Bev's Tips for a Better Work Life

Tips for a more rewarding and resilient career

For almost 20 years, Bev has been coaching
professionals to thrive at work, navigate
transitions and grow as leaders.

Career management

If you’re wondering “what’s next?”

Posted by Beverly Jones on

Ready for a career shift?

Read Kerry Hannon’s tips.

 Are you thinking about a launching a new career, but don’t know where to start?  Then here’s good news.  Acclaimed journalist Kerry Hannon has just released a revised paperback edition of her book, “What’s Next? – Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties, and Beyond.”

 Since 2006, Hannon has been writing in leading publications about “Second Acts,” the new careers that many of us are launching in our later years.  Hannon knows as much about this trend as anyone around. And, while she certainly understands the data on jobs trends, she developed much of her understanding firsthand, through hundreds of interviews with people, aged 40 to 70+, who have made big shifts in their work lives.

In “What Next?” Hannon offers portraits of 17 people who have chosen new paths.  For example, there’s Ken Rynne, a Washington energy lawyer who decided to live his dream and become a professional performer.  He launched Planet Washington, a rollicking musical act featuring timely political satire.  And there’s a clinical nurse who opened a knitting store, an AT&T executive who became an Episcopal priest, and a former IT specialist who is now a licensed acupuncture therapist specializing in fertility issues

Kerry Hannon with Zena
Kerry Hannon with Zena.

 The individual profiles are both inspiring and instructional, but the book is made even richer by Hannon’s insights, lists of resources, and specific advice about how to change your career.  And, while the book’s personal stories tend to involve people who are reinventing their work lives to pursue new passions or long-held dreams, the book is a useful guide for anybody considering a significant job shift.

 While Hannon touches upon everything from the value of volunteering to the ABCs of franchising, one theme she emphasizes is the power of networking.  She points out that the years you’ve spent years building up a circle of contacts can translate into a rich opportunity.

 I also particularly like Hannon’s suggestion that you prepare for your transition with a three-part fitness program: [Read more…] about If you’re wondering “what’s next?”

Are you focusing your attention on what matters most?

Posted by Beverly Jones on

Focused on success?

Now focus your attention.

focusOne time that successful professionals turn to executive coaching is when they feel overwhelmed by a relentless barrage of “to-do” items.  For example, a client I’ll call “Jane” had just received a bonus and been recommended for promotion.  But despite a flow of kudos from her bosses, she felt like she was barely holding things together.

 I asked Jane to set up a log and keep notes about how she was using her time in the office.  After a couple of weeks she noticed two trends.  She was attending too many meetings not relevant to her top objectives.  And while she was at her desk she seldom worked on a single project for more than 10 or 15 minutes before she was interrupted by a call, email or visit from a colleague.

 Jane decided to stop saying “yes” to every request, and to exercise more control over how she spends her time and energy. One way she stays more focused on critical goals and values is that every morning she identifies a significant task, like a segment of a large project, to accomplish by day’s end.  And on her calendar she has a 60 to 90-minute work period for the key task of the day. When that time block starts, she shuts her door, takes a few deep breaths, and starts working on the day’s top task, mostly ignoring phones and email.

 When we start treating our attention as a valuable resource, it can change not only how we work but also how we live.  In his most recent book, “Focus – The Hidden Driver of Excellence,” influential psychologist and prolific writer Daniel Goleman says leaders, and all the rest of us, must learn to better direct our attention if we want to get things done and live full lives. [Read more…] about Are you focusing your attention on what matters most?

Start 2014 with resolutions that work

Posted by Beverly Jones on

 New Year’s Resolutions

 can create real change!

I like to start each year with a list of New Year’s Resolutions, and some years my list has been more successful than in others.  But even when I abandoned my commitments before Spring, the process was worthwhile.  There were periods in my life when I didn’t devote much time to self-reflection, so starting out a year by taking a close look at myself was a good thing.

As I often do in December, in recent weeks I asked some of my coaching clients about what they’d like the next year to bring.  What will success look like in 2014?  Where do they want to focus their energy this year?

When I ask clients about their goals or intentions for the coming year, I generally don’t frame my questions in terms of “Resolutions.”  The concept of “Resolutions” sounds dated, and it makes some people feel defensive.  They have so many responsibilities to juggle already that the idea of taking on new rules or promises may feel like an unnecessary burden.

But for me, the process of resolving to do better in the coming year often leads to progress, even when my energy doesn’t last for the whole 12 months.  So today I’m working on my annual slate of Resolutions, and coming up with action plans to get things moving.  Care to join me?

If you want New Year’s Resolutions that make a difference, try these tips: [Read more…] about Start 2014 with resolutions that work

Bridge age and expertise gaps with mentoring that works both ways

Posted by Beverly Jones on

Want powerful mentoring?

Make it reciprocal.

