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Articles from Jane Cranston | Selfgrowth.com
- What to Say to a Grieving Person - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonWhen a loved one, friend, neighbor, or co-worker has a loss, most people feel compelled to say something. The question is “what?” Having lost some very important people in my life as well as attempted to console friends and colleagues who have had to deal with death, here are my suggestions ...
Views: 1539 - Gain Time with a 3-Day Tech Rest - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonYou probably know the work of Matt Richtel, though his name may not be familiar to you. Richtel won the Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting for the New York Times for his series titled “Driven to Distraction.” The series, where he addressed the impact of multitasking, texting, and phoning while ...
Views: 1538 - The Blended Life (Better than Balanced Life) - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonMy last Competitive Edge Report article “Is the Key Still in Your Ignition?” hit a sweet cord with a number of you and sour note with others. I thought I’d continue the discussion this week by looking back as well as forward. The impetus for the original piece, where I advocated when you take ...
Views: 1534(6 votes) - Networking Hurdles - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI'm always surprised at how many of my executive career coaching clients are hesitant to contact former colleagues and supervisors when they need advice or information. I call these their “networking hurdles.” It seems particularly true when they’re looking for a job. Why is that? I gave it some ...
Views: 1524(1 vote) - Validation--Getting and Giving it at Work - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI’ve been thinking about, and sharing with my executive coaching clients, the idea of validation. What I mean is the need of almost all of us to be told, in word or reaction, that who we are and what we contribute is relevant, valuable, and special. People on the job interview circuit ...
Views: 1524 - Are You Tone Deaf in Your Workplace? - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2013 from Jane CranstonAre you tone-deaf in your place of work? Do you miss cues when people make a snide remark? Or, are you dismissive, insensitive, or judgmental in tone with your verbal comments that would seem benign on paper but have real bite when said? Do you say things to people in a tone that would make them ...
Views: 1520(1 vote) - Winning Managers Compromise - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonThere aren’t many people who could say their opponents shed a tear at their funeral; however, that is reportedly what happened at the services for the late Edward Kennedy. As with most current events, I found myself curious for the lesson(s) behind the story. While researching Kennedy’s ...
Views: 1520(2 votes) - Five Hiring Mistakes Smart Employers Make - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2012 from Jane CranstonIn good and bad employment times, it seems certain people can locate, attract, and select the best. Whether they’re looking for a new CEO, to fill a line position, or searching out the best childcare worker, some employers seems to get the right results. Why is that? Are they just plain lucky? I ...
Views: 1516 - Taking Control of Office Clutter - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2012 from Jane CranstonI was in the Container Store watching what seemed like hundreds of people buying all sorts of plastic containers to put their “stuff” in. It got me thinking about the types of clutter we have, particularly in the workplace. While I don't, nor do my executive coaching clients, partake in the ...
Views: 1503 - Manage Your Time to Fit the Challenge - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2011 from Jane CranstonEveryone is trying to manage time. When you hear them talk, you would think it could be manipulated -- stretched or duplicated. It isn’t possible and for those who think they can, it’s more of a game than a solution. Knowing there are but 24 hours in a day, the challenge becomes more about ...
Views: 1500(1 vote) - Should I Change Careers? - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonMany people are asking themselves this question. Whether it is because the industry you know has lost its purpose (CD anyone?), your lifestyle demands your increased presence (twins!), or you are unmotivated, disenchanted, burned-out, under-stimulated, or just can’t face looking at that guy in ...
Views: 1496(1 vote) - Why Performance Appraisals are Essential - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonAbout eight years into my first career (as many of you know I’ve had a few), I ranked high enough to have access to files. As any good snooping executive would do, I looked at my folder. To my surprise there was almost nothing in it. Okay, yes, there was the usual tax forms, my original ...
Views: 1477 - Your Work Vacation Strategy - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2013 from Jane CranstonMy vacation strategy! I can hear the cries already, “I have to have a strategy for vacation as well? Isn’t a career strategy, a life plan and an investment direction enough?” I’ll say “maybe” but mean “no.” While I have written much about the value and importance of work, I am a devout ...
Views: 1468 - Capable of Disruptive Ideas? - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2012 from Jane CranstonThe other night I was watching an interview of two major players at Google Ventures. Google Ventures is the in-house “radical” venture group of the organization, the people who hunt for new ideas and people with ideas, and then invests time and skills with them with the hope of finding the next ...
Views: 1467(2 votes) - Increase Effectiveness with Checklists - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Jane CranstonAtul Gawande is an accomplished scholar (Mac Arthur Fellow), a staff writer for The New Yorker, and a Harvard professor, in addition to being a well-respected surgeon. He is also an astute observer with a curious mind. In the world of surgery, infection kills more people than the operations. ...
Views: 1460(3 votes) - Balancing Your Life--Is Your Key Still in Your Ignition - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonLast week, while I was considering subjects for this article, I found myself thinking about a tip my daughter-in-law, Mary, gave me. Since she was trained by the military as a truck mechanic, I take her automotive advice seriously. Then, I had to laugh. I think this is the third Competitive Edge ...
