Management - the truth of it

(Source: blippitt.com)

This picture has two sides to it.  On one side there is a negative sarcastic connotation but at exactly the same time there is a whole lot of truth in it as well.  Here's my take on it -

• Sarcastic take.  If people don't get out of my way then I'm goting to run them over.  So they better move it or else they'll be toast!
• Positive take.  We need to work hard to overcome the fears, rejections, negative thinking of others so that we can spread our wings and soar.

So we need to consciously look at those people around us and think about are they helping us or hindering us from achieving our goals and mission in life?

Dust off your achievements and put them out there!

It has been 18 months to 2 years since I last sat down and updated my CV/resume.  In years gone by I tried to keep my CV current with each of the things I was doing along the way but I never felt like I had achieved anything really significant.

So I left the whole exercise to rest and gather dust.  Then I was prompted recently to sit down and write up my CV and to make it current again.  The difference between the 2009 version and the 2011 version?  Immense.

Here are the key differences -

• Accomplishments.  Achievements take time.  It's just like money - you either win the lottery all at once, or like the rest of the world, you work at it one step at a time.
• Language.  Describing the work you do the skills you bring and your abilities changes over time.  I find myself using more jargon and verbs rather than nouns and static language.  The aim is to use words that tell others that ultimately you can help them and assist them to succeed.
• Self view.  Confidence comes and goes but having a record of your achievements certainly helps.  On those days when you are struggling to get by you can pull your CV out of the drawer and remind yourself that you are actually pretty good!

I recommend that you undertake a CV writing exercise if it is only for fun.  Compare what you write and the history you have made against an old version and see what the differences are.  You may or may not find yourself applying for a new job but that is not the purpose of the exercise.

The purpose of the exercise is to remind yourself that you have value and are a valuable contributor to your team and for your employer.  If you do decide that your CV is pretty good and you are confident in yourself - why not hang it out where people can see it?

(Hint - try sites like LinkedIn and Seek)

Motivation anyone?

Social media can be hazardous to your health

With the multitude of social networking tools and systems avaialable today it has become super easy for employees to vent about those people that they work with or work for.

Social media is a two edged sword.  People can connect together really quickly and remotely with ease.  Therefore the sharing of information is super easy.  The issue arises when the information and casual conversation becomes negative and pointed at people.

Remember every friend you have on facebook or through twitter can see the conversations that you are having.  And they might, just might, tell the person who you have been talking about what has been said about them.

"Be careful out there people."

 

Liquidity

In accounting circles liquidity is defined as -

1. The degree to which an asset or security can be bought or sold in the market without affecting the asset's price. Liquidity is characterized by a high level of trading activity. Assets that can by easily bought or sold, are known as liquid assets.

2. The ability to convert an asset to cash quickly. Also known as "marketability". 

(http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liquidity.asp).

When we start talking about the skills of the manager I like to define liquidity as being -

1. The ability to deal with a transforming and ever moving work landscape.
2. The ability to shift between tasks or responsibilities with the least amount of friction possible.
3. The ability to convert and apply skills and knowledge to a new role.

Viewing your work as a series of liquid tasks can help your mental state immensely.  Rather than getting stuck and focusing too much on one particular task the key is to see that task as a part of the whole day and park that issue for a while.  Then when you have more time or the opportunity float back to that task and assimilate it into your tasks for the day.

(Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjjohn/2523043847/)

Quote of the Week - Teams

“When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality.”

Joe Paterno.