The Success Talk Show

 

Gone are the days where LinkedIn was solely used by people looking for new positions. It is now an invaluable social media platform regardless of where you are in your career. Having an updated LinkedIn profile is key in order to maintain a connected and engaging presence. You can think of it as your own personal website where you can share your passions and strengths. It creates the perfect first impression for future employers, clients, and your current network. In this episode of The Success Talk Show, I walk you through the top 10 insider tips to build and maintain an engaging LinkedIn profile. You can't afford to miss these insights - so be sure to listen.

Why is having a LinkedIn profile so critical?

People turn to LinkedIn for multiple reasons: examining your background, scoping out your abilities, and to recruit top talent. A thorough and complete LinkedIn profile that is authentic, consistent, and accurate can help you throughout your career. On the flip side, having a bare-bones profile, or even nothing at all, can count as strikes against you. Even if you're not currently searching for a new job, having an online presence is critical in our 21st-century workplace. To discover how to let your LinkedIn profile work for you be sure to listen to this episode.

How to differentiate yourself from other LinkedIn users

LinkedIn provides multiple outlets for creativity within your profile. You want to make sure you have a professional profile photo with adequate lighting and color schemes. You can also add a personalized banner photo. The banner photo should correlate to your interests or industry - even though generic nature photos can be aesthetically pleasing. If you're seeking inspiration, turn to colleagues' or friends' profiles to see their creativity. When you start approaching your LinkedIn profile as part of your personal brand, you'll be sure to succeed.

Go beyond job description language and create a conversational tone

Many people underutilize the sections that LinkedIn offers. There's a brief description category where you can use up to 100 characters and in the summary section, you have 2000 characters that you can use to showcase your best self. They should be written in a first-person voice that almost feels like a conversation. Fill the boxes with your strengths, workplace contributions, background, and personal interests. You can pull language from personality assessments and be sure to describe where you can add value to an organization. You don't want to just copy and paste job descriptions into these sections. For even more tricks to improve your profile don't miss this episode of The Success Talk Show.

Let your network help you build a compelling profile that showcases your value

Endorsements and recommendations are two features within the website that allow your colleagues and friends to verify your top skills and talents. Don't forget that you have the power to moderate your endorsements and alter the rankings on your profile. Be sure to have your top strengths featured, and don't let the "skills" section become a dumping ground for anything and everything. Curate it so that it can be viewed quickly and convey what you want it to say. If a future employer or client sees six top skills that have many endorsements and recommendations it provides a better snapshot than 30 skills with little engagement. The rest of this episode is filled with even more key strategies to improve your LinkedIn presence, so be sure to give it a listen!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:43] I introduce the topic for this episode, Insider Tips for an Engaging LinkedIn Profile
• [1:49] Why people seek out LinkedIn profiles
• [4:15] Tip #1 - Ask yourself, what do you want to be known for?
• [6:40] Tip #2 - Use a professional headshot photo
• [7:28] Tip #3 - Pick a personal banner photograph
• [9:02] Tip #4 - Think about your title and describe how you add value
• [10:46] Tip #5 - Utilize all 2000 characters in the summary section
• [13:24] Tip #6 - Go beyond past positions and experiences
• [15:23] Tip #7 - Highlight your top skills and endorsements
• [18:47] Tip #8 - Reach out for professional recommendations
• [20:22] Tip #9 - Incorporate audio, video, and print media
• [21:36] Tip #10 - Update your profile regularly

Resources & People Mentioned

• Ep. 42 - "Strategies to Improve Your Job Search Process"
• Unsplash photo resource
• Google Images photo resource
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com

Have you plateaued in your current job and want to start the process of looking for a new position? How often do you find yourself struggling with the job search process? There are plenty of opportunities for career-advancing positions if you know how to look for them. On this episode of The Success Talk Show, I offer you my top 7 tips to improve your success through the process. Through these tips, you can find and create more value in your field and advance your career. You don't want to miss this invaluable advice, so be sure to give this episode your full attention.

