ORCMS Career Blog

QUICK!  Right now, before you read any further. . . make a list of the key competitors for your company?  Your service?  Your product?  Your industry?

When is the last time you looked at THEIR website?  If it has been more than a couple of weeks, chances are you are missing something.  You can bet your customers are reading your competitor’s website.  What do THEY know that you don’t know?

Here are some thing to look for as you read your competitor’s website:

• What new products or services are they providing?
• What are they giving up on?
• What is their Mission Statement?  How does it relate to your company’s Mission Statement?
• How do they differentiate themselves from you (and the rest of your competitors)?
• Is this a competitive advantage for them?  Is it something your company could or would emulate?
• Who in the competitor’s company hold the position YOU hold in your company? Do you know them personally?  (. . . .something about “keeping your friends close and your enemies. . . .”)
• Can you tell from your competitor’s website where your industry is heading? (Can they tell from yours?)
• What positions are open at their company?  (Anything interesting to YOU?  Hmmm — “window shopping?”)

We recommend that you read the website of your competitor and then let your boss know what you have found.  Offer to be on a team at your company that will address the issues and opportunities raised by this little exercise.  Even if they don’t take you up on your offer, it WILL help improve your career!

George Carlin died last week.  It hit me hard.  He was one who had a great way of looking at (and explaining) the realities of life.  This piece was passed along to me through email.  Enjoy, as I did!

—————–
“The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We’ve done larger things, but not better things. We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent. Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.”

He will be remembered.
George Carlin (1937 - June 23rd, 2008)

Every company these days has a website.  They are as necessary as an ad in the Yellow Pages once was.  You can learn a lot about a company from its website:

• owners
• mission, vision and values
• core competencies
• organizational structure and key players
• key products and services
• the list goes on. . .

The website is where you would send someone to learn about your company. For many businesses it is also a place clients can go to make purchase, get assistance, and learn more about the products and/or services the company offers. Websites are used for marketing, public relations, customer service, sales and technical support.When is the last time you read  your company’s website?  If it has been a while, what are you missing?  I am frequently surprised by the information that people inside the company DON’ know that can be found on the company website.

Keeping up on your company by reading the website (or the company blog) is a good way to improve your career.

When you have completed the search for yourself on the Internet you may need to clean up anything that doesn’t fit your “personal brand identity.” If there are pictures on your MySpace or Facebook account that you would not want an employer to see, take them down. If your pictures on Google Images isn’t what you want, get them removed. If you have any articles written by or about you that don’t serve to promote you AS YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENTED, it’s time to take some serious action!

There are two potentially negative options for what you may find on your personal Google search:  a) nothing (this is bad!), or b) negative (this is damaging!).  I once worked with a supervisor who was demoted because of her pictures on MySpace.  We worked for a rather conservative company, and the pictures of her drinking with friends (obviously drunk) did not fit the corporate image they wanted to portray.  Can they do that?  I’m not sure of the legalities (I’m no Lawyer), but my recommendation is that it is better to be safe than sorry.  It’s not just the “rich and famous” who need to be aware of their public presence.  It’s ALL of us!

Here are some questions that will help you make your Internet presence match your desired target:

• What is your Unique Selling Proposition?  (Your USP)
• Can you state it in 10 words? (If not, it’s probably not focused enough)
• Does your Internet presence clearly portray your USP?
• What (specifically) do you need to add?
• What (specifically) do you need to delete?
• Who will help you do these things?

When is the last time you conducted an Internet search for yourself?  My kids tell me it’s kind of a tacky thing to do, but I HIGHLY recommend it! In fact, take a minute right now and pull up Google or Yahoo (or whichever search engine you prefer) and type in your name.  Look for publications, pictures, videos, webpages, and anything else that will inform someone about YOU.

What did you find? Does it describe the person you want your current and future employer to know?  At this point there are three possible answers:  1) “yes”, 2) “I can’t be found”, or 3) “NO, this is not good!  I KNEW I shouldn’t have allowed those pictures to be taken in Cancun!”

If your Internet presence is exactly as you wish it to be, go ahead and move on to the next tip.  For those of you who, like me, need to make some improvements . . . read on.

In 1997 TomPeters wrote an article for Fast Company titled “A Brand Called You.”  In that article he argued, “Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.”

The article was written a decade ago, but is more important now than ever!  The Internet has made it possible for us to become our own “brand”.  Remember, a brand is a “promise” of what can be expected from the product or service offered by a specific company.

What is YOUR brand?  What is YOUR promise?  When you conduct an Internet search on yourself, does what you find enhance and promote your brand?  Does it accurately portray YOUR promise?  If not, you had better take the time to improve your internet presence in order to make it do so.

Some may consider it to be “brown-nosing.”  However, when done correctly, taking the boss to coffee can be a form of networking.

The difference is in the way you approach it.  Let your boss know that you would like to spend 15 minutes of quality time with him (or her).  Be upfront.  Tell him that you have an agenda.  Now here’s the rub — tell him that your agenda is to learn more about how you can help HIM do his job better!  Just as with traditional networking, this discussion is ALL about the other person. DO NOT HAVE AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE! This session is NOT about you.

You want to let the boss know that you are “on her side.”  Ask questions that will allow her to let you know what issues and concerns she is having in the department.  Find out what her strengths are, and where she may need some assistance to compensate for her weaknesses. Suggest team members (NOT YOURSELF) who have the knowledge, skills and abilities assist her.

If (or shall we say “when”) your boss says, “o.k.  Now tell me what you REALLY want?”  You should respond by assuring him of the agenda you agreed to.  Remember,  this time is about your boss — NOT YOU.

