Career Skills for Today – Mindreading

Recently a GovLoop forum asked: “What one skill do you wish you had?”  The very first response was “Mind Reading.” In my July 14, 2010  blog, I wrote on the career skill Trend Spotting, or Foresight. So I just have to respond.

Indeed Mind Reading seems to be a Competency all by itself. Not to be confused with “second guessing,” I would define it in our work settings as finely tuned perception and communication skills to draw out the other person; to make explicit the expectations, desired outcomes and emotions. It may also include deadlines, resources available, along with consequences for errors. Other definitions call into play all five senses.  We all learn at an early age to read others expressions to know if they are happy, sad, angry, etc. We then modify our own behavior based on their mood.  Scientists at Stanford have new data on Mind Reading: Comparing  brain images to the “maps” from the first set of participants, the researchers were able to predict with 85% accuracy the correct mental state of the second set of study participants.

We all communicate through our own filters. These filters are built on our previous experiences, fundamental values, emotions and motives.  We often project our feelings and values on to others thus attributing a motive to them that is really our own motive. If they hold the same motive, we feel like we are “on the same page.”  If it isn’t, then we often walk away from the conversation with different outcomes!  The big mistake here is to assume we know the other person’s motive. So the ‘Mind Reading’ challenge is to first, become aware of the motive and second, to verify it by asking clarifying questions.

Accurately reading facial expressions and body language is a core component of Mind Reading. But Mind Reading taps our sixth sense, intuition.  Just as “The Mentalist” isn’t psychic, he’s  highly observant.  A good Mind Reader is attuned to both the present and past situations. In observing the current facts, she will draw upon her previous encounters with the person or a similar situation and see if there are connections.  Other connections may be drawn from putting the current facts into a larger context – even projecting into the future.  For example, you’ve used your Mind Reading abilities when you hear your colleague boss take a stand on an issue and you know it is based on her desire for early retirement.

We can enhance our capacity for accurate Mind Reading by becoming more self-aware of our own emotions and motives as we draw on our observations, our memories, our powers of reason, and our deep pools of emotion to  make educated guesses about what another person is thinking and feeling. By being more attentive to the subtle and overt expressions of others, we get outside of ourselves and are able to help others express what they may not be able to say.  Mind Reading requires knowing when to probe and when to leave well enough alone, an old-fashioned virtue: discretion.

More Boomers Starting Own Biz

Reuter’s Wealth Blogger, Mark Miller, shared the statistics of Entrepreneurs age 55 to 64 now represent a rising share of start-up activity, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, accounting for 23 percent of new entrepreneurs in 2010, up from 14.5 percent in 1996. As this age group experiences the early buyouts, early retirement and layoffs, many are looking to become their own bosses.  Some people have juggled part-time activities for years and now take the steps to expand those interests.

This trend seems to be a combination both internal motivation and business economics.  Boomers are having difficulty finding new jobs because employers need a new skill sets that many don’t have.  Labor cost containments mean lower salaries in many sectors. When a company has to cut costs, the layoff is the jump-start that we need to move from our comfort zone of a stalled job. I know it was the bungee jump for me!  It becomes the opportunity to  following one’s dreams. Having built confidence and skills from previous employment, this transition offers us time and motivation to learn entrepreneurial skills.

Whether you join the ranks of contingent work force, contract your knowledge and skills to an organization, or hang out your shingle in a brand new field, its a powerful feeling to be your own boss. There are plenty of free and low-cost resources to stimulate this critical part of our economy. Start with your local (county) small business association. Participate in local business functions, such as professional organizations and your local chamber of commerce.  Be the Leader you always knew you could be.

Change at Work – Bring a friend

Its  so much easier to do something different or scary if someone else does it too.  We used to dare each other to do something “dangerous.” But it wasn’t so bad if someone else did it first. Courage comes in many forms. Even as adults we often prefer to go somewhere new when we take a friend to explore with us.

When it comes to Change in the workplace, we often feel like we are alone in our fears. Leaders can encourage people to bring a colleague to the informational meetings, the training, and other change related events. Team up people for the training. Provide fun incentives for enrolling their friends.  When the going gets rough, encourage them to help each other, not compete, so everyone can get up the hill. As they see each others’ successes, a wedge of success is created. We reduce resistance the change when we experience success together. As others begin to see the success, they will be less resistant and join their friends.

How else can we build success in our Change projects?

Change Success – Initiate more conversations

When there is an organizational change, a systems upgrade or change in policy/procedures or leadership, a common mis-belief is that if we give people the facts, they can handle the change.  Facts are important to answer the “why” question.  But it doesn’t get to a personal level – and that’s where the change must be successful. We search to answer, “What’s in it for me?”

And people don’t always know what questions to ask. So we have a workplace that has a heavy silence with no one saying what’s on their mind.  Denial is abundant.

An effective leader will initiate more conversations, not less, to uncover the concerns and questions.  There are many levels to the “why” and “how” questions. Some can be answered, must many cannot until later. And many of the best solutions come from the people who will do the hands-on work to implement the change. So when people ask pointed questions or just glare at you, ask them, “What is your concern?” and “What do you think would make this work?” Incorporate some craziness into developing new solutions (and let off a little steam). Allow them to vent without repercussions.

