7 Signs of a Leader in the Making

And how to start building key management skills today.

If you’ve set your sights on becoming a supervisor, general manager or executive, you can begin building the necessary skills today.

Football coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Those wise words apply to your career, too.

It isn’t enough to want a promotion into a leadership position. You have to do the hard work to prepare yourself and gain recognition within your organization, which is often easier said than done.

But there is hope. Organizations are increasingly concerned about succession planning and holding on to good employees. The cost of recruiting new talent is high, and there is a degree of risk involved whenever someone from the outside is hired. The desire to promote the best candidate from within the organization may result in identifying and tracking high-potential employees earlier in the pipeline and improving measurements.

Korn Ferry, a talent management organization, conducted a global succession planning survey that assessed how companies identified and developed future leaders. “The results show us that people are promoted for what they can do, but fail for who they are,” states Stu Crandell, senior vice president of global offerings at Korn Ferry and the Korn Ferry Institute, in the survey's press release.

You’ve probably seen what happens when the right criteria and clear measurements weren’t used to promote someone. It is easy for companies to fall into the trap of promoting top performers. This is known as the Peter Principle. While top performers were great at the job, they may lack the characteristics and skills to be effective in the new role. For example, a top performing salesperson may not always have the ability to motivate a team and develop strategies that best meet the corporation’s financial objectives. Without these skills, the newly promoted sales manager would most likely struggle.

If your goal is to rise up through the ranks to leadership, begin developing the skills and traits valued in leadership roles and gain recognition for being competent and capable. Start with these seven signs of leadership identified by Korn Ferry:

1. A track record of formative experiences. Have you successfully handled any of the job requirements in leadership roles?

2. Learning agility. Have you taken what you’ve learned from previous experiences and applied it in different or new situations?

3. Self-awareness. Do you solicit feedback? Have you identified your strengths and weaknesses? Are you taking steps to improve where necessary?

4. Leadership traits. What qualities have you demonstrated that would be valued in more senior positions? Popular leadership traits include decisiveness, honesty and assertiveness.

5. The drive to be a leader. Do you seek out more challenging opportunities inside and outside of work?

6. Aptitude for logic and reasoning. How well do you analyze information, create innovative solutions to complex problems and develop strategies for improvement?

7. Management of derailment risks. Do you know what personal failure looks like? What are you doing to keep yourself on the leadership track? How are you keeping up to date and continuing to be well-respected?

The good news is that you can develop all of these qualities. You don’t need your manager’s permission or company-sponsored training to begin upgrading your qualifications.

Now is not the time to be humble. Keep written documentation of your successes, and as you begin improving your skills in these areas, document them. Add these successes to your résumé and LinkedIn profile, and share them with your manager. In fact, schedule regular conversations with your manager to lay out your successes, goals and expectations. The meetings give you a chance to highlight your achievements while also giving a reality check on your goals.

If your current employer doesn’t tap you for a promotion, the hard work you’ve invested will pave the way for a stronger résumé that highlights many of the leadership qualities valuable to another company. You can go pitch yourself to one that will value what you bring to the table or has room for you to grow.

Credit: Hannah Morgan

5 Qualities Every Employer Wants in a Job Candidate.

Preparing for a job interview can be a time-consuming and nerve-wracking experience. Some people spend a ridiculous amount of energy trying to prepare and memorize answers for every imaginable interview question.

It may be better to spend time thinking about the job at hand with a larger lens by stepping back from the particular details and requirements. Ask yourself: "If I were the hiring manager, what would be the qualities I'd need to see in a person before I’d be willing to say, 'You're hired'?"

Work these qualities into your self-description, and prepare examples of stories from your experience that demonstrate you have them.

1. Creativity. If everyone who claims to “think out of the box” really did so, there would be nobody left inside it. Like the other qualities discussed below, you need to demonstrate your creativity rather than just asserting that you have it.

Do you have stories to tell about how you conceived and implemented positive workplace change? Perhaps you have changed how your company’s products or services are produced, packaged or marketed. Maybe you came up with ideas about how to shorten production time or eliminate or reduce administrative procedures and red tape. These are all examples of stories you can tell with a great takeaway message.

