Kit Prendergast, PCC
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Tag Archives: resiliency
Push That “Yes” Button!
It was a small boat in a small town on the eastern shore of Crete. The winds were up and the water was rough. The regular tourist boats were closed due to the May 1st holiday but our taxi cab driver (in a pink tie & driving a Mercedes) had a “friend” who had a boat to ferry people out to the famous island of Spinalogue, an old leper colony and one time prison.
Did we want to go? My adventurous twin sister, Diane, said “of course” as I was still contemplating a cappuccino in a cozy tavern on the shore. But that’s Diane . . . she has always been the one to push the “Yes” button before me. And I’m so glad she does! We’ve had the best experiences over the years including on this special holiday seeing this piece of history from the sparkling blue waters off Crete.
One of our wonderful Canadian team members, Sheila Davis, embraced this idea and became our inspiration. She is more fun, full of life and certainly is willing to say “yes” to anything anywhere. I’ll travel with her anytime!
Saying “No” Becomes a Boring Habit
It’s interesting how easy it is to get in the habit of just saying “No” to new things especially when they change up our normal daily routines or stretch our cozy comfort zones. We are quick to think of why it’s not a good idea . . . and much slower to think why it may be a good (even great) idea. It actually becomes a habit – saying no before we even really think about it.
But what does that kind of automatic response do for us? Not much. Sure, life rolls on very safe, comfortable and (dare I say) a tad bit boring. And we can find ourselves saying afterwards “Gee, I wish I had done that”. But we can if we get out of our own way and let those adventures in.
Building Your Resiliency Skills & Your Career
Challenging yourself to stretch, grow and learn benefits not only you personally (you’re much more interesting) but also your career. By using those adaptive, change muscles regularly you will be pleasantly surprised how much more resilient you are during times of significant change. You have that inner confidence and knowledge that you can be flexible, creative and adaptable. It actually very empowering – a real boost.
Make “Yes” Your Default Button
So my challenge to you is to make “Yes” your default button. Yes, default to yes as often as you can. It will take some practice to say “yes” first to new opportunities unless you can think of some really good reasons to say “no”. Now I’m not saying to do anything so wild and crazy that it’s foolish or unsafe. I’m talking about just adding a bit of spice and adventure to your life. Let me know how you do and then we can plan our next great adventure!
It’s All So Complicated!
I’m actually a very patient person. And I’m bright, fairly tech savvy, can make time and have resources available to me. It’s just that everything in today’s world is so complicated. These last few weeks have pushed my patience and good humor to the edge. Here’s my story . . .
I leave in a couple of days for a three week Global Volunteers work assignment in Greece. I’ll be gone from the office a full month so there are lots of projects to be taken care of both here at the office, at home and in my community work. But since I’ve lived overseas and travel quite a bit it shouldn’t be hard. Or is it?
Passwords, Passwords & More Passwords
If you have oodles of time and enjoy the thrill of the chase to solve just one problem per day then tackling the banking industry; the health care system; the mobile phone network or the Greek ferry system will provide hours of entertainment. But I don’t have that time and energy – and I don’t have a secretary (as I remind my 94 year old attorney Dad with his own secretary).
And everything needs a password, a log-in and then a host of “security questions”. The funniest was this past weekend when I had to answer a series of “multiple choice” questions from three different banking people asking the most obscure questions – no longer your favorite color or mother’s maiden name.
So here’s what I’ve learned in this entire process.
- First., punch “0” over and over to try and connect with a live person. Forget trying to go through the prompts hoping to find one that matches what you’re looking for – it’s just not going to happen.
- Second, try my sister’s trick which is to simply plead ignorance and say that you don’t use/own a computer and therefore can’t do these transactions on-line yourself. The live person will usually say “No problem, I’ll do it for you”. Works beautifully.
- Third, when you’ve reached the end of your patience, as I did with getting two sets of instructions from my mobile phone carrier, turn the task over to someone who still has the strength to persevere – hubby, Wally, retired Marine who loves a good challenge. I found myself saying to the young phone salesperson “Are you telling me that this IPhone which is “smart” enough to make spaghetti sauce can’t be used anyplace in Europe”. Yep, that’s what she was saying ’cause Greece is a GM Country – now what does that mean?
- And finally, keep your sense of humor and expectations very, very low. Don’t expect to get an answer to your question the first time around but rather you will be referred on and on and on. Someday you may get an answer if you still remember or care about the question.
