Increase Your Visibility At Work

If you want to move on or up in your career then it is time to get noticed. Women in general don’t always realise the importance of increasing their visibility at work and think that by working harder and keeping their heads down they will eventually get rewarded. On the other hand men are better at letting others know what they are working on, what they have achieved and take the time to form strategic alliances which help position them for interesting opportunities and projects.

It is true that it is not just what you know but who you know that counts and it really is that easy to be passed over for a job if you don’t raise your visibility. If you have your nose to the grindstone from 9 to 5, and are rarely seen other than at your computer, now is the time to step out and make yourself know.

Reference Site for Career Articles and Features

DevelopYourCareer offers a unique reference point for features and articles written by experts - who have experience, or a particular interest in this area. http://www.developyourcareer.co.uk/

Will you Reach for the Stars in 2009?

With the end of the year in sight this is a great opportunity before the holiday season, to reflect on past successes and make plans for 2009. Although many people I speak to are concerned about economic uncertainty and what this means for their business and jobs next year, it pays to manage your future career prospects whatever your current situation. Job security is increasingly dependent on your employability and the ability to be aware of opportunities. Aim to be proactive and vigilant as you move into the New Year. As you reflect on 2008 ask yourself:

1. What did I learn about myself? Are you more aware of your values, interests and strengths? How might you use these in shaping your future work?

2. What new skills and knowledge did I acquire? Did you attend any development courses or study programmes? Were you able to get involved in continue reading

Why Unemployment Could Be More Difficult This Time

In a recent Time article Stephen Gandel writes that for those in America who lose their jobs it could be much harder to regain their place in corporate America than in past recessions. The financial sector is shrinking, technical roles have been outsourced overseas and an ageing population requires different services.

There is some good news in that a more educated workforce will make it easier for people to make job transitions, but this takes time and could be difficult for those used to a certain level of income.

Making a Decision about Your Career

Everyone faces having to make a career decision at some point – whether to stay or go, take a promotion, move overseas, start a business, take a career break, retrain. As we get older and have more commitments in terms of partners, children, schools and homes, then making the next career move can start to seem both daunting and complicated. It may take more time but it is worth:

1. Identifying all the choices and options that you have in the situation

2. Gathering information on each option by talking to the appropriate people, asking advice and conducting background research.

3. Writing down the pros and cons for each decision and prioritising what is most and least important to you

4. Brainstorming all possible alternatives. Look for ways to make the situation work for you. How can you maximize the pros and minimize the cons

5. Noting any fears that are of concern and putting these into context. Consider what you need to do or actions to take in order to address your concerns

6. Putting a deadline on making a decision to avoid over thinking and analyzing. There may not be a perfect decision as there likely to be an element of uncertainty about the future.

Find Your Purpose at Work

Have you ever set out on a journey knowing your destination and then finding that you misread the map and one wrong turn led to another and after several detours you finally got there or even perhaps gave up? Life can be like that.

What can happen is that instead of planning our own route we end up using someone else's map and destination, whether our parents, friends, teachers or reacting to what may or may not be happening in the job market. Following someone else's map can often lead to frustration, anger, depression and a sense of ’how did I end up here?’

In our heart of hearts we know how we want to feel or we may have secret ambitions which have never been fulfilled. So if you are desperately seeking a life try all or some of the following exercises.

What You Want and What You Don't Want
This can be an easy way to start off. Divide your paper into two and write on the left hand side all the things you don't like about your life at the moment - what is making you unhappy at work, home or in your relationships. Then on the right hand side write down what life would look like if these circumstances were working for you.

Think through how you can eliminate or reduce the impact of those things that you don't want in your life right now. Then move on and be creative with ideas to bring more of what you do want into your life. Try one or two small actions and you will be amazed how when you start to make changes, your confidence and willingness to experiment with new approaches will grow.

Develop your Passion
When outstanding entrepreneurs were asked what has contributed to their success 10 times out of 10 they responded by saying it is their passion. They felt passionate about achieving their vision despite all the obstacles, the failures, the stress and the crises.

Passion gave them energy to stay up all night to finish a proposal or write a book. Passion gave them the determination to take action to achieve their vision. Your life vision needs to be connected to your passion otherwise you are in danger of running out of steam just at those critical moments when the going gets tough.

