Public Speaking

Can you identify with this scenario?   I have averaged maybe two speaking engagements a year and these were not even paid engagements. I had never handled my speaking career in a professional manner.  Everything was catch-as-catch can, word-of- mouth, seat of the pants.  I had my niche, but I never promoted myself.  I never called or emailed to thank a client afterward.  I never even kept track of what I'd done for each group that I spoke to. 

How will I change it? I decided that if I'm a public speaker and I have a message to share that I need to get serious and be professional about what I'm promoting.  I've decided to contact a free local newspaper and ask the editor to publish a story about me.  Whew!  Big move and a bit scary.  An article all about me.  Yes, me and what I have to offer. I am ready, I have what it takes and the universe needs to see me back in action.  I'll going to check back in six months to evaluate personal my progress. 

.More about insight, drive and focus in my next post.  I'm off to get another cup of  Joe.  See you at the meeting.

 

It's Green and Spring

Finally,  after soo much winter and unthawing we are onto the Spring of things!  It is April Fools day and I'm preparing to go to a ZUMBA class in a few hours.  Excited to be able to do things and not worry about whether or not the weather will be gloomy, rainy and/or cold.

As the saying goes, the first quarter went out like a lamb and April came in on us. It has also been said that the year is either a year for questions or a year of answers.  The first three months of 2014 for me have been a year of answers personally and professionally.  I have been painfully slapped in the face with certain things that were reality.  It has been harsh, but, I've shook myself, managed to get up and as they say to keep it moving.  I haven't been able to blog, because so much was on my plate personally and/or professionally. 

Most of the situations, I put in motion two years ago and now I am seeing the fruits of my labor.  I'm not as pleased outcomes and now realize that some of the situations I created and that I really didn't do enough research.  I feel I did the best that I could with what I knew.  Here is why I say that having a mentor would have assisted me in my decision making process.  However, without one I had to go for what I knew; using materials I've researched and read. I gained great experience and exposure in each situation and I learned that by changing roles and accepting an elevated role you will fill a bit more powerful.  The power comes because you are required to make decisions on the spot and you can't ask anyone.   It can be a bit daunting, however, empowering at the same time.  I always knew that I was leadership material because in my role of an Administrative Assistant we lead every day.  it is just the title that limits our leadership. 

And now that we are into the first month of the second quarter I am sure that more answers are coming.  I'm committed to posting four post per month.  At this point, I'm ahead of the game.   Hang in there for answers next week.  Not sure of the topic, however, look for the post.

Allies

There are a few things that an ally in the work place does for you:

1. They help you realize that you are not alone.
2. They offer constructive feedback.  They can point out things you might be doing or not doing.
3. They help you strategize everything from your next project to your next position. 
4. They provide access to information. 

Women should not shy away from making connections with each other.  Men do it all the time on the golf course or even over Scotch.  Building alliances with other women is most helpful.  It takes courage to take the time to connect with another woman and get to know her.  Keep in mind that these alliance are about career building, not about snaggin another girlfirend.  Keep it professional.

Leader without having authority

Another Tennessee Summit has come and gone, whew!  This year it was suppose to be a "mini" summit and it blossomed into a full blown summit.  It is amazing when your audience wants more of what you are offering.  We used the blocks in the functional areas for the necessary training needed that has not been available to the campus.

When you think about it this is one of the only opportunities the functional/technical areas have been able to get together for collective coordinated training throughout the year and it was well recieved.

This was an "aha" moment for me, because this would be an opportunity as we bring all the campus together annually that we could capitalize upon by doing our best to make the program offers exceptionally robust.  I'm thrilled to think that going forward the task is to build one of the best training opportunities available for the universities/community colleges. 

This was a grand opportunity for me to build positive relations with my colleagues as well as my customers.  My client and/or customer is my office staff members as well as any individual from a campus.   Sometime as an administrative assistant we may not have authority, however, we certainly have influence.  As I worked to help others look good it helped me to win influence with those individuals. 

The way that I've made the most of my influence is to focus on providing superior service when dealing with my clients and customers.  As I have supported their efforts to build their track offerings, they have in turn been supportive of me and acknowledged my work in turn.  

