The Digital Divide

In this episode we are closing the topic of Active Listening with my guest Greg Magdanz, Area Sales Director at SquareD Schneider Electric.  Working at SquareD for the past 24 years Greg has held a variety of positions in his career, all of which have required the use of Active Listening.  Take a listen to how Greg explains the importance of Active Listening in all facets of his jobs and how it can positively or negatively impact the work environment. 

So we know some of the Tell Tale Signs that you're not Listening, but do you know how to demonstrate you ARE listening? Do you listen so others Want and Like to speak to you?  One of the biggest problems with our communication skills in our culture is our ability to fully listen to one another. We all have things we can do to improve our listening skills.  In this episode I provide detailed ways to actively listen.  I give real life examples and experiences of what we can do to help build our listening skills to take us to the next level of fully attending and understanding one another!

Are you an Active Listener? Are you giving people your full attention when they speak to you?  Do you listen with an open mind and understanding?  Are your responses appropriate? Do your responses demonstrate interest? Believe it or not people know when you're truly not listening to them!  Learn what people see and what annoys them as they realize you aren't attending to what they're saying.  Learn the cues you demonstrate to others to let them know you're not listening.  You may not even be aware of what others see when they interact with you.

In a culture where we all want to be heard we must first be ready to listen.  Listening is more than just hearing. Those who have the ability to hear do so passively, it takes no energy or effort, but to listen with intent and true understanding of what the other person is saying takes effort.  Unless we demonstrate active listening we will never be able to understand someone else's perspective, have empathy or compassion for another person, or even learn new things that we may not have ever thought about.  In this episode the benefits of implementing active listening in all facets of your life are discussed and how it can truly improve you and your relationships personally and professionally.

So your interview went great!! You came in prepared, felt great about your answers to their questions and even had insightful questions of your own.  What should you do next?  Whatever you do, NEVER forget to followup your interview with an email, even if you're not sure you want the job.  This episode goes over why, how  and when to followup your interview to make a positive, lasting impression. 

While you are being interviewed, remember you are also conducting your own interview. You will inevitably be asked if you have any questions at the close of the interview.  Please, unless you are truly not interested in the job, don't say no. They not only anticipate you asking questions, they want you to ask questions.  In demonstrates your level of preparation and interest level.  Most importantly, it's just another opportunity for you to shine. Understand what kinds of questions you should and shouldn't ask and why. 

One of the biggest things that makes most people nervous during an interview are the dreaded interview questions.  Most people dread this part of the interview because they are uncertain exactly what will be asked and how to answer in a way that will help get the job.   This episode addresses questions that require you to provide insightful answers about yourself.  In most situations these questions are even more important than the questions addressing you actual skills to do the job.  Learn some of the most common question that will be asked, why they are being asked, and how to answer to increase your opportunity of being offered the job. 

There are many things to keep in mind while you participate in the actual interview.  Know what they are so you are not caught of guard.  Always put your best foot forward to make a fabulous first impression.  To do that you need to be aware of how you are interacting and what it's saying to your potential employer during the actual interview.  Your nonverbal/verbal interactions will make all the difference. Know how to demonstrate confidence, how to participate in conversation, and how to ask/answer questions.  How you interact can make all the difference in being offered the position of your dreams.  You don't need to just physically prepare, you also need to be mentally prepared and knowing how you should interact will help you do that. 

In this episode we continue the topic on how to prepare for your face-to-face or virtual interview.  Listen to tips on things you may have never thought about when it comes to interview preparation, from when to pick your clothing to getting a good night sleep.  Having an interview can make you nervous enough however, preparation is key in helping you to alleviate any added stress and anxiety that you could be causing yourself.  Make sure you listen and follow these tips to help you eliminate unnecessary interview stress factors.