The classic concept of a “mentor” is someone who’s older and more experienced.  That idea of a wise, generous senior advisor leading us along a career path is wonderful and soothing, and makes us all want mentoring. But the image is so limited, and so dated.  Here’s what can make mentoring really hum: fostering relationships that are reciprocal.

I was thinking about the nature of mentoring during a recent long weekend, as I dropped in and out of a three-day conversation between my husband and one of his much younger professional pals. [Read more…] about Bridge age and expertise gaps with mentoring that works both ways

Say “thank you” when they praise your work.

Posted by Beverly Jones on

 To keep the compliments coming

learn to accept them gracefully.

I grew up believing the proper way to respond to a compliment was with modesty.  If somebody said, “What a pretty dress,” my response was something like, “Oh, this cheap old thing?”

When I was a young lawyer, if I worked long hours on a tough memo and a partner said, “You did a nice job,” I was inclined to answer in the same way.  I’d belittle my efforts by saying something like, “No big deal” or, “It was really a team effort.”

My typical response was wrong in so many ways.  For one thing, it reframed the partner’s assessment of the quality of my work.  Instead of reading my mind and understanding that I’d struggled hard to produce a first class draft, the partner would tend to take me at my word and recall the project as not a big deal.

Beyond that, when I deflected the positive feedback I drained the energy from what should have been a happy moment.  When the partner offered kind words, I made him feel a little bit bad, instead of a little better.   And I denied myself the benefits that a compliment can bring.

It wasn’t until I became a manager myself that I understood how the compliment exchange should go.  To your brain, receiving a compliment is a reward, like a little cash, and research suggests that you perform even better after accepting a reward.  So your first step after hearing a compliment is to pause for an instant, and get the full value of the moment.

When you do open your mouth to respond, you have two goals: to reinforce the positive evaluation that led to the compliment, and at the same time to make the giver feel good. Here are suggestions for accepting compliments on your work:

  • Say “thanks.”    Begin your response by saying “thank you.”  And sound like you mean it.  Even if a little voice in your head says, “I don’t deserve it,” or, “He doesn’t mean it,” ignore your doubt.  Smile and express appreciation for the compliment.
  • Show your pleasure at a job well done.  It’s not immodest to acknowledge satisfaction with good work.  After saying “thanks,” you might add a brief phrase like, “I’m proud of this one,” or “I’m so pleased that I could help.”
  • Share the credit.  Although you don’t want to deny your contribution, you don’t want to hog the limelight, either.  If it truly was a team effort, share the praise. Add a simple comment like, “I couldn’t have done it without Tom – he was terrific.”
  • Return the compliment.  You can prolong the nice moment by offering a compliment in return.  Say something like, “Your good advice made such a difference.”  But this only works if your words are sincere.  Fake praise can be just another way of deflecting a compliment.
  • Keep it short. When the compliment exchange goes on too long it can become uncomfortable.  If the flow of praise feels unending, it’s OK to turn it off with a light comment like, “Aww…  That’s enough now.  You’re making me blush.”
  • Respond quickly to email compliments.   Positive feedback may flow to you via email or through an in-house channel. To keep the sender feeling good about making the gesture, get back to them immediately. You might say something like: “Thanks so much for your kind words. As always, your support means a great deal to me.”
  • Manage your “impostor syndrome.”  Sometimes high achievers find it extremely difficult to hear praise, believing they don’t really deserve it.  If you feel like an imposter, and not really good enough to deserve such kind words, ignore your discomfort and accept the compliment gracefully.  Then try these easy techniques for learning to be comfortable when your work gets rave reviews.

Saying “thank you” can be powerful in so many situations.  Try these tips for saying “thanks” or “good job” to your colleagues.

And click here for strategies to make your praise and “thank you” really count.

For more tips on responding to praise for your work, see this brief video (one of my career tips from the garden).

And for even more career guidance, see my Career Press best seller, “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.”

Create boundaries, yet go with the flow

Posted by Beverly Jones on

Nurture your career with

lessons from gardeners

Early in my career as a lawyer and corporate exec, I thought I could do it all.  I worked long hours at the office or on the road.  And often in my free time I worked in the garden.  The opportunities seemed vast, and I hustled after them.

But then I noticed I had a perfect setting for a great life, but was working too hard to enjoy that life.   Too often work consumed most of my time.  And the garden started to feel like one more responsibility that was just a little too big. 

So I decided to try another approach.  I took early retirement from my “big” job then began creating a career as an executive and transitions coach.  I was determined to shape a work life that was engaging yet not overwhelming.  At first I directed most of my new-found free time to the garden.  But soon my landscaping plans grew to big for my energy and my resources.  And once again I learned that too much of a good thing can be, well… just too much.

It’s taken a while, but now I feel like I have a nice balance in my career,  in my garden, in my life.   My garden adventures have taught me some things about creating boundaries yet going with the flow. 

This week I shared some of my career lessons from the garden on the PBS website NextAvenue.org  I hope you enjoy my article!

 

dogs on path 5-23-13
Our dogs in the garden at Buckeye Farm