Category Archives: Jobs

A Coaching Tool for YOU

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“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”  Albert Einstein

We often wonder where sayings and phrases come from.  Recently, I saw an Ad touting “me time.”  Although I’ve heard this slogan a few years ago, I came across an article I saved on this subject.  The article’s heading read:  “Your Me Time- makeover worksheet.”  It is found in the “Health GUIDE,”  page 190 of the July/August 2008 Health Magazine @ health.com (Editor unknown).  The worksheet was published in 2005 in the reference below*.
The well-known authors, consultants, founders, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz * developed and published a number of self-development tools in their book,  The Power of Full Engagement, Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal.   The “Me-Time-makeover worksheet” is another name for creating a map of your energy, developed by Loehr and Schwartz.   Your energy falls into four categories:  Emotional, Mental, Physical and Spiritual.  Each category requires you to list HOW you spend your energy during the day.  You then contemplate where you can change yourself to recover, your energy balanced consciously, where you want it to be.
Not everyone appreciates keeping a journal or diary. Yet, describing this energy map me-time worksheet as a “coaching tool” tends to be welcomed by many people.  I believe this is so because when you come to your OWN understanding of how you act, the change in behavior is more sustainable.  Your own self-development belongs to you as you Choose Who You Want to be Known As.    Here’s another interpretation  of the me-time energy makeover worksheet for your use:  spendrecover-text-for-map
Enjoy your Winter Season and pat yourself on the back for your resilience in dealing with the weather! 
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach
* Loehr PhD, Jim and Schwartz, Tony.  The Power of Full Engagement, Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal. Free Press (January 3, 2005) 256 pages.    [This book was a New York Times Best-Seller.]

What’s Your October Learning

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This month of October, on a National basis, is about Learning in business as well as remembering our heritage. Polish American, Italian American, Hispanic Heritage and German Heritage all celebrate their ancestry background this month.

It’s also National Cyber Security Awareness Month https://www.boozallen.com/c/insight/thought-leadership/booz-allen-kicks-off-national-cybersecurity-awareness-month-2017.html and National Women’s Small Business Month https://www.nwbc.gov/news/10-million-strong-october-council-celebrates-national-women%E2%80%99s-small-business-month. The Balance website hosts an extensive list for you to choose a favorite event: https://www.thebalance.com/october-is-national-month-calendar-3514993

Here in Chicago, events during the year have all led to the celebration of Chicago Ideas Week http://chicagoideas.com from October 16th through October 22. As an example, Professor Marcelo Gleiser, Director the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Engagement at Dartmouth College spoke at a Symposium on the Future of Intelligence: Human, Machine and Extraterrestrial, sponsored by Chicago Ideas. He asked the question, “Are we engineering our own destruction through technology when we speak about artificial intelligence?” It’s an ethical and scientific dilemma because our intelligence is really about how we move from our present world to the future, including all that’s dark and dangerous, to creating a future that is just and equitable for all society.

As mentioned earlier, this month of October celebrates who we are as a society because all that we have around us places us in a state of constant Learning from the daily occurrences in our lives, both personally and in business. Within the past 30 days of our lives we have experienced or witnessed more tragedy in the USA, than was ever presented before, in non-war time. We mourn all those who left this earth and keep the survivors in our good thoughts for recovery.

Earlier this week, I attended an online Webinar where like-minded people shared their views about our profession and how we can Learn from one another’s experiences. It is because of that discussion that I would like to share with you some ideas for change management in your career. I prepared the format this week and it is based on a business presentation, hosted by the University of Chicago back in 2001. It’s pretty straight forward and timely in today’s environment. Here it is:

As you Choose Who You Want to be Known As during this Learning month, consider how the survivors demonstrated their strength of character and became the best examples of USA humanity for us all.

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach
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http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa

 

What’s Your Friday the 13th Story?

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friday-13th-1042305_960_720kerbstone-at-pixabay-011317Here’s my story from the LinkedIn post, published this afternoon at : “Friday the 13th and Synergies. . .” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/friday-13th-synergies-jo-ann-m-radja by @Coach_Jo_Ann on @LinkedIn

Whatever your beliefs about Today may be, I hope you Choose Who You Want to be Known As on Friday the 13th!
 “Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive & Career Management Coach
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http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa

What’s Your BEST Daily Change?