“Leaving on a Jet Plane . . . “
Sharing my story with you has given me some wonderful perspective. So I think I might just go on down to the Reno airport two days early, order a glass of wine and settle back with a good book. If you want to call me on my fancy new “loaner” IPhone that I won’t know how to work – please try. Just don’t ask me for a password!
Job Interviews: What To Do After
With a delicious sense of accomplishment, you leave the interview ready to celebrate making it through yet-another interview. It’s been exciting but also exhausting. And you’re ready to meet some friends for a glass of wine and tell them the story of how the interview went – especially if it’s for a position you really want.
But wait . . . there’s one more step to take. And that’s a short “performance-based” followup email and a handwritten thank you note. Sounds like a lot of work when you’re emotionally you’re ready to relax? Well, this extra step can (and often does) make the difference in how you are remembered and considered for the position.
Your Follow-Up Email Reinforces Impression
First, send a short email to the individual (or individuals) that interviewed you expressing your appreciation for the interview and covering these three points:
- Your understanding of the needs of the organization/priorities
- How you can bring unique value to the organization/ie. meet those needs
- Your confidence that you would be a good fit for the position & organization
And then don’t forget to express your interest in being hired. Amazing how many people never say that either in the interview or in the follow-up written correspondence. If you want the job, tell them!
Your Handwritten Note – Icing on the Cake
Second, sit down and write a short, short thank you note on a nice card saying simply thank you for the interview, you feel you would be a good fit and you’re looking forward to hearing from them soon. Just like our mothers used to make us do . . . it’s a habit that sets you apart from the pack. And that thank you note always brings a smile because so few people take the time to say a personal thanks.
And . . . think of this. If they offer the position to someone else who then turns it down (happens all the time) and they are looking at an alternate and they see your note sitting on their desk . . . we always want to stay in front of the decision makers continuing to build a positive relationship. Try it!
Take a Walk to Clear Your Mind
One of the advantages to understanding the inner workings of our brains is gaining some tips on how to get unstuck and move past those all too-familiar roadblocks. A good example is “writer’s block”. You have something important to get out but the more you concentrate the more you can’t come up with a creative idea or even an opening sentence. You’re stuck in an impasse and the more frustrated you get with yourself the more your mind locks up. Here’s what works for me . . .
Stop right now. Disengage your thinking brain, the prefrontal cortex, by getting up and moving. Let your brain take a break by moving into another quiet activity – not another thinking task – but rather physically moving by walking, doing a routine household chore or sorting your paper clips. Quiet is the key – reduce as much background noise and distractions as you can. You may also find that you are at your creative best at a certain time of day. Mine is early, early morning after that first cup of coffee. My mind is clear, my energy is high and new ideas are flowing.
Now it’s your turn . . . what works for you? And how can you do more of what works for you this upcoming week? If all else fails, go jump in a nice long hot shower. That always works!
Preparing for Behavioral Based Interviews
What is behavioral interviewing? This relatively new interviewing strategy is based on the premise that relevant past behavior in a work setting can be a very good predictor of future performance in a similar work environment.
It makes perfect sense . . . and for experienced professionals this kind of interviewing allows them to shine by highlighting their experience, accomplishments and expertise through short, powerful stories.
What Does This Mean for Me?
It means that you can relax a bit. Behavioral based interviews tend to have more of a conversational feel to them. You’ll see that they flow naturally and logically as the interviewer looks for your concrete examples of what you have done in the past and how that relates to what you could do for them in the future.
A close cousin of these “past-focused” questions are “future-focused” questions which are looking for your ability to handle a new situation. These are often called competency-based questions because they are looking to future behavior specifically. You will probably be asked both kinds of questions throughout the interview.
First Step in Preparing for Behavioral-Based Questions
The hiring manager will be asking targeted questions tied directly to the desired knowledge and skills competencies usually detailed in the job description. So that’s where you start . . . take the job description and yellow highlight the key compentencies they are asking for.
You will usually see they are looking for this five compentencies:
- specific knowledge
- demonstrated skills
- interpersonal skills
- proven experience and
- accomplishments in the chosen area
In my next blog, I’ll teach you how to tell a powerful story using C.A.R to illustrate each of these areas. It’s an easy way to remember and tell an interviewer your career strengths. You will be surprised how easy it is!