Career Strategy Roadmap

11 Blind Spots that May Be Limiting Your Career

Pegotty Cooper — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:01:15 +0000

And what you can do about them!
Even if you can’t see your blind spots, others can see them very clearly. Blind spots limit your career because they impact your ability to have productive relationships with those you work with, your members, customers, vendors, sponsors, exhibitors, and professional colleagues.

Here are the blind spots that others can easily spot:

Blaming others.
Throwing people under the bus.
The need to be right.
Being a know-it-all.
Complaining constantly.
Operating in a silo.
Interrupting.
Justifying self.
Finding excuses.
Resisting others.
Procrastinating.

90% of the failure in the workplace is the inability to build and maintain relationships. To be respected and to build productive relationships, be intentional about assuming the following behaviors:

Listen.
Ask questions.
Admit you don’t know.
Be curious.
Own what you do. And what you don’t do.
Respond to others with the question: What can I do to help you?
Acknowledge others.

If you don’t think you have any blind spots, ask someone you know and trust for feedback. Ask them to tell you the truth. And when they do, say thank you, I am going to work on that!
What blind spot have you uncovered and how has becoming aware of that affected your relationships?

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Celebrating Creativity: Getting out of the Box, 2

Pegotty Cooper — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:00:07 +0000

“Every actor wants to break out of the box that they put you in and that’s where I’m heading, out of the box as fast as I can.”

Rick Springfield

Speaking of getting out of the box,

we also use that phrase for finding unique new solutions to places where we may be stuck. Think out of the box! Implying that being in the box is square and unimaginative.

But being in the box can also imply that you are cut off from others, that there may be barriers between you and the other(s). Maybe even conflict!

If your job, department, board or organization is plagued by conflict and you just don’t want to deal with it, maybe I can help you help you and your people through these communication barriers or grappling with conflict. The process of working through the real world situations you face can bring great insight and actually bring people to a better understanding and respect for each other. What seemed impossible can be turned around and become your greatest asset. Dealing with differences and embracing conflict can help you and your organization become more sustainable!

Also, check our my two favorite books which provide the frameworks for better leadership and less destructive conflict.

And you might like this brief introduction:

Leadership and Self-Deception – BK Life Book by The Arbinger Institute, Movie by CRM Films

Becoming a Conflict Competent Leader: How You and Your Organization Can Manage Conflict Effectively (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership))

by Craig E. Runde by Jossey-Bass

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Getting Out of the Box for Halloween!

Pegotty Cooper — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:00:20 +0000

Halloween is about getting out of the box – getting out of your own identity for the evening and having permission to become another persona – just for fun!!
I lived in a small, fairly quiet mid-western town for a few years of my life, and one of my fondest memories is of Mike and Shirley’s Halloween Parties. The requirement was that you use your creative juices to make up your own costume, no store-bought costumes allowed, and bring your most outrageous and fun-loving self to the effort! The added twist was that you and 2 – 3 others would pile in a car and go on a Halloween scavenger hunt in public places and then return to the party with your stories of adventures and misadventures as your Halloween character. The costumes brought out everyone’s creative side, from hobos to Minnie Pearl, men as pregnant brides or cheerleaders; and superheroes or beauty pageant winners. It was all great fun and a lot of laughs!
Given permission to be outrageous for a night, who would you choose to be? Would it be Superwoman, Captain America, Miss America 1962, The Flasher, Scarlett O’Hara, or Nemo (yes, I have seen my own husband dressed as a clown fish living in an anemone!). Which character brings out the side you most want to express but haven’t given yourself permission to reveal to others? Let’s see, who will I reveal to my friends this year? Will it be a superhero or a monster; a freak or a funny person; a fantasy figure or a legendary character? Will it be my favorite animal character or a juicy tart?

And how about you?

”If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”
William Arthur Ward

Here’s what a little makeup can do for you!

All of these photos are the same girl. Check out how to create these images.

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Do you know what to do to manage your online information?

Pegotty Cooper — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:40:07 +0000

Managing your online information and reputation is now part of what you must do to prepare for a job search (how times have changed!).

More and more employers are using the web as their source for finding pools of potential employees which they can tap for available jobs instead of posting jobs online. How can you be among those selected to be in the pool?

Even if you have responded to a posting, and you have gotten the call for an interview, you still need to pay attention to what is online. The blog post below identifies 8 areas of concern to employers:

Information about alcohol or drug use (41% of managers said this was a top concern)
Inappropriate photos or information posted on a candidate’s page (40%)
Poor communication skills (29%)
Bad-mouthing of former employers or fellow employees (28%)
Inaccurate qualifications (27%)
Unprofessional screen names (22%) (a classic resume mistake)
Notes showing links to criminal behavior (21%)
Confidential information about past employers (19%)”

Here is a valuable source of information about what to look for and what to do if you find it – before your prospective employer finds it!

