How to Receive Feedback and Mistakes to Avoid

How to Receive Feedback and Mistakes to Avoid What would you do if you saw a way that your colleague could improve? Would you say something? For most of us, the answer is “it depends”. On the one hand, you think, “I’d want to know if it was me.” On the other hand, it feels awkward to give this kind of feedback. Maybe you don’t know each other well enough, or you’ve got a favor to ask later and don’t want to upset them. Most of all, you can’t be sure how they’ll take it. In fact, they might take it the wrong way. The Key to Success But it’s exactly this kind of crucial input that can make or break our careers, and put us on a very different trajectory than the one we desire. After all, we all have our blind spots and we rely on others to point them out so we can improve. When it comes to getting the feedback you need, you might think that all it takes is asking. But in my experience, asking is not the key success factor. Instead, the key to success is receiving that feedback well. When you show you’re a pro at receiving feedback, three great things start happening: You’ll get a lot more feedback and input to help you improve The feedback you get will be more honest and useful â€" the kind you can do something with and see results You won’t need to ask for it all the time â€" people will share it with you willingly When you get lots of useful feedback, you can accelerate your progress toward that successful career and life you’ve always wanted. Without it, you’ll languish. The key to success when getting feedback is knowing how to receive it well How to Receive Feedback Like a Pro Receiving feedback well is a crucial skill when it comes to advancing your career, and it involves the following three steps. 1. Be “Safe” The first step is to make yourself “safe” to give feedback to. That is, make it a positive experience for others when they take the time to give you their thoughts on how you can improve. Feedback is priceless stuff that can propel your career onward and upward. And the giver probably had to think long and hard before bringing this to your attention, including worrying about how you’re going to take it. I’ve found that the best way to make it “safe” for others to give you feedback is to simply say, “thank you.” Yep, that’s it. And whatever you do, don’t argue with them or debate what they’ve said, even if you disagree. All that said, it’s okay to ask a clarifying question to make sure you’ve understood what they’re telling you. Your part of the conversation might sound like this: “Thank you. I appreciate your taking the time to share that with me. Just to make sure I understand what you mean, can you give me an example?” Once they answer, you say, “thank you” again. And that’s it. When someone gives you feedback, it’s not an invitation to debate. Simply say, “thank you”. 2. Do something with it The second step is to decide what you want to do about this new information, and then do it. Of course you’ll want to start by examining the feedback. After all, feedback is in the eyes of the beholder and it’s just as much about their perspective as it is about what you’ve done or said. Here, I find it can be useful to triangulate and get views from others that you trust. But then, it’s key to act on portions that make sense. Since not all advice is good advice, do some experiments where you’re not sure. When you take action, it shows people that it’s worthwhile giving you the feedback. In fact, I get really excited when I see someone take input from me or others and apply it and, best of all, get results. That makes me want to help them again and it lets me know I’m not wasting my time. 3. Let the giver know Sometimes, it will be obvious that you’ve taken someone’s feedback on board and improved your performance. But that won’t always be the case. You may operate in different circles or geographies, and your paths might not cross regularly. That’s when this third step of “closing the loop” with the person who gave you the feedback is an important touch point. I know I always appreciate knowing what happened after sticking my neck out to give someone constructive feedback. And even if it’s obvious that you’ve taken their ideas on board, it’s still a great move to tell them what you’ve done and to thank them. It encourages them to give you feedback again, gives you a chance to further build that relationship in a positive way, and creates a virtuous cycle where they’ll feel good about helping not only you but others as well. Common Mistakes When Receiving Feedback While it’s crucial to your success to receive feedback well, it’s a skill that doesn’t come naturally to most of us. In fact, here are four common mistakes people make when it comes to receiving feedback. Arguing When you disagree, or there are other circumstances that you feel compelled to explain, it puts up a barrier to further feedback. When someone gives you feedback, it’s not an invitation to debate. They’re trying to do you a favor by letting you know how they think you could improve. Remember that it can be a stressful time for the giver too, and your attempts to set them straight will likely leave a negative impression and even backfire. Instead, you’re probably better off thinking it over and coming back to it at another time. Getting emotional This is a tough one as it’s hard to control our emotions in the moment. But whether it’s crying or lashing out in anger, those emotions can work against us if we want to improve our career prospects. If this is the situation you find yourself in, then one way to address it is to figure out why feedback puts your emotions on high alert, and what kinds of feedback situations trigger that emotional response. Then you’ll have a better chance of reframing the situation and replacing your reactions with something more matter-of-fact. I find that it also helps to make getting feedback a regular and frequent event. That way, it’s no longer a big deal â€" like brushing your teeth or commuting to work. It becomes just “normal”. Feedback can propel your career onward and upward. Make getting feedback a regular and frequent event. Taking it personally It’s human nature to perceive feedback as criticism. Worse yet, to feel like it’s criticism directed at you as a less-than-adequate human being. You must resist that urge. To help you do this, it’s useful to remember the parenting adage that you’re not a bad person, it’s just “bad” behavior. The other point to remember is that at least 50% of feedback is about the giver. They’re simply conveying their point of view, which is drawn from their experience base and context. And maybe they had a bad day themselves which has colored their viewpoint. In the end, your job is to receive the feedback and see how you can use it to your advantage. If you can’t, then don’t worry about it. If you can, then make it an asset that helps you win. Either way, it pays to strive never to take feedback personally, even when it’s directed personally at you. Holding a grudge While it can be hard to put some distance between your ongoing relationship with the person who gave you feedback and how the feedback made you feel, it’s worth working on this. In fact, they’ll be looking to you for cues on how to behave after giving you the feedback. When you behave as though everything is okay, it gives the other person permission to behave that way too. And that’s the surest way to get back to a normalized relationship that will serve you both better. What It Means for Your Career When you’re not “safe” to give feedback to, your career can really suffer. No one tells you the simple changes that would really move the needle. So you languish in your career, then wake up 3-5 years from now and wonder what happened and why you’re still stuck in the same place while others around you have moved ahead. My most successful colleagues were the ones who got loads of feedback from seniors, peers, juniors and clients. Having the luxury of that input helped them improve their performance. That, in turn, helped them advance in the organization. And the second-order benefit of being great at receiving feedback is immense. When you handle constructive criticism well, you demonstrate that you: Are a good listener Care about improving and advancing Are resilient (and not “brittle”) Can self-manage and handle a tough message, rather than crumble or become combative. These are all indications that you can be a great leader who will be ready to take on the toughest client situations, and handle internal pressures with grace. They’re also important skills that will help you succeed in your career and life. Being great at receiving feedback shows that you can be a great leader So when it comes to feedback, what kind of receiver are you? And how can you make yourself “safer” to give feedback to? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Make Your Financial Plan To Quit Your Day Job Launch Your Business - When I Grow Up

