Category Archives: Career Tips & Strategies

Building Strategic Alliances

Just yesterday I was reminded again about how wise it is for business people to actively build strategic alliances.  I had gotten a message through LinkedIn from a new licensed clinical social worker who was just starting her practice here in Reno.  She had gotten my name through a mutual colleague and wanted to meet me over coffee.  She explained that she was interested in my coaching work and wanted to share what she was doing – and then maybe we could refer to each other as needed. 

What’s the Benefit for Me?

Was I interested?  Absolutely!  First, I love to meet new professionals that are starting their own businesses.  I want to see them succeed and if I can encourage and support them I certainly will.  Second, I am always updating my own referral list – for local counselors, resume writers and consultants with specific expertise that I don’t have.  I enjoy being known as a “go-to” person and I’m delighted to connect others with those that can help them.   It’s a win-win for all of us.

How To: Building Strategic Alliances

Building strategic alliances that are mutually beneficial is a practiced skill.  It is identifying what you need to be more successful (just as this woman did), what someone else needs to be equally successful and then forming a strategic alliance to make that happen.  And it’s just as important to form these alliances inside an organization if you’re working for someone else as it is when you have your own business.  Here’s how to begin:

  • Identify 3 areas you want to improve or expand in your work
  • Ask around . . . “Who else does this kind of work?”
  • Keep asking to see who knows who – can you get a personal introduction?
  • Reach out and invite the individual to coffee – see if there is a positive energy between you
  • And then explore “How can we help each other be more successful?”

My Challenge to You

It’s the summer and work schedules are often more relaxed.  This is a perfect time to build contacts and relationships.  My challenge to you is to take this time to reach out and get to know at least three new professionals working in related fields.  Choose people that you think you would genuinely enjoy and that you see a possibility of your work mutually benefiting each other.  If one out of the three works out that is great success.  And then let me know how it goes!

Posted in Career Tips & Strategies, Inspirational Leadership, Navigating Change, Personal Development | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“City Slickers”: The Ultimate Internship

I just finished laughing my way through the classic movie “City Slickers” with Billy Crystal.  Do you remember this one?  It’s all about three good friends in the throes of middle age who sign up to be volunteers on a cattle drive from New Mexico to Colorado.  I’ve watched it many times and love the themes of friendship, adventure and finding what is uniquely meaningful to each of us in different chapters of our lives.

The Ultimate Unpaid Internship

But this time, I watched this movie from a different perspective . . . here are three friends paying a lot of money to essentially be volunteers on this cattle drive.  As the story goes, the paid cowhands disappear one by one leaving only the volunteers and the herd of cattle.  The other volunteers bail out – after all they are suppose to be “on vacation”  leaving behind our three cowboy heroes.  Now the cowboy volunteers are not getting paid to “bring the herd in” but they are committed.  So risking life and limb in torrential rains they drive the herd for miles and deliver the livestock successfully to the cattle ranch owners several days later.  For their efforts, the boss refunds their money and each of our cowboys goes home knowing that they have finally found the true “it” in their lives.

Working Without Pay But Loving It

Written in 1991, City Slickers gives us a fascinating glimpse at what would become a career & economic phenomenon in the 2000’s.  People of all ages being willing to work for no or little pay for the experience and possible opportunities that this work could open up for them – sometimes even paying out of their own pocket  for the opportunity (as I’ll be doing when I work in Greece in October).  These positions can be called any number of things: internships, externships, job shadowing,  apprenticeships, mentoring etc.

Both my college-age daughter and niece are doing summer internships here in Northern Nevada.  Why?  They are enjoying having this inside track to experience and do things they wouldn’t have been able to do through traditional hiring practices. And it very likely this unpaid work will give them some advantage in future paid job opportunities.

Is It Worth It?

I have to believe that it’s a win-win for both the intern and the businesses but it is an interesting wrinkle when interns are being used more and more to replace paid staff especially in a deep recession as we have been experiencing.  In a brand new book “Intern Nation” Ross Perlin explores both the history and the pros and cons of “contingency labor”.  It’s fascinating.  Watch for more on this topic in my July First Monday Tip Newsletter.  For now, I’m with Billy Crystal and his fellow “unpaid interns”.  It’s too much fun to miss!

