<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>Latest Articles by SusanE</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/</link>
<description>Articles at ArticleTrader</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<item>
<title>Investing in You - Are You Ready?</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/finance/investing/investing-in-you-are-you-ready.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/finance/investing/investing-in-you-are-you-ready.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ With all of the investments that some people make, they tend to overlook the one that is most important… they never take the time to invest in themselves.  By investing your time and energy into yourself and advancing your goals and dreams, you can put yourself that much closer to accomplishing all of the things that you've always wanted.  So much time is wasted on areas that can distract you from your goals.  You may find you are living the plan of chance not the one you had originally intended.  If you don't budget your time and focus on your career and personal goals you might end up with an unfulfilled list of things you never had time to complete.  Decide today that you're going to start doing what is needed to get ahead and to follow your dreams, and you'll never have to look back and wonder what might have been.<br /><br />Importance of Your Career<br />Stop and look at your life and see where your career rates among all of the things that are important to you.  Yes, hobbies and other activities are important, but if you're not careful your interest in recreational activities and less important parts of your life can begin to overshadow your career aspirations and you won't spend as much time as you should trying to grow to your potential.  This doesn't mean that you have to cut these activities out of your life altogether; simply make sure that you put the correct emphasis on your career so that you don't pass up important opportunities because of something much less important.  In order to get the most out of your investment into you, work to find the right balance between your career and your personal life.<br /><br />Making Time for Growth<br />Balance is critical when making time for your career and your personal life.  Ideally you should be looking for opportunities to develop your career into what you want it to be.  Equally important is your personal development.   When you allow yourself to be open to exploration, you may be surprised at the opportunities that present themselves.  Likewise, you may find that the time that you spend for yourself and your home life gives you chances to grow as a person.  Don't be afraid to try new things, and don't be afraid of growth and change; it's through these changes that you'll be able to find the things that you truly enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--<br />Contact Career Coaching Connections at 248-390-0781 and visit http://www.c3livingthedream.com. Cindy Swiantek has provided coaching and instruction for several hundred professionals, assisting them in planning and executing successful career transition.  She brings her own experiences from personally making the transition from employee to executive in the automotive industry.  Her passion for assisting others is contagious!<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Recognizing Your Skills and Abilities</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/recognizing-your-skills-and-abilities.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/recognizing-your-skills-and-abilities.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Going out into the job market can be a frightening prospect, especially if you are trying to branch out in a different direction than the type of work you are used to doing.  It can seem as though employers are only interested in those individuals who have experience with certain techniques or who have performed similar types of work previously; with a bit of research, however, you will quickly find that there are a number of opportunities available to you so long as you are able to present the skills necessary to do the job.<br /><br />Unfortunately, many people sell themselves short when trying to list or describe the skills that they possess.  If you can't be confident in your skill set and understand the skills that are transferable into new markets, then you'll have a much harder time convincing a potential employer that you're the right person for the job they're offering.  This is where being able to identify your own skills and interests can help you to bridge the gap and show that you are more than qualified for the positions that you seek.<br /><br />Identifying Your Developed Skills<br />The first thing that you need to do is start thinking about the different jobs that you've had in the past and the various skills that you've developed over the years.  Even fairly menial jobs can pass on a variety of skills, including those skills which are highly sought after in the corporate world such as time and project management and even customer relations.  The skills that you have were developed with time and hard work, so don't be quick to discount them.  List the various skills that you've developed through work and other activities, making notes of any areas that you are particularly strong in.  Managing a household or home business requires skills.  If this is you, identify what skills you possess.<br /><br />Finding Your Natural Talents and Abilities<br />Some things just come easier to certain people, and being able to identify your natural talents can help you to get ahead when trying to get the job of your dreams.  Examine exactly what talents and natural abilities you have, and how long you've known that they just come easily to you; many employers are interested in having people with talent and who can do the work that they offer them without struggling to get it completed.  Don't worry that it will sound like you're bragging to mention these talents and abilities… that's what interviews and applications are for, to enable employers to evaluate potential employees and determine which ones will be the best for the job.  