Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom How to Get Your Millennial Leaders to Fulfill Their Potential

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom How to Get Your Millennial Leaders to Fulfill Their Potential The traditional ways of developing employees and helping them to acquire critical skills don’t work anymore. According to the Deloitte 2014 Millennial Leadership study, most young professionals prefer to learn by doing rather than sitting in a classroom. However, few organizations offer any specialized training for millennials, and if they do, it’s very old school. As a result, Deloitte’s results show that 36 percent of young managers did not feel ready when they first took on supervisory relationships, and 30 percent still don’t feel ready today. Given that millennials are a confident bunch, this is not a good sign. They are flying by the seat of their pants, and it’s only a matter of time before big mistakes are made. If you are relying on sending your employees to isolated training seminars once or twice a year, you’re holding them back now and possibly contributing to their setbacks later. Millennial professionals will make up the majority of the workforce in the next 20 years, so how can we make sure they are well prepared to lead our organizations? Fortunately, there are a few things you can do as an individual manager that don’t require a complete overhaul of your company’s operations. Emphasize experiential learning Today’s employees value the apprenticeship model, in which they are allowed to work alongside senior leaders during a typical project or atypical crisis situation. Apprenticeship is beneficial in anchoring new and soon-to-be leaders in tangible responsibilities and scenarios with reduced risk. To this end, many forward-thinking organizations have adopted project-based mentorship. At its core, project-based mentorship puts employee development into the hands of many instead of being centered on a very busy primary supervisor. Each employee has the opportunity to work on assignments with a diverse group of team members, all of whom are aware of that person’s strengths and career goals. In the context of the individual project, employees may be placed in situations that are out of their comfort zones (for example, a board meeting) and mentored actively on appropriate preparation, actions, and behaviors. For more, please head over to Intuits Fast Track blog.

Before the Barre My Pre- Barre Bee Fit Experience

Before the Barre My Pre- Barre Bee Fit Experience Thanks to our very own, Kovie Biakolo, for having the guts try out this weeks #MCGConnect chat sponsor- Barre Bee Fit!  Kovie is much more equipped for this type of er, testing than I am.  Todays post is part 1 of Kovies 2 part series.  To win free BBF classes, join #MCGConnect chat tonight (Wed 1/18 at 8pm CST).  Not in Chicago?  Dont worry, well be giving away a Jamba Juice gift  certificate too!  Also, get excited for Kovies regular column Kovie in Chicago which will be posted on Thursdays starting TOMORROW! -Nicole I always feel awesome when I’m at the gym and people ask me if I’m an athlete. I mean I run a couple of times a week  (though I will admit less so in the winter). I also do strength training, even if it means I do it at home with Chris  Freytag.  I do Zumba, cardio kickboxing and yoga fairly regularly too. Some people think I’m kind of a health nut, and in addition to working out, being a vegetarian/pescetarian strengthens this view.  Any health nuts out there who can relate?! Still, I went through a two-week period without working out in December.   Additionally, I like cookies and wine so my health “nuttiness” is well balanced with those two things. I think working out is very important for your body and for your mind. I also think enjoying life is very important for your body and your mind which sometimes means enjoying food. Sure, like anyone else I might over do-it on the cookies once in a while (cookies really are my thing) but for the most part, I eat healthy and exercise does not intimidate me. To be honest (and obnoxious), I generally tend to think I’m pretty good at it. Who else would say they are pretty good at exercise?  What do you do for your workouts? So, you can imagine how confident I was when I got the opportunity to work out at “BarreBeeFit.”  For the record, it’s pronounced “Barbie” and that said, I was thinking â€"“how hard can it be?” I mean it’s called “BarreBee Fit!” How hard can a studio called “BarreeBeeFit” work these muscles? What, am I going to do? Lift  2 pound weights and feel the burn?  I showed up to the studio sniggering with that thought in mind (and with red shorts and a bright yellow shirt) and my overconfident athletic abilities. You know what they say, “Confidence is a funny thing- not enough, and you think you’re a fool;  too much and you are the darn fool.” And that’s all I’ll say for now. But I do want to know, what do you think of when you think of when a studio is called Barre Bee Fit? Stay tuned for part 2 of my Barree Bee Fit experience in my follow-up post “My Post Barree Bee Fit Experience!

