Pathways to Promotion

Pathways to Promotion

Bu Sig Nordal, Jr. 

You may well have been in the same job for a few years and enjoy the work and those with whom you work. But when you have had 'corporate' emails announcing the promotion of others it can make you think 'why them and not me?'

It is highly unlikely that you will suddenly be offered a promotion unless you do something proactive in order to attain one. It is not enough to do your work well and be reliable as you need to make yourself noticed more. What employers want to see is an employee with passion, a drive to get things done whatever the odds, a team player who provides solutions to difficulties and problems.

When you think of promotion it is often with a view to moving a rung up the corporate ladder but if you look at the long term there is a great benefit in moving sideways too. Taking on a job using similar skills within a different department improves your overall knowledge of the company and can increase your value as an individual with more than one string to your bow.

By demonstrating a strong and secure work ethic in that you are accurate and consistently meet deadlines shows you are dependable. Managers need to see you are secure in your skills and knowledge about your particular area of work so, if needs be, read up more about it. There is a wealth of additional information about all manner of things and you never know what new ideas may be sparked in you. Also look at articles and press releases from competitors to garner knowledge of how the business in which you work could improve.

If it is possible, see if there is anyone who could act as your mentor. This should be someone with more experience than you with whom you can talk openly with about work issues. A good mentor will offer suggestions and new ideas and give examples of previous successes and failures of their own to help guide you. Ideally the mentor would be someone at your workplace who can then inform others about your abilities and talents. However, one can often have friends in similar roles or people you have interacted with online so ask them!

Make every effort to speak directly to your manager about the attainable goals for your career and ensure that at meetings or just at lunch with colleagues that you contribute to discussions with good ideas. Sitting quietly and nodding does not make you stand-out from the crowd so make sure your opinions are voiced. That being said, only voice your opinions about work matters and make them as positive as possible – whatever you do, do not indulge yourself in the usual gossip as those who do are generally viewed to be lowering morale and also untrustworthy.

Above all, be committed and clear about your work. Make sure you dress and write with utter professionalism. Whilst you wait for your promotion, ensure you also stay focused on your current position and spend time to accumulate more skills, expand your contacts and increase your confidence. You know you are worth promoting so show how much you are worth to the business.

Developing Your Networking Skills

Developing Your Networking Skills

By Sig Nordal, Jr. 

It is very important in any business to get the right connections through networking with all manner of people. This should not be limited to just lunches and meetings but by actively 'getting out there' through volunteering, visits to offices, blogging and even Twitter. By meeting up with people either on-line or face to face you can glean a great deal of information and knowledge about such things as the latest technology or ways to solve a problem you are encountering. In expanding your networking you heighten the potential of your business and give it a greater chance of expansion.

Do not limit yourself to just those within your particular field. When you go to events or social gatherings ask people about their jobs as this can not only be instructive but also help you develop a more holistic thought process about a company. Bear in mind that each individual has something to offer be they an employee, a client or someone who is trying to sell something to you – you do not know who they know and also how the jobs those people currently have may alter in the future.

Remind yourself of those who have reached out to you who you have not or could not assist. Don't take it personally if you are treated this way by others from time to time as not everyone you set down on your possible contact list is going to respond positively or even at all! Having said that, do not give up after just one try but be persistent if you do not initially get a reply.

Do not assume you have to be a naturally outgoing and sociable person to be a good networker. In fact, if you are of a more shy disposition you are more than likely to be in contact with fewer individuals and yet hold a deeper foundation for that particular acquaintance. The more extrovert have contacts all over the place but, as a result, their exchanges are more limited.

Whether you are naturally outgoing or more introverted it is important to remember a few key strategies. Before zooming in on someone, make sure you 'people watch' and observe others for a while to gauge whether what they are saying has possible value to you. If possible, do some research on the people who will be attending a particular event so that you can be selective about whom you approach. When you do start talking to people take time to respond to them in a well-thought out way, an intelligent way and a way that shows you have considered what the other person had to say. Do not 'waffle' and go off on tangents hither and thither as you will not be making fruitful connections. Remember that listening is just as (if not more) important as speaking.

Also, avoid joining in too much with phatic conversation (or 'small talk' as it is more commonly known). Use that time to your advantage as it can give you the opportunity to continue to observe and then hone in on the connections that are relevant to you. Not everyone is adept at being clear about what it is they are tying to explain but if you are interested in the outline of what they are saying then ask probing questions. Have patience and listen to what they are trying to communicate as you may have already got 'spidey senses' that this person could ultimately be someone you would want to know!

