Keep at it...

Careers are built on experience and perseverance: getting ahead is all about having lots of experience and persevering long enough to get there.

 

·      Work hard and

·      Learn as much as you can.

·      Work hard and

·      Practice continuous learning.

·      Those are the secrets to success.

 

When I changed industries – from manufacturing to service, it required me to learn a whole new language and style of work. It helped that employees in both had the same expectations from HR, but I still had to practically start over and learn every position, how they all worked together, and the subtle differences in how people worked. It was a lot to learn, but my mentors there encouraged me to keep at it – they knew that if I figured out how things worked there, I would probably do okay. They told me to never give up, and I never did. Every time you change companies, take the time to understand what’s up, and don’t get discouraged: keep at it. If you get frustrated, look around and you’ll discover most of the others you work with went through a similar learning curve. You owe it to yourself to keep going today.

 

Rita Moreno (born 1931): Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer; she is one of last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.

Tell me about it...

Live your life every day to the fullest. The extra effort can make all the difference. 

 

·      A full life

·      Is a full-time job.

·      Getting the most out 

·      Of everything you see and do.

·      Give it your absolute all every day.

 

I look back on my life and career and am amazed at all I’ve seen and done. Singing in a band, surviving an industrial injury, having a family, running casinos all over the world, and so much more. And when I talk to others, I find that they too have amazing stories to tell about all they’ve done. It’s not something you learn in school or that you’ll find in a handbook… it’s kind of left up to each of us whether we want to pick it up a notch. I’m not saying you must jump out of planes or get tattoos, but don’t sit around waiting for an invitation. Like eating right or exercising, you have to want to do it. So, watch for all the possibilities, get excited about trying new things, and tell everyone about it. The longer I live, the more I’m amazed at how quickly life goes by – live it so you don’t have any regrets. Make your mind up to go for it today.

 

Mary Jane Oliver (1935 – 2019): American poet who won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize - her work is inspired by nature.

Go as far as you can...

Everyone should assess what they can and can’t do, and focus on all that’s possible.

 

·      Don’t bite off

·      More than you can chew.

·      And don’t get in over your head.

·      Be realistic about your likes and dislikes,

·      And your actual knowledge, skills, and abilities.

 

We’ve all known people who volunteer for anything thinking that’s the best way to get noticed and known. Problem is that if you fail, you get noticed in ways that probably won’t be good for your career. Take time to assess the needs and expectations of your organization and realistically assess what you can and can’t do. Then double down on the things you can do, honing your skills to be as productive and effective as possible. And if you want to do more (and have the time), get training, start small, get some little wins, and grow your skills and career slowly and carefully. Be successful at what you can do and make a positive contribution and reputation. And if you want to expand and do more, seek out coaches and mentors, and begin to learn more about what you’re not yet capable of doing. You boss will probably appreciate your seeking to contribute more, but only if you can do that at no risk to him or her. Done right, this is a great formula for growth within your organization. Make a plan and get started on that today. 

 

Richard Adams (9 1920 – 2016): English novelist and writer of the books Watership Down, Maia, Shardik and The Plague Dogs.

Don't settle for less...

If you don’t know what you don’t know, it’s usually hard to expand your knowledge base. And that can limit how far you can go. 

 

·      There are so 

·      Many things to learn.

·      Keep your eyes and ears

·      Open to all that you need to know.

·      That’s the best way to be successful.

 

I often find that businesspeople tend to operate in a bubble. They’re insulated from diverse ideas and listen only to those around them who are in that same bubble. We must be careful that the narratives we hear and believe reflect the latest research and learning and that we’re not too proud to listen and learn. Like the one about it being hard to find employees in this post-Covid period. That may be true for you, but if you look around, you’ll discover lots of companies that have all the employees they need. Step outside your bubble and find out why and you may be surprised to find that you’re either (1) not paying enough, or, more likely, (2) operating in ways that aren’t attractive to people currently seeking employment. You might have to change you practices and policies, become more emotionally intelligent, and/or look for additional sources of potential employees. The solutions to our problems shouldn’t be limited by your (or your team’s) lack of curiosity or imagination. Don't be afraid to find out more about what you don’t know today.

 

Mae Jemison (born 1956) is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Don't be afraid to give it a shot...

I’ve known many wonderful people who were competent long before they were confident.

 

·      Many 

·      Learn on the job.

·      Too often they fail to realize

·      How much they know as they’re learning.

·      Competence and confidence need to go hand in hand.

 

I always liked General Norman Schwarzkopf’s Rule 13: “when given command, take charge” because the confidence people gain when taking charge spurs their competence and confidence. It’s been my experience that (1) qualified people must still grow into jobs, (2) their on-the-job learning is the best way to grow their knowledge, skills, and abilities, and (3) It helps to find a coach and mentor who will be there to answer questions and provide real-time guidance. A coach needs to be a good teacher, an objective observer, and an enthusiastic supporter who catches people doing things right.  Everyone’s different, so give people being coached enough time to learn. But coaches and the people being coached must be honest with themselves – if it’s not working (but they’re good people with great attitudes), get more help or find them another job within the organization. Either way, don’t be afraid to give it a shot – most (again, in my experience) step up, grow into their positions, and succeed.  And when they do, they become dedicated and loyal employees. Do what it takes to develop competence and confidence today.