2. Subject-matter expertise. What employer doesn’t want someone who is an expert in his or her field? Becoming a thought leader isn’t as daunting as it might sound when you take the time to keep up-to-date. Read professional journals, or – better yet – contribute an article and get published. Make the effort to offer poster-board presentations, lead workshops or give talks at professional conferences.

It's easier than ever to demonstrate your expertise by publishing a blog, YouTube videos or examples of code you’ve written. You can also curate your creative content and put it online.

Depending on your field, one or another medium will be better or more appropriate, but when you describe yourself as a “published author” or can point to other intellectual achievements, you gain the credibility necessary to be seen as a leading professional worth wooing.

3. Pride in work. No one likes people who continually self-promote with statements like, “I’m the greatest at …” And, at the other end of the spectrum, many people find it difficult to tell how great they really are.

But when you speak about the tasks you’ve performed and accomplishments you’ve achieved with a smile on your face and project enthusiasm with your voice, you show that you aren’t the kind of worker who just logs hours and waits for a paycheck at the end of the week.

4. Adaptability to changing technology. Baby boomers have gone from records to eight tracks, cassettes, CDs and DVDs, to carrying around music on their phones or simply streaming it at will. Likewise, in the workplace, virtually nothing is done the way it used to be. The sound of the music may be the same, but the way you hear it continues to morph.

Employer demand for people who are a whizzes at Excel far surpasses the demand for people who excel with their slide rule! No matter what your generation, every employer wants to know that you're up-to-date with necessary technologies. Moreover, they expect you to be able to show how you will keep that way on an ongoing basis.

It's great when you can interject in an interview something like this: “I’ve gone from carbon paper to 'Ctrl C,' and I can’t wait to see what’s next!”

5. Willingness to go above and beyond. You might be surprised to hear someone say something like, “I’ve done everything my boss asked of me,” and then be astonished to learn that this isn’t as impressive a statement as they thought.

Telling a story about how you did whatever it took to get a project done on time and under budget gives you much greater cred. The person who relates, “I stayed an extra couple of hours at work to see [whatever] through to completion,” shows the dedicated spirit that employers can’t necessarily demand but nonetheless expect and love.

When you prepare stories that demonstrate your personal qualities, you’ll be amazed at how appreciative and responsive your interviewers will become. By conveying your passion, expertise, adaptability, and “can-do, will-do” attitude, you’ll be well on your way to making your next boss say to you, “You’re hired!”

Happy hunting!


Credit: Arnie Fertig

Graduating Soon? Here’s How to Kick Off Your Job Search..

If you're graduating soon, you're probably feeling the pressure and stress of knowing that now you need to take that degree and figure out what kind of job you can get with it.

Don't panic! Millions of new grads before you have successfully navigated this transition and found meaningful and even interesting work. But if you haven't embarked on an active search yet, now's the time to get serious about it. Here are seven steps that will help:

1. Don't put off job searching. You might be tempted to take some time off after graduating to relax, thinking you can start your search later in the summer or even in the fall. That's your prerogative, of course, but be aware that you might have a more difficult search if you wait. Job searches usually take longer than people expect, and that means if you put it off, you could end up with a long period of unemployment that will make you a less attractive candidate than you would be as a fresh graduate.

2. Use your network. New grads often feel awkward about using their networks to find job leads, but it's a very normal part of job searching. Don't resist it! Your friends, parents, parents' friends (and friends' parents!), alumni network and pretty much everyone you know from anywhere is part of your network.

Reach out and let them know what type of work you're looking for. You can also turn to your network to get more information about a particular field or to find industry contacts.

3. Learn about how to conduct a good job search. How to actually find a job usually isn't a skill you're taught in school, and unfortunately, campus career services are rarely well-equipped to provide concrete help to new grads and alumni. Moreover, your professors and parents might not know how to job search effectively in today's job market – in fact, they might have pretty outdated advice that will lead you in the wrong direction.

Fortunately, there's tons of information about résumés, cover letters, interviewing and negotiating online. You just need to seek it out and put in the time to absorb it all.

4. Include all your work experience on your résumé. New grads sometimes don't realize they should include all their work experience. They end up leaving experiences like retail or food service jobs off their résumés, figuring they don't relate to the field they're now pursuing.

However, many employers consider it a plus to see that experience, because it demonstrates work ethic, reliability and customer service skills, among others. At this stage, you're not going to have enormous amounts of work experience, so don't sell yourself short by editing it down.

