Whenever there is a great tragedy as the D.C. Navy Base shooting this past week, everyone begins to search for answers. The big question that we heard this week was WHY did Aaron Alexis, someone whom to many seemed like an ordinary person, would open fire to kill 12 people (seemingly randomly) before being willing to die himself in an all or nothing gun fight with the police. While information is still coming out in this story, there is one piece of information I found particularly interesting. Aaron Alexis was an avid video game player. While I am not saying this was the cause of his decision to kill so many people, I do think there is a link between the increased violence in video games (and movies) and how kids these days relate to death and killing. While I would never suggest to not allow your kids to play these games (I grew up on Resident Evil and Final Fantasy II), I do think that it is the parents' job to decide at what age it is appropriate for their kids to play such games and to make sure they understand ALL the content of the game to decrease the chances of their child becoming another enigma of violence.
While, admittedly, Aaron Alexis broke the psychological profile that I have recently begun to create of these most senseless mass murderers, i.e. John Holmes (Aurora), Adam Lanza (Newtown), and even back as far as Erik Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine). At the time of their attacks, they all shared two things in common: 1. They were all under 25 years of age (24, 20, and 18/17, respectively) and they all were all avid gamers. This is not even mentioning Anders Breivik (the 33 year old Norwegian who gunned down 69 people at a political youth camp on the island of Utoya in 2011), who admitted that he used Call of Duty to practice for the killings.
I believe this shows a clear connection between kids who play violent video games and watch violent movies at a young age and these senseless murders throughout the world. What I feel occurs is that parents allow their kids to play these games at an age in which they are not quite mentally capable of completely understanding the severity of what they are playing and they associate the violence of the game with what is acceptable in real life. Many of these games are rated PG-13 or M-17 and parents still tend to ignore these ratings because the video game industry puts in certain parental guidance codes that prevent the game from cursing or showing explicit blood in all scenes. What this doesn't stop, however, is the horrific violence of killing or beating up individuals senselessly. Also, while many parents may think their kids are adhering to these types of rules, many are disengaging this parental control as soon as possible.
To combat this as a parent and ensure that your child doesn't end up as another "unexplained tragedy," parents have basically two choices. 1. Don't buy your kids these violent video games at all. There are a number of sports, fantasy, and educational games that could keep your kid occupied in his/her free time or, better yet, help them discover the joy of reading and increase their intelligence and curiosity rather than killing it with a mindless game. or 2. Have SUPER strict supervision on every game your kids plays to make sure there is nothing in it that could create a negative impact on him/her. Before allowing your kid to play any game, you should read about it, ask around to other parents, and even play the game yourself to ensure there is nothing that you don't want your kid to see, or at least, you are prepared to discuss with him/her to make sure they understand what is occurring and how it relates to the real world.
While there are many who will read this and think this is baloney, I don't think the dead 8-year-old girl, accused of being killed by her 12 year old brother, would think so (Hear about it here), and while it has not been proven that he did it, I would be willing to wager that if he did, he played/watched a significant amount of violent video games or movies at a young age. How else would someone so young be able to do something so deadly and evil? Sometimes the most obvious answer is the one people refuse to believe.
Our world is one in which violence sells. Grand Theft Auto 5 just broke the $1 billion in sales mark in ONLY THREE DAYS. While it is rated M17 (mature), I would guarantee that half of those sales were to kids well under 17, many of them purchased by their parents. Parents, you have a commitment to your child to give them the best environment possible to encourage their intellectual stimulation and growth for the strong creation of the neurotic synapses to be a great analytical thinker. By allowing your kid to spend their time playing video games all day, you are no better than the parent who doesn't have the ability to discipline their child's eating habit so they don't grow up overweight. The major problem with this is that some kids reach a certain point in which it's TOO hard for them to course correct. If your kid falls into any of the information above, I pray it is not too late for them...and us.
Ken Middleton is an Account Manager at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Networking II - How Do You Do It?
As we wrap up the final entry in the Triangle of Success, we have come to the "How to do it" section of networking. When many people think about the concept of networking, they can become slightly overwhelmed and intimidated as they think about what groups to join, how to engage, and what level of commitment to give. In this week's edition of KMM View's, I will give several quick tips that will give you direction/guidance on the best way to make networking "work" for you.
CHOOSE ONLY 2-3 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO YOUR FIELD OR INDUSTRY
The reason I only suggest 2-3 is that we only have so much time on our hands. Individuals who think it makes sense to join every networking organization out there hurt themselves because either they spread themselves too thin (and it becomes a major chore for them) or they are not getting the level of interaction needed in each of the groups they are a part of to truly allow their interaction to be meaningful. If you find yourself beginning to resent having to go to a networking event, you probably are in too many or the wrong ones. Pick 2 or 3 organizations that are related to your industry and/or will help you achieve a bigger goal you may have. For example, if you are in the HR industry but desire to move into sales, being a member of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) is a given, but you may also want to join a sales organization such as NSN (National Sales Network). This way you can continue to enhance your current career but are also keeping an eye out on how you can build your future career.