Many of us have lost touch with that passion and energy and feel weighed down by what other people think and say. Gone are the inklings of desire and interest to be replaced by the shoulds and musts and the ’be good’ thinking

Taking Action
By this stage you may have gathered some ideas and are beginning to feel a bit excited. I hope so. Now you have to take the actions to start to make things happen.

One of the more interesting ways to achieve this is by getting in touch with people who are doing what you want to do to share their ideas. Gather names from newspapers, articles, the internet or join professional associations, attend conferences, join a local group. By talking to people who have similar interests and desires the feedback you get will validate or otherwise your own desires and interests.

What is it Worth to You?
Finally, now that you might be all fired up you need to seriously consider:

What is the cost of not pursuing your dream in terms of stress, ill health, depression, regrets?

What price are you willing to pay to achieve your dreams? Financial sacrifice, facing your fears, changing habits, taking tough decisions?

Making A Remarkable Career: Women discuss how they approach work and life

The Impact on Business of the Gender Gap

Despite gains in the workplace the number of women at senior levels in companies is still low. In a recent Mckinsey article (www.mckinseyquarterly.com) research was cited that in Europe and the US those companies that had more senior level women tended to perform better financially. Another benefit to hiring and retaining women at all levels is to grow a company’s talent pool at a time when many industries are experiencing shortages of critical knowledge and skills.

The report also notes that coaching and mentoring programmes help female executives succeed by giving them the confidence and support to seek out new positions more aggressively.

UK Resource Centre for Women in Technology

Half a million women in the UK are qualified in either science, engineering or technology (SET) - but less than a third work in those sectors, all of which are suffering a severe skills shortage, set to get worse in the coming decades.

The UKRC for Women in SET works to significantly improve the participation and position of women in science, engineering and technology occupations in industry, research, academia and public service to benefit the future productivity of the UK and the lifetime earnings and career aspirations of women. It is the UK’s leading Centre providing information and advisory services to employers and organisations in the SET sectors and supporting women entering, returning and progressing in these fields. http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/

Using Social Media for Career Networking

Social media is a great way to stay in touch with people, keep them informed on you and your situation and for you to know what changes are happening in others' lives. For example if someone changes job, is promoted or is moving to another country this is a good opportunity to get in touch and offer your congratulations. Over time you build up a wealth of relationships.

But use it wisely. Employers and Head Hunters do search social media sites for further information on potential hires so you don’t want to include very personal information or wild party photos.

The following are good sites to get started with:

LinkedIn – find potential clients, service providers, subject experts, and partners who come recommended.
Facebook – attracts people of all ages and interests. Facebook is made up of many networks, each based around a company, region, or school. Join the networks that reflect your real-life communities to learn more about the people who work, live, or study around you.
Blogs – you can create your own special interest blog on an area of work that particularly interests you and establishes you as an expert in your field. You can start to build relationships and a dialogue with people who leave comments on your blog. Or you can contribute your thoughts on other people’s blogs.
Discussion Forums – if you belong to a professional organization then they usually have discussion forums where you can post questions around your chosen topic and start a dialogue with a fellow professional.

Where Women Want to Work TOP 50

The Times has published the Top 50 organisations for recruiting and retaining female talent. The TOP 50 is about providing insightful information about 50 of the UK's largest and most progressive employers. To view the list click here - http://www.wheretowork.com/top50/top50_2008.asp

10 Steps to Achieve Your Career Goals

When a recent US survey asked people what got in the way of them achieving their goals, the most common reasons given were procrastination (33%); lack of discipline (24%); not having a plan (19%) and having to do it alone (10%).

When there is economic uncertainty then your focus is naturally on the immediate future, but you shouldn't lose sight of the fact that when things turn around there are usually lots of opportunities for those who are prepared. This can be a good time to stay ahead of the curve, and make plans to achieve your personal and professional goals.

Step 1: Make sure you really want your goal. If it's getting a Board position, setting up your business or working part-time, imagine in detail how great life will be when you do this.

Step 2: Write your goals down. Put them somewhere you can see them and cut out pictures to inspire you on a daily basis. One research study which tracked a number of graduates over a 20 year period showed that those who had written down their goals were more successful in many of the things that they had achieved.

Step 3: Is your goal SMART? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Framed.

Step 4: Devise a time plan. One month, 3 month, 6, month and your steps to getting there.

