Just what does it mean – we’re looking for someone that is the “right fit”?

The chances are good they are not talking about a skills fit, an experience fit, or an accomplishment fit! Those are a given by the time you pass the screening for the interview – or they are close enough that the organization knows that what it needs to check for now is “fit”.

The questions that interviewers are trying to answer about “Fit” include:

Do you have enough in common with and compatible with the people with whom you will be spending a lot of time?
Do …

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Patrick Lencioni introduces Daniel Harkavy as his coach in the foreward to Harkavy’s book Becoming a Coaching Leader. Harkavy asserts there are two big difference-makers between great leaders and just good leaders: 1. Great leaders take special delight in developing their people, in becoming coaching leaders; and 2. The fuel that makes it happen is heart – your beliefs about your people and their potential impact your success or failure as a leader. Many managers are uncomfortable in discussing the “non-business” aspects of an employee’s life and this is often the piece that is …

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One of the participants in my job search groups this morning announced: “My network is beginning to light up! People are beginning to understand what I am looking for and are coming forward with new contacts and connections for me to pursue!”

Just the way it is supposed to work! Here are a couple of factors which can make that happen:

1. Repeated communication with your network about who you are and what you are looking for.

Sometimes the people you are talking to don’t get it right the first time. Have you noticed that you get inappropriate job listings from people you …

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“The grass is always greener on the other side of the septic tank!” –is how Denise Fandel, Executive Director of the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer started the conversation! A sentiment shared by several other people that I interviewed about the journey to the #1 spot – said only half jokingly because, like becoming a parent, most said: “If I had known what I was getting into, maybe I wouldn’t have been so eager!! AND I wouldn’t give up the experience for anything in the world!”

Denise offered a few of the lessons she learned:

1. The buck stops here. …

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Have you ever noticed that you really really really want to reach a certain outcome in your life and it seems like the results you want just elude you.  Nothing seems to work and you feel as though you are stalled?

Whether you are looking for a new job or transforming your current job into something that gets your juices flowing, focusing on your desired outcome is the only way to keep moving in the direction you want to move in.

I was inspired to look at these things after reading a book by Mark …

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The more quality focus time you can create in your daily activities the faster you can move towards your desired outcomes.

What do we get caught up in?

Phone calls, e-mails, managing the papers that come in the mail, and tolerating people who drop by your office, who want to chat about things not on your agenda for the day.

­Schedule as many interruptions as you can – what? The key word is Schedule those things which you allow to interrupt your focused attention – check your voicemail and email during a specific timeframe, for example.

Have all your focus points on one …

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