I have also found that when others have been frustrated that they are not being heard, I can amplify their essage by mentioning them, reinforcing them and by reflecting positvely upon what they are sharing. 

Tennesee Summit was a grand success.  Kudos to all the presenters and attendees.  I look forward to next year's program. 

The office hub

It is already mid-July and this is my very first post.  I gotten side track with the summer programs on TV after work and just chilling.  Time to refocus.  As I rethink what's been going on in my life; I'm recalling that I've been more focused, direct and deliberate with working on entreprenial experience.  And that is what has taken me away from my professional blogging.  My office, mine personally often times ends up being a hub where people come to find out all kinds of information i.e. feed back on a presentation, the whereabouts of the boss, his mood, fashion questions and often timescareer advice.  You name it and people come talk to me about it.  I'm in an attempt to explode the myth that I am "just an admin" because in most cases I am truly the hub they are looking for. 

I have some of the most endearing connections and what is good about it is that I like bring people together.  It's kind of a key in lock theory.  It's not always about who you are, but aout what or who you know.  And I know some people.  I see taking on the role of the hub as one of the most valuable people in an organization.  I network with others in the business community, not because I have a piece of business to give them at that moment, but I might in the future or I might refere someone who will give them that piece of valuable information or business.  I love it.

I have countless individuals that stop by on a daily basis just for me to give them a read on a personal or professional scenario.  I appreciate their confidence in my insight.  From where I sit, I can see things from a very different and non-judgmental empowering position.  In most meetings, I'm meeting new people and making connections which is what networking is all about. 

Today, I had a CIO tell me that he is looking for a new adminstratve assistant and so I'm on the look out talking to other people that I know in the area that mayknow someone looking for a job or even a change. 

I have a few leads and I'm going to send them his way.  That connection will be a good one if I send him a good take charge individual.  I'll let you know how that works out in one of my next blogs in the months to follow. 

Ten Steps to Confidence at Work

1. Stay focused on the task.
2. Build on your strengths:  identify and captalize on them by working them into whatever you do.
3. Work on reducing for eliminating your weakenesses.
4. Believe in yourself Say three affirmations before going to bed.  Tell yourself three things that you like about yourself or three things that went well during the day.
5. Keep track of your daily accomplishments.  Begin a "kudos" file and regulary review it for a reality check of your talents adn a personal pat on the back.
6. Know that your confidence will be threatened at times.  Accept it.  If you on the end of a mean comment that shakes your confidence give yourself 24-48 hours before responding or making any important decisions.
7. Ask pepole that you respect what they think are your greatest srengths.  Then find ways to use them.  Ask them what they have seen you do that they would like to see you do more?  Sometimes others see more talent than you recognize in yourself.
8. Challenge yourself.  Find projects and assignments that give you an opportunity to use your strengths and take on projects that stretch you.  Try something new, even if you are afraid.  Take baby seps and try to refrain from judging yourself too early in teh procss, or comparing your performance to someone who has been doing the activity for a much longer period than you.
9. Be a role model of positive attitude.  Be reesilient.  Find solutions.  Workers are drawn to those who have an upbeat attitude, especially when challenges emerge and it can start with you.
10. Carefully consider how to react to your bossand colleagues actions.   This is very important.  Elevate your emotional radar use the "levity lense".  Try parenting up w/o patronizing under these circumstances.

Decisions that were made...

It really isn't as difficult as I've been making it.  It's probably quite simple.  Unfortunately, I have so much "stuff" attached to it, I'm created a burden where there need not be one.  I'm creating a problem where none exists.  I'm causing myself a great deal of  upset for no reason. There is really no reason to fight or argue about it; to explain or to demand an explanation.  I'm clear about it.

I didn't like what happened.  It did not honor me.  It was a violation of my boundarires.  It was not in keeping with the agreement I made or agreement they made with me.  What is happening or has happened is not my choice, nor is it of my making.  So it's really very simple!  Stop looking and asking for an explanation.  Stop demanding that people do what they have already demonstrated an unwillingness or inability to do.  Accept what has happened and decide what to do about it.  One I make a decision as my grandmother would say I will be clear and I can move on.  The indecision is what causes so much confusion
.
Allow my decison to honor me.  Just right now accept what I know and feel to be right for me without trying to convince others it must be right for them.