Friday, April 29, 2011

A Strategy for a meeting with your boss that will leave you with a Positive Image

You’re fuming. Something happened at work -- unfair, wasteful, more than you can manage and you want to talk to the top guy RIGHT NOW.
Been there? Don’t go there.

I am not a role model for the strategy I am about to share; I’ve made mistakes that left me ineffective and I’ve learned from them.
The time for an audience with the boss is not when you’re mad. It’s not on your timetable, either.

The only issues that justify a “right now” meeting are true emergencies that could jeopardize the company’s licenses, image or its employees’ immediate safety. Some examples include: sexual harassment, knowledge that an employee is stealing or involved in other illegal activity or an immediate safety hazard. Those must be brought to management attention right away, and even then I recommend you include the chain of command.

Otherwise, have a strategy for using the audience with the boss effectively. Your goal is to walk out that door with what you wanted. You have to go in with well organized, with justifiable thoughts. And you have to do so when he or she has time for you.

One of my most astute colleagues ever had been an effective middle-manager for a large TV station in a major market. She handled most of the chain of command issues for her team and communicated them effectively to the top dog. Sometimes there were issues that warranted an audience with the boss -- a pitch for a promotion, a contract renewal, an idea for which the employee deserved credit -- but she worked with her team to make the right move at the right time.

“I told them they needed a strategy just for timing the meeting,” she told me.

Their boss was brilliant but mercurial. Guess what? Most executives who have achieved any level of success are that way. They have to manage up and down the chain, and that presents pressure. Even if you report directly to a CEO, those guys have bosses -- the board of directors, government agencies which regulate them, key customers. There’s always a looming deadline and major projects on their plates that are -- guess what again -- bigger to the boss than whatever you’re asking to meet about.

“People really stepped in it if they pushed their way in for a meeting on a whim,” my friend told me. She gave them good advice to schedule a meeting at a time when the boss was prepared and could clear the decks for a few minutes with them.

I could see why. I’ve been the employee that asked for something on a whim, and left empty handed. I’ve been the manager who was forced to stop what I was doing to hear out someone who was emotional and ill prepared. It felt like I was being hit over the head with a bucket of cold water and not given time to react appropriately.

What’s the worst criticism you’ve had of a bad boss besides poor people skills? Probably that he made knee-jerk decisions, right? Then give him time to think about your requests and ideas.

If you walk through the door unexpected and say, “Do you have a minute” that’s is exactly what you will get: a minute. And you’ll leave frustrated because you won’t have his full attention. The answer you insisted on getting “right now” is “no” because they don’t have time to really consider it.

Obviously you thought out your strategy for implementing a new policy or for getting yourself a promotion. The strategy you need to get face time with the boss, is just as important!

Here are some simple steps:
1. Does this really need to go to the top? Have you followed the chain of command? Most of your immediate supervisors will support you and help you strategize for your meeting if it warrants time with the top dog.
2. Schedule a time at his or her convenience and briefly state what you’d like to discuss. This can be done via email.
3. Rehearse. This is a limited opportunity for you. You need to be clear and for the most part, you need to plan on spending no more than 5 minutes in the office. If he or she wants more time, they’ll lead the discussion.
4. Be passionate but not emotional. Emotions are dismissed as whims that will pass. Passions are usually brought to the table by creative, can-do people who really believe they have something great to offer.

Finally, if you don’t have anything on your plate right now, but hope to down the road, start laying the ground work so you’re taken seriously when That Day arrives. When you see top management in meetings or in the hall, don’t look away. Always engage. “How are ya?” “That was in interesting presentation” are good quick things to say.

If new policy is laid out in a meeting, keep your face open. Even if some of what’s being pushed down is the dumbest thing you’ve heard this month, don’t show attitude. Think about it for awhile and share it with your middle managers later if you have to. If you’re tired of the stink in the bathroom, don’t send an email to the whole building. That’s where you use the anonymous box in the lunch room or put an anonymous note under the door of someone who can address it. Don’t be the office whiner.

If you are perceived to be a negative person, the boss may still grant you an audience when That Day comes, but he will go into it with the expectation that he is going to get in and out as fast as possible. If you have a Positive Image going into the meeting then you will come out of the meeting successful!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Surviving a layoff or termination

Inhale. Exhale. Sometimes that might be all the focus you think you can muster first thing in the morning after another restless night. Job seeking is more 24/7 than the most stressful job you ever had. Why not pull the covers up over your head and grab some more sleep?

No one called to schedule an interview with you yesterday, after all, and it’s possible no one will today.

But you can’t slip into that dark room because there are many qualities about your work ethic that are still in tact.

I can tell you since I lost my job in December, that what hasn’t changed about me personally is my nature. I am still an early riser, I am still driven and my mind is sharper than ever. I have new perspective and have had time to think through strategy, analysis, plans and ideas. And you’re the same way!

