THE SEVEN “P”

One needs to effectively chalk out plans that will help them advance in their career. This 7 Step Model imparts information on what you actually need to do. They will help you chalk out the next career move. Each step is further divided into questions that you need to ask yourself to work effectively.

1. Purpose: Clarify what according to you is meaningful and satisfying work? What are the aspects in your job that are meaningful to you? How will this make you contribute effectively to your work and your organisation? Will this help you achieve your goal? Is it just the monetary gains you consider as value? Do the employers appreciate the long hours of work you put in?

2. Positioning: Optimally match your skills, abilities and interests with industries and organisations. What are your target job functions and titles? Have you assessed your skills and abilities sufficiently enough so that it helps you identify what your preferences are and at the same time gives you room for alternatives also? What kind of companies and industries look for the target skills you have?

3. Packaging: Packaging is everything! Present yourself in a compelling manner in order to successfully change industries or fields. How do you define yourself? What qualities do you want to be known by? Are you a fast-starter? Detail-oriented? A team player? You need to match well with your target employer. What are your problem solving attitudes? Can you cope with a crisis? What specific competencies, expertise and experiences will you use as an argument for your next job or career?

4. Preparation: Build a strategic plan. Make contacts and turn them into career opportunities. Compile a list of people who can be useful for networking. Networking is the key promotional technique. Join organisations; get involved; keep in touch; do what you can to help others; be visible in your targeted professional community. Have you developed relationships with search firms and recruiters? Think how often people are changing jobs now. Are you using online resources and Web sites, career fairs, conferences and trade shows to maximum advantage?

5. Presentation: Turn opportunities into interviews and interviews into offers.
Employers certainly are interested in what you can do for them, but they will be glad if you will be interested in them! Research on the companies you have targeted at. Know what are the challenges they face, their problems and what their values and mission are. Use informational interviews to develop your understanding and knowledge about companies and create a network of contacts.

6. Performance: Master workplace competencies that enhance your personal success in any corporate culture. Can you cope with a crisis? Can you wade through office politics? Are your survival skills sharp? Can you perform well even when you are pressurised for work? Do you know how to effectively communicate the added value you bring to the organisation? Are you assuming if you just work hard and do a good job, you will be recognised and rewarded?

7. Planning: Long term planning is more effective than a short term planning. Know what you are getting into. Analyse where you would want to see yourself in a few years from today. This planning is equally imperative as it builds a thought process to which you need to find logical answers. Maintain a professional developmental plan that will serve as guidelines throughout your career. Is your resume updated? Do you regularly maintain a log of your accomplishments, training, awards and feedback to prepare for your annual performance evaluation? Do you know where you want to be and what you want to be doing in 5 or 10 years? What do you anticipate will be the challenges and life situations you will be facing and how are you preparing for them now? Do you have savings just in case of an emergency? Are you prepared to relocate? What are your plans in case your company decides to downsize?

These are just a few questions we have listed for you to know and analyse. It helps you think clearly and effectively. Once you have managed to answer them, you know that you are on the right track.

BODY TALK!

Give importance to non-verbal communication as much as you do to verbal. Body talks and sending the wrong signals could hamper your chances of a good first impression.

MEETINGS

Ten Tips for Staying Awake

Meetings are an evil fact of life in Corporate America. Sitting through them can be hard enough, but when you're running a meeting it's just as difficult to speak to a room full of snoozing salespeople. Here are some tips for managers hoping to engage their salespeople during meetings from Eli Mina, author of The Complete Handbook of Business Meetings:

• Give each member a lead role on a selected agenda item such as when he/she will make a presentation or facilitate a discussion. No member should be allowed to sit back and observe a meeting.

• Avoid hot and heavy meals just before a meeting. Instead, choose a light and healthy snack. Alcoholic drinks should definitely be avoided.

• Avoid scheduling too many substantive issues in a row by interspersing light agenda items between them. Members need down time.

• Schedule short breaks regularly. There should be no more than two hours of continuous sitting.

• Invite guests to speak on interesting subjects related to your group's meeting agenda.

• Avoid having the meeting dominated by the same outspoken members by encouraging others to speak.

• Instead of waiting for members to raise their hands, call on them to comment.

• Encourage members to express different opinions by breaking the meeting into smaller focus groups handling a key task or issue.

• Prevent rambling and monotonous statements by asking memebers to communicate concisely.

• Establish time limits on presentations and ask speakers to avoid lecture mode. Instead encourage them to make their presentations interactive and to include interesting examples and case studies.

