Can I influence you?
There are many factors that allow HR and other professionals to achieve success, but I have noticed more and more that there is a common element that makes the stars stand out internally and/or externally. It is the art of influencing.
To better yourself internally you are likely to have to enhance your impact and earn even greater respect. In the external market many headhunters will be requiring you to prove how influential you have been, so I thought it may be helpful to highlight a few ways in which I have seen this done. Continue Reading
The Power of Mentoring
In collaboration with two of my partners we have recently conducted a survey looking at HR’s view of mentoring. The survey results certainly didn’t disappoint!
The highlight was that for those individuals wanting to further their commercial knowledge (and let’s face it, this is a priority in most HR Functions), their preferred choice for gaining this development was to have a mentor. The respondents acknowledged the power of these relationships, the learning opportunity and the potential direct outputs. Why then did only 32% actually have a mentor?
New Year Resolution or a Career Strategy?
I met loads of people over the Christmas period. Inevitably when they found out I was a career coach many said that one of their New Year resolutions was to move their career forward in some way. I actually like New Year resolutions (the concept of out with the old and in with the new is refreshing) but when it comes to careers I have a firm belief that one has to maintain an on-going momentum to reach the pinnacle of your career. Once the momentum is lost, meaning a resolution is necessary, you have already potentially missed some opportunities.
Sure, career development is not a ‘straight line’ activity; many external factors can knock you off your chosen path, but keeping sight of your goals, by means of working to a career strategy, can mean that your ambitions are always in focus.
How many people can honestly say that they have a career strategy? Just like any other business venture, a career path needs thought and planning and by setting a strategic journey you are far more likely to keep on track. Continue Reading
Networking; Exchanging Ideas
To be honest, the word ‘networking’ is succinct, well recognised but vastly misunderstood. The mere word sends shivers down many peoples’ spines with thoughts of smoky rooms, old school ties and little black books. I would like, once and for all, to blow the lid off this myth! Networking is an essential and enjoyable business skill which should be given a very high priority.
Networking is about the building of relationships where there is some mutual benefit to be had: At work we do that internally all the time don’t we? – I would argue that you could not be successful without building and maintaining such relationships, so we get good at it; very good. At home we meet new people and use social networking sites to keep in touch and exchange information. I think that we are a generation that enjoys the benefits that all these scenarios can bring – so why the dread of ‘business’ networking? Continue Reading
Good to Great…..Candidates
‘Good to Great’- Jim Collins’ classic book. In it he states that “greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.” It seems that a lot of candidates settle for being ‘good candidates’ – but it is the people who strive to be ‘great candidates’ who get the prized job of their choosing.
GREAT candidates do the following:
- When researching the company in preparation, they have found the latest press releases or breaking news, googled the interviewer, looked at profiles on LinkedIn and subtly bring some of this learning into the interview answers or their questions.
- They are very self aware and know their own values and so can determine their own cultural fit to the business. If asked ‘why do you want to work here?’ they answer this by highlighting a match of skills and values which is very powerful.
- There is a natural inquisitiveness to a great candidate. The interview is a two-way process and if it can become more of a discussion, all the better. Continue Reading