In This Issue

News & Notes:  How Am I Doing?

Manager's Tip Sheet:  Developing 360 Assessments

Personal Tip Sheet:   Staying on the Radar Screen

Difficult Conversations:  Responding to Public Outbursts      

Workshops, Products, and Services 

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News & Notes:  How Am I Doing?

  

One of the benefits of my job is being able to receive a tremendous amount of feedback on my performance.  Whether it is training, coaching, or teaching not a week goes by that I am not asking those I serve, how am I doing?

 

At the end of every semester, my students gather in a circle and I ask each one to tell me one thing I did well and one thing I can improve upon.   My academic colleagues are shocked that I do this, and I am shocked that they never have.

 

"Why would you subject yourself to that?"   one professor asked incredulously.   I suspect he associates feedback with criticism.   But, the two are quite different.   I never ask anyone to tear me down; I ask others to help me improve.  

 

Effective communication starts with your message, but ends with the perception of others.  It's impossible to know that without asking.   So, ask.  Often.  You'll be amazed what you can accomplish with the help of others.      

              

Until next time,

Susan Fee

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Manager's Tip Sheet: Developing 360 Assessments

You probably give a lot of feedback to staff, but as a manager how often do you receive feedback?   Whether you are grooming someone for a leadership position, or looking to improve your own performance, 360 assessments can be very helpful.  

 

They are designed to gather feedback from all direct reports and compare perceptions to the recipient's self-assessment.   They can also be used to increase communication on teams, with every member receiving feedback.  

 

Here are some tips for creating a 360 assessment, adapted from Growing Leaders (2001).  

 

Involve everyone.   Involve target recipients, peers, teammates, direct reports, and management one level up and down in creating and choosing relevant feedback questions.   Questionnaire items should reveal relevant and meaning behavioral feedback desired from all groups and aligned with corporate goals, mission, and values.

 

Determine the Purpose.   Is the item intended to represent a basic minimum competency?   Is it reasonable to expect everyone to consistently exhibit this behavior?   Include an equal number of questions to reveal strengths and weaknesses.

 

Create a scale.   Rate behaviors either on frequency or effectiveness using a six-point Likert scale.   Include open-ended responses and anecdotal comments to help understand especially high or low scores.   Consider using a start-stop-continue format.   For example, which behaviors should the individual start or do more?   Which behaviors should the individual stop or do less?   Which effective behaviors should continue to be demonstrated?

 

Include self-assessment.   For ratings by self, include a rating for "What I think others will say about me."  

Let Susan help improve performance gaps.  

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Personal Tip Sheet:  Staying on the Radar Screen

When you read the word "hamburger" what's your first thought?   What comes to mind when you think "soft drink"?   Most likely, a couple of brand names instantly popped into your head, and that's called top-of-mind awareness.   To claim that spot in your mind, companies must market proactively.   They don't wait until you have a hunger pang to start marketing, they market continuously so that when your need arises, they are already on your radar screen.  

 

When a professional opportunity arises, whose radar screen are you on?   It takes more than doing good work to get noticed, you must actively and continuously market your skills.   Here are five ways to market yourself in five minutes or less per day:  

 

Prepare talking points.   When someone asks, "How's it going?" or "How was your weekend?" or "What have you been up to?" you have a golden opportunity to shine.   Determine what you want people to know about you and share it.   Talk about the new book you're reading, a conference you attended, or a new project.   With a couple of brief sentences you can highlight your skills without bragging.          

Update voicemail daily.   Stand out from the crowd by updating your voicemail message daily with the day, date, and when you plan to return the call.   By doing so, you demonstrate that you are dependable and accountable.    

 

Customize your signature file.   Use your email signature file to market your skills by adding a short benefit statement.   How can you help people?   What makes you unique?   It does no good to list contact information if you don't give people a reason to do so.  

 

Make presentations.   Offer to make short presentations for work or community groups.   Focus on your area of expertise and how you can benefit others.   It's one of the quickest ways to receive instant recognition.   If public speaking makes you nervous, or you want to polish your skills, consider one-on-one presentation coaching

 

Forward helpful tips.   Read widely for your own education and if you come across a tip or article that may help someone else, cut it out and forward it with a short note.   You will show that you invest in continuous self-education and that you listen to the needs of others.  

 

Click here for more tips on how to market yourself  

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Difficult Conversations: 

Q: I work for a small city government. One of the council members is always very cordial one-on-one, but in some council meetings has been terribly derogative towards me. Even though I have facts on my side, he will throw his hands up in the air, laugh and tell me that I had better check them again. I have spoken to him privately regarding this and he told me to get a thicker skin and that it is not personal. I have never seen him behave this way to the other MALE directors nor have I given him reason to disparage my work. Any advice?

 

A:   Gender discrimination is personal, but your response needs to remain professional.   Some people will berate others in public in order to appear more powerful (see "Putdowns Disguised as Humor" in February's Tip Sheet). But, that doesn't mean you have to be a victim.  

Conduct a self-inventory:   does your communication style change during these meetings in anticipation of getting attacked?   For instance, does your pitch rise, pace quicken, or body tense?   Authority is established not only in your facts, but the way you deliver them.    

 

The next time he questions you, stay focused on his objections and don't let his antics distract you.   Clarify his concerns by asking, "What fact specifically are you questioning?" or "What concerns you about these facts?" or "I have the research right here, what section do you want re-checked?"   Diffuse his attacks by turning them into questions that encourage a conversation.   There's no guarantee he will change his behavior, but you will gain the respect of others for standing up for yourself.                   

Submit your difficult conversations to Susan_Fee@msn.com.     

   

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Workshops, Products, and Services

Upcoming Workshops and Appearances.   

"Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace"

Westlake Village

June 8

Westlake , OH

 

"Building Team Communication"

Camp Chateugay

June 12

Merrill , NY

 

"Mean Girls:   Understanding Relational Aggression"

Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts

June 13

Farmingdale , NJ

 

"Successful Presentation Skills"

Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management

June 26-27

Dartmouth College , New Hampshire

 

"Mean Girls" & "Maximize Your Potential"

Wooden Acres Camp

June 30

Rothbury , MI

Products and Services

Perfect High School Graduation Gift!    

 

Roommates can make or break a college experience.   Few young adults expect to have conflict and have little or no experience solving personality differences.   Prepare them for success now by purchasing a copy of Susan's hit college survival book My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy!   Solve Conflicts, Set Boundaries, and Survive the College Roommate from Hell.    

Interested in booking training or coaching in 2006?  Let me know how I can help, Susan_Fee@msn.com. 

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor, business and personal coach, and college adjunct faculty member.  She is the author of Positive First Impressions, Dealing with Difficult People, Building Resiliency, Secrets of Successful Presentations, and the college survival guide, My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy!  (Adams Media).  She can be reached through her Web site at www.susanfee.com or by email at Susan_Fee@msn.com. 

 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2005