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changeandsocrates-enhanced-buzz-3685-1366095362-11-102116-viapinterest-com

 

It was cold and dreary this morning and yet, a few hours later, it is brisk outside and full of sunshine.  Was this a change in opposites or just a 180 degree change of outlook – (from which we had no input)?

Change  is in the air this Friday in October. The Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in a Pennant race. Halloween is around the corner. Night football is played on television, and many businesses are gearing up for the last quarter of the year and we find ourselves “right in the middle of it all.”

If  we want to focus on one item in our career development before our life becomes more hectic than it already is – what would that be?  In other words, What’s your Best daily change?  Here are some thoughts on this subject:

Choose a path to stretch yourself, or:

turnonthelight-enhanced-buzz-22385-1366095037-0-tubler-102116

safeboundaries-enhanced-buzz-22855-1366095705-3-viatumbler-102116

change-pixabayfreeimage-from-john-hain-102116stream-1106336_960_720However you define your Best daily change, I hope it becomes intertwined with how You Choose how you want to be Known As.  Have a great Day and Weekend!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach

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http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa

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balancing-rock-1273567_960_720Pixabay072916The resolution:  A change.  Progress.  A transformaation.   Michael Port

Earlier today LinkedIn Pulse published a Post for me entitled:  “What’s Your Takeaway?” https://lnkd.in/dSPzdHZ by @Coach_Jo_Ann on @LinkedIn.

It’s a challenge for many of us to quickly embrace a new pattern, a new procedure, workplace situations we may not initially want.  It is especially so after when we have committed ourselves to a project, put in the time and energy only to learn the project was “pulled.”  It is our resilience that keeps us going and will do so during the balance of this year.

As You Choose Who You Want to be Known As, all the best to you in your career as you welcome the month of August, next week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach

http://www,wordpress.com/disclosures

http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa

 

Following Up is Not Always Easy. . .

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up-d-people-men-person-team-39156641DreamstimeFollowUp062216

 

 

 

Pain often leads a conversation

Over six months ago, our city was mourning the loss of a young man who was shot while walking down a street.  After a video of the shooting was released, citizens vehemently blamed people they believed were personally responsible for the death.   Anger and bewilderment followed in our neighborhoods and across social media.  The personal anguish of citizens was felt, recognized and acknowledged resulting in municipal and federal investigations  beginning the work to respond to the demands understanding the Why of what happened. The citizen focus over the past few months appeared to be quiet and perhaps blurred.  When people are in mourning, learning how to deal with the pain is not an easy road to go down.  Pain leads the conversation.

I am writing this blog post because of two separate instances that happened this week.  The first occurred shortly after I arrived back in the City from a business trip.  I spoke to a man and asked a follow-up question of why downtown streets were closed due to police protection.  He was surprised I knew about what happened since I was away, and then responded that a construction crew accidentally hit an energy mainline.  Responding to his surprise, I said, “I’m signed up with the city to receive weather and other alerts.”   His perception: “That’s because you are So and So.”  The conversation remained friendly and the man understood from me that all citizens were able to receive the same alerts.

The second instance was my learning that the US Justice Department would hold a meeting where citizens would have an opportunity to raise their concerns about interaction with the police department – an outgrowth of the investigation that began six months ago.  I listened to this news shortly before 6:00am.  The next day the Illinois Progress website announced only 30 people attended the first Justice Department forum.  http://www.illinoisprogress.org.

Following up on issues that are important to you is not easy when you are in pain and mourning.  If I had not listened to the news early in the morning, I would not have known about the US Justice forum that evening.  The business of municipal and federal agencies is for the common good – so for those who would  like to attend a future forum, here is the listing, again from Illinois Progress:  http://progressillinois.com/news/content/2016/06/15/us-justice-department-hold-public-forums-chicago-police-department-probe.

As you Choose Who You Want to be Known As this week, consider reaching out to someone who would benefit and want to know about these future forums.  Thank you and have a great week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coaching

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa

What’s Your Popularity Choice?

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cartoon-patient-asks-doctor-to-get-rid-of-ethics_e102businessEthicsCartoonsBING06086

 

Earlier this afternoon, I published the following post on the social media LinkedIn;  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-your-choice-popularity-jo-ann-m-radja

Here is the text of that post:

What’s YOUR Choice for Popularity?

