Performance review are for self-promotion
It’s time of the year again – managers are scheduling performance reviews, which will form the basis for determining salary increases.
In the modern workplace this should no longer be a one-way discussion with employer telling the employee what he or she does right or wrong and how this will affect his/ her raise.
Employee should view it as an opportunity to persuade the employer that he/she is s valuable asset to the company and argue for a good increase.
Feeling a bit bashful? This is no time for shyness. The performance review is one of the few places where it is acceptable to promote yourself. The salary negotiations meeting can be divided into roughly three phases; Preparation, The discussion and The close.
Prepare for launch
Before you go into the meeting make sure you know the facts and know what you want. If you are asking for a substantial raise, be aware of what your peers in the industry are earning. Take a look at your strong and weak points, and focus on what you contribute to the company. This will form the basis of your argument.
After you have done your research be sure to rehearse your argument. “Before you negotiate, know exactly what you and ready to articulate your position; a negotiating meeting is no place to figure out the terms that are acceptable to you,” sais Eric Adams in The art of Business; Learn to Love Negotiating.
Next, it is advised that you choose the right person to talk to. Be sure to address someone who possesses decision-making power.
Choose the right time , especially if you intend to ask for a raise outside of a performance review. Every company has its financial ups and downs. Asking for a huge increase when money is tight is not advisable.
Talk the talk - Money talk
Now we get down to the nitty gritty of persuasive skills. When you are negotiating , remember the following ;
· Firstly, assess the person at the other side of the table and adapt your communication style accordingly.
· Be sure to communicate steadily, with a calm tone of voice and a relaxed demeanor.
· Be enthusiastic and use evocative language - -studies have shown that people respond positively to enthusiasm. Start the discussion with a positive statement that emphasizes your commitment to the company’s goals as well as your excitement about the company’s future.
· This is not the time to be humble. If you don’t believe in yourself and in your argument there is no reason for your employer to do so. Practice being assertive; state your accomplishments, focus on your successes as an employee.
· Be specific, argued Marshall Loeb of Markert Watch. “Back up your list with numbers and facts. Before-and –after comparisons are useful- bosses tend to have selective memories.”
· Be to the point, “Be clear and concise about your accomplishments because we’re living in a sound-bite society,” Argued career coach Lori Davila.
· Make sure to be very straightforward about what you want.
· State the salary that you would like to earn and do so without apology. Also be sure to “open high’, as Adams puts it. Go into the negotiations with an exact, albeit realistic, idea of the minimum and maximum increase your are looking for but never mention the minimum. Ask for the maximum and then negotiate from there.
· Be truthful. This is also not the time to embellish. Sooner or later you will be found out.
Salary negotiations should be viewed as a discussion not a contest. Be prepared for resistance to your argument but don’t take it as a personal rejection.
Always remember that you will be working with this person after the negotiation have finished. Don’t become aggressive, rather try to focus on common ground and understand your superior’s position by asking questions. Strive to create a win – win situation.
The close
When it looks like you and your employer have reached an agreement, move in for the close. Be persistent about what you want but also try to be flexible. One of the most important aspects of negotiations is knowing when to walk away. When negotiations come to a close, stop selling immediately.
If you persist in assuring your employer after negotiations have concluded it will make you look unsure of yourself and cause the superior to doubt your competence.
Finally, if you have reached an understanding, be sure to commit the verbal agreement to writing to make it official.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
WORK YOUR WAY AROUND (OFFICE) POLITICS
The key is not to ignore it but to be aware of it – and the office troublemakers.
How do you navigate office politics without becoming an outsider?
To put it quite simply; “Nobody exists in an atmosphere where everybody agree.” This according to Professor Allan Cohen, author of Influence Without Power.
The fact of the matter is that if you work in an office with more than three co-workers, chances are that you’ve had a brush with office politics. According to the career guidance company, Professor Resume, office politics are inevitable because people will “attempt to use power to gain favour and influence with management and superiors”.
The trouble is that the disagreements and dissent that come from workplace politics can affect the whole company and decrease productivity and morale.
It is dangerous to completely ignore office politics because there might come a day when you are the victim of an unfair promotion or undermining rumour. The key, therefore, is actually not to ignore it but to be aware of it - and troublemakers – without distancing yourself and become the office outsider.
Handling gossips
Granted, this is easier said than done, especially if you are newly appointed and have yet to make friends.
It is often the case that because the gossip is always looking for an audience, they are also the first to extend the hand of friendship.
The trouble is that gossip have a away of poisoning working relations between co-workers. And even if you are only seen listening to the gossip-monger, , your silence might be construed as approval.
Instead, the key is to make it clear that you are not interested in discussing your colleagues, their performance or personal lives.
