Career & Life Coaching

1. Keep work in perspective – remember how you left work on time in the summer?

2. Change a routine task – develop a new process. Instead of handling your e-mails as you get them, set aside specific times during the day to respond.

3. Set boundaries – you don’t have to attend every meetings you are invited to or sign up for every project. Choose the meetings you can add value to or benefit from.

4. Manage your stress – identify what causes you stress and how it affects you.

5. Take time out – close your door (if you have one), call forward your phone, turn off your e-mail, take a walk. Use this time “during your work day” to prepare for a big meeting, a presentation or work on a project.

6. Delegate – are you spending too much time on the administrative process of your job and not utilizing your skills to benefit your long-term goals and your company’s goals?

7. Work/Play Balance – what did you enjoy doing during the summer that you want to continue (going to the movies, playing tennis, volunteering, spending time with your kids, seeing friends, etc.)? Put it on your schedule.

Leadership = Influence.

It is the art or process of influencing people so that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically. As human beings we all influence someone: parent to child, teacher to student, friend to friend, employer to employee, and coach to athlete. If you stop to think about it, the list is endless.

Since we are all capable of influencing others, we all have the potential to be leaders. A leader is not necessarily the person at the head of the table or the one with the title. The next time you are in a meeting or a social function, see how quickly you can tell who the real leader is: it is the person others naturally watch, listen to, gravitate towards, and follow.

Leadership is more than a position. Leadership is a skill. Because we all have areas in which we excel, from time to time we are all thrust into leadership roles. While these opportunities may seem uncomfortable at first, ask yourself a few important questions. Which skills do I have that are being called upon? What do I have to offer? Then, take the opportunity to use these skills to move the situation forward.

Leadership takes time and experience to develop. Take advantage of these opportunities to develop your leadership skills.

Mentoring is a relationship that is established with someone who is an expert in their field. The mentor is usually older and more experienced than the mentee. The mentor shares their experiences, and the lessons they have learned. But the relationship benefits both the mentor and the mentee. The mentor benefits from the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills. The mentee receives career guidance and helpful career advice to prepare for the next level in their career.

Many companies have formal mentoring programs in place for matching new employees with those already established in their career. If you are choosing your own mentors here are five tips to ensure a successful relationship:

1. A good career mentor:

* Is knowledgeable in their field
* Is generous and honest with advice
* Is a good communicator
* Is committed to the relationship
* Will get to know their mentee: her/his capabilities, interests and goals
* Will make recommendations for the mentee’s career development and path
* Will create learning opportunities and heighten the mentee’s career
* Will introduce the mentee to key people and professional organizations

2. Choosing a career mentor:

* Choose someone you admire
* Look outside your immediate work area – maybe your boss’s boss.
* Choose someone in another area of your organization who has had a career path similar to your goal.
* Find multiple mentors (I have clients working with more than one mentor in a formal relationship).

To find a career mentor outside of your organization, join professional associations where you can meet senior people and executives in your field.

3. Setting up the Mentor/Mentee Relationship:

* Before seeking a mentor’s assistance, make a plan. What do you expect from your mentor? What do you want to focus on? How much time do want to commit to this relationship? It is important for you to be clear about your expectations for your own benefit and in order to communicate this to your potential mentor.
* Invite the potential mentor to lunch or coffee to discuss your intention. Mentors appreciate the recognition, and are willing to share their knowledge and wisdom.
* At the meeting, effectively communicate your need for a mentor, your vision of the future. Define the relationship and why you would like this person to be your career mentor.
* Find out how involved the potential mentor wants to be in this relationship.
* Give them a chance to think about it – tell them you will get back to them in a couple of days.

