becoming your best self

8/2/2019 Becoming Your Best Self

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I created this document over time, as doors opened, and I discovered the

secrets of what managers really want.

The one employer until retirement rule was the reality of my Grandparents.

However, as a Gen Xer, I have grown up with the expectation that, more

than likely, I would not remain at one corporation my entire working life.

Gen Xers witnessed the disintegration of corporate loyalty to employees

and a move to pledging lives and souls to the bottom line. We witnessed

Baby Boomers lose their jobs, if it was not feasible to maintain them.

Hierarchal structures came crashing down and middle management got thesqueeze. Streamlined automated processes reduced the need for human

capital, and outsourcing meant a reduced need to build competencies

internally. Finally, the allure of cheap overseas labor continues to cause

constraints for hiring in an educated American workforce.

As a product of this environment, I needed to know what it all meant to me

and my future. The world is ever shifting and discerning how the various

factors help or hinder in meeting goals is not a simple algorithmicequation; it takes time.

Desiring to be successful, I chose to be proactive as opposed to reactive in

my quest. The chapters in this document are a result of this journey,

written over a three year period of engaging leadership, talking to

managers, attending seminars, obtaining my masters, identifying mentors,

and asking myself the tough questions, What do you want, Why do you

want it, and How are you going to accomplish it?

I went about learning the ropes, and perhaps by reading my shared

experience it will help someone else learn the unwritten rules for thriving

in any work environment.


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Have an Objective..1

Master the Soft Skills.5

Maintain Your Work-Life Balance7

Balance Likeability and Integrity..9

Find a Mentor and Coach..11

Build and Maintain Networks...13

Update Your Expertise.15

Never Lose Yourself and Purpose17

Sustain Professionalism...19

Be Prepared to Walk Away..21

Resources.23


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Chapter 1 Have an Objective

Have an objective or become a tool for someone elses objective.

If you do not appear to have a plan, expectations or objective, it becomes easy for people

to forget about you or place you wherever the

business need may be, without consideration of

personal goals or development needs. To avoid this

outcome, have a 2-5 year plan when you step in the

door of a company or pitch your business plan.

Deliver positive results on a consistent basis and

develop a project portfolio, so that you always have

demonstrable performance. Utilize S.M.A.R.T.

goals, (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic,

tangible), in creating your objectives, so that they

are easily comprehensible to others.

Ensure exposure of your strengths and prevent the highlighting of your weaknesses.

What do I mean prevent the highlighting of your weaknesses? It is most respectable to

readily admit when a mistake was made and to correct it. However, it is detrimental

when others can focus on a fatal character flaw in order to hold you back from

promotional opportunity. It is better to proactively identify your weaknesses and develop

a plan for overcoming them.

Our ears are well attuned to

what we are trained to hear.

Employers have targetableobjectives for staffing, process

improvements, and costreductions.

Therefore, it is most beneficial

to speak the language they areaccustomed to by having your

individual goals similarly

structured.


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Have an Objective

Whenever possible, connect your job to the bottom line and have a quantifiable bullet on

your resume for each position, e.g. reduced cycle time by _%, increased efficiency by

_%, increased profitability by _%, know your options and your value based upon your

skill sets.

Creating a S.M.A.R.T. Goal

Specific:To create/implement/streamline to accomplish________________

by__________(date).

Measurable:Accomplish Target 1 _____________________by:____________________(date)

Accomplish Target 2 _____________________by:____________________(date)

Accomplish Target 3 _____________________by:____________________(date)

Attainable:I will achieve this goal by engaging/employing/obtaining/changing _________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________


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Have an Objective

Realistic:This goal is realistic because I am willing and capable of __________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Tangible:This goal is tangible because I will be able to see reduced cycle time/ increased

efficiency/increased profitability by ________%.


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Chapter 2 Master the Soft Skills

Image matters!

What people see and hear is what makes you palpable to other human beings. This

provides the basis from which judgments are made. Therefore, you receive payoffs,

tangible and intangible, for managing your image. Mastery of the soft skills is an integral

part of image management.

Communication, interpersonal, management

and leadership skills are essential at every

career level in order to create effective

workplace relationships. Social and emotional

intelligence ensures that you remain aware of

yourself and the environment. Confidence,

self-leadership, presentation skills and the

ability to work on teams ensures that your

supervisor or client can count on you in a

variety of situations, enabling them to provide

you valuable positive exposure. The ability to work autonomously, complete projects on-

time, construct effective proposals and emails makes you a valued organizational

resource.