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Become a Believer in Asking Questions!

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ASAE Annual Meeting

Pegotty Cooper — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:17:33 +0000

If you are attending the ASAE Annual Meeting in Dallas this year, join me for a session entitled Killer Culture or Culture Killer? which I am co-leading with Denise Fandel, CAE, Executive Director of the Board of Certification for the National Athletic Trainers Association. The session is scheduled on Monday, August 13, 2012, 1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Description: Is your organization’s culture one that stimulates new ideas and innovative conversations? Do interactions among employees, leadership, and membership create a kaleidoscope where pieces fall together, or do they fall apart? Explore two conceptual models that impact employee engagement, board alignment, customer service, people, and performance.

And I will also be holding one – on – one coaching sessions on Saturday – Tuesday of the Annual Meeting through ASAE Career Services. I would love to have an update session with you where we look at what is next for you – or to work with one of your colleagues or staff members.

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Am I too old?

Pegotty Cooper — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:56:09 +0000

Have you wondered “Am I too Old”?

Can one be too old to find new employment?

I asked this question of several people involved in executive search this week and they said – “this year I have placed someone 62, 65, and 68 years old”. Another echoed that – “I had two finalists for a position and they were 62 and 65 – and there were younger people in the candidate pool.“

Naturally some of it depends on the industry. But what is most important is the level of energy, enthusiasm and engagement.

Oh yes, and did they do their homework or are they resting on their laurels and experience? Doing their homework is what makes a difference.

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Moms and Bosses

Pegotty Cooper — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:27:17 +0000

Celebrate-Develop-Honor

Moms and bosses there is a distinct parallel between being a parent and being a boss, let me share with you how that is.

I can say I have been very lucky to have a number of mothers in my life. My first mother provided me first with life and a loving home; and then lots of siblings. She died suddenly from equine encephalitis when I was 8 years old. My Dad married again about two years later – he was very lucky to find a women who wanted to take on five children plus her one to make a family of six. She brought the spirit of adventure and total unconditional love for each and every one of us – no matter how hateful we were as teenagers! And then my surrogate mother, my dear Aunt Charlotte who took me under her wing along with her own six children. She was my champion and inspiration for graciousness during those first difficult years after my mother died and while I was getting used to a new mother! And then I was also lucky enough to marry a man that had two mothers both still alive and well today; one his birth mother and the other his step-mother though he never calls her that – and they are also lovely women with good hearts and a very strong desire to stay connected with their adult children.

These women all had a profound impact on my development, my sense of self-worth and my values. And I have a great appreciation for the many many sacrifices that a mother makes to be sure that their children have not only food and shelter and safety, but also are allowed to develop their own dreams and unique talents. The other thing I recognize about my mothers is that they have only wanted me to be happy – whatever form that took. And they never criticized and demeaned me – I did that all by myself and of course blamed everything on them!

And through my mothers – I have also seen how different each of these relationships has been – not better – just different. Each relationship that we engage in happens between two unique human beings and so the relationship you create between you and the other person is bound to be unique – and not open to comparison to any other relationships. What can be compared is how you show up in each of your relationships and the choices you make many times each day!

Do you resist the other person or do you do what it takes to make things go right?
Do you honor what you know is the right things to do or do you take some other action and then justify your actions by blaming the other?
Are you judgmental or do you embrace the other person warts and all?
Do you focus on yourself or consider what the other person needs?
Do you boost them up and celebrate their successes or do you tear them down?

I have also had a lot of great bosses in my life and I can see a distinct parallel between being a parent and being a boss. All of those questions about how you show up in a relationship apply as much to those relationships as to the mother-child connection. And just as we do with our parents when we are young, we sometimes take for granted the sacrifices your boss makes to make sure that you have what you need to do your job or have the training, mentoring and coaching you need to develop your talents as fully as you can. And as bosses we take for granted the effort and stretching that those who report to us make so that we are supported and the organization is successful.

The greatest pleasure I get today is the occasional call from someone to whom I was a boss telling me that I made a big difference in their personal and professional development.

In all cases, as parent or child, or boss or direct report, please do the following each and every day:

celebrate someone’s unique contributions;
focus on helping them to develop their talents; and
honor their uniqueness!

All of these are most important for building that foundation of trust. And when that trust is there, and you know that your mother or boss is a champion for your success and happiness, they can still give you that sometimes hard-to-hear feedback about how what you are doing is undermining those dreams or getting in the way of accomplishing your goals. And you know that it comes not from a critical blaming place but from a caring and concerned heart!

