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Politics and organisations seem to go hand in hand – work in an organisation, handle the politics. And each night worry about it and about getting ahead. Reality check: the higher you go, the more serious the political game.

There is logic to this – people have different agendas, corporate and personal, noble and ignoble and these will inevitably conflict with those of other people. So politics is part of the reality of working in organisations, and is not going away. The only issue is whether you have the capacity to deal with it and whether the organisation is pathologically political or acceptably political.

Politics is the art of getting things done and reaping the benefits; it provides the power to get things done against opposition.

Here’s the good news – being politically smart is not a trait; rather it is a skill that can be mastered. You probably already have a natural political style, forged in the family and at school which you put into practice in the world of work. This natural style can be made more effective and efficient if you understand the game better.

For convenience, let’s divide people into four types. There is the “Purist” who naively believes that one can get ahead by doing well and will not pursue personal advancement at the expense of others. Purists only survive and thrive in minimally political organisations. In decades of consulting to large and small organisations, for profit and non profit, I have not yet met a Purist at the top. It doesn’t mean they don’t exist, I just haven’t met one.

The next political style is the “Team Player”. His or her approach is to get ahead by working well with others and they never put personal needs above the needs of the group. They work within the parameters of the sanctioned rules, formal and informal, share information freely, and are willing to trade favours.

The character that most people associate with politics in organisations is the “Street Fighter”. In fact, however, he or she is only one of the four types of political beings in an organisation. This person is an individualist who believes that the only way to get ahead, is through rough tactics. They push their own goals hard and are slow to trust others which is why they spend so much time watching their backs. They actually enjoy intrigue and derive personal gratification from ‘working the system’. While they are go getters who would run over their own grandmother to get the results they desire, they are not out to get others as much as they are out “not to be gotten”.

The last of our four political types is the ‘Manoeuvrer’. He or she is an individualist, just like the street fighter, but who in contrast gets ahead by playing political games unobtrusively and skilfully. Manoeuvrers are quite uninhibited about using politics but they prefer to do so in a deniable way. They can be friendly and caring because they are smooth operators who are not averse to starting fires and then putting them out and thereby becoming the hero.

So what is your natural political style?
How easily you can exercise this style is contextual, so let us now look at the contextual issues. There is no such thing as a non political organisation that just doesn’t exist, so we will divide organisations into four political types. The first and easiest for anyone to function in is the “minimally politicised” organisation. Here the atmosphere is amicable and issues are resolved without pain or deceit.

We also have the moderately politicised organisation where politics operates on generally understood, formally sanctioned rules and unsanctioned means are unusual. Such environments enjoy being able to convey the impression of a context in which rules apply. In their best form, conflict in these organisations is of short duration and not pervasive. In the worst forms they have a type of schizophrenia prevailing, where they profess a desire for A, but reward B. For example, a university might state that it requires of its professors to be great teachers, but rewards them for producing academic publications.

Both the minimally and moderately politicised organisations can be considered normal environments in which people of goodwill can survive and thrive. Clearly, the more the denizens understand their environment and the agendas of the people in them, the more effective they will be in achieving the results they desire.

Once we move out of the realm of the functional, we encounter two types of political environments that are essentially dysfunctional. The first is the ‘Highly Politicised’ organisation. Here conflict is frequent and pervasive and rules are only invoked when convenient. There is no shortage of topics that are undiscussable and woe betide the ignorant who raises these! To survive, one needs to know what these are and avoid them. In organisations that are highly politicised, competence is not recognised nearly as much as ‘whom you know’. If you’re not part of the in group these organisations are highly stressful places in which to work. If you are unfortunate enough to work in such an organisation you cannot take solace in the hope of a quick fix as soon as there is a change of regime or some other opportunity this type of organisation is really fixed quickly.

The most dysfunctional organisation is the one we call the ‘Pathologically Politicised’. Here conflict is long lasting, and the organisation is easily recognised by the manner in which the powerful are flattered and the powerless are abused. Information is always massaged and reality rarely seeps through the dense fog of political dysfunction. It is not unusual for people to poison their own wells in organisations like these, and to fabricate the most pernicious rumours about people. Gossip and verbal backstabbing rise to an art form as does the “fake left, go right” strategies of a boxer. Everyone in these organisations is considered to be dispensable, and everyone is made to feel that way. To survive requires being obsequious but it is never quite clear towards whom exactly.

It is not uncommon to find any combination of the four political environments existing in the same organisation, even in organisations that are small.

I quite deliberately called the last two types of organisations dysfunctional because with time, both will prove incapable of functioning. Peter Drucker spoke these immortal words: “Those whom the gods wish to curse, they first give a decade of fabulous results!” It is for this reason that so many believe that the pathologically or a highly politicised environments are acceptable – (How bad can we be? Our results are excellent!) But as night follows day, sooner or later these organisations will fail.

Cold comfort for the abused – a warning to the abuser

Ian Mann is a management consultant and avid student of business. He has featured on radio and TV and conducted seminars for a number of corporate giants.

