Kit Prendergast, PCC
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Tag Archives: strengths
Fire & Ice Again in Northern Nevada
I’ve been writing about resiliency, hope and optimism in this blog weaving in real life stories. Here is another example of how our routine lives can suddenly be changed forever. Here’s what happened.
Fire . . . just when we thought Northern Nevada was through with its share of community crises another huge wild fire hit Reno last Thursday afternoon, January 19th. The winds were blowing at 80 miles an hour with gusts of over 100 miles an hour – not terribly unusual for our upper desert. But one accidental spark over in Washoe Valley was enough to begin a fire that burned 3,700 acres of rugged sagebrush; ranch land, horse pastures and 20+ houses.
As a wall of fire crested the ridge right above our local high school and just down from our house my husband and I zipped over to help our good friend, Yvonna Estep, evacuate her home. Within minutes Yvonna, along with all her neighbors, was packing up her dog, cats and personal belongings into her car as the police were going door to door enforcing the mandatory evacuation. We left a hastily scribbled note on the door saying the house had been evacuated – important for the final sweep. As for us there was no time to waste . . .
Ice . . . the irony was that it was snowing so hard on the Donner Summit that it was difficult for the California Interstate Fire Services to make it over the mountains to help Reno. After all, fire trucks usually don’t carry snow chains. I never heard the end of the story but I’m sure they finally made it – they always do.
So later that night, over a glass of wine, we huddled around the news to learn that temperatures had dropped and with the beginning of a snowstorm down here in the valley the fire was being contained. It took another full 24 hours for the highway between Reno and Carson City to be reopened up for local residents to return to their homes. When I drove through on Sunday morning the rebuilding had already begun.
This is our 5th major community crisis for Northern Nevada in as many months. We’ve been on national news too many times. But no doubt Nevada is resilient and will rebuild. That’s hope and optimism. And there’s truly never a dull moment in Northern Nevada.
Story Telling is a Powerful Career Skill
Stories are wonderful! As a professional career coach, I am asked all the time how you can best present your skills, knowledge and experience to a potential (or current) employer. It’s actually quite simple. Telling an engaging story that highlights your strengths is one of the best ways to do it.
Learn How to Tell a Good Story!
Do you get a little nervous and tongue tied when asked to describe your accomplishments in job interviews, an annual performance evaluation or even in networking events? That’s normal. It’s not that you don’t have anything to say – actually you have lots to say – it’s just getting it out there smoothly, briefly and with enough pizzazz to keep your listener listening.
So try this . . . story telling. Everyone loves a good story. And people remember a good story because it creates a visual image for them. We come alive telling stories and listening to stories. Stories are very powerful but they do take planning to avoid the tale going on and on.
Here’s how to design your story for maximum impact. Think of an accomplishment in your professional life that you are particularly proud of – it’s best if it highlights your individual strengths as well as contributions from a team. Now describe it in one short paragraph using the C.A.R. format.
- C = Challenge (the challenge you faced)
- A = Action (the action you took)
- R = Results (the positive results that occurred)
Now the icing on the cake is to tie the story in with the value you can bring to this new position or the continued value you bring to your employer. This is what your listener really cares about – what can you do for them to solve the challenges they are facing.
Do one story and now do a couple of more. Create a cheat sheet for yourself with the C.A.R. format. For each story hit each of the three points briefly. Practice out loud a couple of times but don’t overdo it. You want your natural enthusiasm to come through as you’re telling the story. If you get stuck call me – I would love to help!
The Introvert Advantage
The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World, by Marti Olsen-Laney, Psy.D. 2002.
This is a great book! Olsen-Laney is an introvert herself and she writes this book to help other introverts understand and appreciate themselves – the gifts and talents they bring everyday to their work places, their families and their communities.
I especially liked her chapter on introverts at work which is filled with concrete, practical tips on how to excel at work without changing who you are – a proud Introvert! And the flip side of each tip are excellent suggestions for the managers and leaders in an organization who want to know their introverts a bit better.
Appreciating the Introvert’s Gifts
I’m an extrovert. Always have been and always will be. But I couldn’t do all that I do in my business, my family and my community work without the partnership of many introverts.
This is what I love about introverts . . . they listen, they speak and then they listen some more. They contribute well thought-out ideas and they see what I don’t see. They concentrate on one thing at a time so they don’t seem as fragmented or constantly distracted as many of us do. They are often solid team members bringing another dimension and value to our busy work lives.
But it’s not easy – either being an introvert in today’s workplace or managing an introverted staff member. This month’s book, The Introvert Advantage is filled with wonderful tips on how to navigate today’s workplace as an introvert, but here are 3 of my favorite tips for the introvert’s manager to remember as well.
- Introverts do best with a quiet place to work without interruptions.
- Introverts may not speak up in meetings but be sure to ask them for their opinions.
- Introverts will need time to think before responding to your request/questions.
The Starbucks Experience
The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary, by Joseph Michelli, 2007.
There is a wealth of wisdom in this short, easy to read book about how to get and keep loyal customers that come back to you over & over. Michelli takes us through the Starbucks “Five Ways of Being” that have created a company that “aspires to enrich the human spirit”. Starbucks knows what’s important to all of us – a sense of connection – and has consciously built that into their business plan very successfully. Enjoy reading each of the five principles and learn how to turn the ordinary of your business into the extraordinary of your future.