Coping With Unemployment
The downturn in the economy has caused increased unemployment in our area and the lengthy delay in receiving benefits can make basic living tough. However there are a number of things you can do in order to survive financially.
Step 1: Apply for Employment Insurance as soon as you receive your Record of Employment, or at the end of 3 weeks if you have not yet received it, even if you are sure you will have a job soon. It could take 6-8 weeks before you receive a cheque for EI.
Step 2: Examine your budget or if you haven’t had one before, prepare one now. Cut back as much as possible on all non-essential items.
Step 3: Don’t use your credit cards as a source of funds on a regular basis, or you will be in worse financial shape. Use them only for emergencies.
Step 4: Consider talking to the bank about the possibility of deferring payments for a limited time if necessary.
Step 5: If you have a high debt load you may want to talk to your creditors about reduced payments for a time or consult a credit counselling agency for advice on how to handle your debts.
Step 6: Make sure that your resume is up to date, and that you have a copy on hand at all times.
Step 7: Network! Let everyone know that you are currently looking for work, and the type of work you are looking for.
Remember, losing a job is comparable to losing a loved one and it may take some time to get over the loss. It’s okay to be angry or sad or frustrated. Don’t try to keep it all in. Talk to someone about how you are feeling.
To your job search success!!
Fran
P.S. Check out my site for some free job search tips
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Job Search Mistakes
7 Biggest Mistakes Employment Seekers Make
By Dr Alicia Karwat, KeySteps Pty. Ltd. February 2011
Ron McGowan, the author of the book “How to Find WORK in the 21st Century”, has just sent us an email with his account of the seven biggest mistakes employment seekers make.
This is Ron’s way of advertising the book to career coaches, however as he is making a good point in all seven of them I want to share them with you. Review and reflect on your approach to the job search.
1. Ignorance about the impact of Social Media Networks
Recruiters and hiring managers are saying that up to 45 percent of the applicants they review are being rejected because of what they found out about them online. The warning that all social media experts give is: “If it’s online – it isn’t private.”
2. Ineffective use of Social Media Networks.
Getting hired today is moving in the direction of being found by employers rather than the traditional approach of applying for work. Employment seekers must learn how to use social media networks effectively.
3. Focusing on advertised positions.
At least 80 percent of the employment opportunities are never advertised and employment seekers must learn how to sniff these out.
4. Too much emphasis on jobs.
If the only option you give an employer is to offer you a job, you’re making it hard for them to hire you. This is especially true for small businesses, where most of the action is. Being willing to accept part-time, temporary and contract work – without reservations is essential.
5. Ignorance about marketing.
We’re a society that knows how to apply for a job. The challenge for employment seekers today is to become proficient at finding work. Anyone lacking this skill will be unemployed for a long time.
6. Too much focus on resumes.
Employment seekers must learn how to create a variety of tools that are marketing oriented and focused on the needs of the employer.
7. Living in the past.
We keep waiting for the Great Recession to be over and lots of jobs to come back. It’s not going to happen. For a growing number of workers the era of the traditional job and all the stability that came with it is over. In trend-setting California, only about 30 percent of the workforce have traditional jobs. That’s where we’re all headed. Accept it, adjust to it, and move on.
The articles appearing on this blog may be copied in full or in part and used in other sources provided the user acknowledges the author of the material, the name of their organisation and that the material was sourced from the CareerEQ blog site.
I hope this article saved you from making some of these mistakes.
Fran Watson
Career Coach
By Dr Alicia Karwat, KeySteps Pty. Ltd. February 2011
Ron McGowan, the author of the book “How to Find WORK in the 21st Century”, has just sent us an email with his account of the seven biggest mistakes employment seekers make.
This is Ron’s way of advertising the book to career coaches, however as he is making a good point in all seven of them I want to share them with you. Review and reflect on your approach to the job search.
1. Ignorance about the impact of Social Media Networks
Recruiters and hiring managers are saying that up to 45 percent of the applicants they review are being rejected because of what they found out about them online. The warning that all social media experts give is: “If it’s online – it isn’t private.”
2. Ineffective use of Social Media Networks.
Getting hired today is moving in the direction of being found by employers rather than the traditional approach of applying for work. Employment seekers must learn how to use social media networks effectively.
3. Focusing on advertised positions.
At least 80 percent of the employment opportunities are never advertised and employment seekers must learn how to sniff these out.
