Initiative, Innovation and Drive, March 2, 2014

Freelance work is a competitive business and it requires the ability to stand out from the rest of the crowd. When you display initiative, innovation and drive it will lead to new endeavors and respect from your peers.

Often, tasks are assigned to us at work and we follow the instructions succinctly to complete the project in a timely manner. Following this type of "straight line process" eliminates the opportunity to be creative and show initiative. Next time you have an opportunity to support organizational goals implement your initiative to get things done in a unique and creative manner.

Innovation is derived from knowing exactly what the client wants and implementing a strategy geared towards success that is results driven. It also means conducting research to understand what worked in the past as well as identify the potential threats and weaknesses that may hinder you during the project. Innovation also means caring about your work product. When developing your strategy, take the time to know the strengths and value-added objectives of your work as well as its impact on the organization at large.

Drive. This one word describes the level of interest, encouragement and passion you have for your work. Avoid doing a sloppy job simply because the work you want to do is not readily available to you at that exact moment. Deliver on your projects so you can begin focusing on the type of work you really want to do. Then, concentrate on the tasks that you are grateful for accomplishing as you channel that positive energy into your organizational freelance opportunities each day.

Business Communication Acumen

How do you communicate coaching to an employee who does not accept negative feedback? What is the best way to challenge a senior leader's obsolete business approach while sharing an innovative and effective way to conduct business? What is the best way to resolve personality conflicts in the office? 

While various work situations can create a strain on your organizational freelance opportunities, it is important to leverage the value of effective business communication skills. A wise human resource manager once told me to remember the value of good communication skills. If there is a lingering issue, assess the situation and determine the best path to resolution. Then communicate and implement ways to solve the problem.

If there is another party involved, make an effort to have an honest and non-blaming dialogue with the other person with the goal of mutual resolution. This may sound like a mystical unicorn, but it does not hinder your professional effort to make an attempt to solve the problem at hand. Even if the issue is a simple personality conflict, consider using an unbiased mediator who can balance the conversation between you and the other person or persons. 

 

Moreover, ramp up your active listening skills by ensuring  you are fully engaged in the communication process. Try not to multitask when someone is communicating with you. Your ability to leverage solid business communications skills in the office are based on your ability to focus what you need to communicate. Here a few tips:

• Respect the other person's opinion
• Ask clarifying questions
• Answer clearly and concisely
• Listen 
• Provide sources to support your data
• Build consensus through small group coordination 
• Reduce the complexity of your message so it is readily understandable
• Develop a back up plan
• Avoid distractions
• Provide feedback
• Be willing to receive feedback (the good, the bad and something in between)

Recipe for Success at the Office

Remember the last time you received an assignment at work? Do you recall the instructions you received for creating the required outcome? Take a moment to reflect on what you tend to do- follow the instructions succinctly or vary the process to achieve the most optimal results.

Sometimes the route we take to complete tasks impact our ability to achieve success. For example, following the instructions without any deviation allows you to check the box that you did the "right thing." However, the opportunity to be creative, learn and grow your skills will be limited because you are only willing to do what is required, no more or no less.

Take a risk when working on your next assignment to see if you can obtain better results by varying the process. Also, learn to feel comfortable challenging the status quo regarding processes that no longer work.

Think of tasks at work like a cooking recipe. Ensure you have all of the ingredients, tools and information to make coordinated decisions, then be creative in completing the work.

Organizational Freelancer Reading List, Part 1

A wise person once said the way to achieve your goals is by leveraging your professional talents on diverse projects, training to enhance your skills, seek new educational opportunities as well as reading books.

In addition, displaying initiative, taking risks, exhibiting ethical behavior and passion for your work can help open doors to new career opportunities. Moreover, the characteristics of a well-rounded leader are rooted in your ability to effectively use emotional intelligence, people skills and a shared vision.

I am sharing a list of books used by the Organizational Freelancer over the years to help achieve goals and maintain motivation.

Organizational Freelancer Reading List 

• Leadership Communication by Deborah Barrett
• Difficult Conversations - How to discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen
• Ethical Intelligence - Five Simple Rules for Leading a Better Life by Dr. Bruce Weinstein
• First, Break the Rules - What the World's Greatest Managers do Differently by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman
• Leading so People will Follow by Erika Andersen

Disclaimer: Materials and resources shared on the Organizational Freelancer Blog are for informational purposes only and do not serve as a promotion or endorsement of external materials. 