Having natural talent in certain areas and showing documented proof will help to qualify you as being one of the best.<br /><br />Following Your Interests<br />When you begin looking for a job, make sure that you try and find potential employers who fall within some of your areas of interest even if you've never had employment in that area before.  Often times employers will ask job candidates during an interview exactly why it is that they want to work for the company they've applied at; being able to say that you're genuinely interested in the work that they do and having enough knowledge about the field to back that statement up will help to show them that you'll likely be a diligent worker and that you won't become bored with the work and go off seeking another job.  If you have developed skills or possess natural talents which support that area of interest, that's even more of a mark in your favor since you will not only be interested in the work but will also have at least some of the skills and abilities needed to do it.  These are qualities that employers are always looking for, and they can help you to land the job even when you thought that you wouldn't be qualified enough.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--<br />Contact Career Coaching Connections at 248-390-0781 and visit http://www.c3livingthedream.com. Cindy Swiantek has provided coaching and instruction for several hundred professionals, assisting them in planning and executing successful career transition.  She brings her own experiences from personally making the transition from employee to executive in the automotive industry.  Her passion for assisting others is contagious!<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Transition Planning Goals - Clarify Your Vision</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/success/transition-planning-goals-clarify-your-vision.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/success/transition-planning-goals-clarify-your-vision.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It can be difficult to find your way in the world if you don't have a definite vision of what it is that you want out of life.  Creating a unique vision for your life isn't always easy, however; with all of the stimuli and imagery that is commonly encountered every day you might find yourself struggling to determine exactly what it is that you want to work toward and build your life around.  Developing and clarifying a personal vision doesn't have to be a difficult task, though… all that is required is a little bit of soul-searching and an honest desire to live your dreams.<br /><br />Setting Goals<br />Before you can begin clarifying your overall vision of what you want your life to be, you will need to take the time to define some basic goals in your life so that you will have something to work towards.  The goals that you set should be realistic and reachable, and while they should require some amount of work in order to reach them your goals should also hold your interest to the point that you feel they are worth working toward.  As each set of goals is reached, you will begin to enjoy the momentum of reaching your goals.  Somehow you are compelled to set new goals.  The new goals now give you the next milestone to strive for.<br /><br />Overall Goals<br />As you begin setting goals for yourself; you should also start to consider exactly what your overall goals are.  Look at the types of goals that you are setting, and try to determine some main categories (e.g., personal, professional) that are occurring.  Now, try to begin to categorize your overall goals for your personal life, your business life and career aspirations, and any other major areas that you might have.  Not only will defining your overall goals help you to further clarify exactly what your vision is, but it will also give you a beacon to work towards as you continue to set smaller goals each week and each month.<br /><br />Defining Specific Dreams<br />Once you have started defining your overall goals, take a little time to consider exactly why you have those goals.  Begin thinking about what you're passionate about, and exactly what you want to accomplish as you achieve each of your main goals.  Think about the dreams that you had as a child, and how those dreams have evolved into the desires and ambitions that you have today.  Take the time to focus on what dreams you have for your personal life, your career, and for your life in general; once you begin to realize what your dreams are and how they interact to form your driving forces and define your goals then you will be ready to use these dreams to identify your vision and point your life in a single focused direction.<br /><br />Identifying Your Vision<br />Now that you're beginning to get an idea of what the dreams that are carrying you through your life are, you can start to see exactly which direction your life is headed and how your goals both large and small are taking you there.  You should be able to get a better idea of what it is that you really want to accomplish with your life, and from there you will be able to develop a plan on how best you can stay on your journey.  As you become more and more focused on the specifics of your ambitions, you will begin to notice that your vision is becoming much clearer and you can finally tell exactly where it is you're going and what steps you can take to get there faster.  Enjoy the ride!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--<br />Contact Career Coaching Connections at 248-390-0781 and visit http://www.c3livingthedream.com. Cindy Swiantek has provided coaching and instruction for several hundred professionals, assisting them in planning and executing successful career transition.  She brings her own experiences from personally making the transition from employee to executive in the automotive industry.  Her passion for assisting others is contagious!<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Let Your Dreams Lead You to a New Career</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/let-your-dreams-lead-you-to-a-new-career.