Step 5: What small actions can you take straight away to get you on your journey? Do them and then plan some more. Set review dates. Check in with your progress each month so you can see how well you are doing and then celebrate! Buy something small or treat yourself to something that will mark your progress.

Step 6: Make yourself accountable to someone. Don't go it alone. Ask a friend/partner to join you or support you to help keep you focused and on track.

Step 7: Foresee pitfalls. Plan for any unexpected or known events that could throw you off course. Predict other people's negative responses and be realistic about what can be achieved.

Step 8: What might be the hidden bonus of failing? It's a big question but sometimes we do self-sabotaging and damaging things in order to prove ourselves right. "See I told you/ I was useless/am not qualified/always get looked over for promotion" could be your mantra for keeping you stuck in your "safe" misery.

Step 9: Write out what you gain and lose by change and what you gain and lose by staying the same.

Step 10: Be committed to your success. When you say you are going to do something and you do, it sends a tremendously positive message to your psyche.

Build Your Network of Allies and Advocates

Whatever stage you are at in your career it is really important to build and nurture your network of allies and advocates. Consider your current network and see if anyone fits these definitions. Then review to what extent you do the same for them or others.

Allies: go out of their way for you by giving you names, resources, feedback or other help. They give advice that you respect. You do the same for them.

Advocates: are confident in your abilities and will speak up on your behalf. They are able to deliver on your requests and make sure the right people hear about you. You are equally supportive of them.

Managing Key Relationships at Work

How you manage your relationships at work is very important in achieving your goals and progressing your career. It is easy to not pay sufficient attention to key relationships due to a number of reasons such as location, availability and time. As a result things might start to go wrong. When a relationship is not going well you may need to review

• Expectations and deliverables
• Structural or organizational factors
• Style of communication and behaviours
• Re-negotiating relationships and agreeing changes

Are you Underearning?

Although the wage gap may favour men, both sexes worry about the future and share dissatisfaction with earnings. If you want to take a quick quiz to check your approach to money then go to http://www.sheconomics.com/. Sheconomics is all about women’s relationship with money; it was founded by financial coach, Simonne Gnessen, and psychologist, Professor Karen Pine. It acknowledges the emotions that women attach to money and helps women unravel the mysteries of the money world and their own psychological approach to it. Barbara Stanny has written a number of books on strategies for Overcoming Underearning and Secrets of Six-Figure Women which are worth reading.

Success Secrets for Small Business Owners Teleclass

If you truly want to turn things around and build a sustainable and rewarding business with more time and more money, then join us for our Success Secrets for Small Business Owners and Solo Entrepreneurs Teleclass, where we will show you

• How to stop chasing and start attracting clients
• The latest media and marketing tools and techniques both on-line and off line
• Systems to help you work smarter, not harder
• How to manage your mindset and avoid self sabotage

Our teleclass series will guide you through the process of attracting clients, making more money whilst working smarter and not harder. All you need is a telephone land line to participate and you will be instantly connected to a group of like minded individuals who want to ask questions, support each other and turbo charge their lives.

When: Thursdays 6, 13, 20 November and 4 December 2008
Time: 7.30 pm UK time for 55 minutes
Cost: £75 for 4 classes

Contact: info@realcoachingsolutions.co.uk

Tips to Survive Redundancy

Finding work after redundancy is a full time job but there is light at the end of the tunnel and many go on to dream lives. Try these 10 tips to success

1. Keep office hours and establish a routine

2. Research different options

3. Work as an interim

4. Tell everyone what work you want to do

5. Take on short term projects or assignments

6. Set targets for numbers of job applications per week

7. Buff up your CV and have others give you feedback

8. Post your details on internet job boards like www.monster.com

9. Register for networking sites like LinkedIn www.linkedin.com

10. Join a local business networking group

Women in Technology

womenintechnology is a leading on-line job board and networking group for women working in the IT profession. Their job board is helping major firms to raise their profile amongst female technologists in the UK – highlighting why they are an ideal place for a woman to have a successful technology career. In turn the job board enables female IT jobseekers to apply directly to organisations which are actively seeking more female staff.

They organise regular networking events that play a vital part in attracting (and retaining) women in the IT profession - www.womenintechnology.co.uk

What do Women Want?

It may be the most ancient question known to man causing consternation and chaos in countless great minds from Confucius to Freud. But the simple proposition "what do women want?" is often less complex than we might imagine.