4. The Relationship:

* Set up the parameters of the relationship together, how often, when & where you will meet, and the length of the meeting.
* Respect your mentor’s time. Show up on time for your meetings. If you have to cancel your meeting, give at least 24 hours notice.
* Set up boundaries for phone calls. Between meetings call only if absolutely necessary.
* Use your scheduled meetings effectively by organizing your materials and the topics you would like to discuss.
* Pay for your own meals and drinks or offer to pick up the tab for your mentor’s meal.
* If you are given an assignment, complete it on time.
* Show your appreciation by offering to help your mentor in any way possible. Send a thank-you e-mail communicating how this relationship has helped you or send a gift to recognize a special day for your mentor.
* Recognize when the relationship is winding down, communicate this, and wrap it up. If you would like to stay in touch with occasional updates of your career successes, clear it with your mentor at the end of the relationship.
* Obtain approval from your mentor before using them as a reference.

There are many benefits to a career mentorship, for both parties. Mentees gain the benefit of someone’s experience to help them navigate their career development. Mentors have the opportunity to reflect on their careers. Having clear goals and communicating these will ensure that the experience is positive and productive.

For more articles on Mentoring, visit: http://www.ProMentoringInc.com

Have you thought about your career goals for 2008? What worked to years ago in planning and managing your career will not work for your career development in the 21st Century. Managing your career in the 21st Century requires preparation, career goal planning and career guidance and ensuring that your time is directed meaningfully.

Here is how to find enjoyment and continue to progress in your career.

1. Determine if your present job is in line with who you are, what you value, and what you are good at. Are you really doing what you want to do? Being self-aware means you become clear about what you stand for and what you have to offer. When you know what you have to offer, you become more powerful and intentional in your work. Doing a good job is no longer good enough to guarantee your career will go well. You are your most important asset. Self-branding provides direction and clarity of purpose for how you work, not just what you do for a living.

2. Identify your job satisfiers and dissatisfiers. Find a way to do more of the tasks/projects that you enjoy.

3. Identify your accomplishments.

4. Take the time to build and maintain relationship with individuals who might impact your work. You will benefit personally and professionally from the time you invest in such relationships.

5. Determine and write down your vision for your professional life. What actions do you need to take that will get you there? Celebrate the steps you take daily to achieve your vision. You can create the life you want! Here are some ways you can do that:

* Keep work in perspective – remember how you left work on time in the summer?

* Manage your stress – identify what causes you stress and how it affects you.

* Take time out – close your door (if you have one), call forward your phone, turn off your e-mail, take a walk. Use this time “during your work day” to prepare for a big meeting, a presentation or work on a project.

* Delegate – are you spending too much time on the administrative process of your job and not utilizing your skills to benefit your long-term goals and your company’s goals?

* Work/Play Balance – what did you enjoy doing during the summer that you want to continue (going to the movies, playing tennis, volunteering, spending time with your kids, seeing friends, etc.)? Put it on your schedule.

6. Be Bold! Don’t be afraid to take on some responsibilities in positions above you. Aim to always exceed expectations.

7. Manage your own time. Set boundaries. Learn to say “no” to non-essential use of your time.

8. Look for way to do things better, and more efficiently. Change a routine task – develop a new process. Instead of handling your e-mails as you get them, set aside specific times during the day to respond.

9. Be great at what you do. The knowledge and skill that create success in your current job will position you for your next move.

10. Be aware of roadblocks that can limit your potential to move upward.

11. Take on projects that will most likely benefit you.

12. Have passion for what you are doing and working toward. You will automatically put more effort into it. If you are not feeling passionate about your work ask yourself: is what you “should’ be doing interfering with what you want to be doing?

Remember! Your career must contribute to your life, not the other way around!

The new realities of securing employment in today’s changing world require a new belief. Designing and planning your career, and taking a proactive, self-directed approach is the success formula.

The resume is a critical part to your career design. October issue of Recipes for Success we discussed resume writing; “Putting yourself on paper”. This month we will discuss “Ideas on finding a new job”. Finding a new job is not always easy, whether you are an executive or just starting out in your career.

