Archive for the 'Personal Development' Category

The 3 Greatest Networking Myths

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on August 4, 2009
in Advancement and Personal Development
. 0 Comments

networkgroup The 3 Greatest Networking Myths“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 MythsIf 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.

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Tips For Getting Promoted in Down Economy

Published
by
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“getting ahead Tips For Getting Promoted in 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.

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Rypple: 360 Degree Feedback Reinvented

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on May 29, 2009
in Communication and Personal Development
. 5 Comments

360 feedback Rypple: 360 Degree Feedback ReinventedFor years now, 360 degree feedback or “multi-rater feedback” has become all the rage when it comes to training, development, and in some cases, performance evaluations. 

In a nutshell, 360 degree feedback is a method and a tool that provides an employee the opportunity to receive performance feedback from every aspect surrounding their role. Traditionally the feedback is given from a range of internal sources (including supervisors, peers, subordinates) and in some cases external sources as well (customers, business partners, etc.) 360 degree feedback allows an individual to understand how his or her effectiveness as an employee, coworker, or staff member is viewed by others.

“The purpose of the 360 degree feedback is to assist each individual to understand his or her strengths and weaknesses, and to contribute insights into aspects of his or her work needing professional development.” – Susan Heathfield, HR Expert - About.com

There is great debate as to whether 360 degree feedback should be used strictly for developmental purposes, or also used for end of year appraisals. Some argue that multiple sources lead to more well rounded fedback, while others feel that the method’s anonymity provides no recourse should one want further clarification on the feedback. Regardless of position, it’s hard to argue the power of receiving a full circle view of one’s effectiveness when it comes to personal development.

Recently while discussing the topic, a co-worker introduced me to Rypple.com, a quick and easy way to solicit feedback from managers, peers or really anyones opinion whom you respect. The flexibility of the system allows you to solict feedback from anyone,  about anything from performance, to opinions on a meeting, or input from a team members on a project. Everything is presented in very simplistic manner allowing you to simply enter your question, choose whom you want to ask it to, and then track your performance.

rypple Rypple: 360 Degree Feedback Reinvented 

What separates Rypple from other 360 feedback systems is that there are minimal constraints when it comes to what you can and cannot do. There are no pre-defined questions or limitations on who should give you feedback. The responses are completely anonymous, creating an open environment for honest and meaningful feedback. With this flexible functionality, some users have even employed the technology to survey customers and solicit feedback from clients.  

Rypple is a web-based and free for the basic service, (a premium version costs a nominal fee per month, with corporate options rising from there) allowing users to sign-up today and receive feedback almost instantly. Certainly an interesting twist on receiving feedback that caters directly to Gen-Y. To learn more, take the Rypple Tour and check it out yourself. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts or experiences if you’ve used it.

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Creating Your Personal Career Vision

Published
by
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

thinker statue1 Creating Your Personal Career VisionCreating 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.

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Setting Priorities 101: Plan Each Day to Ensure Success

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on May 8, 2009
in Classroom 101 and Personal Development
. 4 Comments

todolists2 Setting Priorities 101: Plan Each Day to Ensure Success

We all have 168 hours in every week. No more, no less. And though many of us might wish we could, we will never have the power to add to that number.  Our level of success is directly related to how we manage our time each and every day. 

For those aspiring to get ahead, every new day brings greater challenges, new opportunities, and undoubtedly additional items to add to the “To-Do List.” We constantly have more and more demands placed on our time and it seems the closer we get to achieving our goals, the more and more things we have to get done each day. Setting priorities and planning ahead is no longer a “nice to do” option, it’s the price of admission in being effective.

The more time you invest in planning and setting your priorities before you begin your day, the more you’ll be able to accomplish — and the faster you’ll get those tasks done.

I know this isn’t breaking news - you’ve heard it before. Yet even knowing this, a majority of people neglect taking a few extra minutes to truly plan for their day and internalize what they want to accomplish in that given time. The key to maximizing your time and efforts is learning to identify and work on the most important tasks until they’re complete. Prioritizing is one of those things that sounds easy, but can be hard to do consistently. There are various published techniques on how to become better at setting your priorities; however the one I have personally found to be the most beneficial is the “ABCDE Method.”