THE WINNING SPIRIT FOR TEAMS

Vivek is arrogant and standoffish, preferring to keep his contact with colleague minimal; thinks he is the undisputable authority in his field, he works in seclusion. Vivek’s condescending attitude is insufferable and those who are forced to interact with him. It’s a belittling experience. Working in a team is different ballgame altogether for him!

This description may have conjured up the memory of someone of the likes of Vivek. On the other hand you may catch yourself wincing as you nearly fit the description. Either ways, effects of this on a company is damaging and the sooner one realises it, the better it is.

The importance of team building is invaluable to organisational growth and its benefits are many. It speeds up a process, enables a friction-free set-up and offers chances for upward growth and development as experienced people help novices learn the ropes faster than they would have.

HOW TO PROMOTE TEAM SPIRIT-

Way to go!

Building team spirit largely depends on how well employees coordinate with their colleagues. When work depends on inputs from many others, employees need to learn how to be mutually dependent and accountable.

As a team player you should keep the others informed about your progress to avoid duplication of work and to enlist the help of those who might be experts in a given area. Also try to find out what the others are doing and make an attempt to stay clued-in about team activities.

Credit where it’s due

The motivation that one receives is tremendous when they are recognised and praised publicly for their efforts. Team members should be encouraged to contribute ideas irrespective of their rank and experience, and credit should be given when these efforts result in success.

Meet to speed

Don’t make meetings a routine, but meet whenever there is a need to do so like when you have a new assignment on hand, or you want communicate something important. Make sure everyone gets to know what was discussed in the meeting. Celebrate successes as a team to keep the monotony of work at bay.

HR helm

In order to retain employees, the HR department should be actively involved in conflict resolution strategies. They should also organise outings and sporting activities to improve inter/intra team bonding.

HR managers should make sure they hire people who are not unsociable. They should have previous experience as team players. Candidates should be able to respond positively to criticism. Appraisals and evaluation should also be based on contribution to team building efforts. Compensating team players adequately can motivate others to follow suit.

Persons lacking team spirit should be instructed to follow specific guidelines that ensure they are brought in line with the others. Encouraging esprit-de-corps is thus vital for organisational growth and efficiency, and an important requisite for staying successful.

LOST YOUR SAVOUR?

It’s just like an outdated product in a department store. When you are no longer a product in demand, and obsolescence stares you in the face, you have no choice but to give in. Being downsized or laid-off is a common feature in today’s workplace.The accelerated pace of technology has changed business processes and so demand professionals who can handle these implications becomes necessary. Persons who are not alert to the subtle changes face the danger of being thrown out of work. This is more so in the IT industry where only the fittest and the fastest can survive the onslaught of obsolescence in technology.

Ways to stay ahead

• Technology cycle

A new technology hits the stands it experiences a boom. It is also associated with a lot of hype- considered as the ‘in-thing’ in the marketplace. It takes about a year or two to get established before it reaches maturity. It then has to face new entrants in the field, which may soon take its place.

Professionals need to keep tabs on the progress of technology especially when it is in the stage when it reaches maturity. Being sound with the basics and an easy and regular up-gradation helps. Make sure you don’t become complacent and comfortable with the technology you are using. Be vigilant and keep your value meter ticking.

• Way to go

One effective way to stay abreast of technology is to undergo training. Private institutes offer specialised training, but the courses can be expensive. However this is a risk that must be taken, and one cannot rule out the possibility that you may learn a technology and spend a lot of money too, and not end up using it at all!

Some IT companies provide in-house training facilities for their employees. This is not only acts as an effective retention policy but also reduces the cost of hiring consultants. It is also a value addition to employees since they don’t have to pay for the training, and they get to use their newly acquired skills to work while handling projects related to the technologies.

• Sources galore

With the Internet as a new medium, professionals who have it at their disposal can make use its services. Visiting websites that cater to their functional areas and skills, signing up for e-zines, newsletters can help you keep abreast of what’s hot and happening in the industry. The conventional methods still work- try newspapers, books and magazines. Television shows are information-rich too. Track down the programs and make sure you watch them on a regular basis.

• All for networking

Connecting with peers and keeping in touch will help you stay current and give you a great deal of exposure. Times when you want to switch jobs, contacts will always come handy. If you are determined to among the top performers, and not be left behind by technology, you have cannot afford to rest on your laurels.

Dare to think ahead of time. Dare Even if obsolescence of technology gets you out of breath, remember that the ‘speed of thought’ will always be faster!