Making the wrong move can cost you time and money. With the stakes so high, before finding or looking for a new job, you should clarify your career path to ensure you are headed in the right direction.

Once you have completed the preliminary work such as identifying your career path, creating a well-constructed resume and detailed cover letter; how do you find your ideal job?

Here are some ideas:

1. Networking

Networking is the most powerful way of finding a job. Many jobs are never advertised because they have gone to someone’s friend or colleague. 62% of hiring managers found word of mouth referrals to be the most effective. Contact people and let them know you are in the job market. Attend professional association events where you can meet as many new people as possible.

2. Internet Jobsites

The internet is a very useful job search tool, but not an effective self-marketing tool. Although you will find job sites (monster.com, careerbuilder.com, workopolis.com, etc.) where you can post your resume, you must update your posting daily. New job hunters post their resume every day, pushing your resume down the list. Surveys have shown only a 4% success rate for being contacted for a job from an Internet posting.

3. Recruitment Agencies

Recruitment agencies serve as intermediaries between worker and applicant to ensure a match between the company’s needs and the applicants’ skills and interests. While this may get you an interview, you are often one of many applicants the agency has recruited for the same position, so you need to be even more prepared to sell yourself.

4. Headhunters (search and selection firms)

Headhunters are also recruiters. The difference, however, is that headhunters are much more specific in their recruitment. Rather than simply finding a pool of the most talented people, they focus on finding candidates who exactly match the qualifications specified by their clients. To this end, headhunters select candidates whether they are in the job market or not. If you are at a senior level in your career, you have probably already received calls from headhunters. As you look at the many paths available to you to attain your ideal position, getting an interview with a headhunter is the least likely to get you closer to your goal.. Headhunters fill many of the world’s most prestigious positions.

5. Cold Calling

Cold calling means initiating an approach to companies; telling them about your skills and interest in working for them. Research shows a 69% success rate – even better than networking! Surveyed job hunters spent 24% of their time making these kinds of cold calls, which yielded 27% of their meetings. In contrast, the 45% of their time spent networking produced only 35% of their meetings*.

Why is cold calling so effective? Because it gives you the opportunity to make contact and penetrate the marketplace before positions are advertised to the general public.

6. Newspaper

Answering ads in local newspaper has a 5% – 24% success rate. The higher the salary, the smaller the chance of finding a job using that method.

Trying to find a job requires the same dedicated time, energy, and effort to succeed as you put into the position you eventually find through your perseverance. Staying focused, and finding ways to deal with rejection (and use the information gained to help move you forward) will help you to be successful.

* As reported by the Five O’Clock Club, a career-counselling network based in New York City.

I recently surveyed my clients who are middle managers or in mid-career positions to see what they had in common. I discovered three common elements: most are in mid-life; their biggest challenges are balancing life and career; and they are using this stressful, pivotal time to reinvent themselves.

In Canada 9.831 million people are between 40-59 years old. In the US this number climbs to 82.549 million people. Our entry into the 21st century has changed how people feel about being mid-life adults. Far from the mid-life crisis of generations past, it is nevertheless still a time of challenges and crossroads. While career, family, relationships, health and personal growth all become equally important, people tend to focus on their career/job because it represents money. Like it or not, money is a big factor in the balance we try to create in our lives. The mid-point often shakes people out of the auto-pilot and requires the answers to some hard questions: Is this work providing fulfillment? Am I energized by it, or drained? Can I spend more time with my family and still make ends meet? Is this what I want to do with the rest of my life? And if not, WHAT? If one pays attention, this period can provide some very important information to use in the second part of life.

Mid life is the beginning of your second chapter. What better time to take an inventory: what is really important to you; what are your VALUES; what you are good at; what are your skills and ATTRIBUTES; and what is missing in your life? Taking some time now to review where you have been, what you have done and how it has served you means you can move forward with awareness. Awareness allows us to make clearer, more positive choices for ourselves – and results in a life with fewer regrets. This is not always an easy undertaking. In addition to these concerns, there is the challenge of living in a society that caters to the young, which can cause self scrutiny and fear of aging. A therapist and/or a life or career coach can help you navigate the process.