BECOME AN OFFICE IN 1 OR 2
After you choose the 2 or 3 organizations in which you will be a member, begin looking for opportunities to serve on a board/committee or as an officer for one or two of these. You definitely don't want to do more than two, as, once again, this could put you at risk of spreading yourself thin and not being able to do a good job. The reason this is important is that when you volunteer for a position within a major organization, you get a chance to showcase a number of skills (organization, project management, relationship management, etc) and you never know who else is also a part of that organization that could be impressed with your abilities and either decide to mentor you or help you to a new position within your own company or a new one. However, you have to make sure that you put yourself in the best position to be successful because if you do a poor job, this could hurt your reputation/brand and negatively impact your future opportunities.
PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE
Networking is a not an easy and natural thing to do at times. Some people have the natural gift of "gab" and can be comfortable in any setting. For the rest of us, this can be very awkward as we look for the right things to say and do. However, as with everything in life, the only way to get better is to work at it consistently. This will include things like work on your elevator speech to make sure you can tell someone what you do concisely and in a manner in which they can actually understand. You will also want to work on your active listening skills. The best way to make someone interested in you is to express interest in them. Practice active listening techniques like repeating their statements for clarity, asking good questions, and maintaining strong eye contact. You will be surprised how this will draw people to you and make them feel comfortable talking to you. Also, work on your storytelling ability to help entertain people with humorous accounts of your work, the industry, or anything else that could be interesting. Everybody likes someone who is funny and this will naturally help you make great connections. Toastmasters is a great organization to help with this endeavor, as well as just speaking in general. They have been helping people be more comfortable with speaking for years and are all over the world.
Networking can appear to be tough, but if you make sure you have the right approach and attitude, it can be fun and very helpful to your career. By taking the time to pick the right organizations, become an active member in them, and practice on improving your networking skills consistently, you'll be well on your way to reaping the rewards of your efforts.
Ken Middleton is an Account Manager at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
CHOOSE ONLY 2-3 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO YOUR FIELD OR INDUSTRY
The reason I only suggest 2-3 is that we only have so much time on our hands. Individuals who think it makes sense to join every networking organization out there hurt themselves because either they spread themselves too thin (and it becomes a major chore for them) or they are not getting the level of interaction needed in each of the groups they are a part of to truly allow their interaction to be meaningful. If you find yourself beginning to resent having to go to a networking event, you probably are in too many or the wrong ones. Pick 2 or 3 organizations that are related to your industry and/or will help you achieve a bigger goal you may have. For example, if you are in the HR industry but desire to move into sales, being a member of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) is a given, but you may also want to join a sales organization such as NSN (National Sales Network). This way you can continue to enhance your current career but are also keeping an eye out on how you can build your future career.
BECOME AN OFFICE IN 1 OR 2
After you choose the 2 or 3 organizations in which you will be a member, begin looking for opportunities to serve on a board/committee or as an officer for one or two of these. You definitely don't want to do more than two, as, once again, this could put you at risk of spreading yourself thin and not being able to do a good job. The reason this is important is that when you volunteer for a position within a major organization, you get a chance to showcase a number of skills (organization, project management, relationship management, etc) and you never know who else is also a part of that organization that could be impressed with your abilities and either decide to mentor you or help you to a new position within your own company or a new one. However, you have to make sure that you put yourself in the best position to be successful because if you do a poor job, this could hurt your reputation/brand and negatively impact your future opportunities.
PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE
Networking is a not an easy and natural thing to do at times. Some people have the natural gift of "gab" and can be comfortable in any setting. For the rest of us, this can be very awkward as we look for the right things to say and do. However, as with everything in life, the only way to get better is to work at it consistently. This will include things like work on your elevator speech to make sure you can tell someone what you do concisely and in a manner in which they can actually understand. You will also want to work on your active listening skills. The best way to make someone interested in you is to express interest in them. Practice active listening techniques like repeating their statements for clarity, asking good questions, and maintaining strong eye contact. You will be surprised how this will draw people to you and make them feel comfortable talking to you. Also, work on your storytelling ability to help entertain people with humorous accounts of your work, the industry, or anything else that could be interesting. Everybody likes someone who is funny and this will naturally help you make great connections. Toastmasters is a great organization to help with this endeavor, as well as just speaking in general. They have been helping people be more comfortable with speaking for years and are all over the world.
Networking can appear to be tough, but if you make sure you have the right approach and attitude, it can be fun and very helpful to your career. By taking the time to pick the right organizations, become an active member in them, and practice on improving your networking skills consistently, you'll be well on your way to reaping the rewards of your efforts.
Ken Middleton is an Account Manager at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Networking - Why it is NOT an option
Vacation, work, and just "stuff" have kept me from touching base with you all the last three weeks, but I'm back and ready to wrap up this four part series on the Triangle of Success. To do a quick recap, the foundation begins with Education, often the base of the success of anyone. From there we discussed the importance of Branding Building and how you must be cognizant of it and control it at all times. Third, we focused on Political Savvy and how it's not just for government officials. And now, we will end this with the last part of the Triangle of Success: Networking.
For many, networking is something to do when one is looking for a job. It stays in the back of individuals' minds from time to time, as something they "should" do, but they always feel they don't have enough time to do so. That is, until they lose their job for whatever reason, and then they have ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD. The problem with this is that it will not be anywhere near as effective during this time since your focus will be on finding a job and not just making great connections. Also, if one had done this earlier, it is very likely that she/she would not be looking for a job in the first place. There are three general reasons why one should make networking a priority, regardless of how little time he or she may.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW...
