McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Workplace: Personal Skills for Success

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Workplace:The Workplace:

Personal Skills Personal Skills

for Successfor Success


Chapter 1: Establish Values, Chapter 1: Establish Values, Goals, and AttitudeGoals, and Attitude

To succeed in life and in work, you To succeed in life and in work, you must:must:

Know what you want & how to get it.Know what you want & how to get it. Manage time, stress, money, and Manage time, stress, money, and

yourself well.yourself well. Communicate with confidence Communicate with confidence

when speaking and writing.when speaking and writing.


Chapter 1 ObjectivesChapter 1 Objectives

► Recognize what you want and what Recognize what you want and what your benchmarks are.your benchmarks are.

► Assess your strengths, skills, and Assess your strengths, skills, and aptitudes; orient them to your goals.aptitudes; orient them to your goals.

► Set personal goals, and decide what Set personal goals, and decide what steps to take to reach them.steps to take to reach them.

► Set professional goals, and decide Set professional goals, and decide what steps to take to reach them.what steps to take to reach them.

► Set your attitude on positive; absorb Set your attitude on positive; absorb rejection; grow from your experiences.rejection; grow from your experiences.


1.1 Assessing What You 1.1 Assessing What You WantWant

Step # 1 to getting what you want is Step # 1 to getting what you want is knowing what you want—a complicated knowing what you want—a complicated question.question.

Consider first your Consider first your valuesvalues (your basic (your basic beliefs and ideals that guide your choices beliefs and ideals that guide your choices and tell you what is right or wrong) such and tell you what is right or wrong) such as:as:

- Honesty - Knowledge - Being loved- Honesty - Knowledge - Being loved

- Power - Being helpful - Health- Power - Being helpful - Health

- Working alone - Being a good parent- Working alone - Being a good parent


Values and GoalsValues and Goals

Knowing your personal Knowing your personal value systemvalue system (all (all your values working together) will help you your values working together) will help you set realistic and satisfying set realistic and satisfying goalsgoals (end (end results; your values in action).results; your values in action).

BenchmarksBenchmarks are standards used to measure are standards used to measure other things. other things. Benchmark goalsBenchmark goals are your are your important goals that are unlikely to change.important goals that are unlikely to change.

Example: If you value being around your Example: If you value being around your family a lot, you won’t choose as a goal a family a lot, you won’t choose as a goal a career that requires constant travel.career that requires constant travel.


Benchmark Goals to Benchmark Goals to ConsiderConsider

MoneyMoney – How much? At what cost? – How much? At what cost? Working conditionsWorking conditions – Where? How? – Where? How? FamilyFamily – Close by? Children? – Close by? Children? GeographyGeography – Live where? Commute – Live where? Commute

how long?how long? EmployerEmployer – Large, small, or self? – Large, small, or self? EducationEducation – How much? When? – How much? When? Career Path & ShiftsCareer Path & Shifts – What’s your – What’s your

preference, now and later?preference, now and later?


What are Your Interests and What are Your Interests and Priorities?Priorities?

Look at your values & goals to find Look at your values & goals to find something that interests you that something that interests you that translates into a career direction. translates into a career direction.

PrioritizePrioritize (put in order of importance) (put in order of importance) your values and goals so you can take your values and goals so you can take care of the most important first. care of the most important first.

As you prioritize, ask yourself:As you prioritize, ask yourself:- What’s important in the long run?- What’s important in the long run?- What can wait? What can’t?- What can wait? What can’t?- How will this affect others in my life?- How will this affect others in my life?- What do I need to do first?- What do I need to do first?- Will this prepare me for something else?- Will this prepare me for something else?


1.2 Assessing Your 1.2 Assessing Your StrengthsStrengths

To be successful and To be successful and enjoy your success, enjoy your success, let your strengths let your strengths and interests guide and interests guide your career choices.your career choices.

