This week I’ve been coaching a couple of clients about the perception people have of them in the workplace. Listening to the words of the Beatles’ ‘Eleanor Rigby’ this morning made me realise that many of us have different ‘faces' that we wear, which could mean we present a different picture to the people around us: to our families, friends, the boss, our colleagues, clients, contractors...the list goes on.
Is it a bad thing to have different ‘faces'?
If you check out the Johari Window* you will see that the ‘window’ we often need to work on is the ‘open’ window, where we, and others, know more about the authentic person we are. Different people may need to know different things about us, but the key thing is, it must be part of the real person – not some made-up persona or characteristic that we don’t have.
Take some time to think about where you keep your ‘faces’ and who gets to see which.
Want to find out more about perception, and how to change the way you are viewed at work? Call Liz Kentish The FM Coach on 01778 561326 or email coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk
*A Johari window is a cognitive psychological tool created by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955 in the United States, used to help people better understand their interpersonal communication and relationships. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johari_window)
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
What can we learn from the World Cup?
I have to admit it, I got sucked into the excitement about the World Cup - I couldn't help myself! The whole nation seemed to create a groundswell of patriotism, support and rallying around our team. Then, as quickly as it began - it was over.
I see similarities in many workplaces - a new idea, a new manager, a new building - they can all set high expectations for the existing team; which can be dashed if we don't create momentum.
So what does that mean? Have someone act as your 'champion' of the cause, and encourage them to:
Shout about successes, even the small ones
Catch people doing things right - exhibiting the behaviours you want to encourage
Create a common language around success
Ensure the topic/project/theme is always on the agenda for your meetings and away days
Set objectives for everyone - common goals help us work together
Keep the momentum going and you are far more likely to succeed - be sure your managers, leaders, key players and supporters are all pulling in the same direction!
So, almost the end of the World Cup - rugby next I think!
Liz Kentish The FM Coach 07717 787077
coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk
I see similarities in many workplaces - a new idea, a new manager, a new building - they can all set high expectations for the existing team; which can be dashed if we don't create momentum.
So what does that mean? Have someone act as your 'champion' of the cause, and encourage them to:
Shout about successes, even the small ones
Catch people doing things right - exhibiting the behaviours you want to encourage
Create a common language around success
Ensure the topic/project/theme is always on the agenda for your meetings and away days
Set objectives for everyone - common goals help us work together
Keep the momentum going and you are far more likely to succeed - be sure your managers, leaders, key players and supporters are all pulling in the same direction!
So, almost the end of the World Cup - rugby next I think!
Liz Kentish The FM Coach 07717 787077
coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk
Monday, 24 May 2010
Social networking can help your career
The corporate communication teams in organisations have for the longest time controlled what messages are put out into the world about the company and its people. Oftentimes only the most senior or glamorous get to become spokespeople and the real specialists are hidden away, never getting the chance to talk publicly about their subject or engage and debate with others, for the benefit of their peer group.
Social media changes all of that, allowing everyone to have a voice. Whilst it’s not suggested you do anything that contravenes your company’s communication policy, such as contacting the media directly with your point of view, you can use social media to build your profile for the good of your peer group, and your own career development. This article aims to give some practical advice about how it works and how to get started.
Whether you are employed within an organisation or are an independent consultant LinkedIn is an important tool for you. It helps you to make better use of your professional network and help the people that you trust and vice versa. On the site, you will connect with the people that you know now and the people that you’ve lost touch with, say from previous jobs. Once connected, you then have sight of all their contacts: their little black books. As you move around, you simply update your details and everyone in your network knows where you are and what you’re doing – a very clean database not previously available.
At the very least, this gives you a very soft route to contact people. There may be people that you wouldn’t dream of telephoning or emailing to enquire if they can help you in your job search, but connecting through LinkedIn is usually acceptable and allows for conversations that otherwise wouldn’t have happened. Although your direct contacts may not be in a position to offer you a new job, they may know someone that can.
Once on the site, there are a number of functions that can help you:
Recommendations - you can ask your contacts to recommend you. Their enthusiastic words will appear in the daily feed of your network so everyone will see what contribution you are making in your field.