4. Too much emphasis on jobs.
If the only option you give an employer is to offer you a job, you’re making it hard for them to hire you. This is especially true for small businesses, where most of the action is. Being willing to accept part-time, temporary and contract work – without reservations is essential.
5. Ignorance about marketing.
We’re a society that knows how to apply for a job. The challenge for employment seekers today is to become proficient at finding work. Anyone lacking this skill will be unemployed for a long time.
6. Too much focus on resumes.
Employment seekers must learn how to create a variety of tools that are marketing oriented and focused on the needs of the employer.
7. Living in the past.
We keep waiting for the Great Recession to be over and lots of jobs to come back. It’s not going to happen. For a growing number of workers the era of the traditional job and all the stability that came with it is over. In trend-setting California, only about 30 percent of the workforce have traditional jobs. That’s where we’re all headed. Accept it, adjust to it, and move on.
The articles appearing on this blog may be copied in full or in part and used in other sources provided the user acknowledges the author of the material, the name of their organisation and that the material was sourced from the CareerEQ blog site.
I hope this article saved you from making some of these mistakes.
Fran Watson
Career Coach
Cover Letter
How do you write a cover letter for a resume?
When you are looking for a job, it can be overwhelming and it makes many people ask, “how do you write a cover letter for a resume?” There is no easy answer to this question, but we can give you a few tips on how you can write a winning cover letter for your resume that just might get you the interview that you desire.
When you are researching the question how do you write a cover letter for a resume, the first thing you need to consider is what type of job you are applying for. You are only given a certain amount of space on your resume (if you are writing it the way you should be) to showcase your experience and abilities. The cover letter is used to clarify and highlight different parts of your resume that you want your potential employer to look at.
How do you write a cover letter for a resume? Well, start by acknowledging why you are applying for the job and where you saw the advertisement for the job. If you are just inquiring about positions that might be available, your cover letter will look much different. You will tell them that you are here and available for work. Your cover letter should be something that makes your potential employer become intrigued. Just be sure to keep it professional.
When you are writing your cover letter, you should introduce yourself and then state where you found out about the job that is available. If you know someone in the company, make sure that you mention their name in the second or third sentence of your cover letter. While some people do not think it is wise to mention people you know, the truth and reality is that it could make a difference in getting an interview. After all, the saying is “It’s not what you can do, it’s who you know!”
When you are researching how do you write a cover letter for a resume, you should keep in mind what your final objective is. Then express that in the body of your letter. Make sure that you tell your prospective employer how excited you are at the opportunity to interview with them and that you are the perfect candidate for the job. Tell them that your experience and your qualifications are exactly what they need and then sit back and wait for that interview phone call!
Take a look at your current job and see if it fits your value system. If not, consider what changes you might need to make. If you are not working and you would like some help to choose the career that best suits your values or lifestyle, contact me.
To your career success
Fran Watson
Career Coach
P.S. Check out this free cover letter book
http://www.franwatson.ca/worlds_greatest_cover_letter.pdf
When you are looking for a job, it can be overwhelming and it makes many people ask, “how do you write a cover letter for a resume?” There is no easy answer to this question, but we can give you a few tips on how you can write a winning cover letter for your resume that just might get you the interview that you desire.
When you are researching the question how do you write a cover letter for a resume, the first thing you need to consider is what type of job you are applying for. You are only given a certain amount of space on your resume (if you are writing it the way you should be) to showcase your experience and abilities. The cover letter is used to clarify and highlight different parts of your resume that you want your potential employer to look at.
How do you write a cover letter for a resume? Well, start by acknowledging why you are applying for the job and where you saw the advertisement for the job. If you are just inquiring about positions that might be available, your cover letter will look much different. You will tell them that you are here and available for work. Your cover letter should be something that makes your potential employer become intrigued. Just be sure to keep it professional.
When you are writing your cover letter, you should introduce yourself and then state where you found out about the job that is available. If you know someone in the company, make sure that you mention their name in the second or third sentence of your cover letter. While some people do not think it is wise to mention people you know, the truth and reality is that it could make a difference in getting an interview. After all, the saying is “It’s not what you can do, it’s who you know!”
When you are researching how do you write a cover letter for a resume, you should keep in mind what your final objective is. Then express that in the body of your letter. Make sure that you tell your prospective employer how excited you are at the opportunity to interview with them and that you are the perfect candidate for the job. Tell them that your experience and your qualifications are exactly what they need and then sit back and wait for that interview phone call!