Your strengths Your strengths include your skills, include your skills, aptitudes, and aptitudes, and ability to learn new ability to learn new skills.skills.


Two Kinds of StrengthsTwo Kinds of Strengths

AptitudesAptitudes – your natural ability to do – your natural ability to do certain things or learn to do them well. certain things or learn to do them well. Ex.: An aptitude in math.Ex.: An aptitude in math.

SkillsSkills – specific things you have learned – specific things you have learned how to do. Ex.: Fixing a flat tire.how to do. Ex.: Fixing a flat tire.

Know your aptitudes to decide which Know your aptitudes to decide which skills to pursue.skills to pursue.

It’s relatively easy to develop aptitudes It’s relatively easy to develop aptitudes into skills.into skills.

Learning a skill for which you have Learning a skill for which you have little aptitude requires extra effort.little aptitude requires extra effort.


Make a Skills Make a Skills InventoryInventory

Start your Start your skills inventoryskills inventory (list of what you (list of what you can do, could do, would like to do) now.can do, could do, would like to do) now.

Add to it the rest of your professional life.Add to it the rest of your professional life. Use it when writing your Use it when writing your résumérésumé (a (a

summary of your education, training, skills, summary of your education, training, skills, and professional experience) and to and professional experience) and to prepare for job interviews.prepare for job interviews.


List These 5 Kinds of List These 5 Kinds of Skills:Skills:

AptitudesAptitudes (your natural abilities) (your natural abilities) InterestsInterests – You may uncover easily- – You may uncover easily-

developed potential skills.developed potential skills. Current SkillsCurrent Skills (ones you have now) (ones you have now) Future SkillsFuture Skills (ones you need to learn) (ones you need to learn) Transferable SkillsTransferable Skills (ones you can (ones you can

carry from one kind of job or carry from one kind of job or profession to another, such as writing profession to another, such as writing skills) that give your career flexibility skills) that give your career flexibility & make you more promotable.& make you more promotable.


Also List:Also List:

Skills you can build onSkills you can build on – Ex.: – Ex.: Sewing skills can be the Sewing skills can be the basis of fashion designing.basis of fashion designing.

Skill resourcesSkill resources – places – places where you might learn new where you might learn new skills, such as schools, skills, such as schools, internships, books, videos, internships, books, videos, seminars.seminars.

Benchmark skillsBenchmark skills – the – the bigbig skills you definitely need for skills you definitely need for your career.your career.


Helpful StrengthsHelpful Strengths These general strengths will help you put your These general strengths will help you put your

special skills to good use:special skills to good use:

- - Dedication –Dedication – to put your company’s needs first. to put your company’s needs first.

- - Interpersonal skillsInterpersonal skills – to work well with others. – to work well with others.

- - Leadership and management skillsLeadership and management skills – including – including knowing when to lead and when to follow.knowing when to lead and when to follow.

- - Organizational skills –Organizational skills – to plan ahead, work to plan ahead, work efficiently, avoid mistakes, and reach goals.efficiently, avoid mistakes, and reach goals.

- - IntelligenceIntelligence to figure things out, solve problems. to figure things out, solve problems.

- - A positive attitude –A positive attitude – to accept challenges & to accept challenges & dedicate energy to make your efforts pay off.dedicate energy to make your efforts pay off.


What Other Strengths?What Other Strengths?

Uncover more aptitudes and skills Uncover more aptitudes and skills by asking friends, family, co-by asking friends, family, co-workers, career counselors.workers, career counselors.

Consider Consider future strengthsfuture strengths by asking: by asking:

- What can I learn easily?- What can I learn easily?

- What would I - What would I likelike to learn? to learn?

- What training is available?- What training is available?

- What can I learn by reading? By - What can I learn by reading? By doing?doing?


Your Strengths & Your Your Strengths & Your CareerCareer

Look at your career as a process of Look at your career as a process of improving your skills, which are the improving your skills, which are the building blocks of your career.building blocks of your career.