Make Your Financial Plan To Quit Your Day Job Launch Your Business - When I Grow Up What holds most people back from quitting their day job and becoming an entrepreneur? I can think of a few (hundred) things… The lack of a plan. An intense fear of winding up living in their parents basement eating Ramen noodles. Not setting goals or creating realistic timelines. Ya know, the usual dream sucking nonsense. But thankfully, I got something for you that’ll let you work past all that. I’m so jazzed to partner with Financial Gym on my Make Your Financial Plan To Quit Your Day Job Launch Your Business workshop, coming at ya in NYC on Wednesday, Oct. 24th at 6 p.m. EST. In this workshop youll find out how I created a sturdy safety net so I could leave my corporate job in March of 2010 and make the leap to full-time coach in the middle of the recession and what Id do differently if I had to do it again. You’ll also leave with: the framework of your own sturdy safety net potential Plan Bs that won’t leave you beaten down without a soul your Breathe Easy number that’ll give you enough of a financial cushion to make your escape before 2028 the month and year you can give your notice if you stick to your plan! Also: ukulele playing, free wine and plenty of QA time. Who can resist? Sign up right here, and use the code GROWUP for a free ticket! If you’re not based in NYC and youd want me to lead this workshop live and virtually,  sign up here. If I get enough interest, I just might make it happen in early 2019. Time to cut the nonsense and start the game plan. You’ll feel so, SO good once you get out there!

