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“Creating Successful Leaders”

July 25, 2012 No Sweat, No Fail Networking

By Margaret Smith, UXL: Creating Successful Leaders
SPEAKER | CAREER COACH | CERTIFIED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER

Networking… Just the shear mention of the word makes my knees buckle and my deodorant is challenged.

Networking is, however, one of the most important skills to perfect, no matter where you are on your career journey. Did you know that more than 80% of jobs today are found through contacts, not over the internet or by blindly sending a resume.

You’ve probably familiar with the phrase “It’s who you know, not what you know”, and for a period of time, a lot of us could afford to ignore this little axiom. Well, the times certainly have changed. Now, more and more people are discovering the truth behind this common message.

Today, your contacts (and your contact’s contacts) are the real door openers to the interview.

Networking is essential to the job hunt, but it’s not limited to those looking for employment. Even if you currently have a job, a new position may be searching for you. If you don’t have the right connections internally your name may not come up—opportunity missed!

No Sweat, No Fail Networking

The first step is to figure out where to go. Where can you find the people that you need to meet—where do they hang out? Find the events and activities that attract the people and organizations you need or want to meet.

The 3 Parts of Successful Networking:

1) Know your Audience: Who will be there? Who do I need/want to meet? How do I “show up”?
2) Have an Objective: Is my objective to collect 15 business cards or to meet the 3 most influential people at the event? You will achieve what you set your mind to do.
3) Be Prepared and Practice: Know how you will introduce yourself, what you do or what you want. Make sure you have a request ready, such as “May I call you next week to set up some time to learn more?” or “Whom in your organization is involved in what I am interested in?” or “Who do you suggest I meet here tonight?”

Practice is the fun part. Stand in front of the mirror, watch your body language, smile, and figure out ways to share your energy so people enjoy their encounter with you.

Don’t forget to follow up via phone or email with the people you meet and remind them of something from your conversation.

Okay, now my knees stopped shaking and I am writing down my introduction so I can practice for that event on Monday night…Good luck!

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July 19, 2012 Check out UXL’s July Newsletter: How to Make a Lasting Impression

As of this morning, July’s newsletter has been sent and is ready to be read! Feel free to visit the blog newsletter page, uxl website, or sign up to receive the newsletter directly once a month!

A little sample:

In order to learn how to pump up the impression you leave with others, it is essential to accept a certain set of truths. Firstly, you are in control of your own story and the story that you tell yourself. No one is RUINING YOUR LIFE, BOGGING YOU DOWN, or STOPPING YOUR FROM BEING SUCCESSFUL except yourself. Conversely, YOU and YOUR CHOICES are to thank for your own success, dedication, and happiness. Click Here to Read More

July 13, 2012 How You (Yes You!) Can Get Creative at Work

By Margaret Smith, UXL:
SPEAKER | CAREER COACH | CERTIFIED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER

I was surprised to discover two really helpful articles in the recent USA Weekend insert (usaweekend.com) in my Stillwater Gazette. I decided to share some of the most important ideas with my readers.

Last week I wrote about an article on building a successful business based on the perfect team. This week, I’d like to focus on an article addressing a different subject—that of sparking creativity—by author MeKenna Grant, and featuring advice from creativity specialist Tina Seelig.

Now, before we dive into some great tips for supercharging our creativity, I think it’s important that we face a common hang up that many of us have when it comes to “being creative.” The problem is that many people believe that we’re either born with creativity, or we’re out of luck—we’re “uncreative” people. It’s like picturing creativity as a gift we’re given that cannot be taught, handed off, or fostered.

This way of thinking about creativity is downright wrong, and it limits potential, says Tina Seelig, author of inGenius: A Crash Course on Creativity and award-winning educator at Stanford University. Seelig urges readers to understand that creativity can be easily taught and learned.

Interested in learning to ignite your own creativity and start embracing challenges and creating new ideas? See Seelig’s handy tips below.

Use Metaphors and Analogies to Connect the Unfamiliar
Seelig suggests turning to devices commonly reserved for literature to get your creative juices flowing. This means using metaphors to compare things to one another and connect unfamiliar pairs. “By comparing one thing to another, you uncover fascinating parallels that open up a world of new ideas,” she says. “Connecting unexpected people, places, objects, and ideas provides a huge boose to your imagination.”

Make Space to Be Creative
It’s not always easy to make room for new ideas, different ways of thinking, and different possibilities. This means it’s important that you work to give yourself creative space. “Creative space leads to creative work.” As a great example, Seelig turns to creative animation powerhouse Pixar, the company behind movies such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo. We learn by this example that creative space can be made by working with a group. It’ll help you gain insight from others. Seelig explains that it’s best to have “a group composed of individuals who bring different perspectives to the table, who respect different working styles, and who resolve conflicts along the way.”

As a final note, Seelig reminds us of the all-important, final ingredient when it comes to creativity: “Great teams also have a healthy dose of playfulness.” Add a little more fun to your next brainstorm, and you’ll be sure to generate some fresh ideas.

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