Tell or Ask…

Gallery

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Although it’s not Spring, our Building Management has asked us to consider disposing of unnecessary paper during a semi-annual shredding event.   I was surprised to uncover some Notes I kept from my position in Legal Management when I attended … Continue reading

“History’s Values in Today’s Workplace”

Gallery

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Earlier this afternoon, I published this post on the social media platform, LinkedIn – Enjoy your career week!: “During this past weekend, I visited the Prairie Avenue Historic District of Chicago.  I joined other Alumni for a tour of the … Continue reading

What’s your insightful oversight…

Gallery

This gallery contains 2 photos.

It’s always a new experience to witness what an Editor chooses for the public to read, admire, or enhance an understanding about the world at large.  I recently set up a software portfolio of my interests and discovered, yet again how … Continue reading

One Up, One Down and What’s You?

Aside

15352_20130513_133525_AgamGoogle061614

Dancing is just part of the discovery, discovery, discovery. Martha Graham

 

During your career, have you danced in the dance of   “One Up, One Down and What’s You?”  It’s been happening frequently in the Midwest this Spring.  The dance begins when you meet someone and you start a conversation.  The What’s You dance occurs when the sincerity of both people leads the dance and each person dances away from an engaging business conversation.
The One Up dance starts shortly after the conversation begins and one person keeps circling around the other, demonstrating a perceived betterment, for whatever reason.  This dance usually ends as each party has opposite views and a sense of connectedness was lacking in the dance.
The One Down dance takes more time.  Patience, Humility, Curiosity or Discovery of self,  or the other,  is flowing through the conversational dance.  Both people feel they have left the dance with a takeaway to be used or considered in the future.
While I just described three dances, I know you can name many others.  What type of career dance have you participated in this Spring?  What did you discover about yourself and has it helped you in your career?  What should have happened that didn’t?  What first step are you able to take, to move closer to the conversation dance that you want? 
Summer officially begins during the latter part of this week.  I hope this Summer Season in your career brings you closer to the dance where YOU Choose Who You Want to be Known As.  Have a great week!
“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent
Note:  http://www.wordpress/disclosures

Feed, Fodder or Feedback

Gallery

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Feed, fodder or feedback — it’s the Monday morning “quarterbacking” of what your impressions, comments and responses are about an event, project or idea. Within our culture, the idiom, “Feeding frenzy” is an aggressive attack on someone by a group. … Continue reading

Symbol of GRATITUDE

Aside

thCADXFPZ6SymbolOfGratitudeBING111913Neuroscience is understanding the fundamental nature of ourselves…how we think, feel and do.  Dr. Charles “Ed” Connor

 

 

 

Two days ago in my home State of Illinois, a multitude of tornadoes struck communities in at least 13 Counties.  [It was reported some 17 tornadoes were sited and by Monday morning, 80 tornadoes blew through the Midwest Region.]

Many people who were interviewed, spoke about how grateful they were to be alive.  While their home was destroyed, they could rebuild.  While their possessions were taken in this act of nature, their life was spared.  While years of joy in maintaining and furnishing their home was wiped out in a second or two, they were in a community of friends and neighbors (nearby and within Illinois), who gave them solace and friendship. The SYMBOL OF GRATITUDE resided in their hearts.   Finding the personal truth in yourself during a time of crisis is a learned virtue as these citizens Chose Who they wanted to Be Known As.

The symbol of gratitude itself has been a bit difficult to track down.   The circle is an accepted symbol of inclusiveness and represents many aspects of our human nature.    Our Global community throughout the world has roots within the spirituality of GRATITUDE and the use of a circle symbol.

An art exhibit entitled, “Beauty and the Brain Revealed”  is presently on display at the AAAS Art Gallery in Washington, D.C.    Five days ago,  Megan Gambino posted a Blog explaining this Art Exhibit  http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/artscience/2013/11/do-our-brains-find-certain-shapes-more-attractive-than-others/).  Her Blog included a brief video of two Neuroscience Experts who discuss how our brains relate to abstract shapes.

Whether from exemplary observations of our neighbors or from recognized Neuroscientists, Choose Who You Want to be Known As in your careers,  during this wintry week of November, 2013.

“Jo Ann” M. Radja, Career Management Coach

Notes: “Beauty and the Brain Revealed” is on display at the AAAS Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., through January 3, 2014.  Read more: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/artscience/2013/11/do-our-brains-find-certain-shapes-more-attractive-than-others/#ixzz2l6p7kWlg Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

Why do we find some works of art so appealing? The exhibition Beauty and the Brain Revealed at the American Association for the Advancement of Science builds on a 2010 collaboration between the Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute at the Johns Hopkins University and

the Walters Art Museum to examine how the brain perceives abstract sculpture. The original project was initiated and funded by the Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute. Gallery visitors will wear 3-D glasses to explore digitally morphed versions of sculpture and learn how 3-D

shape characteristics relate to aesthetic preferences. Through January 3, 2014

http://srhrl.aaas.org/projects/science_society/neurosociety/art.shtml November 19, 2013.

Vulnerability

Aside

VulnerabilityJustAheadGogle110313

It’s not often that we speak about vulnerability in our private lives.   We tend to look to the experts around us to assess and manage the risks we may be exposed to in our neighborhoods, our communities and the world at large.   Our governments strive to keep order for the common good and our well being.  Yet, Vulnerability is an attribute we may not apply to ourselves.  Speaking positively, we are, have been and will continue to be vulnerable.  It’s how we learn about ourselves.

Staff within the Federal Government (at fs.fed.us) describe Vulnerability this way:

FSFedUSGoogle110313vulnerabilityandvaluesWhat’s the exposure if we pursue this strategy?  How are we ready because we’ve taken into account our sensitivities?  Will our contemplated action(s)  be in keeping with our value system?

Adjustment goes hand in hand with being vulnerable as demonstrated by the following graph from a Peace Corps worker named Bailey:

Baileyspeacecorpexperiencejuly2012fromGoogle110313Choosing to become vulnerable allows you to work though and learn about yourself in ways you had not considered before.  If you drew your last few months of activities, what would your graph look like?  How often did you consider yourself to be Vulnerable?  What sensitivities did you realize you had by letting go of a habit, or by learning something new?  

A well-known International Coaching Expert, Brené Brown describes Vulnerability as follows:

BreneBrownquoteofthedaydotcomfromGoogle110313

Very recently, I attended a two-day Coaching Seminar on cultural competency.   I participated in a brief exercise to understand and recognize Vulnerability.  It was an enlightening experience.  So please enjoy your activities during this first full week of November as You Choose Who You Want to be Known As.

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

What’s your EXERCISE?

Gallery

“EXERCISE.  .  .  Accountability,  Ability,  Learning,  Professionalism, Intuitiveness” A few days ago, I heard a phrase that resonated with me.  It was spoken by a Senior U.S. Government Official.  The phrase is, “It’s not an empty exercise.”  Many of you in … Continue reading

Pushing, Pushed, Push

Gallery

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Pushing, Pushed, Push sometimes is very helpful to try out a new option, opportunity or idea you or your company may have.  Forum groups have been part of mainstream America for well over 25 years.  We want to know how … Continue reading

Looking New. . .

Gallery

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Great cultural changes begin in affectation and end in routine.  Jacques Barzun Yesterday I was presented with another opportunity to challenge an existing belief.  I’m sure it’s happened to you as some people describe it as a “make over”.  The … Continue reading