Keep at it. You’ll have good days and bad days. Good days are when you see an ideal job posted or pick up some paid work. Bad days are when you find out someone else got the really good job you hoped you’d land.
That’s OK. It’s not forever and you are not alone. Not since our grandparents navigated their way through the great depression have so many Americans had such hard times finding employment, much less fulfilling employment. It is hard for people in all age groups for various reasons.

You owe an apology to no one. You do owe yourself your best. You don’t work for “the man” right now. You are your client.

Here’s what’s helped me so far, and I hope you’ll find it useful.
1. Put your automatic happy on. Whenever you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, shift your thoughts to something that makes you happy. That will become a mindset for you and it will keep you going. For more on this concept, check out Hank Blank’s excellent post, “How to stay strong when the search is long.“ Guess where else it will show up without you having to force it? In the interview! You’ll appear not only qualified but confident and positive. No one wants to give the one job they have to a negative thinker.
2. If you can’t join them, beat them. We will do a more detailed posting on this concept at another time, but hang up your own shingle and steal some business. It doesn’t cost much to register a business, start a blog or website and then to print business cards. It takes time to make a full time living at it, but it also fills time and builds contacts for you. It‘s certainly been fulfilling for me -- even in 2011! (Check with your attorney; independent contract work might not interfere with your unemployment benefits.)
3. Volunteer for anything, but especially for everything that showcases your skill sets. If you are an editor, offer free services to a local charity website. If you’re a chef, cook or serve for a charity event. This was great advice given to me by David Lippoff, a seasoned Portland PR guy. You’ll make contacts. You’ll gain some new experience. Guess where else it will help you? In the interview. They’ll ask what has kept you busy since that fateful day and you will have something to share.
4.Exercise. Yea. You never had time before. Now you do. Get to the point where you have no trouble powering through a 30 minute run or an hour long Pilates class. It sharpens your mind. It gives you energy. And guess where else it shows up? Yes, once again. You will arrive for your interview with a positive and powerful presence. Your perfect posture will suggest strength and confidence.
5. Share leads. I know, why tell someone else about the job you hope you will get? It’s a good thing to do, that’s one reason. Doing good things right now gives you another value at a time when it’s tempting to feel worthless. What’s the worst thing that can happen? They land the gig instead and then help you?

You will either reinvent yourself and be your own client, or you will end up on someone else’s payroll if you keep at it.

So here’s another thing I must share with you as a former employer who hired some people fresh out of layoff and unemployment situations. They were not always the most motivated employees. Make sure you will be. Before you start, make sure you understand this is a new start.

The reinvented job is probably going to be something less than the one you lost; that is just how it is. That’s either because you are starting all over again in the pecking order or because your new boss is also downsizing and consolidating job responsibilities, as he has to justify filling each and every opening. You may not have the same title, you probably won’t make as much money, you won’t walk in with 4 weeks of vacation and you may have to work a night shift. So what. Keep in mind that your beef is with the guy who let you go, not with the one who is giving you a new opportunity.

Keep your positive energy, exercise routine, volunteer efforts and lead sharing self together even when life gets better. This experience, one of the worst in your life, will make you positively one of the strongest, most talented people in your new work world.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Ten reasons Monday’s should have a Positive Image

Where did the notion that Monday is a dreaded day originate? Why are there so many songs about it being a downer day? When did it become a dumping ground for all things negative?
What if we just decided to change the conversation about Monday’s and make them days to celebrate? Here are some reasons on my mind. Feel free to share you own in the comment section:

1. First let’s state the obvious: we are waking up on a Monday in April, not January. Flowers and trees are blooming. Warmer weather is sure to come!
2. You get to go to work today if you have a job. Know how many don’t?
3. New jobs will be posted today for those of us who are looking to upgrade. Share your Positive Image with those companies; you’re going to score this time!
4. You get a new, blank canvas today. Monday is a great day to start a project, knowing you have a few days before your Friday deadline to make it perfect.
5. You will have the best lunch of the week today if you take advantage of the leftovers from Sunday’s fabulous dinner.
6. There’s still time to lose a couple of pounds before Friday’s date.
7.Hawaii 5-0 is on. You can DVR it and go to bed early.
8.Your weekend guests have left and the house will be peaceful tonight
9.It’s a good night to visit restaurants that have 2-for1 dinners or half priced wine
10. You are now done reading the blog, and it’s unlikely I will bother you with another before the end of the week.