Finally, when you have the business cards or email addresses of those people with whom you have connected make sure you contact them. Make sure you are specific within your email regarding the areas upon which you both spoke and how you would like to learn more about something that was relayed to you. If you take the time to really give your email or phone call the 'personal touch' it will automatically show that your original communication with them is definitely one worth developing further.

Fear of Public Speaking

Fear of Public Speaking

By Sig Nordal, Jr. 

Many of us, indeed most of us, are nervous of speaking in public be it for a large crowd of people or a more intimate setting with under ten people concentrating on what we are saying. This could be a presentation, an interview, a speech or even within a meeting. In fact, the more intimate the setting the more nervous we can feel as we are able to see each and every person and their reactions to our words.

Many people suffer from a great deal of stress and anxiety before (and indeed during) such public speaking where they can feel themselves start to sweat, feel their hands or knees shake and their heart pounding. Often the 'speaker' can speak too quickly or forget half of what they had intended to say. Such physical nervous and stress responses can be overcome or at least reduced by identifying the causes of your fear and looking at ways to overcome them. Your own worst enemy is your inner critic who is always harsh so ensure that you are realistic in your expectations of how you will perform. Convince your mind through positive thoughts that you are confident about what you will be speaking about as you plan and prepare your presentation or speech.

Many people learn what they will say 'by rote' like an actor with a script. Learning 'by rote' can have  pitfalls as if you forget one line you may create inner panic and thus stumble over your words and forget a great deal more. If interrupted or distracted you can be completely thrown off balance. Imagine, if you would, an actor whose next line is a response to another character's words – the actor who is confident and 'unflappable' can often compensate for the other actor by integrating what the person should have said within their own line. The key to speeches or presentations is to ensure you know exactly what you are going to say and what comes next. A useful tool is to have key words that encompass each verbal paragraph you are going to be speaking about – such could easily be on a notepad rather than separate pieces of card. How many of us have been somewhat distracted within a presentation by a speaker shuffling a deck of key cards as if performing a magic trick? The additional downfall of such key cards is that you will be preoccupied with them and fail to make eye contact. Keep it simple as much of your message falls outside the words you are saying but rather the body language, gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice.

Public speaking is always going to heighten one's adrenalin which you could negatively believe is fear but why not view it positively as excitement? You are to be communicating something – something that you know about and so you are prepared already for questions.  Ensure that this is the case. Do not aim for perfection but improvement each time. Make sure that you do thorough research on the topic you are presenting even if it is your own field. Why bother if it is in my field? A good reason is because very few of us know everything. Depending upon your presentation or speech it is certainly worth using the Internet in order to see both sides of any statements you are making. Play 'devil's advocate' with yourself. What's the upside and what's the downside of that method or theory? Then you will be fully prepared for any questions.

Useful strategies for nervousness focus upon mental, physical and psychological techniques. Experimenting with a combination of all three can give you a wider ability to reduce fear and nerves. We all require different techniques to achieve a state of calm and in control. The key is to not give up or be daunted by a memory of a previously poor attempt – use where you went wrong in order to grow and improve. Try to 'mingle' with the people attending prior to giving your presentation or speech. The more amiable you are towards people face to face the more likely they are to respond to you when you are standing in front of them communicating your well-prepared information. Again, this works in your favour too as they are no longer strangers and you thus become more relaxed when delivering your speech.

The standard formula for a presentation is to inform the audience what you are going to talk about (often using a story that will make people laugh), tell them a few key points (with stories to illustrate the points) and then to recap what you have already said. Avoid cramming in too much information as people can only withhold a certain amount of knowledge received audibly. Also, in this day and age, beware of 'Death by Powerpoint.' For many presentations, this is now a very common tool. Think of the times you have been faced with a screen of words watching the back of the speaker's head as he or she reads it? Not many of us can read and listen simultaneously and we often speed-read the screen feeling 'put off' by the speaker! As the speaker, you are not making eye contact with your 'audience' and are purely reading out loud as though those in the room are incapable of reading for themselves. Having said that, if you wish to use a Powerpoint then interest can be garnered through visual images that hint at the next thing you are to be speaking about. If you are talking about profit (for want of a better example) a cartoon image of cash (be it dollars, pounds or another currency) with a 'red tick' to denote success could work very well to draw in the audience – not to mention it could be a very useful prompt for yourself as to what you are going to be talking about next! If you want to include additional information (or to concisely summarise what you were speaking about) by all means have some prepared 'handouts' to distribute at the END of your presentation NOT the beginning as you will lose those who have read it all before you have even cleared your throat!