When you make the boss look good, you make the team look good.   Being part of a winning team is good for your career!

When did we lose the idea that we are supposed to “dress for success?” We still should pay attention to the way we dress, regardless of our company dress code! Here’s why. . .

We counsel our clients to dress at least one step above the conventional dress code when interviewing for a job. If our clients are planning on working in a software company, we STRONGLY encourage them to wear shoes and a collared shirt . . . even though most of the people in the building will be wearing flip-flops and a t-shirt! It’s MUCH easier to remove a coat and tie if you find yourself overdressed than it is to sit through an interview with hiring managers if you are under dressed!

Tip #12 is simple.  Cut your hair. Wash your clothes. Pay attention to your personal grooming. Dress for success! When YOU take yourself more seriously, so will the people you are trying to impress.

As the sign indicates, THIS tip can be a bit dangerous.  Proceed with caution!

Businesses are driven by processes and procedures. The way to increase efficiencies (thereby cutting costs and increasing bottom line profit) is to develop efficient processes for doing any work that is repeatable.  You don’t want to have to re-invent the steps you take every time you complete a task.  That would be costly and inefficient. One way to show your boss that you are eligible for the next rung on the corporate ladder is to help the company improve their bottom line by improving a process with which you are intimately familiar — YOUR work-flow.

However, there is a caveat to this tip.  NOT every employee has the authority to tinker with work-flow processes.  In fact, if your work responsibilities lie closer to the bottom of the corporate food chain, you are pretty much stuck with the processes that are given to you.  Deviation could lead to reprimand, dismissal, or even corporate disaster.  That is why we say, “BEFORE YOU TRY TO CHANGE ANY PROCESS, YOU MUST CONSULT YOUR SUPERVISOR!”  Your reputation may be on the line.  So is your supervisor’s!  It’s one thing to put your own career into a precarious position.  It’s something completely different to do that to a co-worker.  Of course, that “potential danger” will  keep most of your colleagues from attempting this tip.  That in and of itself makes you stand out in a positive way as someone who has the ability to move up in the organization.  Besides, if you conduct yourself in a professional manner by enlisting the support, assistance and blessing of your supervisor prior to attempting to improve the process, you COULD come out looking like a corporate super hero!

I can hear you saying it now, “Corporation super hero?!  Me?!  Why not give it a shot?” Here some suggestions for implementing this tip:

• Enlist the SUPPORT of your supervisor to “work on improving a work-flow process”
• START SMALL. Choose a piece of the process that you know can be done better, explained easier, and  implemented in one brief training session.  (Saving 100 people 15 minutes in their day increases productivity by over 500 working hours per month. At $20/hour, that could save the company $10,000 in a month.  Small things add up!)
• Think about setting up your work area to be more efficient and effective at what you do.  Can you eliminate a step?
• Complete a test run prior to showing the final product to your supervisor. You want to get ALL of the bugs worked out.
• Double check your procedures with the ones they will replace.  Did you miss anything?
• Consider letting your supervisor take the public accolades for the improvement.
• Keep your eyes open for other processes you can improve, and complete these steps again.

Improving processes will help your company save money by increasing efficiencies. Because this tip is one of the more challenging one, you will set yourself apart by accomplishing it.  Give it a shot!

In 2006 a poll was conducted by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).  The poll found that nearly 40% of ALL managers found their current position through some form of networking. Networking is simply THE MOST EFFECTIVE means for finding a career. It ranks above every other method, including: Internet job postings, newspaper want ads, utilizing recruiters (or “head hunters”) and even going directly to the company.

However, most of us are not strategic about HOW we network.  We don’t have a plan.  We don’t have any idea who to meet, or where to meet them, or what to say when we DO meet them.  Here is my “quick and easy” method for turning your networking from a hit and miss technique to strategic dynamite! Use these tips and you WILL improve your ability to network effectively.

1. Make a “hit list” — WHO do you need to meet?  (Could be specific names, positions, companies, etc)
2. WHERE do they hang out?  (What networking events to these people attend?)
3. Where do people who KNOW THEM hang out? (If you want to eat fish for dinner but can’t get to the fishing hole, you should make friends with a fishmonger!)
4. WHAT will you say when you meet them? (You will only have about 30 seconds to make a contact at a networking event.  Use it wisely!)

When you DO have your networking meeting (not the meeting at the networking group, but the meeting following it), here are three questions you want to make sure you ask:

• What can I do for you?
• Who else do you know that I should talk to?
• How shall I keep you informed of my progress?

Keep networking!  It will enhance your career.

My good friend Clara Flory (85 years old at the time) used to say to me, “God gave us TWO ears and ONE mouth.  That’s why we should listen TWICE as much as we talk!” I was a young man at the time and listened politely to what she had to say, but I didn’t fully understand the importance of her comments until later.  Much later.  I wanted to impress people with my vast knowledge.  I wanted them to think I was “smart” and “eloquent”.  When I was unsure if my constant jabbering achieved that goal, I would talk more or louder and listen less.  Now I look back with slight embarrassment.  I jumped to conclusions.  I made assumptions that led me to be unproductive.  I thought I was “solving” problems.  Now I see that I may have created more problems than I ever solved. If I had only listened to Clara.  If I had only LISTENED!

I’m sure this has never happened to you.

Growing up my grandmother had a sign on her kitchen wall that read, “I would rather remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt.”  (Abaraham Lincoln)  I have a feeling that “Honest Abe” had a Clara Flory in his past as well.  I wonder how long it took for him to learn this valuable lesson!