Power Structure: Overt and Covert

    

The key to freelance work is knowing how to focus the project plan as well as manage working with the power sources inside of an organization. This includes knowing who has decision-making authority as well as determining the figurehead everyone assumes is the senior leader.

An organizational freelancer can become effective as well as instrumental as a change agent once she understands the true source of an organization's strength. It only takes a brief moment to genuinely get to know the people you are working with on a project and then identify the levels of power.

For example, if you are in need of additional resources and staff to complete a major project it helps to share regular project updates with the overt power and covert power source on a regular basis. If a challenge or issue arises during the project implementation, your leadership team will readily know the details and be able to make solid decisions to fix any issues. In addition, sometimes the covert power source has more inside knowledge regarding ways to overcome barriers and may offer to  consult with you during the project timeline too prevent stagnation.

Also, try to ensure that both the covert and overt power sources obtain the same level of project information in a timely manner to avoid the appearance of favoritism.

How to Cope with Setbacks

Life-changing work projects are rare because they create learning opportunities. The Organizational Freelancer learned in childhood to achieve success in every aspect of her work. That sounds great in theory. However, there are rare opportunities when setbacks or failure may occur.

Project setbacks are a result of challenges that may be within our span of control such as time management, poor planning or identifying available staff to support the work load. However, some work issues may be occur because available staff may be reassigned, budget issues prevent the investment in necessary software or simply it was "doomed to fail."

It is hard for a person to bounce back from a failed project, especially when you put so much time and effort into creating something amazing for the masses. However, the reality of the situation is that sometimes projects fail, despite the best effort to plan for potential threats or weaknesses.

As an organizational freelancer, it helps to learn different ways to cope with failure effectively.   Your coping skills will develop over time and can be valuable if you channel your energy in the right direction. Use the quick tips below to enhance how you cope with setbacks:

• Identify the real problem (too little staff, reduced funding, structural design or etc.)
• Talk with your team and obtain their input about the process from start to finish
• Avoid assigning blame. It is a distraction that will not help you fix the problem 
• Create a comprehensive list of how to solve each issue 
• Learn something new from your setbacks 
• Share your ideas and obtain feedback about problem-solving measures
• Get buy-in from your team and leaders to support the solutions
• Implement the changes to your project work plan
• Draft a trouble-shooting strategy to resolve work challenges

Don't Be Defined by Your Job Title, Blog #30 April 4, 2014

Job titles. They are a lifeline to work place recognition and seen as a tome to respect and power. For example, job titles help separate leadership from staff and reinforce a organizational hierarchy. In addition, people with extensive subject matter expertise are clearly identified by titles such a team leader, branch chief, program manager or engineer to name a few.

Sometimes, we get so invested in our titles, we forget to separate who we are as individuals from the work place persona. When was the last time you introduced yourself to someone new and omitted your title from the conversation?  Sometimes, people cling to their titles and make them an integral part of their identity. Who am I without the title on the business card?

This can be a benefit or a hindrance. One way your work title can prevent you from advancing in your career is thinking that your actions limited by your position title. When you take on a huge new task that is normally held for a more senior person in the organization, stop yourself from saying "I can't do this because I am not management."

We create our own career paths and part of the journey is taking risks. It also includes having strong self awareness of who you are and what you like to do outside of the office. Ensure your colleagues get to know you well so you can avoid boxing yourself into just a title developed in human resources.

Take A Risk

     Subject matter experts are known for the prowess in their specific field because they have published research, promoted their findings, served as guest lecturers or led extraordinary efforts. Being the expert is the mantra in today's business world.

What happens if the skills you possess are no longer needed to keep your organization moving forward? How can the organizational freelance remain competitive leveraging the same skills over and over again without any change in talent dynamic?

Sometimes it is a challenge to learn new skills or switch to a new industry because we hold on tight to the main focus of our careers to the point of excluding other opportunities. Some call it refining their skills. Others may perceive it as resistance to change.

When someone offers you the opportunity to work on new projects outside your field of expertise, take the risk and do it. You may learn something new. You may enjoy the challenge of not having all of the answers. In addition, taking a risk on diverse work assignments can also be a catalyst for collaborations with more people outside your immediate team.

There may be some hesitation to taking on an assignment that is not your forte such as the fear of failure. Yet, the risk is worth it for the organizational freelancer to move beyond being perceived as a one-dimensional  business person.

Working on tasks outside your normal comfort level will also broaden your ability to adapt to new teams and business environments. 

Perfection and Inertia Paradox

  

   Do you remember the last time you were assigned a task and how you began the process? Some people are methodical and others just jump into the fray of the work. Yet, some others seek perfection in their work products at every step in the process. This is a good thing if it is a catalyst for change, welcomes input from others and offers the opportunity to achieve tangible outcomes. However, if it creates a barrier to success, it is time to reconsider how to manage your work.

Perfection is something many of us strive for at work. For example, it is an acceptable business practice to check the status of every phase of a project to ensure it meets or exceeds the required project scope. Often, there may such a strong focus on doing the right thing, it may take us off course from achieving the project goal.  Consequently, the Perfection and Inertia Paradox begins.

As a result, inertia sets in and nothing gets accomplished. When an organizational freelancer is so focused on perfection that they do not begin working, it hinders the  ability to meet tangible goals.

Tips to avoid the Perfection and Inertia Paradox:

• Work and communicate with the team often
• Develop a plan that identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)
• Omit group think
• Encourage different opinions
• Use your SWOT analysis to avoid inertia
• Create a project timeline with tangible milestones to keep the project moving forward
• Know the signs of procrastination in your team and yourself
• Check in with the client and communicate outcomes as well as issues at every phase

Prepare for your voice to be heard - Public Speaking

Once upon a time, public speaking opportunities were reserved for people in leadership positions, their staff and speech writers. These roles were designed by a vertical hierarchy where the folks on top always gave the speeches which may have been prepared by speechwriters or the speakers.

Fast forward to 2014 and organizations are no longer top heavy with speeches given by leaders only. Experts exist at all levels of the organizational structure and they may be called upon to provide a briefing based on their skills and talents. This is a great opportunity to break out of one's comfort zone and engage a new task of public speaking.

On occasion, there are barriers to public speaking that may seem like insurmountable challenges that hinder our ability to provide effective message delivery. You can learn to overcome those issues by preparing for your voice to be heard with a few helpful hints.

• Know your topic
• Create a great opening statement 
• Be comfortable in your own voice 
• Project your sound
• Silence the inner critic 
• Become receptive to feedback that will enhance your public speaking skills
• Rehearse your delivery as if you are telling a story to your closet friend or family member to make it more conversational
• Focus your topic
• Avoid tangents
• Solicit feedback 
• Respond to questions effectively and in a timely manner

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.