How do you manage difficult employees in the workplace? I’m talking about pointing out bad behaviors without causing any animosity.
Have you ever worked with a co-worker who is very difficult with a nasty attitude?
You know that one person on your team can negatively affect the entire team. Right?
Have you ever wondered how that person landed the job in the first place?
Who is doing the interviewing? Do the people in HR know the right questions to ask to get the prospective employee to come from behind the mask and reveal who they are?
Unfortunately, even though you didn’t hire the difficult employee, you still have to deal with the issue.
The mistake of the hiring manager is now your problem. It’s not fair, but it is what it is. You have to find a way to deal with the difficult person on your team.
If you want to have a positive and productive workplace, you have to confront the negative behaviors or attitudes early before they escalate.
The good news is, you are about to access a simple formula to help stop difficult employees from ruining your work environment.
It’s a module from our intensive training on creating a positive and productive workplace. It’s been proven to be extremely effective. I call it the PSP Formula.
Let’s dive into it.
The Proven P.S.P. Formula To Manage Difficult Employees
1. A is For Praise
At the start of the conversation, begin by thanking them for showing up to have this conversation with you. It’s always good practice.
Then, praise the employee for something specific that they did on a specific occasion.
You are giving them a shot of dopamine, which is the feel-good chemical the brain releases when we are happy or excited.
You are putting them in a good mood to receive negative feedback without causing animosity.
This is very important because most people who are misbehaving tend to be defensive. When you call for the meeting, they are already thinking you are going to scold them or make them wrong.
Your praise must come across as sincere as possible. There’s always something about a person you can praise if you look hard enough.
Also, put a smile on your face. You’d be surprised how one smile can de-escalate tension and cause the person to relax.
It can be something as simple as a time they worked overtime to help with a project or a time they stepped in to help a coworker.
Praises and compliments are the absolute best way to bring someone to your side of the fence.
In fact, you can become a magnetic and highly influential person by constantly praising others.
To manage difficult employees in the workplace, you need to be an elevator. Constant elevate your team members.
Let’s get to the S in the PSP.
2. S is For Share
Now that the difficult employee is on a high, you are ready to share your not-so-pleasing feedback. You are ready to share your concerns about the negative behavior.
But, you can’t just say it without adding some cushion upfront, so it lands with care. You want to pre-frame the feedback with this phrase:
“You can do better.”
Do NOT let the simplicity of that phrase deceive you. It’s packed with psychological implications.
You say, “However, I have some concerns and I believe you can do better.”
You are implying that the employee can go from good to great. It’s not a lost case.
Then you share the behavior without making it about the person. What do I mean by that?
Well, most people would get offended the moment they feel like they are the behavior in question.
To separate the behavior from the employee, NEVER gesture toward the person while mentioning the negative behavior or anything unpleasant.
Only gesture toward the person while praising and complimenting.
Otherwise, the person’s subconscious mind will automatically associate the negative behavior with the person.
As a result, they will put their fence up and be defensive. Not only do you gesture away, you also need to break eye contact while doing it.
Right after you share your concern, say something like, “That’s not like you.” Verbally emphasize that they are not the negative behavior.
3. P Is For Praise (Again)
You want to bring back the good feelings you created at the beginning. Always end the conversation with more praises.
You want to restate the positive qualities or your appreciation. It’s your way of telling the person you are willing to support them if they are willing to cooperate with you.
You are building trust and encouraging them to work on improving their behaviors and attitudes.
Either use the same praises and compliments or you can stack more praises.
You can also repeat your appreciation for showing up. The goal is for both of you to walk away feeling this was beneficial to all.
BONUS
Here Are 7 Best Practices To Keep In Mind During The Process
1. Be Clear & Specific
When addressing negative behaviors or attitudes, be specific about the issue at hand. Explain it without ambiguity.
Say what you mean and mean what you say. Avoid using generalities or vague statements, as they can create doubts and confusion. That can lead to resistance and pushback.
Instead of saying “lately you have been late for work,” provide specific dates and information about when the behavior started.
This will help the employee understand what you are concerned about.
2. Listen and ask questions
The employee is not going to just agree with you and move on. They have their own reasons or concerns.
Be all ears. Listen to those reasons. You may learn something new you were not aware of. Encourage the employee to share their thoughts and listen attentively.