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/let-your-dreams-lead-you-to-a-new-career.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Everyone has dreams, but all too often they let these dreams fall to the wayside and end up wondering years later whatever happed to all of the dreams that they had when they were younger.  This doesn't have to be the case, however; it's possible to not only hold on to your dreams but also to make them come true by letting them influence your life and your career choices.  Instead of simply saying that they're nothing more than dreams, you can make a conscious decision to embrace those dreams and see them through to the end.  Not only will you get to see your dreams become real, but you will find that by letting them influence the work that you do and the direction that your life takes you will be much more satisfied with your life's work in general.<br /><br />Recognizing Your Dreams<br />In order to live your dreams and let them lead you to your dream career, you will first need to realize exactly what your dreams are.  Take some time to consider the things that you want and what you would like to see come to pass in your life; these aren't the fanciful obsessions that you might get from time to time that will pass in a matter of days or weeks, but are instead the lifelong ambitions that you've held on to ever since you were introduced to the concept.  Look into your heart, see what's really important to you and what you would like most of all to see happen in your life, and that is where you will find your dreams.<br /><br />Relating Your Dreams to Your Work<br />When you start seriously thinking about your dreams and comparing them to your life as it is right now, you might wonder how you're ever going to be able to reach your dreams from the place that you are in life.  Look at your job and the things that you do, and try and imagine what it would take in order to reach your dreams from this starting point.  For some people this might be easy, and you might have been living out portions of your dreams without even realizing it for quite some time.  You may notice that your volunteer work is what you love.<br /><br />For others this could be a rather difficult task, however, since they may have taken the job that was needed at the time and then never really got a chance to start working toward their dreams again.  Consider where in your career you are, and whether it's possible to get where you want to be within that same career path.  If it's not, then you should start researching different career options until you find the one that will take you to your dreams and help you make them come true.<br /><br />Using Your Work to Follow Your Dreams<br />When you can see yourself reaching your dreams from the career that you have, then it's time to start putting your energy into following your career path to the point where you can reach your dreams.  Set goals for yourself and for your career, and keep trying after every setback until those goals are reached.  It might not always be easy, but once you have the career that's right for you making it to your dreams will seem to be a natural progression.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--<br />Contact Career Coaching Connections at 248-390-0781 and visit http://www.c3livingthedream.com. Cindy Swiantek has provided coaching and instruction for several hundred professionals, assisting them in planning and executing successful career transition.  She brings her own experiences from personally making the transition from employee to executive in the automotive industry.  Her passion for assisting others is contagious!<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Moving On: A Guide to Making the Most of Changes</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/moving-on-a-guide-to-making-the-most-of-changes.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/moving-on-a-guide-to-making-the-most-of-changes.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ When things begin to change it sometimes can be very difficult to adapt.  Many people are uncomfortable with change because they have become accustomed to the way that things are now.  This familiarity and comfort can lead to them going through additional turmoil when changes begin because they are resisting the transition.  Some changes will be good and some will be bad, but for the most part changes tend to be able to go either way; whether they end up being positive or negative is largely dependent upon how a person handles them as they come and whether they are willing to accept the change for what it is.<br /><br />Reasons for Change<br />Of course, there are a great many different reasons why things may change.  Perhaps the company that you work at is undergoing a major upheaval or a change in management or ownership, or maybe you're simply moving to a new job or being transferred to a new city.  You might be laid off, you might quit due to a disagreement with new policies, or the place that you are working might simply close down.  The changes might originate in your personal life or in your career, but whatever they are it's up to you to make sure that they work out as well as they possibly can.<br /><br />Making a Smooth Transition<br />The key to dealing with change and making sure that the end result is as beneficial to you as possible is making a smooth transition from the way things were to the way that they are now.  This isn't always easy to do, especially in the case of major change, but by telling yourself that you're going to see things through to the end and try to make things as easy as you can for yourself and those around you it's possible to ease the transition at least a bit and make yourself more willing to accept the end result.  Even when the change that you're experiencing is decidedly negative it's in your best interest to try and make a smooth transition… this way you will be more prepared for the new situation and will be able to turn around quicker so as to start changing things to a more positive situation.<br /><br />Change as a Catalyst<br />There are a number of cases where change can be a very good thing in your life; sometimes a change is needed to break you out of a rut or to get things moving in your career or personal life.  By allowing changes to enter your life, you can see where you are now as well as where you want to be so that you can begin working toward that goal.  Often in these situations if there wasn't imposed change then you may not have had the inspiration or motivation to drive the change on your own.  If you find yourself in such a situation that requires a change on your part, initiate it.  Help yourself to get out of the rut.<br /><br />Accepting Change as it Comes<br />Change is inevitable, and as much as you might try to fight against it you'll find that nothing can be done to keep it from coming.  The best thing that you can do in life is to adopt a positive attitude toward change so that when it comes you will be ready to try and find the hidden opportunities and positive aspects of the changes in your career and your life.  By embracing change you can help to keep yourself from getting hindered by it, and may even open yourself up to positive results that you wouldn't have expected otherwise.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--<br />Contact Career Coaching Connections at 248-390-0781 and visit http://www.c3livingthedream.com. Cindy Swiantek has provided coaching and instruction for several hundred professionals, assisting them in planning and executing successful career transition.  She brings her own experiences from personally making the transition from employee to executive in the automotive industry.  Her passion for assisting others is contagious!<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Finding the Drive to Reach Your Dreams</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/finding-the-drive-to-reach-your-dreams.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/finding-the-drive-to-reach-your-dreams.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Reaching your dreams takes plenty of hard work, and it can be difficult to find the energy to keep working toward them when things start to go wrong.  Adversity and time can both take their toll on you, making you doubt whether your goals and dreams can actually be reached at all.  There is a power inside of you, however, that you can unlock to give you the drive that you need to get past the rough spots; once you realize how to access this personal powerhouse of yours, you'll wonder why you ever had problems keeping your motivation and drive before.<br /><br />Realizing What You Can Do<br />Before you can reach your dreams, you need to understand that there are limits to what you can do at one time.  This doesn't mean that you should limit yourself, of course; it actually means the opposite, as once you know your limitations then you can learn how to overcome them.  Consider the skills and talents that you have and which you have practiced and honed over the years.  Even those skills which seem so commonplace to you… there are others in the world who have a need for those skills, and by providing them you may be able to start working your way from something so commonplace to other things that are much more specific (and much more in line with your dreams.)<br /><br />Never Expecting More than You Can Do<br />Another important part of realizing what your limitations are is knowing when you would be crossing them so that you can avoid that situation.  If you know in advance that you're not going to be able to handle a specific job or task, don't be afraid to try and get assistance as you need it.  Many people don't like to admit their limitations or that they need help, but if you did the same then all that you would do is end up hurting yourself or hindering your dreams in the long run.  It may require that you swallow your pride at first, but as you get used to working with others or getting additional assistance as you need it you'll realize that the "weakness" you thought you would display is actually a strength since now you can get the job done the right way.<br /><br />Watching the Big Picture<br />One of the keys of being able to reach your dreams is to always be able to keep the big picture in mind.  Never lose sight of your dreams or your major goals… that way you always know the end result that you're working towards.  You will also know what milestones you need to reach to advance those goals and dreams, and from there you can begin looking at what it will take to reach those milestones.  Even with your eyes on the final outcome, you can break it down easily in order to determine exactly what it is that you need to accomplish to advance your next goal, and over time these smaller goals will all work to advance the larger ones which are the stepping stones to your dreams themselves.<br /><br />Reaching Deep Down Inside<br />There are times, however, when it seems that you've given everything that you have and that you're still going to fall short of the goals that you've set for yourself.  That's when you should start reviewing all of the skills and talents that you've noted at various points, and begin really stopping to think about all that you've accomplished in working toward your dreams.  Don't be afraid to get help if you need it, and don't try to take on more than you can handle… just keep working toward small goals, and when you start to see how it all ties together in the big picture you'll find the energy that you need.  Your personal powerhouse will jump into action and you will begin to find the solutions that you need to reach those next milestones.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--<br />Contact Career Coaching Connections at 248-390-0781 and visit http://www.c3livingthedream.com. Cindy Swiantek has provided coaching and instruction for several hundred professionals, assisting them in planning and executing successful career transition.  She brings her own experiences from personally making the transition from employee to executive in the automotive industry.  Her passion for assisting others is contagious!