Associate Supreme Court Justice Stewart Potter is known for choosing to include an American colloquial phrase in one of his Opinions; namely, “I’ll know it when I see it.” Although Justice Potter used that phrase to define pornography, many of us also use our visual sense in deciding moral ethical issues. It’s generational, isn’t it?   We’ve moved from, ” A picture is worth a thousand words,” to “Selfie, anyone!”

Three Researchers, two from Oxford University, Jim A.C.Everett, Phd Candidate and Molly Crockett, Associate Professor of Experimental Psychology and David Pizarro, Associate Professor Department of Psychology from Cornell University, created an ethical scenario to understand whether a decision based on Popularity had any influence on its choice. The creativity of adding a choice of Popularity to well-established interpretations of ethics allows for inclusion of present-day understanding of morality. The scenario is:

“Imagine that an out of control trolley is speeding

towards a group of five people. You are standing

on a footbridge above, next to a large man. If

you push him off the bridge onto the track below,

his body, will stop the trolley before it hits the

five people. He will die, but the five others

will be saved. Should you push the man off the

bridge.”

The Researchers also added a twist to their “trolley problem” as they asked a question: how would you trust a social partner, based on their answer to the trolly scenario. Here is the May 5, 2016 URL for, “Want to be popular? You’d better follow some simple rules”:   http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2016/05/cross-post-want-to-be-popular-youd-better-follow-some-simple-moral-rules/

While many academics may challenge the findings of these Researchers, their result is applicable for business settings. It is:

thEthisandCompliancefromBING060816

 

“So the next time you have to make a tough call, remember – people like people who follow moral rules.”

Have a great week as you Choose Who YOU Want to be Known As!

“Jo Ann ” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach

 

Do YOU have an Elephant in the Room?

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beautiful-woman-carrying-elephant-young-outdoor-47141699Dreamstimedotcomfreestockimage 051116

 

When the light around you lessens / And your thoughts darken /. . . Search yourself and see / That it is your own thinking / that darkens your world.   John O’Donohue

Earlier this afternoon, the following post was published under the title, “What’s YOUR Elephant in the Room?” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-your-elephant-room-jo-ann-m-radja    Here’s a copy for your reading:

“I just finished reading another LinkedIn Post about the paradox of innovation; namely, termination due to computer innovation. It took courage for an innovation expert who advises companies about innovation to share his personal story of how and why it came to be that his company fired staff. Yet, that ELEPHANT in the room idiom, had to be handled in a manner considering the employee’s best interest.

When we think about the idiom phrase of handling “the ELEPHANT in the room,” it usually refers to a subject matter that no one wants to discuss. Our brain perceives the conflict greater than it may be, represented by a large insurmountable figure.

Business Leaders accept the fact that the challenge of an ELEPHANT in the room must be dealt with. It is a conflict. Sometimes all that needs to be done is to have a conversation and the ELEPHANT is no longer in the room. Neuroscience, however, has offered a remarkable perspective, using an analogy of a Rider and an Elephant. The perspective is given by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Neuroscientist, Mr. Emile Bruneau.

Bruneau explains the analogy as an example of how the brain handles conflict by stating – all the Rider can do is to train the Elephant because the Elephant is more powerful that the Rider. The Rider cannot control or fully understand the Elephant. While this story is recited in a Post by the United States Institute of Peace in an effort to teach people how to deal with conflict. I believe it speaks volumes for the business actions we are involved with. A tool is introduced to deal with conflict, “universal empathy.” http://www.usip.org/olivebranch/2016/05/05/dalai-lama-offers-hope-youth-leaders-and-vice-versa?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=event&utm_campaign=events_weekly

We know we cannot control another individual. Since we do not understand the perspective of the individual, represented by the Elephant idiom, we need to ask open-ended questions so that a two-sided conversation takes place. The How of this neuroscience perspective is to approach an Elephant in the room, with universal empathy. Questions such as, “How would you describe. . .” “What did you think would happen if . . .? “What did you expect would happen. . .”

What’s remarkable is that neuroscience now helps to explain the issue of how the ELEPHANT in the room, comes to be – in the first place. The ELEPHANT is an idiom character representing conflict, triggered by an unconscious bias. The tool — new phrase of “universal empathy” becomes a positive application to use with the conflict idiom.

