OWNing your career!

Advice to a younger me By Daryl M Williams Full disclosure…. …I haven’t always been a model employee. Sometimes the truth hurts but writing that doesn’t hurt me although I know I have potentially prevented myself from achieving in some areas and opportunities in other areas. How is not important and you don’t have to tell me how you may have sabotaged yourself but knowing is half the battle. Right? So, what would a mature Daryl tell a younger Daryl? Lots of things, like Peeps really don’t taste good, avoid certain types of beverages and try and align your jobs with your career. Please see below for some relevant specifics: Learn at every opportunity: Whether from a direct report, peer, customer or leader make sure to take the opportunity to learn. I think I’ve done this for the most part but it is worth mentioning and I certainly could do it better. Don’t take things so personal: Now I come across nice enough, in fact a former co-worker once told me “Ever

Career Toolbox Tip: Find Your Advocate By Daryl M Williams I’ve fielded some excellent questions along the lines of: ·          “Why aren’t I advancing, moving up, being promoted?” ·          “What should I be doing?” Now, I can give a simple answer and this is a blog post so perhaps something microwavable would be best as opposed to a seven course meal but I still want to offer something useful. Here are some thoughts I have on this topic I am increasingly hearing. ·          Find out where you stand in the organization? o    Have you worked in the same role for four plus years? You might be typecast. http://goo.gl/IWeRH o    Do you have a bad attitude? How would you know?        §   Do people run SCREAMING the other way when you approach? §   Do you generally not speak to anyone even when spoken to? o    Are your peers getting the coveted assignments such as projects, reports, meetings with the executive leaders? This is only a small test to determin