Craft an Attention-Grabbing Message
With so much information out there, getting your audience’s attention is tough. But it is also essential. Consider these three things next time you craft a message that needs to be heard:
Articles from Contributor
Get Your Team Thinking Like Entrepreneurs
Teams in large organizations can easily get tangled in bureaucracy. It takes a long time to execute on projects when waiting for approvals and gathering resources. But, you can get around this by helping your team members think and act like entrepreneurs. Try doing the following:
Say Less and Convey More
When you’re giving a presentation and nervousness kicks in, it’s tough to be brief. But, your audience expects you to state your conclusion and stand behind it, not ramble on aimlessly. You can only do that if you zero in on the purpose. When you prepare for your talk, work backwards. Before you put anything down on paper, know the …
Before Promoting Someone, Do a Test Run
If you suspect an employee is ready for a promotion, don’t jump right in. Performance in a current role doesn’t always predict performance in a future one. Gather more information by designing an assignment for the employee that mimics the tasks and challenges of the new job. Be transparent and tell him that you are using this …
Make Time for Meeting Prep
With so many meetings, busy managers don’t always have time to think about the goals of those meetings. But showing up unprepared only makes a meeting longer and less effective. Try blocking out time on your calendar for prep work and to think about what you want to accomplish. If a meeting is an hour, you may need 30 minutes to …
Get Mentoring that Grows with Your Career
Early in your career, you may ask mentors to help you with specific skills. But as you face mid-career challenges, you need mentoring that’s tailored to your individual strengths and career goals. And, you need mentors who can increase your access to career-advancement opportunities. Work with advisers who can help you take the skills …
Make Your Cube a Better Place to Work
Many people spend more time in their office than they do in their bed. You deserve a comfortable workspace. Here are three ways to make your office a place where you can accomplish your best work:
Get Your Project Going Fast
It’s challenging to launch a new project, especially if you’re battling layers of bureaucracy. Don’t fight the red tape. Instead, work around it to make things happen. Here are two ways:
Network with Purpose
When it comes to networking, quality matters more than quantity. But how do you meet the right people? One way is to ask for introductions. Reach out to influential people in your network and ask them to put you in touch with others. Be specific about the introductions you want and why you want them. Explain what you are trying to …
Make Time to Prioritize
Do you truly understand how you spend your time? Most people assume they dedicate more hours to strategic work than they actually do. Look back on the past month in your calendar. Add up the time you spent on your strategic priorities. Was it enough? It’s likely less than you thought. That’s because most people tend to do the most …
Don’t Let Latecomers Ruin Your Meeting
No matter how well you’ve prepared your meeting, things will go wrong. One of the more common disruptions is attendees showing up late. If people belatedly walk in, try these three things:
Delegate, Then Disengage
Entrusting a project to someone else can be tough. But if you don’t rely on others, you’ll always end up doing everything yourself. You’ll also shortchange those who could learn by taking new tasks. Once you delegate something, don’t be tempted to micromanage the process. Agree on the expected outcomes and just let go. If …