Once you have some clarity, the next step is to set goals, put a plan in place for achieving them, and support yourself as you move forward. The bonus of mid-life is that you are equipped with half a life’s worth of experience – your experience! Mid-life doesn’t necessarily mean having to change your life; you can learn new methods of living, and change the way you experience your life by making new choices or having a different outlook.

Because you are self-aware and focused, the benefits of branding are many. Self-branding: A. Increases your confidence and self-motivation B. Increases your visibility and presence C. Differentiates you from your peers and colleagues As a result, you will: A. Achieve your personal and professional goals B. Increase your salary

Personal branding is the strategy behind the world’s most successful people like Oprah, Madonna, Donald Trump, Richard Branson and Bill Gates. It demands commitment to what you value, consistency in what you deliver, and the guts to market who you are. It is the difference between an ordinary career or business and an exceptional one. Get clear on the brand “You”, and be faithful to it.

So get unstuck! This is another beginning. As you move into the second chapter of your life, think about what will make your life a success for you – and use this to create the life you want.

“Sometimes the best begins in the middle”

Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and drive? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Studies in the US show that up to 70 percent of the workforce is unhappy with their job at any given time.

We all feel dissatisfied and frustrated with our jobs at times. So, how do you know when the feeling of dissatisfaction and frustration means it is time for a career change?

There are a few key signs which point towards a need for change:

We choose our career path for many different reasons: because of our parents’ encouragement; because it is a successful occupation; or for the financial reward (to name just a few). However, you may be in a career that doesn’t support your core values. This could be the root of your discomfort.

Take a personal and professional inventory. Ask yourself some important questions.

1. Look at your current job. How did you get there?
2. What are your personal attributes (artistic, adaptable, creative, leader, etc.)?
3. What are your core values (autonomy, growth, helping others, financial security etc.)?
4. What are your greatest strengths?
5. Identify your accomplishments.
6. Identify your career satisfiers and dissatisfiers: For each position you have had throughout your career what activities or responsibilities did you enjoy (and not enjoy) doing?
7. What is important to you, personally and professionally?
8. What you would like to do or accomplish during your lifetime (personally or professionally) so that you will consider your life to have been well-lived?
9. What are you most excited about now?

Take a look at your answers. Is your present career in line with who you are, what you value, and what you are good at? If not, then it is time to make a change.

Once you have established that you are ready for a career change, start thinking about and noticing what you want. If you could do anything, what would you do? By assessing your accomplishments, skills, strengths and weakness you will be able to see a link between what it is that you value, what you are good at, and where the “juice” is for you – all things that you can turn into a new career.

Decide what you want and create your opportunities. MAKE A PLAN. Then, use this plan to switch from resentment in your current job to looking at the positives you can take to your new career. What are your transferable skills? What are you learning in your present position that you can take with you? Once you have a plan, stay focused on your intention, and pay attention to opportunities that present themselves.

Despite your present frustration and your excitement at the possibilities ahead of you, it is natural to feel afraid about starting a new career. Feel the fear and do it anyway! Remember, the power to do so is within you.

In today’s highly competitive business environment managers face rapidly changing conditions, flatter organization, doing more with less. Managers are simultaneously a leader, a manager, and an administrator. Understanding your management style is a critical step towards making the adjustments and transitions this new role demands.

Good Managers – well rounded and pragmatic. They understand the reality of their environment – it’s values, goals, politics and limits. They set realistic objectives that acknowledge organizational constraints and dovetail with corporate goals. They are conservative. They would rather be slow and steady than risk the glory of swift, but uncertain success. Good managers excel at hiring, coordinating and directing a team.