Posted in Career Tips & Strategies, Inspirational Leadership, Navigating Change, Personal Development, Your Time & Energy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Learning Gives You a Lift!

I look forward to every Wednesday afternoon.  This is a time for me – for me to focus on my own professional learning through advanced training with Susan Whitcomb’s Career Coach Academy.  Several years ago I completed my original certification (CCMC) with the Academy and now I’m back for the “refresh & renew” four month course.  And I’m enjoying it so much more now!

Adding Value to My Clients

Each week I learn something new that I can bring immediately to my coaching clients.  I’m refreshing my treasure chest of career coaching tools, strategies and techniques which greatly adds to the value I bring my clients. And since I’ve had my coaching business for almost ten years now, I have a wealth of experience that I can draw on as well.  I’m staying on the cutting edge so my clients can stay on the cutting edge. 

Gives Me a Lift

On-going learning has always been a key part of growing my coaching business.  Although continuing education credits (CEUs) are required for my various certifications that’s not why I make learning a priority.  I’ve always attended professional conferences, courses & workshops and networking events because I get a wonderful psychological boost from the energy of ideas in the room.  But it is a significant financial investment . . .  is it worth it?  Yes!  Learning is like the icing on the cake.  Don’t miss the opportunity to be enriched and to enrich others by making these investments.

Posted in Career Tips & Strategies, Personal Development, Your Time & Energy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lunch on Friday?

I usually have lunch with my Dad, age 93, on Fridays but since he is still working (corporate attorney) sometimes he can’t make it.  This week was one of those times . . . so I found myself thinking about whom I could call for a late lunch on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon. 

Stretch & Call Someone New

It’s easy to call old friends but I reconsidered . . . how about calling someone who’s on that list “I really would like to get to know them better”.  So often, we meet someone professionally at a networking event and promise to get together but we never somehow get around to it.  This time, I knew I would be hungry after teaching an awesome tele-class and ready for a relaxing lunch and some great conversation.  So I called a colleague I hadn’t seen for ages –  and she was available and hungry too.  So off we went . . .

A New Connection – A Renewed Friendship  

Over a great lunch we shared work updates, talked about career trends, emerging opportunities here in Northern Nevada and several “hidden” resources that could benefit my career coaching clients.  As I drove back to the office I was glad I hadn’t eaten at my desk again but rather made the effort to connect professionally with someone I had lost track of but whom I always admired.  Try it yourself – next Friday for lunch!

Posted in And a Bit More, Career Tips & Strategies, Inspirational Leadership, Personal Development, Your Time & Energy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Networking Made Easier!

Whether you are in the job search, exploring an entirely new career path or marketing your own business networking is critical to your success.  There is simply no better way to advance your career than to personally connect with people that are in the know – people that can open doors for you and send opportunities your way.  And in turn, you are doing the same for them. 

Easier Said Than Done

Sounds easy?  Networking doesn’t come easily for most people especially for introverts.  Many people find that networking can be quite overwhelming or even intimidating especially in larger events or with complete strangers.  It’s a skill that takes practice, practice and more practice.  

3 Steps for Easy Networking

Here’s three steps to make networking not only easier but more fun and productive.  First, think of networking as making connections – building relationships.  This is a different mindset entirely.  Set the intention of having one or two significant conversations – not “working the room”.  Second, listen  in these conversations with sincere curiosity.  Be curious about everything – the focus is on them not you.  Give them the gift of listening.  Third, think of what you can offer them – how can you help them get what they need – perhaps an introduction; a good book or resource or a shared idea.  

You will be pleasantly surprised how this shift in your mindset (and expectations) takes much of the stress out of networking.  It’s an other-directed approach that is much more productive.  Bring a couple of business cards back, enter them in your database and send a quick email to just say how much you enjoyed the conversation.  Now that’s powerful networking!

Posted in Career Tips & Strategies, Your Time & Energy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment