Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Want to Do Something Important Stop Procrastinating

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Want to Do Something Important Stop Procrastinating At the New York Times, I had the privilege of working with Phyllis Korkki, an assignment editor for the business section. In addition to her new role as executive editor of Hooked, an app that tells fictional stories in the form of text messages, Phyllis has written the new book The Big Thing, which is about how to pursue meaningful, creative projects amidst a hectic schedule and a pull to put them off. I recently interviewed Phyllis about how she found time for her own Big Thing while keeping up with a busy, stressful job. Phyllis, how did you plan your own Big Thing while working an editorial job at the New York Times? When I was at the Times, I did work hard but I rarely worked more than 40 hours a week. And heres the truth: When I wasnt working I wasnt that busy! If only I hadnt been so lazy in my off time I could have written plenty of books. I finally realized that the only way to finish my first book would be to create conditions that were similar to those in a newsroom. I found people to hold me accountable for various stages in the project and to give me deadlines at crucial stages. I even paid someone to call me every morning for a week and hector me to wor What are some of the biggest challenges people face in their pursuit of a creative dream? Creative people must break their Big Things into manageable increments. If they dont, their projects will remain big and vague and impossible to start. In fact, some people deliberately (if unconsciously) never start their projects so that their creations can remain grandiosely perfect in their heads. Rather than leading a person toward a more fulfilling and meaningful life, the Big Thing feeds into an unhealthy narcissism. People need to be honest with themselves about why they are pursuing a project. If its main purpose is to boost their ego, then giving up on it may be the best option. A big creative project should be compelling for its own sake. Accept that it will be imperfect and involve psychic struggles. Know that satisfaction and joy will (eventually) emerge from those struggles. Perfectionism is one of the biggest obstacles to completion. You describe yourself as a procrastinator. How have you overcome this to achieve such remarkable career goals? Many journalists will tell you that they went into the field because they are procrastinators who must have deadlines. The great thing about working in a newsroom is that people are constantly breathing down your neck to hand in your story. I would never have gotten as far as I have without urgent deadlines emanating from my colleagues. If a reader has their own idea for Big Thing, what are the first 2-3 things they should do to get startedtomorrow? 1. Commit the idea to paper, and be as specific as possible about what it is. And I meanliterallywrite it down on a piece of paper, with a pen. Tear that piece of paper out of your notebook and tape it to your refrigerator. Write at the bottom of the paper in big capital letters: DO IT! 2. Look at that piece of paper and say to yourself, what is one tiny thing I could dotodayto achieve this goal. It could be writing just one sentence (cmon -- you can do it, and Im giving you permission for it to be a really bad sentence). It could involve sending an email to one person, or buying one paintbrush, or clearing off all the papers your desk, or ... whatever it is, youcando that one thing. 3. Announce to your spouse or your bestie that you plan to do this thing. Say something like: I plan to write a paragraph of my novel bytomorrow. Will you check in with me to make sure I did it? (Offer to do the same for them too, of course!). And that is how a Big Thing begins. It wont ever get done unless you start small. I know you want to hear more! Check out The Big Thing on Amazon.

Give Kick-Butt Public TalksEven If Youre Terrified - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Give Kick-Butt Public Talksâ€"Even If You’re Terrified - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Simple tips for getting past fear, connecting with your audience, and having fun while you’re doing it. Whether you are a salesperson, aspiring public speaker, or college student, chances are you will have to speak in front of a group. Are you afraid of speaking in front of people? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, according to the National Institute of Health, a staggering 74% of adults suffer from glassophobia, or fear of public speaking. The question is are you willing to pass up career-building opportunities due to fear? As a professional speaker, I speak in front of groups ranging from five people to a couple thousand. I’m a little bit of an odd ball being that I don’t suffer anxiety prior to large talks, and I attribute that fact to the tips shared below. More times that I can count, audience members ranging from private school teens to corporate CEOs have confided in me that they are terrified of speaking in public and have requested that I share a few tips. It’s important to note that most of my professional speaker friends, many actors and other entertainers report that they have at least some mild anxiety just prior to delivering a talk. So, if you are uncomfortable, you’re in very good company. The following tips will help you become more comfortable delivering public talks. Know your material This tip is easily the most important. You will be much more comfortable speaking on topics or presenting information that falls under your area of expertise. If you are presenting new information, allow yourself as much time as possible to familiarize yourself with the information. Last-minute cram sessions are not your friend when delivering talks. While being knowledgeable on your topic is key, you don’t have to know everything. Remember that you can offer to get back to the group via email or another medium to answer detailed questions that require additional research. Dress the part Make sure that you wear something that compliments your body type, but allows movement. If you are a woman who enjoys wearing makeup, apply your own or, if it is a really special occasion, consider hiring a makeup artist. If you feel attractive, you will not spend important energy worrying about how you are physically being perceived. I also suggest wearing comfortable shoes. Empathize with your audience When preparing and delivering your information, put yourself in the shoes of your audience members. How can you make your message or information hit home for them? If possible, speak to a couple audience members prior to crafting your talk in order to gain their perspective. Consider asking questions  during your presentation or creating a mini activity to help them connect with the information you’re providing. Just knowing that you kept them in mind when preparing your presentation will raise your comfort level. However, if you’re still a little unsure, I suggest mingling with your audience members prior to your presentation. Find two to three people and ask them what they are hoping to get out of your presentation. Ask them about challenges they are having around your topic. This way, you can ensure that you’re answering their questions and addressing their points of view in your talk. Have a conversation When you are preparing, I highly suggest not memorizing a speech because 1) audiences are becoming less receptive to canned speeches and 2) if you mess up, you will have a difficult time recovering your ‘last spot’ in a natural way. Instead, consider creating a basic outline of your talk with bullet points to ensure you hit salient points. If using slides, insert bullet points in the slides, and then have a conversation with your audience when filling in the details. Practice delivering your talk with the outline until it becomes natural. Give it up This is the secret sauce. Once you’ve prepared and done all that you can do, spend a couple minutes meditating or simply sitting in silence. Then, when finished, commit to simply being of service when presenting and give up any thoughts of being perfect, enchanting, etc. Just focus on being helpful and know that everything else is now out of your hands. Do you have tips for overcoming fear to give great public talks If so, please share them below.

30 Women Share How They Prepare For The New Year - Classy Career Girl

30 Women Share How They Prepare For The New Year Recently on Linkedin, I asked, What tools and resources do you use to prepare your 2016 goals and actions? I was looking for ideas and resources that I could share with my community of women! Thanks for all your responses, ladies! 30 Women Share How They Prepare For The New Year Ava Marie Carmichael Hi Anna! I start simple with pen and paper and write down my years Goals To Achieve list. I usually keep this in a place where I can refer back to it, such as on my pinboard or desk. I also create and maintain a calendar for myself with reminders, objectives, goals, and deadlines. I use Google for my calendar, and it pops up and sends me email reminders when I have a newsletter to write, a product sample that is due to arrive or a tradeshow thats coming up. For example, I write a fashion blog as a hobby, so I create my editorial calendar for specific posts to coincide with the holidays, events, or seasons. In assisting my sister with her yoga retreats, Asana and Planning Pod seem to be great tools. Anne Kleinman I use Asana to plan internal tasks, Salesforce to work and plan prospecting, lead gen, and follow up tasks and the for goals and how I plan to reach those goals literally down to how many phone calls I need to make in a given day I use paper and pen. As Barbara Kessler said to me yesterday You cant think without ink Sharron Williams, BSN,RN,DCI,LNC I create a 1-Day Mini-Retreat. Then I create a 1-2 page Business Plan. I write out my goals then how I plan to achieve those goals. Because I am a very visual person, I like to use a lot of color. I highlight, and doodle on my business plan with colors that will draw my eyes to my goals and plans. Love it! Queen E. Joseph I use a pen and paper to write down goals and ideas. I also use Evernote. Svetlana Kurilova 1) goodreads.com for tracking my reading, 2) phone version (and physical version) of planner (recommend Chalene Johnson on goal setting in her book Push or in a audio program Car Smart), 3) myIDP is absolutely great for goals and actions and it is free (IDP=individual development plan), it also helps to find your strengths and weaknesses through assessments, 4) online classes on development/coaching, again a lot of them are free, 5) a lot of reading, I truly believe whatever challenge we have in life someone already faced long time ago and came up with solution, and talked/wrote about it =) Sue Koch I developed what I call a reflections exercise I use every year to take a look at what worked and what didnt work over the past year. Its a series of questions. I keep my answers from year to year so that I can identify patterns I may not have seen otherwise. I now share the Reflections Exercise with my clients who also find it valuable. From there, I pick a theme for the year and then write a vision statement that aligns with the theme. I know Ive nailed it when I get excited. Goals and actions fall out naturally from there. Tatia Gordon-Troy, Esq. I begin with a notepad and pen or the notes app on my iPhone. I jot down random thoughts before I forget. I use an Excel spreadsheet to track revenue and expenditures, and I review them to decide the best course moving forward. Laurie Maxson I am doing something different this year. I purchased a new planner has that most of what I want all in one. Its called the Inner Guide and so far I LOVE IT. Laurie Lane Goldberg, MA, MS Journals, emails to myself and others, letters, and chats with wise folks. Lisa Bartolotta I start with a major goal, then list sub-goals and end with an objective. Then I ask myself how am I going to accomplish this and how long will it take and how much money in sales is needed to achieve this? How many more customers will I need? Then I edit my strategy accordingly. Olivia Brooks-Scrivanich Hire a virtual assistant. Deborah Prestianni, B.A. M.A. Since finding it over a decade ago, the Covey time management system is my go-to for goal planning and daily time management. There are several excellent books by Covey (even one for teens!) and the basics in worksheet format can be found in this pdf: http://www.franklincovey.com/liveclicks/toolkit-download/time_fun.pdf I value the idea that each day you owe yourself a little time for Planning Solitude (PS) when you can see where you are and where you are headed! Karren Edwards The best way to be good, in time management, is to have a yearly schedule that is flexible. I plan projects and groups according to my yearly planning schedule then plug in activities that present themselves. That is how I am able to perform multiple tasks at the same time. Also, utilizing outside agencies and resources to cover tasks/events while attending or documenting activities. The key is starting early so work wont overwhelm you later. Adalia John The first step is to determine ones immediate, short-term, medium-term and long-term goals. Accomplishing your immediate goals opens the door to achieving your other goals. Its important to write down your goals and the steps to achieve this goal. Stay laser focused in spite of setbacks. Youll gain more momentum if you focus on three projects at a time:  3 marketing strategies,  3 big ideas,  3 networking events and  3 tasks each day to accomplish a specific goal.  Momentum brings faster results. Samantha A. Gregory I created a 30-day blueprint for my relationship coaching clients. It is a done-for-you printable calendar they can use to jump start their goal of attracting a quality man by preparing themselves for what they want. So I guess it goes a step further than a list and/or a vision board. A similar tool can be used for business, career, or other areas of your life. Im happy to send to anyone thats looking for inspiration. Sarah Groh Correa I make notes in a book as I read and allow ideas to form and sift down. I tend to retain only the best ideas for my biz for this very moment. Then I get a huge piece of white paper and colored pencils and chart it out!! Kristi Dosh The biggest thing I do every year that puts me in the right mindset to rock the new year is to actually look back at the year thats ending. We all get so caught up in what we didnt do or what we need to do better or different in the coming year that we forget to take stock of all we DID accomplish over the past year. I sit down and make a list of every little thing I accomplished. Its AMAZING how much it changes my mindset (in an incredibly positive way). That lets me go into the new year with a huge sense of confidence and positive momentum. Karen Southall Watts I create a master document (sometimes a spreadsheet, sometimes a more free form mind map) for the year. Still using a paper calendar for scheduling and colored pens. Also reading Claire Cooks new book right now Shine On that includes some super-simplified methods based on lists and journaling, but havent added all of those yet. Creating a Time Management course through Thinkific online. I train on this topic all the time, and as usual every time I teach I learn something new. Dr. Joyce Knudsen, (Ph.D.) Constant Contact is my new friend for announcements, newsletters, blogs. Its a godsend. Roxanne Kichar, Senior Consultant I work with my Buddy Coach to set goals and work on our personal barriers. We coach each other weekly. It has been a huge success for both personal areas and work. We are exploring the Lululemon vision 10-year planning model that all employees do.its impressive. Theresa Pye I have been reading Brain Tracys Goals! book. I am looking for ways to organize goalsetting. Are there any free apps? Kate Beeders This is the most unusual planner I have ever used. In the past, it was always a traditional style with mapping things out. This time, I’m using lots of colored markers and stickers, and the little kid in me is having a blast! Its cool is that Ive already started implementing certain thingscleaning off my desk at the end of the day and others. Excited to watch my journey this year. Katisha Kersey Ivery been using The Passion Planner for a few years now. Goal keeper, journal, calendar, planner all in one. I also review the previous years finance spreadsheet as a starting point for the next year. I allocate more for spending, new trips etc and adjust accordingly. But all of this starts with sincere reflection FIRST. Kimberly Vertrees  I review my goals for the past year and then come with new ones which I review with my supervisor and we work together to achieve them! Donna Fillweber David Byrd achievement planner! We all use it and are personally mentored by him as leaders! Gotta love the personal growth encouraged here! Danette Layne Love this question. Years ago I got tired of the move it over to next years vision poster experience the crappy I didnt make that happen kind of feeling. I began to research and use different tools from Get Things Done by D. Allen, Astrology, Project Mgt. Desire Map Planner by Danielle Laporte. I created detailed lists, used visualization (the FASTEST way to get anything you want), and chased many external goals. Learned: chasing things w/o realizing their sacred connection to self loving yourself, doing what you are crazy about, is futile. Im creating resources to connect divine, sacred stuff with practical, get-it-done results. Ive learned you need both. Marianne DeLaTorre Im pushing my program that helps with mental illness with music. I see this professional women org. as a wonderful networking place that I didnt have before. I know I will be able to learn, make new good contacts. So I plan on using this org a great deal. I also use contemplation and prayer to help me make the right decision. That is key. Carrie Phalen-Riccardi I remember reading,If you look at a picture of something that you want or a goal a take a few minutes each day and meditate on it and within five years it will be yours! Kelsey Stone Ive been using a planner since the ones my high school gave students in an attempt to help them start planning. Last year was the first year I used a goal based and mental/spiritual wellness emphasis. In the past Ive thought business and emotional or spiritual (whatever that means to you) belonged elsewhere. This has been so helpful, every day I get my work done and I started getting more things checked off the eternal to-do list at home. I got it in July, so Im hoping this year will be even better for my success and less on the stress. What tools and resources do you use to prepare your 2016 goals and actions?

5 Ways to Keep a Healthy Lifestyle Despite a Busy Schedule - Classy Career Girl

5 Ways to Keep a Healthy Lifestyle Despite a Busy Schedule Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle? Most people don’t ask themselves this question until they’ve actually had to face a health problem, and by that time, it’s too late. We’re so preoccupied with our work schedules that we often completely forget how there’s more to life than just making money, and that is taking care of yourself and the people you love. When you think about it, doing what’s best for you isn’t that difficult. It doesn’t require all of your time, either. It does, however, require consistency. If you’re struggling to keep a healthy lifestyle with your crazy schedule, maybe these 5 pieces of advice will give you a nudge in the right direction. 5 Ways to Keep a Healthy Lifestyle Despite a Busy Schedule 1. Have a Pause Button Let’s start with the big guns. One of the best possible ways to help yourself stay healthy both physically and psychologically is to know when to stop. This might seem like a paradox because some people have a hard time to get themselves to start doing something, but constantly being in a rush and stressed out is the worst thing you can do, especially if you do it all day, every day. Thats why it’s important to have a pause button. Just 5-10 minutes every couple of hours during which you allow yourself to stop and just breathe. We can be so hard on ourselves and the consequences of that lack of self-love can be anything from constant exhaustion to negative self-talk and self-image. It’s alright to have a busy schedule but make sure you’re productive in what you’re doing. If you dont give yourself a break every once in a while, you won’t be productive. 2. As Always, Keep a Healthy Diet There are countless excuses for not eating healthy, and you can bet that one of them is that you don’t have the time to cook on your own. You might not be able to cook every meal, but you can do your best to opt for healthy food even when you have to go out and buy some. Meal prepping is a great skill to adopt because it allows you to plan your meals for two or three days ahead and it saves you money. Also, need we mention the fact that you actually know what you’re eating, which can’t be said for any form of junk food? Use your weekends wisely. Spend some extra time in the kitchen and have your next three lunches ready so you can bring them to work with you. When it comes to snacking (to which we’re all prone when we’re working long hours and we don’t have the time to have a decent meal), the best way to avoid greasy unhealthy snacks is to have healthy ones at hand. If you want to manage well, then you need energy and focus. You will get plenty of that by snacking on fruit and veggies, nuts, and smoothies! 3. Have a Morning Routine and Don’t Rush It If your morning starts off well, chances are that you will remain calm, collected and responsive throughout the day. The problem is that most of us scramble through our house after we get up in a rush to get ready and get to work on time. This is a bad practice, seeing that it doesn’t give us enough time to wake up entirely and begin our day with ease and respect for our time we so desperately need. Having a morning routine is an excellent way to channel your energy into something productive, like going for a run, walking your dog, or just drinking a cup of coffee in peace. It’s unbelievable how much of a game changer a morning routine is. When you have a morning routine, rather than stressing out from the moment you open your eyes, you instead stop, organize your thoughts and your day, and then head out the door ready to take on whatever’s coming. [RELATED: 5 Simple Health Tips to Live a Balanced Life] 4. You Need Good Shuteye Nothing, absolutely nothing can replace a good night’s sleep. Anyone who’s ever pulled an all-nighter knows very well that it’s rarely ever worth it and it’s always better to go to bed early and wake up early than not to sleep at all. You should have an approximately same time when you go to bed every night and you should wake at the same time every morning, as your body responds well to having patterns in which it works. If you’ve got trouble sleeping, find ways that will make it easier for you to get shut eye â€" for some, it’s a sound machine app; for others, it’s some sort of snoring aid. And for some, it’s just drinking some valerian tea before bed. The point here is to find what feels good for you because everyone’s circadian rhythm is a bit different. You should do your best to sleep well every night in order to avoid substantial health problems that can ensue after years of sleep deprivation. 5. Find Time for Physical Activities Yes, this does mean exercise, but not necessarily the type you do in the gym. If you have a hard time to make yourself even step foot into the gym, find options that will make physical activities appealing to you. Having a hobby like cycling, hiking, swimming or running is a wonderful way to de-stress, get piled up toxic energy out of your system, and stay fit. If you’re striving to be your best self, then you will need to carve some time out of your busy schedule to get to it. Make your workouts or training a priority, put them in your schedule and simply go around it whenever something else comes up unless it’s urgent. You owe it to yourself to keep your body in good shape. With that, your health as well your metabolism will work better, you will be less prone to injuries, and you will simply feel content in your own skin. Keeping a healthy lifestyle isn’t a luxury, but a necessity. You won’t get far without your health, so you might as well prioritize it above everything else. Another job will come along, but it will take a mighty long time to get your health back after you’ve squandered it. Be wise and enjoy life to its full potential by keeping your well-being as priority number one.