5. Realize that work experience matters more than schooling. New grads often come out of school assuming the academic work they've been focusing on for the past four years is their strongest qualification.

However, in most fields, employers will care most about work experience – internships, volunteering, summer jobs and so forth – even if the work isn't in your field. They want to see a track record of performing in an environment similar to their own, and for most employers, those short-term jobs will often feel more relevant than a school project. (That doesn't mean you shouldn't talk about school projects at all, but be selective about what you highlight, and put the emphasis on work.)

6. Talk to people in the field you want to go into. Do everything you can to seek out people who work in the field you want to work in, and ask them about their experiences. What do they wish they had known about the field before starting in it? What are the best things you can do to stay current in the field – are there materials to read, organizations to join or people to talk to? Who are the best employers in the field? Who should you be wary of? What kind of starting salary should you expect? Are you being realistic about the roles you're aiming for in your job search?

This isn't about hitting people up for job leads, although you might end up getting job leads out of it. It's about learning about the field, how people succeed in it and all the behind-the-scenes nuance you may not have learned in school.

7. Make sure you're coming across as a professional – not a student. That means you need a professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com is good; keg-stand@gmail.com is not), a professional-sounding voice mail greeting and a clean online presence. Employers are sometimes wary about the professionalism of people right out of school, so you want to demonstrate that you're mature and have good judgment.

Credit: Alison Green

Top Tips to Make Your Employer Love You.

It doesn’t matter who you are; whether you’re the office brown-noser or you just keep your head down and get on, we all still want our employer to love us.

The difference between your employer being your friend and being your colleague can be the difference between the subconscious decision of who to promote.

Just like you would trust your closer friends more than the person you’ve only known for a month, your employer will more likely trust you with bigger tasks, be more lenient towards you or even just look out for you more if they see you in a good light.

Dress the Part

Depending on your kind of office culture, something as simple as dressing the part can put you in a whole different light to your employer.

Even if your office tolerates a more casual attire, your effort will speak volumes. It will show your dedication and ability to take your role more seriously by taking your appearance seriously. Although we shouldn’t, we all subconsciously make snap judgements on people by the way they look, so keep that tone of “you can trust me” with a smart work attire.

Communicate

Some of us won’t admit it, but what can set some of us back is our ability to communicate. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t hold a healthy conversation, it means keeping your employer in touch with what you’re getting on with.

This doesn’t mean copying them into every email, or pestering them every hour with what’s next on the agenda. It simply means giving regular updates so that they are more coherently aware of the work you’re getting on with – and to prove that you’re not just procrastinating on social media all afternoon.

Admit your mistakes

Whether you answered a phone in a grumpy tone of voice or sent the wrong email to a client, employers will develop a great respect for you if you confess that it was your fault.

We don’t mean that you should take the blame for everything that goes wrong in the company, it just means that when a problem occurs and no immediate person is at fault, but you know that somehow you were involved, just admit your part and apologise in a professional and sincere manner.

Master the art of looking busy

Now, we aren’t giving you permission to do what you want for the day as long as you look like you’re doing something, we’re advising you to find ways to communicate your hard-working ethos without openly and obviously saying “I am such a hard worker.”

Things as simple as working through a couple of lunch hours; take a half lunch break instead and just do some odd jobs in the second half. Stay a little later at the end of the day, although you don’t necessarily get paid for it, show your dedication by spending a little longer at the office. If staying late doesn’t take your fancy, why not get in 30 minutes early; traffic may be better the earlier you are and it doesn’t hurt to show your enthusiasm for getting on with the day.

Lastly, don’t be the distractor or distracted. If you find yourself being the one that takes office conversations onto a long un-work-related tangent, then do your best to cut these conversations short. Interacting with colleagues is always good, but some employers can get frustrated when you’re spending most of your time chatting about the weekend rather than getting your work done.

In Summary

Getting your employer to love you doesn’t mean becoming ‘teacher’s pet’, it’s more a case of building a healthy relationship between you and your employer. It might mean you become more comfortable asking for advice or seeking consoling if something is troubling you. Healthy working relationships are essential to enjoying your job; for most of us, we spend a large proportion of our waking hours at work, so if you aren’t happy there, you probably won’t be happy the rest of the time.