Identifying your passions and talents in the first step in securing a new job

The first step when you begin the job search process is identifying your key talents and core passions. What is it you're looking for in a new position? In what areas can you add the most value to an organization? What do you hope will be different in your next role? It's essential to put your goals and aspirations under a microscope in order to create a vision that will guide your search process. Without a clear focus, your process will be riddled with roadblocks and frustrations. To hear more about why clarity at the beginning will ultimately save you time and energy, be sure to listen to the full episode of The Success Talk Show.

Network, network, network!

One of the most underutilized resources in a job search is your current network. Both professional and personal contacts can offer unparalleled levels of access to new opportunities. Seventy percent of all roles are filled through personal connections and face-to-face communication is best when reaching out to these contacts. Personally, I have had two career-changing positions arise from simple, in-person, genuine conversations. Keep in mind that this networking has to be a two-way street - it cannot be only about what you need from them. These contacts may not have any immediate openings for you, but you will stick in their mind days and weeks after your meeting. Then they can inform you about insider leads before it goes out to the public applicant pool. As always, a face-to-face meeting will leave more of a lasting impression than a simple email or LinkedIn notification.

Give your search adequate time, energy, and resources

Treating your job search like a full-time position will ultimately give you the highest level of success. If you are not currently working you should be devoting at least 40 hours per week on your search. If you're only spending 5 to 10 hours per week on the process and are not finding any substantial leads, you need to honestly evaluate how you can increase the timeframe. Your rate of progress is directly tied to how much time is spent on the process. I go into greater detail on this segment in this episode, and you don't want to miss it! Your workplace fulfillment and job satisfaction depend on it.

Track your progress for ultimate success and satisfaction

In order to keep track of how much time you're spending on your search, you need to create a system that tracks your efforts. The system should be able to track your schedule, activities, meetings, etc. What you track and measure, you will improve. This system needs to be transparent and honest so that you can accurately measure all of the variables in the process. You will be able to see what is and isn't working and then you can begin to make any needed adjustments. Tracking your progress is only one small part of the entire process, and to get the complete set of tips you certainly need to listen to this episode of The Success Talk Show.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:44] I introduce this week's topic, my top 7 tips for your job search process
• [1:27] Tip #1 - Be clear on the type of work that you most enjoy and are good at
• [4:18] Tip #2 - Treat your job search like it's a full-time job
• [5:40] Tip #3 - Network, network, network
• [10:47] Tip #4 - Update your LinkedIn profile
• [12:32] Tip #5 - Share your resume with 5 people who know you really well

• [16:00] Tip #6 - Work with recruiters and complete online applications
• [18:39] Tip #7 - Create a dashboard

Resources & People Mentioned

• Ep. 3 "Most Sought After Leadership Skills, with Dave Melville of the Bowdoin Group"
• Ep. 6 "Being Successful Working for a Startup, with Frederik Rasmussen, CEO of Innroad"
• Ep. 22 "Choosing the Right Path to Move Forward in Your Career"
• Ep. 24 "Ninja Tricks for Personal Branding on LinkedIn"
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com

 

How often have you dreamt of spectacular goals for your personal and professional life, only to be met with roadblocks, frustration, and disappointment? On this episode of The Success Talk Show, I offer you my top 10 tips for maximum goal achievement. These invaluable strategies can be implemented in your daily, weekly, and annual routines to create a high-performance cycle for goal achievement. You don't want to miss this engaging episode, so be sure to listen to the full audio to catch all of these insider tips.

Focus on your main goals and follow the SMART formula

Too often we let ourselves get distracted from achieving our top three goals. We let smaller projects and menial tasks get in the way of true goal completion. If you design your goals following the SMART goal formula, you will find it much easier to stay on track. The SMART goal formula requires goals to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. These classifications allow you to set quantifiable goals that encourage success by preventing them from becoming too lofty. To hear more about the SMART goal formula, check out the full audio for this episode of The Success Talk Show.

Creating a plan is crucial to make progress on your goals

After you have set a goal that follows the SMART goal formula, the next step is to create a game plan with specific time frames. By anticipating deadlines and setting aside blocks of time specifically for working on your goal, you are better able to handle distractions. Prioritizing your goal requires you to be reasonable and realistic with the amount of time you schedule for goal-related tasks. Sticking to this timeframe keeps you accountable. Check out this episode of The Success Talk Show for more crucial tips on goal achievement and to learn why examining your plan daily is of utmost importance.