Ask clarifying questions to eliminate any misunderstandings. Try to understand their perspective. It’s important to remember that people will often go out of their way for you when they feel understood. They want to know you feel their pains.
Many times, negative behaviors at work can be caused by personal issues at home. Instead of assuming the issue is work related, ask questions and listen carefully.
3. Focus On The Solutions
Don’t keep rehashing the problem or talking about what’s wrong. Instead, focus on finding solutions and creating a plan for improvement.
This can include talking about potential solutions, setting specific goals, action steps, and checkpoints to track progress.
It’s important to remember not to push your own agenda on the employee. The goal is to move forward and collaborate, rather than getting stuck in a vortex of blame and criticism.
Brainstorm ideas to help the employee do better, as suggested in the beginning.
4. Offer Support & Resources
Be prepared to offer support, assistance, or resources to help them improve. Sometimes, the support can be something as simple as offering moral support.
Maybe you have a budget for training, coaching, or other resources that can help them grow and develop.
When you offer support and assistance, you give a sense that you do want them on the team. They will feel a sense of belonging.
5. Keep The Conversation Confidential
It’s important to respect the employee’s privacy and keep the conversation between the two of you. Avoid discussing what happens in the room with others, as this can create further animosity and damage trust.
If you expect an honest and straightforward conversation, tell the employee that everything discussed will remain totally confidential.
This will inspire an open and honest discussion. By the way, don’t be surprised if the employee starts sharing some sensitive information with you.
Do your best to establish some clear ground rules at the start of the conversation about confidentiality. This will make the meeting more powerful and effective.
6. Always Follow Up
If possible, volunteer to be an accountability partner for the person as part of your support. Help them track progress on how they are improving. That will show your commitment to their success.
Keep your word and follow up. You might even schedule some dates on the calendar to follow up. It’s like getting the employee to have you as their coach or mentor.
7. Keep Excellent Records
You have to document everything when you are called to manage difficult employees. This can be extremely important if the employee’s behavior is causing problems within the team or is negatively impacting the company’s productivity.
Your last resort later might be to terminate or discipline the toxic employee. Without good records, you will have a tough time making your case. You want to be able to show the steps you took to remedy the situation.
That’s to protect yourself and the company at the same time. Sure, you want to help the employee. But don’t be naive either. Don’t let it be your words against theirs.
What You Need To Be Aware Of As You Are Applying The Formula On How To Manage Difficult Employees
If you truly want to manage difficult employees in the workplace, use this strategy exactly as I explained it.
However, don’t let your mind play tricks on you by thinking this is manipulation. It’s called influence. Manipulation is when our intention is harmful.
The fact is, we have been using psychological triggers on each other for thousands of years.
We use all kinds of tricks to convince and persuade each other. What most people call manipulation is nothing but the art of communication.
Another concern is thinking that people will catch us in the act. That’s only if we don’t apply the strategy with honesty and sincerity.
For example, let’s say your spouse wants to go out to eat, but you don’t feel like it. I bet they are going to find a way to persuade you. You know it’s happening, but you still go along with it.
Besides, with practice, you will become a natural at it, just like you are a natural at convincing your kids to clean their room.
Just because you are aware of a strategy doesn’t mean everyone has the same awareness.
All of us, myself included, have been persuaded to do something, even though we know or teach the strategies. It’s because our brain is evolutionarily programmed that way.
This formula will empower you to manage difficult employees without aggravation and frustration. As a result, you will have a more positive work environment. Your team members will be happier. Productivity will go up.
The Ultimate Training For Managers to Manage Difficult Employees Get More Info Here
Building a personal brand requires the right strategies. Otherwise, you will end up making a lot of noise on the social media without any results. Do not rush through this guide. It’s like a mini course or masterclass.
We have gotten massive results for our clients using the same tips you are about to learn here. First, let’s define personal branding.
What is a personal brand?
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com, once said, “Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.”
Your personal brand should be so powerful that people talk about you constantly with their peers and friends.
A powerful brand does not happen by chance. You can’t just read some personal branding books and think you have the full recipe. Let’s get to the point without wasting your time.
Here Are 5 Secrets To Building A Personal Brand
They are all critical. Do not skip any of them. At the end of each segment, you will find an assignment. Please follow through.