This is the age old adage that still is very applicable to our world today. Networking allows you to make connections with individuals that you may never have had the opportunity to meet at all. These individuals could results in mentor/mentoring opportunities, new employment opportunities, or just good connections that will help grow your brand throughout your geographic area. At various networking events, you could meet a high level executive who may think you are just the person they have been looking for in relation to a new strategic initiative or project they are kicking off. You may run into someone who is just what you're company is looking for and could have the opportunity to help someone else out. Networking opens up your world to a whole slew of people that could bring positiveness to you in a number of different ways.
IT'S IMPROVES YOUR SOCIAL SKILLS
Many individuals do not desire to go to networking events because they feel rather awkward walking up to a stranger and holding a conversation. It can be difficult to strike up an engaging conversation with someone you have never met before because there is a lack of familiarity with what makes this person tick and what are their specific interests. There are a few people that have mastered this technique, and it pays dividends for them in their ability to read people quickly and react to them appropriately in various situations. This is a skill that will make you great at many things in life, with one of those things being your job. You will only improve this by going to networking events and working through the awkwardness to get better. Just like dancing, when you first started, it will be somewhat awkward and embarrassing. However, (if you were lucky), you were a kid when you learned to dance and didn't care because you were having fun. Have this same mentality at networking events. Just have fun in getting to know new people. You may not be perfect in the first few events you attend, but as you work on your networking craft and improve, the payoff will come.
IF YOU DON'T DO IT, YOU'RE PUTTING YOURSELF AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE
I like to generally stay positive when it comes to giving advice on certain things, but this is just a reality. Every day, the working world is realizing the importance of networking more, and if you are someone who refuses to participate in it because of your lack of time or interest, you are at a big disadvantage to those individuals who are making it an integral part of their career strategy. They are making the contacts and connections that are putting them in place for promotions or opportunities within other companies that you may be as, or even more, qualified. If you continue to ignore this important part of a long term strategic vision for your career, you will be sorely left behind by others, as they move to the C-suite and you stay within middle management, if not lower.
Networking isn't easy (especially at first) and can be somewhat intimidating at times. However, if you make the commitment to make time for it and work at getting better, it can become a fun and entertaining event, as you make great contacts and friends, while advancing your career at the same time.
Next week, I'll wrap up the four part seriess of the Triangle of Success by sharing with your exactly HOW to plan and execute a strategic network attack. Until then, Happy Networking.
Ken Middleton is an Account Manager at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
For many, networking is something to do when one is looking for a job. It stays in the back of individuals' minds from time to time, as something they "should" do, but they always feel they don't have enough time to do so. That is, until they lose their job for whatever reason, and then they have ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD. The problem with this is that it will not be anywhere near as effective during this time since your focus will be on finding a job and not just making great connections. Also, if one had done this earlier, it is very likely that she/she would not be looking for a job in the first place. There are three general reasons why one should make networking a priority, regardless of how little time he or she may.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW...
This is the age old adage that still is very applicable to our world today. Networking allows you to make connections with individuals that you may never have had the opportunity to meet at all. These individuals could results in mentor/mentoring opportunities, new employment opportunities, or just good connections that will help grow your brand throughout your geographic area. At various networking events, you could meet a high level executive who may think you are just the person they have been looking for in relation to a new strategic initiative or project they are kicking off. You may run into someone who is just what you're company is looking for and could have the opportunity to help someone else out. Networking opens up your world to a whole slew of people that could bring positiveness to you in a number of different ways.
IT'S IMPROVES YOUR SOCIAL SKILLS
Many individuals do not desire to go to networking events because they feel rather awkward walking up to a stranger and holding a conversation. It can be difficult to strike up an engaging conversation with someone you have never met before because there is a lack of familiarity with what makes this person tick and what are their specific interests. There are a few people that have mastered this technique, and it pays dividends for them in their ability to read people quickly and react to them appropriately in various situations. This is a skill that will make you great at many things in life, with one of those things being your job. You will only improve this by going to networking events and working through the awkwardness to get better. Just like dancing, when you first started, it will be somewhat awkward and embarrassing. However, (if you were lucky), you were a kid when you learned to dance and didn't care because you were having fun. Have this same mentality at networking events. Just have fun in getting to know new people. You may not be perfect in the first few events you attend, but as you work on your networking craft and improve, the payoff will come.
IF YOU DON'T DO IT, YOU'RE PUTTING YOURSELF AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE
I like to generally stay positive when it comes to giving advice on certain things, but this is just a reality. Every day, the working world is realizing the importance of networking more, and if you are someone who refuses to participate in it because of your lack of time or interest, you are at a big disadvantage to those individuals who are making it an integral part of their career strategy. They are making the contacts and connections that are putting them in place for promotions or opportunities within other companies that you may be as, or even more, qualified. If you continue to ignore this important part of a long term strategic vision for your career, you will be sorely left behind by others, as they move to the C-suite and you stay within middle management, if not lower.
Networking isn't easy (especially at first) and can be somewhat intimidating at times. However, if you make the commitment to make time for it and work at getting better, it can become a fun and entertaining event, as you make great contacts and friends, while advancing your career at the same time.
Next week, I'll wrap up the four part seriess of the Triangle of Success by sharing with your exactly HOW to plan and execute a strategic network attack. Until then, Happy Networking.
Ken Middleton is an Account Manager at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Politics Part II - How to keep it "above board."