So we conducted research into the key issues faced by female managers, directors and business owners, which revealed some enlightening factors. We asked:

What are the key challenges facing women in business?
It was no surprise to discover that the age old "juggling act" of balancing work and family responsibilities weighed heavy on the broadest and strongest of shoulders. Despite supportive partners at home the bulk of family commitments still fell to the woman so consequently stress, fatigue and burn out were real issues.

Others confessed that adopting a "macho" stance was often a coping mechanism when working in a male dominated environment where saying "no" to extra work was not an option and any kind of vulnerability was seen a weakness.

What specific skills do women bring to work?
Women excel at multi-tasking and communicating. They can type a report, deal with a crisis and negotiate deals on the side; whilst planning dinner for the family as well as remembering to wash the football kits. Women can be supportive team players and naturally intelligent leaders using empathy and compassion to get results too.

What do you think companies need to do to recruit and retain female talent?
Recruiting more women into senior and board positions would certainly enhance the profile of many organizations; whilst encouraging others to join or stay with the company. Flexibility was the common need for women in key positions. This would allow women to work around their home life without diminishing productivity.

Who or what has contributed to your success?
All the women in our report referred to great male and female managers and role models, who listened to them, inspired them and gave them the confidence to succeed. Others found a trusted team that supported them provided great strength and using a coach or a mentor as a sounding board was good for bouncing off risky new ideas.

What support, learning or development do you think women need in business today?
Promoting and providing job opportunities for women in senior positions needs to be supported with appropriate learning and development interventions. Confidence coaching would also help raise their visibility.

Other areas identified, where women would like increased help included managing stress, work/life balance, keeping up to date with information whilst taking maternity leave and support when returning after a career break.

Flexible Working

With the current downturn there has been a rise in the demand for part-time experienced staff as employers see it as a less risky strategy to adopt more flexible employment strategies.

Women Like Us is a social enterprise organisation that helps women with children to make the best choices for their working lives, and helps employers find experienced, part-time staff. They do this by offering advice, and delivering bespoke recruitment and consultancy services, specialising in flexible working.

Another company is Flexworks-UK which provides employers and recruiters with a 'gateway' to high level candidates who are seeking part-time, job share, temporary, flexible and interim roles via vacancy advertising.

Get the Scoop on Interviews

I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer and you are feeling refreshed and renewed.

If you have returned from vacation you may be one of the 76% who estimate that their stress levels are back to pre-holiday highs within a week of returning to work.

But before you ditch the office job in a fit of blues to head for a new role, read this month’s tips on handling the interview process. I asked my friend Collette Harrison, of The Harrison Partnership, who specialises in recruiting across all sectors, to give me the inside scoop.

Collette Harrison has interviewed hundreds of people for jobs across industry sectors and roles and knows from all the feedback that she has had from companies and candidates the pitfalls and traps that we can all fall into when attending interviews. Next time you are heading off to meet a potential employer consider Collette’s recommended tips:

Step 1: Get Organised – Preparation

Do your research on the role/organisation. Knowing something relevant and recent about the company will not only demonstrate your interest but could be a good starting point for a discussion on the company.

Know where you are going and give yourself plenty of time to get there.

Ensure that you have all of the interview details with you including the telephone number of the person you are seeing. If you think that you may be the slightest bit late then phone ahead to inform them.

Take a copy of your CV with you and be fully conversant with its contents. This may seem a little bit obvious but the number of times I have asked someone to give me some additional information on a role/project that is on their CV and the person wasn’t sure what I was referring to!

Study the job specification and match it to your CV so you can provide evidence that you meet the criteria

Step 2 First Impressions Count - The Interview

Dress appropriately. If you have been called to an interview at short notice flag to the person confirming the interview so that they don’t assume that you will pitch up for work every day dressed as a surfer!

Remember that you're making an impression as soon as you walk through the door and so be courteous to everyone, from the Receptionist to the MD – you never know who might influence the final selection of candidates, or even the job winner.

Don’t slouch in your seat be attentive and alert and maintain good eye contact with the person/people conducting the interview. If the sun is in your eyes or the chair is wobbly say something rather than squirm and fail to concentrate.