Whether you are building a personal brand on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or TikTok, the strategies are the same. In fact, they are the foundation. So, let’s start.
Now, let’s unpack every one of the four secrets, so you can start implementing right away.
Secret #1: Choosing Your Perfect Avatar
As you might know, an avatar is a representation of your ideal client. Some people refer to it as a buyer’s persona or customer profile.
It’s the one person who happily buys from you and thank you for solving his or her problem. There are millions of that one person out there ready to give you money.
Those ideal clients don’t give you any trouble. They sing your praises. They don’t ask for refunds. And they refer their friends and family members to you.
Let’s take a wild guess.
If you are like most entrepreneurs, you probably spend very little time, if any, thinking about who you serve. When in reality that should be your obsession.
In today’s hyper competitive marketplace, the only way to build a million-dollar personal brand is to fall in love with your ideal client. Needless to say you cannot fall in love with a person you don’t know.
Today more than ever, if you are not obsessed with your avatar, you are doomed to struggle in business. You will continue to watch the other guys building wealth in your market while you are barely getting by.
This may sound harsh. But, it might be the one thing you need right now to achieve real financial freedom in your business.
It’s crucial to intimately know the person who is going to make you rich. Later, we will say more about this. For now, you need answer the following questions:
Do you know who is your ideal client or customer avatar? Who are you talking to in the marketplace? Ninety nine percent of business owners have no clue who they serve. We want you to be part of the one percent who do.
We don’t want you to keep throwing rice on the wall hoping some would stick. That’s a terrible business strategy.
Imagine you are at a packed stadium before a game. You want to get a specific person’s attention. You start yelling, “Excuses me! Excuse me!” How many from the crowd do you think would stop to talk to you? The answer is NOBODY!
One of the unbreakable rules of public speaking is this: When you are speaking in front of an audience, speak to one person. People see themselves as individuals.
They ignore what is not addressed to them personally. The best part is, when you speak to one person, each person in the audience feels like you are speaking to him or her.
The crowded stadium we are referring to is the social media platforms. Everyone is screaming at your ideal client. But nobody is calling his or her name. Astonishing, isn’t it?
No wonder why most entrepreneurs complain about the unfair treatment they receive from social media platforms. They blame them for not showing their content to the intended buyers.
How would Facebook know who you are really targeting when you don’t even know yourself? Better yet, how would anyone stop to pay attention to your content when you are speaking to everybody?
What if you were the one person or business calling the exact name of your avatar in that stadium? Your avatar would feel like you are the person who can solve his or her problems.
Here’s a marketing truism you probably are not aware of about building a personal brand:
“If you can describe the customer’s problem better than they can, they will assume you are the solution.”
Please read that again. Let it sync in for a moment. All this boils down to this:
The decisions you make in your business are not about you. They are about the one person you are obsessed about… the client!
Surprisingly enough, we would ask some clients why they chose a certain color. They would answer, “it’s because we love it.” We know they don’t understand what building a personal brand is all about. We know they are not building a million-dollar personal brand.
Your decisions in business are NEVER about you. It’s about them. It’s about their wishes, desires, fears, and aspirations. You are in business to satisfy your avatar.
You don’t choose your color scheme because you love it. You choose it because your ideal client loves it. Consider this:
If you cannot describe them, you cannot attract them. That is why you need to have a crystal clear picture of who you serve.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
First, decide on who is your ideal client avatar. Then develop an obsession to know their deep desires, wishes, worries, fears, and aspirations.
The crazy thing is, the vast majority of business owners think if they choose a specific avatar, they are going to lose out. That is far from the truth. As the saying goes, there are riches in niches.
Here are a few things you must know about your avatar:
Age
Gender
Profession
Income
Marital status
Location
Worries
Desires
Fears
Hobbies
TV shows
Magazines
Facebook groups
Etc.
Chances are, if you’ve been in business for a couple of years, you already have an avatar. There is a specific person who is the perfect fit. Start describing that person.
As you can tell, this is not something you do on a whim. It takes time. Be like a secret agent. Thoroughly investigate your avatar.
By the way, personal brands like Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, or Mark Zuckerberg know their customer avatar to perfection. They always know who they are connecting with.