Last week, I shared the importance of participating in interoffice politics to ensure one has every opportunity available to be ultimately successful in his/her job. While for years, the concept of office politics seemed to be completely negative, today's definition offers a different interpretation of what politics is and, therefore, allows individuals to participate in it differently. Today, the concept of office politics is not so much back-office dealings and "quid pro quo" but more a focus on ensuring your personal brand has been publicized throughout the company and is recognized by some of the key decision makers within it. While there are many ways to do it, I wanted to share three of the most effective strategies one can take.
GET TO KNOW YOUR CO-WORKERS (ESPECIALLY SENIOR EMPLOYEES) OUTSIDE OF WORK
This is one of the unspoken strategies that has hurt so many hard-working employees for so long. As outlined previously, many people believe that if they just work hard and continue to do the right things, everything will work out. This is just not the world in which we live. To truly get the chance for higher level positions within your company, top level executives want to know that you are someone who has a stable life outside of work, so they can trust you with high level decisions when you're at work. To do so, often it is a good practice to interact with them in personal settings, so they can get a sense of who the real you is and get a chance to truly like you. At work, there are so many social and HR related restrictions, that it can be very hard to build a true friendship. By taking time to get to know your co-workers outside of the office and build that personal friendship, there will be a much greater chance they will be in your corner when discussions arise about whom to give a new high level project or promotion.
TAKE ON HIGH PROFILE PROJECTS
While this can be scary for some individuals who are afraid of failure, for those who desire to grow their position within their respective company, this is a must-do for achievement. Always look for opportunities to take on a project that has high visibility and impact for your company. The political capital and respect you will receive upon successful completion of the project will do wonders for your notoriety to high level management. While there is always the risk that you will not do well and a negative connotation will be associated with your name, by not ever stepping up to bat to accept projects such as this, your name will eventually get an even worse negative tag as someone who is afraid to take on a big job. Many will respect your attempt and feel that taking on something so important for the company still put a feather in your cap, even if it doesn't turn out well.
HELP OTHERS
There are some who think that work is only about doing what is best for them and not worrying about how they can make an impact on their co-workers. These individuals are sorely mistaken of how to get ahead in most companies. The work world in which we live today is all about collaboration and team work. The days of the Lone Ranger hotshot who can do everything on his/her own is long gone and has been replaced with the person who is the best communicator and teammate. To truly increase your office political capital, become known as the person who takes time out of the day to lend a helping had to others. Often, there are those who are in positions or on projects in which you have served before and could benefit tremendously from your knowledge of how to do something better. Also, you could identify the different areas in which your direct or indirect boss could use some assistance to take something taxing off of his/her plate and step in to do so. It may be something as simple as planning an office outing or taking on changing the reporting metrics of the team, so they are more easily digestible. Whatever it is, it will not only give you a "gold star" for realizing something needed to be done, but also truly improve the efficiency and productivity of others.
While Congress currently has it lowest approval rating in the history of Gallup polling, politics is not all bad when done the right way. By utilizing the three strategies outlined above, not only are you putting yourself in a great position for promotions and recognition down the road, you are ultimately helping your co-workers and company be more successful as a whole.
Next week, we'll begin wrapping up this four part series on the Triangle of Success by outlining the importance of Networking to make the triangle complete. Until then, happy campaign trails...
Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Political Savvy - Aren't We Beyond That?
Political Savvy. We hear the first part of it and an immediate disgust comes to many of our minds: Political. The obvious connection to "Politics" makes many think of all the self-serving members of Congress whose only apparent focus is to do whatever is most advantageous to them personally. While this is true in relation to one side of politics, the other side is one of extreme strategic and organized decision-making that demonstrates the high competence of someone who is able to see the "big picture" in relation to themselves and their career.
Office politics is often a taboo and many individuals don't even like to think of their office as engaging in this practice. They feel they are above this and everyone is only promoted based on merit and expertise. While there is, of course, some component of this in many offices, to think that there is NO politics involved when it comes to decision making for new positions is highly naive. There is a different brand of office politics, however, (Politics 2.0) that is not the brand in which our parents partook. I will share this new brand of politics in next week entry in KMM Views, but for this week, I just want to focus on WHY office politics is important and alive and kicking in most organizations.
MOST PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY LIKE YOU
For those of you whom question whether there is any need for some political savvy in your career, you are the exact reason why there is a great need for it. Simply put: 90% of individuals never give one thought to politics within their office. They are either too good to participate in it or just oblivious to the fact that it occurs. News flash: Just because you don't make a conscious effort to participate in office politics doesn't mean you're not a part of it. You can no more not be involved in office politics than an actor cannot be a part of a scene in a movie. If you are in the movie, then you are participating, whether you know it or not. The question is, do you want others writing your script or do you desire to write it yourself? The great advantage of being conscious of this is that you have a great ability to control your own fate by interacting with the 90 percentile who don't have a strategic plan for their day or career. You are given a competitive advantage by identifying the various opportunities that others may see as "happenstance" while you are strategically placing yourself in a position for consideration when that specific opportunity presents itself.