Prior preparation is key to stay on track with your goals

The gameplan you create should never become completely gridlocked. There should be a healthy level of flexibility and you should confirm your plans for the next day each evening. This saves time in the morning for other productive tasks and allows you to pace yourself while avoiding burnout. Learning what time of the day you work best in and focusing on your most important tasks during that time will also ensure that you are prepared to stay on track with your goals.

Reviewing your plans regularly encourages further success

SMART goals, gameplans, and prior preparation only work long-term if you develop a way to track your progress. There are many systems that work for different individuals and it simply becomes a matter of selecting a system and tweaking it to your liking. Reviewing your progress on a weekly and monthly basis allows you to make up for any lost time, schedule additional tasks as needed, and provides a high level of insight into the entire goal achievement process. You don't want to miss the rest of these tips to achieve goal success, so be sure to listen to this insightful and practical episode of The Success Talk Show.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:42] I introduce this week's topic, how to set yourself up for achieving goal success
• [1:57] Tip #1 - Focus on your top 3 goals
• [3:16] Tip #2 - Create and design your goals using the smart goal formula
• [8:51] Tip #3 - Develop a gameplan
• [10:58] Tip #4 - Decide on the amount of time required to achieve your goal
• [13:00] Tip #5 - Build time blocks into your calendar
• [14:08] Tip #6 - Create daily habits that allow you to review your progress
• [15:00] Tip #7 - Design a weekly plan
• [16:59] Tip #8 - Prepare for the next day
• [20:02] Tip #9 - Develop a way to track your progress
• [23:04] Tip #10 - Review your progress on a weekly basis

Resources & People Mentioned

• Goals on Track
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com

The amount of recognition an employee receives and the frequency in which it is delivered is a key factor that is directly related to employee engagement and performance. Retaining top talent within an organization can be increased if a routine of showing appreciation is adopted. A recent Gallup poll found that one of the top 12 drivers of employee performance is if the employee receives recognition every seven days. However, only one in three American employees strongly agrees that they receive adequate appreciation. If the habit of recognition on a weekly basis is broken, that employee is twice as likely to quit within the next year. If you want to discover the top tips for incorporating recognition into your daily routine as a leader and employer, be sure to listen to this episode of The Success Talk Show.

Defining what recognition means to you is critical

If you want to show appreciation and display recognition for your employees, you must first understand what recognition means to you. Take the time to really evaluate in what ways do you like to receive recognition. Remember that recognition can take various forms for different individuals. Common ways to show appreciation include giving employees the proper tools they need to succeed, offering visibility within the organization, developing strong interpersonal relationships with coworkers, and acknowledging their strengths. Encourage employees to document how they like to best receive recognition and share this with their colleagues and supervisors.

Always strive to notice when employees are performing well - and recognize that effort

"Catching someone in the act" of stellar performance is a great way to recognize their efforts. Taking a few minutes out of every day to recognize an employee that has gone above and beyond can have lasting impacts on the individual and the organization. Showing appreciation for exceptional work could take the form of a handwritten note, a public comment, or an email sent out to the individual's team. A simple act of gratitude can dramatically increase an employee's level of productivity and feeling of fulfillment within the organization. To discover why it is important to be specific when you show appreciation don't miss all of the tips that are in this episode of The Success Talk Show.

Be specific and authentic when showing recognition

You must be authentic when showing appreciation and it has to be well deserved. Its impact can be diluted if you use it too frequently and with insincerity. Even simple accomplishments can be appreciated by bringing what is commonplace and underrecognized into the spotlight. To hear more about why it's critical to be specific when appreciating employees and to understand how cultural and personality differences can influence this process, don't miss this engaging episode of The Success Talk Show.

