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Archive for the ‘Career’ Category

So you’ve worked your way up to management through a combination of drive, determination, and a lot of hard work. Congratulations. But you don’t just want to stop there, do you? Chances are you would like to keep learning and developing your skills as a leader.

Here are some tips on kick-starting your career and climbing to the next level of management success:

* Get advice from the top. Always be on the lookout for successful individuals, either in your company or in a similiar industry, whose judgement you respect; establishing personal relationships with such mentors is essential to your professional growth. Ask them for their honest advice on what you need to do to be successful in your career plan. Chances are they will be flattered to be asked and eager to dispense words of wisdom. Listen carefully.

* Step up and get involved. The best way to raise your visibility within the company and expand your horizons may be to step outside the confines of your specific position and become involved in other projects, ideally projects that involve many departments. This exposes you to other people in the organization and allows you to flex your leadership muscles. But make sure that your authentic interest in the project shines through, and that being noticed and appreciated is a secondary benefit.

* Build your credibility. Most people want to work with somebody they trust and respect. To become that person, you need to build positive, trusting relationships with others in your company. Communicate clearly and effectively with your coworkers and listen carefully when others speak. Be sure to follow through on your promises. Be careful not to play favorites and avoid taking sides. It is easier to influence others if they respect you as a person.

* Remember those below you. Developing your subordinates becomes a testament to your own leadership skills. Part of the measure of your success is how you are able to help those under you identify and nurture the latent capabilities inside themselves. If everyone in your department has a desire to grow, you will be more likely to accomplish the goals you’ve set out for yourself and for the team.

* Speak up. Charisma is an art that can be learned. Developing your social and public speaking skills can help you to succeed. Anyone can volunteer to speak to service clubs and civic organizations. These opportunities will help you hone your oratory skills and become a better public speaker.

* Variety is vital. In order to be successful, you need to stretch your wings and try different job assignments, projects, and development processes. In so doing, you learn to become more flexible and willing to step away from that which is easy and certain of success, to take on new challenges.

Having the desire to manage won’t guarantee your success in management. A confluence of many skills and talents is necessary, as well as a solid commitment to learn and grow.

Rather than adhere to a mythical managerial mold, consider developing a style that fits your personality and strengths.

An honest and thoughtful self-assessment will help prepare you for the challenges and demands intrinsic to management.

Ask yourself these questions as you determine your readiness to assume a successful managerial role:

* Am I a compelling communicator? The ability to effectively communicate is essential. Using strong, persuasive language during a staff meeting, for instance, lets people know that you’re in control. A memo that’s written succinctly and in the active voice will get someone’s attention versus one that’s wordy and unclear.

* Do I easily embrace change? Being open to the benefits of change will help the people you manage be more accepting of what lies ahead. Patience, accepting ideas from subordinates, and a willingness to learn from mistakes all contribute to successfully embracing change.

* Do I enjoy managing people? Excelling at project management means taking care of the work and the people involved. Staff reviews, workplace conflicts, and other numerous employee issues must be dealt with, often on a daily basis. But helping your people grow is a very rewarding part of managing.

* Am I capable of managing negativity and fear in the workplace? It’s tempting to want to hide when things aren’t going smoothly, but it’s a manager’s job to maintain a steady presence no matter how rough the waters. Anticipating the negatives and being able to turn them into opportunities is a hallmark of successful management, as is developing the same abilities among members of your team.

* Do I know how to build trust? Creating trust means more than simply telling the truth. Setting clear objectives, taking responsibility for mistakes, and creating an open forum for discussion are all good ways to build trust. Listening to good news and bad will also engender an atmosphere of trust.

* Am I passionate and enthusiastic about my work? If you expect others to be excited about their work, then you must lead the way. Speaking with passion and purpose, assuring people of their value, and demonstrating real excitement are critical managerial characteristics.

* Do I know how to properly praise and recognize? It’s a manager’s job to let people know when they’re doing a good job. Minimize the emotion and maximize the use of powerful language — say “Thank you for getting the report in on time” versus “I love how you completed that report.”

* Can I infuse fun into the workplace? Work and no fun isn’t, well, fun. Don’t underestimate the benefits of a little amusement in the workplace. Celebrate the completion of a project with an impromptu pizza party. Announce an early closing when people least expect it. Bring in a cake (and candles, too) on employee birthdays.

* Do I have the necessary skills to hire and fire? Hiring the right people is a big job and can be fulfilling as well. Telling someone things aren’t working out may be as appealing as getting a root canal, but handling personnel issues is a manager’s responsibility. Ignoring a human resource issue won’t make it go away. Indeed, it will probably only get worse.

