Corporate Couch

Q: I want to make sure my boss notices the quality of the work I do so he knows who his best workers are if he has to make staff cuts. What can I do to be noticed?
-Lacking Luster

A: There are no shortcuts to making a lasting positive impression. Hard work, respect, and sincerity are key factors, you will be sure to impress a boss in any work setting by following these steps.

Meet deadlines. An employee who delivers quality products or services ion a timely manner will always be a plus., Show a good work ethic by being on time yourself.

Be positive. For every two complaints or suggestions for improvement you make to your boss, be sure to point out four positive things. Avoid petty gripes entirely. It is very hard to work in a negative environment. Always look on the bright side.

Be sincere. No one enjoys being manipulated, especially your boss. Your boss will be pleased if you are honest and consistent in your performance and only question him or her when you have a legitimate concern.

Keep your work area clean. Having a clean desk with all your papers in place is start to being organized and is a good way to demonstrate that you have your work in order.

Never assume. If asked, “when you get a chance…,” request a specific target fate for the assignment. It is okay to probe your boss if you do not understand a given task. Being clear and precise shows professionalism and caring for you work.

-Dr. Mimi

WE CAN HELP!

Do you need an engaging speaker? How about a meeting that needs an unbiased facilitator? Do you need a coach?

Call us at 407-628-0669.

At Hull & Associates, our programs are always upbeat, interactive and fun as well as productive and inspiring. No two people or organizations are alike. Therefore, we customize our programs to meet your unique and specific needs.

Dealing with Conflict…YES, You need to do it!

"All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.”
-Hilaire Belloc

Conflict is healthy, unavoidable, and necessary.

Conflict is almost always misunderstood as a war type game that has a winner and a loser. In the workplace it is not surprising to find people with different principles and goals. In fact, different perspectives are necessary for continued growth and productivity. The healthiest way to approach conflict is to view it as an opportunity to discover new ideas and broaden imaginations.

There are four different conflict resolution styles that have their own separate behaviors and explanations.

• Avoidance behavior characterizes a non- confrontational person that ignores problems to not further damage a relationship. This may just be postponing the inevitable.

• Accommodating resolution style shows a cooperative behavior but this can occur at the expense of individual objectives. Also the person being accommodated may simply think you agree.

• Compromising personalities feel that it is important that all parties get something out of a conflict situation. Be careful that you don’t compromise so much that no one is happy.

• Consensus builders feel it is a necessity for all parties to discuss their issues and discover mutually favorable solutions. This takes the most time!

Each approach has its advantages and drawbacks. No one resolution is better than the other but it is important to choose the correct approach for each different scenario.

(Taken from Conflict Management by Dr. Mimi Hull)

Becoming an Interview STAR

Unfortunately, the economy continues its painful spiral. In January, over 500,000 jobs were lost. Many companies are not filling existing vacancies, increasing the competition for positions that are being filled.

So how does a job applicant become an employee?

One key is through nailing the interview.

If your resume makes a great impression you’ll probably have an interview, your opportunity to wow someone in person. As hiring sophistication increases, behavioral based interviews, which are likely to predict future job performance, are becoming more common. In a behavioral interview, interviewees answer questions about what they have done in a particular situation, e.g. “Describe a team you lead.”

One approach to answering these questions is the STAR technique
(Situation, Task, Action, and Result).

Here’s what to do:

Situation/Task – Describe your situation or task. Ideally choose an experience that is compelling, applicable to the job you’re interviewing for, and gives you an opportunity to show off your knowledge, skills and abilities.

Action - Now you’re talking about your personal behavior, how you acted to resolve the problem or reach the desired outcome. It’s your opportunity to describe your talent.

Result – What was the end result? This should be a positive result for you and the organization, such as financial savings, a process improvement, an increase in efficiency, etc. You can go a step further by indicating how you could apply the lessons learned or behavior to your prospective employer.

STAR – it’s a simple but compelling method to illustrate your talents and your potential contributions. Practice relating different experiences and sharing them with others for feedback. It’s a great way to prepare for your next interview!

By Lakeesha Flowers Human Resources Specialist

Work through the Recession

Today,when many people feel that job opportunities are bleak, there are still opportunities available but you may have to dig deep to find them.

Keep in mind these tips while you prepare for your job search:

Revamp your skills. Make sure you are up-to-date on all the necessary tools and any software programs that are important to your profession.

Network. Get out and be visible. Ask for help. Networking can get your foot in the door and inform you about opportunities that never get posted in the media. Remember, there are several sites online such as, Linkedin, Facebook and Brightfuse to help you.

Be assertive. Seek out companies that are not hiring as well as those that are. Get out there, think of hidden prospects and look for opportunities that are out of the ordinary.

Focus on the positive. Do not give companies any reason to pass you by. Work on your pitch to employers so you will be ready to sell yourself. Remember, that one size does not fit all. Do your homework and learn what is important for each position and organization where you plan to apply.

Role play. Make sure you are ready for the interview. (See article below) Practice with family and friends before your interview. Think of questions that the interviewer will likely ask and prepare ahead of time. This will give you the confidence you need.

You may have to settle. This is not the time to look for your dream job. You may have to take a pay cut or a step down from your current position. Do not be choosy. Remember it is typically easier to find a job when you have a job.

Adjusting Attitudes

Do you have someone with an attitude problem?
If so, never use the word “attitude!”Why? Because it won’t help.
That person will either deny it or has heard it all before and will not know how to fix it. Instead note the verbal and nonverbal behaviors that irritate you and when the behavior occurs.

For example: Are they rude or inconsiderate? Do they spend too much time not doing their job? Now that you have documentation, ask yourself, why the behavior must be changed.

Consider the:
• Impact of the individuals’ negative behavior.
• Effects of the negative behavior towards co-workers and customers.

With this information you are armed to discuss the situation with your problem employee.

Address:
• Specifically what you have seen and heard
• Exactly why their behavior concerns you
• Concrete suggestions for improvement

Be sure to set up a time to follow up and review their development. If you haven’t seen progress, it may be time for disciplinary action.

(From “Dealing with Difficult People Training”) - Dr. Mimi

Recognizing the DiSC® Behavioral Styles

You can identify the different DISC styles by observing peoples’ behaviors.

The “D - Dominant Decisive” type stand with one foot in front and often has one hand in their pocket. They also prefer to sit with one ankle resting on their knee while taking up a lot of space. They like competitive sports and a large desk.

The “I - Influencing, Interactive ” type typically have their feet apart and either talk with their hands or have them both in their pockets. This personality type likes People magazine and keep memorabilia from friends and colleagues displayed in their office.

The “S - Systematic, Steady ” type usually sits with their legs hooked around their chair or have their legs crossed at ankles. They like to display family pictures on their very organized desk and read National Geographic.

The “C - Conscientious, Careful Checker” type stands slightly sideways with arms folded in front and sit sideways with legs crossed. They read technical journals and Discover magazine and display charts and graphs in their offices.

If you work to recognize the different types you can then adapt the appropriate behavioral strategies for each personality type. Doing this improves teamwork, customer service and productivity!

(Taken from DISC Training by Dr. Mimi Hull)

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