Appreciation should be tailored to each individual's preferences

Demonstrations of appreciation may be lost if you don't tailor them to each individual's personality and preferences. For example, not every employee likes public acknowledgment, especially if they have introverted tendencies. Appreciation has to go beyond a simple verbal "thank you" and must take into consideration the individual's values. Think of a time when you received or witnessed a stellar act of gratitude. Odds are that memory is vivid and long-lasting. It should be every employer's goal to show frequent, individualized, and genuine appreciation to every employee. You don't want to miss the rest of these top tips for showing workplace appreciation so be sure to spend some time listening to this episode of The Success Talk Show.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:45] Introduction of this episode's topic - "5 Tips to Incorporate Recognition Into Your Daily Routine"
• [4:10] Tip #1 - What does recognition mean to you?
• [9:43] Tip #2 - Strive to "catch" someone doing something that you want to recognize
• [12:40] Tip #3 - Be specific when you show appreciation
• [14:22] Tip #4 - Match your form of appreciation to the individual's personality and preferences
• [20:46] Tip #5 - Spread your appreciation throughout your organization

Resources & People Mentioned

• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com

In today's workplace environment, nearly 70% of all roles are filled through personal connections. There are countless benefits to building and maintaining a strong personal network but simply having a network is not enough. Growing and nurturing your network takes time and energy but it is one of the best investments you can make for your career. There is much satisfaction that comes from keeping up with personal network relationships and it can be an invaluable resource when looking to hire top talent. Be sure to listen to this episode of The Success Talk Show to discover the top 5 tips for strengthening and growing your personal network.

Always look for opportunities to help those who are in your network

Simply collecting LinkedIn connections is not enough. After making a connection, always be looking for ways to help that person out in their career or field of interest. Ask yourself, "How can I help the people in my network develop in their own career?" Make it a daily habit to share interesting information you find with those you know. It shows you're paying attention to what they're interested in and making the impression that you're thinking about them is invaluable. You don't want to miss this information on how personal networks and emotional intelligence are connected - be sure to listen to the full episode.

Face-to-face quality time is essential in maintaining strong relationships with connections

There is no substitute for quality time that is spent face-to-face with other individuals. Even if you haven't connected with someone in months or even years, there are untold benefits of reaching out and scheduling a time to connect in person - whether it be over coffee, meeting for lunch, or grabbing drinks. When reaching out be short, sweet, and make it easy for them to respond and agree to a time. Often times critical career connections can only arise from meeting in person. It's also important to remember this tip when traveling to a new area or city. Think of who you know in that area and reach out to start making an even bigger impact on your network. Don't miss the rest of these great tips for personal networking - be sure to listen to the full audio for this episode.

Don't be stagnant in networking - expand your list each month to reap the benefits

One of the keys to networking is to actively expand your network each and every month. By adding one new person to your network each month, you are building a database that can only benefit you in the future both personally and professionally. You can find new people through networking events, workshops, and conferences in your city. In this episode of The Success Talk Show, I describe a time where a personal connection and its benefits lasted for many years. I'll be interviewing this connection next month on the podcast, and it shows that it only takes one small step forward to start expanding your network.

Preparing for network events is crucial for your success

Once you've decided to start expanding your network and you've committed to an event, you should take a couple of steps in preparation in order to maximize your benefit from the experience. Think about your goals for attending the event and how you will introduce yourself to new connections. You want to think about what you want them to remember most about you. By introducing yourself efficiently you can then direct the conversation towards them and the work that they do. If you're an aspiring industry leader you absolutely need to fine-tune and improve your emotional intelligence skills and your ability to maintain a strong personal network. To catch the rest of these tips and more information on the networking process be sure to listen to the full episode of The Success Talk Show.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:42] Introduction of this week's topic, How to Strengthen and Grow Your Personal Network
• [3:52] Building a personal network is a specific emotional intelligence skill
• [5:03] Tip #1 - Make it a daily habit to help someone in your network through sharing information
• [7:23] Tip #2 - Strive to connect in person with at least one contact per week
• [12:47] Tip #3 - Set aside time each week to connect over the phone
• [17:00] Tip #4 - Actively expand your network every month
• [22:15] Tip #5 - Prepare in advance for any networking event you want to attend

Resources & People Mentioned

• Episode 12 - Emotional Intelligence: Positive Interpersonal Relationship Skills
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com

 Every professional has found themselves in a position where they are dissatisfied with their job. Fifty-one percent of current employees are considering switching jobs.  So how do you avoid becoming a part of this statistic? The trick to combating a less-than-ideal position can be found in this episode of The Success Talk Show, where I give you the top 5 strategies to turn a mediocre job into a stellar one. Optimal levels of productivity, wellness, and fulfillment only comes from working in a position that you love. You don't want to miss this episode - it could turn your career around!