Listen, Listen, Listen, and Listen to what is being asked of you…. I can’t emphasise this enough. If the interviewer asks for you to provide a short overview of your career to date then don’t spend twenty minutes doing it. You can always ask at the end if they would like you to provide extra detail

Answer the questions that are asked, not the one’s you may have rehearsed. Don’t be evasive. Be specific, providing examples where appropriate and don’t waffle. Clarify anything that you are unsure of.

Always have questions to ask the interviewer – perhaps around culture, further career opportunities, what the next step in the process is. You can often distinguish yourself from other candidates by the questions you ask at the end. It confirms your ability to listen and digest information.

Step 3: Post-interview

Call your recruitment consultant and let him or her know how it went. Your consultant is employed by the company to liaise with you, and can also handle any queries or objections raised, or persuade the employer to wait while you supply more information.

Some interviewers may give you their direct line in case you have any further queries. Take advantage of this if necessary but don’t overdo it.

Allow a reasonable amount of time before getting in touch. At least 24 hours.

Write a letter confirming your interest and thanking the company for its consideration. A timely but subtle reminder like this could pay dividends.

About the Author: The Harrison Partnership was founded by Collette Harrison in 2004, who has over 15 years executive recruitment experience, 7 of those leading the interim management practice within one of the largest consulting firms. She has been at the forefront of setting standards in the industry for a number of years.

Plan for a Perfect Day in the Office

For those of us who have to attend meetings and keep the paperwork churning, plan for a perfect day in the office where-ever you are. When you take charge of your environment, you will expand the time available during the day and create more enjoyment.

1. Check your Bio-rhythms. Find out when you are most productive and have the most energy. 10 am or 2 pm? Do your most demanding and creative work at these times and build this into your schedule in advance.

2. Plan ahead. Select the most difficult task, the one that you keep putting off, and get this done first. You can then relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

3. Create a reserve of time. Build an extra 30 minutes into your routine for speculation, creativity and those unforeseen problems and deadlines.

4. Invest in your health. Make sure you allow enough time for lunch. Eat a healthy salad, drink lots of water and eat fruit. You will have bags more energy in the afternoon which will see you through to the evening. Take a walk, sit in the sun or go for a swim for an additional boost.

5. Incentivise yourself. Rather than relying on others to acknowledge and reward you for all this hard work create your own incentive package - a special coffee, a short walk, conversation with a colleague at work.

6. Make a difference. Thank creatively about what you do - could you change the way you do your job?

7. Leave work on time! Clear your desk, update your plan for the next day, go home on time, enjoy the evening and have some fun!

The Power of Connecting

Few things in business life can be as nightmarish as the prospect of networking. The inability to break into any meaningful conversation about what you offer or simply the sheer exhaustion of being professional and personable to so many people can have you heading for the door never to return.

Yet many jobs are never advertised and the power of personally connecting or being referred by an influential contact raises the possibility of being considered for a promotion or a new role. Successful networking can mean increased business or job opportunities, a database of contacts and at the very least precious professional and personal support.

There are some simple techniques which can turn a networking event into a meaningful opportunity.

Learn to listen. Learn about how you could possibly help that person, what their business requirements are and if you could connect that person with a strategic alliance.
Discern what their ideal type of client or business would be. This will help you to refer them on and encourages reciprocation.
Ask them what has changed in their industry over the past few years what are the challenges that they are currently facing - could you help them?
Keep it human. Don't appear desperate for business or work. Talk about hobbies, what your passion is, what makes you happy, why you enjoy what you do - find the common ground between you.
When you have exchanged business cards be sure to read them thoughtfully and respectfully, don't just shove them into your pocket. Then when you have a moment write a small note to self on the back about the person so when you email them later that day or the next you can remember who they were and make the email personal.
Be generous and offer to give away some of your expertise over an informal coffee in the future. If that's what you give away, they'll start to imagine what a committed business relationship with you could bring them.

And finally remember that a huge proportion of your communication is non-verbal and people will make judgments about you based largely upon your appearance. So focus on the image you wish to project and consider the impact your clothes will have on the outcome you wish to create. You will never have that first time contact again.

September Teleclass: Blue Print for Success

In four 55-minute telephone calls Carole Ann Rice and Susan Tomlinson will show you step by step a ‘Blue Print for Success’

If you are

Stuck in a rut but afraid to make a change …………
Lack motivation and direction………….
Worried that life has disappeared from work/life balance then….

then we will share our secrets and insights gained from coaching top performing people such as business leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, artists, and media gurus.