How Hiring Managers Use Information Technology Professional Resume Writing Services

How Hiring Managers Use Information Technology Professional Resume Writing ServicesOne of the most effective ways to ensure that your resume is filed away in its own file and forgotten about until an employer uses it is to choose an information technology professional resume writing service. These professionals have a number of resources at their disposal to help you write your information technology professional resume the way that you would like it to be written. These professionals have also compiled a list of commonly used resume formats and also have an extensive amount of knowledge on how to write a resume for the job you are seeking. These information technology professional resume writing services also provide assistance when it comes to doing the necessary editing on your resume.Resume writing services are well known to use a variety of different types of formatting tools so that they can ensure that your resume is formatted properly. When you hire a resume writing service, they will not only create a resume for you, but they will also design a unique cover letter that they feel will best suit your needs. If you do not feel comfortable with the cover letter that you have seen, you can ask your resume writing service to draft your cover letter specifically for you.Resume writing services are also aware of the fact that you are a professional in the industry that you wish to place your resume on. This is important because your resume will be reviewed by the hiring manager and a well-formatted resume is what they want to see. Hiring managers want to see your accomplishments as a person who has the potential to handle the position that you are applying for. So if your resume is formatted improperly, they will see that you have little to no knowledge on the job that you are applying for.Another thing that these services have at their disposal is a database that contains information that is pertinent to your resume. This information includes job titles, year s of experience, education, certifications, specific areas of expertise, and even hobbies that you may have. Since these services have access to this database, they are able to place your resume in a format that itwill be most appealing to the potential employer.The best information technology professional resume writing services can even create custom resumes for you based on the information that you provide them. They are able to create a resume that reflects your personal qualities and is tailor made to meet the needs of the employer. Once you have placed your resume in this form, your resume will not only be edited but it will also be subjected to a thorough search of the company's database. All of the information that is relevant to your application will be added into the resume and submitted to the company.In order to submit your resume, you will need to provide the company with basic information about yourself such as the names of your children, the address where you will be placing your resume, and more. Then you will need to fill out a form that tells the company what your expectations are. What expectations are you willing to meet and what are you willing to settle for?Also, it is a good idea to ask your service provider to edit the resume for you. With the services that the company provides, they have a lot of expertise and will be able to make any information that you provided to them perfect. These services know what employers are looking for so they are not going to give you inaccurate information.Overall, if you want to get the top job you apply for, then you will need to use the services of an information technology professional resume writing service. These professionals have developed specialized resume writing programs that will make your resume look just as good as if you had designed it yourself. The resume that you are submitting will be reviewed by hiring managers, thus making your resume the best one that it can be.

How Can I Overcome the Fear to Change Jobs

How Can I Overcome the Fear to Change Jobs Many of my Austin clients are apprehensive about a career change or job change. They ask, do I have the skills? Will an employer consider me? Is this the right move for myself/my family? There is one particular fear I hear most often: what if this career change puts me in a worse place than I currently am in? This is the fear of the unknown. People will fear putting time and effort into this change only to end up in a less-satisfying place. Can I promise my clients if they make a change that their lives will be better? Absolutely not. No one can make that promise. If you are considering a change and do fear the unknown, consider the following questions and advice: What impact does your current job/career having on your life right now? What is the true cause of the fear? Dig deep. If you say the fear is that you are unsure if the change will work out, then ask yourself, what are the ramifications that scare you? If you make a change and it doesn’t work out, what will you have learned or gained? If you make a change and it doesn’t work out, what will you have lost? If you make a change that doesn’t work out, how likely will you want to come back to your current job? Would it be an option? What steps can you take to make this career/job change less risky? (i.e. educate yourself on the profession or company, conduct more interviews at your potential new employer, etc.) If you don’t make a change, what does your life look like? If you make the change and it does work out, what does that life look like? Fear of the unknown can keep you from taking steps toward a new job or career. Don’t avoid the change because of the fear. Instead, seek career change advice and realize that nothing in life is certain. However, you can control your preparation for a job/career change to reduce the risk and ease your fears.

