Category Archives: Career Management

May your Force Be With You

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Quite sometime ago, Author Michael E. Porter wrote a book entitled, The Five Forces that Shape Industry Competition. The five forces are:

RIVALRY Among Existing Competition

         THREAT of New Entrants

            Bargaining Power with Suppliers

                Bargaining Power with Buyers

                     THREAT of Substitution – Products or Services

I believe each of these five forces lead to coaching experiences.  How do we deal with threats, either perceived or blatant?  How do we deal with rivalries…in a good-natured way…with good sportsmanship…or cutting down your competition for no sound reason?

What do you do for new team members…welcome them…put them through another round of proving themselves…or solicit input to work their strengths and weaknesses into the team matrix?

When a new project is handed to the team, what role, if any, do you play to bargain for a position and why?  Do you bargain for the benefit of your team and the success of the project…or for yourself?

While most of us are not award-winning Olympians, we do share an inner force that moves us to do our best, to receive a paycheck. We deal with issues of rivalry, bargaining power and competition.   May the force within you this week, help you Choose Who You Want to be Known As.  Enjoy your week.

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coaching & Change Agent

The Five Forces That Shape Industry Competition, by Michael E. Porter, Economist Edition (1979).   Reviewed November 11, 2011.

Note: a quick search on Bing.com or Google.com will provide you with a multitude of examples of Mr. Porter’s “Five Forces”.

EGO, EGO[er], EGO[est]

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This past weekend I read a truly forward thinking article on managing your Ego at work.  I would like to share it with you.  It was written by Ms. Christine Latimer*.  Miss Latimer urged that the following ego traits should be left at home:

“The need to be right; A sense of entitlement, or specialness;

Gossip; ‘Yes person’ mentality, not being one’s true self; and

Complaining.”

As a Coach, I believe if any of these traits were left at home, your listening skills would improve; you would practice paying attention to what someone else is saying and, you would allow yourself to be open to other options of thought.

So what really is EGO.  It was an amazing eye-opener to discover Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus** provide over 75 synonyms of the word EGO.  Here are a few to consider this week. EGO is… courage…worth…conscience…thought…pride…essense…self-esteem…attitude…soul…bent…true being…frame of mind…core…innermost being…tendency…stuff…outlook…disposition…sub-conscious.

During the course of this week, consider if your EGO is directing your actions as you Choose Who You Want to Be Known As.  Enjoy your week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent

* Research Summaries for Business Leaders, August 3, 2012, published by LMK Partners. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
**ego.(n.d.) Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition. Retrieved August 5, 2012, from Thesaurus.com website: http://thesaurus.com/browse/ego. 

Change At Last…

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I always find it refreshing to meet people who are truly happy who they are.  It’s contagious.  It feels good.  You want to stay in that moment.  How are you defined by your good mood at the office, outside of the office, at home or at weekend events?  How often are you defined by your current role in life first, and then by your mood?  How important is it for you to be remembered as being engaging, or someone who left a good impression because of your good mood?

Here’s a sample talk I developed of how you can explain yourself. You may find that by working through this talk, your mood level will rise and your confidence will show through to other people.

Say what you do:  [Your current role];

Say what they get:  [What value is received, whether to a potential employer, a customer, a client, a team member, a colleague, another volunteer, family member, or student]; and

Say what you give:  [what the take away is for the other person].

This is my talk:

Say what you do:  I coach leaders…

Say what they get:  for their self-driven outcomes…

Say what you give: and I provide empathy, trust and honesty.

As you begin the month of August this week, Choose Who You Want to be Known As when you are in a situation to change your mood to increase your good feeling and confidence.  Have a great week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent

Author:  Ethics to You Too! ™  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/171791 07/30/2012

What’s your Sunrise?

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Quite a few times this Summer, good Samaritans came to the rescue of people needing help, either in the lakes or rivers flowing through Chicagoland.  A random act of kindness truly is special.

A local weatherman reminded us that when hot air blows against our skin, our body temperature actually rises.  So how do we act when we become overheated?  What can we do for ourselves and someone else during the heat wave?

Again, it’s an issue of Awareness.  Awareness allows us to understand how we act and what we notice about ourselves in relation to others.  Why do we need “more space” because we feel overheated?  How many of us carry a spare water bottle as we walk to the bus stop or commuter train to get to work.  How do we handle the extra perspiration on our forehead, or elsewhere, as we walk in this heat?

Whether it’s dealing with the heat wave, or any business issue we have no control over – it’s always about YOU in the situation.  We all have a new Sunrise every day so Choose How You Want to be Known As.  Enjoy your week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent

Author: Ethics To You Too!™  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/171791

A Phone Call…

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How many times have you made a phone call and discovered how you act in a given situation.  Pleasant and good news calls breeze by.  It’s the phone call that leaves you unsettled, releasing any number of emotions you hadn’t planned on.