The same manner in which Itook care in providing anattractive presentation of thismaterial is the same care and

attention we take everyday inthe presentation of ourselves.

Every action that you take is adirect reflection of you - the

impression that you leaveothers with.

Lets leave them with a greatimpression and get you to

where you need to be.


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Master the Soft Skills

Globalization and downsizing have made the job market more competitive today than

ever. For this reason your mastery of the soft skills could be the deciding factor in

whether or not you land the job. For example: If a hiring manager has interviewed two

individuals whose qualifications are identical, but one has conveyed mastery of the soft

skills, on paper and in the interview, the individual who has mastered the soft skills is the

candidate who is more likely to land the job. Individuals perceived as having good soft

skills, are the ones employers want to hire as they complement required technical skills

and broaden the scope of where the company can see the individual fitting into their

companys landscape, now and in the future.


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Chapter 3 Maintain Your Work-Life Balance

A positive attitude goes a long way!

When you maintain a positive attitude you are

able to get more done and keep your personal

and professional relationships on track.

However, in order to preserve a positive attitude

you must first discern negative stressors and

energy drains from positive stress. Positive

stress can be exhilarating, increasing your energy

level to complete tasks. A negative stressor may

derail your train of thought and drain your

energy by focusing on petty issues.

Establish boundaries and be flexible. No, this not an oxymoronic statement. For

example, if you are married with children and your work day ends at 5:00pm: as much as

possible, stop working by 5:00pm and spend quality time with yourself, friends and

family. If you are single, the same advice still stands. This is boundary setting, ensuring

that you recognize the needs of the whole person. One venue cannot fulfill all of your

needs nor the needs of others.

Attitude is the energy signal

that you send to others.

Positude, or positive attitude,

sends the signal that I am alert,I am capable of identifying

opportunities and I am willingto apply my knowledge toidentify solutions, as required.

Negative energy connotes:

downer,pessimism,andlack of coping skills.


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Maintain Your Work-Life Balance

Being flexible means that even the best laid plans can experience a glitch or require

revamping. For example, you have a project, at work, which requires you to work

overtime. Youll probably have to stay at work until 9:00pm for approximately one

week. Inform and make arrangements with and for your family and complete the project,

without guilt. Your family should be supportive during this period, and you can return to

your normal schedule the following week. Or, perhaps you have permanent added

responsibilities at work. The added monetary income is beneficial to your family, so by

all means, take the extra time to master the task or skill, (flexibility), and eventually,

manage the added work to fit into your required schedule, (boundaries).


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Chapter 4 Balance Likeability and Integrity

Likeability is your It Factor while Integrity is the Predictability Factor.

Likeability includes your demeanor, your ability to express yourself and educated

opinions without disrespecting or disregarding others, to hold meaningful small talk and

to effectively engage across the organization and industry. Visibility and likeability are

important. This is what gets you noticed and your name in the minds and on the lips of

people who can help to make things happen for you.

The likeability factor plays a role in how

leadership views you, promotability, e.g.

what types of positions they envision you

fitting into. It impacts your ability to get

things accomplished, in team situations,

from your assistant, your suppliers, your

customers and obtaining critical information

for job performance.

However, you should never compromise your integrity in the process. Doing so wont

win you respect and can wreak havoc on your mental and emotional well-being. Integrity

includes being value and principle based and creating a clear and established personal

It is evident that likeability plays alarge part in success, e.g.

Hollywood, sports, and politics.

Likeability is also a keycomponent of success in theworkplace.

However, like any other arena,you must also be good at what youdo and have establishedboundaries or moral guidelines.

Without boundaries, guidelines,

or integrity you cannot be takenseriously. You may become fun

to be around, yet not a trusted a

role model.


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Balance Likeability and Integrity

identity that neither you nor others disrespect. These factors provide boundaries for

engagement, keeping tensions low and positive, value additive behaviors high. For some,

your integrity will actually increase your likeability factor.

Both likeability and integrity are required to achieve true success in the business world.

To progress, others will have to sense that you embody both qualities. Therefore, it pays

to know yourself and be aware of others perceptions to ensure that you send the message

that you are a well-balanced individual, stable, approachable, and trustworthy.


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Chapter 5 Find a Mentor and Coach

Everyone requires someones help at one time or another.

Valid feedback will help you to stay on track. Awareness of peer, supervisory and

familial perceptions is a requirement for building

successful relationships within these strata. A

time may arise when you need help in discerning

the validity of a perception:

Is the feedback Ive received valid,

constructive and objective? Has there

been a recent environmental change that

has caused a negative change in

perception and relationships? Is there

something within my control to change?

A good mentor and coach can help you to answer these questions. They can also help

you to determine what your next best step should be in the situation. Your job is to

communicate honestly and openly with this individual(s), be receptive to the feedback,

and willing to alter old behaviors that no longer work. To ensure the effectiveness of a

mentorship you should also be open to accept mentors who are not necessarily the same

You could not possibly know itall, no matter how intelligent,

confident, or resourceful you

may be.

Experience counts. This isreason organizations ask their

seasoned employees to train,guide, and mentor newemployees.

Dont miss out on the

opportunity to learn fromothers in both your personaland professional life. Take

advantage of the human capitalthats right at your fingertips.


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Find a Mentor and Coach

race or gender. Those who have the capacity, knowledge and compassion required to be

good mentors and coaches may not always come in a preferred package.

The difference between a mentor and a coach is that a mentor focuses on the

development of the individual while a coach is more performance focused. A mentor can

be almost anyone you choose while a coach generally gets the position due to the position

they hold. The sources of each role differs however, both roles work toward the same

purpose, from different angles, to enable you to become the best human being possible in

your chosen field of expertise.


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Chapter 6 Build & Maintain Networks

Be involved and engaged.

Networks, formal and informal, can provide a sense of safety, security, support and

assurance. They are spaces where you are readily able to find people you relate to and in

turn can relate to you. The ability to maintain relationships with people who can provide

good solid advice, a helping hand, or whatever may be required at any given time is

invaluable. Therefore, the returns on the time you invest in maintaining your internal and

external networks are invaluable.

The importance of these relationships is

that they form a space where you have

the ability to have open communication

across a broad range of topics, to

receive honest feedback, direction,

mentoring, coaching, and to have an

individual or organization in your

corner that may be your life-line one

day.

Establishing professional network

relationships may still be particularly difficult for women and minorities. Although

Along the same thought as the

previous chapter: expand yourworld and take advantage of theopportunities that are right at your

fingertips.

Yes, some opportunities require amonetary investment; however, there

are many low cost and freeopportunities as well.

In todays environment, everyonerecognizes the benefits of social

networks. Happy workers make thebest employees. Therefore, manyemployers reimburse for

professional networking and providetime for internal networking.

Dont miss your opportunity.


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Build and Maintain Network

the environment is changing, lasting change occurs slowly.

Women are traditionally trained to concern themselves more with matters of family, than

with networking for business purposes and traditionally, minorities have not held many

decision-making positions. To aid networking success, consider every event as an

opportunity to meet new people for forming beneficial relationships.

Corporate Diversity Networks and Affinity Groups are a good place to begin. These

networks generally serve as a retention strategy for the corporation, in recognition of the

difficulty that is often experienced by minorities. Furthermore, they can put you in

touch with others of the same culture or ethnicity, providing a comfort level. Individuals

in these networks can in turn put you in touch with trusted sources outside of the

network, who have the care, concern, and authority to enable you to be your best.

Engaging in networks specific to your professional function is an excellent place for

expanding your network, no matter who you are or where you work. If you own your

own business, then engaging in networking opportunities provided through industry

memberships is especially beneficial.

There are many strategies for obtaining the support that you need; and as a best practice,

be proactive in your engagement.


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Chapter 7 Update Your Expertise

The average technology turnover is every two years.

Certain professions require that you attend continuing education courses to maintain your

certification. There are also many professions do not have any such requirement. Either

way, continuous learning is invaluable to

ensuring your continued credibility. Continued

education, conferences, workshops, and

seminars all help to keep you up-to-date in your

chosen field and ensures that you maintain the

status of being a valued resource in the

workplace.

The degree to which you maintain yourself up-

to-date may correlate to where you are in life as

well as your chosen goals and ambitions. To

use an analogy: if you consider yourself a low-

tech technology then perhaps attending a conference once every two years will suffice.

Perhaps you are at the end of your career, thinking more about retiring to your beach

house, and you just want to maintain your current position. Keeping your ear attuned to

current trends and issues at significant junctures with managements acknowledgement

helps to ensure that you maintain a position as a valued resource.

Are you low-tech or high-tech?

Not only should you maintainyour networks you must alsomaintain yourself in order tomeet your objectives.