Strategy #1 - Use your current mindset to prepare for future roles

Mindset is everything when it comes to combatting dissatisfaction with your job. It can either be a detrimental hindrance or a motivational tool. By switching your mindset from one of unhappiness and frustration into one of growth and development, you can utilize your time to prepare for any future roles. I encourage you to be creative and strategic in imagining how your current role can be useful if you prepare to look for a new position. Don't miss the rest of this great strategy - be sure to check out the full episode of The Success Talk Show.

Strategy #2 - Use your resume as a tool to improve your current position

After adopting a new mindset at work, you can start to view your resume as a tool to continue improving your current employment situation. Evaluating your resume as if you were beginning the job search will shine a spotlight on where your gaps in education, training, or experience may be. You want to be able to point to tangible, measurable results on your resume, not just hiring terminology. It also forces you to be extremely clear and specific on what type of job you want and may even assist you in identifying if your current job can be modified to be more fulfilling.

Strategy #3 - Identify your favorite aspects of your current job

One of the most powerful ways to shift your mindset can come after you thoughtfully identify the best parts of your current job. Whether it be training new hires, engaging in new technology, or researching innovative ideas, make a considerable effort to place yourself in a situation where you can work more in these areas. You may not be able to overhaul your entire job, but you can take steps towards a happier, more productive work environment. You certainly want to catch the 4th and 5th strategies for creating your dream job, so be sure to listen to this episode!

How your core values are critically important in the workplace

One of the most important questions you need to ask yourself when you're dissatisfied with your job is, "Is there a need of mine that is not being met?" After dedicated self-reflection, you can start to identify action steps that can be taken to address these needs. It may even be approached with your superior in the form of a coaching conversation, where you can ask how to proactively address these unmet needs for the betterment of the organization and your own satisfaction. For more information on addressing unmet workplace needs, and to discover the next steps in the job satisfaction process, don't miss out on this stellar episode!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:44] I introduce the topic for this episode, "5 Strategies to Turn a Job You Hate into a Job You Love"
• [8:02] Strategy #1 - Use your current mindset to prepare you for future roles
• [10:03] Strategy #2 - Update your resume using your new mindset
• [14:00] Strategy #3 - Make a list of work activities that you love
• [17:15] Strategy #4 - Spread the word!
• [18:12] Strategy #5 - Identify your core values
• [21:40] Completed the five strategies? What's next?

Resources & People Mentioned

• Episode #28 - Using Personal Values to Drive Decisions and Shape Your Career
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com

One of the biggest career lessons I have learned is that if you take the time to develop the skills and passions of other people, they will strive to continue to work for you. Developing a strong team of employees that not only produces great results but also enjoys working with one another is an art as well as a science. On this episode of The Success Talk Show, I walk you through seven strategies to building a high performance team. Not having forward progress and mobility is often the downfall of many organizations, but by following these steps you can prevent employee burnout, encourage productivity, and reap the benefits of amazing end-goal results. Listen to the full audio to avoid missing a key strategy!

Focusing on strengths is critical to producing a highly productive team

Being aware of strengths within a team is twofold: the leader's own personal strengths and the strengths of team members. You can take the overall results of an organization to the next level simply by relying on team members to "fill in the strength gaps" and compensate for weaknesses. Having a document that tracks preferred skill sets, strengths, and weak points will ensure that every team member is clear on who works best on certain project types. Collaboration increases dramatically when a strength document is implemented. How should you go about creating this document? Listen to the complete episode to discover the keys!

Performing teams invest in the development of its members

People need to feel that they're learning and growing within an organization. This is accomplished by ensuring team members can connect the dots between current tasks and future visions and goals. On this episode, I explain why most process improvement initiatives fail and how success rates improve if learning components are integrated throughout an organization. You don't want to miss these crucial team performance insights!