It sounds basic, but if you truly understand the power of this technique and implement it every day, you will be amazed at its effectiveness.

inbox Setting Priorities 101: Plan Each Day to Ensure SuccessThe ABCDE Method of Prioritizing

The ABCDE Method requires that you review your list of given tasks and put an A, B, C, D, or E next to each one in order of priority. The way that you determine your highest priority at any moment is to think about the potential consequences of doing or not doing a particular task.  The very act of performing this excise and thinking through your tasks before you start work will dramatically increase your efficiency and effectiveness once you begin working.

A - “A” tasks are extremely important, they are considered must do’s. They have serious consequences if they are completed or not. Whether you do them or don’t do them can have a major impact on your results and your success. You should always do your “A” tasks before anything else. Assuming that you have more than one “A” task, organize them by priority, as A-1, A-2, A-3, and so on.

B –“B” tasks are things that you should do, but they’re not as important as A-tasks. They have mild consequences if completed or not. Doing it or not doing it may cause some inconvenience, but the consequences are relatively minor compared to A-tasks.

C - “C” tasks are those that would be nice to do, but it will have no consequences at all. Whether you do them, attempt them, complete them or not, they will have no consequences in your life or work at all. They usually will not contribute to your long-term success in your personal life or career.

prioritypost Setting Priorities 101: Plan Each Day to Ensure SuccessAs you can tell by now, the general rule is to never to a “B-task” when there is an “A-task” left on the list. Likewise, never do a “C-task” when you still have “B-task” left undone. Stay focused on all the “A-tasks” before moving on to a “B” and so on down the list.

D - “D” tasks need to be completed but should be given to someone else to complete. Putting it bluntly, delegate them!  The only time you should spend on these tasks is the amount of time it takes you to figure out to whom the task should be sent to and the needed direction for completion. The more you can delegate, the more time you will have to focus on the “A” tasks, which have the most impact on your success and happiness.

E - “E” stand for eliminate. These are the activities that are no longer important in the achievement of your most important goals today. When you take a close look at it, much of what you do during the day or week can be eliminated with no consequences at all.

Once you have completed this entire exercise, go back to you’re A-1 task and focus all your energy and concentration on starting and completing this job before you do anything else.

Give it a try! Or if you’ve had success with a different method, leave a comment with your suggestions. If done right, you’ll soon be asking yourself, “What am I going to do with my 168?” Now wouldn’t that be wishful thinking…

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3 Secrets to Becoming a Super-Resilient Person

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on April 26, 2009
in Personal Development and Thought Provoking
. 0 Comments

bounce back paddle ball1 3 Secrets to Becoming a Super Resilient PersonWe all learn something about ourselves in difficult times. For some the lesson is reassuring - no matter what the setback or scenario, certain people always seem to remain positive and maintain their emotional balance. Yet for others, adversity provides the opportunity to slip into mental spiral that can be harder to recover from than the original setback itself.  The ability to bounce back from adversity – known as “resilience” - is looked at as both highly valuable and a little mysterious. While it’s sometimes looked at as a special trait enjoyed only by an extraordinary few, resiliency is actually something that can be developed with a conscious effort.

Some psychologists, such as Dr. Robert Brooks of Harvard Medical School, look at the ability to bounce back from adversity as a mindset – one that defines the way in which we understand and approach all aspects of our life. He states his rational for this view by saying;

“The reason I do so is my strong belief that mindsets can be changed, that they do not have to remain fixed ideas that are cast in stone. I realize that many people have held on to certain self-defeating ideas for years, but with insight, courage, and support these ideas can be changed.”

There’s not doubt that enhancing your ability to bounce back quickly will change your outlook in business, relationships and life in general. The question is, How can you consciously improve your resilience?

Through her research, Suzanne Kobasa teaches that to truly improve your resiliency, you must learn to embrace the 3-C’s. Mastering all three can help you find balance in difficult times and give you the strength to overcome them.  If you’re facing a setback or difficult situation, reflect on the following and you’ll be one step closer to becoming a more resilient person.