The One Word That Will Make You Rich.

There is one word at work that arrives like a gift. It makes me feel happy and brings a jolt of joy to everyone who sees it in an email, IM, or text. I love reading this word more than any other -- it has always spoken to me more than “bonus,” “raise,” and even “promotion.” I bet you love it too.

The reason I love this word is that it's written every day. It denotes team progress, and is free for everyone, anywhere to use at any time. It speaks to our sense of accomplishment -- both as individuals and a team.

Before I share this special word, I want to tell you why it will make you rich. But let's be clear about what I think about wealth. Being rich is about achieving what you have dreamed of accomplishing. I tell that to our team at Aha! (which is a product roadmap software company) every day.

For many though, being rich means having $1M in the bank or buying that fancy car that they have wanted since high school. But for others, wealth is defined by their community service, overcoming addiction, or finally earning the degree that they abandoned 20 years ago.

I am not the only one who thinks broadly about the word rich. In a survey released last year, 90% of respondents said they believe that success is more about happiness than money or prestige. 60% of the same survey respondents said success means "loving what you do for a living"; just 20% said success is defined by monetary wealth.

So, do you know the one word that will bring you treasure? The one word you can write that will make you rich is, “Done."

You might be surprised, but stay with me so I can explain how powerful this little word is. The word "Done":

Builds confidence
The more often you complete a task, the more your confidence to achieve what's next grows. Writing "Done" to your colleague or boss who has asked for status on a task, means everything. It's similar to crossing items off a to-do list, but in a collaborative way. That sense of confidence allows you to take on new challenges and continue to grow.

Pleases others
Most colleagues don't like asking for help. But when they do, they probably really need something from you. You have an opportunity to thrill that person when you respond with "Done" as it means you completed their request. This helps them get to "Done" too. Writing "Done" reminds everyone that they are part of a team, and that you have a key role.

Highlights your value
Getting work finished is energizing, and when you write the word "Done," it reinforces your contribution. It also enhances your reputation for being trustworthy, reliable, and dependable. Ultimately, our accomplishments are what satisfy our internal ambitions and are rewarded at work too.

People who love and respect the word "Done" work hard and have deep reservoirs of stamina. They take great satisfaction from being productive and helping others along the way.

They also happen to be the people who are rich. This is because they are driven by their talents to achieve greatness. Their hard work drives them to achieve their own goals and ensure their teams are terrific too.

Do you agree that writing "Done" will make you rich?

How to Tell a Great Job From a Dud

By Robin Reshwan

When it comes time to look for a job, most people focus on how to convince the interviewer that they are the best candidate for a specific position. However, to maximize career success, job seekers must also select the ideal role for themselves. Here are some tips on how to pick a winner when it comes to job selections:

1. Know yourself. Yes, this sounds very Yoda-ish. (Actually, if Yoda was your career coach he would say, “yourself, know well.”) Either way it’s said, it's critical to remember that the person most interested in your career success is you. You also have the greatest responsibility in ensuring you are set up for success. Take some time to do the following before you go on an interview:

• Outline your priorities. There is no right or wrong, and this certainly is not the time to try to give the “right” answer, like “I want to save puppies” when you really want to make enough money to move out of your parents' house. Make a list of what matters to you, and then put those things in order. Some common priorities are meaningful work, opportunity for growth and fun environment. They can also be better work-life balance or long-term financial incentives. Whatever matters to you is all that is needed.

• Outline your natural strengths, and list the professional traits you would like to improve. The most engaging roles let you do what you naturally do well and help you stretch in new areas that appeal to you. Knowing these things before you interview allows you to evaluate roles for both immediate compatibility and long-term interest.

• Think a couple years ahead. Short-sighted job selection creates major long-term obstacles for many professionals. No matter how perfect a role seems, rest assured that you will most likely need to find another position afterward. It's just the order of the modern world of work – especially since most of us will need to be employed for 40 or more years, given current life expectancy. Determine what you need or want this year and what sets you up the best in the years following. A little long-range thinking can help you steer clear of the flash-in-the-pan opportunity that seems awesome now but has no future.

