CareerMysteries

I admit, there are some people who are just naturally better at supervising people than others. Natural leader types are the best choice when it comes to promoting someone to oversee a group for a number of valid reasons.

They tend to be less shy and less likely to chicken out when the tough calls need to be made. They are the people others turn to anyway when they have problems or questions. They are often at the high end of productivity and work habits to begin with, so have less of a learning curve when they become the boss.

That is not to say that other non-leadership types should not be promoted or cannot be highly effective. The key to having a good supervisor is training and the more individualized the program, the better.

If you have thought about the possibility of supervising people but fear that you will fail or be ineffective, don’t shy away from the opportunity. You may surprise yourself. Just make sure you get the training you need to succeed.

And read my blog and my ehow articles at http://www.ehow.com/members/thehabe.html.

Some people seem to have no idea when to shut up. We have all worked with somebody like this. The hardest part is when you have to deal with this in an open office area where everybody has to listen to each other’s business all the time.

The first thing you need to do is be very respectful, polite and patient. Take her aside in a private office area or accompany her to lunch one day. Tell her that you need to discuss a matter with her and explain that you are very distracted by her constant talking, though try not to use words like “constant”.

Talk about the behavior, not the person. Tell her how you feel, not what she should do or say. For example, say, “I feel like I cannot concentrate because of the interruptions.” As opposed to saying something like, “You need to shut up.”

It is okay to be direct, but be courteous and calm. Don’t resort to profanity or yelling at any time. Even if she reacts in an unprofessional manner, don’t be goading into any kind of angry outburst. We will talk more on this next time.

So you come into work one day and find that your buddy in the next cubicle has ransacked your office looking for a mechanical pencil. You have told the guy to leave your stuff alone, but he doesn’t listen or care and now it is eating away at you.

Of course you should lock up your stuff if you can and make your supplies less accessible. You can also go to HR and talk to the rep or manager, suggesting they can approach the guy about this problem.

Another approach is office mediation. Basically, you sit down with Joe and the HR person and talk about the issue that is making you upset, whatever it happens to be. If you have already given him a chance to correct his behavior and nothing has changed, this is a good option that will make him think twice about messing with your stuff in the future.

A friend recently asked me an interesting question on careers. When is it too late to change your career choice?

After very little thought (as usual, my husband might interject) I stated that it is never too late to choose another vocation. As a matter of fact, my view is that each person is best suited to change their careers many times during their working lives.

Particularly if you are in an industry or job where you have limited higher level brain function required, you may actually hinder your intellectual development by growing stale in a job for too long.

When your challenges involving utilizing your thinking skills are no longer challenging you, it is time to move on, up, over or out. As a practical matter, plan ahead and get the training and education you need before making a move.

I think many will agree that the changes in Washington will signal an improvement in the economy, though it will not happen in rapid motion. With the new administration gearing up for the challenges we face in improving the job market, as an individual, there are things you can do to prepare yourself for better prospects.

Start with a very tight, to-the-point resume, that has a point. You need to start off your resume highlighting your professional objective. Now, keep in mind, this objective will change with each type of job you are applying for, so you need not come up with some sage, overshadowing, lofty line of bull.

Also, depending upon the diversity of the jobs you are contemplating, you need to have a list of about 6-8 objectives that are suitable to these jobs and may need a multitude of resumes. Let’s say you are an insurance analyst who would like to branch out and become a photographer in the future.

Certainly you need a “photographer” resume that highlights all the work you have done and publishing credits, etc. and downplays your insurance work. However, if you are unemployed and willing to take any kind of job, you need a “generic” resume that shows the basic facts. Thirdly, in the event you see an analyst job that appeals to you, you need an “insurance” industry resume too.

We will explore this in more depth in future blogs. Stay safe on the roads and happy holidays to you.

Merry Christmas to all

from Careermysteries.today.com -

Where career mysteries are solved by Ms. Therese.

Have a wonderful holiday week and take the time to help someone else, if you have the opportunity. Whether it means just being a nice guy on the roads and letting someone pull out in front of you or making something useful for the soup kitchen, every little thing you can do for others will make a difference.

This holiday, I have the pleasure of crocheting an afgan blanket for a disabled veteran. It’s just a little gesture of goodwill but makes me feel like I am doing something kind for someone in need.

Take care, be safe and enjoy every minute of this holiday weekend.

On this festive Christmas eve, I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful, happy, healthy holiday that you will remember for many years to come. With so many families struggling and dealing with economic woes and unemployment, those of us who are fortunate enough to be working and making ends meet somehow, need to take a moment to appreciate all that we do have and count each one of our blessings.

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting me in my blog and articles. I do appreciate your readership and patronage. Next year I will be doing a number of special blogs that will be geared to people who want to be promoted to management jobs, who are new to supervising others and need help and ongoing job advice.

I am always open to answer specific question and will address your issues in my blog if the answers could be helpful to other readers.

Merry Christmas.

I was just noticing that my Ehow articles at www.ehow.com/members/thehabe.html, have gone over the one third of a million readership ramp and are climbing toward half a million. Pretty cool stuff.

If you want to know about careers or other diverse topics from “How to Survive the Holidays Without Narcotics” to “How to Reduce Undereye Wrinkles” and many topics in between, please stop on over at ehow and look for Therese Haberman.

In order to make comments on the articles, you need to sign up as a member, but they won’t bother you with emails or anything unless you want the daily “How To” sent to your inbox. And the great part is that it is FREE.

So stop by for a spell and a reading and I wish you and your family a very happy, safe and healthy holiday and more of the same great stuff for next year, too!

Therese

I do more than just write this wonderful blog, in case you haven’t visited my ehow site at www.ehow.com/members/thehabe.html, I ask that you take a few moments to mosey on over there and read some of the titles listed below, or the one hundred other articles I have written on my website. Thanks for doing this and for spreading the word to your family and friends that may benefit from some career advice. I also will address specific questions and issues in my blog, for that extra personal touch.
Don’t be a stranger and remember that your career mysteries are solved by Ms. Therese.

12/01/08 How to Increase Earnings Potential
12/01/08 How to Cut Costs on Groceries
11/28/08 About the Employee Performance Appraisal Process
11/20/08 What Is a Performance Improvement Plan?
11/20/08 Sample Resume Format for Students
11/18/08 How Long to Keep Pay Stubs
11/13/08 Career Opportunities for Accounting Majors
10/30/08 How to Train Employees to Train Others
10/30/08 How to Use All Resources to Find a Job

Happy holidays to you and your family.