Are you looking for tips on how to showcase your accomplishments in an interview or performance review meeting, present yourself with confidence at professional networking events or gain recognition in your company or industry?
Blog Talk Radio is hosting What’s Your WOW! Factor? featuring me on Sunday, April 19, 2009 from 6pm to 6:30pm EDT. Join Annemarie Cross and Keith Keller of Career Communiqué Radio as they interview me LIVE all the way from Australia!
I'll be discussing how to leverage your strengths and create a buzz about your accomplishments, and how you can position yourself for new opportunities to achieve your career and professional goals.
If you have any questions you would like answered BEFORE the show, leave a message on the Competent Advantage message line at: (214) 615-6505, ext. 6717 OR you can tweet the coach on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Coach_Colette.
During the show, the live chat feature will be operational on Career Communiqué Radio; alternatively you can ring in live and share your question/comment with Annemarie, Keith & I on: (914) 338 0714.
And, remember to pop across and join us at our InStep Consulting Fan page on Facebook: http://companies.to/InStep_Consulting. Looking forward to chatting with you on Sunday!
Showing posts with label WOW Factor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WOW Factor. Show all posts
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, May 02, 2008
NEW Podcast on Storytelling
Hello, hope you're getting ready for a fabulous weekend! I wanted to let you all know I've just uploaded a new podcast to the Competent Advantage channel on storytelling. Why storytelling?
Well, I've been inspired by one of the sessions I've been facilitating for the Turning the Page conference for library leaders called "Creating Your Library Story." It's designed to help librarians develop compelling stories about the benefits their patrons receive from public access computers and related technology. [We encourage them to find their "Kevin Carroll" stories to highlight.]
So, when I was asked to contribute by Sue Green at Nonprofit Central to create a tutorial for nonprofit leaders that would be featured by Craigslist Foundation, I thought storytelling would be a relevant theme on which to focus. And, really, this theme ties in very well with the Create a Buzz concept of Discover Your Competent Advantage TM -- keeping track of accomplishments and demonstrating how they add value.
The podcast provides tips for nonprofit leaders to create engaging stories that will motivate potential supporters and volunteers (including a model for writing the story). While it is geared towards public sector organizations, others of you may also benefit from the ideas and suggestions. Remember, the more you can tell good stories about your accomplishments [your WOW Factor], the easier it will be for others to see your value. Once upon a time ...
Well, I've been inspired by one of the sessions I've been facilitating for the Turning the Page conference for library leaders called "Creating Your Library Story." It's designed to help librarians develop compelling stories about the benefits their patrons receive from public access computers and related technology. [We encourage them to find their "Kevin Carroll" stories to highlight.]
So, when I was asked to contribute by Sue Green at Nonprofit Central to create a tutorial for nonprofit leaders that would be featured by Craigslist Foundation, I thought storytelling would be a relevant theme on which to focus. And, really, this theme ties in very well with the Create a Buzz concept of Discover Your Competent Advantage TM -- keeping track of accomplishments and demonstrating how they add value.
The podcast provides tips for nonprofit leaders to create engaging stories that will motivate potential supporters and volunteers (including a model for writing the story). While it is geared towards public sector organizations, others of you may also benefit from the ideas and suggestions. Remember, the more you can tell good stories about your accomplishments [your WOW Factor], the easier it will be for others to see your value. Once upon a time ...
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Leadership Training Update: The Sagamore
I'm back in NYC after last week's library leadership training events at The Sagamore. The picture from the last post truly didn't do justice to the landscape and scenery. Here's a shout out to Shannon and the team at The Sagamore -- thanks for making PLA and our participants feel so welcome and special! I must admit that it was cool to be back in my home-state -- where my "Ellis, like the Island" introductory joke was met with at least a chuckle!
Once again, we had some rich discussions in my enhancing project leadership sessions. We discussed the challenges of being a team of one -- library leaders who manage the shop on their own. How can you create effective teams? How do you not burnout as you balance your many responsibilities?
I typically encourage them to think broadly about their potential team members -- volunteers, board members, trustees, students, et al. In many cases, a librarian has had an "a-ha" moment about someone to approach that s/he hadn't considered before. I also suggest they tap into the passions (WOW! Factors) of others when including people on projects -- assigning tasks that they will be excited and inspired to perform. I feel I can personally relate to their stories having founded my own practice/firm.
Even in the beginning, I spoke in terms of "we," even though I hadn't really established my network of associates and consultants. It was partially to create a more established business presence; however, it also helped me personally as it motivated me to find those team members so I wouldn't be working in a vacuum (and have to keep disguising my voice on the phone -- just kidding!). That's what makes this PLA project so fun for me (aside from the fun, "rowdy" librarians *smile*) -- the great people I get to work with on a weekly basis.
In the sessions, we did acknowledge that it can be difficult to delegate responsibilities to new team members once you've found them. Why? Because we become very efficient when we're a team of one. We figure out very creative ways to keep all of those (red, rubber) balls juggling in the air. What's wrong with that? Well, nothing -- except that your new team members may have their own ideas about how to "juggle" and perform their tasks. In the sessions, we discuss how important it is to set people up to succeed, by providing the right resources, training and support. And, also by getting out of their way when necessary -- giving them permission to do it their way. Is this always easy? Absolutely not! But, true leaders know this and they accept the responsibility.