The 3-C’s: Keys to Becoming More Resilient

Challenge

View change as a chance to grow. Focus on the positive and build from there. Successful people appreciate that change is a constant in life and interpret change as a challenge to confront and master rather than as a stress to avoid.

Control

Believe you can change your situation for the better and act on it. Focus on what you can control, instead of concentration on things that are outside of your influence. It is only natural that you will feel more stressed when you attempt to alter uncontrollable circumstances. Stay focused and spend your energy on things you can control.

Commitment

Be passionate about your pursuits and remember the bigger picture. When you have a purpose, when you are guided by a vision, you never lose sight of why you are doing what you are doing. When this happens, an energy and passion is triggered that provides meaning and lessens the negative impact of stressful situations.

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8 Secrets to Settling Disagreements

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on March 15, 2009
in Communication, Managing and Personal Development
. 2 Comments

disagreement 8 Secrets to Settling Disagreements

Succeeding in any venture or relationship will bring about its share of disagreements. Be it with a customer, a colleague, or business partner, disagreements are an inevitable part of doing business that you can and should be well prepared for.  Aside from settling a particular dispute, properly resolving a disagreement provides the opportunity for increasing respect, building trust, and generally advancing the relationship with your opposition to an entirely different level. Yet even so, the word disagreement continues to hold a negative connotation in most peoples mind. Why? Because disagreements make people uncomfortable. And if handled incorrectly, they can lead to a full fledged argument where nobody wins and everyone goes home unfulfilled.

I first encountered one of my favorite models for settling disagreements while reading How to Win friends & Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, a few years back. Without a doubt one of my all-time favorite books that I’ve been known to quote on more than one occasion. In his chapter entitled, “You Can’t Win an Argument” Carnegie sites an article from Bits and Pieces, offering a few suggestions on how to keep a disagreement from turning into an argument. The highlights are below.

  1. Distrust your first instinctive impression. Our first natural reaction in a disagreeable situation is to be defensive. Be careful. Keep calm and watch out for your first reaction. It may be you at your worst, not your best.
  2. Control your temper. Remember, you can measure the size of a person by what makes him or her angry.
  3. Listen first. Give your opponents a chance to talk. Let them finish. Do not resist, defend, or debate. This only raises barriers. Try to build bridges of understanding. Don’t build higher barriers of misunderstanding.
  4. Look for areas of agreement. When you have heard your opponents out, dwell first on the points and area of which you agree.
  5. Be honest. Look for area where you can admit error and say so. Apologize for your mistakes. It will help you disarm your opponents and reduce defensiveness.
  6. Promise to think over your opponents ideas and study them carefully. And mean it. Your opponents may be right. It’s a lot easier at this stage to agree to think about their points than to move rapidly ahead and find yourself in a position where your opponents can say: “We tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen.”
  7. Thank your opponents sincerely for their interest. Anyone who takes the time to disagree with you is interested in the same things that you are. Think of them as people who really want to help you, and you may turn your opponents into friends.
  8. Postpone action to give both sides time to think through the problem. Suggest that a new meeting be held later that day or the next day, when all the facts may be brought to bear. In preparation for this meeting, ask yourself some hard questions:

Could my opponents be right? Partly right? Is there truth or merit in their position or argument? Is my action one that will relive the problem, or will it just relive my frustration? Will my reaction drive my opponents away or draw them closer to me? Will my reaction elevate the estimation good people have in me? Will win or lose? What price will have to pay if I win? If I’m quite about it, will the disagreement blow over? Is this difficult situation an opportunity for me.

I’ll be the first to admit it takes commitment and a conscious effort to consistently apply these principals, yet I’ll wager that if you take them to heart, you won’t be disappointed.

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3 Skills You Can Improve Right Now

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on March 1, 2009
in Personal Development
. 2 Comments

business skills 3 Skills You Can Improve Right Now

Yesterday I received my annual notice from Fortune to renew my magazine subscription for the upcoming year. Among the offers and advertisements they included a bookmark which incorporated a quick few tips on improving your business skills. Though they may seem oversimplified, I thought there was some value in the concepts and figured I’d pass them along. My question to you is, What would you add to the list? 