Groups - there are literally thousands of groups covering all manner of subjects. Join some that are relevant to what you do and if you don’t find one that you like, set one up. Then join in the conversations that are taking place, be helpful and start to get yourself known.
Job search – companies now use LinkedIn to publish their vacancies. Search under the terms you’re interested in, and then it will give you information about who in your network works there, which may help you get the inside track. You can even look up details of the interviewer to get some background information on them, which may help the conversation flow in the interview.
Share – tell your network what you’re working on; provide links to interesting articles or examples of something you’ve created. The more useful you can be to your network, the more respected you will become.
Your personal brand
You will need to develop your online profile and once done, make sure you use it consistently across all social networks. Employers do use social networking sites to check potential candidates, so make sure everything adds up. As an aside, watch out for Facebook. This is the place where you express yourself to your friends which may be very different from your professional persona. Be careful about who you accept into your Facebook network and ensure you set your account so only your friends see your information.
When developing your online profile, consider what it is you do and who you serve. We can be our own harshest critics so it’s good to ask business associates how they view you and what they consider are your strengths.
Choose a picture or avatar (a graphical representation of yourself) and use it across all networks. This isn’t the place for your favourite bikini shot; this should reflect your professional image. It will effectively become your logo and people will come to recognise it as your part of your personal brand.
Building your brand
Choose your specialist subject. For example, you may consider yourself an authority on cleaning systems. Search for people that are already talking about the subject, perhaps through their blogs and subscribe to their feeds through Google Reader, or similar. This will provide you with material and comment about the subject. Combining what you find with your own material, get active online. Talk about your subject in online groups and forums, write regular blogs (at least two a month), record PodCasts, place great presentations on SlideShare, make short instructional films and place on your own YouTube channel and broadcast links to these and other’s materials through Twitter.
This type of activity will, over time, make you the ‘go to’ person for cleaning systems, or whatever your subject is. You’ll start to get known, you’ll build a following and people will start to recommend you. Your brand equity will rise and your access to opportunities will increase.
Of course social media is just part of your toolkit when it comes to your career development, but think if you get started now, and become a valuable contributor to your network, you may within a matter of months be perceived as the expert on your subject. Not bad eh?
One final note, please check your company’s policy when it comes to you using social media and ensure you work within the set out boundaries.
Article by: Liz Kentish and Christine Jones
Liz Kentish, the FM Coach for Liz Kentish Coaching – www.lizkentishcoaching.co.uk
Christine Jones, Director of Tiger Mouth, communications consultancy – www.tigermouth.co.uk
This article was published by FM World 6 May 2010 www.fm-world.co.uk
Social media changes all of that, allowing everyone to have a voice. Whilst it’s not suggested you do anything that contravenes your company’s communication policy, such as contacting the media directly with your point of view, you can use social media to build your profile for the good of your peer group, and your own career development. This article aims to give some practical advice about how it works and how to get started.
Whether you are employed within an organisation or are an independent consultant LinkedIn is an important tool for you. It helps you to make better use of your professional network and help the people that you trust and vice versa. On the site, you will connect with the people that you know now and the people that you’ve lost touch with, say from previous jobs. Once connected, you then have sight of all their contacts: their little black books. As you move around, you simply update your details and everyone in your network knows where you are and what you’re doing – a very clean database not previously available.
At the very least, this gives you a very soft route to contact people. There may be people that you wouldn’t dream of telephoning or emailing to enquire if they can help you in your job search, but connecting through LinkedIn is usually acceptable and allows for conversations that otherwise wouldn’t have happened. Although your direct contacts may not be in a position to offer you a new job, they may know someone that can.
Once on the site, there are a number of functions that can help you:
Recommendations - you can ask your contacts to recommend you. Their enthusiastic words will appear in the daily feed of your network so everyone will see what contribution you are making in your field.
Groups - there are literally thousands of groups covering all manner of subjects. Join some that are relevant to what you do and if you don’t find one that you like, set one up. Then join in the conversations that are taking place, be helpful and start to get yourself known.
Job search – companies now use LinkedIn to publish their vacancies. Search under the terms you’re interested in, and then it will give you information about who in your network works there, which may help you get the inside track. You can even look up details of the interviewer to get some background information on them, which may help the conversation flow in the interview.