Views: 1453(2 votes) - Job Search is Like Dating - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2013 from Jane CranstonI’ve helped people advance their careers, switch jobs, and change employers most of my work life. It is over a year since my husband passed away and recently I’ve decided to test the dating waters. Within weeks of navigating the dating scene it occurred to me that looking for a date and ...
Views: 1449 - The Sorry State of Apologies - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2011 from Jane CranstonAll of us make mistakes, say things we didn’t mean, forget, or are rude when we may not have intended to be. Experience has taught me most people don’t intentionally harm others but once they do, they’re reluctant, or find it difficult, to take responsibility for the damage. According to ...
Views: 1444(1 vote) - Resume Essentials Part 1 - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonWe will discuss, exclusively, chronological resumes. They are the most common, generally preferred by HR pros, and if you know how to create them, the easiest to write. They’re not well-suited to career changers, people with gaps in work, and possibly recent grads. We all need to remember a ...
Views: 1438 - The Sorry State of Apologies - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2011 from Jane CranstonAll of us make mistakes, say things we didn’t mean, forget, or are rude when we may not have intended to be. Experience has taught me most people don’t intentionally harm others but once they do, they’re reluctant, or find it difficult, to take responsibility for the damage. According to ...
Views: 1420(1 vote) - Increase Your Productivity by Doing Less - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Jane CranstonWho wouldn’t like to get more done in less time, have excess hours and energy to devote to family, hobbies, and rest? If you looked at the actions and habits of the average worker, you would wonder. We seem to be increasing productivity to levels formerly seen as impossible, lengthening our ...
Views: 1418 - Your Conflict Handling Toolbox - by Submitted on Jun 26, 2013 from Jane CranstonConstructive conflict is an essential part of any team, group, or partnership dynamic. If people do not disagree or come to the table with a variety of perspectives and their unique set of values, battles would eschew, new ideas would not flourish, and creativity would be stifled. When ...
Views: 1408 - Career Lessons from Captain "Sully" Sullenberger - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonWatching the news coverage of the commercial airplane’s emergency landing into the river in New York I found myself curious about the captain. Who was he? What did he know? How had he learned it? Was it instinct or training, skill or luck? So what does this have to do with you, your career ...
Views: 1405 - Become a Better Boss - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Jane CranstonEach of us, at some time in our career, dreamed of “designing” the perfect boss. You know what I mean. Type in the specifications and out would come exactly who you needed to get your job done with none of the flaws we’ve all tolerated in mere mortals. The question is “what would you want in a ...
Views: 1386 - How Not to Get Laid Off - Part I - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonWhether you call it laid-off, downsized, or losing a perfectly good position you love, being told you no longer have a job is not fun. While not totally preventable. it is possible to do things, or not do them, to lessen your chances of making the expendable list. Here are some of my ...
Views: 1376 - Aspects of Personal Branding in the Workplace - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2014 from Jane CranstonWhen working with my executive coaching clients, or presenting to a group of leaders, I am struck by how often people identify with what they do versus who they are and what they have to offer. In the extreme they spend more time selling their employers than themselves. Good for Company X, bad ...
Views: 1368 - Are You Networking at 10 Percent - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonConversations with a number of coaching clients have focused on the need to network and develop a networking strategy. While job seekers may not want to “get out there in a big way,” they generally appreciate the role that reconnecting and meeting new people plays in identifying positions and ...
Views: 1355(2 votes) - Goal Setting Ideas for 2011 - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2011 from Jane CranstonTime off gave me the opportunity to read and listen to more news and pop culture media than usual. The myriad of suggestions is staggering. I have chosen a few I found interesting and doable. Try some and you will be well ahead of the curve. In 2011 I will: Backup personal data as ...
Views: 1352 - Fuel, Focus, and Feedback — Essentials of Team Leadership - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2012 from Jane CranstonWhether you are leading a major initiative, trying to get your team to the next level, or attempting to corral a group of volunteers, there are three important steps every leader needs to apply to ensure a positive outcome and invested participants. They are the 3 Fs — fuel, focus, and ...
Views: 1350 - Resume Essentials Part 2 - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonHere is the second part of “Resume Essentials.” In this section, we’ll discuss some of the nuances of a resume and how it can attract the right people to you and your work history. Brand Names: Everyone likes the familiar, so if you’ve worked with an organization that has high recognition, ...
Views: 1331 - So You Want to be a Leader - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI hear it all the time from my coaching clients, “I want to get to the next level and in order to do that, I have to take on a leadership role.” “Really? And do you want to be a leader?” “I don’t know, seems like I have to if I want to get ahead.” This is a treacherous and potentially ...
Views: 1319(1 vote) - Networking -- Myths, Facts and How Tos - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonThere is a myth circulating in the workplace and neighborhoods. It goes something like this “Networking during (fill in the blank, Thanksgiving, Christmas, August, end of quarter, bad weather… ) is a waste of time because no one is around.” Simple logic would tell you that can’t possibly be ...