Prompt conflict resolution leads to greater team member engagement

The ability to problem solve is one of the greatest assets an employee can bring to an organization. Unfortunately, many leaders under-utilize this talent. To encourage high performing teams, a leader must take advantage of members who possess this skill set. Doing so leads to the employee feeling recognized, appreciated, and included. Be sure to listen to the full audio to discover why every player on the team has to be playing in their best position in order to achieve success.

Greater performance comes from recognizing accomplishments

Every team member has a preferred style of receiving recognition and praise. In order to encourage members to work effectively and efficiently, it's crucial for a leader to recognize and shine a spotlight on a team's progress and success. This can be initiated by simply asking team members "how do you appreciate praise?" Recognition can be delivered in a variety of creative and engaging ways, and shouldn't be saved for the end of a project or mission. For the full seven strategies to develop a high performance team, be sure to listen to this engaging episode of The Success Talk Show

Outline of This Episode

• [0:52] Introduction of this episode's topic:  7 Strategies to Developing a High Performance Team
• [4:22] Strategy #1 - Be clear on your own strengths
• [6:11] Strategy #2 - Focus on the strengths of your team
• [9:10] Strategy #3 - Invest in the development of each person
• [9:11] Strategy #4 - Have a written game plan for tracking success
• [18:09] Strategy #5 - Address problems quickly and engage people with the right skills
• [22:00] Strategy #6 - Shine a spotlight on your team's progress and success
• [26:23] Strategy #7 - Give each team member the recognition they deserve
• [30:07] I offer a recap on how to develop high performance teams

Resources & People Mentioned

• Episode #4 - Lessons on Leadership, Trust, and Team Building, with Suzy Welch
• BOOK:  The Progress Principle
• Episode #1 - Acclimate to Accelerate Leadership Growth
• Episode #36 - Taking Ownership of Your Career Progression, with Doug Milone
• BOOK:  Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com

 In this episode of The Success Talk Show, I interview Doug Milone, Vice President of Services Programs at AvidXchange. It is through this senior leadership position that he is able to coach and mentor other employees as they progress down their own career paths. He is genuinely passionate about developing his team through intentional empowerment and collaboration. Be sure to listen to this stellar interview to reap the benefits of Doug's experience and expertise in the career coaching sector of leadership.

How Doug's approach to coaching helps his team reach its full potential

When I asked Doug his main strategy to encourage employees to take ownership of their career growth, he explained that "70% of talent development comes from learning and stretch assignments, 20% comes from coaching, and 10% comes from dedicated and structured learning." In order to raise the bar for employees via stretch assignments, the leader must first understand what the employee enjoys and what his/her passions are. This leads to a desire to improve in those specific areas. Doug and I talk more about his personal approach to encouraging positive career progress on this episode.

Encouraging self-reflection is key while encouraging teams

Throughout Doug's career as a coach and mentor, his biggest challenge has always been helping his team members understand their current point in their journey through dedicated self-reflection. Ambition equates to success in one's industry. Employees who show initiative and dedication to the organization can often take advantage of additional resources and tools that will contribute to career advances. Doug employs these tactics and explains more methods on this episode, be sure to listen to the full audio to hear about them.

Coaching requires time, energy, and focus - which is possible even through busy schedules

Through my recent conversations with professional coaches, one of their biggest struggles has been difficulty finding adequate time to dedicate to mentoring and investing in their mentees. By following the mental mindset of compounding interest in relationship development, Doug has discovered a key breakthrough in coaching. By investing time in an individual upfront, one can accomplish more by getting a payback down the road. It not only encourages positive career moves in current team members but also attracts more talent to one's team over time. Doug explains the critical importance of investing time in mentoring and I share my number one skill a leader needs to have, as well as many more helpful hints, all on this episode of The Success Talk Show.