ITS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, BUT WHO KNOWS YOU
We have often heard the adage of "It's not what you know, but whom you know". This is still very true in today's workplace. To take this one step further, however, it is also very important to make sure that others know you. It's not so much that you have to have day to day interactions with top leadership, but you have to make sure that whatever you are doing, it is visible enough to top leadership that when your name comes up, it resonates some type of positive thought. A thought of indifference is actually more of a failure than a draw. You have to consistently identify ways to "put yourself on the map" to have some sense of recognition with these leaders. Often, many decisions are made well before individuals ever interview for a job based on what the person's reputation has been with the company in that respect. Just as a new artist or actress may come onto the scene to build a buzz about their work and what they bring to the table, you need to work to build this same type of buzz about what you have accomplished within the organization so far and your talent to accomplish more in the future.
ITS GIVE YOU ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL (UNSPOKEN) MENTORING
One of the greatest attributes of being politically savvy is that you will often have access to more information than your peers who don't consistently work to put themselves in this position. By navigating the internal workings of your organization and attending the various events that will give you exposure and notoriety with the top leadership, you will often have access to more intimate one-on-one conversations that could give you nuggets of precious advice and guidance. We often think that these things just happen to people because they are in the right place at the right time. As long as you believe that, you will continue to wait on your "lottery time" to show up. You have to be strategic to MAKE the right time and place by looking for opportunities that will give you access to that extra bit of knowledge to which others will not be privy. It can go a long way.
I know most of us hate politics with a passion. It seems cheap and of low character. The truth of the matter is, however, that our political representatives are some of the most strategic and forward-thinking people in the world. Their ability to identify opportunities within the marketplace and capitalize on them are second to none in relation to how they are able to navigate their way to success. To give yourself the best chance at ultimate success in your job, don't consider politics beneath you. Its only a dirty word if you make it so.
In the next week's entry, I will share with you how you can make it a clean word by keeping it all "above-board" with the new politics 2.0, while also still giving yourself the same competitive advantage.
Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
Office politics is often a taboo and many individuals don't even like to think of their office as engaging in this practice. They feel they are above this and everyone is only promoted based on merit and expertise. While there is, of course, some component of this in many offices, to think that there is NO politics involved when it comes to decision making for new positions is highly naive. There is a different brand of office politics, however, (Politics 2.0) that is not the brand in which our parents partook. I will share this new brand of politics in next week entry in KMM Views, but for this week, I just want to focus on WHY office politics is important and alive and kicking in most organizations.
MOST PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY LIKE YOU
For those of you whom question whether there is any need for some political savvy in your career, you are the exact reason why there is a great need for it. Simply put: 90% of individuals never give one thought to politics within their office. They are either too good to participate in it or just oblivious to the fact that it occurs. News flash: Just because you don't make a conscious effort to participate in office politics doesn't mean you're not a part of it. You can no more not be involved in office politics than an actor cannot be a part of a scene in a movie. If you are in the movie, then you are participating, whether you know it or not. The question is, do you want others writing your script or do you desire to write it yourself? The great advantage of being conscious of this is that you have a great ability to control your own fate by interacting with the 90 percentile who don't have a strategic plan for their day or career. You are given a competitive advantage by identifying the various opportunities that others may see as "happenstance" while you are strategically placing yourself in a position for consideration when that specific opportunity presents itself.
ITS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, BUT WHO KNOWS YOU
We have often heard the adage of "It's not what you know, but whom you know". This is still very true in today's workplace. To take this one step further, however, it is also very important to make sure that others know you. It's not so much that you have to have day to day interactions with top leadership, but you have to make sure that whatever you are doing, it is visible enough to top leadership that when your name comes up, it resonates some type of positive thought. A thought of indifference is actually more of a failure than a draw. You have to consistently identify ways to "put yourself on the map" to have some sense of recognition with these leaders. Often, many decisions are made well before individuals ever interview for a job based on what the person's reputation has been with the company in that respect. Just as a new artist or actress may come onto the scene to build a buzz about their work and what they bring to the table, you need to work to build this same type of buzz about what you have accomplished within the organization so far and your talent to accomplish more in the future.
ITS GIVE YOU ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL (UNSPOKEN) MENTORING
One of the greatest attributes of being politically savvy is that you will often have access to more information than your peers who don't consistently work to put themselves in this position. By navigating the internal workings of your organization and attending the various events that will give you exposure and notoriety with the top leadership, you will often have access to more intimate one-on-one conversations that could give you nuggets of precious advice and guidance. We often think that these things just happen to people because they are in the right place at the right time. As long as you believe that, you will continue to wait on your "lottery time" to show up. You have to be strategic to MAKE the right time and place by looking for opportunities that will give you access to that extra bit of knowledge to which others will not be privy. It can go a long way.
I know most of us hate politics with a passion. It seems cheap and of low character. The truth of the matter is, however, that our political representatives are some of the most strategic and forward-thinking people in the world. Their ability to identify opportunities within the marketplace and capitalize on them are second to none in relation to how they are able to navigate their way to success. To give yourself the best chance at ultimate success in your job, don't consider politics beneath you. Its only a dirty word if you make it so.
In the next week's entry, I will share with you how you can make it a clean word by keeping it all "above-board" with the new politics 2.0, while also still giving yourself the same competitive advantage.
Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Brand Building - So How Do You Do It?
Last week, I continued my discussion on the four parts of the Triangle of Success by discussing the importance of brand building as part two of this triangle. Click here if you are interested in reading part I - The Foundation of Education. In this week's edition, I will continue the discussion on brand building by outlining how to identify and build your brand for ultimate long term success.
