Tag Archives: culture

Going Home?

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“Most of the time, you can’t go home.  In my case, you can go home.”   Lionel Richie

I heard this phrase spoken by Lionel Richie recently as he was interviewed about his new business venture with country music stars.  It was quite sometime since I listened to someone utter those words, and I thought – what do we bring from our “homes” to the workplace?

When we think about “home”, do we mean our upbringing home, or where we live now, or a place in our life that “felt like home”? Were you the first-born or the last-born child? Were you the compromiser, middle child? Did you have a small family, a large family or no family?

Whatever your sense of “home” may be, what positive values do you bring to the work place from your feelings of “home”?  What impact, if any, does your sense of home have for you today, in what you presently do?  Since your life experiences have led you to where you are today, I wish you a good week in all your actions of Who You Want To Be Known As.

Jo Ann M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent 03/25/12

Impressions Of You. . .

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How often during your career did you learn your impression of someone is not correct?  What did you do about it, if anything?

We all go through this process of deciding whether someone is a “good match”.  People within a large organization have the advantage of tapping into the company’s best practices for solutions.

Over a year ago, I spoke to someone who was working through the decision thought process of what type of employee he wanted in his company.  So he started with himself.  What type of behaviors did he work well with?  What values did he hold in his life?  Were these the same values he wanted to see in his employees? And why?  Taking the time for self-reflection is a very big first step.  It surely is a necessary one in deciding Who You Want To Be Known As.   Have a great week.

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

March 12, 2012

Better Days Ahead for You. . .

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A while ago, I caught myself becoming annoyed by a perception of rude behavior.  Have you been in that situation recently?   The second time it happened with this company, I asked the person I was speaking to, if I said something he thought was inappropriate.  The answer was, No.  I did explain to him why I asked the question, in an effort to see if I said something that may have led to the other’s behavior.  He then put me on hold.   What I subsequently learned was that he listened to my prior call, and verified what had happened.  He said I was okay, but was I really?

Reframing is a Coaching concept.  It means to restate the issue in a more favorable light, resulting in positive thoughts.    As you become more aware of how YOU are facing the situation, you are able to move the focus from frustration to – how can I find the answer to move the process along for me because I am responsible for my actions?

Reframing is not necessarily keeping your emotions in check, rather, it is about becoming aware of what’s driving the frustration, at that moment, and how you move out of it.   All of this may take seconds or minutes.  Learning what it takes to move through our emotions during the day is a process.  Yes, a process which takes practice.

Who do you want to be known as…a frustrated person, feeling stuck?

Who do you want to be known as…a proactive person, learning to Reframe an awkward or uncomfortable situation for yourself?  Understanding how choosing a different way to approach a situation, leads to understanding yourself better.  You may surprise yourself so that you will have a better day in whatever you may be doing.   Have a great week!

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

March 19, 2012

Are you Stretching?

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Are you stretching yourself today in whatever you are involved in?  A few days ago, I was working on a project and noticed color spectrums on my apartment wall coming from a small crystal at my window.  A few of the “rainbows” bounced off another wall or over a wall.  I know this last sentence sounds a bit off, but it did happen.  So how did that happen?  I surely don’t know, although I did try to measure how the light travelled, or bounced off another object.

The picture above this Blog is a color spectrum that shot over 20 feet from the small crystal, when there was no direct line to the bedroom door.

Growing up we learn about “the stretch”.  We were taught to stretch:  when we are learning a new task — when we are stretching to increase a budding talent. How far of “a stretch” is it for you to do something?

Stretching today is all about getting out of your comfort zone.  What can I do today that I didn’t do before or how can I act differently in a situation I’ve been in before.  When you “stretch” you learn about you and Who You Want To Be Known As.    Enjoy your day.

Jo Ann M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent 02/24/12