Emotions – anger, frustration, disappointment – are all a part of dealing with the change.  Help people be resilient by listening, without judgment and without trying to “fix” their concerns. Ask what they have done in the past that helped them through similar stressful times.  Ask them to think how they want to feel a month after the change is implemented. Visualizing positive outcomes helps reduce the current negative conversations.

What helps you be resilient?

WIIFM? First, Listen

People are so overwhelmed by things changing in their lives and their work that we can count on them begin distracted while we are trying to communicate. Whether you are leading a training session or a meeting, over half the people are preoccupied with other thoughts.  Some are already gearing up to argue with you.

Our tendency is to talk more and to talk louder to get their attention. We need to deliver our message realizing they hear it through their “What’s In It For Me?” filter.  Anything that will touch my wallet will elicit an emotional response.  We need to talk just enough to deliver your message, and then stop talking so we can listen.

Listen for the concerns behind the blunt or badly phrased question.  Listen for what they fear behind the sarcastic tone in their voice. Respond first by ensuring that you heard their question by summarizing and asking them to confirm that your summary is correct.  Then offer the  clarification or additional information they requested.  If the answer is unknown, say so and ask for their help in finding the best solution. Too many of us launch into a rebuttal which may add further anxiety rather than address their concern.

It takes courage to listen when Change impacts our comfort zones.  We stand a greater chance of reducing the resistance when we communicate honestly and encourage the dialogue.

More on encouraging the conversations in the next blog.

What are your thoughts?

Free Resources to Learn/Upgrade a Skill

No matter what your role in the organization – executive or candidate – many people are finding that they need to learn a new version of a technology, or a greater proficiency in a another language in order to enhance their careers. Using the resources below you don’t have to attend a ‘class’ or reveal that you don’t know how to do something. You can make your work easier,  be more productive and able to take on more interesting assignments!

Education-Portal.com Look under Open Courseware, Free Courses for business, technology, science, liberal arts (languages). This site also includes helpful job search tips.

Freeskills.com Over 650 free tutorials for IT and other technology.

Jobmonkey.com/careertraining/office Need to learn Excel or update other MicroSoft tools?  Find links to learn Word, PowerPoint, Access, Project, SharePoint and more.

GCFLearnFree.org For anyone who wants to improve your technology, literacy and math skills.

Plan B – 5 things to do if your office temporarily shuts down

What are you doing as federal employees and all the contractors and others dependent on federal agencies anxiously await Congress to approve a budget?

I hear many are doing nothing at all; business as usual. Some don’t think it really will shut down. Others believe if they don’t plan for it, it won’t happen. And for some, their work isn’t the kind that can be adjusted.

If Leadership is in denial, then you can only plan  for yourself and your own career health. You can use the time for relaxation and rejuvenation. Some will get a few “honey-do’s” done.  But it’s also a prime opportunity to make some in-roads into managing your career.

Be aware (especially Teleworkers) if you find yourself with unplanned time off, you will not be able to use your work computer… for anything. The IT folks will be able to track your footprint.

1) Before you leave, print out your resume to refresh and  update so it’s ready when/if you should need it.

2) Participate a professional meeting that you might not have otherwise been able to attend

3) Take some free webinars or tutorials

4) Set up some coffee dates to maintain and expand your network

5)  GovLoop is encouraging and helping to coordinate a massive volunteering effort

So if there there isn’t a shut-down, stick to Plan A.  But if there is, don’t get caught empty-handed.

Abundance in the job search?

Now that sounds like I’m in my own la-la land.  But Jason Alba started me thinking with his blog:

http://www.jibberjobber.com/blog/2011/03/31/rethinking-abundance-mentality-job-search-version/

The concept of abundance has been around in many forms throughout many civilizations. Some may know it as ‘living with intention’ or ‘positive thinking.’

When it comes to job search, our emotional strength is critical to maintain endurance and mental health. With so much competition  making the job search even more challenging, its easy to fall into a mindset of scrambling for scraps.

I challenge you to stop. Stop your rat race for a few minutes.  Change your physical environment (if inside, go outside) to find something different to see, hear, and smell.  Take a really deep, slow breath.  Take a few more: slow and deep.  This should get you feeling a little more energized and clear-headed.

If you weren’t anxiously looking for a job, what else could you do with your skills and knowledge? Who needs the talents and perspective you offer?  What do others come to you for over and over again?  Dissect your skills and, like a word jumble puzzle, see what new ways you can combine them. An objective person can help with this. Next look around at the world to see what other groups or organizations could use the various combination of your talents. Use your down-time to keep these talents sharp (or sharpen others) with volunteer activities.  It will also help you answer the question, “What have you been doing since your last job?” but also might help make new connections and leads.

Change is tough – Stop being miserable.

One of my favorite bloggers has offered us this lovely gift of not only his wisdom but also his poetic talent. In this Seussical tale Kerry Patterson draws from his own experience (and all of us have similar ones!) to stop  perpetuating much of our own misery. You can download this story for yourself or your children:

“It’s Never Too Late to be Nice – A Parable from the Kingdom of Yabbit,” by Kerry Patterson

Network How-to

In her blog, “How to Build Your Network in 12 days“ Debra Feldman points us to the specific actions we can take to  develop an effective career network.   Some are basic, others are more advanced. All of the tips help us get beyond our current contacts and create more visibility of what we can and want to offer. The key is in our generosity.  Thanks, Deb and also Patra for sending me the link!