themes exist?
External Validation: What do others who know you well suggest are your greatest, natural talents?

What is my AMBITION? No Personal Career Vision can exist without getting intimately in touch with what you really want, now and in the future. Your ambition builds off of your core and paints a picture of your ideal destination. If you know where you want to go, you’ll have a much easier time getting there. Make a list on paper:

What time do you want to start work? What do you want to wear to work?
What organizational style do you find most compatible? What setting? Profit vs. non-profit? Summers off?
What are your lifetime goals? Retiring early? Becoming a homeowner?
Imagine being on your death bed. What are the things you must do or achieve in your life to feel satisfied? Becoming prominent in your field? Writing a book? Somehow making a difference in the world?

Then ask yourself, which of these are important enough to wait, create or fight for? Which of these will be a part of my Personal Career Vision?

What are my TRADEMARK ASSETS? Your assets make up your competitive advantage. They are your source of success and meaning as well as your greatest value to the world. Think about:

What are you really interested in? Do you look forward to reading the trade magazines for your job, or do you dread it? If you were stranded on a desert island and could get one magazine subscription, what would that magazine be about?
What gift (or gifts) do you have that you haven’t fully acknowledged?
What makes you more naturally suited to a profession than 95 percent of the population because you bring a unique passion, experience, or talent to the table?
What do you know a lot about, or know a little about and want to know more about?
What do you really love doing? Think about those tasks where time flies by and you don’t even notice because you’re truly in the moment.

The answers to theses main questions should tell you a great deal about yourself and your personal ambitions. Once you’ve created your vision, start exploring avenues that will help you turn these desires into reality. It’s unrealistic to expect all of these “wants” to happen quickly, but now that your vision is taking shape, you can figure out what it will take to make it reality. Share your vision with a trusted mentor and begin to formulate what steps you need to take to fulfill these goals. It may involve a career change, switching industries, or perhaps accepting an interim position as a stepping stone to a future career. Though it may not be your favorite position, it could play a crucial role in reaching your ultimate goal.

Remember, “Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” So take a moment, look inside yourself, and outline your Personal Career Vision, you’ll thank yourself in the future.

Career Transition Tips for Success (halliecrawford.typepad.com)
A Gap Year Can Get Gen Ys’ Groove Back (blogs.harvardbusiness.org)
How to recognize bad advice about work (penelopetrunk.com)

UpMo: The Next Step in Career Navigation

Published

Anthony Portuesi

on February 18, 2009

in Advancement

. 2 Comments

Have you ever sat and wondered how your life might be different if you had decided to take that consulting job out of school instead of that sales position? How about the sleepless nights deliberating if going back to school and furthering your degree will really help you achieve your career goals? I know I certainly have. A new service at UpMo.com, may help you answer some of these questions when it comes to navigating your future career aspirations.

upmo screenshot UpMo: The Next Step in Career Navigation

Touted as “GPS for your career,” UpMo is new subscription-based, online career and network management service. In a nutshell, UpMo has developed a proprietary methodology developed by reverse-engineering the career paths of successful professionals. The site allows subscribers to view the career paths and networking habits of real people (doctors, executives, entrepreneurs, you name it) and then provides tools and direction to assists users in developing their own career roadmap. What I like about the concept is that it not only facilitates the development of your own customized plan, but it allows you to create an actionable strategy, serving as a step-by-step guide for your specific career destination.

“Today’s economy has shown that hunting jobsites and collecting contacts on LinkedIn still leaves many careers going nowhere and mired in uncertainty. To advance your career in this new marketplace will take a new approach. Recognizing that what’s missing from most career plans is direction and strategy, UpMo helps anyone move their career continually upward and forward even when markets crash, companies crumble and jobs disappear.” - Promise Phelon, CEO of Upwardly Mobile Inc.

UpMo attempts to guide your career in four steps:

Take UpMo’s Network Readiness Evaluator to score the current strength of your network.
Select an “UpModel” to emulate the success of real-life professionals.
Map your career using UpMo’s “Career Mapper.”
Manage your career by continually executing on your Career Action Plan

UpMo Beta is available for free, however later this year, the service will be provided on a subscription basis for a price yet to be released. Take advantage and try it out for free.

Stepping Up in the Absence of Leadership

Published

Anthony Portuesi

on October 9, 2008

in Advancement and Leadership

. 1 Comment

climbing ladder Stepping Up in the Absence of Leadership Like many organizations, my company is going through its fair share of leadership changes. Be it promotions, transfers, reorganizations or resignations, there are countless reasons as to why leaders will move on to other opportunities. With the uncertainly that a temporary void in leadership creates, it also opens a narrow window of opportunity for aspiring leaders at all levels. The key is not only noticing when these opportunities arise, but being fully prepared to take advantage when they do. Doing so effectively can help you position yourself as a key player when new management begins to step in.

As the incoming leaders formalize there roles, they will undoubtedly look to find key people that can help them make their transition process successful. By positioning yourself as an informal leader in their absence, you start off on the right foot from day one. We’ve all heard the adage, “You only get one change to make a first impression” – well this situation is no different. If you are strategic about your actions during a leadership transition, you will not only create a meaningful first impression; you will be saying “I’m ready for more recognition, more responsibility, and more money .”

The following are a few suggestions on what to do before and during a leadership transition.

Find a mentor. Find a leader you trust and respect, and be a sponge. Not only will you elevate your learning, but you’ll create an ally who can help you as future opportunities arise.
Learn from outgoing leaders. Chances are they did things very well or horribly wrong. Either way, spend some time learning about what made them succeed or fail, and what opportunities they foresee emerging as the transition ensues.
Build your network. Having a positive relationship with key people in your organization is a major asset. They may be able to prove insight into advancement opportunities and give you the backing necessary to win over with the incoming leaders.
Lead your group through the change. Stepping up as a leader in your group or department is always looked at as a positive in times of change. With the knowledge you’ve gain from your network, you’ll have the confidence to calm the masses and keep your team moving forward in these times of uncertainty. In helping others succeed, you naturally project yourself as a leader and someone ready to assume additional responsibility.
Step outside of your comfort zone. As the old saying goes, “To get what you’ve never had, you must do what you’ve never done.” Challenge yourself and your peers. The results may surprise you.
Keep developing yourself. I know it sounds cliché, but if you sit back and ride out this transition you are wasting valuable time. There is no better time for personal development and if you’ve executed the above suggestions to this point, I’d venture to say that you’ve already learned a few lessons along the way. Don’t stop.

As with many things in life, the only constant in business is change. They key to maximizing this opportunity is being ready at any given time. Don’t wait to start this process, start today. You never know when you’re window of opportunity may just open up…

Best Places to Launch a Career

Published

Anthony Portuesi

on September 7, 2008

in Advancement and Gen-Y

. 0 Comments

This month, Business Week published its annual list of the best company’s to launch your career. As expected the “Big 4″ all ranked in the top five, however many companies have made big moves forward by catering to the desires of Gen-Y. Signing bonuses, exceptional training, extended vacation, and quick advancement, have all become common place tactics to lure top notch candidates straight from school. Visit the full article for a complete listing of the top 50 and details on how each company made the cut.