Good Leaders – are visionaries, value creativity. They focus on what the organization needs to do as a whole to succeed. Leaders are passionate and persuasive. They excel at inspiring others and communicating the vision. They recruit talented, motivated people, not specialists. Their knowledge of the “outside world” is the basis for their ideas, suggestions and plans. Good leaders are always prepared. They are well balanced and well rounded. They admit mistakes. Good leaders inspire enthusiasm.

High Achievers – are success-oriented, pragmatic types. They are adaptable, excelling, driven, image conscious. They are highly motivated. High achievers know their purpose and role, therefore, do not need anybody’s help in setting goals. High achievers use intuition to make decisions and it is hard to replicate that in the employee. They make decisions quickly and implement the ideas immediately. They believe that profits are the end result and people are a resource to help achieve that goal. High achievers typically do not make good managers. They want to do things themselves. They do not have a lot of faith in others and have difficulty delegating. High achievers understand driving themselves, but not working through others.

How do you measure up? Manager, Leader or High Achiever?

Test your style! Use one of our online evaluations.

cecile@cosmiccoachingcentre.com or call 416-782-5001.

1. Exceed expectations; deliver results on a or head of time.

2. Manage your time effectively.

3. Create a career plan with goals and training requirements.

4. Move away from day-to-day operations.

5. Develop strong rapport with colleagues, senior managers/executives.

6. Get a mentor, accept guidance in your career.

7. Know your organization’s goals vision, values, business strategies.

8. Create opportunities to further own/business goals.

9. Solicit feedback and assess the decision for purposes of continuous improvement.

10. Communicate effectively to people at all levels of your organization.

11. Build and maintain relationships with individuals who might impact your work.

12. Plan, prioritize and organize your work.

13. Manage own emotions and reactions.

14. Balance the demands of your personal and professional life.

15. Give yourself quarterly reviews, identify your accomplishments.

16. Become your own sales team, market your abilities.

17. Dedicate yourself to lifelong learning.

18. Be decisive and action oriented.

19. Commit to excellence and professionalism.

20. Be self-disciplined.

Managing your career, just like managing your life, requires preparation and ensuring that your time is directed meaningfully. Don’t wait and see; make things happen. Just like athletes who prepare for the “big game”, or a marathon, designing your career requires goals, planning, work, and above all, commitment. Think of yourself as a Career Athlete.

Being a Career Athlete requires awareness and action. Athletes are aware of their gifts, talents and abilities. They then focus their training on sharpening these skills with the goal of being the best they can be in their chosen area of expertise. Designing your career is no different. What are your gifts? What do you care about more than anything else? What work would allow you to connect to this purpose? This part of the process requires that you are honest with yourself. Once you have answered these questions you need to focus your attention on the “training”. What steps do you need to take in order to design a career that honours your abilities? What is in your way, that you need to overcome, as you strive for this goal? Remember that fear is a natural and inevitable part of this process, but that it does not have to stop you. Identifying what keeps you from pursuing the career that you want is an important step. Knowing what may become a stumbling block allows you to move through it much easier when it occurs, rather than being stopped by it.

An Elite Athlete has a four phase training program which can be incorporated in the Career Athlete plan.

Phase I: Preparation. This phase is crucial in providing you with a firm base. What skills/strengths are fundamental to your success? Phase II: Pre-competitive. What is the motivation behind what you want to do? Have you connected it to your value system? Phase III: Competitive Peaking. The point at which everything you have been working toward comes together. Phase IV: Active Rest. This is the phase of transition. A time when you are under no pressure. Use this time to have fun and celebrate the completion of phases I – III. This is also a good time for self-reflection, self-evaluation and future goal setting. Shape your career, don’t let it shape you! Decide what you want and create your opportunities accordingly. Positioning yourself in your career will happen a step at a time with planning. A Career Coach can help define your goals and a Career Marketing & Outplacement Service can help with a Career Evaluation.