Why change is not a one-way street…

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 Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.  Today I am wise, so I a changing myself.  Rumi  13th Century Poet

The above quotation was also quoted by me in a blog published via LinkedIn Pulse https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-choice-did-you-make-today-jo-ann-m-radja/? This quotation speaks to us as we remind ourselves that we alone are responsible for our actions. We want to be held accountable for our actions.   In today’s climate of accountability within the #MeTooMovement, accountability applies both to women and men.

I borrowed today’s blog title from Marshall Goldsmith as I recently became a Marshall Goldsmith Global Leadership Assessment Certified Practitioner.  http://www.sccoaching.com/glof360/.   The complete quotation from Marshall Goldsmith reads:

Change is not a one-way street – it involves two parties, the person who is changing and the people who notice it.   

We seem to notice when someone has a haircut or wears  new clothes; yet, we may not give feedback to someone when we notice a behavior change – and we should do so – we grow when we accept feedback from another person.  It takes practice and practice and practice.

When you Choose Who You Want to be Known As, consider this quotation from Marshall Goldsmith:   

The only difference between us and the super-successful among us – the near great and the great – is that the great ones [listen] all the time. It’s automatic for them.  For them there’s no on and off switch for caring and empathy and showing respect.  It’s always on.  They don’t rank personal encounters as A, B or C in importance.  They treat everyone equally – and everyone eventually notices.

Enjoy your week!

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

Please excuse the different type face on this blog – there is a glitch somewhere in the software.  Thank you.

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Following Up is Not Always Easy. . .

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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

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What’s rolling into your Year of 2016?

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The following anagram was published today via LinkedIn Pulse at http://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-rolling-from-2015-your-year-2016-jo-ann-m-radja:

H opes we had occasionally came true.

A nd we still pursued and pressed forward.

P erseverance may pay off as

P erhaps 2016 may be the

Y ear we vision it will be.

Y et, it still remains our choice to

E mbrace the negative

A nd

R eframe our hopes, targets and expectations into the year 2016!©Jo Ann M Radja

As you Choose Who You Want to be Known As have the best year ever in 2016!

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

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Spring’s Eve in your Career

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It’s the Eve of the Spring Equinox and we reflect on where we are in our Careers.  One thing we are most certain about, is that we communicate every day.  We speak, we write, we are seen listening, we communicate with … Continue reading

Wanting More …

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Have you been asked recently, “What do you Want?”  It’s a question that seems to be straightforward, and often is not, because it is seldom asked.  I raise this question because within the coaching session, people usually seem surprised by the question.  “What do you Want?…….”You’re asking me?  Oh!  I don’t get asked that question.”  Yet, many of us usually are Wanting More.

What are YOU Wanting More of in your career or your life?      We are left wanting more:

*  If the boss only gives us 3 minutes, when we want 5 minutes or more;

*  When we listen to a short podcast and we are forced to close down

the Tablet, PC or cell phone;

*  When we buy a product at a store and discover we are given a

free take home goodie;

*  When we ask team members for comments on our work and learn

they thought it was pretty good; or

*  Our deliverables to clients exceed their expectations.

As you Choose Who You Want to Be Known As this week, consider what will it take for you to obtain just one item you are left Wanting More… from someone.  Enjoy your Week!

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