<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Women's Empowerment Tools</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/womens-empowerment-tools.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/womens-empowerment-tools.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you've ever felt undervalued in the workplace as a woman, you shouldn't. Women are becoming more and more prominent in work environments and even have special skills that can help them succeed even in a male-dominated career. Recognizing the natural self empowering tools for women, that women already possess, can be very powerful.<br><br>Women have natural talents, but may feel as though those talents are not relevant to a place of business. This is incorrect. It is true that women, just like men, still need to master practical and technical business skills in order to succeed, but when it comes to climbing the corporate ladder, they have unique skills that organizations value. By simply tapping into these skills, women can empower themselves to obtain anything and everything they want.<br><br>Let’s start with communication – a skill that is vital to success. Women are natural communicators. Have you ever noticed how a mother “just knows” how important it is to talk and interact with her children, using appropriate language and phrase-structure that a child can understand. This same skill, slightly adjusted, works perfectly in a business environment. For instance, a woman who is managing other people must know how to communicate with each person individually in a manner that each person can understand.<br><br>Helen Fisher, author, The First Sex: The Natural Talents of Women and How They Are Changing the World, refers to this as a flair for language. Fisher describes the increasing need for the ability to communicate with written and spoken words. To quote her, "At talking, women have the edge." Fisher describes how the female gender, even at very young ages "excel at... verbal fluency - rapidly finding appropriate words, phrases or sentences." Fisher writes "Women are, on average, more articulate at saying what they say." Women embracing this knowledge and trusting their natural language talent in communication will find their confidence building.<br><br>In terms of teaching or coaching, women also have an advantage. The nurturing characteristics that come more easily to women make it possible for women to help children learn and develop. The right combination of encouragement, discipline, freedom and boundaries will lead to a child whose confidence and abilities are very mature and continue to exceed that of other children. When this type of situation is applied to the business world, a woman can do the same thing for employees.<br><br>Once again Helen Fisher's research as presented in The First Sex states, "Women are, on average, more interested in cooperation, harmony, and connections - a network of support." She further writes, "Women characteristically believe everyone can succeed in business; they take a win-win attitude in the office world."<br><br>Many women are also skilled at multi-tasking or multi-focusing. Juggling people, reports, deadlines and all the necessary resources become critical to the success of the teams' results.<br><br>Helen Fisher references that human's evolution, even back to ancestral times, show a woman had to rear helpless and long-dependent babies under highly dangerous conditions demonstrating the need for multitasking even then. I lover her description: "In order to rear helpless infants, ancestral mothers needed to do a lot of things at the same time. Watch for snakes. Listen for thunder. Taste for poison. Rock the sleepy. Distract the cranky. Instruct the curious. Soothe the fearful. Inspire the tardy. Feed the hungry. Mothers had to do countless daily chores while they stoked the fire, cooked the food and talked to friends."<br><br>Of course, not all women have mothering skills and not all women are the same, but all women have the ability to identify the skills they possess and use them for personal and professional empowerment. Women can be just as effective at business leadership as men. If figuring out what makes you a successful woman interests you, why not make a list of all your personal attributes - those natural talents and empower yourself to soar to new heights of success.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br /><br />--<br />Packed full of perceptive and practical information for managers, business owners, and MBA students; visit us today at http://www.TheLeadershipResource.com for instant free access to amazing business resources, articles and checklists. Learn about your leadership style, potential and ability; then share it with your colleagues and employees. Or contact QuadWest Associates at 800-809-2721. Susan West has held many executive leadership positions during her 26 years of business experience. She shares her knowledge and lessons learned through a variety of programs offered by QuadWest Associates, LLC including coaching, leadership workshops, tele-seminars and consulting. <br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Career Training for Older Women</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/career-training-for-older-women.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/career-training-for-older-women.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Careers for older women are available. Women have come a long way in the workplace, yet there are still some unique challenges that older women face as they embark on a career change and look for new career training.<br><br>Women between the ages of 45 and 60 may have difficulty pursuing new career training because of certain tangible and intangible barriers. For instance, some women may have to remain in a particular location due to family constraints. Others may not be able to afford education or feel it may take too long. Others may feel they are  perceived as “mature women” who do not have the transferable skills for a new career.