Classy Career Girl Wants to Help Women Make a Difference - Classy Career Girl

Classy Career Girl Wants to Help Women Make a Difference Here at CCG, our team is  currently participating in Jennifer Kems Brand Story Challenge. We wanted to share with you some of our behind the scenes stories of how CCG started and WHY we do what we do. If there is one thing that is clear by deep diving into our brand and our story, it is that we are on fire to help you women around the world make a difference with their gifts and talents. That is the core of everything we believe here at CCG and what every article, course and social media post is all about. Join with us in the challenge and get to know CCG a little better! Who is Classy Career Girl passionate about helping? We are passionate about helping women who want to make a difference in the world and are ready to become ALL of who they really are. We are here to help women who want to set career and business goals and reach them. We work with women who are determined and know that their career dreams are possible. We create online courses for women who don’t take no for an answer and push through obstacles in front of them. We are passionate about helping women who invest in themselves, their career goals and dreams and don’t make excuses. What do we believe about the work we are doing at CCG? We believe that the work we are going will help 2,000 women launch their dream careers and businesses by 2018. We believe it is crucial to understand yourself and your calling first in your career transition process. We believe that every single woman can benefit from our online courses and the journey that it will take her through. We believe in investing in yourself and reaching your true potential. Whats Your Why? From our Founder and CEO, Anna Runyan. After years of trying to get pregnant, I made a vow that I would change my work and life so that someday, if I could ever become a mom myself, that I would spend every second that I possibly could with my son or daughter. I chased hard after a vision of me being a healthy and happy working mom making a difference all while my personal life was falling apart with multiple miscarriages, an IVF failure and a job I couldn’t stand. My why is because life is so very short, it can be 70 years, 1 breath or none. Every decision and choice I make now in my life and work revolves around these two, my husband and my daughter, that God has blessed me with. This is my why. Your turn! What is your why? Such a powerful question, huh? Take some time and dive deep.

The UBI In Your Future - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The UBI In Your Future - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Theres been a lot of talk about robots taking jobs and recently I saw something implying that people may be dying prematurely because of the perception of not enough work. While the robots taking jobs is definitely happening (and it’s not all a bad thing). I’m not sure there is enough data for the second point. Regardless, these two points and many other factors contribute to the idea that the time might be right for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) A Basic Income was proposed by Thomas Paine over 200 years ago. A “basic income” is an income unconditionally granted to all on an individual basis, without any means test or requirement to work. Another term for Basic Income is Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) sometimes called minimum income. And, yes it is a system of social welfare. The idea of a Universal Basic Income is brought up here because, a little like Star Trek, there should be a way for people of every region (or quadrant in Star Trek speak) to have their basic necessities covered. The argument against a UBI There are a lot of arguments against a universal basic income. Most of those arguments come from people that already have money or have worked really hard for what they do have. The implication is that people that receive, or may receive, a UBI somehow dont deserve it. I dont want to use this post to identify every possible thing wrong with a UBI. I’m sure there is a long list of people that would be happy to line up and say 10 reasons each why a UBI is bad, won’t work, and how it offends them on so many levels. However, I would like to hear your thoughts in the comments. Also, Id like to get your thoughts to what I call the “root question” below. Soft skills and a UBI One question I have been mulling over in my mind for several months has been a very simple one. What would you do with a UBI? To me this is the simplest and most logical question to think about as to whether a UBI is good or bad. If you had your basic necessities covered what would you do with your time? Would you: Teach Volunteer more Travel Work more Add a few Side Hustles (see Get a Side Hustle) I can see a case for all of these and probably a whole lot more. Id like to hear your thoughts in the comments. By the way, just because you have a UBI it does not mean that you cant continue with your current job or seek out a completely new job or passion project that really get you excited. Having a UBI does not preclude you from being entrepreneurial Real World Scenarios There are experiments with Basic Income going on in Oakland, California with Y Combinator; and another in Finland is ongoing; Switzerland has already voted down a Basic Income measure, but there are  many more in the works. Will all of these succeed? Probably not. Will they provide valuable insights into what works, what doesn’t, and what should be tried next? Absolutely. Also, mark you calendars for May 1st as this has been declared as Basic Income Day. One of the areas where concerns and issues have been raised with a UBI is the concern with people taking it as a handout and that there is no need to work every again. Some think that its some form of pure socialism. And, maybe it is. But, as I noted above Id love to hear your thoughts. I do think that this is going to be a topic that is going to come up more and more in the next few years and certainly in the next decade. And this is not purely a reaction to robots and automation. I do believe that the adoption of robots and automation will accelerate this conversation and bring it to the forefront. Ultimately it will be up to the will of the people and the government agencies to decide how serious they believe a UBI is for their culture and country. Eventually we might get to a Star Trek model where currency isn’t valued like it is today. Soft skills and a UBI There are a lot of soft skills that can be applied to almost anything you can imagine when you know your basics are covered. I can envision people with skills and running projects, building things, advancing science, learning languages, training our future generations. Not to mention some of the baby boomers that are reaching retirement age, but have no intention or ability to retire. Those baby boomers have skills that can be applied directly to a lot of different things. As I noted in Millennials Meet Your New Business Partners there is an area of potential synergies where Boomers can connect with Millennials and pool their UBI resources. How would your life change with a UBI? Would you change careers? Would you move to a different place? Would you do more of what you are currently doing? There is no wrong answer. However, in the coming years and certainly in the next decade this is going to be a topic that will be addressed. No matter where you live in the world the concept and the idea of a universal basic income will be likely be discussed. Career Choices may be altered by a UBI You may decide on a different career path. You may decide to live somewhere else. Perhaps based on a better UBI package being offered. It is possible countries could compete for talent based on their implementation of a UBI. You may find a UBI provided benefits that you have yet to consider. The Idea of a Basic Income is Not New As noted above Thomas Paine considered a Basic Income as part of the framework for the early United States of America. So, the idea of a UBI is not new, but its one that I believe will start to get more traction in the next few years. I talk a lot in these posts about standing out in your career. I believe that understanding what a UBI is and means both for your career and for the careers of those with whom you interact and impact is a worthwhile area of study. Which is why I asked the questions above and Id still like to get your thoughts on the concept and realities of what a UBI means to you. Thinking about a Universal Basic Income now and being informed about it today are both prudent and realistic things for anyone to consider. Because in the not too distant future you may need to cast a vote for the way EVERYONE is paid.

