Do you have the qualities of a leader?
You don’t need the word “chief” in your title to act as a leader to the troops. Show that you possess the qualities to lead a team by exhibiting these leadership traits:
Category: Advancement
Look inward to push your career onward
What are your strengths? How could you improve? A look inward helps you understand your own motivations and helps hone your intuition. Here are guidelines for writing a self-assessment from Sharon Daniels, chief executive of AchieveGlobal.
People skills trump technical skills
New research by Right Management shows organizations prefer employees who are a good motivational fit with the team and the organization’s culture. HR pros say that interpersonal behaviors and organizational fit are bigger factors than technical skills or experience.
Ethics & Workplace Survey
An annual “Ethics & Workplace Survey” by Deloitte reveals that one-third of employed Americans plan to look for a new job once the economy recovers.
Can I save my job?
Question: “After many years in the medical field, I suffered an injury that forced me to stop working with patients. I moved into an office job handling insurance claims. I was given three weeks of training and told that I would have time to “fit into the job comfortably.” However, at the end of my 90-day probationary period, I received a terrible evaluation. This has never happened to me before. My supervisor apparently has documented all the times that I required assistance. I viewed this as learning, but she views it as an inability to do the work. I now have two weeks to improve or be fired. This seems unreasonable, but I like this job and want to keep it. What do you suggest?” — Afraid of Failing
Transitioning to the next level: 6 tips
Moving on up can be thorny if you’re not prepared to make the transition from peer to supervisor. David Peck, aka “The Recovering Leader,” offers six points to consider during and after a promotion:
Training tops HR survey
Be ready to tell your manager how you’d like to grow professionally. In a recent survey, nearly half of all human resources managers say their No. 1 focus is continuing education for workers.
Is certification worth pursuing?
Administrative pros looking for a way to stretch their skills often turn toward certification. But do the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) ratings help you advance your career? Or command a higher salary? Are they worth the work and cost?
Toot your horn
Next time someone asks, “So, what do you do?” toot your horn. Don’t hem and haw and answer with something like, “You probably won’t find this interesting, but …,” Carol Roth writes.
10 must-haves for your personal network
Ten people to include in your network: 1. The Mentor 2. The Coach 3. The Industry Insider 4. The Trendsetter 5. The Connector 6. The Idealist 7. The Realist 8. The Visionary 9. The Partner 10. The Wannabe.