As mentioned last week, in today's time of increased competition for promotions, or just jobs in general, building a powerful personal brand will give you a leg up on those individuals who desire for life to just "happen." Building a brand will give you clarity and focus for your career, as well as allow you to consistently build something that will exponentially increase in value over time. So, how do you do it? There are several steps that ,when followed, will make the process as easy as pie.
CHOOSE YOUR BRAND
While this may seem like a very simple step, it is the one that most people NEVER do. Most people never take the time to actually DECIDE what their brand is. Instead, they think it will create itself, if they even think about it at all. This is wrong. You have to be strategic in your thoughts of where you want to be 5/10/20 years from now. Individuals often laugh at politicians because they are always "scheming" for their next move in office. The truth is that the good ones are probably planning their next 3-4 next moves in office, all the way to the Presidency, if possible. Bill Clinton probably knew he wanted to be President when he graduated from Yale with his law degree and worked hard to build a brand that was consistent with that image. When choosing a brand, you have to look at two important things: 1. What are you passionate about and 2. What are you already very good at. The passion part is the most important. If you are good at something but have no passion for it, this will eventually show and your brand will not be able to reach the heights of something for which you have passion. However, if you are naturally good at certain things, it could be a sign that this could also be your passion, but you haven't given it enough focus and energy to allow that passion to grow. Explore the answers to these two questions in detail to decide on what brand to create.
WORK ON BUILDING YOUR BRAND
To build your brand, you have to put in some work to make it practical and effective. If you decide that your passion is being a mentor and coach to your peers at the office, then you must work everyday to improve your ability to do this. When you find something that you are good at and have a passion for, that isn't enough. To truly have a brand that you desire to be synonymous with your name, you must work to hone your skills in that area, so others will indeed think of you as the expert. If you love getting into the nitty gritty detail of the technical aspects of your job and other always come to you to discuss things they don't understand, don't just allow this to continue to happen naturally but take control of it by doing things to proliferate this brand. You should build a consistent study plan to increase your knowledge in all technical areas that are important to your job. You could also begin to create documents that will make things more understandable to others within your profession and proactively send these out to your peers for help. You could even look to submit articles to various technical periodicals or speak at conferences in your industry to continue to strengthen your notoriety as the "technical guy." Make a concerted effort to be the very best at your brand by reading, learning, and strengthening you overall aptitude and ability in relation to it everyday.
ADD THINGS THAT HELP / ELIMINATE THAT WHICH HURTS
One of the most difficult parts of managing a brand is understanding that to truly have an effective brand, you have to look for anything that is detracting from it and eliminate it, while at the same time picking up new habits/projects/contacts that add to it. For example, if you desire to be known as the consummate professional who has a promising career with your work ethic and overall ability to do and/or say the right things when the moment calls for it, it would hurt your brand to also be associated with the group of workforce derelicts who often gossip and complain about everything that happens in the office. I'm not saying that you can't still be in contact with these people, but association leads to assimilation and the company that gets the most of your time will influence most of your life. On the other side, just as the "technical guy" could look for associations/groups/periodicals that will allow him to add to his overall brand with his co-workers and industry peers, you should also look for various groups/organizations/magazines that will allow you to increase your knowledge and exposure to things associated with your brand. For example, if you desire to build a brand based on the healthcare field and being one of the most knowledgeable nurses out there, you should be involved in every health/nurse organization that is plausible, as well as reading every article on ways to give better medical care and improve your craft. Do that which others won't and you will get what others don't.
Brand building. It sounds like something that a marketing firm should be concerned with for their client, not individuals working a 9-5 job. This is what about 80% of the working world thinks, and, if you share this thought, you are doomed to a life of mediocrity and low/no achievement. To take your career, and life, to another level, however, begin of thinking of yourself as your own marketing agent and your persona as your brand that you have to create and proliferate throughout the world if you truly desire to be the master of your fate. Your brand is who you are; what makes you special; why you are important. If you don't create one for yourself, others will create one for you. This is unacceptable. You have to create your brand and be on purpose with it every single day. You just don't just get good over time. You MAKE yourself good with work, dedication and focus. Be in control.
Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
As mentioned last week, in today's time of increased competition for promotions, or just jobs in general, building a powerful personal brand will give you a leg up on those individuals who desire for life to just "happen." Building a brand will give you clarity and focus for your career, as well as allow you to consistently build something that will exponentially increase in value over time. So, how do you do it? There are several steps that ,when followed, will make the process as easy as pie.
CHOOSE YOUR BRAND
While this may seem like a very simple step, it is the one that most people NEVER do. Most people never take the time to actually DECIDE what their brand is. Instead, they think it will create itself, if they even think about it at all. This is wrong. You have to be strategic in your thoughts of where you want to be 5/10/20 years from now. Individuals often laugh at politicians because they are always "scheming" for their next move in office. The truth is that the good ones are probably planning their next 3-4 next moves in office, all the way to the Presidency, if possible. Bill Clinton probably knew he wanted to be President when he graduated from Yale with his law degree and worked hard to build a brand that was consistent with that image. When choosing a brand, you have to look at two important things: 1. What are you passionate about and 2. What are you already very good at. The passion part is the most important. If you are good at something but have no passion for it, this will eventually show and your brand will not be able to reach the heights of something for which you have passion. However, if you are naturally good at certain things, it could be a sign that this could also be your passion, but you haven't given it enough focus and energy to allow that passion to grow. Explore the answers to these two questions in detail to decide on what brand to create.