The more you know about your avatar, the faster you can blow away the competition to dominate your market. The more you can have heart-to-heart conversations that make them fall in love with your personal brand.
Why you or why your company? If you cannot answer this question with absolute certainty, you cannot build a million-dollar brand. You can also see how I share my story here.
Secret #2: Building A Personal Brand Requires A Compelling Why
The “why” is your competitive advantage. Without it, you will never lead the pack and be the obvious choice in the marketplace. You will be fighting an uphill battle. The competition will destroy you.
Most entrepreneurs skip this crucial step. That’s a fatal mistake. They invest enormous time and money in everything else. But they totally neglect to give their prospects a persuasive reason to do business with them.
Can you, right now, tell us why you instead of your competition? What is so unique about your business that would compel your target market to want to buy from you?
When prospective clients come to us to learn about building a personal branding. We know they need a total brand makeover. We always start with the why.
We don’t just design and create award-winning logos, websites, and branding assets. We are the personal brand strategists and consultants. We engineer and develop million-dollar brand blueprints for our technical and design team to implement.
We know the psychological and emotional triggers that make people pull out their credit cards to buy. Simply put, we understand buying behaviors. That is why our clients choose us instead of the competition.
By the way, that’s our unique advantage. That’s WHY companies choose us. That’s why we are expensive. We get results.
Your why should drive all key decisions in your business. It’s your power positioning statement.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Now, it’s your turn. Why should your prospects choose you over your competitors? What makes you so special?
Gather your team members to brainstorm your unique advantage. Create a list of all your competitive advantages.
If you are having a hard time coming up with your why, ask your existing customers or clients why they chose you. Send them a survey with some kind of bribe to motivate them to fill it out.
Next, you want to review all your marketing collateral to determine if you are communicating those advantages. Don’t assume the market knows what makes you unique. Tell them in plain language why they should care.
Secret #3: Be Intentionally Consistent
For some reason, the mind tends to believe and trust whatever is consistent. Even if you tell yourself a lie consistently, your mind will eventually believe it. In fact, everything we believe as true is because for thousands of years, people consistently told us it is so.
Million-dollar brands do not allow the market to form their opinions about what they stand for. They influence and manufacture public opinions. And they do so consistently.
Your personal brand must influence and guide opinions. If you make the mistake of leaving it to the market, they might form negative opinions about you or your business. Simply put, your reputation is up to you.
The consistency of your color, logo, tagline, messaging, value proposition and service must be intentionally consistent with how you want the market to perceive you.
If something does not reflect your personal brand, get rid of it as soon as possible. Your prospective and existing clients should identify your personal brand everywhere.
The consistency of your personal brand is one of the key factors that boosts your authority and credibility. It’s what sets you apart. Here’s a clear example of consistency in building a personal brand:
Let’s say you are a lover of art. You have some favorite painters. Do you think it would be difficult to recognize their paintings in an art museum? The next question is, what causes you to identify those paintings?
That’s right! The consistency of colors, creative imagination, and brush strokes. It doesn’t matter if those paintings are buried into a sea of other paintings, you would know them.
The same level of consistency and recognition should apply to building a personal brand, including your website, your marketing materials, and your social media shares.
Your narrative, mission, and vision should consistently communicate your uniqueness as well.
By the way, EVERYTHING you do or say is branding. Even what you wear is branding. EVERYTHING! People are always watching you.
Every email, ad, video, photo, and post you share should reflect your personal brand. Your Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube feeds should align with your uniqueness. Leave NOTHING to chance.
We are talking about the success of your business. Consistency is how you prevent your current clients from switching to your competitors.
Your tribe needs your assistance to guide them on how to relate to your personal brand. Here’s something else to consider:
People always buy based on emotions, and then they use logic to justify the purchase later. The consistency of your brand is what will trigger those emotions. It’s all about repetition.
When your brand is consistent, your customers cannot help but feel you are indispensable and reliable. As a result, they trust you more.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Pretend you are your prospective client. Look at your website, catalogs, email marketing campaign, text messaging, advertising, blog, and direct mail.
Look for things that are inconsistent or what does not represent your brand. Get rid of them ASAP. Chances are, they are hurting your brand.
Seriously, don’t wait for later. If you have a service or product you offer that is not consistent with your brand, either change it or get rid of it.
