Category: Productivity at work

Navigating Major Career Transitions

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Harvard University Prof. Michael Watkins outlines some great advise on career transitions.

Michael tells us that understanding successful transitions is relevant to all and not just when you get promoted. Michael says that due to the impact of economic cycles restructuring and job shifting can be the norm.

What stood out for me was these three gems:

  1. Understand what you need to do personally to adapt
  2. Understand what you need to let go of
  3. Understand that the ability to adapt is a source of advantage.

Enjoy!

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Centred Leadership

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This is a great video on  how remarkable women lead from Joanna Barsh. I found this clip and the whole body of work very inspiring. I believe leadership happens at all levels- this video is relevant to you wherever you are in your career.

I came across this video through the work of Sheryl Sandberg the founder of the lean in movement. I’ve talked lot about lean in,  in previous posts and, have run a lean in circle myself. I’m an advocate.

Once you have a look at this overview video, I highly recommend that you take the time to look at the whole series  – there are 7 videos: http://leanin.org/education/.

If you’re not already joined up to a circle this might be a great time to join.

Enjoy!

Carrie Green – The Confident Mindset

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What is it about:

In this video Carrie Green the founder and owner of the Female Entrepreneur Association gives an energetic talk on achievement. Broadly, from Carrie’s point of view, success is achieved by design, by (re)programming your mind.

How is this different?
Carrie is an inspiring and award winning Entrepreneur  that offers lessons from her own life. She started her first  successful businesses at 19 and went on to found the Female Entrepreneur Association. So she has walked the talk. As Carrie describes her entrepreneurial journey, we get some insight into the challenges she faced. Important for us, Carrie also talks about the strategies she used to achieve her own success, on her own terms.

How it can help
There are some great every day tips for ‘getting out of your own way’ in this video. In this talk Carries takes you through what I would call as self mastery or self leadership strategies. To use Carrie’s own words, you will lean  about the  ‘power of your mind’ to empower you to achieve your goals. Her top tips are:
• The importance of getting clear about what you want. Crystal clear.
• Challenge your self limiting beliefs as they happen.
• Daily positive visualisation

For more info check out her website here: www.femaleentrepreneurassociation.com

Enjoy!

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? How to drive your career and create a remarkable future by Seth Godin

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What is it

This is a book about work in the modern age by Seth Godin. Seth is a prolific writer and blogger who talks about how the workplace has changed. He sees the industrial model of a job for life, producing the same thing over and over on the factory line as over. Seth calls us to action,  to adapt to succeed. To do this we need to care, to give and to produce gifts at work. To be a linchpin.

How is different
This isn’t a book about doing less or downsizing. His hypothesis is: coasting is risky. If your not giving your best you will be left behind. It’s an interesting notion as we ponder the New Year ahead.

How it can help
Seth asks us to accept that coasting is a waist of our time.Seth doesn’t just set a challenge, but sets out an alternative, a road map to be a linchpin, to produce art and succeed. A constitution of ideas if you like. What I took away as his top 5 cornerstone ideas are set out below. What are your thoughts?

1. Be different and create something that matters to you and the company- give emotional labour.
2. Create and ship. Beat the resistance.
3. There is no map, or people to tell you what to do. Make your own map. Lead.
4. Always give more than was asked, give gifts
5. Make mistakes, learn from them and keep giving.

Enjoy!

Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential by Carol Dweck

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What is it?
This is a book about success. Written by Carol Dweck a Stanford Professor.
The author looks at achievement in an unusual way. Based on years of scientific study the author describes what she calls two world views. First , is the fixed mind-set and the second, the growth mind-set. One sees ability as set at birth. The other views aptitude as a response to effort . Success therefore is our ability to learn. To make mistakes. To reflect. To adapt. To continuously improve.

How is this different
This book is based on 16 years of research but refreshingly, is written in a down to earth style. Carol gets a nice blend between scientific research and human interest stories. It’s a real pleasure to read. Insightful and well written.

How it can help
I don’t want to give too much away. I want you to experience these insights first hand. What I will share with you is this: This is a wonderful book as 2014 draws to a close and, we start to reflect on our progress over the year. This book will not ask you to reflect on you’re levels of perfection. But on the strategies that got you places and the strategies that didn’t. It will challenge you to understand the real and often hidden drivers of your success- personal tactics. This should be a very inspiring messages as we going in 2015. The power is in your hands- your ability to learn.