If your co-worker starts to discuss any of these topics or complain about a superior, ask them if they have taken the matter up with person involved and inform them that you have no wish to talk about this colleague behind his or her back.
Beware of cliques
Employees gravitate towards colleagues who share their interests and , most importantly their opinions.
Be wary of being pulled into a cliques – before you know it, you might be part of group gossips, malcontents or troublemakers.
Instead, treat everyone you meet with respect and try to align yourself with the moderate groups.
Remain neutral
If a workplace disagreement or argument develops and you are in some way involved, do your best to gather both sides of the story and not to make premature judgments.
Set boundaries
Keep your personal life that – personal. As harsh as this may seem, confiding in colleagues (unless they are close and trusted friends) about your personal problems may come back to haunt you as the information may be used against you.
Keep communication honest
If you have a problem with a co-worker, discuss it with them as soon as possible.
Treat everyone you encounter with the same degree of respect no matter what their reputation in the workplace might be. Remember that many can be as wrong as one , so do not ostracize a certain co-worker just because many of your colleagues do.
No matter what a person may or may not have done, everybody deserves to be treated with respect.
Focus on the job at hand
Safeguard your reputation by striving for excellence in your work. It is also true that your colleagues will mind less the fact that you are not that interested in office politics if they see that you are intent on shouldering your weight.
On the other hand , try to be a team player. Don’t act superior to your co-workers.
Be open for new ideas and be ready to bring your part and share the credit with the people you work with . Few actions invites as much back-bitting and hostility as the employee who ruthlessly climbs his ambitious way to the top ignoring the co-workers who work by his or her side.
How do you navigate office politics without becoming an outsider?
To put it quite simply; “Nobody exists in an atmosphere where everybody agree.” This according to Professor Allan Cohen, author of Influence Without Power.
The fact of the matter is that if you work in an office with more than three co-workers, chances are that you’ve had a brush with office politics. According to the career guidance company, Professor Resume, office politics are inevitable because people will “attempt to use power to gain favour and influence with management and superiors”.
The trouble is that the disagreements and dissent that come from workplace politics can affect the whole company and decrease productivity and morale.
It is dangerous to completely ignore office politics because there might come a day when you are the victim of an unfair promotion or undermining rumour. The key, therefore, is actually not to ignore it but to be aware of it - and troublemakers – without distancing yourself and become the office outsider.
Handling gossips
Granted, this is easier said than done, especially if you are newly appointed and have yet to make friends.
It is often the case that because the gossip is always looking for an audience, they are also the first to extend the hand of friendship.
The trouble is that gossip have a away of poisoning working relations between co-workers. And even if you are only seen listening to the gossip-monger, , your silence might be construed as approval.
Instead, the key is to make it clear that you are not interested in discussing your colleagues, their performance or personal lives.
If your co-worker starts to discuss any of these topics or complain about a superior, ask them if they have taken the matter up with person involved and inform them that you have no wish to talk about this colleague behind his or her back.
Beware of cliques
Employees gravitate towards colleagues who share their interests and , most importantly their opinions.
Be wary of being pulled into a cliques – before you know it, you might be part of group gossips, malcontents or troublemakers.
Instead, treat everyone you meet with respect and try to align yourself with the moderate groups.
Remain neutral
If a workplace disagreement or argument develops and you are in some way involved, do your best to gather both sides of the story and not to make premature judgments.
Set boundaries
Keep your personal life that – personal. As harsh as this may seem, confiding in colleagues (unless they are close and trusted friends) about your personal problems may come back to haunt you as the information may be used against you.
Keep communication honest
If you have a problem with a co-worker, discuss it with them as soon as possible.
Treat everyone you encounter with the same degree of respect no matter what their reputation in the workplace might be. Remember that many can be as wrong as one , so do not ostracize a certain co-worker just because many of your colleagues do.
No matter what a person may or may not have done, everybody deserves to be treated with respect.
Focus on the job at hand
Safeguard your reputation by striving for excellence in your work. It is also true that your colleagues will mind less the fact that you are not that interested in office politics if they see that you are intent on shouldering your weight.
On the other hand , try to be a team player. Don’t act superior to your co-workers.
Be open for new ideas and be ready to bring your part and share the credit with the people you work with . Few actions invites as much back-bitting and hostility as the employee who ruthlessly climbs his ambitious way to the top ignoring the co-workers who work by his or her side.
Monday, June 2, 2008
ARE YOU BEING MICROMANAGED?
Ask your boss why he or she hovers over you
Have ever come across a helicopter boss? The type of manager who hovers around you to make sure you’re doing the job right.