Think of the presentations you have attended. The most successful are those where the speaker talks to you and not at you. Be genuinely enthusiastic and interested about the subject. You will not be able to please everybody as this would be an irrational fear. Do not worry about a possible few in the room who do not appear to be enthralled but focus upon those you are pleasing and to do your best. To paraphrase Bruce Lee 'low aim is the crime not failure.' Most people do not mind if you stumble over your words a couple of times - in fact they probably do not even notice. Tell yourself how prepared you are, remind yourself that you know what you are talking about and you are going to succeed. Keep repeating affirmative thoughts to yourself. If you are fully prepared, relaxed and know your subject you will get the best results. Once you have accumulated successes in various public speaking roles your confidence will improve and your fears will be replaced by fearlessness.

Battling Depression

By Sig Nordal, Jr. 

Every entrepreneur and every businessman that is involved with a complicated, time-sensitive project or mission knows that the stress associated with such undertakings can be enormous. Not only does the success or failure of a given project make or break the entrepreneur himself, but it can also destroy many people around him. Many entrepreneurs and successful business people have dealt with depression and other issues caused by stress, uncertainty, loneliness, hopelessness and similar emotions in their lives.

Depression is a serious issue - very serious. The death of Robin Williams has brought the issue of depression to the forefront, and it was unfortunate that depression is getting this attention due to Williams' unfortunate and untimely death. However, there are many business people and leaders that deal with emotional issues as the pressures at the time can be absolutely overwhelming.

Today, people try to reduce the stress and associated damage by living a healthier lifestyle, but nevertheless the core issues that many carry through their lives are never appropriately dealt with. Many people today have yet to deal with devastating upbringings, difficulties in their personal lives and all the while expected to perform at their best.

Being a leader, being an actor, being in the limelight is not an easy spot to be in, although many want to be there, but I wonder if those actually have the desire to reach the top have mentally prepared themselves for the journey - for when you stand at the top of the mountain, you are alone, completely alone. Depression is a fickle beast – it does not focus upon wealth or success and is unpredictable in whom it decides to attack.

In order to attempt to recover from depression one must take very small steps – indeed, the things that one is advised to do appear hard in themselves (such as going for a walk or spending time with friends). Even thinking about doing such things can be exhausting in itself. Depression cannot be resolved by sheer willpower as it has an annoying tendency to drain you of drive, hope and energy but you do have some control which means that through making positive choices recovery is difficult but not impossible.

You may have limited energy but try to maybe take a short walk around the block. Force yourself to get up, get dressed and just go or pick up the phone and make a call to a friend or loved one. Take it one day at a time. Small accomplishments will gradually build up and, although they seem to be minimal, they will gradually enable you to be more positive at the end of each day. Remember that the more effort you put into recovery the greater the results will be.

When someone feels depressed it can be difficult to reach out. On one hand, your inner self knows that reaching out for support is a positive thing in order to get matters into perspective and yet you find that when you do reach out you are persistently making excuses as to why you cannot follow the advice being given to you. As a result you feel that every time you say anything you are wailing about your misery and think that those around you must be sick and tired of having you moaning. In many cases this is of course true! Rather than constantly reaching out and then saying 'oh, I can't do that because...' say 'well, that idea is not really feasible but I could try a version of what you are suggesting.' Such a response makes you feel less negative and your listener to feel that you are trying as hard as you can to overcome certain issues and make steps forward.

Believe it or not, friends and family actually do want to help you so isolating yourself is not going to aid your recovery and reaching out is neither going to be a sign of weakness nor are you going to become a burden. Turn to your trusted family and friends and share what you are going through or alternatively join a support group for depression. Support groups can be very useful as you hear what other people were or are facing that brought them to the same place. When people 'share' their stories avoid focussing on the differences (as all stories will have arisen from a huge range of reasons) but concentrate on the similarities in how they feel inside. It could be the intense loneliness even when around other people, it could be a case of where you just have such inertia that you cannot get motivated to do anything at all and just want to go to sleep.