Secret #4: Inject A Wow Factor In All You Do
We know it’s kind of unusual for a branding company to talk about the wow factor. After all, building a personal brand should be about the look and feel of a business, right? No really.
The way you delight, romance, and sweep your clients off their feet has a lot to do with creating a million-dollar brand. Here’s what we mean:
Disney World is one of the most powerful brands in the world. It’s relatively expensive to take a family there. However, when people come back from having an amazing vacation at Disney World, they NEVER call their friends and family members to talk about how expensive it was.
Do you know what they call to brag about? You got it right. They call to rave about the experience. Do you think it’s by accident? No.
The experience was orchestrated for that purpose alone. That is known as word-of-mouth marketing. Disney World’s goal is to convert every visitor into a salesperson.
Here’s a million-dollar question for you: Do you have a system in place that is designed to create wow experiences?
Ponder that question. It may be the one thing missing in your business to catapult you to the next level.
Here’s another question: Do your clients call friends, family members, or their colleagues to rave about you?
If your answer is no, it’s time have a creative session with your team to come up with some wow strategies.
Did you also know that millions of businesses fail miserably simply because they don’t have the wow factor in their business?
What do we mean by “wow factor”?
The answer is simple:
We are talking about unforgettable and extraordinary experiences that inspire your tribe to rave about you and your business.
Let’s face it: we are living in a world full of copycats. People will easily copy what you do. They will rip off your messaging, colors, and the overall look of your brand. They will even try to steal your clients.
However, they CANNOT steal the way you delight your clients. They cannot rip off your passion to wow. Simply put, they cannot steal the soul of your business. Does that make sense to you?
Your wow factor will get people to say amazing things about your personal brand when you are not in the room.
Yes, we help our clients create million-dollar brands. However, one of our secret weapons is the fact that we demand that our clients create spectacular experiences for their clients.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
The question is, how do you plan and execute wow experiences to catapult your personal brand to the next level?
Start with your customer’s journey. Determine EVERY single step the prospective client takes to get to you. Take nothing in the journey for granted.
Write down EVERY step, from the time they fill out a form on your website or call your business to the time they become paid clients.
It doesn’t matter if you have one client or one thousand clients. Everything you do and say in your business is part of the experience.
Secret #5: Tell Compelling Stories To Connect Deeply
Storytelling is a huge part of building a personal brand. The better you are at telling stories, the quicker you connect with your tribe.
Every world-class brand has a compelling story that they repeatedly share with their prospects and clients. That’s called indoctrination to the nth degree.
Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, wrote a book to share his story. Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, did the same. Tom Watson, Henry Ford, and all the founders of the major brands we love and admire told their story in a book.
Those founders told their stories to indoctrinate us. More importantly, they told us their story to inspire loyalty. That’s why we fall in love with brands for life.
The reality is, no one really cares about what we have or what we are selling until they know who we are.
Top celebrities in the entertainment industry first become stars. However, they only become superstars when they share their backstory with us.
We love Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, and many others because we know so much about their struggles. They pull the curtain aside and give us a backstage pass to get to know them at a deep level. They invite us to learn about the real person behind the fame.
Pay attention to the way Gary Vaynerchuk. leverages his personal stories. You will learn a lot from him. Do the same for Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah’s story is remarkable and extremely well told. Success leaves clues. Find those clues and apply them.
Do you get the point? Here’s a hint:
Have you ever wondered why all the social media platforms are now introducing stories as important features? Do you notice how they are constantly promoting those features?
Life is storytelling in the making.
We are constantly telling stories to our significant others and to the people we meet. That’s because stories bond us and help us relate to one another.
Our stories are therapeutic to others. They inspire and uplift us. It’s like those stories give us the permission to live our dreams.
We are subconsciously programmed to tell and listen to stories. It’s a primate tendency. It’s also what separates us from animals. Stories captivate our imagination. That is why we get sucked into movies and books.
Do you remember as a child when your parents would say, “Once upon a time”? You immediately stop whatever you were doing and lean forward. That’s the point.
We cannot resist a good story. And your story is an important extension of your brand. It’s critical for building a personal brand.
Guess what?
Every brand is a story worth sharing. Just like the celebrities and founders mentioned above, you need to tell your tribe your genesis story.