Take a look at your current job and see if it fits your value system. If not, consider what changes you might need to make. If you are not working and you would like some help to choose the career that best suits your values or lifestyle, contact me.
To your career success
Fran Watson
Career Coach
P.S. Check out this free cover letter book
http://www.franwatson.ca/worlds_greatest_cover_letter.pdf
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Resume Writing
How to write a good resume
How do we define a “good resume”? In my experience, a good resume is pleasing to look at, easy to read, and contains all the information necessary to know whether or not the person represented by said resume can do the job in an effective and efficient manner. A good resume should look professional and reflect the abilities of the person it is meant to represent without a lot of fluff in between the lines.
Your resume is equivalent to a "sales flyer". It should have enough information that the employer wants to meet you, but not so much that he/she doesn't have to. You want to be called for an interview, so don't give too many extra details.
Knowing how to write a good resume could quite possibly be one of the most valuable business skills you can ever learn. Hardly anyone stays in the same job for years and years and years like days of the past. We are constantly looking for new challenges, more money, and more satisfaction, so having the skill of knowing how to write a good resume is something that you will always have. It can mean the difference between getting an interview and not getting an interview.
The employer wants to know 3 things: What can you do for me? How can you save me money? How can you save me time? They are making an investment in you and want to make sure they are getting their money's worth.
A good resume will include only pertinent information about you – the job applicant. It is written in a professional and positive manner focusing on abilities, skills, and talents that can benefit your future employer. Of course, that can be a little difficult to do on paper, but not when you know what words to use. A thesaurus can be a life saver here when you are looking for the right words.
Never, ever, make any job sound like it is a mundane, boring position. It doesn’t matter if you are standing behind the counter at your local Starbucks, you can still focus on the positive aspects of that job. For example, when you make the coffee, you are responsible for quality control. When you give it to the customer, you are insuring good customer service. When you ring it up on the cash register, you are responsible for cash flow. Any job can sound much better when you “flower it up” and be creative in doing so!
You can look on the Internet for tools and tips on how to write a good resume. Not only do they have examples of resumes to refer to, there are many articles on how to write a good resume and even resume writing services where you pay a professional resume writer to craft your resume from information you provide to them.
Want to know how to write a good resume? Just be honest, give as much information as possible in the space provided, and then let the resume talk for you.
Keep watching this blog for information on How To Ace The Interview.
Fran Watson
Career Coach
How do we define a “good resume”? In my experience, a good resume is pleasing to look at, easy to read, and contains all the information necessary to know whether or not the person represented by said resume can do the job in an effective and efficient manner. A good resume should look professional and reflect the abilities of the person it is meant to represent without a lot of fluff in between the lines.
Your resume is equivalent to a "sales flyer". It should have enough information that the employer wants to meet you, but not so much that he/she doesn't have to. You want to be called for an interview, so don't give too many extra details.
Knowing how to write a good resume could quite possibly be one of the most valuable business skills you can ever learn. Hardly anyone stays in the same job for years and years and years like days of the past. We are constantly looking for new challenges, more money, and more satisfaction, so having the skill of knowing how to write a good resume is something that you will always have. It can mean the difference between getting an interview and not getting an interview.
The employer wants to know 3 things: What can you do for me? How can you save me money? How can you save me time? They are making an investment in you and want to make sure they are getting their money's worth.
A good resume will include only pertinent information about you – the job applicant. It is written in a professional and positive manner focusing on abilities, skills, and talents that can benefit your future employer. Of course, that can be a little difficult to do on paper, but not when you know what words to use. A thesaurus can be a life saver here when you are looking for the right words.
Never, ever, make any job sound like it is a mundane, boring position. It doesn’t matter if you are standing behind the counter at your local Starbucks, you can still focus on the positive aspects of that job. For example, when you make the coffee, you are responsible for quality control. When you give it to the customer, you are insuring good customer service. When you ring it up on the cash register, you are responsible for cash flow. Any job can sound much better when you “flower it up” and be creative in doing so!
You can look on the Internet for tools and tips on how to write a good resume. Not only do they have examples of resumes to refer to, there are many articles on how to write a good resume and even resume writing services where you pay a professional resume writer to craft your resume from information you provide to them.
Want to know how to write a good resume? Just be honest, give as much information as possible in the space provided, and then let the resume talk for you.
Keep watching this blog for information on How To Ace The Interview.
Fran Watson
Career Coach
Monday, September 12, 2011
Choosing A Career
Why Work
Why do People Work? Many people would say, “For the money”, but is that the only reason???