Of course, despite saying willpower cannot in itself overcome depression there is a need to literally force yourself into doing something else the feeling of failure is heightened when one gives up before even trying. Being with friends or around people is key to battling the isolation involved with depression – however, what if you do not have many (or any) friends? Many of us only actually have work colleagues with whom we may well 'get along' with but would be fearful of expressing personal issues to. There are on-line support groups that are very useful for those who are not in a position to speak to those they know in 'real life.' These groups hold a variety of people so, of course, as in 'real life' make sure you are on your guard regarding anything that could identify you or your specific whereabouts – sadly, there are unscrupulous people everywhere so use your common sense.

If you are up to doing so, see if you can join a club for something that interests you – you do not have to be the life and soul of the group as the focus is mainly upon the activity involved be it exercise, art, books or cookery. Another good idea is to volunteer in a local charity shop – not only are you giving your time for the benefit of others but you are meeting different people, sorting through practical (and sometimes bizarre!) goods and, once more, is a way of reducing your isolation. Of course, if there is the availability of a counsellor or member of the clergy to confide in then embrace the opportunity – there is nothing weak about asking for professional help if you feel you cannot cope by yourself or if the depression is getting worse.

Most importantly you need to try and challenge your negative thinking. Not as easy as it sounds. The way you view yourself, the way you perceive other people view you, the various situations you encounter often make you automatically put a negative spin on things. It is almost impossible (even when not depressed) to have happy thoughts about everything. The key is to have balanced thoughts to replace the negative ones. Remember that no-one is perfect so why are you beating yourself up about not having perhaps achieved the ridiculously high standards you had intended? Deal with problems as challenges and do your best in any given circumstance. Many of us are actually good listeners and if we were hearing what we are thinking about ourselves by someone else we would be giving positive encouragement about them. You know yourself better than anybody so be your own best friend – would a best friend be permanently putting you down and saying you were useless?

Try to adopt a healthier living pattern. Eat healthier foods, get enough sleep, exercise and commune with nature thus giving you both fresh air and relaxation from stress. Many people go from one extreme to the other with depression. With food we can binge-eat through boredom or starve ourselves as we have little appetite. Indeed, you will recognise that already with a variety of things if you are depressed. Often excessive exercise, obsession with weight, spending hours on folding clean laundry, spending hours putting things in order, superstitious counting of how many times to check the door is shut properly are all signs of finding things we can control when we feel out of control with our mental health. Regular and sensible exercise decreases lethargy and is a natural anti-depressant as it releases endorphins that actually make you feel better so give it a go! Park your car further away from your destination, get off the bus one or two stops earlier and use the stairs rather than the elevator.

Stress can be one of the causes of depression or as a result of it. Try to identify the things that make you stressed be it relationships, work overload, health problems or just taking on too much. Once you have identified the key things that make you stressed (which in turn worsen depression) do your best to minimise or avoid them. Think of all the things you used to enjoy and still enjoy and put them in a mental 'self help toolbox.' It could be watching a funny or action-packed movie, it could be strolling through the park or it could be listening to music. Try to incorporate something you enjoy into each day even if you are actually feeling okay – the more you make time for yourself by doing a pleasurable thing the greater your resilience to depression will be. Above all, be determined that you will win the battle against depression. It is an unwelcome visitor and it's time it shut the door from the other side and disappeared into the darkness from whence it came.

Making the most of Marketing

Making the most of Marketing

By Sig Nordal, Jr. 

Both small and large organisations have worked out various strategies to market their products which are useful to bear in mind if you are starting out in business. The key is to get as many pertinent people as possible to know who you are and what you are offering. For example, if your business was computer based management training then creating a database of people with the role of 'marketing manager' or 'personnel manager' (whom you can find in various business lists) would be a more prudent target than writing to the Director of a company.

If you are a small business just starting out then there are some very simple ways to get yourself known. Make sure you attend local events and become a member of groups that interest you. You can never tell when an opportunity could present itself so arm yourself with business cards – not only does it look more professional but it removes the inevitable delay of scampering about trying to borrow a pen and paper.

Depending upon your business, take the time to 'cold call' places that would give you the opportunity to offer information of your knowledge and services as an open day. Such places DO exist! Church Halls, schools and libraries are often very welcoming to various events. Remember, schools have more than just children and young adults present. There are their teachers too. What the people there learn is what you have to offer and, if you take time to prepare your presentation, then it will filter through a wide cross-section of people. Make sure that any leaflets you have printed include all the different ways you can be contacted such as your email and website – make yourself easy to access!

