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One-E-Anna Notes - Issue #027 - March, 2005
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A monthly newsletter to conduct you on the way to successful performance and harmony in your life. Brought to you by E. Anna Watkins, MBA, CPCC - Career & Life Coach
Welcome! Keep those subscriber referrals coming! The deadline for our subscriber contest is fast approaching. Get those entries in ASAP!
Notes from Readers Here are notes in response to our February issue:
Alice Schrade
wrote -
And Alan
Krieger had this to say - I love to hear from readers, so please keep those e-mails coming! Thank you.
What's in this issue?
If you have not yet read any of the great management books by Peter Drucker, please get to the library or bookstore quickly. Still going strong at age 95, he is the best model of self-development and self-management. I recently completed an online course by Drucker called Managing Oneself. In the course, he puts forward some truly sensible ideas that I would love to see implemented by more individuals and organizations. What really resonated for me was his statement, "Performance is built on strengths, not weaknesses." What a concept! Can you imagine the changes in the workplace if more people would support that idea? Consider the feedback that most employees receive. The typical performance appraisal now targets weak areas as performance opportunities, and the emphasis is usually not directed toward improving on strengths. Counter this with Drucker's statement that, "It takes far less energy to move from first rate performance to excellence than it does to move from incompetence to mediocrity." Certainly it is more motivating to aim for excellence. How can an individual put these ideas into action? First, you must know your strengths. This is not as easy as it sounds since most of us are better at recognizing our inabilities than our abilities. Next, you must communicate that information to the people who work with you. It is especially useful for a manager to know this information for the most effective team performance, with everyone doing what they do best. What a great way to capitalize on diversity! When you choose to follow the principles of Managing Oneself, you take responsibility for your career: placement, achievement, opportunities, satisfaction, and contribution. This puts the control in your hands. Who could be better to guide your path?
3. Interview Tip - Congratulations, Runner-up!s Some of you have had the experience of being second choice for a job. You know the story. This looked like the ideal job for you, and you spent much time and effort preparing for those interviews. Perhaps there were several rounds of interviewing with different people. Your excitement kept building as you got closer and closer to the prize. And then - you got the verdict. Bummer! Whether the news was delivered through a personal phone call or you received one of those standard rejection letters, it still hurt. What do you do next? The advice you expect to hear is, "Let go and move on to the next possibility." Well - that is part of my suggestion for you. However, if you really wanted that job and honestly thought that it is an ideal situation for you, the first step is a letter something like this:
Sometimes things do not work out with the first-choice candidate. For whatever reason, the organization may need to replace that person. They may be hesitant to contact others they interviewed and think that they need to begin their entire hiring process again. Your assurance that you are still open to their offer can be great news for them. And - it could mean the beginning of a terrific working relationship for you. Every interview is a learning opportunity. Always debrief afterwards and use the knowledge you gain. Being invited to an interview affirms that you are a winner. Practice to win bigger every time!
4. Class Schedule for Anna Watkins April 5, 2005 - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews - FREE Teleclass at www.teleclass.com at 8:00 PM Eastern time. May 3, 2005 - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews - FREE Teleclass at www.teleclass.com at 9:00 PM Eastern time.
5.
Complimentary Coaching Sessions and Resume Reviews
Special
Attention
Tips
Booklets Online My booklet 64 Tips for Informational Interviews is also available in the Careers category. Informational interviews are one of the best investments of your time so you can meet your career advancement goals. This booklet is for anyone who is exploring a career change or who wants to breathe new life into a current career.
THANK YOU! |