Managing change through a growth mindset and consistently connecting with team members

Many professionals fear "working themselves out of a job" if they invest in mentoring fellow professionals. However, having a high level of mature professionalism allows a leader to realize that having a secure career with room to advance into new positions comes with the territory of mentoring. Recognizing that "change starts with an ending" is key while working within a future growth mindset. Always remembering that implementing change affects people's level of familiarity will allow a workplace leader to encourage growth without neglecting the human emotional aspect of an organizational overhaul. Be sure to listen to this episode of The Success Talk Show to discover Doug's most important lessons learned from his early career!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:44] Introduction of guest - Doug Milone, Vice President of Services Programs at AvidXchange
• [1:48] Doug explains his personal approach to helping his team members reach their full potential  
• [5:45] Encouraging career ownership is often met with many challenges
• [12:16] How Doug makes time for coaching in the midst of a busy lifestyle and career
• [19:09] Managing change through the lens of a future growth mindset
• [24:28] Doug explains the importance of connecting with your team with consistency and integrity

Resources & People Mentioned

• Doug Milone on LinkedIn
• The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Personality Inventory
• BOOK: Transitions:  Making Sense of Life's Changes
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
• Ep. 27 "What it Takes to be a Successful Leader in Technology
• Donna's Acclimate to Accelerate Program
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com

Recently, there has been a good deal of buzz in the business community about focusing on your areas of strength rather than being concerned about your areas of personal weakness. I completely agree that a focus on your areas of strength will bring you greater opportunities for contribution and being involved with work you actually love. But in my experience, entirely ignoring your areas of weakness opens the door to possible mistakes and oversights that can impact your success and career long term. On this episode of The Success Talk Show, I explain 7 strategies to help you effectively address areas of personal weakness so that you can make the greatest contribution possible by maximizing your areas of strength.

What should you do about your areas of weakness?

When coaches and leaders talk about focusing on your areas of strength they are trying to address the tendency many of us have to obsess over areas of weakness. But the reality is that all of us have got to pay attention to our areas of weakness so they don't hinder us in our productivity or overall success. It's my opinion that you should address your areas of weakness, but that doesn't always mean working hard to compensate for them. There are other ways you can address them that are much more effective and take much less of your mental bandwidth. This episode is devoted to showing you some of the strategies you can use to do exactly that. I hope you take the time to listen.

Addressing areas of personal weakness is not about what you like to do, it's about contribution

I've heard many people say that you need to operate in your areas of strength because those are the areas that bring you the most satisfaction. It is true that the areas you are strong in will bring a greater sense of personal fulfillment, but that is not the bottom line reason why you need to focus on your main areas of gifting. Your focus should be about something bigger than yourself, about the contribution you make to the overall team and the world as a whole. In this episode, I make the distinction between those two mindsets in a way that will help you address the problem more effectively so that you can find the right solutions to fit your situation. I found it to be a very helpful concept and believe you will also.

Once you are clear on your weaknesses you've got to learn how to say "No."

In my 7 step process for identifying and dealing with your areas of personal weakness, I walk you through how to identify the areas of weakness that you want to address. But once you are aware of what they are, you have to do something about them. One of the most effective ways of avoiding situations where your personal weaknesses will be most glaring is to learn how to effectively say "No" to opportunities where your weaknesses will be highlighted. In this episode, I describe a few situations from my experience where I had to learn how to say "No" to opportunities that didn't fit my skill set and strengths. I hope my example will help you gain the wisdom and courage to keep yourself out of situations that highlight your weaknesses.

Delegating is not always a one-way street

One of the most effective ways to deal with your areas of weakness is to learn the skill of delegation. But when we think about delegation we don't always consider that it could be a two-way street. What I mean is that delegation is not only about passing the tasks you are weak at to someone else, it is also an opportunity for you to help them operate in their areas of greatest strength. You can do that by sometimes taking on projects they may be saddled with that are more suited to your skill set. It's a careful balance but one that can create a greater sense of fulfillment and purpose within your team, not to mention greater impact. On this episode, I explain how you can take this approach to delegation and make your entire team a more effective, happier group of people to work with.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:42] Why I'm talking about 7 strategies to address your weaknesses
• [2:23] The reason it's vital to address your personal weaknesses
• [2:51] STRATEGY 1: Get clear on what your weaknesses are
• [4:56] STRATEGY 2: Evaluate the percent of time you spend on areas of weakness
• [6:27] STRATEGY 3: Choose the areas of weakness you are most motivated to address
• [10:14] STRATEGY 4: Where you are able to do so, learn to say "No"
• [11:39] STRATEGY 5: Delegate away from your areas of personal weakness
• [13:52] STRATEGY 6: Collaborate to work alongside those who complement you
• [16:32] STRATEGY 7: Assess new opportunities in light of your personal weaknesses