Views: 1317 - What Do I Really Want and How Can I Find It? - by Submitted on May 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonI was working with an executive coaching client the other day developing a strategy for the next steps in her career. For reasons unclear to me, I thought our discussion was off course. Was I not asking the right questions? Not hearing the underlying comments or insights? Influencing her answers ...
Views: 1306(1 vote) - Marketing Lessons Learned from a Yard SaleSubmitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI decided autumn was a great time to clean out the garage. Thought, while I was at it, to get rid of the things that had been replaced or whose time had come. The answer was clear—sell it at my first ever yard sale. Here’s what I learned and how I think we can all apply some of the lessons to ...
Views: 1289(1 vote) - Networking Lessons from a Pro - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonAt its essence, networking is connecting with people. It can be individuals you know, want to know better, or are considering bringing into your sphere. As social beings the behavior is not only normal but instinctual. So why when I put “business” or “career” in front of networking do many of my ...
Views: 1235 - How Not to Get Laid Off - Part II - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonHaving been on both sides of the layoff table I can tell you with great confidence that few employment decisions are based strictly on contribution or goal attainment. Don’t get me wrong, making money for the firm is important, doing superior work is essential; however, there is that less ...
Views: 1228 - Save Time -- Deal with NUTs - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonWhen I say NUTs I am not referring to some of the crazies my clients tell me are hanging around their workplace. I mean Nagging Unfinished Tasks. You know what I’m talking about, those things you are going to file (electronically or physically), the calls you should make, the networking you ...
Views: 1192 - It’s Energy Management, Not Time Management. - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonFor nine consecutive years, info marketing guru Dan Kennedy had been a presenter at the number 1 seminar tour in the US. You only have to be around Dan an hour to observe his certain kind of genius as well as understand that maverick is not an understatement. Despite his eccentric behavior he ...
Views: 1108 - Are You a Renter or an Owner of Your Career? - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2010 from Jane CranstonAre you a renter or an owner? The question is generally asked about living space or maybe an office. Today, I ‘m asking about it with regards to your job and/or career. Think about it. A renter generally has a defined time commitment, a lease. They may have an exit plan from the get go “we’ll ...
Views: 1096 - Four Ways to Turbo Charge Your Resume - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonIf you want your resume to get noticed, open doors and land you the job you want and deserve … 1. State accomplishments - what have you done in past positions that has made the company money, saved them money, found them time, saved them time or brought prestige to the organization or the ...
Views: 956 - What is the Career Competitive Edge? - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonHow does a company, firm, or individual determine if they have, want, or are striving toward the competitive edge? Questioning “what is professional success?” is a good first step. For many, the easy answer is money and status. But, when these are attained (or lost) it is surprising how ethereal ...
Views: 921 - Finding Abundance in Tough Times - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonTimes are tough. It is hard to avoid the challenges of the day whether it is your job, wallet, optimism or health that has been impacted. Earlier in the year I was redoing my kitchen. Clearing out twenty years of accumulation was a bigger task than I expected. I was shocked at how much ...
Views: 834(1 vote) - Are You Telling Yourself the Truth? - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane Cranston“Liars, Bigger Liars and d’em that figure.” An uncle often used this expression when knocking politicians and accountants. This week his words resonated with me as it seems everyone is accusing everyone else of either not telling the truth or lying by omission. The political debate is more about ...
Views: 782 - More Career Lessons from Captain Sullenberger - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonWatching the news coverage of the commercial airplane’s emergency landing into the river in New York I found myself curious about the captain. Who was he? What did he know? How had he learned it? Was it instinct or training, skill or luck? So what does this have to do with you, your career ...
Views: 763 - Bullying in the Workplace--Never Putt with a Driver - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonSound golf advice. I can think of a few applications—fat heads often have trouble with finesse and close-ups; bigger isn’t always better and there is the right tool for almost every task. When I think of applying the idea to challenges in the workplace I am drawn first to bullying. Some time ...
Views: 751 - Social Networking for Job Search Success - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonSocial Networking gets your job search noticed When I speak of social networking I am referring primarily to Facebook.com (growing the fastest) LinkedIn.com (I call it the Facebook.com of business), My Space.com (huge globally) and Twitter.com (getting the most buzz). Not to say there are ...
Views: 735 - Top 4 Resume Writing Mistakes Smart People Make - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonTop 4 Resume Writing Mistakes Smart People Make (and how to avoid them) 1. Underselling Accomplishments. You would be amazed how many people either forget or minimize their achievements. Some managers are too quick to give, rather than take credit, and often couch their successes in ...
Views: 732 - When is Social Networking Too Personal? Career Coaches Tips and Advice - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonPeople who are afraid to speak in public think nothing of writing everything about them self on line either in blogs, personal web sites, through social networking or e-mail. You could buy a billboard in Times Square and fewer people would have access to your information than if you posted on ...
Views: 688 - Team Leardership And Your Career Development Strategy - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonIf the 80s was the decade of the manager (remember The One-Minute Manager?), and the 90s focused on leaders (sometimes more like celebrities), the 00s is the time of team leadership. No longer are companies relying on a single person to drive the vision. The risks are too high, the talent ...
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