* Can I withstand the ups and downs of being a manager? Some days are better than others. Coping skills like patience, resilience, flexibility, and a clear notion of your objectives will help you handle the myriad challenges that typically occur in the workplace.

Leading a business is time-consuming, stressful, and demanding work, which can drain your excitement for the job and leave you frustrated and exhausted. Regardless of how much enthusiasm you had when first starting out, there eventually comes a point when the wear and tear of everyday worries begins to overshadow the passion you once had for your business. If you are feeling drained or uninspired, you may simply need a recharge. The good news is that in so doing, you may become more focused and effective than ever before.

If you recognize that you are feeling burned out and no longer find excitement or joy in leading your business, the best thing you can do for yourself is to step away from it. Workaholics take note: It does no one any good for you to continue allowing yourself to grow increasingly unhappy or exhausted while explaining all the reasons you cannot take time off.

In a fast-paced business environment, everyone needs time off to simply relax and refresh. This means stepping back from e-mail, voice mail, and having someone else cover those “in case of emergency” situations. A little physical — and mental — rest goes a long way, and this time apart from the daily grind of your business can be a big step toward regaining the vision you once had for your company.

After you’ve had time to unwind and refresh, come back to work planning to evaluate and reflect on the current state of your business. Try to look at things from a fresh perspective and don’t be afraid to enlist the help of your employees in doing so. In addition to looking for things that could be changed, consider if it is time to move the company in a new direction. This could mean anything from a shake-up in the business structure to tapping into a whole new market. Sometimes a fresh perspective will inspire you to pursue new challenges; however, be careful to make such decisions wisely. Don’t make a change for the sake of change alone.

The key to recharging your excitement is finding that work-life balance that allows you to enjoy life outside of the business as well as the time you spend in the office, sleeves rolled up and hard at work. Going forward, be sure to get regular exercise, which will keep your energy levels higher and make you feel better about yourself. Take regular lunch breaks. Spend time with positive-minded people and outside friends who may have no connection to your business — they will help you to keep things in perspective. Such simple steps will help you to rejuvenate, and you will be less likely to wear out when the burdens of leading a business become

The degree most closely associated with politicians is, of course, the law degree. But, it appears that the Masters in Business Administration is becoming more popular among those headed for a life in politics, and likely for good reason.

Many MBA programs offer specialties within the MBA curriculum. One of these specialties is leadership, which is a good choice for those headed for a political career. In addition, any MBA program will offer its candidates a wide range of business skills, which can be quite useful in managing the multitude of priorities that face many elected officials. Mayors and governors, of course, must have budgeting and staff management skills, which can both be major components of an MBA curriculum.

In recent years, we’ve seen more of our elected officials carry MBA’s. In fact, President George W. Bush was the first president to hold the degree. In addition, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven holds an MBA from Northwestern. Two senators from North Dakota, Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad also hold MBAs.

The MBA degree has proven to be a good foundation for politicians. Though the law degree is likely to continue to be the most popular degree for politicians for the foreseeable future, the MBA is likely to gain popularity among those interested in political careers.

In addition, another draw of the MBA is that it prepares you for many different careers. The skills and experience gained through an MBA program are useful in a variety of fields, since the underlying principles taught are needed in every business, whether it’s running a government or running a trucking company.

In the business world, MBA holders are in high demand, and this is where they make the most money. Consider the salary of a member of Congress, which is about $174,000 a year compared to that of a highly skilled management analyst, who is likely to make well over $300,000 a year. So, while politics might be a great place to use your MBA skills, it’s not where you’ll make the money using those skills.

If you’re considering a graduate degree, the MBA is one of the best all around degrees you can pursue. With so many specialties offered today, you can also pinpoint your degree to match your chosen career field very closely, making the MBA even more valuable.

Financial assistance is fairly readily available today, making it easier than ever to get your MBA. And, since many MBA students are already employed full time, class schedules are usually designed with those students in mind. There are also MBA degrees which can be pursued partly or completely online, which makes it even easier for working students. Some of the best MBA programs, in fact, have recently implemented online programs for at least part of their MBA requirements. Many of the best programs still, however, require at least some of their classes to be taken in person.

Whether your career choice is politics or some other field, an MBA can be extremely helpful in helping you land the right job, and in helping you succeed in that job after you land it.

Phyllis Zerkle writes about the top masters degrees for career growth.