We cannot possibly do everything for ourselves, so we need other people to do things for us, and then pay them for their work. In order to do that, we must also do things for other people so that we can earn money. Therefore, you might say that “for the money” would be true. But what about personal satisfaction??? Would you do ANY job if it paid well enough? Or are there some jobs which you wouldn’t do, despite the salary.
The things which you value like income, location, and free time can play an important part in your career choice. Other values might include: friendship, enjoyment, loyalty, family, independence, leadership, achievement, self-realization, expertness, service, prestige, security and power.
Some jobs provide an opportunity for expressing what we believe and value, while other occupations may go against our values. A job which supports your value system will interest and motivate you far more than a job which goes against your values, despite the monetary rewards.
Many people choose careers that do not pay very well because they enjoy the work and get satisfaction from doing the job or perhaps because it allows them to be close to home and family.
Some people choose to work in an area they are good at or because they have discovered that they have the skills needed for that particular position. Still others may choose to work at a job which provides enough money to pay for extra curricular activities or luxuries, such as a boat or skidoo or yearly vacations to distant locations,.
Look at the following list of “rewards” that people might get from work and see what your priorities might be.
WORK:
* lets me use my special abilities, skills and knowledge
* makes me feel that I’m doing something useful
* keeps me busy and helps fill in time
* lets me be creative
* involves doing a variety of tasks
* allows me to meet a lot of people
* lets me experience new things and learn more
* lets me see something for my efforts
* allows me to be responsible
* gives me power/influence over others
* provides opportunities to make friends
* lets me help people
* provides money
* allows me to be with others
* provides physical activity for me
* allows me to contribute to the community
* lets me control my own time
* allows me to satisfy my other needs
* offers me chances for improvement and/or promotion
* allows me to be known and liked by many people
Take a look at your current job and see if it fits your value system. If not, consider what changes you might need to make.
If you are not working and you would like some help to choose the career that best suits your values or lifestyle, contact me. Let me help you with your career choices.
Fran Watson
Career Coach
Why do People Work? Many people would say, “For the money”, but is that the only reason???
We cannot possibly do everything for ourselves, so we need other people to do things for us, and then pay them for their work. In order to do that, we must also do things for other people so that we can earn money. Therefore, you might say that “for the money” would be true. But what about personal satisfaction??? Would you do ANY job if it paid well enough? Or are there some jobs which you wouldn’t do, despite the salary.
The things which you value like income, location, and free time can play an important part in your career choice. Other values might include: friendship, enjoyment, loyalty, family, independence, leadership, achievement, self-realization, expertness, service, prestige, security and power.
Some jobs provide an opportunity for expressing what we believe and value, while other occupations may go against our values. A job which supports your value system will interest and motivate you far more than a job which goes against your values, despite the monetary rewards.
Many people choose careers that do not pay very well because they enjoy the work and get satisfaction from doing the job or perhaps because it allows them to be close to home and family.
Some people choose to work in an area they are good at or because they have discovered that they have the skills needed for that particular position. Still others may choose to work at a job which provides enough money to pay for extra curricular activities or luxuries, such as a boat or skidoo or yearly vacations to distant locations,.
Look at the following list of “rewards” that people might get from work and see what your priorities might be.
WORK:
* lets me use my special abilities, skills and knowledge
* makes me feel that I’m doing something useful
* keeps me busy and helps fill in time
* lets me be creative
* involves doing a variety of tasks
* allows me to meet a lot of people
* lets me experience new things and learn more
* lets me see something for my efforts
* allows me to be responsible
* gives me power/influence over others
* provides opportunities to make friends
* lets me help people
* provides money
* allows me to be with others
* provides physical activity for me
* allows me to contribute to the community
* lets me control my own time
* allows me to satisfy my other needs
* offers me chances for improvement and/or promotion
* allows me to be known and liked by many people
Take a look at your current job and see if it fits your value system. If not, consider what changes you might need to make.
If you are not working and you would like some help to choose the career that best suits your values or lifestyle, contact me. Let me help you with your career choices.
Fran Watson
Career Coach
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Career Options
Fortune Cookie
This is from the International Speech Contest - Toastmasters International and was the 2nd place speech. I loved it and wanted to share it with you.
It's up to you.... What will you do??
Fran Watson
P.S. For more information on Toastmasters Click here
Toastmasters District 61
This is from the International Speech Contest - Toastmasters International and was the 2nd place speech. I loved it and wanted to share it with you.