If you have an office or an event organised make sure all the waiting time is productive time for your potential clients. Ensure appropriate literature is there to read, various posters, take-away leaflets and, if money allows, a screen showing what your business is offering (a time-set Power Point is a simple yet eye-catching visual marketing tool that you could easily compile yourself). Invest in such things as pens, mugs, notepads and keyrings displaying your business logo or name  - the more people who obtain them, the more likely others will see them and enquire about your business.

In this day and age, online marketing is a huge opportunity and blogging is a tremendous way to get your name available to thousands of people. Start your own blog and be committed to it on a daily basis. Encourage people to comment on your blog and make sure you comment on other bloggers in a similar industry as yourself. By doing so your name will become more and more recognised and will increase the chance of others looking at your own website. Ensure your website is not too 'busy' on the opening page as itt can be off-putting to many people if there is too much information. It needs to be easy to navigate so that those who go to your site can easily find the area they are most interested in. The more people you find online the more likely you are to find a variety of forums that are interested in similar areas – join them! Social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter are also being used so frequently that it is a very good idea to get your brand noticed within them and follow what is trending.

Also, use various online sites to write press releases on new products for your business. Even revamped older products are worth a mention – the power of the internet is vast. You have a world wide web of people you can market your ideas and services to. However, do not forget the face-to-face. If your business is only able to deal locally then make sure you reply promptly to emails, phone calls and meet prospective clients to maximise your potential. Whatever your business, you need to have clients to make it work for you. Do not sit on your laurels but market what you have to offer as your ideas and products are good – so make sure as many people as possible know they are! 

Balancing Work and Home

Balancing Work and Home

By Sig Nordal, Jr.

You want to ensure that you are financially secure for your family, you work hard in order to be successful and you desire the rewards attained by promotion. And yet, work seems to encompass your life – the main reason you are working is for your family but you seem to spend very little time with them and minimal quality time. How on earth can you reach the balance between the two? Both seem equally important and you are on the horns of a dilemma as to how to create harmony between the two. It is very easy to put work first and foremost but, without the strong family foundations, what would happen if you suddenly did not have that job? 

It is very important to not go for the 'all or nothing' approach but to instead go somewhere in between. You will never get everything in both worlds and you need to set work boundaries which will in fact result in improving your time management and productivity. It is important to speak to your 'significant other' about the work/home balance whether you are both working or not. You may assume that you know what the other person is thinking and then, in arguments involving the 'I hardly ever see you!' nature, you reply 'but I am doing this for you. I thought that was what you wanted!' Communication with your spouse is crucial in order to ascertain where changes need to be made so that your work does not become your 'significant other' and your spouse merely your mistress.

Such balance does not have to happen overnight but jointly start setting boundaries for both of you. Your time management skills at work are just as important as your time management skills at home. Set the hours together where you spend quality time with each other. Of course, you will both talk about work to a degree but include trivia within your conversations! All too often people are both guilty of returning home and then not only cataloging their day at work but also following it with all the areas in each part of the rest of their life that they are dissatisfied with. The conversations often end up in a mental sigh as though, unless you win the Lotto, you are both doomed. Most of the problems we all face rarely get solved per se but, by making adjustments, they can be managed.

More often than not the alert sound of a text message, the obsessive 'refresh the page' for new emails, the 'ping' of a contact on other social media continues all day whether at work or at home. Technology is fun and a great way of communicating with others but how irritating is it when someone is having a conversation with you and simultaneously looking at their cell phone? The overwhelming beeps, pings and ding-dongs become a constant white noise in your life. As a result of technology many jobs now make employees feel they are 'on call' twenty four hours a day as managers have increased expectations by outsourcing some jobs and overworking those who remain. In turn, those who remain feel obliged to work harder to ensure their own job is safe leading to greater work stress.

When attempting to create your home and work balance do not think you need to squeeze in more to your days. What you need to be doing is less and regaining control of your own piece of the world. To attempt to get everything done will never happen as there will always be more – so, set manageable prioritized things to do for both work and home. Do however try to involve exercise in your week – the benefits of exercising for an hour last far longer than the hour itself. Exercise reduces stress and increases self efficacy (or in plain speak the ability to produce the desired or intended result). Quality time with your partner could include an hour at the gym or even a half hour walk together. Out of the house, out of the office, leave the cell phones at home and just walk and talk. It is possible to achieve a work and home balance but it will take both of you to make it succeed!