You know the type ; the sort of boss who is always looking over your shoulder. These micromanagers hand out work, only to take over the reins after a short while , convinced that things won’t get done unless they get involved personally.
The hover boss can be identified by the need to be constantly informed of every little detail regarding every project. They also tend to have unrealistic expectations, which makes it hard to satisfy them, which, in turn, just reinforces their belief that the “ hands on” approach is the only way to get things done.
Sound familiar?
Before you get all riled up, let’s take a look at some of the possible reasons for such behavior. It could be that your manager is still new at the job and has not yet mastered the finer points of delegation.
Often , micromanagers simply have a controlling type of personality or are perfectionalist. These kinds of people often have very high expectations of themselves. They project these expectations onto those around them. Another reason might be that the managers in question are under substantial pressure from their superiors, which results in them trying to control everything in order not to disappoint their expectations.
And then, of course, you get the managers who need to control everything because of their feelings of insecurity. Though it helps to understand what your manager’s motivations are, should you be in this unfortunate position, the truth is that the only solution to the problem lies in your own actions;
To start with, it might be wise to take a good , hard look at yourself. Could it be that your performance merits constant inspection? Are you performing at the expected level? Do you meet your deadlines in a timely manner?
Confronting your boss about being a “ control freak” will get you nowhere if it can in fact be shown that the problem lies with your attitude or the quality of work.
If you’re convinced that your work does not merit questioning, it is suggested you simply talk to your boss. Take the time to ask why he or she monitor your work so closely. Are there areas where you need to improve?
It might help to explain that you are feeling unhappy because you’re getting the chance to grow and acquire new skills.
Emphasize the fact that you are confident in your abilities and that you would like the opportunity to finish certain tasks on your own.
Now is the time to improve yourself. Aristotle said excellence is not an act but a habit. Strive for excellence in all your endeavors. Go the extra mile and make sure your superior is made aware of your achievements.
They key to handling managers who need to be informed of everything is to provide. If they wants updates then you give them updates.
Check your attitude . It won’t help your case if you get defensive around your boss. Remember that they are still your superior, even if you don’t agree with their management style.
Choose your path. In the end , everything boils down to the choices you make.
If you’ve tried everything to convince your boss to give you some leeway with no light at the end of the tunnel, then it might be time to request a transfer of start looking for a new job elsewhere.
Have ever come across a helicopter boss? The type of manager who hovers around you to make sure you’re doing the job right.
You know the type ; the sort of boss who is always looking over your shoulder. These micromanagers hand out work, only to take over the reins after a short while , convinced that things won’t get done unless they get involved personally.
The hover boss can be identified by the need to be constantly informed of every little detail regarding every project. They also tend to have unrealistic expectations, which makes it hard to satisfy them, which, in turn, just reinforces their belief that the “ hands on” approach is the only way to get things done.
Sound familiar?
Before you get all riled up, let’s take a look at some of the possible reasons for such behavior. It could be that your manager is still new at the job and has not yet mastered the finer points of delegation.
Often , micromanagers simply have a controlling type of personality or are perfectionalist. These kinds of people often have very high expectations of themselves. They project these expectations onto those around them. Another reason might be that the managers in question are under substantial pressure from their superiors, which results in them trying to control everything in order not to disappoint their expectations.
And then, of course, you get the managers who need to control everything because of their feelings of insecurity. Though it helps to understand what your manager’s motivations are, should you be in this unfortunate position, the truth is that the only solution to the problem lies in your own actions;
To start with, it might be wise to take a good , hard look at yourself. Could it be that your performance merits constant inspection? Are you performing at the expected level? Do you meet your deadlines in a timely manner?
Confronting your boss about being a “ control freak” will get you nowhere if it can in fact be shown that the problem lies with your attitude or the quality of work.
If you’re convinced that your work does not merit questioning, it is suggested you simply talk to your boss. Take the time to ask why he or she monitor your work so closely. Are there areas where you need to improve?
It might help to explain that you are feeling unhappy because you’re getting the chance to grow and acquire new skills.
Emphasize the fact that you are confident in your abilities and that you would like the opportunity to finish certain tasks on your own.
Now is the time to improve yourself. Aristotle said excellence is not an act but a habit. Strive for excellence in all your endeavors. Go the extra mile and make sure your superior is made aware of your achievements.
They key to handling managers who need to be informed of everything is to provide. If they wants updates then you give them updates.
Check your attitude . It won’t help your case if you get defensive around your boss. Remember that they are still your superior, even if you don’t agree with their management style.
Choose your path. In the end , everything boils down to the choices you make.
If you’ve tried everything to convince your boss to give you some leeway with no light at the end of the tunnel, then it might be time to request a transfer of start looking for a new job elsewhere.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)