Tag Archives: Relationships

Professional Associations: Triple Benefits for You

Recently,  I had the opportunity to be the keynote speaker for the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) annual membership dinner.  It was held at IGT here in Reno and was beautifully organized by Kristy Holbrook and her committee.  As I got to know both the members and guests before the dinner I was reminded how much fun these meetings really are.  People from all over come together to relax, laugh and enjoy getting to know each other.  And a lot of business is getting done at the same time.  Here’s how . . .

Benefits to Your Career

There are three primary benefits to joining and actively participating in these groups.  First, are the friendships you will develop over the years.  Second, as you get to know others and they learn about you opportunities to share referrals will naturally develop.   And third, you will learn about what is going on in your field – what’s emerging, who’s who and how you can fit in.  Yes, there is usually a yearly fee and yes, it takes time each month to attend but the benefits to your personal development are well worth it.  Over the years, I have been active in many organizations including the America Society of Training & Development (ASTD); Nevada Professional Coach Association (NPCA); Western Industrial Nevada (WIN) and the Northern Nevada Chamber of Commerce.

Taking a Leadership Role

So look for the associations that you can stretch and grow in.  And then challenge yourself by stepping into a leadership role.  Every association needs to rotate board positions and the work load.  Do your part by volunteering to serve on the board in an area that you can share your experience and expertise actively.  You will be advancing your profession and helping others be successful as well.  And it’s fun as well!

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Getting into the “Flow” of Social Media

Start simple, keep it easy and enjoy being in the flow of connecting with others. Those are my words of advice to myself.

Once the social media ball is rolling, I know I will really enjoy this different way of connecting with folks that I probably won’t get a chance to meet in any other way. And this is a great opportunity to share the knowledge and wisdom I’ve acquired over the years in a number of areas.

So, in that spirit, my intention is to:

  • Be visible – through my website, blog and LinkedIn profile.
  • Be available – talk to me! Visit my blog and send me your thoughts & ideas.
  • Be engaged – join me for my tele-chats.(Keep up-to-date on those via my monthly newsletter.)
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The Zen of Social Media Marketing by Shama Hyder Kabani

The Zen of Social Media Marketing: An Easier Way to Build Credibility, Generate Buzz, and Increase Revenue, by Shama Hyder Kabani, 2010.

What a perfect start to this book: “Social media marketing does not have to be a struggle”.  That hooked me right away. In this short, compact paperback, Kabani starts with a great question, “Why bother?” And then she convinces us that social media sites are where the people are and that they are already talking about us anyway.

So if we want to be part of that conversation, connect quickly with others and be seen as a thought leader in our areas of expertise, then social media is where we need to be.  And this book truly takes the struggle out of it!

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Build a Powerful Inner Circle

Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum

Exceptional achievement in both our personal and professional lives all comes down to peer-to-peer collaboration. It’s the truth. Look at any truly successful leader and you will see that they have built an inner circle of trusted advisors, mentors and colleagues. And it’s a relatively small circle. Maybe just 3 – 5 individuals that they have known for a number of years.

There is a shared history of being there for each other in the good times and in the bad times. And these people aren’t just detached observers – they care – and they are friends. Bottom line . . . they won’t let you fail and you won’t let them fail either.

But what does this have to do with your career success?  Everything. If you are ready to take your career (and life) to a new and more fulfilling level, then this core circle is critical to putting that fire under you and holding you accountable at the same time. Here’s how to start . . .

  • Pick 3 people who truly believe in you as a person, your potential & your future.
  • Now be willing to modify that list – add or delete – so you have a core group.
  • Ask them if you can connect with them regularly by phone, in-person or by Internet.
  • Tell them your intentions for 2011 and what success will look like for you.
  • Follow-through! Stay in touch. Listen to their feedback.

Appreciate them & thank them for sharing their time with you.

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Who’s Got Your Back by Keith Ferrazzi

Who’s Got Your Back: The Breakthrough Program to Create Deep, Trusting Relationships that Create Success – And Won’t Let You Fail, by Keith Ferrazzi, 2009.

One of the best advantages of getting a bit older is that we have made good friends over the years in both professional and personal capacities. Ferrazzi believes that these friends – those that truly believe in us and our potential – are the key to our success.

I couldn’t agree more.

This new book builds on his earlier book, Never Eat Alone, and really captures the value of deep personal relationships for growing ourselves in every area of our lives.  And it’s a good question to ask yourself right now “Who’s got my back?” and more importantly, “Who’s back do I have?”

Let me know the answer.

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