Tell them how you got started or what brought you this far. It may be boring to you. But to your prospects and clients, it’s exciting. Why?
They are, either consciously or subconsciously, craving to know more about you as a brand. Your struggles and the obstacles you overcame are inspirational to them.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Start practicing sharing the story of how you got started with friends and acquaintances. Watch their reaction. Listen to the kind of follow up questions they ask you.
Again, everybody secretly would like to know how you got to where you are today.
Your hero’s journey or genesis story is not the only story you need to share. Here are other types of stories you should be sharing as well:
1.Your clients’ stories
There’s no doubt you already know that collecting testimonials from your clients is crucial. In our branding firm, we call them case studies and tell them in the form of well-orchestrated stories.
2. Your employees’ stories
Your employees are part of your brand. Tell their stories of accomplishments. That’s a great opportunity to celebrate them publicly so they can move mountains for you.
Needless to say, you have a solid personal brand when your employees are promoting and bragging about you.
3. Your achievement stories
When you get mentioned in the news, or receive an award or any form of accolade, turn them into stories to share. Your clients and prospects want to hear the news about you.
LET’S CONCLUDE…
If you are reading this far, you are destined to create a million-dollar brand. We congratulate you! That tells us you are committed to building a personal brand. Kudos!
Most people will never read this far. But you did. That tells us you are serious. You understand what a powerful and magnetic brand can do for your business.
Now it’s time for implementation.
The ideas we just shared with you are useless and pointless unless you follow through with the assignments.
We literally reverse engineer thousands of irresistible brands along with our clients’ successes. We have a combined forty years of experience in the branding space.
We just handed you on a silver platter what took us years of researching, systemizing, and executing. It’s the same blueprint we deploy for your premium clients.
YOUR INVITATION
Finally, for the sake of time, we couldn’t share with you everything about building a personal brand. There are way too many moving parts in building a personal brand. At least, we gave you the critical branding tips to get you started.
If you want us to dive deeper with you, feel free to schedule a call with us. Click here to contact us. Fill out the form. Then we will send you the calendar link.
You may not come from generational wealth, but generational wealth can start with you. Here are the principles to live by.
1. Create Your Day
Each day is a mini version of your whole life condensed into a snapshot. If you don’t have 15 minutes to plan it, you are not earning the right to live the entire journey. Start with gratitude, prayer, or meditation. Drink your water, exercise, and set daily goals.
2. Know Your Worth
No man can ever determine your worth. People can pay you for access. However, they cannot afford to pay you what you are worth. You are the prize. Don’t just believe it. Know it with certainty.
3. Nurture Your Relationship
God uses people to open doors for you. Create a large network of quality people. Network with people who are living your dream. Go where they are and connect with them. Buy whatever they have for sale or deliver unbelievable value to them. Your net worth is your network.
4. Create Assets
Money follows assets. Create products or services that solve specific problems. The key is to be the owner. Instead of buying the car, own the dealership. Rich people sell more. Poor people buy more. Always strive to be on the other side of the cash register
5. Defend Your Territory
80% of wealth creation is mindset. Raise your vibration and frequency to the same level of that which you want. Then defend and protect your mindset. Do not tolerate those who interfere with your frequency and vibration. Love them from a distance.
6. Buy Time Instead Of Selling time
Rich people buy time. Poor people sell time. If you are working for someone, you are actually selling time. Be the one doing the hiring so you can buy time. Remember this: OPT (other people’s time) and OPM (other people’s money) are the key to wealth generation.
7. Be The Go -Giver, Not The Go-Getter
Be a blessing to others so you can be blessed. Give money, compliments or praises, advice, resources, or anything that adds value. If you are in business, give your clients more than they are paying for.
8. Unleash Your Imagination. Declare And Decree
Everything you see around you was once an imagination in someone’s mind. If you cannot imagine it, you cannot have it. Simply put: you gotta have it before you can have it. Close your eyes and see yourself vividly living your dream exactly the way you want it.
9. Practice Unbounded Gratitude
Be grateful for the little things, and the big things will start manifesting. No matter what your circumstances are, you can always be grateful for something. It’s impossible to be grateful and be depressed at the same time. If you are not getting what you want, it’s because you are not being grateful for what you have.