Use Bullet Points To Build A Resume

Use Bullet Points To Build A ResumeIf you are one of the many individuals applying for a job at a new company, writing a resume should be a major priority. While you may have had other positions to which you have applied in the past, it is important that your resume is as fresh and concise as possible so that it stands out from the rest.While it is possible to write a resume and include all of the necessary details to describe your qualifications, there are some job applicants who like to go one step further by putting down what they feel your most valuable skills are and how they can help them with their career. By doing this, they have a greater chance of appearing more qualified and highly motivated.By adding specific details about your skills or accomplishments in writing bullet points, you are creating a professional image for yourself. While this may seem like something only those with many years of experience should be doing, there are numerous ways to boost your own morale an d convince a potential employer that you are someone who is not only an expert in your field, but someone who has taken on the job just to provide a good living for themselves. Simply adding the information will accomplish this and turn your resume into a selling point to your future employer.If you are applying for a job position where a salary has been set, list out all of the areas in which you are good at and be sure to highlight those that would have helped you land the job in the first place. A resume is more than just listing your current position and previous employment; it should speak to the potential employer about how you could positively impact their company.Your work history should also be included in your resume, giving a complete look at your experience and accomplishments. Depending on the specific job opening, there could be two main categories for this type of information: professional experience and education.Professional experience is usually listed with your na me and a professional category; however, if you are the president of your local chapter of your union, the union could even put you in the education category. The categories are often used to highlight specific types of accomplishments that can be used to raise your chances of getting hired. In addition to this, it is common to see individuals use their education to attract attention to their skills and abilities.Many individuals choose to use bullet points to build a resume instead of writing it out. They do this because it is a faster and more efficient way to show that they have specific qualities. While this does not guarantee that you will receive the job or the company you apply to, it is the simplest method available for adding your strengths to your resume and getting a job you are interested in.

6 Secrets to Surviving Year One of Your New Business  MONEY

6 Secrets to Surviving Year One of Your New Business â€"  MONEY This story is part five of a five-part series on the best way to launch your own business. Reaching the one-year mark in a business often means mastering something that you won’t learn as a member of the steady-paycheck crowd: cash flow. “Running out of cash is one of the leading causes of small-business failure,” says Steve King, partner in Emergent Research, a firm in Lafayette, Calif., that studies the freelance economy. That can happen even if you’re at breakeven or profitable. Staying afloat for a full year will let you make an educated decision about whether to soldier on or move on. Give yourself the best chance by taking these six steps: Master the ebb and flow Before you launch, ask others in the industry when you’ll typically be paid, and use that info to do a cash-flow projection, says CPA Lou Grassi, who advises many entrepreneurs as CEO and managing partner of Grassi Co. If you have to wait 90 days, for instance, you’ll need to have other funds for overhead. Grassi, who started out serving construction businesses, quickly realized that his income would be concentrated in five months of the year. To even out cash flow, he came up with subscription pricing, breaking annual bills into monthly retainers. “A lot of customers liked it,” he says. Surround yourself with smarts On a tight beginner’s budget, you might be best off working from home. If you can free up the funds, though, you may find it helpful to rent an office that puts you in contact with an advisory team experienced in guiding startups. Co-working spaces are hubs for free agents where you can rent a desk or a small office. At an incubator or accelerator, which often provides office space as well as advisory services, you may be asked to pay rent or provide equity. All give you access to mentors and learning from your peers, says Jack D. Beasley, managing director of the USC/Columbia Technology Incubator and senior program manager at the Office of Economic Engagement at the University of South Carolina. “They have gone through the same things you have gone through and can help you avoid mistakes.” Fire money-losing clients When you first launch, you’re eager for any business. But after six months or so, you’ll figure out that some clients aren’t worth it. If they don’t pay you enough to cover your time and costsâ€"or don’t have a marquee name you can use as a calling card to win other businessâ€"replace them. Tap credit cards sparingly Fund as much of your growth as you can out of revenue so that you don’t build up debt that you can’t handle if the business shuts down. The safest route is to pay overhead out of savings or cash flow and defer big purchases until you have the money in hand, even if that means turning down an order. With a small-business credit card, you will most likely have to offer a personal guarantee, so you could be stuck with the bill even if the business files for bankruptcy protection. Making small purchases on your card and paying them off monthly, on the other hand, builds up business credit with less risk. Keep spreading the word Perhaps you are getting the bulk of your work through word of mouth. Still, you need a website so that your operation looks legitimate. A site doesn’t have to be fancy, but if it is going to be an important route to new business, invest in advertising on search engines. Google Adwords has the highest conversion rate. The average cost per click in the U.S. is $1 to $2, according to Wordstream, a provider of online advertising tools. Raise your profile on major social media, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, by posting regularly. Be willing to cut your losses The history of entrepreneurship is filled with inspiring stories of people who ignored the evidence that their business was failing and achieved great success. But for mere mortals, there often comes a point when it makes sense to pivot. Set benchmarks you plan to meet when you start, says Beasley, and review them with a team of advisers or mentors regularly. Take the tax man into account too. The IRS lets you deduct expenses from a business that is not turning a profit for only a few yearsâ€"typically three, notes enrolled agent Crystal Stranger, president of 1st Tax in Honolulu and author of The Small Business Tax Guide. “After about two years in business is usually when I tell clients it might be time to throw in the towel,” she says. If your business is in the red past the typical point when startups in your field become profitableâ€"and you don’t take significant action to change your business model by, say, hiring a consultantâ€"the IRS could deem it a hobby, which can trigger a higher tax bill. Remember: Even if this business doesn’t work out, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s your last. Read the previous stories in this series.