Use your skills inventory to write your Use your skills inventory to write your résumé and to prepare for a job résumé and to prepare for a job interview. interview.

During your job interviews, ask During your job interviews, ask whether the company offers whether the company offers

training so you can continue training so you can continue to improve your strengths.to improve your strengths.


1.3 Setting Personal 1.3 Setting Personal GoalsGoals

Your value system has informed Your value system has informed you about your career, and now you about your career, and now you know the strengths needed to you know the strengths needed to pursue it.pursue it.

To avoid goal-less wandering or To avoid goal-less wandering or giving up on a distant goal, first giving up on a distant goal, first set set personal goalspersonal goals that make you that make you a better person, and then set a better person, and then set professional goalsprofessional goals that advance that advance your career.your career.


Personal GoalsPersonal Goals

Prepare for the demands of the Prepare for the demands of the business world by:business world by:

- putting your home life in order- putting your home life in order

- getting your body in good shape- getting your body in good shape

- learning new skills- learning new skills

- - networkingnetworking (putting yourself (putting yourself in places to meet new people in places to meet new people who may help you) who may help you)


Types of Personal GoalsTypes of Personal Goals

Home goalsHome goals. What needs organizing . What needs organizing at home? at home?

Skill goalsSkill goals. What skills or education . What skills or education are needed for your professional are needed for your professional goals?goals?

Health goalsHealth goals. What’s needed to . What’s needed to ensure your health, fitness, ensure your health, fitness, stamina?stamina?


Relationship goalsRelationship goals. Whom should you . Whom should you try to meet? Distance yourself from?try to meet? Distance yourself from?

People will stand between you & your People will stand between you & your goals. It’s best to explain your goal goals. It’s best to explain your goal and ask them to help you.and ask them to help you.

Emotional goalsEmotional goals. How will you stay . How will you stay focused, undistracted by non-work focused, undistracted by non-work problems?problems?

Financial goalsFinancial goals. How can you. How can you get your money situation get your money situation

on track? on track?


Goals-den RulesGoals-den Rules Think smallThink small. Begin with reachable goals.. Begin with reachable goals. Be reasonableBe reasonable. Set challenging but . Set challenging but

reachable goals.reachable goals. Make lists and timelinesMake lists and timelines. Enjoy checking . Enjoy checking

off things you’ve accomplished.off things you’ve accomplished. Set deadlinesSet deadlines. Let the pressure prod you.. Let the pressure prod you. Get seriousGet serious. Think carefully before . Think carefully before

setting a goal.setting a goal. Analyze your progressAnalyze your progress. Feel good about . Feel good about

what you’ve done; anticipate problems what you’ve done; anticipate problems and brainstorm how to prevent/overcome and brainstorm how to prevent/overcome them.them.


What if?What if?

Once you’ve set goals, stick to them Once you’ve set goals, stick to them unlessunless

- the goals were wrong for you;- the goals were wrong for you;

- new circumstances demand a - new circumstances demand a change; orchange; or

- you must admit defeat.- you must admit defeat.

If you abandon a goal:If you abandon a goal:

1. Analyze what went wrong.1. Analyze what went wrong.

2. Set a new, more realistic goal.2. Set a new, more realistic goal.


Need Help?Need Help? Tell others about your goal because:Tell others about your goal because:

- they may help you;- they may help you;

- you’ll keep trying to avoid - you’ll keep trying to avoid embarrassment;embarrassment;

- you’ll want to show them you can do it.- you’ll want to show them you can do it. Get help from your support system Get help from your support system

(family, friends, co-workers) and make (family, friends, co-workers) and make new new acquaintances by acquaintances by networking. networking.


