Today’s post is by Jennifer Kahnweiler, author of “The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength.”
Even in today’s noisy business world, introverts can still learn to build on their quiet strength and succeed. The goal is not changing your personality or natural work style, but embracing and expanding who you are. Here are 10 tips to help you make it happen:
- Have a game plan. Rather than wing it on the people part of your job, have a game plan. Prepare for high-stakes meetings and conversations — anticipating questions and rehearsing your responses. Fact is, just as you strategize for key projects and tasks, you need to plan ahead for connecting with people—and taking regular timeouts to recharge your batteries.
- Communicate early and often. It’s easy for introverts to be out of sight — and out of mind. So, take the initiative in sharing information — communicating early and often with higher-ups, team members, and project stakeholders.
Businessweek’s Management IQ team recently put a call out via Twitter for the nuttiest things that people had ever heard in a performance review, and they uncovered a few gems. My favorite: ”‘You’d be 1 of my best engineers if you were 6’ tall w/black hair & a wart on ur nose.’ (Petite blond didn’t work.).”
Image credit, maxexphoto, iStock (read more…)
Today’s guest post is from Jay Galbraith, president of Galbraith Management Consultants and affiliated research scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California. His clients have included P&G, Toyota and Nokia.
With bailouts and layoffs defining much of today’s global economy, businesses are increasingly under the microscope – dissecting spending, resource allocation and leadership abilities. These factors are not just driven by the individuals at the helm of these complex corporations, but also by the design of the organization itself.
While every company strives to reach its customers in a meaningful way, not all are able to efficiently and consistently operate at that level. Some may even think they are customer-focused, but are really structured around product groups. However, in today’s uncertain economy, companies must structure for sustained success, understanding that people, not products, ultimately influence the fate of the organization.
For instance, Best Buy in the past was like most retailers in that its organization was dominated by the buyer groups called Merchants, which were then organized by product lines with a product-centric mindset. (read more…)
Today’s bonus tracks include two from the Fistful of Talent blog, a violation of my usual rule about not sourcing the same site twice in one day. But when you check them out, you’ll see why I made an exception. Both are thought-provoking.
- Handling inter-office affairs
- Would a “Real World” for your company lead to innovation?
- You’re going to lose your job. Now what?
Image credit, FotografiaBasica, via iStock (read more…)
SmartPulse — our weekly reader poll in Smartbrief on Workforce — tracks feedback from leading managers and HR practitioners. We run the poll question each Wednesday in our e-newsletter and feature analysis from SmartBrief on Workforce Senior Editor Mary Ellen Slayter on this blog.
Last week’s poll question: Do you think your organization’s parental-leave policy is fair to mothers and fathers?
- Yes, it’s a good policy for all parents, 44%
- Yes, but only because it’s bad for everyone, 29%
- No, it favors mothers, 25%
- No, it favors fathers, 2%
Parental leave policies continue to evolve, though less than half of you report being pleased with how well your company’s policy supports parents of both genders. For those of you with policies you’re proud of, I’d love to hear the details. Likewise, if you feel your organization’s stance falls short, let us know why.
Image credit, iStock (read more…)
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