Friday, April 15, 2011

The Seattle Mariners have a Positive Image in major league sports

It had been years since Tim and I had been in a major league park -- since we left our beloved Cleveland Indians behind about 6 years ago. So we treated ourselves to a weekday Mariners game in Seattle. Keep in mind, it was a Wednesday game, early in a cold, wet season. The Mariners organization could have mailed it in but they made it a memorable experience.
I am not a big sports fan by any means -- I often joke that I don’t know the difference between a tight end and a tennis ball. It’s the atmosphere that draws people like me to enjoy America’s favorite pastime. Delighted little girls and boys running around, the smell of hot dogs, men with big booming voices yelling “cold beer, right here” and the crack of the bat.
The Mariners take that atmosphere to a higher level. From the team at the front door, to the marketing team in the front office to the team on the field, they all live the brand .
First, fans who purchase tickets ahead of time get not only their confirmation via email, but a nice reminder the day before. It includes a seating chart, information about nearby parking and a scouting report on the scheduled starters. The day after the game, you are thanked for coming and your email includes video highlights of the game, so you can revisit your memories.
The park is beautiful. The roof keeps the rain out and the courteous staff keeps you happy. Like many major league parks, Safeco has imported well known chefs to give foodies alternatives to dogs and popcorn. Seattle clam chowder is offered up in bread bowls. There is a “wine bar” pouring west coast wines. In “The Pen” fans can warm up by an open pit fire and chow down on crepes, gourmet pizza and Mexican sandwiches
But it’s the interaction with the audience that really makes this a special place. Two hours before the game, kids of all ages can saunter up to the front row seats on the first base line, and players will come out in groups of 2’s and 3’s to mingle. They pose for pictures. They sign everything from baseballs to programs to the shirts on people’s backs. They’re cheerful, friendly and approachable. When was the last time you saw that in the NFL?
In professional sports there are far too many “superstars” who expect millions but play like thousands, players who feed off the public adoration but won’t give much back.
The Seattle Mariners win PINpoints for remembering the golden rule: it’s all about the fans


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Monday, April 11, 2011

Be a mentor! In Praise of those who helped us to shape our Positive Images

Unless you’re reading this standing up, you’re sitting in a chair. Think about that chair for a minute. You’re working hard to keep it warm. But someone -- probably many people -- helped you get there. On your way up, you asked people to critique your work, you asked insiders to hand-deliver your resume to the hiring decision-makers, you asked senior account executives to introduce you to their contacts and take you along on major presentations. Somebody lobbied for you to get a job, maybe someone even saved you from unemployment somewhere along the way.

You fed off the advice of gurus, you aspired to meet or beat their expectations, you worked your way up and maybe even replaced some of your mentors.

Who delivered for you?

I can tell you about the people who shaped my work ethic, passion and drive. I call it waking up with the “it” in my soul every morning. And I know where that “it” came from.

It started with the 5th grade teacher -- Mr. Owens -- who had a breaking news contest every morning. You had to come to class informed. As a 5th grader I developed the discipline to watch newscasts and read newspapers before class, because I wanted to arrive prepared. I wanted to have the most points at the end of the year.

My dad, of course, was competitive, had brilliant ideas and did not compromise when it came to ethics

But probably the most profound experience I ever had came from a General Manager who wasn’t even my boss. She was a corporate colleague who shared her gifts. Her success was built on legend.

It goes like this: when the white world was fleeing Detroit and consultants were advising a powerhouse TV station to market only to the suburbs, a young advertising saleswoman stood up and interrupted the meeting with a message. “No, damn it,” Grace Gilchrist is rumored to have said, “I think we should stand up and tell them we’re from Detroit.”
Stand up and tell them you’re from Detroit , produced by Frank Gari,became WXYZ’s theme song and was a successful brand for them for years. It was the premiere example of advocacy journalism and community service. It built lasting bridges across diverse communities and helped keep the city alive.
Don’t know if the story of how that brand came to be is true, but I sure can see her doing that. She eventually became General Manager and had a remarkably successful tenure there. But she was never too busy to offer insight. It was always, always, always rooted in ethics--work ethic, moral ethic, legal ethics.

I will never forget her, or John Lansing, the General Manager who hired me in Cleveland and who introduced me to Grace.

That should have been enough, but there were others.

There was Jackie Glass, a fellow reporter at KTNV in Las Vegas. Before leaving for law school, she introduced me to her contacts and taught me how to own a beat. I was so proud to watch Jackie, now a judge, throw the book at OJ Simpson last year.

There was Candace Armstrong, one of my colleagues in Las Vegas. She could have spent all of her time working on her own career, but she offered all of us some great writing advice day after day. “If you’re going to go outside, stay outside,” she told me when she tried to explain why continuity was so important in broadcast writing. It was such a great line and I thought of Candace for years afterwards, every time I sat down to write a great story.

There was the News Director in Las Vegas, Mike Cutler, who added me to his team when I was at a dead end elsewhere. He changed my schedule twice to accommodate my classes at UNLV, paid me more than I had been making and still let me chase the lead story every night.