Networking TipsNetworking Tips

Follow through on all leads.Follow through on all leads. Always carry your business card.Always carry your business card. Don’t wait for fear of appearing over-Don’t wait for fear of appearing over-

eager.eager. Be persistent.Be persistent. Keep in touch with former co-workers, Keep in touch with former co-workers,

neighbors, classmates.neighbors, classmates. Don’t ask for help that you don’t really Don’t ask for help that you don’t really

need.need. Be polite & friendly without pestering.Be polite & friendly without pestering. Thank the person who connected you.Thank the person who connected you.


1.4 Setting Professional 1.4 Setting Professional GoalsGoals

Having Having professional goalsprofessional goals will keep will keep your career moving forward.your career moving forward.

Setting professional goals is like Setting professional goals is like setting personal goals. For each:setting personal goals. For each:- Set challenging but achievable goals.- Set challenging but achievable goals.- Use lists and timetables.- Use lists and timetables.- Be serious about reaching goals.- Be serious about reaching goals.- Analyze the reasons for any failures.- Analyze the reasons for any failures.- Find people who can help you; avoid - Find people who can help you; avoid people who hinder you.people who hinder you.


Two Kinds of Professional Two Kinds of Professional GoalsGoals

Career goalsCareer goals that you plan to that you plan to advance your professional advance your professional development.development.

Job goalsJob goals set by you or your set by you or your superiors to prove to superiors to prove to management that you are management that you are doing a good job.doing a good job.


Career Goals in Your Career Goals in Your CompanyCompany

If you want to stay with your company, If you want to stay with your company, find out:find out:- if it has a direct career ladder to climb.- if it has a direct career ladder to climb.- if it offers - if it offers lateral shifts,lateral shifts, moving from moving from one department to another to be in a one department to another to be in a better position for advancement.better position for advancement.- if it has a program for advancement - if it has a program for advancement within the company or its within the company or its subsidiariessubsidiaries (other companies owned by your (other companies owned by your company).company).


Four Stages to Reach Four Stages to Reach a Career Goal:a Career Goal:

1.1. PreparePrepare. Ask what skills you need, whom to ask, . Ask what skills you need, whom to ask, what to read.what to read.

2.2. PerformPerform. Your company will probably have . Your company will probably have performance measures. Make up your own also.performance measures. Make up your own also.

3.3. Provide proofProvide proof. How will you show you’ve reached . How will you show you’ve reached the goal? A certificate? Memo?the goal? A certificate? Memo?

4.4. ProgressProgress. What career progress do you want to . What career progress do you want to make? A raise? New job? Stages 1 – 3 aim at this make? A raise? New job? Stages 1 – 3 aim at this goal.goal.


Job GoalsJob Goals For goals relating to your job performance, do For goals relating to your job performance, do

this:this:1. List the steps you need to take to reach the 1. List the steps you need to take to reach the goal.goal.2. Set up a timetable for completing each step.2. Set up a timetable for completing each step.3. Consider what resources you’ll need, who can 3. Consider what resources you’ll need, who can help you, what to prepare.help you, what to prepare.4. If others are involved, let them know how 4. If others are involved, let them know how they are involved.they are involved.5. Keep everyone who needs to know informed 5. Keep everyone who needs to know informed of your progress.of your progress.6. If you can’t meet your goal deadline, tell the 6. If you can’t meet your goal deadline, tell the appropriate people.appropriate people.7. Anticipate problems; take action to prevent 7. Anticipate problems; take action to prevent them.them.


Aim for the StarsAim for the Stars

Don’t Don’t reachreach for the for the stars; they’re too far stars; they’re too far away.away.

Do Do aimaim for the stars by for the stars by setting challenging setting challenging but realistic goals but realistic goals that, when achieved, that, when achieved, will lead you toward will lead you toward those stars.those stars.


1.5 Assessing Your 1.5 Assessing Your AttitudeAttitude

An An attitudeattitude is a mental approach to is a mental approach to life that determines how you see life that determines how you see and do things.and do things.

A A good attitudegood attitude is energizing and is energizing and gives you courage to confront gives you courage to confront challenges and rise above them.challenges and rise above them.