Networking Lessons From The Grand Budapest Hotel - Work It Daily

Networking Lessons From The Grand Budapest Hotel - Work It Daily I finally got around to seeing the movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel this weekend… twice. I suspect I could watch it a third time and see something I missed the first two times. The film is visually interesting, and the humor is droll. It suited my tastes perfectly. Related: Why Your Network Isn’t Going To Help You The reason I wanted to comment on it, however, has nothing to do with my general entertainment. Instead, it has to do with the fact that I was going to be talking about networking this week. One part of the movie demonstrated perfectly, I believe, why networking is so important. The scenes to which I refer are midway through the story. The main character, M. Gustave H. and his sidekick, Zero, find themselves in the middle of nowhere and in need of help in order to escape the authorities given that M. Gustave H. has just escaped prison with the help of Zero. In the middle of a desolate field, a telephone booth stands. M. Gustave H. places a collect call to a fellow concierge at another hotel and sets into motion a series of calls, each to colleagues of his who drop whatever they are doing at the moment in order to rush to the aid of their friend. After a series of calls, a car appears, and M. Gustave H. and Zero are whisked away to the train so that they can set off on the next leg of their adventure. That segment of the film which includes at least five different characters dropping whatever they were doing in order to help their friend exemplifies, I believe, networking at its best. The individuals who dropped their immediate activity in order to come to the aid of their friend were returning a favor done for them perhaps long, long ago but never forgotten. Now, when their friend is in need, they stand at the ready to assist him because they know he would do the same for them. In the end, that is exactly what networking is. It is all about relationships. It is about giving as well as receiving. It isn’t about going to an event where you don’t know anyone with you looking to see what other people have to offer you. It is about going to an event with the attitude that you have something to offer the people you will be meeting. You are there to help them. You are important, and you have contacts, and you can use those contacts to help others. It just so happens that other people may have contacts that can also help you. But at the end of the day, it is about give and take… not just taking without giving. I have always dreaded “networking events.” I enjoy talking with people one-on-one, however. I enjoy meeting over coffee. I enjoy listening to people talk about their dogs and their kids and what they are doing with their lives. THAT is the stuff of relationship building. So, I suggest that if you also hate networking events, you consider changing your thoughts about what networking is and what it isn’t, and perhaps the next time you need to go to an event, instead of preparing for it with a sense of dread, you can prepare with a sense of anticipation and excitement. Think of all the good you can do for the other people who will be there! That is something about which you can get excited! This post was originally published at an earlier date. Photo Credit: Flikr Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

Reasons For Leaving a Job Exactly What to Say When Youre Asked Why You Left a Job