Enjoy!

 

P. S- Carol did a recent ted talk video, check it out here: The power of believing that you can improve

Join the Strengths Revolution

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What is this video about?

This is a Tedx WhitehallWomen talk by Andy Woodfeild, a partner at PWC . In his this video, Andy takes us through his career journey to illustrate the power of working with your strengths.

How is this different?
Andy explores the tensions between fitting in and being yourself and how this can lead to performance anxiety. He challenges the notion that a focus on your weakness is the best way to go, to be a success in your job.

How this can help?

Andy walks us through the benefits of focusing on your strengths and strengths of others. First, people are happier at work. Second, evidence shows it mutes unconscious biases such as those relation to gender ethnicity for example. Third, by exploring strengths, this helps people to tackle their weaknesses more productively.

If you want to join the strengths revolution Andy advises:

• Let yourself believe that you have unique strengths
• Ask people for strengths based feedback -when they saw you at your best
• Give people strengths based feedback
• Create more spaces to discuss strengths and shut down spaces that are conversations solely focused on what is wrong with people

How to get the most out of high stakes situations

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Coaching ffor women post PNG

What is this about?

This is the final contribution to the theme of productivity this October. We will look at a book that helps you get the most out of high stakes situations. The book is called Gravitas by Caroline Goyder. In short Caroline will help you own the room in a variety of anxiety inducing social situations.

How is this different?

I really like the non prescriptive style of the author. Caroline sets out a range of tools and, encourages you to pick out the ones that fit best. This relaxed approach helps you get the best from yourself.

How it can help

This is a mini voice coach in your pocket. Its practical and easy to read. The book will talk you through the features of Gravitas step by step. As a bonus, Caroline provides situation specific tips such as interviews, presentations and talking on TV. A real gem.

Caroline recently did a talk at Ted X Brixton. Check her out here when the video goes up.
You can also get her book on amazon.

Enjoy!

 

Remembering- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

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What is ist?

This book is classic and sets out what the author, Stephen Covey, sees as the basis of successes. In the book he will walk you step by step through his 7 habits of effectiveness.

How is this different?

As I mentioned, this is a classic. and was first published in 1989. This is one of the books that has effectively stood the test time. I can honestly say that, because I have been listening to it on audiobook recently. I have picked up some real gems, ideas and strategies that I can use now, in my day day life. I love the section on prioritising based on values for example.

How can it help?

As we go into autumn and have more nights in, this book is perfect.

This is a book with a lot of depth and scope and I find the the holistic approach in tune with my modern life. This isn’t just about the c suit, but about your family life, your well-being and your sprit, alongside your job. The seven habits are:

1-Be Proactive

2 – Begin with the End in Mind

3 – Put First Things First

4 – Think Win-Win

5 – Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

6 – Synergize

7-Sharpen the Saw

I would suggest reading this with a a friend would be helpful so you can discuss ideas and tips -its pretty meaty and this will help with working through all the info.

How to Be Productive – Top Tips from Marie Forelo

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What is it?
I am looking at the theme of productivity with this post. Marie Forelo shares her own strategies on achieving your best every day.

How is this different?
Marie is engaging and delivers this video with panache! Marie also references other great self development gurus, so this clip is  a great source of info. She also looks at well-being and not just about doing more.

How can it help?

The top tips in the video are really simple and easy to add into your day to day:

  • think of time as your friend
  • create your own morning routine to set you up for the day
  • work out
  • prioritise and stick to it

 

Enjoy!

Feel motivated at work – the quick how to guide

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What is it:

Dan Arley’s engaging talk unpacks what motivates us to labour, to work. Dan demonstrates work without end, with repitition and no purpose is the most de-motivating.  At the other end of the spectrum, work which has meaning (not the highest paid), is the most motivating.

How is it different:

This is one of the longer Ted talks at 20 minutes. That said it is well worth it. To illustrate his work, Dan provides engaging and charming examples. 

How it can help:

Dan’s very practical talk provides interesting food for thought about motivation in the workplace. Below are the stand out ideas for me:

  • It can be helpful for us to think about our work as something meaningfull.  Such as creating something, overcoming a challenge or as part of our identity for example.
  • Effort that leads to an outcome has more of a driving effect than money – think of the furniture you have self assembled that you love!
  • Morph your effort when things go wrong – even when things don’t go to plan, morph it to another meaning to keep your motivation up.

Enjoy!