So, how do you know what your strengths are?  There are a few ways… survey, strength cards and stories.    Two surveys or questionnaires to establish your strengths that I can recommend are Dr Martin Seligman’s Strengths Survey http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu, which is free (you do have to register).  A good value paid survey from the UK, which provides a useful report is found here http://www.strengths2020.com/.

St Luke’s Resources publish some excellent cards too http://www.innovativeresources.org/ – I have Strengths Cards for kids and used them recently with my daughter.  It was terrific to see her recognising her strengths (one was “I am Happy”), and gaining a sense of self.

Often we fail to see our own strengths, but can recognise them in others.  The hallmark of a great leader is being able to see others’ strengths and harness them in the workplace, group or team.  If you have a conversation with someone about a time that they achieved something, you will find in their narrative and descriptions, that there are clues as to what their key strengths may be.

If you’d like to know more, on July 29 in Perth, I’m speaking at LunchBox List’s The Making of Me, You As a Leader Workshop, on “Realise Your Strengths, and Own Them”. http://tinyurl.com/23yn4kn

I wish you well in discovering your strengths. Drop me a line if you’d like to share them with me.

Until next time…

Go well !

Lois

Lois Keay-Smith, Career Wisdom

www.careerwisdom.com.au

I suggest scoping them, but also think contrarian – don’t do what everyone else out there is doing. There are l0ts of jobs and contracts that go unadvertised that you may be missing out on – and good people who are not really “in the market” but could be open to the right opportunity coming along.

Cultivating relationships and knowing “who does and wants what” takes time and effort.  But it is worth it…recently one of my clients was offered two great jobs on the same day – both through my network contacts who mentioned them.  In career coaching we call it “the hidden job market”, but really, it just takes opening your eyes and ears to opportunities and using a blend of both virtual and real networking.

Here’s to your brilliant career!

Lois

Lois Keay-Smith

Career Coach, Career Wisdom

It isn’t a nice feeling. And of course, it serves as a signal that all is not well with your work. For some it’s a clear sign that it is time to examine what’s going wrong and to determine a better path. For others, they may actually like what they do, but the thought of the work environment (or perhaps colleagues!) creates that gnawing feeling as they approach the “on no, not again..Monday morning” – commonly referred to as Mondayitis. Funnily enough, I get the most hits to www.careerwisdom.com.au on a Monday!

If Mondayitis (and the Sunday fog that precedes it) has become chronic, it’s probably time to pay those warning signs some heed…life’s too short, don’t you think?!

Lois

Lois Keay-Smith, Career Wisdom

I recently watched Michael Jackson’s This Is It DVD.  As a dance enthusiast I loved it…but I was also completely blown away with Orianthi, a 24 year old guitarist (and now chart topping artist!) from Adelaide who was simply amazing.  How did she get THAT gig, you ask ??

1.  She showed a passion for music from an early age
2. She was excellent at her craft (largely self taught immersion in guitar)
3.  After lots of small gigs, she took up a visible gig – backing a singer at the Grammys, which led to invitations from artists such as Prince and the late MJ himself.

A great reminder that small things can lead to bigger and better things…  What one thing can you set in motion this week?

It is at times like this that we are tested. We can join the big queue of worriers and complainers, or we can have it be a wake up call and opportunity to build some career resilience.  We don’t know for sure where this is all headed, but realise that things will recover eventually.  The only thing we do have control over is ourselves, our thinking and our “bounce”.  That is, our resilience or ability to see through hard times and come out better and stronger at the end of it all.

Career resilience involves harnessing your skills, acknowledging your talents, furthering your knowledge and having belief in yourself.  Think about the last time you developed your knowledge and skills by attending a workshop, course or seminar, read a book on a field of interest, or pursued more formal study.  Learning is for life – life teaches us in the school of hard knocks, but we need to also seek out new developments, have our thinking challenged and expanded and follow our passions.

I’ve recently returned from a travelling sabbatical with my family for six months and recently made plans to rejoin some associations, attend some conferences and take some workshops. I picked up some great career books too in Kuala Lumpur that I am currently reading (er…and a few pairs of shoes!)

So, in what ways can you work on your career resilience?  Here’s some ideas:

• Be ready financially (have your ducks in a row, in case you are laid off. Trim the budget, look at alternate sources of income.  If you are in trouble, seek help early rather than later. 
• Be around positive people who support your development and their own. Don’t join “pity parties”.
• Learn.  It doesn’t have to be formal qualification seeking, it can be a community course, on on-line “webinar”.
• Look after yourself – even more so in stressful circumstances, look after your body by exercising and eating healthily and your mind and spirit by taking time out, whether that be in nature or meditating in the boardroom (with the ‘do not disturd’ sign on the door!)

Ultimately your ability to bounce back and keep bouncing during hard times is determined by your attitude.  It may even be an opportunity to explore your passions more fully.