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. 

Provide Security

Wow!  Provide Security.  I commited to four post this month and we are in week three and I've only completed one post.  I'm behind the gun, however, don't fret I will deliver as promised.  Thanks for checking back.   T

This post is all about understanding that people are never more insecure than when they become obsessed with their fears at the expense of their dreams.  People who focus on their fears don't grow.  They become paralyzed and can't move.  Leaders are in a position to provide followers with an environment of security in which they can grow.  I've heard this echoed several times.  I read about it in "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels great book if you haven't read it.  It changed my life when I read it.

 I seem to always get stuck with leaders that do not know how to create such an environment for me to grow within in my primary employment or even spiritual life.  I was just out there like a weed and just growing.  Heat and sun burning my skin and the rain almost chocking me out.  One thing about that kind of growth is you learn survival and it comes from the school of hard knocks. 

Early in my career I did have some guidance, although it was not extended.  I marvel at the people who grew up in a nutured environment with guidance and direction along every step.  It seems they would get further along.  Not sure how they feel about the guidance they recieved.  But it seems it would have been a good pairing to have someone as a mentor. 

At this point in the game, I'm grateful for three new voices in my life right now.  And these voices are constant and extremely nuturing, two are very upclose and one from somewhat of a distance.  Needless to say, it doesn't matter to me when I haven't had any.  I can truly appreciate the guidance and support that I'm getting now.  Up close or from a distance.  I'm holding onto their every word.  It has been good for me. 

Great leaders make their followers feel bigger than they are.  Soon the followers begin to think, act, and produce bigger than they are.  Finally, they become what they they think they are.  Henry Ford once said, "one of the great discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do."  A nuruturing leader proives the secruity a potential leadear needs to make that discovery..... 

Until next week, don't miss an opportunity. 

First Quarter of 2013 has ended

The first quarter of 2013 has come and gone like a March wind.  It breezed in here and who was ready for the first quarter to begin.  I certainly wasn't, however, ready or not it was on.   I have to say I came out of the shoot by setting goals mid January professionally and personally.  These goals were complete with timelines and strategies for attaining my goal.

I thought that I had clearly defined the goal, a timeline and the steps necessary for achieving each goal.  I expressed my goals in terms of specific events or behaviors ( For example, "my goal is to actively return to college in a degree program.") that was just an example.  

As I reflect and review the achievings of the first quarter were many, however, none of them quite what I had prepared or planned out to do.  The bottom line with the goals that I set I allowed life to get in the way and I got off track.  I've reviewed each goal and decided whether or not it is worth my time to continue with working to achieve it in the 2nd quarter or do I need to scrap it all the way. 

I will just tell you that one of my goals is to complete 4 posts to each of my blogs for the month and that is just one post a week.  I've set the theme for the month as renewal and I'm on my way.  I'll be stopping at a local coffee house a couple of times a week to work on each post.  I'm excited about it and I'm going to achieve this goal for April and expect to work it right through to June.   Second Quarter and it is on...... Stay tuned for next weeks post.  It will be all about Spring renewal.  Until then always be prepared to seize the moment. 

Diane