Reasons For Leaving a Job Exactly What to Say When Youre Asked Why You Left a Job When youre switching jobs, whether youre laid off or simply making a career change, a very common question youll have to answer is your reason for leaving the job. Youll hear it at most stages of the job interview process, as well as from your friends and family. Putting in your two weeks leidlageice will also most likely trigger your boss to ask why youre leaving, either directly or through an exit interview.While you might think itll be easy to speak truthfully and professionally to the question, its one you want to rehearse and work out your phrasing ahead of time in buchen to cast yourself in a positive light which is essential if youre on the job hunt, and if you want to leave your current job on a good note. It takes tact, and sometimes, a bit of wordsmithing for the most appropriate response.Luckily, weve compiled the best answers for you to tailor to your situation.What you should say (good rea sons for leaving your job)Im looking for an increase in responsibility and there isnt room to grow at my current company.Im transitioning careers from current position to prospective position as Im passionate about skillset related to prospective position.My current job focuses on an industry or project and Id like to pivot to industry or project at the company youre interviewing with.I welches hired to do list of job tasks, but I ultimately ended up working on different job tasks. Id like to work on job tasks related to the position youre interviewing for.Ive always wanted to work on name the companys project or mission while I love my current company, I couldnt say no to a potential opportunity to be a part of company name.If you were laid off or fired, this is what you can sayYou absolutely should be honest about losing your job as most companies will call references and find out the truth eventually (and you dont ever want to get caught in a lie).That means when asked, you can g ive one of ansicht simple, acceptable explanations (and that should be sufficient for most interviewers)Laid offMy company downsized and my team was laid off.My position was eliminated when the company restructured.My role was made redundant when my company was acquired.The company went through a management change and I was laid off with the restructuring.FiredI was let go insert reason why, and a brief explanation that highlights what you learned from the experience and how its not an issue now.I was fired because I failed to make a sales goal amount or some other quantifiable objective. You can add a few quick sentences about why that happened, and what you learned from the experience.The key to answering why you were fired without making yourself look bad is to be honest but brief, and end on a positive note that means explaining what you learned and how youve grown from the experience. It may be simply that you realized youll no longer work in a certain industry or role again.Fo r example, you could sayI was fired from the position of sales development representative when I failed to reach my assigned quarterly quota. What I learned from that role is cold calling and sales are not my strengths Im much more passionate and skilled at insert requirement from job description which is what led me to apply to this company.What NOT to say when asked why youre leaving a jobI hated my boss.The company was toxic.I was bored by the work.I didnt like my coworkers.Mycommute was too long.I worked too many hours.I was underpaid.I didnt do well in the role.I didnt enjoy the position.I was at the company for too long.I only took the job as a temporary gig.I was late too often, and that created friction with my boss.I didnt agree with company rules and policies.I was too slow with the work I was assigned.I had to do my coworkers job on top of my own.My boss wasnt a good mentor.My boss was a micromanager.Of course, one (or more) of those answers might be the honest truth abou t your situation, but it wont reflect well on you to say that. Youll likely sound immature and unprofessional from the interviewers perspective. And, believe it or not, most people have worked in those same situations at some point of their lives while you might think that the inteviewer would be sympathetic to your situation, most people landsee it as complaining whether thats right or wrong.So, to go with an old adage, less is often more. What you say or dont say can insinuate the truth, such as the work-life balance wasnt conducive to my best work. An interviewer reading between the lines can probably pick up that it was a high-intensity environment, or possibly toxic.

The Number One Question You Must Ask for R/engineeringstudents Guide to Resume Writing

The Number One Question You Must Ask for R/engineeringstudents Guide to Resume Writing Becoming in a location to organize and run a technical team is most likely the single most valuable skill youll be able to develop in preparation for the true engineering world. After all, a lot of resumes are poorly written and dont represent the candidate well. Youre better off to display your skills by your experience or have a short and descriptive collection of only the critical skills needed by the employer. There are many different website which will be useful for mechanical engineering students while on the lookout for job vacancies. Write down what you are able to and after that return and verify whether you were correct with the true solution. Every one of them has of course benefits and disadvantages. As the work market grew increasingly more competitive, objectives became obsolete. The Awful Side of R/engineeringstudents Guide to Resume Writing Youre telling the employer what you would like from them. Your CV doesnt need to be on paper. Creative CV isnt for everybody and for every occasion. Its surprising how quickly comp points can accumulate 1 day it could be the very same in the US but as of now there is truly no indication of change coming soon. There are big advantages of gambling ansprechbar instead of live games at land-based casinos. Imagine you want to obtain a promotion. So How About R/engineeringstudents Guide to Resume Writing? Yes it could be expensive to find an effective and quality resume created by a resume writing service, but its a 1 time price. A superb objective statement is specific for each job to emphasize that youve made an attempt to find out more about the position. After downloading a template, you may also add additional details to your resume as a way to make it even more impressive. Your resume is then created in the term format and saved on your computer. You must have a great resume. One of the absolute most u ser-friendly along with free is Canva. Be sure your resume is simple to read.