LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN

Keep your ears on. You will LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY if you simply pay attention and LISTEN to what is going on around you. The only RULE TO LISTENING is to always CONSIDER THE SOURCE! If you hear something you don't understand STOP and ASK FOR CLARIFICATION; not only have you learned but you are more comfortable in your environment. ALWAYS LISTEN TO CRITICISM AND COMPLIMENTS--LISTEN CAREFULLY! If someone criticizes you listen for a suggestion on how to change. If you do not hear the suggestion ASK for one. If there is no suggestion--move on. You have heard to never take criticism personally but some of IS PERSONAL! If you can't help but think the criticism is personal IT PROBABLY IS. You should always learn from COMPLIMENTS; as well.CONTROL YOUR EGO! Ask your self about the COMPLIMENT. WHY was what you did good? STORE the moment and use this action again! You will never know it all or even come close unless you actively LISTEN EVERYDAY!!

VOLUNTEER FOR EVERYTHING

OK we are all busy and our daily planning schedules are packed. We are members of a team with talented "players". We want to distinguish our self; so, how? WE GO AGAINST THE GRAIN! WE VOLUNTEER FOR ANYTHING THAT COMES UP(as long as we have time)!!! Forever we have been told to never VOLUNTEER.but let someone else take the risk. GUESS WHAT that person who took the risk most likely learned something you don't know. I was always interested in team members who ASKED for NEW CHALLENGES. I was equally interested in those who tried to hide when I asked for someone to step up. It is very interesting to me now as I see where all my young subordinates have arrived. Most all of those who have "made it" were always interested in taking on fresh challenges. THEY LEARNED MORE THAN THEIR PEERS and were better prepared for success. DON'T OVERLOAD but BE HUNGRY TO LEARN!

FOLLOWING- THE FIRST STEP TO LEADERSHIP

We will get to the fine art of leadership but let' s cover FOLLOWING first. The best way to learn leadership traits is to follow someone who displays these traits. You should never be a blind follower or compromise your integrity or belief system: therefore, you should feel comfortable with the skills of your leader. FOLLOWING is a skill in its own right. Following requires; LISTENING, ASKING QUESTIONS, REQUESTING HELP(when needed), OFFERING ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS(when appropriate), SUPPORTING THE PLAN. You should feel comfortable with a LEADER who is a GOOD LISTENER, is OPEN TO OTHER OPINIONS, displays PASSION FOR THE CHORE AT HAND, is FLEXIBLE, SETS THE EXAMPLE of putting the TEAM FIRST, and DELEGATES DUTIES to team members. ALWAYS BE A DEVOTED FOLLOWER and you will always be on a winning team.

Common Sense @ Work Career Blog

http://commonsenseatwork.blogspot.com/

DO IT NOW! RIGHT NOW!

We have covered the importance of working a daily PLAN. This is critical for everyone but especially critical for PROCRASTINATORS! If you are a procrastinator YOU ARE DOOMED TO BE A LEAF! You will lose control of your destiny and end up wherever the wind may take you. Your list will never get done and your inability to manage your time will become apparent to peers, subordinates, and superiors. I have come to believe that procrastination is a predisposed condition. It has little to do with energy and less to do with ability. I once had a very talented subordinate manager who excelled at all facets of his charge but was always having trouble meeting deadlines. I called him in and we discussed the situation. I told him that this factor of his performance not only reflected badly on him but made the work enviroment for his subordinates intolerable. I challenged him to focus on daily planning and keep a diary/ list of THINGS I GOTTA DO TODAY. He was embarassed and concerned. I offered to discuss this factor with him at any time he needed help. He took our conversation to heart and made an amazing turnaround. Procrastination became very real to him; as a condition to be dealt with daily and as a condition critical to his success. If this is a trait that you deal with it can be cured. IT IS UP TO YOU!!

http://decisionmapping-ron.blogspot.com/

THINK TEAM

STAY AWAY FROM TEAM POLITICS!!! Taking sides in a team skirmish is not the way to move up the career ladder. YOU DO NOT WANT TO TAKE SIDES! Remember : TEAM( TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE). If another team member voices concern or dissatification concerning any team"business" encourage them to TAKE IT TO THE BOSS and YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME! Do not create poison. It is the LEADER'S responsibility to insure team harmony, NOT YOURS! Creating sides tears a team apart and the product produced suffers. WHO WANTS TO BE APART OF THIS TYPE TEAM? HOW DO YOU SUCCEED HERE? THINK TEAM ALWAYS!!!