Maxwells Services: Blog

3 easy ways to do high standard assignments

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:37:53 GMT

Here's some ideas from our award winning students

Kristen likes to plan her work. She writes ideas down always about a week before she starts really gettig into her topic. She does rough notes, adds coloured jottings around these and chats to others to get a better 'feel' for how she's going to approach her topic.

Allan likes to set all topics out like a project. He's keen on a timeline approach and sets out what he's going to do in an time path with who's going to be involved and puts everything in a working diary form.

Steph says she's always a 'last minute' person, but looking at how she works she just appears to be chilling out before hand and then appears to do a last minute dash. But really her chill out period is letting her brain do the work behind the scenes. So her last minute dash is just putting the blocks together that have been prepared.

So, really one method doesn't fit all. Share what works for you.

Cold Calls or Warm Calls - make your choice

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:25:33 GMT

Do you like someone pushing you to buy something?

Not likely! Yet who's had the experience of someone coming in and try to push their product or service to you. Most of us would answer 'yes' to this. Many books are written and sold based on having the answer on how to 'cold sell' successfully though so why do we still experience this and want to give them 'the push'.

With over 20 years working with clients and businesses, it's clear that there are salespeople and "business stewards" who have your interests and needs as their objective.

What makes for a Business Steward?

This person will be found in roles where they:

Take the time to interact with you
Listen and seek the issues you face and what you want an answer for
Linten to your point of view and respect that
Look for ways they can assist you with their products and services
Look at ways their products and services might be customised to be a closer answer for you
Particularly look at how the value they offer will outweigh the cost for you
Can back up how the investment on your part will give you the value you seek
Celebrate you becoming more successful
Can be a respected member of 'your team'

A business steward realises they are not you, do not think their way is the only way, and will seek to understand you and how you think. Our business trainers are stewards of your success for the time we work with you. Our training programs fit within our Leadership motto of being "World Leaders Today" - learning and growing and sharing and transforming.

What are your experiences in promoting to others for the first time? Happy to answer questions or comments on your experiences. Jenny H 30/3/2010

Supervision - a dream or a nightmare

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:01:59 GMT

Well you wake up and you're now A SUPERVISOR!

Well, firstly Congratulations are in order. What a great feeling. Some extra income, and you now are leading a team......that used to be your work colleagues. MMM, it's not quite the same is it. You feel you know your job and believe you are supervising the staff well. Yet, sometimes the job seems to get on top of you. lately you've been waking up worrying about things that you need to do. You think "If only I could pick someone's brains". Maybe I'm not doing this or that" and the self-talk goes on and on.

The good thing is - here's the chance to be an outstanding success - with a little change or two or three. You've been caught in what is often the way things go. You've been exceptionally good at your last job as one of the team so you've been promoted to show everyone how it should be done.

So, how does this turn out to be a success?

There are some simple steps to success.

1. Establish the priorities and the goals.

Getting clear on the job purpose rather than the job tasks works best as the first step. Think of this from a management point of view. What are the benefits for the company expected from this position. Set KRA's (Key Result areas) for these goals and priorities, such as a set measure of improvement.

2. Schedule the work and organise, organise, organise.

This is about keeping focused, and on target, and getting rid of clutter that can distract or block progress. It's about planning up front, weekly, daily lists and planning ahead for issues that could happen and the best way to handle the no longer unexpected. Lack of planning is a recipe for becoming a harried manager. A reality check can show the current state by checking in to "Where am I going to, what have I done and where am I now", leading to "What I must now do". This is the time to:

Make decisions
Clear the area
Set a time and limit for emails
Get rid of distractions

3. Manage your career.

It's up to employees to manage their own career. Treating this like a business plan, planning for results and looking at the resources (people/positions/information/opportunities) that can help career goals happen. If a priority is a workplace close to home then convenience has a value to consider and other priorities might not have the same weight.

Think about the different meanings of career, vocation, and job. Career is about a future vision. One of our younger clients has a career vision until their retirement. It's all written down. A vocation is a calling to work in a certain area to make a difference. A job is simply about that set of tasks. Understand yourself and your reasons for work and work on your strengths.

So, how can I be a successful supervisor?

Here's some ideas.

Get a coach or mentor
Ask lots of questions
Take up some extra formal or informal learning
Join a professional association
Get more projects delegated to you for experience
Learn from others - what works and is good practice
Sign up for related online newsletters
Notice others habits in managing successful careers
Be involved - in committees, and visible extra roles
Get extra work experience
Do your own self-paced learning

Above all - be involved!

Lets hear and share what works for you. Love to hear about how you pushed out your horizons.

Jenny H 29/3/2010