Compliments of Fortune:
Improving these skills can have a big impact on your career.

1. Public Speaking
 Conquer fear with a game plan.

  • Podiums disconnect you from your audience. Grab the mic and wander the stage.
  • Eye contact is your friend. Looking at people one by one shrinks the room.
  • Questions. If you’re stumped, talk about your team: “We’re lucky to have an expert on that. I’ll get you in touch with him later.”

2. Negotiating Skills
 Using the right phrase matters.

  • How did you come up with that number? Opens a window to the other sides thoughts.
  • Let me check with my wife. Or husband, or boss. Stops you from saying yes prematurely.
  • If things change, give me a call. Put the burden on them.

3. Memory Skills
 Never confuse Don with John again.

  • Introduce yourself first so you can focus on the other person.
  • Connect the name to your brain. When you meet a guy named Bill, think of other Bills you know.
  • Use the name three times. Once to confirm you have the name right, then in mid-conversation, and again when you say goodbye.
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Are You a Good Communicator? Teleseminar Opportunity: February 12, 2009

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on February 9, 2009
in Communication and Personal Development
. 0 Comments

leadership communication 300x136 Are You a Good Communicator? Teleseminar Opportunity: February 12, 2009

When it comes to being an effective leader, there is no substitute for having strong communication skills. Time and time again this topic comes up in discussion, being that most people believe that they are better communicators than they really are. Fortunately for those looking to improve in this area, leadership guru Kevin Eikenberry and conflict resolution specialist Guy Harris are teaming up to provide some direction in the area of creating dialogue and improving communication effectiveness.

During this 60 minute teleseminar Kevin and Guy will speak to:

  • The difference between real dialogue and mutual monologue
  • What it means to talk how the other person wants to hear
  • Why you need to “tune in” for communication effectiveness
  • The difference between task orientation and people orientation and how to talk with one another instead of at each other
  • How the Ultimate Discovery System can positively impact your communications

Add in a robust Q&A (not to mention the fact that Kevin has been kind enough to pick up the $57 tab) and you have an excellent opportunity to enhance your communication skills free of charge. I have a feeling that this will be well worth it. Registration details are below.

rl brl Are You a Good Communicator? Teleseminar Opportunity: February 12, 2009 A Conversation with Guy Harris
A Remarkable Leadership Guest Teleseminar

Thursday, February 12, 2009 • 2:00pm EST • Cost: Free!

registernow Are You a Good Communicator? Teleseminar Opportunity: February 12, 2009

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You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on October 4, 2008
in Book Reviews, Personal Branding and Personal Development
. 2 Comments

youinc You, Inc.: The Art of Selling YourselfFitting in with the personal branding theme, I recently finished reading You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself, by Harry Beckwith and Christine Clifford Beckwith. In a nutshell, You Inc. is an easy and enjoyable read that covers off on all the basics from cultivating your personal image, to providing tips on delivering a ten minute speech. Each “lesson” makes up about two pages and is presented with stories and anecdotes that make them easy to follow and understand. The authors not only reinforce the importance of selling yourself before anything else, but also provide tips and real world examples on how to do so. Though you won’t find any one earth shattering lesson among the pages, the combination of many small concepts create a very powerful presentation. In a way, Harry and Christine have created a quick reference guide for both the eager reader and the seasoned veteran when it comes to building brand you. To give you an example, a few of the quick lessons in include:

  • People value - and pay more for - the way your make them feel.
  • The first thing to plan for is your first impression.
  • Tricks and shortcuts: There are none.
  • Simplicity gives people certainty, and certainty they can deal with.
  • In your sales story, put the audience, not you, in the hero’s shoes.
  • After you write something, be sure to hear it. (Read it out loud.)
  • Listening makes you captivating.
  • Don’t impress them. Move them.
  • Visual aids regularly diminish everyone’s understanding of the material.
  • Be yourself. It is easier to remember, for one thing, and works dramatically better.
  • Never try to fool anyone.

Overall, You Inc. is excellent read for those looking to reinforce many of the basic concepts in selling yourself and therefore is among the top on my list when is come to personal and professional development.

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