 

Carrie Frances Fisher (1956 – 2016): American actress and writer who played (among many other great parts) Princess Leia in the Star Wars films (1977–1983).

Surround yourself with happiness...

People used to ask me how I trained employees to smile. I always told them “I didn’t; they smiled in their interviews, so I hired them.

 

·      Smiles 

·      Come naturally

·      For happy people.

·      Make it your job to 

·      Hire only happy people.

 

That’s the idea behind hiring for attitude. When you hire the right people, everyone benefits: your other employees, the supervisors who manage them, your customers, and your bottom line. It creates a great work environment and supports a great culture. Those are the things that people look for: they promote loyalty and retention. I used to tell the applicants I hired that the decision was based on the smiles I saw in the interview; I’d then tell that that since they smiled then, I expected them to smile while working. And when they didn’t smile, I wanted to know why – which created an opportunity to coach them. Know the behaviors you want from your employees, be clear about that with them, and give them the training and support needed to promote those behaviors. When employees know the importance of smiles, it’s often difficult for them to stop smiling. Do what it takes to make your employees smile today.

 

James Baldwin (1924 – 1987): American writer of essays, novels, plays, and poems.

Remember the lessons you've learned...

As many learned during the pandemic, you’ve got to be flexible and fast on your feet. It’s good to remember how you felt and what you did in the face of that great unknown challenge.

 

·      When things go awry

·      You must be open to change.

·      As situations change, so should

·      Your assessment and response to those changes.

·      Awareness and adaptation are key to your flexibility.

 

Just like people are anxious to get back to their personal routines, businesses also want to put the challenges of the pandemic behind them. But there were lessons learned that should be remembered and applied in this post-pandemic world. First: you learned how to react when the bottom fell out – nobody saw it coming and everyone had to react, preferably with common sense and good values. Second: clear communications are critical – people respond best when they have all the facts and can make intelligent choices. Third: a little emotional intelligence goes a long way – people want to know you care, especially when there’s so much uncertainty. And fourth: people can be very resilient –the best way to support them is by applying the first three lessons. The new normal doesn’t have to go back to the old normal; remembering these lessons will help you provide good, common-sense leadership to the people relying on you for it. And when there’s nowhere else to turn, let your values guide your actions. Be thoughtful when determining what your new normal is today. 

 

Leslie V. Gordon is an Acting Director in The Government’s Accountability Office (GAO’s) Health Care team. She oversees GAO’s work on the Medicare program.

People hate poor service...

I spent most of my career as Chief HR Officer for a 5-Star organization. So I know how challenging it is to get employees to buy into providing great service.

 

·      Lots of employees

·      Can all do great work if

·      They’re hired and trained effectively.

·      Size and service excellence can be compatible. 

·      But you need to work hard to make that a reality.

 

Yesterday I shopped at two big box retailers. I went to my neighborhood grocer (part of a multi-national food conglomerate) and asked if they had any apple cider (a favorite at this time every year); the employee stocking the shelves had to look it up and directed me to apple cider vinegar. Not the same, I told him, and he just shrugged. And then I went to a local big-box pet store and attempted to buy my 3-legged dog a harness; the employee there directed me to ones that were for 4-legged dogs. Not the same, I told her, and she just shrugged. Two different stores, same poor service. Both companies profess on their web sites that they must keep growing to compete with Wal Mart and online retailers; they’re not going to win that war doing things the way they currently are. They need to train their employees: that’s what the best companies – big and small, do. I realize it’s hard to find employees today, but the ones you do hire need to be trained and effectively supervised to provide excellent service. That’s how you beat your competition. Shame on companies and leaders who think they can win by eliminating competition or continuing to blame their problems on Covid. There’s no substitute for sticking to the basics. That’s just the truth. Make time to train your employees today.

 

Loretta Lynn (1932 – 2022): American singer-songwriter and guitarist who sang, toured, and recorded for 57 years.

Open your heart...

After suffering from depression mid-way through my career, I learned (the hard way) what it’s like (and what to do) when the chips are down.

 

·      Dealing with those

·      Who suffer from depression

·      Is almost as hard as dealing with

·      Your own depression. It’s a matter 

·      Of being aware of yourself and others.

 

More people than not have stories about their own bouts with depression. Because it’s difficult to deal with that all by yourself, it’s wise to be open to letting others help you. But for too long depression wasn’t something we talked about at work – after all, people were supposed to leave their problems at the door and focus on their work. But if you’ve been there, it’s hard to focus on much else when you’re depressed; it’s like every glass is half empty and leaking. In many ways this became acute during the pandemic and that, combined with the public discussion about emotional intelligence, has finally raised the general awareness of this topic. When your chips are down, talk about it, don’t try to hide it, and get help. If someone around you is down, be aware, recognize the signs, and learn how and what to offer. When one of us is down, all of us are affected; give those in need a helping hand. That’s the right thing to do today.

 

Zadie Smith (born 1975): English novelist, essayist, short-story writer, singer, and educator (NYU).