Resources & People Mentioned

• Episode 7: Emotional Intelligence: What Every Leader Must Know
• Episode 27: Delegating to Improve Your Brand and Increase Engagement
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com - find out more about my coaching and courses

 

As a leader, it's essential that you know how to foster trust with the people you lead. It's the basis for almost everything you'll be able to accomplish in any leadership position. In this episode, I share some things I've learned about building trust. These concepts were emphasized in a very influential book I read years ago, "The Speed of Trust." These 9 tips or strategies for fostering trust will enable you to create the environment in which your leadership will thrive and your company and teams will grow. And I give you practical strategies about each tip to help you get moving, so don't miss out.

The power of trust: How do you respond if someone you trust makes a request of you?

If you want to see a real-life example of how powerful it is for leaders to have the trust of others, just turn the situation around and ask yourself this question: How do you respond if someone you trust makes a request of you? How would YOU answer the question? Most likely, you'll be willing to help the person if you trust them. You'll also take action sooner and go the extra mile to do what they ask with excellence if they are someone you trust. But if you don't trust them your response will be far different, won't it? In this episode, I tell the story of a senior leader I once knew who demonstrated repeatedly that he was not trustworthy and I describe the impact it had on the entire team and ultimately, the company. Be sure you listen.

Whether your team trusts you as a leader or not will impact the bottom line.

It may not be easy to see the direct line between a leader's trustworthiness and the bottom line of profitability, but you can be sure the two are directly related. When a leader is not trusted by the people he leads they will be slow to respond to his directives and requests, which cost the company time and therefore money. But when trust for the leader is strong, effectiveness is the natural result. In this episode, I give you 9 strategies or approaches to fostering greater trust with your team that will enable you to impact your team's overall productivity and effectiveness in a very positive way.

When leaders keep their commitments they foster trust by demonstrating integrity.

One of the things that is vitally important to any leader's ability to lead is his or her integrity. If your team doesn't trust that you are a person who lives according to his/her values, your leadership will suffer. A great way to demonstrate that you are a leader with high integrity is the simple task of keeping to your commitments. When your team knows that you do what you say, arrive at meetings when you say you will, and follow up on assignments as promised, they will believe you when you cast vision and lead the way into the future. It's a valuable lesson I want you to learn so your leadership can grow and your team can thrive. Listen to this episode to hear more of the principles of building trust that can set you up for greater leadership success.

If you want to foster trust you need to shine a light on your results.

Nobody likes to brag, but as a leader, you need to realize that much of the trust you gain comes from the results you get. That means people need to know about your results and that you can't be shy when it comes to talking about them. When you strategically weave the outcomes and accomplishments of your team into conversations throughout the company, when you find creative ways to champion the contributions people on your team have made to successful projects, you'll discover that people want to be affiliated with your success and will more easily trust you to lead the way forward. In this episode I highlight 9 approaches to fostering trust as a leader, so be sure you take the time to listen.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:45] How I've come to have trust as my highest value.
• [2:20] 4 core elements of credibility.
• [4:21] A story of a senior leader whose behavior eroded trust - and how it impacted me.
• [8:23] Integrity matters.
• [11:32] Intent is powerful in establishing trust.
• [15:55] Your capabilities impact how much people will trust you.
• [19:00] Look at the gap between where you are and where you need to be (create a personal development plan)
• [23:23] Develop quantifiable success metrics so you can measure results and foster trust.

Resources & People Mentioned

• BOOK: The Speed of Trust
• Episode 28 on personal values
• Episode 21 on becoming a visionary leader
• Episode 7: Emotional Intelligence: What Every Leader Must Know
• Episode 4, with Suzy Welch
• Donna Ceriani on LinkedIn
• MyOwnSuccessCompass.com - The Acclimate to Accelerate Program