All you need is a telephone land line to participate and you will be instantly connected to a group of like minded individuals who want to ask questions, support each other and turbo charge their lives.

When? Thursdays, 4, 11, 18 September 2008 and 2 October 2008

What Time? 7.30 pm UK Time for 55 minutes

Cost? £60 for 4 classes

Over the four weeks you will find out effective ways of plotting a powerful pathway to the future you desire. Armed with these tools you will be able to focus on exactly what it is that you want, plan a route to your goal and deal with the obstacles that get in your way, whether it’s confidence crises or the fear of career change, so you can seamlessly segue yourself to where you want to be. If you really want to create the next level of wealth, happiness and success in your life then read on. By joining these classes you will learn how to:

Set goals that drive you forward effortlessly and increase your effectiveness and productivity
Handle the money
Have more time to enjoy life
Take care of your self and increase your natural power and energy
Eliminate barriers to success
And much, much more!

Week 1: Create a powerful vision for your future and get motivated to succeed.
There is one thing having a goal and another creating a powerful vision for the future. A goal is merely a destination point whilst a powerful vision may well take you out of our comfort zone, answer your heart’s call and teleport you into a passionate and purposeful plac

Week 2: Establish strong financial foundations. Learn techniques to get out of debt, start saving and get on to the path of financial independence. On this call we will have guest speaker Simonne Gnessen, of Wise Monkey Financial Coaching. Simonne provides an alternative to traditional financial advice, aiming to educate people on the subject of money, as well as providing guidance and support on any money issue. Website: www.financial-coaching.co.uk.

Week 3: Discover radical approaches to creating time in your life and ways to increase your natural power and energy. Your livelihood and relationships depend on how you function as a human being. When you value your time and space, honour your body and health and build in time spent doing things that fill your soul and make you happy, you renew yourself and are more able to function at your peak potential. Everyone who enters your sphere benefits too.

Week 4: No excuses! Eliminate tolerations and barriers to success. Often we start off with great intentions yet after a few days, weeks or months it’s quite common to find ourselves slipping back into old ways. Before embarking on any new action plan we will spend time on how to overcome barriers to success.

To book a place or for further information please email: info@realcoachingsolutions.co.uk

The Rules of the Game. How to Stay Ahead in Your Career

It's a competitive world out there and lots of people like you will be looking for the best jobs and best organisations to work for. So if you really want to get ahead it's worth knowing the rules of the game.

Think of yourself as a business
All successful businesses have a vision, objectives, strategic plan and financial goals. Yet when considering our own working lives it can be very easy to fall into the trap of defining yourself in terms of a job or a role, turning up for work every day and taking home a monthly pay cheque. This is a risky approach particularly as the sense of loyalty between employer and employee so rarely exists these days. What is your personal vision for a successful career, what plans can you put into place to achieve this and what are your financial targets?

Manage your reputation
Do you really know what others think about you, your capabilities and your potential? Would you be surprised? Don't be afraid to ask for frank feedback and check out expectations. Companies do this all the time through surveys and questionnaires to monitor and improve customer satisfaction, update services and products and change pricing strategies. Without this information, businesses would never be able to change, grow and adapt. Try this out for yourself. Seek out positive and constructive feedback (and not just once a year through a performance review!), then decide what you might need to do differently such as working on assignments to raise your profile, increasing your networking across the organisation, building positive and constructive relationships…

Identify role models
Seek out people who stand out in organisations. This is your benchmark. What is it that they do, think and say and what are their winning characteristics. Modelling behaviours and actions that are appropriate for you and fit with your own style can be a quick way to success.

Demonstrate how you impact the business
Identify and be able to communicate exactly how what you do directly impacts the profitability and success of the organisation. Knowing your business and being able to explain exactly how your work adds value is vital.

Commit to continuous learning and skills development
Businesses would die on their feet if they didn't invest and continually develop and innovate. How do you stay ahead of the curve? There are so many ways to develop your skills and knowledge through networking groups, books, magazines, teleclasses, discussion groups, coaching, classes, and conferences. Learning and developing has to be a continuous process.

Where to Work

If you are want to work for a large well known progressive company in the UK then I do recommend that you check out wheretowork, http://www.wheretowork.com/ which is the only 'large employer-direct' jobsite.