2. Evaluate the employer. Although a specific role may seem ideal, if the manager or the employer is sketchy, perfection may quickly become a mess. Look into the tenure of management staff; is there lots of turnover? If so, find out why and if it’s for the best. What is the company’s track record and financial history? Can you find articles describing customer complaints, lawsuits or financial issues? Is the business in a growing or declining industry? Declining industry is not necessarily a bad thing unless one of your goals is career growth in one company or a specific field.

Do some research on key management figures and your direct manager. Where have they worked before? Do you see evidence of a track record of success? Can they describe a clear vision for their business, department or for you? Think about it like this: Would you get on a bus with a driver who either didn’t know how to operate the vehicle or had no idea where he was going? Use that same test for a potential employer – can they drive, and do they have a map for the future? If not, you may want steer clear of that role.

3. Learn how success will be measured in your targeted position. In order to be successful, you need to know what things will be valued versus those nice-but-not-necessary tasks that hold minimal weight. Every position has some form of measurement. It could be customer satisfaction rankings, calls made, deals closed or error rates. Whatever it is, the best managers can describe how they will evaluate your performance.

If you are interviewing for a role without any predefined measurement, you really are entering at your own risk. Without written goals, the view of your contribution is solely up to the discretion of whoever manages you. In many industries, turnover can be up to 50 percent, meaning that you have a 1 in 2 chance that the person who hires you has nothing to do with your career within the first year. Written standards and metrics ensure that you stay on the right path regardless of to whom you report.

The increase in hiring and strengthening of our economy is a positive for many job seekers. Use this time to be selective about your next role versus just jumping at whatever is offered to you. You are measured professionally by not only your performance in a job, but also in how strategic you are in planning your moves. Before you leap, ask yourself how you will answer, “why did you make the move to Company XYZ?” If you don’t have a response that complements your skills and background, you may want to wait for a better match.

How to be successful in your phone and skype interviews!

 

Credit: Shortlist. 

An initial interview by phone is becoming increasingly common. Phone interviews offer employers an inexpensive and efficient way of screening candidates. If you are job seeker, it is highly likely that you will have to prepare for a phone interview at some point. Skype interviews too are growing in popularity. These offer employers the added advantage of 'face-time' but are a cost effective option.
The traditional in-person interview isn't going anywhere soon, but it still makes sense to have a game plan for how to deal with both phone and Skype interviews. Read on for tips on how to prepare.

Phone & Skype Interview Checklist!

 

Phone Tips

 

Technical Issues: Charge your phone! Sounds simple, but forgetting to do this could be embarrassing and make you look very disorganised and unprofessional! Also, consider using a headset, so your hands are free to take notes.
Consider your Surroundings: Find somewhere quiet where you won't be interrupted. Let people know when you have an interview, so that they don't distract you.
Keep a copy of your CV to hand: A great advantage of a phone interview is that you can read through notes. Take advantage by keeping all relevant information close by.
Enthusiasm: The absence of visual cues like body language and facial expression, can make it hard to gauge the interviewer's response. Try to ensure that you sound enthusiastic throughout. Even when listening, a few well timed "yes's" and "aha's" can make all the difference and indicate that you are really engaged in what is being said.

Skype Tips

 

Visuals: Your Skype username and profile picture will create the first impression. Make sure that both appear professional. A jokey username will not show you in the best light if you want to be taken seriously. Technical Issues: Check that you have good internet connection beforehand. Sign in to Skype well in advance of the scheduled interview. Make sure you know which of you is to place the call. It might be a good idea to invest in a headset or microphone for better sound quality. Have a plan B. If Skype fails, it may become necessary to conduct the interview over the phone. Be prepared for this.

Surroundings: For video calls, it's important that you find somewhere that is clean, tidy and most importantly well-lit. You don't want the interviewer to be distracted by a cluttered room. You need to appear organised and professional.
Work attire Although it might not feel like it, a Skype interview is still formal. Dress the part. Wearing smart office attire may even help you feel more prepared by getting you in the right frame of mind. Appearing too casual could create a poor impression -don't risk it!
Smile, sit up straight & make eye contact: The aim is appear approachable and professional. Be aware of your body language and try to convey confidence and enthusiasm. Look into the webcam rather than at the screen. Direct eye contact can make you appear confident and engaged.
Put your phone on silent! This is easy to forget. Make sure you won't be interrupted by phone calls.
Practice! Do a trial run with a friend.
So now you're ready to get through the first level interviews and make it to the face to face.

Goodluck!