WORK ON BUILDING YOUR BRAND
To build your brand, you have to put in some work to make it practical and effective. If you decide that your passion is being a mentor and coach to your peers at the office, then you must work everyday to improve your ability to do this. When you find something that you are good at and have a passion for, that isn't enough. To truly have a brand that you desire to be synonymous with your name, you must work to hone your skills in that area, so others will indeed think of you as the expert. If you love getting into the nitty gritty detail of the technical aspects of your job and other always come to you to discuss things they don't understand, don't just allow this to continue to happen naturally but take control of it by doing things to proliferate this brand. You should build a consistent study plan to increase your knowledge in all technical areas that are important to your job. You could also begin to create documents that will make things more understandable to others within your profession and proactively send these out to your peers for help. You could even look to submit articles to various technical periodicals or speak at conferences in your industry to continue to strengthen your notoriety as the "technical guy." Make a concerted effort to be the very best at your brand by reading, learning, and strengthening you overall aptitude and ability in relation to it everyday.
ADD THINGS THAT HELP / ELIMINATE THAT WHICH HURTS
One of the most difficult parts of managing a brand is understanding that to truly have an effective brand, you have to look for anything that is detracting from it and eliminate it, while at the same time picking up new habits/projects/contacts that add to it. For example, if you desire to be known as the consummate professional who has a promising career with your work ethic and overall ability to do and/or say the right things when the moment calls for it, it would hurt your brand to also be associated with the group of workforce derelicts who often gossip and complain about everything that happens in the office. I'm not saying that you can't still be in contact with these people, but association leads to assimilation and the company that gets the most of your time will influence most of your life. On the other side, just as the "technical guy" could look for associations/groups/periodicals that will allow him to add to his overall brand with his co-workers and industry peers, you should also look for various groups/organizations/magazines that will allow you to increase your knowledge and exposure to things associated with your brand. For example, if you desire to build a brand based on the healthcare field and being one of the most knowledgeable nurses out there, you should be involved in every health/nurse organization that is plausible, as well as reading every article on ways to give better medical care and improve your craft. Do that which others won't and you will get what others don't.
Brand building. It sounds like something that a marketing firm should be concerned with for their client, not individuals working a 9-5 job. This is what about 80% of the working world thinks, and, if you share this thought, you are doomed to a life of mediocrity and low/no achievement. To take your career, and life, to another level, however, begin of thinking of yourself as your own marketing agent and your persona as your brand that you have to create and proliferate throughout the world if you truly desire to be the master of your fate. Your brand is who you are; what makes you special; why you are important. If you don't create one for yourself, others will create one for you. This is unacceptable. You have to create your brand and be on purpose with it every single day. You just don't just get good over time. You MAKE yourself good with work, dedication and focus. Be in control.
Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Building a Powerful Brand - Why This Isn't Only For Celebrities.
Oprah. Simon Cowell. Michael Jordan. When you think of these three names, generally one or two thoughts come to mind. Oprah is associated with elegance and the ability to make anyone feel comfortable telling her anything. Simon is a musical identifying genius which a reputation for extreme straight forward delivery. Michael is simply associated with winning and a competitiveness and drive unlike anyone who has ever came before him. How did all of these individuals become synonymous with such thoughts? Much of it was the natural progression of events that allowed this to develop over time, but much of it was also through shrewd maneuvering of marketing and public relation firms to make sure they were only associated with the right people, companies, and products that would reinforce, rather than hurt, their brands.
What many of us need to recognize today, however, is that it is not only celebrities who need brand management, but each of us individually as well. While most of us may not have the ability to afford a large marketing firm, we do have the ability to make sure that we do everything in our power to keep our personal brand consistent and in line with our future goals. For this week's continuation of the four sections of the Triangle of Success, I will share with you why brand management is important for your career. Next week, as a part of two of this entry, I will give you some tips and strategies of how to develop and manage your brand for consistency and progression over time. So, let's start with the reason WHY brand management is important:
BRAND MANAGEMENT HELPS FOCUS YOUR CONTRIBUTION AT WORK
Consistency is a very important word here, as this is what has allowed these individuals to continue to grow and prosper based on the popularity of the cumulative strength of their brand. By understanding what your brand should be (rather if its quantitative precision, qualitative understanding of the "big picture," or emotional guidance and leadership), understanding what your overall brand portrays to most will allow you to build on it to further your career. If one day you are the numbers and cold hard facts guy, while the next day, you are the emotional feelings guy, it may be hard for individuals to figure out which one they can expect from you. While it is possible to be a mixture of both, it is impossible to be equally strong at two dichotomous end points. While you can be a numbers guy who has a good emotional intelligence or a EQ guy who has a solid foundation on quantitative analysis, it is very hard to tout both as your "brand." By having a consistency of what majority strength you bring to the table, you allow it to build upon itself as you will get better and better at dealing with situations in the manner that you have proven the most effective and successful over time.