Thinking of yourself as a

technology helps to depersonalizethe issue and to maintainobjectivity concerning what youneed to do in order to meet yourobjective(s).

Low-tech means low maintenancerequirements; it has already been

proven. High-tech means highermaintenance requirements as it is

still growing.


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Update Your Expertise

However, if you consider yourself a high-tech leading edge technology, desiring to

progress your career, you will need to keep your ear attuned to current trends as well as

increase your mobility factor by attending the conference, attending industry seminars,

obtain course credits, and lead a committee or engage in the community in some

significant manner. Progressing your thought and behavior is what enables you to be an

integral factor in moving a company forward.


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Chapter 8 Never Lose Yourself and Purpose

Your primary responsibility is to fulfill your lifes purpose.

Can you name the three most important principles that you live by? Can you name the

three most important things you want to accomplish in life? Can you name the three most

important reasons that you work?

If you cannot answer these three questions then you have not discovered your purpose to

begin fulfilling it. The happiest and most productive workers are workers who feel

fulfilled by their profession.

To discover your purpose, get to know

yourself. What are your strengths and

weaknesses? What activities make you

happy? What do you value the most?

To begin to fulfill your destiny enable

yourself to engage fully in the activities that

you value and enjoy the most. These

activities will strengthen your strong suits

and help you to overcome your weaknesses,

in the domains that have the most value and

It is easy to be derailed fromyour own objective if you make

the objectives of others yourfocal point.

A corporation has its mainobjective, and it is not you.

You are responsible to and foryourself - A primary self-careprovider.

To bridge the gap, it is a bestpractice to negotiate to a win-win situation concerning yourneeds and that of youremployer, your family, your

friends, etc.


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Never Lose Yourself and Purpose

thus, the greatest influence in your life. Reinforced learning makes the mechanics of

knowing your purpose unconscious so that you can fulfill your destiny on a daily basis.

The importance of this is immeasurable, as you may encounter people in your business

and personal life who will attempt to redefine you.

As discussed in Chapter 1: Have an Objective, you must have your own objective or risk

becoming a tool for someone elses objective. This goes hand in hand with knowing and

fulfilling your destiny. If you are lost to yourself then you are not fulfilling your purpose

and are open to becoming solely the tool for someone elses purpose and objective.

Knowing who you are establishes your self-identity for you and for others. It enables you

to know what path is right or wrong for you, so that you may continuously experience the

greatness specifically designated for you.


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Chapter 9 Sustain Professionalism

Professionalism is a mode of existence - a way of being.

A professional is an autonomous being, utilizing their independent judgment to carry out

their professional responsibilities in an ethical

manner. They are socially adaptive,

maintaining extensive networks, engaging,

sharing their knowledge and learning from

others.

A professional being harbors characteristics

such as honor, integrity, respect, altruism,

accountability, responsibility, and

compassion.

Image is another important component of

professionalism. Your first impression is based upon the image you present to others

your dress as well as your verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Well-fitted

clothing, well-groomed hair, well poised with an internal comfort level, and well attuned

ears that allow you communicate successfully will take you a long way.

Professionalism can beappreciated by all rational

human beings.

Professionalism does not meanbeing aloof or persnickety. Itrequires the individual to be

fully engaged; attuned to whothey are as well as receptive to

others.

A professional is sought after

for many reasons; mainlybecause they are perceived as

even-keeled and well-roundedhuman beings.


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Sustain Professionalism

Like it or not, your personal characteristics and physical appearance impact the manner in

which you are perceived; it is human nature therefore, it is beneficial to maximize your

positive attributes.

Highlighting your best attributes, while sustaining professionalism in your attitude and

demeanor, helps to create a positive professional identity that exudes confidence, the

ability to appreciate differences, being known as an expert, as well as being known for

ethical behaviors.

A positive identity facilitates the ability of others to respect you, to trust you, and to trust

in the thoroughness and objectivity of your perspective.


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Chapter 10 Be Prepared to Walk Away

If you are a seasoned veteran, never limit yourself to a title. You have a lifetime of

experience that has provided you with a plethora of knowledge, skills and abilities that

are desired and marketable. Therefore, at any given point in time you should be prepared

to become your own best skills broker.

If you are just starting out, be aware that positions and agendas change often. The skills

and responsibilities for a particular position

may change before you get there or you

may find that you are no longer as

interested in a certain position or field as

you once were.

To overcome either scenario, maintain an

up-to-date resume, utilize your established

networks, and have your project portfolio

available. Also, know how to market

yourself, so that you are never caught off-

guard by downsizing, organizational

flattening, or a change of desired path.