It really is a one stop shop for finding the right company and applying direct.

You can compare companies in 5 key areas:

1. Business (what they do)
2. Culture (how they work)
3. Diversity (open-mindedness)
4. Technology (how connected they are)
5. Giving back (responsibility)

and find out which organisations win the most awards and why.

There are also over 1,000 company videos to keep you entertained......

Doing Work you Love!

Recent research showed that of 2000 people interviewed, aged between 30-50 years, more than a quarter were considering a career change. Wall Street Journal/ABC News Poll indicated that half of all Americans would choose a new line of work if they had a chance. What's going on?

We spend 50-70% of our waking hours at work so it makes sense to do something that you enjoy and find fulfilling. Most of us have a natural desire to make a contribution and to find meaningful and purposeful work. It seems a shame to let your natural gifts, talent and passions go to waste.

Why bother?
You may have noticed that any unhappiness or frustration experienced at work can spill into other areas of our lives and can sometimes put a significant strain on relationships and health. Life becomes much more fulfilling and personally rewarding when you are engaged in work which is a natural expression of who you are.

What gets in the way?
Knowing this doesn't on the face of it make it easy to change direction. So if you are part of the 50% who want to follow a cherished dream, what is holding you back? It could be fear of making a mistake, risking perceived financial security, concerns about the reactions of others or it may be that you are wallowing in a fur lined rut and laziness has taken over.

What steps can you take?

• Get to know who you are. Understand your skills, strengths, talents and preferences and focus more on what you do well
  
• Align your work with your values. Once you know and understand which values are most important, you can make choices and decisions which enable you to express your true self.
  
• Develop a vision of your ideal working life and get creative about achieving it


• Identify role models and find out how they achieved their dreams


• Get your finances in order to support any new training programmes, downshifting, business start-up.


• Most importantly take one small step, make a phone call, send an email, read an inspiring biography!

Becoming a Successful Solo-preneur

Today, over 25 million people have formed their own companies and are maximising the internet to market and sell an amazing range of products and services. In the UK, according to Barclay’s Bank, 253,700 new businesses were set up in the first half of last year, with young people leading the start up craze.

Even though starting your own business can be exciting and frightening at the same time, especially when you trade the regular monthly salary in your bank account for the freedom of making your own decisions, there are steps you can take to succeed as a solo-preneur:

Find a business coach: a really good business coach is worth the investment as they can guide you through the first months of setting up, attracting clients and marketing your services. A coach can be a sounding board for new ideas, an ongoing supportive resource and will help to speed up the learning process.

Discover your niche: being very clear on who your clients are and what you can offer them will open up more opportunities faster. A niche makes you stand out from the crowd and brands you as the person or business to go to in your chosen market. Then you can design and sell products and services that address the needs of your niche.

Become an expert: there is something reassuring about working with and buying from an expert who specializes in their chosen field, whether this is chocolates or copywriting. Look for ways to continually update your knowledge and skills so that you are one of the best in your field.

Develop a marketing strategy and apply it on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. By consistently networking, writing or speaking you will establish a presence and reputation for your products and services. As your name becomes recognizable you will begin to attract rather than chase after business.

Build a support group: the joy and freedom of working for yourself can rapidly turn to splendid isolation when the phone doesn’t ring and there is no-one to talk to except next door’s cat. It’s enough to have you heading for the nearest corporate office. Having people to call when you need to bounce ideas around or share experiences will help see you through any difficult, challenging or lonely patches.

Finally don’t fall into the trap of working all the time. It is very tempting to work harder and this doesn’t always bring in the best results. Look for ways to have a balanced and enjoyable life as this will sustain you through the inevitable ups and downs of being a solo-preneur.

Attracting the Millennial Generation

In the UK, over 250,000 new businesses were set up in the first half of last year, with young people leading the start up craze. In fact the biggest growth in entrepreneurship was in the 24-30 year age group, who are deciding to go it alone rather than tread the traditional career path of their parents.

The new generation of talent known as the Millennials (born after 1980), are eager to make their mark on the workplace. Technologically savvy and globally networked through MySpace and Facebook, they are looking for innovation, creativity and community.

Having grown up with dual income parents who gave years if not decades of their lives to major corporations, only to find themselves unceremoniously shown the door marked exit, Millennials are looking for more than a wage packet to encourage them to sign up and stay.