Effective Leaders

     Leaders can come in all forms. Some leaders are very remote, others are hands-on and others  serve as a guiding force because they balance their staff's need for autonomy and creativity in pursuit of organizational goals. The most effective leaders use a three-pronged approach including practical experience, training as well a reading industry-leading books on leadership.

Moreover, the Leadership Trait is a topic that is often researched and debated by scholars and businesses throughout the years. Each industry views leaders differently with some overlap. One area of consideration is the concept of how leaders are created. Some question if leaders are born or made with the skills that encourage others to follow them.

I believe that striking a balance between the two is key for a leader to excel. There are some leadership skills that are innate such as a people-centric mind set or a focus on the pursuit of tangible goals in an ethical manner. One example is ensuring the team is encouraged to be autonomous, passionate and creative in their work efforts so the group can excel together.

In addition, the ability to manage people and tasks effectively are talents that can be developed over time through training, education and practical application. For example, project management courses are everywhere and help people learn how to manage project time lines so they can deliver goods or services under pressure of  deadlines.

Over the years, I've experienced a variety of leaders who leveraged very diverse approaches to business. Some of my best teachers work in academia, corporations as well as government. They embody the characteristics of effective leaders including:

• Identify organizational goals
• Share her or his vision
• Listen effectively
• Offer feedback 
• Encourage autonomy
• Seek input from the team
• Avoid the need to micromanage
• Provide tools and resources needed for staff to succeed
• Recognize extraordinary efforts

Reading List:
Leading so People will Follow by M. Buckingham and C. Coffman
First, Break All the Rules by  E. Andersen

A Mentor for all Seasons, Blog #20

Mentoring.  According to Merriam-Webster, a mentor teaches others life lessons as well as offer  advice on a variety of business issues. Mentors help people develop professionally through informal discussions, career development sessions as well as explore problem-solving skills. Moreover, when business professionals participate in a mentoring program, they obtain the necessary tools required to navigate their career path.

Benefits of Mentoring Programs (for mentors and mentees):

• Learn something about yourself that you did not know before 
• Share and provide insights with others on everything from time management, tips on promotions and resume writing
• Professional development with a leader in your organization
• Obtain input about professional challenges that will help you grow and explore new career options
• Network with people inside your organization that you do not work with on a regular basis
• Enhance your verbal and communication skills

Mentoring Reading List:

• Mentoring - The TAO of Giving and Receiving Wisdom
• Sun Tzu for Women: The Art of Winning in Business 
• First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently

Check out the online resources available for mentoring programs during the National Mentoring Month.

Earning a Seat at the Table, Blog #19

When you enter a meeting room, where do you sit? Do you choose the chair in the corner, in the middle of the crowd, among friends, back of the room or do you head directly for a seat at the table? Your seat selection is an important indicator of where you see yourself in the organization. It also denotes your level of interest and focus on the discussion.

Cozy Corner. The corner seat keeps you out of the spotlight. It is safe, warm and makes it hard to be vocal when called upon to provide information as a subject matter expert. 

Middle of the Room (Middle of the Road). Choosing a seat in the middle of the meeting room may become a challenge for several reasons. It may cause you to disappear into the ether and meld into the crowd which may hinder you being viewed as a thought leader. In addition, you may be perceived as someone who chooses a middle of the road approach to supporting topics and projects. 

Sitting with the “Gang”: Sitting with your friends is a comfort element many of us learned in school and continue to follow as adults. Sometimes, you may attend conferences or other professional events and feel the need to sit with the “professional team”, “the gang”, or your pals who are like-minded thinkers as a way to ease crowds. The group may also help you to ease into the moment so you may feel like you have backups to help you manage the myriad of professional communications that may occur. The more positive peers around you, then you are more likely to go into the crowd as a group and rarely venture out to meet others with diverse views. 

Back of the Room: Some people may choose the seats in the back of the room for two reasons: they may have arrived late to the meeting or a lack of interest in the topic offers the opportunity to be disengaged enough during the session to check your emails and texts without being obvious. Neither one sends a positive signal to leadership that you are focused, engaged and interested in the meeting at hand. 

Taking a Seat at the Table: Some of us instinctively know where we will sit during a meeting…that is  

at the table. 

Those who choose to sit at the table and engage with leaders, managers and peers reflect a quality of leadership that is often forgotten as a tangible skill set. For example, those who sit at the table are viewed as confident, engaged in the communication process, willing to share and receive information as well as provide input for serious consideration. This is done without the distraction of friends sitting next to you or people trying to hear or see you from the corner or back of the room.

Next time you are invited to participate in a meeting and no other protocols are used to identify assigned seating, take the place you earned in the room. A seat at the table.