Share – tell your network what you’re working on; provide links to interesting articles or examples of something you’ve created. The more useful you can be to your network, the more respected you will become.
Your personal brand
You will need to develop your online profile and once done, make sure you use it consistently across all social networks. Employers do use social networking sites to check potential candidates, so make sure everything adds up. As an aside, watch out for Facebook. This is the place where you express yourself to your friends which may be very different from your professional persona. Be careful about who you accept into your Facebook network and ensure you set your account so only your friends see your information.
When developing your online profile, consider what it is you do and who you serve. We can be our own harshest critics so it’s good to ask business associates how they view you and what they consider are your strengths.
Choose a picture or avatar (a graphical representation of yourself) and use it across all networks. This isn’t the place for your favourite bikini shot; this should reflect your professional image. It will effectively become your logo and people will come to recognise it as your part of your personal brand.
Building your brand
Choose your specialist subject. For example, you may consider yourself an authority on cleaning systems. Search for people that are already talking about the subject, perhaps through their blogs and subscribe to their feeds through Google Reader, or similar. This will provide you with material and comment about the subject. Combining what you find with your own material, get active online. Talk about your subject in online groups and forums, write regular blogs (at least two a month), record PodCasts, place great presentations on SlideShare, make short instructional films and place on your own YouTube channel and broadcast links to these and other’s materials through Twitter.
This type of activity will, over time, make you the ‘go to’ person for cleaning systems, or whatever your subject is. You’ll start to get known, you’ll build a following and people will start to recommend you. Your brand equity will rise and your access to opportunities will increase.
Of course social media is just part of your toolkit when it comes to your career development, but think if you get started now, and become a valuable contributor to your network, you may within a matter of months be perceived as the expert on your subject. Not bad eh?
One final note, please check your company’s policy when it comes to you using social media and ensure you work within the set out boundaries.
Article by: Liz Kentish and Christine Jones
Liz Kentish, the FM Coach for Liz Kentish Coaching – www.lizkentishcoaching.co.uk
Christine Jones, Director of Tiger Mouth, communications consultancy – www.tigermouth.co.uk
This article was published by FM World 6 May 2010 www.fm-world.co.uk
Thursday, 20 May 2010
The power of networking, and social media insights
Yesterday Women in FM hosted an event 'Social Media and You' with Iain Murray of Connected FM and Christine Jones of Tiger Mouth.
There was great advice about creating 'The Brand of You' as well as how to get started on Twitter and the tools available to track your brand online. This got me thinking about some of the people I follow on Twitter - some are for business reasons (e.g. people working in facilities management or coaching) and some for pleasure (hobbies I indulge in, films I enjoy etc). I took some time this morning to review content form the business people I follow and realised how frustrated I get when their publicly aired views become less about business and more about their political views for example. Then I looked at some of my own posts and saw that, although I am running a business, I also have made some postings that really aren't relevant to my business goals. So, Facebook for social stuff in future I think!
As always, one of the main benefits of the event last night (according to those who attended) was the opportunity to network. If you haven't yet been to one of our events, get in touch and I'll send you a personal invite to our next one, to be held in London on 2 June, 'Keeping it Real' - how FM can learn from the hospitality sector.
E-mail coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk or call Liz Kentish the FM Coach on 07717 787077
There was great advice about creating 'The Brand of You' as well as how to get started on Twitter and the tools available to track your brand online. This got me thinking about some of the people I follow on Twitter - some are for business reasons (e.g. people working in facilities management or coaching) and some for pleasure (hobbies I indulge in, films I enjoy etc). I took some time this morning to review content form the business people I follow and realised how frustrated I get when their publicly aired views become less about business and more about their political views for example. Then I looked at some of my own posts and saw that, although I am running a business, I also have made some postings that really aren't relevant to my business goals. So, Facebook for social stuff in future I think!
As always, one of the main benefits of the event last night (according to those who attended) was the opportunity to network. If you haven't yet been to one of our events, get in touch and I'll send you a personal invite to our next one, to be held in London on 2 June, 'Keeping it Real' - how FM can learn from the hospitality sector.
E-mail coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk or call Liz Kentish the FM Coach on 07717 787077
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