The Different Threshold Concepts in Resume Writing

The Different Threshold Concepts in Resume WritingHuman resource managers and hiring managers must be familiar with the different threshold concepts in resume writing. A well written resume can result in a more favorable interview, or even a job offer. Here are some of the most important ideas for how to develop a standard resume for the common job position that is seeking a professional resume writer.First of all, it is important to learn what employer's questions really are. Employers want to know whether the candidate has the right experience, education, skills, and life experiences to be hired as the perfect candidate for the position. They also want to know what kind of human resources experience the applicant has had, if any.Using the right combination of education, life experiences, and employment experience, a professional resume should be able to address these issues. Employers are looking for applicants who are willing to step up and do whatever it takes to make a differenc e at work. What they don't want to see is a resume that will do a job for them.Second, a resume must demonstrate that the candidate has the kind of self-confidence that is necessary to deal with a job interview. An applicant must be self-confident about their own qualifications. Candidates who act arrogant or defiant during an interview will make employers less comfortable around them. Their confidence must be based on factual facts rather than unfounded assumptions.If the candidate does not have enough confidence in their own qualifications, it might be a sign that they will struggle to answer difficult questions. Therefore, the applicant must show a level of self-assurance during the interview. By demonstrating how confident they are with their own ability, they will be more likely to shine at the interview.For many job positions, the employer also wants to know about the candidate's communication skills. It is also important that the candidate be willing to communicate with their future employer at all times. They must be able to express themselves in a manner that others can understand. They must show a willingness to meet and discuss any job-related concerns with the hiring manager.Finally, a job candidate who demonstrates a strong understanding of company policies and regulations will demonstrate that they will want to do the best job possible at the job. Hiring managers want to know about the applicant's motivation for getting hired. This attitude should not be based on their own reasons for being hired, but rather on the new opportunity that they believe they will find once they begin working for the company.By understanding how the employer's expectations fit into the criteria for a good resume, a potential candidate can write a strong and successful resume. To find out more about career writing services, or to get samples of real resume writers, visit the links below.

