Compliments of: Janine Moon, MA, Career & Business Coach
	CompassPoints
April 2004	CP Coaching	Execunet	Get-It Columbus
Columbus Senior Roundtable Thur, April 15 7:30 to 9:30 am Wedgewood Golf & Country Club Register by Apr 12: Link to Register Execunet Meeting Thur, Apr 22 7:30 to 9:30 am Bank One Corporate Register by Apr 20: Link to Register Upcoming Programs Thur, Apr 8 "Why Men Don't Pay Attention, But Women Keep Talking Anyway," 7 pm, The Wellness Forum, Columbus Fri, Apr 9 "Positioning Yourself in Today's Jobless Economy," Careers Work Group, Dublin Fri, Apr 30 "Networking with LEGS: An Alternative to Sitting at Your Desk Waiting for the Phone to Ring", 8:00-11:30 am, Sparkspace, Columbus CompassPoints Subscription? To sign-up for our monthly newsletter: Subscribe If you’d rather not receive CompassPoints: UnSubscribe Janine Moon CompassPoint Coaching LLC 2015 Arlington Ave Columbus, Ohio 43212 U.S.A. Tel: 614.488-6876 Fax: 614.488-1458 Email Janine We’re on the Web! Link to CPCoaching Copyright (c) 2004 Janine Moon CompassPoint Coaching	Building relationships for success Today, even in the midst of the uncertainty brought about by a technological whirlwind, while we toss in an ocean of data, one thing remains constant: we are all human. Perhaps that’s why experts say it takes more than just doing your job well to ensure continued career satisfaction. In the Information Age, the cornerstone of success is building relationships. Relationships are how you “get on” in the world; and as you take responsibility for your life-long employability, your associations will be your most important and timely sources for growth and career opportunities. Your communication skills, relationship-tending, your ability to collaborate, and your willingness to respond authentically to people's emotions all play a part in building a solid foundation for rewarding relationships with others. WBuilding Bridges Communication is the ability to interact effectively with others, but it’s not just about communicating your thoughts and ideas in person, on paper, over the telephone or electronically. It is actually more about listening to others and being open to other viewpoints and opinions. When speaking to individuals or groups, your communication style also involves body language, the tone of your voice, the look on your face, and the spirit with which you communicate. Those in a leadership role can have a tremendous effect on those around them by the manner in which they communicate. Twenty-first century leaders with value authenticity set an example by telling the truth and supporting honesty. They encourage open communications and welcome questions, investigation, research and devil’s advocacy. They build a foundation of trust by demonstrating that they do not accept blame, arrogance or superiority. They work to suspend judgement, accept mistakes as part of learning and continually examine their own assumptions and preconceptions. They consistently hone the “soft skills” of empathy, service, adaptability, collaboration and cooperation. They appreciate diversity. There are a number of ways you can grow your communications skill set. On the speaking side, get practice by joining a toastmasters group. Attend seminars or courses on effective communications. Regularly ask for feedback from your listeners about your style and the clarity of your message - are they hearing what you believe you are saying? Practice clarity, have concise notes on hand, and set a time limit. And on the listening side, work on active listening skills. Consciously do more listening than talking. Become curious about really understanding another: ask "how" and "what" questions, check the accuracy of your understanding with the speaker, listen to everything being said without planning ahead to your response. Ask for others' opinions, beliefs and perspectives and practice "attending" skills…nod, lean toward the speaker, make eye contact and stay present! WBuilding Partnerships In the Knowledge Economy, it's a must that you relate well to senior leaders, colleagues, and team members, and it's smart to mentor others as well as approach those who can mentor you. Communicating openly and honestly with others is the foundation for this, but you can go beyond this by actively creating an atmosphere of trust by being willing to listen and consider other points of view. Strive to become the focal point of your varied networks. Be curious about why people think the way they do, take time to understand the perspectives and experiences of others in your organization. The knowledge you gain may kindle intuitive responses within the organization, leading to increased productivity and a more effective capacity to deal with the issues. The relationships you build this way will lead you down unexpected paths, opening up new and different connections and possibilities for career and life satisfaction. WBuilding Self-knowledge In order to create partnerships, build useful networks and communicate effectively, you have to be willing to assess where you are right now, have a vision of where you want to go, and look honestly at how you can improve your skill sets. But why not think outside the box? Take a leap and look at possibilities for growth in areas that seem unrelated to your career. Learning to play an instrument may teach patience and bring enjoyment. Playing a sport builds health and healthy rapport. Taking a course in psychology may help you understand the motivations of others – and your own. Volunteering for a non-profit organization may grow compassion. Stay ahead of the pack by being willing to continually learn and improve your relationship-building skills. Be ready for change by honing your ability to bridge the gaps and make leaps of faith. The results of your efforts must reach beyond the walls of your workplace – developing networks, advocating for teamwork, mentoring, and stressing open, honest communications will enhance relationships in all areas of your life. “No man is an island”, after all. Planning a Program? Looking for a new and intriguing topic for your conference program, lunch series, or seminar/workshop schedule? Consider Janine as a keynoter, workshop leader or breakout session facilitator on these topic areas (each tailored to your audience): How's Your RQ: Resilience Quotient?; Generational Synergies; Treading Water in Corporate America; Career R&R: Career Resilience & Self-Reliance; Mentoring; and Authentic Leadership. Russell H. Ewing ~ “A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group.” Looking within… If you are resting on your laurels because you have received good feedback and great performance reviews in the past, you may find yourself out in the cold. Are you adding professional skills to your resume on a regular basis? If not, you may be at risk. It requires a realistic framework to be able to assess yourself honestly. As a coach, I help you define your greatest strengths and your greatest handicaps – encouraging you to grow your skills and build a firm foundation for continued growth and career success. -JM If you have thought about coaching, but just aren’t sure how to begin, call or e-mail me, I’ll introduce you to coaching and you can “try it on” with no commitment, only learning! – JM Until next month... “Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” ~ Vincent Lombardi ~Please feel free to pass along this newsletter to someone else who can benefit from reading it~