The one thats chosen is theone that is best prepared.

Having served on committees

that make the hiring decision, Ican say that an individuals

passion and preparedness are

two key components in a hiringprocess.

You can have two candidates

with the passion for the work.However, the individual that

also has the preparedness, theflexibility, and the adaptabilityof skills and knowledge base is

the individual that is most

likely to get the job.


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Be Prepared to Walk Away

Know your worth so that you can adequately portray it to others. Below is a sample table

of skills valued throughout the business world. However, the table is not exhaustive and

you should make a personal inventory, so that it is tailored to your unique experience.


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Be Prepared to Walk Away

Leadership

Self , Others, Organizations

Management

Time, People, Projects

Planning

Tasks, Events, Projects

Communications

Written, Verbal, Physical

Initiating New Ideas Team Formation Handling Details Speaking Effectively

Negotiation Team Development Coordinating Listening for Understandin

Coaching Delegating Organizing Clear and Concise Writing

Mentoring Conflict Management Forecasting Express Ideas Clearly

Counseling Meeting Deadlines Goal Setting Facilitation

Translating Policy Change Management Problem Identification Editing

Decision Making Influence/Persuade Problem Solving Presentation Skills

Setting Deadlines Maximizing Productivity Resource Identification Relating to Others


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Chapter 11 Resources

Have an ObjectiveGoal Setting 101: How to Set and Achieve a Goal, Gary Ryan Blair

Make Success Measurable: Workbook for Setting Goals and Taking Action, Douglas K. Smith

Mastering Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence, Charles Manz

Master the Soft SkillsEmotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman

The 8th Habit, Stephen R. Covey

Maintain Your Work-Life BalanceWork + Life: Finding the Fit Thats Right For You, Cali Williams

Balance Liekability and IntegrityBalancing Personal and Professional Ethics, Sheryl Ankerstar

The Likeability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor & Achieve Your Lifes Dream, Tim Sanders

Find a Mentor and CoachFifty Activities for Coaching-Mentoring, Donna Berry

The Complete Guide to Mentoring and Coaching, Leslie McKeown

Coaching and Mentoring Skills, Andrew Dubrin

Coaching, Mentoring & Organizational Consultancy, Peter Hawkins


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Resources

Build and Maintain NetworksBest Practices in Building Your Personal Network, Allan S. Boress

HBR Developing Professional Networks Collection:Click Here

*Get involved with your company, industry, and profession networking opportunities.

Update Your ExpertiseSkill Path Seminars:www.skillpath.com

Career Track:www.careertrack.com

Mind Tools:www.mindtools.com

*Check within your work organization, professional alliances, or local university for other

opportunities.

Never Loose Yourself and PurposeMastering Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence, Charles Manz

Discover Your Destiny, Charles Stanley

I Dont Know What I Want, But I Know Its Not This: A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding

Gratifying Work, Julie Jansen

Sustain ProfessionalismProfessionalism is For Everyone: Five Keys to Being a True Professional, James Ball

True Professionalism: The Courage to Care about Your People, Your Clients and Your Career,

David H. Maister
http://hbr.org/product/the-developing-professional-networks-collection-2n/an/5882BN-BUN-ENG?Ntt=developing%2520networks%2520collectionhttp://hbr.org/product/the-developing-professional-networks-collection-2n/an/5882BN-BUN-ENG?Ntt=developing%2520networks%2520collectionhttp://hbr.org/product/the-developing-professional-networks-collection-2n/an/5882BN-BUN-ENG?Ntt=developing%2520networks%2520collectionhttp://www.skillpath.com/http://www.skillpath.com/http://www.skillpath.com/http://www.careertrack.com/http://www.careertrack.com/http://www.careertrack.com/http://www.mindtools.com/http://www.mindtools.com/http://www.mindtools.com/http://www.mindtools.com/http://www.careertrack.com/http://www.skillpath.com/http://hbr.org/product/the-developing-professional-networks-collection-2n/an/5882BN-BUN-ENG?Ntt=developing%2520networks%2520collection


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Resources

The Polished Professional: The Essential Business Style and Etiquette Handbook, National Press

Publications

The New Professional Image: Dress Your Best for Every Business Situation, Susan Bixler

Be Prepared to Walk AwayLinkedIn Labs: Click Here

Successful Career Management: Strategies Beyond Technical Preparation, Robert Donald
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

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