How To Persuade People Without Alienating Them

How To Persuade People Without Alienating Them How do you go about persuading someone to change their mind in a way that doesn’t alienate them? Well a friend of mine recently had this come up and perhaps you have too? Whether it’s persuading someone to give you that job after all, or fund your project, or whatever else. Here are three fundamentals to keep in mind and three strategies you can employ. Here are the three fundamentals: Get clear on your goals Get really clear on what your goals are, the end goals, and why your way about it makes sense and what it is the world will look like if we do it your way. Understand the other person’s perspective Then you want to get a full understanding, do your homework about what the other person’s perspective is. Let’s call her Jane â€" so what are Jane’s goals? What are Jane’s concerns? What would be the best way forward if you were in Jane’s shoes? Focus on the common goal And then the third is all about your mindset and approach. That is about focusing on the common goal, finding a common goal between you and Jane. And I think about that in terms of, rather than going in and focusing on we’re stepping into the boxing ring and duking it out, instead, if we’re sitting across the table from each other, why not swivel your chair around so you’re sitting next to Jane, whether literally or figuratively. So that you’re both looking at the same set of opportunities and finding a common ground and a common way forward. The other thing about your mindset and approach is that you’ve got to start from the stand point of mutual respect and then, importantly, open mindedness because, who knows, it may be you after going through all this thinking that decides that you are the one who wants to change your position rather than Jane. Anything can happen. So let’s talk now about the three strategies: The Back Channel The first strategy is about the back channel strategy. This is all about reaching the influencers of Jane. Now caveat here: keep in mind that these influencers may have just as a good as relationship with Jane as you have, or perhaps even better, so you’ve got to be ready for whatever you say to those influencers to get right back to Jane. When you talk to the influencers, you’re trying to do three things: 1. You want to understand more about the context in which Jane operates, how is she thinking about this? 2. You want to give the influencer your point of view so that they understand and hopefully buy in. 3. If they do buy in, fantastic, because perhaps they are better to influence Jane than you are. The second strategy is what I call User Affirmation This one is all about, instead of you confronting Jane and telling her that her idea’s not good and she should change her mind, have the people who are actually going to be affected by this, the users of whatever the project is, gather data about how they feel about things and use that data to present to Jane so that the users are the ones changing her mind. Third strategy is what I call the Direct strategy. Often the best strategy, but maybe you want to do these other strategies first. Direct The direct strategy means you and Jane sit down and your goal is to understand her point of view. Remember that Stephen Covey quote, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood”. As part of that remember that it could become a multi stage process. Conclusion Overall, let’s keep in mind that you may or may not be able to change someone else’s mind. Sometimes it’s just not possible. But it is definitely possible to go about it in a way that does not alienate Jane or whoever it is that you’re working with. So stay tuned for next week when we talk about some tactics for handling that session with Jane â€" the direct strategy. In the meantime let me leave you with this question: What strategies have you successfully employed to persuade others to change their minds without alienating them? And then share that with us in the comments section below so that we can all benefit.

The expert trick to hone your skills section on LinkedIn - CareerEnlightenment.com

1. Find the schools with graduates in the companies and functions you are targetingUsing LinkedIn’s little-known University Finder tool, choose the filters that you are targeting, such as companies you want to focus on, locations where you want to work or roles you want to take on.For example, I might pick Google as the target company and my function might be marketing â€" I would get a list of schools including Stanford, U Penn, UC Berkeley and Harvard. Write these schools down to reference in step two.2. Find the skills students graduate with in those universitiesNow, pick any of those top schools from step one and visit their University Page, and click on the Explore Careers link. A search interface should come up similar to the one in step one â€" but this time you can see a list of skills graduates have on their profile.In a spreadsheet, create a column A labeled Skills, and list the top 10 skills shown under the column labeled What theyre skilled at for each school. Don’t w orry about repeating the same skills; just write them all down in one long list.Using the example above, I would pick the target company, Google, and my function, marketing. What appears is a list of the top skills that alumni who are working in marketing at Google have on their profile. Write the top 10 of these skills in the spreadsheet, then move on to the next University Page, filter by company and function, and record the skills until there are at least 50 in your list.3. Pick the skills with the most frequencyGo through five to 10 schools for each target company and function, recording the top 10 skills that pop up for each school. This shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes. The output of your research will be a long list of 50 to 100 skills in column A in a spreadsheet. There are a lot of recommended LinkedIn profile writing services out there  that  can do LinkedIn profile consulting to help walk you through the process.Now, look at the frequency of these Skills using the pi vot table function. Create a pivot table with the entire range of column A:Step 1. Add a row grouped by skillsStep 2. Add values, summarized by COUNTAStep 3. Rank your skills based on frequency. The pivot table will tell you which skills appeared more frequently. Use those in your LinkedIn profile.Note: Youll want to ensure that these skills are actually in your skill set before listing them on your profile â€" be sure that you can speak to them in an interview setting and have proof to back up your claims if called upon to do so by a potential employer!Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.