The term “universal empathy” may become mainstream because it is an inclusive term. We want and do take the first step in handling a conflict. As we begin to practice the use of universal empathy – when we access our own Pause button – perhaps we can alleviate the ELEPHANT idiom character showing up. It’s another way of handling ourselves and Choosing Who We Want to be Known As in our chosen career. Have a great week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach”

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http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa

What is it Right, Wrong or Gossip?

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Business-man-shredding-a-document Google042516

Out of some little thing, too free a tongue /  Can make an outrageous wrangle  Euripides

We sometimes forget that mistakes people make – are nonsensical.  Here’s an example.  Last Saturday I brought down to the loading dock of the building where I live three bags of paper; a worker from the shredding company was waiting for the paper to load onto his truck.  The bags were inside a wheeled, carry-all cooler that I use to cart around groceries and other items for my convenience.   The worker took each bag out individually and when he looked down at the bottom of the carry all, he saw some items he decided were garbage.  Which they weren’t.  He didn’t say anything to me about these items, he did say something to someone else.

My apartment stored a vacuum cleaner which was broken and could not be repaired. I left the loading dock area and went back to my apartment to retrieve it.  Another tenant saw me wheeling the vacuum cleaner, that I placed in the carry-all cooler toward the building recycling area; he offered help; he explained the vacuum cleaner had to be placed in a dumpster, not the recycling area because it had a plastic exterior cover.  He wheeled the vacuum cleaner to the dumpster (which I didn’t know existed), lifted up the carry-all cooler that held the vacuum cleaner and hoisted it over the top of the dumpster is a few seconds.  As I quickly said, “What are you doing? the carry-all cooler wasn’t even 2 years old; it is not garbage.”  “Oh, yes it is, the man replied.  The man outside (the shredding company worker) said your carry-all cooler carried garbage!”  Huh!  Needless to say, my wheeled carry-all cooler was removed from the dumpster, wiped clean, and is available for my use again.  Gossip has a life of its own and spreads more quickly than the truth.

IMG-20160425-00816It’s important to remember, whatever is left for pickup anywhere outside, it is available for anyone to look through and use. Happily, no garbage was in my carry-all cooler and the misconception was corrected.   No matter what your career path may be, let’s hope the perceptions we hold about someone else are based on reliable facts.  As you Choose Who You Want to be Known As this week, enjoy a gossip-free day!

Mindfulness also is a platform that may be utilized when faced with the example I have shared with you:  Observe, Describe, Accept, Don’t take it Personally and be Non-Judgmental.  Again, enjoy your week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach

 

 

 

A Common Place Term: Bystander

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diffusion-responsibility-bystander-effect-illustration-crowd-witness-act-crime-doing-nothing-47422863It’s in the news recently, the term Bystander Effect or Bystander Action.  It’s the principle – when in a group of people, personal responsibility to assist/help someone is mostly not recognized.  Last week on March 30th,  the following post was published on Linkedin.com/Pulse on this subject:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-catching-now-understanding-jo-ann-m-radja

imageslookfordiagnosisdotcomPreviousNextbystandereffect040516

The issues of Bystander Actions are present in our society at all levels.  Vice President Joe Biden has been involved in a Bystander action prevention program to discourage violence on college campuses and is planning to visit Pittsburg, PA today: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2016/04/05/Vice-President-Joe-Biden-in-Pittsburgh-today-for-It-s-On-Us-campaign/stories/201604050156  and the photo, to the left, is from the website:  www.lookfordiagnosis.com/mesh_info.php?term=Bystander+Effect&lang=1

Since WordPress.com represents the spirit of collegiality, I would like to share with you my September, 2015 presentation notes on Bystander Actors in the workplace.  It was prepared for a specific industry and is easily updated to fit any industry.  Included within the presentation are insights of Professor Mary Rowe from MIT, Senior Advisor – Compliance Strategist and Attorney, Joe Murphy, and Margaret Heffernan, Author of: Why We Ignore the Obvious to Our Peril, Willful Blindness.

As you Choose Who You Want to be Known As, have a great work week!

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Executive and Career Management Coach

Notes: Understanding Bystander Actions by Jo Ann M. Radja with Insights from Dr. Mary Rowe Ph.D September, 2015

Scenarios attachment   and  Bibliography and Resources

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