It's up to you.... What will you do??
Fran Watson
P.S. For more information on Toastmasters Click here
Toastmasters District 61
Monday, September 05, 2011
Resumes
A Resume Reference Guide
Are you in the process of finding a new job or changing careers? If you are, you may also be in the process of creating a resume for yourself. Although resumes can be complicated and nerve-wracking to develop, they are usually a lot easier to write than originally thought. With that in mind, there are still many problems or complications that arise. For many resume writers that problem has to do with references.
On your resume, there is a good chance that you will list references. These references can typically come in two different formats. These formats are personal references and professional references. You will find that many employers actually like to see a combination of them both. Also, on average, most hiring companies like to see at least three references on their job applications and resumes.
Now that you know what many companies look for, in terms of references on a resume, you may want to start listing your references right away. While this approach is one that you can take, you may want to proceed with caution. As previously stated, one of the many mistakes that resume writers make involves their references. Some of the most common mistakes, as well as ways to prevent those mistakes from happening, are outlined below for your convenience.
One of the biggest mistakes that a job seeker, possibly just like you, makes involves listing no references at all. If you are simply submitting your resume, you may be able to get away without having any references listed, but you may not want to take any chances. If you are currently still lining up your references, you may want to have the phrases “references available upon request,” under the heading of references on your resume. Should you fill out a job application and are asked to provide references, you will want to do so. Omitting information on a job application may cause your application to be overlooked.
Another mistake that many job seekers make, in terms of their resume references, is not asking to use a reference in the first place. In almost all cases, you will find that your references are checked. That is why it is important that you ask each individual that you would like to have listed on a resume or a job application before officially listing them as a reference. If you have already submitted your job application and resume, without asking first, you will want to let each individual know, as soon as possible, that you used them as a job reference and that they may be receiving a phone call. This is important, as you do not want your references to be caught off guard, as it may impact their responses.
As previously stated, most companies like to see a combination of professional and personal references on their job applications and on all submitted resumes. This is a mistake that many job seekers also make and one that you will want to not make. For that reason, you may want to consider listing four references on your job applications or resumes. This would allow you to have an even number of personal references and professional references.
The above mentioned mistakes are common mistakes that many job seekers make when writing a resume for themselves. By keeping these common mistakes in mind, you can ensure that you do not make similar ones. This should automatically improve your chances of landing the job of your dreams or at least a job interview.
Good luck in your job search
Fran Watson
Career Coach
P.S. Check out this Cover Letter guide
Are you in the process of finding a new job or changing careers? If you are, you may also be in the process of creating a resume for yourself. Although resumes can be complicated and nerve-wracking to develop, they are usually a lot easier to write than originally thought. With that in mind, there are still many problems or complications that arise. For many resume writers that problem has to do with references.
On your resume, there is a good chance that you will list references. These references can typically come in two different formats. These formats are personal references and professional references. You will find that many employers actually like to see a combination of them both. Also, on average, most hiring companies like to see at least three references on their job applications and resumes.
Now that you know what many companies look for, in terms of references on a resume, you may want to start listing your references right away. While this approach is one that you can take, you may want to proceed with caution. As previously stated, one of the many mistakes that resume writers make involves their references. Some of the most common mistakes, as well as ways to prevent those mistakes from happening, are outlined below for your convenience.
One of the biggest mistakes that a job seeker, possibly just like you, makes involves listing no references at all. If you are simply submitting your resume, you may be able to get away without having any references listed, but you may not want to take any chances. If you are currently still lining up your references, you may want to have the phrases “references available upon request,” under the heading of references on your resume. Should you fill out a job application and are asked to provide references, you will want to do so. Omitting information on a job application may cause your application to be overlooked.
Another mistake that many job seekers make, in terms of their resume references, is not asking to use a reference in the first place. In almost all cases, you will find that your references are checked. That is why it is important that you ask each individual that you would like to have listed on a resume or a job application before officially listing them as a reference. If you have already submitted your job application and resume, without asking first, you will want to let each individual know, as soon as possible, that you used them as a job reference and that they may be receiving a phone call. This is important, as you do not want your references to be caught off guard, as it may impact their responses.
As previously stated, most companies like to see a combination of professional and personal references on their job applications and on all submitted resumes. This is a mistake that many job seekers also make and one that you will want to not make. For that reason, you may want to consider listing four references on your job applications or resumes. This would allow you to have an even number of personal references and professional references.
