Work, success, and meaning at every stage of your career
Jenna Fischer’s story is closer to what it takes to be “discovered” as a jobseeker today. We all hope that our resume is like Lana Turner; so gorgeous that we can just sit on a stool and someone will walk by and offer to change our life forever. But most of us would do better to follow Jenna Fischer’s path.
Being tuned in to other people’s emotions – and taking steps to make them feel better about themselves – will help you become more likeable. Lowndes says that people will associate you – and the memory of you – with the emotion they experienced when they met you. If you make someone uncomfortable, she’ll avoid you. Make him feel warm and appreciated, and he’ll get a warm feeling whenever he thinks about you.
A stunning survey of workers by Monster.com shows that 98% of workers are not [completely] satisfied with their jobs and plan to look for work in 2011. Are you one of them?
If you are one of the working class who’s planning to make a break for it as soon as the economy heats up, here are some things to consider as you plan a move.
Leil Lowndes is a management consultant and speaker and author of How to Instantly Connect with Anyone: 96 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships. Her book helps you understand the basics of making other people feel comfortable and, well, good around you. Her theory is that if you make someone feel good about themselves, they will get a warm, Pavlovian feeling every time they see you. Conversely, if you make people uncomfortable, that sense of unease follows whenever they see you.
If you’re a big-picture, inspirational leader, you may rely heavily on your charisma and persuasive skills to win over skeptics. That’s fine, until you encounter a data-driven analytical type who cares more about whether you’ve done your homework than how fine your words are.
Personality conflicts are a fact of life in the office. Even if a team has the same goals, they will differ on how to achieve them. Understanding your own communication style and decision process is important if you want a successful team. Even more important than self awareness, though, is your ability to adapt to the other team members’ styles when communicating with them.
Congratulations – you’ve been called back for a second interview. Here’s how it might be different from the first.
Recently, a jobseeker wrote to us with this question: “I need some advice on what to say to potential employers about the reason for leaving my past job. I received a message today from a company with a possible job, and I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity. I was dismissed from my last job because an employee starting a rumor about me…"
http://www.Nurse.com is naturally excited about this news: in Gallup’s annual survey that ranks occupations by their perceived honesty and ethical standards, nurses finished as the most trusted profession for the 11th time in 12 years.
So, genius (or at least mastery) is achievable for all of us. That’s the good news – you don’t have to be born brilliant to become brilliant. That’s also the bad news – you’re only as good as you want to be.