In Cleveland, there was my boss John Ray, who accurately predicted I’d run the place someday. Across the street at another TV station, Virgil Dominic allowed me to leap frog all the way from the assignment desk to the position of Assistant News Director at WJW, one of the country’s largest and best news operations.

My General Managers since then have consistently led by example. They set the direction and let me do the job. Expect and Empower.

Now as I try to transition into public relations in Portland, Mike Riley and Associates, Edelman GM Marta Monetti and PR executive David Lippoff have all reached out. I am so grateful.

For years I thought of the people who helped me along the way, even when the feedback they offered wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

So I invested many a Saturday morning catching up on the demo reels sent in or emailed in from reporters around the country. It surprises me how many of them will tell me I am the only one to ever respond. In fact, I am still getting links from on air talent looking for input. I am happy to give it.

If that chair you’re sitting in is pushing too much pressure back up your spine, then maybe you can’t take much time to be a mentor -- maybe you need a mentor or career change.

But are you really too busy to offer it up?

If you had a great mentor along the way and that example can help others, or if you have questions you want to discuss, feel free to comment below.
You never know how much you might be helping.

How many times have you been about to drive off a cliff and heard a little voice in your head saying, “turn right” That’s the voice of your mentor.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

The economy presents unprecedented opportunity for early career workers and middle managers: This is your time!

Remember reading A Tale of Two Cities and asking yourself WTF Charles Dickens was talking about when he wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” How could that be true? It’s either good or bad, right?

His story was set in a time when it was all relative, depending on your class. Our story today is set in a time when you might be in a position to choose your place. Your best option is to look at the glass as half full.

Let’s collectively say a big “duh” to the half-empty: we’re slugging it out through the worst economic crisis most Americans have faced in their lifetime; unemployment is still out of control, gas is nearly 4 bucks a gallon, we‘re at war in two countries and sticking our nose into conflict in another. That’s all terrible.

Now take another look at the glass: it’s half full. There’s never been a better time for the smart ones amongst us to advance their careers.
A different kind of employee is needed to move the ball down the field in 2011, and it’s you -- the player who can multitask and excel in many functions.

This isn’t your big sister’s economy and upward mobility might not be an 8-10 year process anymore. Jobs have been consolidated, and if you can do more than one, you might be able to make a mid-level move right our of your entry level gig.

I had a conversation this week with a well-known placement agent who said the once-bustling demand for experienced veterans has shifted to opportunities for up-and-coming talent.

“People are hiring,” she told me. The truth in 2011 is, companies have less to spend on salaries and still have expectations that have to be met. So the people they‘re hiring are those who don‘t turn their noses up at this new world work order.

“For people in their first job, a couple of years out of college, this is no big deal to them, because this is what they’ve been doing,” she said.

If you are 18 months or more into your first job, don’t be afraid to present yourself for something mid-level. The only guarantee here is that you won’t move out of that first job, unless you ask! Arrive with a good attitude. Be open to mentoring, work harder than everyone else and leave your sense of entitlement in your old bedroom at your parents’ house.

The new world work order is also presenting unprecedented opportunity for middle managers. There is a lot of promotion from within. The veterans for whom senior level job descriptions are posted cannot move right now. They don’t want to risk leaving their jobs even for more money. And if that “bigger job” involves a relocation, well, forget about it. They may be upside down in their house, they can’t afford to have their spouses lose their jobs and they have kids in high school.

If you’re a middle manager in a place with a bigger job posted in HR, this is your time, ready or not. Pitch the job, because you run the risk of having your position eliminated if your company has to do something extra to lure the more experienced veteran.

Get all the mentoring you can by joining professional organizations, take business classes, go after the MBA at night if it helps. Get the troops to rally behind you, because you are all they have! The team needs a coach. If that senior level job has been open for more than a couple of months, that’s a clear sign the recruiting isn’t going well. Make an appointment with your boss and go for it.

So, for the experienced folks, what’s left? Understand something: this isn’t age discrimination. This is economic discrimination and it’s legal.

The opportunity for you is to build on what you already have. Offer to take on additional duties if you haven’t already. If you see an open position that you could absorb, go ask for it. Or get together with a counterpart and tell your boss that the two of you can assume the duties of the open job.

If there is technology you need to learn to use, buddy up with an up and comer. Have him teach you. You teach him the qualities of a mature decision maker.

If you need to move to another company, be prepared to take less, but know that you might get more satisfaction.

A highly accomplished investigative reporter I know just turned down bigger city jobs because he was leery of how long they’d last. And he didn’t want to keep performing the same duties, job after job. Instead he took a mid-market job that also allows him to do some hybrid duties including management. With all he knows, he will be a gift to the organization, and he is delirious!

Stepping down a level in the interest of finding a job might not be a bad thing. It might put you back at the level where you are doing the job you loved the most before you got on the stress treadmill. That’s a win!