The above mentioned mistakes are common mistakes that many job seekers make when writing a resume for themselves. By keeping these common mistakes in mind, you can ensure that you do not make similar ones. This should automatically improve your chances of landing the job of your dreams or at least a job interview.
Good luck in your job search
Fran Watson
Career Coach
P.S. Check out this Cover Letter guide
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Toastmasters Builds Leaders by Developing Communication Skills
How often have you heard the comment, “He or she is a born leader?” There are certain characteristics found in some people that seem to naturally put them in a position where they’re looked up to as a leader.
Whether in fact a person is born a leader or develops skills and abilities to become a leader is open for debate. There are some clear characteristics that are found in good leaders. These qualities can be developed or may be naturally part of their personality. Let us explore them further.
Seven Personal Qualities Found In A Good Leader
1. A good leader has an exemplary character. It is of utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others. A leader needs to be trusted and be known to live their life with honestly and integrity. A good leader “walks the talk” and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others. True authority is born from respect for the good character and trustworthiness of the person who leads.
2. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or cause and also about their role as leader. People will respond more openly to a person of passion and dedication. Leaders need to be able to be a source of inspiration, and be a motivator towards the required action or cause. Although the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, the leader needs to be seen to be part of the team working towards the goal. This kind of leader will not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.
3. A good leader is confident. In order to lead and set direction a leader needs to appear confident as a person and in the leadership role. Such a person inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well. A leader who conveys confidence towards the proposed objective inspires the best effort from team members.
4. A leader also needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty. People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanor.
5. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose. Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head.
6. A good leader as well as keeping the main goal in focus is able to think analytically. Not only does a good leader view a situation as a whole, but is able to break it down into sub parts for closer inspection. Not only is the goal in view but a good leader can break it down into manageable steps and make progress towards it.
7. A good leader is committed to excellence. Second best does not lead to success. The good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.
These seven personal characteristics are foundational to good leadership. Some characteristics may be more naturally present in the personality of a leader. However, each of these characteristics can also be developed and strengthened. A good leader whether they naturally possess these qualities or not, will be diligent to consistently develop and strengthen them in their leadership role.
You can develop your leadership skills by becoming a more confident speaker. There are Toastmasters Clubs around the world and you can find one close to you by going to http://www.toastmasters.org and entering your information.
Rome was not built in a day and leadership takes time to develop as well.
Fran
P.S. For more tips on public speaking, Click here: http://www.franwatson.ca/publicspeaker.html
Whether in fact a person is born a leader or develops skills and abilities to become a leader is open for debate. There are some clear characteristics that are found in good leaders. These qualities can be developed or may be naturally part of their personality. Let us explore them further.
Seven Personal Qualities Found In A Good Leader
1. A good leader has an exemplary character. It is of utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others. A leader needs to be trusted and be known to live their life with honestly and integrity. A good leader “walks the talk” and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others. True authority is born from respect for the good character and trustworthiness of the person who leads.
2. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or cause and also about their role as leader. People will respond more openly to a person of passion and dedication. Leaders need to be able to be a source of inspiration, and be a motivator towards the required action or cause. Although the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, the leader needs to be seen to be part of the team working towards the goal. This kind of leader will not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.
3. A good leader is confident. In order to lead and set direction a leader needs to appear confident as a person and in the leadership role. Such a person inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well. A leader who conveys confidence towards the proposed objective inspires the best effort from team members.
4. A leader also needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty. People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanor.
5. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose. Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head.
6. A good leader as well as keeping the main goal in focus is able to think analytically. Not only does a good leader view a situation as a whole, but is able to break it down into sub parts for closer inspection. Not only is the goal in view but a good leader can break it down into manageable steps and make progress towards it.
7. A good leader is committed to excellence. Second best does not lead to success. The good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.
These seven personal characteristics are foundational to good leadership. Some characteristics may be more naturally present in the personality of a leader. However, each of these characteristics can also be developed and strengthened. A good leader whether they naturally possess these qualities or not, will be diligent to consistently develop and strengthen them in their leadership role.
You can develop your leadership skills by becoming a more confident speaker. There are Toastmasters Clubs around the world and you can find one close to you by going to http://www.toastmasters.org and entering your information.
Rome was not built in a day and leadership takes time to develop as well.
Fran
P.S. For more tips on public speaking, Click here: http://www.franwatson.ca/publicspeaker.html
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