So, I'm "off" from PLA until the end of the month. I'm looking forward to our next event in Hershey. Until then, I'll be getting ready for the GLF Retreat in St. Maarten!
Once again, we had some rich discussions in my enhancing project leadership sessions. We discussed the challenges of being a team of one -- library leaders who manage the shop on their own. How can you create effective teams? How do you not burnout as you balance your many responsibilities?
I typically encourage them to think broadly about their potential team members -- volunteers, board members, trustees, students, et al. In many cases, a librarian has had an "a-ha" moment about someone to approach that s/he hadn't considered before. I also suggest they tap into the passions (WOW! Factors) of others when including people on projects -- assigning tasks that they will be excited and inspired to perform. I feel I can personally relate to their stories having founded my own practice/firm.
Even in the beginning, I spoke in terms of "we," even though I hadn't really established my network of associates and consultants. It was partially to create a more established business presence; however, it also helped me personally as it motivated me to find those team members so I wouldn't be working in a vacuum (and have to keep disguising my voice on the phone -- just kidding!). That's what makes this PLA project so fun for me (aside from the fun, "rowdy" librarians *smile*) -- the great people I get to work with on a weekly basis.
In the sessions, we did acknowledge that it can be difficult to delegate responsibilities to new team members once you've found them. Why? Because we become very efficient when we're a team of one. We figure out very creative ways to keep all of those (red, rubber) balls juggling in the air. What's wrong with that? Well, nothing -- except that your new team members may have their own ideas about how to "juggle" and perform their tasks. In the sessions, we discuss how important it is to set people up to succeed, by providing the right resources, training and support. And, also by getting out of their way when necessary -- giving them permission to do it their way. Is this always easy? Absolutely not! But, true leaders know this and they accept the responsibility.
So, I'm "off" from PLA until the end of the month. I'm looking forward to our next event in Hershey. Until then, I'll be getting ready for the GLF Retreat in St. Maarten!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Have You Had a WOW! Exchange Lately?
I thought I'd pose this question after today's teleclass with Diane and other Downtown Women's Club members on Discovering Your WOW! Factor. On the call, we discussed two components of the Competent Advantage TM model that I believe are at the heart of the WOW! Factor: Leveraging Your Strengths and Creating a Buzz.
As is common when discussing the "buzz" or self-marketing, someone mentioned the fact that it can often feel like bragging. [BTW, if you can create compelling stories about your accomplishments, I don't believe it is bragging.] However, I suggested that having a team of champions (people who are familiar with your work and talents) can be helpful in promoting your accomplishments -- i.e., they can do some of the WOW! Factor storytelling for you; especially when you're not in the room.
Then, someone asked about how to stay motivated and excited by our WOW! Factors if we haven't found a way to fully incorporate them into our work. That's how the WOW! Exchange came up. I have in my core group a few people with whom I can exchange ideas, successess and challenges. We all do -- the people you can call on for a "pick-me-up" when the gremlins are wreaking havoc on your plans. One of my core Right Energy People, Lynne, is great at pointing out myWOW! Factors when we get together for our brainstorming meetings -- especially if I get caught in the trap of "Well, I didn't get to do everyhing I wanted to do last quarter.."
As of today, those brainstorming sessions will now be our WOW! Exchanges; in which we'll each start our conversation sharing things we're proud of since we last spoke or met. I'd encourage you to have similar exchanges with your trusted friends and advisors. In fact, I had the idea that InStep Consulting should have a 10th Anniversary WOW! Exchange sometime this year. Keep an eye out for more info ... would also love suggestions for a great venue to hold it ...
As is common when discussing the "buzz" or self-marketing, someone mentioned the fact that it can often feel like bragging. [BTW, if you can create compelling stories about your accomplishments, I don't believe it is bragging.] However, I suggested that having a team of champions (people who are familiar with your work and talents) can be helpful in promoting your accomplishments -- i.e., they can do some of the WOW! Factor storytelling for you; especially when you're not in the room.
Then, someone asked about how to stay motivated and excited by our WOW! Factors if we haven't found a way to fully incorporate them into our work. That's how the WOW! Exchange came up. I have in my core group a few people with whom I can exchange ideas, successess and challenges. We all do -- the people you can call on for a "pick-me-up" when the gremlins are wreaking havoc on your plans. One of my core Right Energy People, Lynne, is great at pointing out myWOW! Factors when we get together for our brainstorming meetings -- especially if I get caught in the trap of "Well, I didn't get to do everyhing I wanted to do last quarter.."
As of today, those brainstorming sessions will now be our WOW! Exchanges; in which we'll each start our conversation sharing things we're proud of since we last spoke or met. I'd encourage you to have similar exchanges with your trusted friends and advisors. In fact, I had the idea that InStep Consulting should have a 10th Anniversary WOW! Exchange sometime this year. Keep an eye out for more info ... would also love suggestions for a great venue to hold it ...
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