BRAND MANAGEMENT HELPS PROMOTE YOUR NOTORIETY WITH OTHERS
When people know what your brand represents through the consistent reinforcement of your strong points, they know what they should come to you for. This will, in turn, allow you to build upon your reputation as an expert in your chosen area of focus. As with anything in life, the only way to get really good at something is to do it over and over. When individuals have a clear sense of what your areas of strengths are, they will begin to reach out to you for help or opinion on these areas. Once you have been identified as an expert in some particular area, this will begin to build upon itself as more and more individuals will desire to seek out your expertise due the exponential growth of "information proliferation". This is very similar to Metcalfe's law of network growth. Just as Metcalf described the importance of a network growing in multiple proportion to the number of new additions to it, your brand expertise will do so as well. The increase in the number of people who believe that you are an expert in something increases the chances of others, whom may have never even heard of you, accepting this as fact and, thus, exponentially increasing your notoriety.
BRAND MANAGEMENT HELPS SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
If you don't have a clear sense of what your brand is and where you desire to take it, there is no guarantee what your future could hold. With a weak brand that doesn't consistently reinforce a central thought or area of expertise, you could be seen as someone who is a jack of all trades and, therefore, will not gain the popularity and notoriety needed for promotional recognition. Also, by managing your brand, you are able to increase the chances that your career is aimed in the direction that you desire. If you allow your brand to manage itself, there is no guarantee that you will land the job or position that truly fits your skills and desires. Luck and chance are only for those who live in fairy tales. For those who desire to control their future, brand management is how you create your luck and serendipity.
Brand management is a powerful tool needed by all who desire to truly shape their future instead of allowing it to shape itself. Just as Michael Jordan, Oprah, and Simon Cowell have managed their brands for the growth of their careers and continued prosperity, you have a responsibility to manage yours if you truly desire to live a life of long term success. Just as with anything in life, if you don't manage it, someone else will, and there is no guarantee how that could turn out for you in the end.
Next week, I will continue with part 2 of this section of the Triangle of Success by discussing how to identify what your brand should be and then tips on how to keep it consistent and growing.
Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
What many of us need to recognize today, however, is that it is not only celebrities who need brand management, but each of us individually as well. While most of us may not have the ability to afford a large marketing firm, we do have the ability to make sure that we do everything in our power to keep our personal brand consistent and in line with our future goals. For this week's continuation of the four sections of the Triangle of Success, I will share with you why brand management is important for your career. Next week, as a part of two of this entry, I will give you some tips and strategies of how to develop and manage your brand for consistency and progression over time. So, let's start with the reason WHY brand management is important:
BRAND MANAGEMENT HELPS FOCUS YOUR CONTRIBUTION AT WORK
Consistency is a very important word here, as this is what has allowed these individuals to continue to grow and prosper based on the popularity of the cumulative strength of their brand. By understanding what your brand should be (rather if its quantitative precision, qualitative understanding of the "big picture," or emotional guidance and leadership), understanding what your overall brand portrays to most will allow you to build on it to further your career. If one day you are the numbers and cold hard facts guy, while the next day, you are the emotional feelings guy, it may be hard for individuals to figure out which one they can expect from you. While it is possible to be a mixture of both, it is impossible to be equally strong at two dichotomous end points. While you can be a numbers guy who has a good emotional intelligence or a EQ guy who has a solid foundation on quantitative analysis, it is very hard to tout both as your "brand." By having a consistency of what majority strength you bring to the table, you allow it to build upon itself as you will get better and better at dealing with situations in the manner that you have proven the most effective and successful over time.
BRAND MANAGEMENT HELPS PROMOTE YOUR NOTORIETY WITH OTHERS
When people know what your brand represents through the consistent reinforcement of your strong points, they know what they should come to you for. This will, in turn, allow you to build upon your reputation as an expert in your chosen area of focus. As with anything in life, the only way to get really good at something is to do it over and over. When individuals have a clear sense of what your areas of strengths are, they will begin to reach out to you for help or opinion on these areas. Once you have been identified as an expert in some particular area, this will begin to build upon itself as more and more individuals will desire to seek out your expertise due the exponential growth of "information proliferation". This is very similar to Metcalfe's law of network growth. Just as Metcalf described the importance of a network growing in multiple proportion to the number of new additions to it, your brand expertise will do so as well. The increase in the number of people who believe that you are an expert in something increases the chances of others, whom may have never even heard of you, accepting this as fact and, thus, exponentially increasing your notoriety.
BRAND MANAGEMENT HELPS SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
If you don't have a clear sense of what your brand is and where you desire to take it, there is no guarantee what your future could hold. With a weak brand that doesn't consistently reinforce a central thought or area of expertise, you could be seen as someone who is a jack of all trades and, therefore, will not gain the popularity and notoriety needed for promotional recognition. Also, by managing your brand, you are able to increase the chances that your career is aimed in the direction that you desire. If you allow your brand to manage itself, there is no guarantee that you will land the job or position that truly fits your skills and desires. Luck and chance are only for those who live in fairy tales. For those who desire to control their future, brand management is how you create your luck and serendipity.
Brand management is a powerful tool needed by all who desire to truly shape their future instead of allowing it to shape itself. Just as Michael Jordan, Oprah, and Simon Cowell have managed their brands for the growth of their careers and continued prosperity, you have a responsibility to manage yours if you truly desire to live a life of long term success. Just as with anything in life, if you don't manage it, someone else will, and there is no guarantee how that could turn out for you in the end.
Next week, I will continue with part 2 of this section of the Triangle of Success by discussing how to identify what your brand should be and then tips on how to keep it consistent and growing.
Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
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