<br><br>With that said, there are still many new career training options available for women in this age group who are looking to make a career or lifestyle change. Technology plays a large part in this phenomenon, as does a changing society that no longer views women of this age as unemployable or unwilling to train.<br><br>The world is a different place now and if you are an older woman seeking new career training, you are in a position to take advantage of all the career training options available.<br><br>Teleclass seminars: There are many education opportunities available as teleclass seminars. These are courses that typically involve students and an instructor linking up via the Web or satellite and are interactive in nature. The instructor and students can then interact in class discussions, lectures and presentations. I use teleclass seminars for my “Unleashing Your Leadership Power” seminar. It works great for everyone involved because it is convenient and a lower-cost option than many other traditional classroom educations. You can find teleclasses on the Internet or at local colleges and universities.<br><br>Workshops and short courses: For more personal training, many women tend to opt for more traditional classes. These can be found at community colleges, community centers, universities, and other workforce training facilities. You can also look for education opportunities with other organizations, including the Small Business Administration, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, or local women's groups.<br><br>Online classes: Once thought of as only suitable for younger students, Online classes have rapidly become the training method of choice for all ages. These classes are generally easy to access, easy to follow and cost effective. And, the best part is that they are very flexible. Often students can work at their own pace from anywhere in the world.<br><br>Internships and job shadowing: You may think internships are for young college students, but that’s not always the case. Many employers will offer these types of opportunities to men and women in more mature age groups as an alternative way to update career training. This is a great opportunity for many people, because it is a hands-on experience and offers the chance to learn as you do the work. It is also a way to network and create professional relationships.<br><br>Career coaching: Career enrichment coaching and new career coaching can provide you with the personalized attention you may need for to sort through your options. A career coach is someone who is trained to work with you and provide assessment tools to validate the best skill and job interest match for your profile. Two great resources on the internet are The Leadership Resource and Career Change Resource.<br><br>If you find a career field that interests you, contact a local company or organization that can help you gain some familiarity in that area. It could help you decide whether you want to pursue training.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br /><br />--<br />Packed full of perceptive and practical information for managers, business owners, and MBA students; visit us today at http://www.TheLeadershipResource.com for instant free access to amazing business resources, articles and checklists. Learn about your leadership style, potential and ability; then share it with your colleagues and employees. Or contact QuadWest Associates at 800-809-2721. Susan West has held many executive leadership positions during her 26 years of business experience. She shares her knowledge and lessons learned through a variety of programs offered by QuadWest Associates, LLC including coaching, leadership workshops, tele-seminars and consulting. <br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Tips on How to Stay Organized in the Workplace</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/tips-on-how-to-stay-organized-in-the-workplace.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/tips-on-how-to-stay-organized-in-the-workplace.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ For many people, there are not enough hours in the day. With full schedules, there are daily problems that will occur and will need immediate attention. This means that other tasks will have to be put to the side. Impromptu meetings, employee absences, employee issues, and other situations can make getting through the workday almost impossible. Staying organized and having a plan for when your time is being used for another purpose are essential if you want to stay on task and complete a project or assignment on time. If leading a team, you will have to know what the other members of the team are working on and when they will be done also. This way, you will be able to delegate additional responsibilities when necessary. The following tips will help you and your team stay on track even when other situations present themselves.<br><br>·	Invest in a calendar with big blocks so that you can write down not only your schedule, but also your team members schedules. Have a hard copy of this schedule in case the computers are down. No one can predict when the system will crash or when files are erased. A calendar can be used to keep track of projects, assignments, and team member availability.<br><br>·	Have phone numbers handy in case of emergencies. You should have a place to put these numbers other than on your computer. They should be in some type of order so that you can find the numbers you are looking for quickly.<br><br>·	Keep files separate. Make sure you file all material in the designated folder. Each day, take out what will be needed and keep it close by. If giving a presentation, have all materials ready to go and in your bag so that you don’t forget anything. You should do this when traveling also.<br><br>·	Make lists of daily tasks and mark them off as you complete them. This will help you stay on track and if you need to handle another problem, you will know where you left off.<br><br>·	Try to give as much notice as possible for team meetings. Your team members have other job responsibilities as well. Respect the fact that they are busy and try to plan meetings ahead of time.