As one wrote in Fortune 500, Money.com, 'Along with 9/11, the Columbine school shootings, Hurricane Katrina, the increasingly frightening climate change conversation, the layoffs we watched our parents and friends go through were formative for us. No wonder, when it comes to our worldview, we are a wary bunch; we've seen enough immediate and unpredictable upheaval to know that we can't wait too long to live our lives'.

Even with a slowing economy, employers realising the importance of investing for the future are getting more creative about how they attract and retain the next generation of talent.

Opportunity, challenge and responsibility are important deciding factors. Enterprise Rent-a-Car is an international car rental company with a multi-billion pound turnover, that will teach you all you need to run your own section of the business in as little as two years. Google lists on its website 'Top 10 Reasons to work at Google' which includes: No 6. Innovation is our bloodline and No 9. Boldly go where no one has gone before.

Flexibility in hours and locations and some discretion around the use of one's time appeals to the number 1 career goal of a balanced personal and professional life. Google allows employees one day a week to develop new ideas.

Access to senior executives, role models and mentors can encourage retention. At Innocent Drinks graduates of the Innocent Academy are allocated their own personal coach before being given the opportunity to accelerate their careers as future leaders.

The speed of movement and the degree of coaching and support available. Ernst and Young has an extensive Facebook profile and on-line messaging that allows students to dialogue with one another about careers in professional services. Innocent Drinks offers 3 to 6 month international transfers to encourage personal and business growth and has a Craft Development scheme to help build professional depth in areas of expertise.

The challenge for managers will be to develop the necessary skills to manage generation Millennials effectively and respond to their needs for fulfilling jobs, the opportunity to learn from experts and meaningful career development.

Posit+ve Energy 2008

In July with my colleague Carole Ann Rice, http://www.realcoachingsolutions.co.uk/, we were delighted to run a workshop at the Posit+ve Energy 2008: The Future of Energy event. Zoë Ingle (pictured with Carole Ann), Energy Events Manager, The Petroleum Economist Ltd, brought together over a hundred amazing women in the Energy Industry to hear expert Industry speakers on topics such as the future outlook of the energy industry and how women are continuing to bring about change and play an ever increasing role in energy innovation.

Posit+ve Energy (http://www.positive-energynetwork.com/ ), is the first independent worldwide network dedicated to women and their advancement of their careers in the energy industry. Through a programme of interactive networking events, personal and professional development opportunities and an on line community for female executives across the energy industry Posit+ve Energy aims to increase the effective recruitment and retention of female talent, to the benefit of the energy industry.

The Fear Factor: Overcoming Self Imposed Obstacles to Success

We all encounter obstacles in life and business but sometimes we have to face the fact that these can be self imposed. Ever found yourself thinking ‘I can’t have this or do that because of my boss, family, children, dog, bank balance….’ It is only natural to be afraid when approaching an unknown situation but is fear stopping you from having your dream life?

So rather than waiting for the feeling to go away you can take steps to improve your confidence and sense of control:

Identify the pay-offs for your common fears e.g. being comfortable, avoiding rejection, not making decisions. These are what will be keeping you from taking action. Once acknowledged you can then make the decision about what changes you need to make. If you are afraid of speaking in public your pay-off for not making presentations may be that you don’t risk any possible rejection or feeling uncomfortable in front of groups of people. This may be OK if your job doesn’t require you to talk to others about your business but could be a problem if you need to promote yourself and your work.
Notice and change the language you use from fearful, ‘it will never work out’ to fearless ‘I can handle whatever happens
Create a support or master mind group to provide positive encouragement and a sounding board for solutions and approaches.
Take responsibility for yourself and your actions and increase your sense of worth and power by acknowledging that you can be in control and make your own decisions.
Avoid the blame game. It is very easy to stop yourself from moving forward when you see an external event or person as being the reason not to take action
Build your confidence by stepping out of your comfort zone safely and recognising your achievements.
Set yourself time for ‘positive thinking only’ hours or days. It is amazing how much time we waste on worrying about the worst possible outcomes which may never happen. As Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790) said, “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight”.
Be aware of the different choices you have in any situation
Take action. Small steps can lead to huge leaps. Start by researching, asking questions, meeting people who have made the changes you want to make.

And finally enjoy the process! Keeping a sense of perspective and humour will help move you forward towards your dream life.