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“Change Takes Courage”

Blue Print of a Successful An Employee

ByLyman A. Montgomery, MBA

President, Lyman Montgomery Success Networkwww.lymanmontgomery.com

Blue Print of a Successful EmployeeSuccess Quiz: Who Am I?

• I was suspended from school for hazing and went on to be the first African American Supreme Court Justice.

• I was the first Senator elected during the Reconstruction Period.

• I organized the March on Washington in 1963 and founded a union for railroad porters.

• I am the original founder of Def Jam Records • I started my company at 65; received 1,009 rejections, today I

am one of the largest chicken restaurant chains in the world.• Father left when a child, I’ve eaten dog, snake, and

grasshoppers, I’m left handed, and won a Grammy for Dreams from My Father. My name means “One who is Blessed”

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

What is Your Definition of Success?

Who Shaped Your Perception of Success?

Do you Have a Blueprint for Your Life?

How Do you Measure Success?

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

What is a Blue Print? A type of paper-based reproduction usually of a

technical drawing, documenting an architecture or engineering design. Another meaning is a detailed plan.

Founder: British astronomer John Herschel 1842

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

What is Success?• Success is the completion of anything intended • Doing what you said you would do, with ease • Success is just a few simple disciplines practiced daily• Developing ones self into a person who is valuable to

others

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

F.O.C.U.S. on SUCCESS• Foundation: What is the core of your existence, what are you passionate

about in life?• Opportunity: Search for opportunities to expand your foundation through

volunteering and community service.• Creativity: Be creative in your thinking and view of the world, get out of the

box! • Utilization: You need to pull together or utilize resources that help you

achieve your goal(s) in Life• System: Develop a systematic approach to getting things done so that it is

duplicable by others, McDonald’s has a system, KFC has a system, you need a system of success principles.

Blue Print of a Successful EmployeeFive keys to a Success Career Search

• Companies today are looking for that top 10 – 30% employee. Make sure you have what it takes to meet their needs. You must become “performers” and not just “presenters.” Companies want “employees” and not just “candidates.”

• Expect performance based/behavioral interviewing. Nowadays, expect HR associates to “dig deeper” and ask questions regarding performance, achievements, initiative and leadership potential. Hiring managers and recruiters are aware that candidates can “shine” in a one-hour interview.

• Be prepared to deliver salesmanship. You must make sure that your career search tools are sharing “what you have done with what you’ve got.” You must showcase your accomplishments, how you achieved them, and your next steps.

• Accomplishments are mandatory. Be prepared to demonstrate your contributions, projects managed and how you “stepped out of the box” at various levels (individual, team and/or community). To have nothing… will not do.

• Stability is very important today. If you have gaps, be prepared to explain. However, keep it business savvy and honest. Volunteering during an employment gap could actually work in your favor.

• A Case for Volunteering: Find an organization that supports your life philosophy and offer some

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

Five keys to a Success Interview• Researching the job description trumps researching the organization.

If they do substantial research at all, many young professionals will waste a great deal of heavy lifting trying to memorize all sort of big-picture facts about an organization. How many millions of revenue did the company record last year? How many mutual funds does the employer make available to investors?

• If possible, talk to someone who has already worked in the job.A prospective interviewee can sometimes get unbelievable inside information and use it to advantage. What makes the manager happy? What are the manager’s pet peeves? What projects are in the pipeline? Heck, what will the interview be like? A 15-minute conversation can make some interview questions seem like a softball pitch that can easily be hit over the fence.

• Develop a strategy, and prepare to use it as early as possible in the interview.I recommend that students try to connect their resumes to each specific job description. What are the most obvious bridges between past or present experiences and the needs of the employer? Which of those qualities are the best differentiators for that candidate—the qualities or background that other candidates are unlikely to be able to claim? After brainstorming a list of six or seven possibilities, boil them down to the three or four strongest elements. This is the interviewee’s strategy.

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

Five keys to a Success Interview• Prepare behavioral stories for the interview.

Anyone can claim to have a specific soft skill that an employer seeking. But why should the employer believe you? Any statement needs to be proven with evidence, and the best way to do so is with a behavioral-based interviewing story. Telling stories—including thoughts, emotions, and actions as the situation works from problem to solution—is a great way to show the employer what makes you tick.

Prepare five behavioral stories before they start interviewing. Once they have them, they find ways to use them—even in conventional interviews.

• Always develop great questions for the end of the interview.Sometimes candidates are eager to have the interview end and are quick to forego the opportunity to ask candidates. Big mistake: Nothing conveys a lack of interest in the job more than a dearth of questions at the end of the interview. Other candidates do ask questions, but they tend to be generic questions about hours and duties.

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

Dress to Impress• Clothes are a symbol of your work ethic, culture,

gender, status, and economic conditioning.• Clothing will impress someone, but seldom will it lend

itself to being successful.• Three of the richest men in the world dress in blue

jeans and loafers: Steve Jobs (Apple Computers, Bill Gates (MicroSoft), and Tony Hsieh (Zappos).

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

Qualities of a Great Employee• Positive Attitude

Employers value an employee who is cheerful and upbeat with a “can do” attitude. A good sense of humor is also a must.

• Communication Skills Excellent written and verbal skills are a must. Express yourself clearly and accurately, in writing and in speaking. Employers value good sentence structure, essay and report making skills.

• Build a good vocabulary and perfect your spelling. Your good communication skills reflects positively on the company if you are hired.

• Computer Skills Today knowing how to operate a computer is essential. Many jobs require at the least e-mailing and word processing skills.

• Strong Work EthicA hard working employee is a very valued employee. Finish what you start even when the going gets tough.

Blue Print of a Successful EmployeeQualities of a Great Employee

• Honesty and Integrity Do not “borrow” company supplies, products or personal equipment with out employer permission. Just because you use it at work doesn’t mean it belongs to you. No lying, cheating or stealing. Gove a full days work for a full days pay. Personal phone calls are for your break time.

• PunctualityArrive at work on time. Return from breaks and lunch on time as well. In the rare instances when employees cannot avoid being late to work or are unable to work as scheduled, they should notify their supervisor as soon as possible in advance of the anticipated tardiness or absence.

• Flexibility and AdaptabilityWillingness to get involved with numerous projects, to help and encourage others, and to find creative solutions to difficult problems. It is necessary to adapt to change quickly and easily. Ability to quickly learn new things. Not getting discouraged by setbacks. Following through on those projects you may not care for. Able to let go, take charge and capitalize on the opportunities presented.

Blue Print of a Successful Employee

Qualities of a Great Employee•

Analytical and Problem Solving SkillsDon’t shy away from creativity. Many employees fear taking on new task feeling they may fail or have an extra workload. Employers look for employees who come up with creative ways to solve problems. Think outside the box.

• Interpersonal SkillsGetting along with others, being kind, friendly easy to talk to. Practice the golden rule: “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” Don’t forget your dress and grooming are very important. Make sure your clothes are clean and neat, your hair is combed, and shower and use deodorant.

• Team Work SkillsA good employee is able to work as part of a team to accomplish company goals. Being able to listen and work with group ideas.

• Initiative and MotivationBe a self-starter. Have an enthusiastic and positive attitude in the workplace. Being a hard worker as opposed to a lazy one.

Blue Print of a Successful EmployeeQualities of a Great Employee

• LoyaltyAlways speak well of the workplace, supervisor or job. Don’t discuss

confidential matters with anyone who is not authorized to know.