Career Satisfaction

Get Results Through Clear Communication

April 21, 2017 By Marta Goertzen

Are there constant miscommunications and daily frustrations in your job?

This article is an excerpt from our BizTV video, which can be viewed online, simply click this link.

Ever wonder what your boss is thinking? Are you ever frustrated when your team doesn’t ever seem to understand what needs to be done?

In this article we will share some tips on how to set clear expectations to get results.

There is a special place between success and failure. It is called “meeting expectations”. Do not mistake this place for adequate or average. Not at all.

Honing in on the actual expectations is not as easy as it sounds.

The concept of expectations is two sided. The person setting the expectations has one point of view. The person performing the work often has a different point of view.

You can tell when there is a difference in understanding expectations. The manager uses phrases like, “he should know”, “it seems so clear”, or “I don’t understand how it can be so hard”. The employee might say things like, “I just can’t seem to please her” or “he keeps changing his minds”.

You have probably heard these phrases before. A January 2016 Forbes article shares some interesting statistics. A Towers Watson survey shows that half of managers don’t set effective employee goals.

Without clear goals, how is anyone supposed to meet expectations?

Without clear goals, how can everyone be on the same page?

In my past I described this as, “Bring me a different rock”. It is impossible to meet muddy, unclear expectations.

Here are some tips for setting clear goals to get the results you want.

Tie goals to overall business needs. Otherwise why bother.
Set three goals for any given period. More than that and the message is muddled.
Clear expectations are defined by the listener – so be sure the message you are sending about expectations is also received
Put expectations in writing.
Provide feedback – Check in regularly. Tell your team how they are doing as compared to the written expectations

If your boss does not set clear written expectations for you, then you need to take initiative. Apply these steps yourself. Have a serious conversation with your boss then put some specific expectations in writing.

In the meantime, check out this great resource to learn more about communicating more effectively or to view other videos featuring other strategic job search tips and tools from The Interview Doctor click here.

Shy Person’s Guide to Finding Joy in Your Career

April 18, 2017 By Marta Goertzen

Is the glass half full or half empty?

It depends on perspective. The difference between a career half empty and a career half full could be your perspective.

If you are shy, your point of view about that glass is your quiet secret. You are likely to not share your thoughts with anyone. Just suffer in silence. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can find a way to adjust a bit or flex your shyness to find more joy in your career.

According to Mary Hynes in the CBCRadio show Tapestry, before his retirement, Chade-Meng Tan was an award winning engineer with Google with the cool title of the Jolly Good Fellow (Which Nobody Can Deny). He helped coworkers manage stress through mindfulness. Mindfulness is a very trendy concept these days. But there might be something to it that can help shy people.

In his new book, Joy On Demand, Chade-Meng Tan offers 3 practical exercises to train yourself to experience joy.

Exercise #1: Look for thin slices of joy.

Little moments that make you feel good. These moments might last just a second or two but they add up. Noticing these moments will make you appreciate the joy in your life.

Exercise #2: 10 seconds of loving kindness.

This exercise happens in your head. That is perfect for shy people! Identify two people you see somewhere around you. In your head say to yourself, “I wish for this person to be happy”. That is all. You don’t even have to talk to anyone or make accidental eye contact.

Exercise #3: One mindful breath.

Breath in and out, noticing your breath for one minute. Maybe put on your headphones for greater privacy while you take this personal moment.

Do this every day to become more aware of the joy already in your life and in your career. You might be able to start seeing your co-workers, your family, your friends and your career as a glass half full because you appreciate the place they fill in your life.

While practicing these three simple, short exercises you might take a look at our Career Advancement Tip Sheet for more practical tips on moving your career forward.

If you are shy or introverted there is no shame in that but it may be blocking you from getting the career you want. There is help for you! Get your free copy of the “7 Tips for Career Success for the Shy Person” and begin to step out, beyond these barriers, onto a new career path today.

Shy Person’s Guide to Finding Joy in What you are Doing

March 28, 2017 By Marta Goertzen

What would you do to find joy in your career?

happiness in your career Outgoing people just step out and take what they want. Shy people, on the other hand, have more questions, go slower and sometimes feel like they can’t take the risk.

Anna has been with her current company for close to 20 years. She keeps getting promoted, which is great. Now she is the big boss, GM of the office responsible for P&L and everything in the facility. It is a big job. She does it well. But she is not happy.

As a shy person, Anna does not have a flashy, command-and-control style. She approaches leadership as a relationship builder. She solicits feedback and makes everyone feel included. She knows everyone, the clients and the team, very well. She is comfortable. She is just not happy.

Anna wants something else. She does not know how to get what she wants. She is nervous outside of her comfort zone. She is a little afraid.

Shy people can let fear stop them sometimes in a way that outgoing people can’t understand. “Just get out there and claim what you want.”

Easier said than done.

It takes courage. And pain sometimes. How uncomfortable does a shy person have to be before taking action? Pretty fed up, I can tell you from personal experience.

So what is a shy person supposed to do to find joy? The same thing everyone else does. I think there are a few basic steps:

1) Know what you want

2) Make a plan

3) Execute the plan. Shy people might follow the same general steps. They might do it a little different, that’s all.

If that describes you, if you feel nervous about networking or taking what you want, then here are some tips for you as a shy person to find joy in doing what you want:

Don’t second guess yourself. Sometimes shy people allow fear to control. Fear of what other people will say. Fear of taking a risk. Fear of failure. Instead of controlling your entire destiny, work on quieting that inner second guessing voice. Tell it to sit down and shut up for a while. Then you can think clearly about what you really want. Knowing what you want is the first step to finding joy.
Set achievable goals. If you know that networking is important in your career change to find joy, be realistic about what you can reasonably do. Don’t set a goal of attending too many networking events if those events make your skin crawl. Set achievable goals like talking to 3 people you don’t know at a networking event. Then you can leave. Pushing yourself beyond your limits only allows fear to get control as you become more uncomfortable.
Don’t put yourself in positions that make you feel fearful or out of control. There are plenty of ways to network that do not require whatever it is you might fear. Choose methods of career analysis and search that make sense for you.
Find a support group. Find people to talk to who understand you and can boost you up when you are flagging or questioning.
Get a coach. Partner with an expert who can help you in your journey to get what you want. You want a coach who will work with you, listen to you, and support you on your journey. Find someone who can help you organize your quest according to your needs, not just stick with a pre-determined schedule. Flexibility is key.
Use techniques that make sense for you. No sense forcing yourself into networking situations (for example) that you know you won’t do well. There are plenty of ways for a shy person to comfortably network their way into a new role that brings them joy.

As a shy person myself, I created an eBook that shares my ideas on finding the career you love. Click here to get your copy of “Find a Career You Love: Secrets to a Solid Career Foundation” today to get started doing what brings you joy!