A A bad attitudebad attitude robs you of energy, robs you of energy, hope, and humor; it can defeat hope, and humor; it can defeat you.you.


Symptoms of a Bad Symptoms of a Bad AttitudeAttitude

Constant complaining; arguingConstant complaining; arguing Often arriving late/leaving earlyOften arriving late/leaving early Looking unhappyLooking unhappy Starting rumors; bad-mouthing othersStarting rumors; bad-mouthing others Doing the least possible workDoing the least possible work Careless about appearanceCareless about appearance Never accepting responsibility if Never accepting responsibility if

something goes wrongsomething goes wrong

Can you name more symptoms?Can you name more symptoms?


Good News: A Bad Attitude Good News: A Bad Attitude Can Be ChangedCan Be Changed

The first step toward a better The first step toward a better attitude is assessing your current attitude is assessing your current attitude. If your attitude is bad, ask:attitude. If your attitude is bad, ask:- Where did your attitude come - Where did your attitude come from? Fear? Defeat? Rejection? from? Fear? Defeat? Rejection? Stress?Stress?- Have you had this attitude before?- Have you had this attitude before?- How it is affecting your behavior? - How it is affecting your behavior? - How is it affecting other people?- How is it affecting other people?- Does it take up your valuable time, - Does it take up your valuable time, keep you from concentrating?keep you from concentrating?


10 Ways to Shake a Bad 10 Ways to Shake a Bad AttitudeAttitude

Get enough sleep.Get enough sleep. Talk to friends or a counselor Talk to friends or a counselor

about your stress.about your stress. Exercise to relieve stress. Exercise to relieve stress.

Take a walk; do stretching Take a walk; do stretching exercises.exercises.

Try a new approach.Try a new approach. Put things in perspective. Put things in perspective.

Think about the important Think about the important things in your life.things in your life.


Ten Ways to Shake a Bad Ten Ways to Shake a Bad AttitudeAttitude

Clear your head through meditation Clear your head through meditation or prayer and focus on the positive.or prayer and focus on the positive.

Simplify your life. Focus only on Simplify your life. Focus only on what you can control.what you can control.

Rise above the problem. Walk away Rise above the problem. Walk away from a fight.from a fight.

Avoid negative people.Avoid negative people. Ask for help from experienced Ask for help from experienced

people.people.


Failure & AttitudeFailure & Attitude

A bad attitude often stems from failure, A bad attitude often stems from failure, butbut

Failure is an event, not a person.Failure is an event, not a person. Everyone fails sometime.Everyone fails sometime. People who strive for difficult goals fail People who strive for difficult goals fail

the most.the most. People who never fail aren’t reaching far People who never fail aren’t reaching far

enough.enough. With the right attitude, each failure will With the right attitude, each failure will

lead to success. When you handle it lead to success. When you handle it right, failure makes you smarter and right, failure makes you smarter and stronger. stronger.


Deal with FailureDeal with Failure

Acknowledge the failure.Acknowledge the failure. Experience the emotions that Experience the emotions that

come with it; then leave them come with it; then leave them behind to be stronger.behind to be stronger.

Think about what you learned from Think about what you learned from the incident to become smarter.the incident to become smarter.

Choose a positive attitude—and Choose a positive attitude—and succeed!succeed!


Chapter 1 RecapChapter 1 Recap

Assess your values & goals to determine Assess your values & goals to determine what you want in life.what you want in life.

Assess your strengths, skills & Assess your strengths, skills & aptitudes; orient them to your goals.aptitudes; orient them to your goals.

Assess your personal goals to position Assess your personal goals to position yourself for professional success.yourself for professional success.

Assess your professional career goals Assess your professional career goals and job goals and plan your progress.and job goals and plan your progress.

Assess your attitude, overcome failure, Assess your attitude, overcome failure, and choose a positive attitude.and choose a positive attitude.

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McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Workplace: Personal Skills for Success