It is just as important to interact with a person with both your head and your heart whether you are related to them up, down or sideways in the organization or in the family. Every relationship is important – for you as much as for them. You get to be your best self when you are recognizing the best in others!

Whose talents and unique gifts are you going to recognize his week with a nice card or small thoughtful gesture of appreciation? Who can you support in developing into their best self?

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It’s a Clean Slate! A New Day! A New Season! A New Year!

Pegotty Cooper — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:14:21 +0000

It’s a clean slate, a new day, a new season…A NEW YEAR!

A new organization, client, colleague, boss – an opportunity to redefine yourself, to become the leader – the colleague – the friend – the parent you imagine yourself to be!

We all have a list of things we wish we had done in the past year. We have a list of things we want to do this next year. It is a new beginning and you get to say how the next year is going to unfold for you!

You might start by looking at those two lists and to ask yourself a few key questions that will get the items on those lists in focus:

Is this item really going to serve me in the long term?
And is this bringing me happiness or satisfaction in the near term?

Rather than creating a long list, create a few questions that you can ask yourself everyday or every week:

Am I paying attention to the “Big Rocks”, the areas that lead me to my dreams or my BIG GOALS?
Am I developing myself to perform to my fullest capacity?
Am I visible/connected to people that can support me in fulfilling my life’s purpose or my career purpose?
Am I dealing with the things that need attention or am I tolerating things that drain energy from me?

How you answer these will determine how quickly you move forward, creating the work or life that you imagine! And then take the action which will take even the tiniest step so that you can be living in the affirmative for each of these questions.

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What I wish you for the new year is MOJO!

Pegotty Cooper — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:10:51 +0000

With a New Year upon us, what I wish you for the new year is MOJO!

Marshall Goldsmith, author of the book MOJO: How to Get It, How To Keep It and How to Get It Back If You Lose It, defines “Mojo” as “that positive spirit toward what we are doing now that starts from the inside and radiates to the outside.”

A few key words here…NOW, not yesterday, not tomorrow.

Do you have a positive spirit toward what you’re doing NOW? It starts on the inside and radiates to the outside.

Are you showing on the outside what is going on in the inside? Are the two in alignment?

Are you being authentic in what you are showing to those around you?

You have a clean slate! Write on that slate with Mojo!

For more insight into your own Mojo, check out Marshall’s book Mojo. Click on the cover above to purchase it through Amazon and you will contribute a few pennies to my retirement fund!

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It’s a Clean Slate! A New Day! A New Season! A New Year!

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The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace – Book Review

Pegotty Cooper — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:43:44 +0000

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace , a book by Gary Chapman and Paul White, is a gift for anyone who struggles with how to express appreciation to others; especially in the workplace where sometimes you just don’t have a clue about how to give the person something that will be meaningful to them.

In what the authors call the “Motivation by Appreciation” model, they describe the five languages as: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Acts of Service, Tangible Gifts and Physical Touch. They even offer an assessment so that you can see what the preferred language is for people around you. Actually, you can probably make a pretty good guess just by watching them and how they express themselves to others.

Do they say a few kind words or give acknowledgement to those around them; do they stop by the desk or cubicle and spend a few minutes with the person?

Do they notice when someone seems overwhelmed or irritable and offers to help them on their project?

Or maybe they buy a Starbucks gift card or just give the person a high-five for a job well done.

Whatever they do for others you can assume is what they would prefer as a way of having appreciation express to them.

There is a wealth of resources on the website: http://www.appreciationatwork.com which you can download and use on Monday morning with your colleagues, your manager, your employees and members, volunteers, board members – the list is endless!!

As we launch into the holidays here, the questions of giving is always a gamble, you can’t go wrong with a good dose of appreciation expressed in the language of the recipient.

Get The Book and Pass It Around!
The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace can be ordered here for everyone on your management team or on the Board! Click here to order for Christmas from Amazon. P.S. Every book comes with a free code for a 5 Languages Assessment.

Holiday Gift Idea – 3 Keys to Success Strategy Session
If you want to express appreciation to someone in your life, maybe a good kick-off to the New Year would be a Gift Certificate for a 3 Keys to Success Strategy Session – exploring what you can do to ensure your career success in 2012. Click here to get a Gift Wrapped Certificate sent to someone you know that could use a few inspiration success strategies.

The Gift to Give Yourself!
And you can give yourself the gift of the CEO Scorecard – a quarterly review of the 4 questions of importance for you. Whether you are the CEO of your organization or the CEO of your life – this an invaluable tool to keep you on track this coming year. Click here for more information.

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