Managing yourself is a learning process, whether during your childhood, while in school or in formal training at your place of employment.  The theory behind managing yourself can be described as mindfulness.

—– I am mindful when I listen to what is being said and reply about the issue and not the speaker personally.

—- I am mindful when I treat the other person with respect.

—- I am mindful when I pay attention to the emotions the other person is displaying and acknowledge to that person, what you heard.

……….Listen……….Mindful……….In Control

……….Listen……….Mindful……….How can I help YOU?

……….Listen……….Mindful……….Be Who You Want to be Known As!

Have a good and mindful 2nd week of July.

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent

Author:  Ethics to You Too!™ http://www.smashwords/books/view/171791      07/09/12

Which Way –Others to You?

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I read a Tweet this week about suggestions that change peoples minds*, and followed up on it.  One of the suggestions talked about the Hawthorne Effect – a famous 1950’s psychological study by Harvard University on whether office lighting had an effect on job productiity.**  Surprisingly, the researchers found out that productivity increased because the workers had the “attention” of management during the Study.

There seems to be so much written today about work engagement*** that Harvard University’s Study seems to have come full circle.  What attention are you given by your boss?  Why do you want attention? What does “attention” mean to you?  Why is it important to you?  When others pay more attention to you, does your motivation increase? Are you more engaged?

Which way does it have to be for you this week. . . attention from others equals greater productivity/engagement for you? Or, are you more attentive to others as You Choose Who You Want to Be Known As?  Either way, enjoy your week.

What Does It Take?

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What does it take?…If we substitute the word “will” for “does” in this Blog’s heading, how is the question changed?  Although I don’t study the origin of words, I believe the question, “What does it take?” is a general question, seeking a general answer.  What will it take? is asking for direct specificity of what it takes, with a sense of determination.

What will it take for YOU this week to complete, to create, to find, to begin…whatever you may want and haven’t gotten to yet.  We are some 10 days to the Summer Solstice, with all its wonderful distractions calling us elsewhere.

So what will it take for you this week to be Who You Want to be Known As.  Enjoy!

Many thanks to all the wonderful people who found value in this Blog over the past five months!       “Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coaching & Change Agent.  06/11/12

Curious to Risk?

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Over the past few days, I had three curious experiences; namely, seeing both pink roses and white roses growing on the same bush, which exceeded my height.  Because of my curiosity, I was able to view a phenomenon of nature.

Curiosity also led me to meet a young entrepreneur and a very educated young woman.  Both women were similar in that they knew who they are and what they want in their careers; yet, they came from different backgrounds.  I acted as a servant leader to one and a customer to the other.  Both of these women taught me something I did not know or was unaware of.

Being curious in the context of taking a risk, whether small or large, is a principle of coaching.  Curiosity allows you to move out of your comfort zone and learn something new about yourself and the world you live in.

As you work in your career this week, consider a situation you have been curious about and take the risk to know Who You Want to be Known As.  Enjoy your week.

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent

May 27, 2012

Your Time is Airline Time…

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This morning I read an online article posted by Gregory Karp, Reporter at The Chicago Tribune newspaper.  Karp wrote about a scientist at Fermilab, Jason Steffens.  Steffens studied the efficiency of airline boarding arrangements.*

Airlines provide safety and great customer service by boarding its passengers in a timely way.  They also increase the probability of saving flight air time and fuel, all things being equal.  There are five conventional methods of boarding customers:  Elites, board back to front, windows-middle-aisles method, random boarding and block seat boarding.

I’ve never taken into consideration, as a value choice, what method an airline chooses to board its passengers.  I’ve just considered safety, price, time schedules, baggage claim experience and customer service.  Is an airline’s boarding method important, when choosing as airline?     What value choices do you include in your work that may not be transparent to those around you?  How important is it for your team to agree upon its value choices necessary to complete the project?  What value choice would you like your customers to know you include in your services?

Have a great week as you choose Who You Want to Be Known As!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coaching & Change Agent 05/21/12

*Reviewed May 21, 2012, Gregory Karp, “Popular Airline Booking Configurations.” The Chicago Tribune Newspaper, originally posted on or about September 22, 2011

It Depends…

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What is your answer?  It depends.

Most people become put off by hearing the words, “it depends.”  Is it because we expect an answer immediately? Or, were we not prepared to hear, “it depends”.

Whatever your internal monitor is today as you react to the phrase, “it depends,” consider what your expectations are.  Why do you want someone to be influenced by what you said?  Why are you expecting someone to trust what you said?  Why do you want someone to rely on what you said?  These three questions relate to definitions of the word, depend – to rely upon, to trust, to be influenced by.

A remaining definition of the word depend,  “refers to a determination of something else.”  Our internal reaction monitor may not have been aware of this last definition of the word depends.  In other words, the response, “I can answer your question by asking another question” is okay and not intended to put someone off because an answer may be dependent on “a determination of something else.”

As you listen to responses from people this week, consider How Do You Want to be Known As you ask a question.  Have a great week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent