|
Speak Up: Your Job Is At Stake!
How good are you at standing up for yourself? Do you run the other way when done an injustice or when someone steps on your proverbial toes? How do you react? Now's the time to speak up and stand your ground! If you've never done this, you need to master this skill. How many of you watched the "The Apprentice?" While the show is not the ultimate mirror of corporate life or a guide on how to be promoted, my clients have cited specific show episodes to highlight weaknesses they'd like to improve. In the "Apprentice" episode during which Jessie was fired, she remained silent in the boardroom while her team members were putting her down. Her reticence was THE reason that Trump fired her. She was timid, and her inability to defend herself made it appear that she agreed with her detractors. Have you declined to take a stand when you could have? How was that perceived? Here's a reality check for deciding whether or not to speak up: Fact #1: If you are silent when others are accusing you or impugning your words or deeds, you run the risk of appearing to agree. Fact #2: If you are silent when someone is making a move into your areas of responsibility, it will seem that you don't care. Fact #3: If you are silent because of fear of reprisal or worry about unleashing your temper, you will have lost an opportunity to defend and advance what you believe. Fact #4: Not speaking up is worse than making a case but not succeeding. Here's how this plays out in the workplace: If a new co-worker or competitor infringes upon your established area of responsibility and you say nothing, you run the risk of losing the business or job! Better to acknowledge the salvo and decide the best course of action. If it's a co-worker, you could calmly confront the person and re-establish your territory and/or educate him/her on the best way to work with you. If it's a competitor, ask your client if the account is in play. You might find that the competitor has put in an unsolicited bid for the business! You could then reinforce your position with the client by underscoring your loyalty to the team and how you've contributed to its success. Now for a specific example of the positive results of speaking up: When I worked in the HR department of a large corporation, my boss, the HR Director, received a poor performance appraisal. After his unsatisfactory review, he proceeded to demean and blame his staff, making snide remarks within earshot of the person he was singling out. This went on for several weeks until I couldn't stand it anymore. I told the VP - HR, and he relocated the Director to another floor for the remainder of his time with the company. This experience resulted in the removal of a person who was demoralizing the entire HR department. Further, I was offered the HR Director job on an interim basis, which became permanent several months later. More importantly, I believe the VP-HR was impressed with my willingness to take a stand. The assertiveness I demonstrated was a trait that he valued and it established my ability to function successfully in a male-dominated department. Finally, speaking up serves a threefold purpose. It allows you to convincingly articulate your "case." It provides a platform to exhibit a quality that your boss may highly prize. And if you succeed, it gives you the confidence to use your newfound "voice" in other areas of your life. The next time you want to speak up, role play your "case" ahead of time with a trusted friend or coach. You may have more to gain than you know. Dale Kurow, M.S., is an author and a career and executive coach in NYC. Dale works with clients across the U.S. and internationally, helping them to survive office politics, become better managers, and figure out their next career move. Visit Dale's web site at http://www.dalekurow.com/phone_ebook for information about her latest E-book, Phone Interview Skills Sharpened Right Here!
MORE RESOURCES:
Jobs City of Rochester (.gov)
Careers Washington State University
Careers Gwinnett County Public Schools
JobFeed NSW Department of Education
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Job Offers and Pay Negotiations
When you first get the job offer it will often be a verbal offer and is likely to be subject to taking up references and perhaps even a medical examination.So never say you are accepting a job offer, or resign from your present job until you have received a formal offer in writing for the new position.
Your Cover Letter MUST Ask This Question
Imagine receiving a letter from a salesman who wants to sell you an exciting new widget. The letter focuses on all the reasons why this is such a great item.
The 7 Tough Job Interview Questions That Can Make or Break You - and How to Answer Them
Some interview questions are asked so frequently that they've become classics. Practically every interview you go on you'll be answering one or more of these seven interview questions.
How To Establish Trust, Credibility and Enthusiasm To Your Interviewer
If you use your voice to get attention, you use your eyes to hold attention. People tend to believe you, trust you, and listen to what you say if you are looking at them.
Writing A Great Resume, Part 2
TIP: Update your resume often. Be sure to add details of any training course, new interests and areas of responsibility.
Are You Sabotaging Your Career?
My experience working with thousands of leaders world wide for the past two decades teaches me that most leaders are screwing up their careers.On a daily basis, these leaders are getting the wrong results or the right results in the wrong ways.
Ive Got the Big Bad B Word on My Job!
That "B" word---B O R E D O M.How did I get this wearing word in my work?I got it because I don't have enough todo in my job! Yes, I have completed myassigned tasks, but I have time left over,which leads to boredom.
Job Search Blurts
I coined this word to draw attention tothe nervous and apprehensive way ofsaying something in the job search thatmakes you feel like a buffoon. A "blurt"is a catchy way of saying: Gaffe.
Surviving Unemployment Through Emotional Damage Control
Looking for work is a roller-coaster ride: high with elation when you think you've found a great position, low with discouragement when you realize that someone else was offered a job you wanted.Most of the time, you fall somewhere in between, your mood cycling from cautious optimism to keen disappointment.
Why Your CV/Resume is Not Generating The Interview Offers You Want
If your current CV or resume is not generating the interview offers you want, it is time to start assessing it. Check to see that the following descriptors apply:*Begins with a succinct, clearly stated career objective tailored to the particular job for which you are applying.
Dont Get Caught In The Security Trap
The day you begin to think of your job in terms of the security versus the opportunities it provides is the day you start to put the brakes on building your career.Time was when a young person entering the workforce could reasonably assume he was signing a lifetime security covenant with his employer.
How Well Do You Manage Your Boss?
Are you in this situation? You and your boss just don't seem to connect and work well together. It isn't that you are having knock down fights.
How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy
Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a place called Apathy. Had been for months now.
Simple Interviewing That Works
Powerful questions to get below the surface1. Ask for specific "stories" of complete situations"We all meet situations where people disagree on the correct way to proceed.
Cover Letters
Cover Letters: Are you telling them what they want to know?Let's face it. Recruiters (or employers) are smarter than we think.
Resume Writing Dos and Donts
Lost Your Job? Ten Ways to Bounce Back!
Whether you've been right-sized, downsized, underutilized, or just plain fired, looking for work is a life-changing experience that rocks your world. Regain your equilibrium with these ten strategies and get back to being your best.
Career Change - Emotional Intelligence for Knowledge Workers?
Nowadays we can expect to survive the second half of our lives and as our work is knowledge-based - we knowledge workers are not finished after 30 years on the job - Are we merely bored?There are three ways to develop another career: The first way is to really start a career. Our original career decision (at school or college) may have been simply around 'getting a job to make some money' or just to 'get into the job market' in some way.
Is Your Resume Doing ITS Job?
Is it opening doors to new opportunities? Does it compel the reader to think, "Hey! This applicant can ?put that one on top of the 'call in for an interview' pile!" Does it showcase what you have accomplished for past employers as well as what you can accomplish for the potential employer?Your resume is your personal marketing tool that must immediately convey to the reader that you CAN and WILL be a positive driving force to further their organization's mission. They have a need to QUICKLY get thru all the resumes received in response to their job posting so you've got to QUICKLY grab their attention.
Benefits of Mystery Shopping For Secret Shoppers
Mystery shoppers are people who are hired to scrutinize employees, products and customer services of any organization. The benefits that they get from mystery shopping are:They enjoy doing a job that's fun and frolic.
|