10. Be An Elevator
Make everyone you come in contact with feel they are special. Challenge them to dream bigger. Empower them to have a larger vision. Show them what’s possible. Listen to their stories. Be genuinely interested in them. As a result, they will conspire with you to make you wealthy.
Try to put those strategies into practice daily and watch your bank account soar.
Do you have a wealth strategy to share with us?
I met a young lady who told me that she couldn’t find a job because companies are not hiring. I told her to say instead, “Companies are not hiring ME.”
The good news is, companies are always hiring. People die, retire, get sick, and change jobs. Tons of people start new jobs every day. Some have two jobs.
The young lady is simply not able to make a good case or persuade someone to hire her. Most people approach finding an ideal job casually. They have no strategy. They don’t realize looking for a job requires a relentless attitude.
7 Proven Ways To Lend An Ideal Job:
1. Turn Off The Television
The media love to remind us that the economy is bad. They will splash the high unemployment rate on your screen to intimidate you.
They’ll tell you companies are closing their doors or downsizing.Don’t wait for them to let you know when it’s time to step out and start knocking on doors. Your wait will never be over.
The thing is, if you keep flooding your mind with bad news about the economy or the job market, you will freeze. Even if you are lucky to get a job interview, your negative attitude will sabotage your chance.
I encourage you to turn your television off. Hit the road. Others are getting jobs. You can, too. They are not more special or more favored.Not having a job is depressing enough.
Why would you let the media make your situation seem worse? Here’s a little secret:A negative attitude will kill your opportunity to get hired.
Above all, companies will hire you because of your positive attitude and enthusiasm. If you are not feeling upbeat, present, and enthusiastic, don’t even bother to look for a job.
2. Avoid The Unemployment Line
Collecting unemployment checks is easy. After all, you needed a break. And you paid into the system. It’s fair to get what you deserve. Right?Well, it’s a trap.Once you start collecting those checks, you’ll find yourself in a comfort zone.
Now, if you need a couple of paychecks until you get the new job, do so. But don’t get too cozy.I know it’s a good feeling when you get to stay in bed, avoid fighting traffic and stay away from annoying people.
Who wouldn’t want that?But, resist the temptation.Nature hates a vacuum. She’ll always go where there’s none. It’s like dating. All the prospects will come out of the woodwork when you are unavailable. Am I right?
The same applies when it comes to landing your ideal job. It’s a lot easier to get one while you are employed or right after you get laid off.
That explains why the more you have, the more you continue to have. It’s not fair. But, it is what it is.Simply put, if you have to get some money to get over the hump, go for it.
In the meantime, commit and focus on shortening the gap as fast as possible. That will also do a lot of good for your self-worth and self-esteem.
3. Make Looking For A Job Your New Job
Think about it this way: You are never unemployed unless you are retired. What do I mean by that?Looking for a job is a job in and of itself. Your search begins as soon as they let you know that they are either eliminating your position or replacing you.
When someone asks you what you do for a living, say, “At present, I work for myself. I’m working on getting a job. Do you know of anyone who is hiring?”
You are now a salesperson. You are selling yourself to prospective employers. Build a strong case to persuade them you are the best candidate for the position.
That means you have to put yourself in front of lots of prospects to increase your odds. It’s not enough to send messages to people on LinkedIn.
Of course, you need to use social media. But, do so to secure face-to-face interviews. Nothing beats sitting with a smile on your face while making a good case, you are the best person for the job.
4. Do Not Hide Behind Your Resume
Companies do NOT hire resumes. They hire people.Your resume’s purpose is to qualify you for an interview. It’s to get their attention.
It won’t lend you the job. You have to do the selling in person.Your resume cannot express your enthusiasm and positive attitude.
They will ask you to submit your resume online and expect someone to call you. That’s okay to submit it. But don’t wait for someone to call you.Pick up the phone and make the call yourself.
They might tell you that everybody has to go through the same process.Let them know you’re initiating the call because you are not everybody else. You are proactive. You don’t wait for the phone ring. You ring it.
That means you do not wait for the boss to tell you what to do. You take the initiative to get things done. That’s what superstars do in the workplace.
If the person who is on the phone does not appreciate those lines, you are talking to the wrong person.Ask for the name of the person who can value your approach.