<br><br>·	Create a list of your team members and their strengths and skills in a particular area. When planning a project, refer to the list when deciding which roles people will fill. If a team member specifically asks for a role, write it down on their list so that next time, you will remember to consider them for it.<br><br>It is important that while you should be organized at work, you should also plan time into your day to spend with family, work on a hobby, or spend some quiet time alone. Finding a balance between work and free time will help keep stress levels low. If you are taking work home everyday, then you may want to look at where you are spending your time during the day. Taking home work is fine occasionally, if it becomes a habit, then more planning will need to be done.<br><br>Learning how to organize and plan your workday may take some time. You will have to devote some time to making lists, filling calendars, and creating team member skill sheets. But this preparation will help on days when there isn’t enough time. Unfortunately, you will not be able to plan for everything. There will always be some situation at work that you will have to handle or fix. Having a schedule will help during these times.<br><br><br><br /><br />--<br />Visit http://www.TheLeadershipResource.com for a wealth of leadership development information. Susan West has held many executive leadership positions during her 25 years of business experience. She shares her knowledge and lessons learned through a variety of programs offered by QuadWest Associates, LLC including coaching, leadership workshops, tele-seminars and consulting. <br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Improving Business Writing Skills – A Key To Advancement</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/improving-business-writing-skills-a-key-to-advancement.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/improving-business-writing-skills-a-key-to-advancement.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Strong business writing skills are essential for anyone who wants to advance her career.  Your writing reflects on you and communicates for you.  It is critical to constantly improve business writing skills as part of your efforts to develop and refine your leadership.<br><br>Most business writing has a specific purpose.  Perhaps you have a recommendation to make, or you are advocating for a policy change.  Whatever the purpose, the first step to good business writing is simply to identify that purpose.<br><br>The next step is to select an appropriate format.  Is your purpose best served by using a memo?  A letter?  A sales report?  With a format identified, you can move on to the writing structure. Structure is an outline of how to present information to achieve the purpose.<br><br>Example:  The business memo<br>The business memo is a common format for business writing.  It is excellent for presenting information in a way that helps achieve your purpose.  The key to improving your memo writing skills is to establish and use an effective memo structure.<br><br>Introduction – This is the opening paragraph where you summarize your purpose and set the stage for the rest of the document.<br><br>Information/Situation – This section describes the current state of the issue.  It might be a description of the business situation, or information about current performance.  The goal is to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the current state of affairs.<br><br>Conclusions/Analysis – This section details your conclusions about the situation or issue, based on your analysis of the information presented.<br><br>Recommendations/Findings – This section is the heart of your purpose, which is to present your recommendations or findings regarding the situation or issue.  Describe what you think should be done, how long it will take, and how much it will cost.<br><br>Support/Reasoning – This section gives the reader reasons to agree with your recommendations.  Each reason should be supported by facts, analysis, research, or other appropriate information.<br><br>Action – This section tells the reader exactly what needs to happen next.  Include specific statements about what should be done, when it should be completed, and who should do it.<br><br>This example structure is very generic, but effective.  You can adapt and adjust it as needed to suit your personal style, but whatever structure you end up with should be used every time you write a memo.  This will bring consistency and clarity to your business writing.<br><br>The writing process<br>Once you have your document structure established, focus on the process you use to write.  The steps you take to produce a business document are important to ensure that your material is crisp, clear, and professional.<br><br>Here is an example of a writing process recommended by business professionals:<br><br>Write the first draft – Don’t worry about perfect sentence structure. Let your thoughts flow and get your ideas on the paper.<br><br>Edit for clarity – Edit your work to make it clear and concise. Eliminate wordy passages and edit out anything that does not add to the message.<br><br>Put it down – Put the piece away for a while, ideally for 24 hours or so.  If time is short even 15 or 20 minutes is okay.  When you come back to it, you will have a fresh perspective and greater clarity on how to improve the document.<br><br>Summary<br>Business writing is a critical skill for every professional person.  It is a skill that does not just happen by itself; rather, it takes effort, practice, and constant refinement to improve.  The effort is well worth it, though, as you focus on improving business writing skills as part of your leadership development, you will produce more effective business results.<br><br><br><br><br /><br />--<br />Visit http://www.TheLeadershipResource.com for a wealth of leadership development information. Susan West has held many executive leadership positions during her 25 years of business experience. She shares her knowledge and lessons learned through a variety of programs offered by QuadWest Associates, LLC including coaching, leadership workshops, tele-seminars and consulting. <br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