6 Steps to Avoid Getting Laid Off

6 Steps to Avoid Getting Laid Off Lost Supporters The other day I attended a webinar hosted by Zenger Folkman on the subject “How Not to Get Fired”. They looked at how individuals can prevent being put on the “layoff list” once company leadership has determined that layoffs are necessary to down-size or right-size. They focused their research on company leaders who are laid off, but I believe many of these factors are applicable to individuals at other levels in the organization. In case you are thinking, I just got a great review. I dont have to worry. please note: good performance ratings or feedback may not save you when it comes to hard decisions regarding layoffs. It isnt always the ‘Needs Improvement’ individuals who get let go! The research identified 6 key factors in leaders who were laid off. Lost Supporters They lost support from one or more individuals who championed them. Who is going to stand up for you when your name is on the workforce reduction list? Who will say, we need to keep this person? Your manager? Your mentor? Action item: network with co-workers so they understand the contribution you make. You may be delivering great results but its a problem if you are the only one. Sometimes we assume that people know all the great things you do, but you need to be your own best advocate. Not Strategic, Only Operational Leaders whose jobs were eliminated typically were not viewed as strategic. They were either operations-oriented or just couldn’t lead the organization. They were too focused on day-to-day issues and couldn’t look out into the future. You might actually be a strategic thinker and have many strengths in this area but if you are not viewed as strategic by others, then that is the reality. Action item: understand how you are viewed and what your reputation is. Then determine how you can shift those perceptions and show that you are a strategic thinker in your specific role? Determine how you can pull yourself out of the day-to-day, look to the future and move in that direction. Questionable Ethics and Integrity If you demonstrate questionable ethics, those actions will often override your strengths, your expertise, or your strategic nature. This is especially true when hard choices need to be made about who to keep and who to let go. Action item: ask yourself a hard question: are you taking risks or making unethical decisions? Many individuals in leadership are risk takers but the valuable people balance those risks with integrity. Failed to Produce Results Failing to produce results includes missing deadlines, having difficulty taking ideas into action, or failing to achieve short and long term goals. Action item: review your goals for the year. Are you producing results towards those goals? Are you demonstrating regular progress? Regardless of how hard you are working, what is your impact? Are you spending your time on the right things? Are you delivering on your commitments? We can all fill our days by working hard, but it is more important to focus on what you are achieving. Lack Interpersonal Skills These individuals may be tough to communicate with or work with or they simply do not fit with the cultural. These issues may have been tolerated if you demonstrated other skills while the company was doing well, but could lead to a layoff during bad times. Action item: perform a self-assessment. Are you difficult to work with? Do you have anger issues or display anger at work? Are you temperamental? Seek help on your communication or anger issues. Actively work to try to change then gather feedback from others and see if they notice a difference. Resistant to Change Adapting to change is a natural part of working for a good company. When things arent good, people who resisted organizational or personal change are viewed as obstacles that should go. These individuals are barriers to change, resist feedback on their work or dont want to learn new skills. Remember that oftentimes we are promoted because we did a good job in our current role. Once you are promoted to do a different role, the same behaviors you exhibited to gain the promotion might not be the right behaviors to be successful in this new job. Action item: make a list of new skills you should learn. Put a plan in place to gain those skills. Don’t just push this learning off until you have time. Additionally, ask for and respond to feedback. Don’t wait for formal channels like 360 assessments to get feedback from your peers, direct reports, or managers. Theres no guarantee that you will survive a layoff or workforce reduction. However, you are not helpless either. There are actions you can take to reduce the chance that you end up on the layoff list. Whether you are seeing signs of trouble at your company or not, now is a great time to start! For further information contact one of our career counselors  today!