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Hello, loyal readers and new subscribers!
I’m
a bit late sending out my July e-zine because much has been
happening.
First,
we took a fascinating trip to New Mexico for 10 days. I adored
seeing the landscapes where Georgia O’Keeffe painted.
Santa Fe and Taos were fun to visit. Here’s a photo
of us with friends Larry & Nancy from Taos standing on
the Rio Grande River Gorge Bridge (the gorge is 650 feet below!)
Eek!
We
also had great fun visiting our dear friends Meryl & Gerry
over the July 4th weekend. This year we saw two sets of fireworks,
one in Philadelphia and one in New York City!
I
hope your summer has been great so far. If you need a boost
to keep your career goals on track, read the feature article
on mantras. They can help you stay centered.
Until
next time, have an amazing month!
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Use Mantras To Stay On Track
Recently,
I worked with several clients who requested that I give them
one or two sentences (mantras) that they could take away from
the session that would crystallize our discussion. Each of
these clients had different work-related goals.
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This
underscored how important it is to develop mantras to recite to
yourself, to keep goals top of mind, and to help center yourself
when the noise and stress of life pulls you in opposite directions.
Our brains are much more aligned to remembering a few carefully
chosen words than many sentences or 60 minutes of discussion.
Mantras,
originating in Hinduism and Buddhism, are words or sounds, repeated
to aid in concentration when meditating. The origin of the word
is Sanskrit, meaning “instrument of thought.”
I’m
constantly reminding clients of the importance of their internal
discourse (i.e. the thoughts they have). The dialogue you have with
yourself is probably the most critical factor in your career success.
Mantras are a perfect tool to help you in this process.
If
you are normally a “glass is half-empty” person, i.e.,
a negative Nelly, then there’s even more reason for you to
invoke a mantra.
Here
are some career mantras that I’ve used with clients:
- Build
Up Your Reserve - this one is effective
when, because of a difficult work situation, you have nothing
left to give physically, mentally or emotionally. No good decision
ever comes from being drained. Whether you are trying to prepare
to leave a job, interview for a new one or want to have a clear
brain to figure out your next career move, a rested mind and body
are required.
-
Build Your Boundaries
- I use this one with clients who are feeling vulnerable
because of an abusive boss or for those who have just left a job
without having another job. In the case of the person who has
resigned without another job, it’s quite common that friends
and family, acting out of their own insecurities, will say “how
could you leave this job without having another?” or “aren’t
you scared you won’t get another job?” It’s
crucial to maintain a positive attitude and to feel secure in
your decision, without having it second-guessed by supposedly
well-meaning, but angst-ridden friends. One answer I suggest for
those situations is to tell your friends/family that they can
support you just by listening. If the negativity continues, it’s
time to protect yourself and take steps to limit your contact
with them.
-
It’s Not Your Decision
- this mantra works well when you need to work collaboratively
with people. Some clients feel they need to make all the decisions
and determine all the processes that are involved in running a
team. This is where they get into trouble! Realizing that you
need to work with and through others while relinquishing some
control is key to improving your managerial skills. This is particularly
true when you are working across functional areas.
-
Can This Be Delegated?
- Clients sometimes tell me how closely they need to monitor
their staff and how exhausted they are because of it. My ears
perk up when I hear this. I usually turn the discussion around
by asking them “do you micromanage?” It’s interesting
to see how they process that question. Sometimes the response
is “yes” and they realize micromanaging is not a plus.
If your complaint is that you have no time to do your own work,
consider using this mantra.
- Forget
Perfection - Perfectionism is a real culprit!
I often hear that clients work crazy hours or never seem to catch
up. Of course, extra hours are often required and are the modus
operandi in many jobs (especially on Wall Street). However, when
it’s a constant lament, and there’s a hint of the
client being a victim, I wonder how much of it’s self-imposed.
Has your boss complained that while your work product is good,
it takes too long for him/her to receive it? How much of what
you do does your boss really review? Are you tackling the most
critical questions/needs first? You can make yourself and your
boss much happier if you can forgo perfection!
Use
the above mantras if they resonate with your situation. Like any
new exercise, it takes repetition and practice for a mantra to become
part of your thought process. Or craft your own helpful mantra,
one that fits better. You will be happy you did!
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About
Dale:
Dale
Kurow, M.S. is an author and a career and executive coach in NYC.
She works with clients across the U.S. and internationally, helping
them to become better managers, figure out their next career moves
and thrive despite office politics. Click
here for more information about her services. |
Contact
Dale by e-mail
dale@dalekurow.com
or ...
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