When YOU least expect it…

Aside

barn-owlfromBING101915What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think.  This rule, equally arduous in actual and intelligent life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

It continues to give me pause of the biases people have, based either on age or appearance.  Each generation often greets another generation with surprise, rather than acceptance of what knowledge/skills they have.  I experienced this phenomenon again yesterday when a person couldn’t believe that I passed an exam, because her unconscious bias placed the biggest look of surprise on her face I haven’t seen in a long time.

Positive outcomes during the day often balance the negativity we may experience.  It is a work in process to learn how not to take certain actions personally or become judgmental of what may be said.  The daily balancing of our soft skills is the platform for managing ourselves and others in our career path.

Surprising ourselves with what is curious could be a mantra that leads us to self-development.  As you Choose Who You Want to be Known As this week, when you least expect to — have fun practicing the element of surprise of a curious situation.

Enjoy your day!

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

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

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

 

Bias, Bias why are you here?

Aside

image from BING043015

Writing can be an incredible mindfulness practice.

Jon Kabat Zinn

Earlier today,  the following Blog was Published by LinkedIn.com/Pulse, under my name as a LinkedIn Publisher.  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bias-where-you-jo-ann-m-radja. It was originally published under the title, “Bias, Bias where are you?”

I’ve modified the title for this careermanagement blog to, “Bias, Bias why are you here?” and added the above quotation from Jon Kabat Zinn.

“We move forward, pause, and keep on going. Yet, bias judgments of other people, bubble up, unexpectedly. Addressing these comments is not a simple task. Gossip is insidious. When it is spread by those who hold a position of authority, people believe it is true when it is not. Damage can occur when the gossip impedes your ability to work through your day, under stress.

Among other considerations, Mindfulness provides a stepping stone that gives you the support you need to handle the bias judgments. You will come to your own realization of how to handle the gossip. Stepping stones to handle the gossip have been handed down to us from present-day thought leaders, family members, educators and sages in past centuries.

Many people take the first step of speaking to the gossiper. Be prepared for an outburst; be calm and remember – this other person has a problem. Since you do not want to control the gossiper, take the first step to control how You Want to be Known As. You are responsible for your own actions in any conversation you have. Conventional wisdom tells us that gossipers are unhappy people who seek attention and who may be self-sabotaging themselves to gain some notice or popularity.

We all have an innate knowledge of what is right for ourselves (ethics) and how we want to be treated in situations that occur in our Careers. This understanding is the basis for my By-Line shown above, Choose Who You Want to be Known As. It can be subjective for you personally (considerate, pensive, hard-working, enjoys good humor), or objective as your actions with others are known to be (ambitious, collaborative, thoughtful, good listener, team-oriented).

It’s the last day in April, 2015 in your Career. Here’s an anagram for you to consider:

E nvy crept into the conversation

T he moment she couldn’t hide

H er feelings.

I t was unbecoming and noticed by the group.  It

C ontinued as her professionalism wained – although unwittingly,

S he set an example of what not to do as a leader.©Jo Ann M. Radja

Have a great month of May, 2015 when it begins tomorrow!

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

http://www.wordpress.com/disclosures

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