Then send a note to the right person to reiterate what I just mentioned.You have to prove that you are unique. Don’t let your resume do your job. Drop by and ask to speak quickly with the manager who is looking candidates for five minutes.
5. Take The Spotlight Off You
We already talk about what you need to do during the interview.Know that the interviewer will keep asking you questions to shine the spotlight on you.
But, be like a politician. Set the agenda. Answer with sound bites. Then reframe the conversation to talk about what you can do for their company.
Talk about their goals instead of yours.If you know customer service is important to them, talk about it. Let them how you intend to use your strengths and skills to help them wow their customers.
They will bring up your weaknesses, such as your lack of experience in such and such. Again, just like a politician, say something like this,“I agree with you.
But, here’s what I know for sure. I’m a fast learner. I have the right attitude to master anything. That’s not a problem at all.
Give me a chance, and I promise to surprise you.”By the way, never use the phrase, “If you hire me.” Say, “When you hire me,
I will do whatever it takes to make your company number one in customer service.”But, make sure you deliver on your promises. If you are not going to do so, you might as well be like anybody.
6. Network Like Mad
You cannot land your ideal job and be a hermit. Fill up your calendar with events so you can be visible. Try to attend two to three events per week.If you live in the US, attend lots of civic clubs meetings to meet new people.
The Optimist International, Kiwanis International, and Lions International all hold meetings every single day.Your business journals publish lots of business networking events. Make sure you always have your resume with you.
The people at the events may not be in a position to hire. But they can connect you with the right people who can do so. Again, be proactive. Don’t just pass on your resume.
Ask for names and contact info to follow up.Also, remember to send a thank-you note to the person who gives you the job lead. Send one whether you got the job or not. That will go a long way.
7. Be A Follow Up Machine
Typically, the average person goes to an interview and waits for the phone to ring later. Well, people are busy.Your interviewer is not losing sleep, thinking about how bad you need a job. You are the least of his or her concerns.
Don’t take it personally when you don’t get the call.Don’t let your ego stand in your way. It’s your job to keep following up.You are thinking, “I went to the interview. I did a convincing job selling myself.
There’s no need to keep pestering the people. They will call if they need me.” Really?You should celebrate when you get the call to come for your orientation.
First, second, or third interviews don’t mean much. You have to close the sale.Keep following up.Send a handwritten thank-you note on the same day after the interview.
Thank the person for the job interview opportunity.Reaffirm your commitment to join forces with them to help them achieve their goals. Do so even if you didn’t think you did well.
Next, you want to call. Say, “Hi, I’m calling to find out where you are in your decision-making. Will you need any more information from me?” Ask for permission to follow up again in a week or two.
Remind them of your commitment to helping them achieve their goals. Say something like, “I don’t want to be a pest. I’m following up because most people never do. It’s my of proving to you that I will follow up on my promises.”
Now, if someone tells you don’t be so pushy, do not take that advice. It’s because they don’t have the courage to do it.A good employer will appreciate your strategy.
Of course, every time you call, you should always say, “I know you are busy. I’m calling you for a quick call to follow up.”
In conclusion…
If you want to distinguish yourself on the job, start proving it during the interview process. Do not listen to the naysayers.
There is plenty of work available in the job market in spite of the bad news.Being good will not cut in this new economy. You have to be amazing! Show up with your A-game.
Work hard. Show up early. Stay past your regular hours now and then. That will go a long way. You will be on the radar for future promotions. That will remove you from the layoff list.
Finally, remember this: It’s your attitude that determines your altitude. It’s what determines how long you stay unemployed.
In life we always have choices. We can choose to focus on the negative or the positive. No one can take away that power from us.
Unfortunately, a lot of people choose to focus their energy on what not working versus what’s working. When the difficult times arrive, they choose to give them the wrong meaning.
Our lessons and gifts in life don’t always come as chocolate covered ice cream. Sometimes they come as a rose stem full of thorns. It’s not until we accept the thorns and plant the stem in the water of faith, the rose begins to unfold.
Some people would ask me if I’m always happy and fired up. They think because I’m a motivational speaker, life is always amazing for me. No, I’m not always Mr. Motivator. I have had moments of despair, worries, and uncertainties just like everybody. That’s called life. Please watch this video and you will see what I mean.