This article was published in the December issue of HR Future magazine 2007.

Man On The Moon

2009-04-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

When the powers collide

2009-03-31T03:59:00.000-07:00

When people of different temperament, values, beliefs and goals come together there will be friction and eventually there will be problem to tackle. I had been there and still facing it now and then. When there is a problem you have a choice to burry your head on the sand and remain a victim or to raise your head and face the challenge ahead. I had been an ostrich buried in the sand, helpless when the problem becomes too gigantic. So, what do you do to face the problems? You require the following skills to come out of problems.

1. Ability to take firm decisions quickly
2. Communicate well and faster
3. Guys will always misunderstand you (its part of life) and so clarify them as quick as possible.
4. Be ready to loose the game (don’t play to win always) if you stay to win longer the problem may become bigger and gigantic.
5. Do not fall into dependencies – you will remain as a slave for ever.
6. See alternatives
7. Take advice but don’t follow it unless you have the same set of values and conviction.

But there are situations where everything goes upside down and so what do you do? All you need is to be brave and face the challenges ahead. Let the other party be right because you know you are right in your world and so, let the other party feel right in his own way. You will get your turn when time comes by.

Stand firm with your values even if you change over a period of time…Stand Firm. Let the guys misunderstand you, do not bother too much about it because that’s the way world works.

IF the other guy always says you are wrong… either run away from him or stay there until both get into good terms and I will always choose the latter.

Teen Millionaires...How Did They Do It?

2008-11-23T08:25:00.000-08:00

Never Cold Call

2008-11-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

2008-09-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

THE SMART KID

2008-07-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

Dreaming - Michael Gerber

2008-04-14T04:44:00.000-07:00

Corporate Social Responsibility

2008-03-28T05:31:00.000-07:00

Corporate Social Responsibility
By Barath Surendran

Corporate environment is creating hell a lot of social problems and social disturbances in India. If you have seen the recent news a Bangalore software engineer kills his wife and also commits suicide. On the one side it is good that we talk about economic growth and wealth creation but on the other side it is creating social disturbances and problems. Reasons for this are because we have not advanced in human engineering and the ability to solve social problems while we focus on capitalism.

Indian companies in general have practices that are sure to cause social problems and disturbances. Many companies have so called HR Departments which act like mere recruitment departments and the line managers on the other side looking for just a worker who can be used as scapegoat during the process of wealth creation.

There are different schools of thought followed by different companies one blaming the other as unethical and immoral. The true reality is that both have their own share of sins committed during their existence for fulfilling their vision.

The great Indian middle class population suffers because it is sandwiched between the corporate culture and the social norms and beliefs.

The young blood coming out of the business schools will definitely change this scenario over a period of time provided they become wiser than the previous generations by understanding all situations, all cultures and strike a balance.

A corporate is not a community or a moral police trying to justify their school of thought, if so then the person heading the enterprise should join political party and contest for election. A corporate on the other hand is definitely just a business house trying to make a profit.

Where it all leads to?

As Earl Nightingale says "if the majority is doing that way definitely it is a Average way"

Do not be average by following the masses; be remarkable by following your own vision and your inner gut.

In the closing...

"Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Goethe.

Barath Surendran is a budding Entrepreneur and gives career Guidance in his Blog:
http://jobhoppers.blogspot.com/

Also runs a small Direct Marketing business and few Internet sites http://www.techemate.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barath_Surendran
http://EzineArticles.com/?Corporate-Social-Responsibility&id=1064250

Empowerment takes more than a minute - WRONG!

2008-03-15T00:59:00.000-07:00

Empowerment takes more than a minute - WRONG!
By Barath Surendran

Suspicion, inability to trust, not understanding external environments and thinking that empowerment is after all a one minute job will lead to bad judgment and bad decision. Constant monitoring, gathering information from irrelevant sources and trying to justify what you infer is right are all the sign of bad management!

Empowerment does not take more than a minute, it takes every minute, and it's the work of the true leader.
With constant monitoring and judging one can never build trust levels between the leader and the team member. Worst of all it may back fire and the team member may loose interest in his work or it may lead to even exhaustion, burn out etc.

HR department should act as a friend, philosopher and guide and not act like a POLICE Department trying to find the unknown information from the unknown, irrelevant sources.

The relevant information has to be gathered from relevant person.

Paranoid workplace will create paranoia among many workers and managers. Person who cannot trust will never stop suspicion and will definitely ruin many peoples peace of mind.

What Steven covey says is its all about Mutual understanding and creative cooperation. Understanding the team member is only through spending more time with them and talking to them and through mentoring. Cooperation comes from not through order but through consensus.

In country like India the social system has been such that the communities were doing one set of occupation for generations and the relation between the employer and employee has been more like the master and slave. even though modernization has swept across the country the operating system that most Indian companies and people in general carry is more that of the old system of hierarchies and controlling mentality.

The new India has to think about self reliance and democratic way of life in corporate too.
We are just talking about poverty less world, prosperity to all and to get to that it needs a big change in attitude and thinking. I am already on the go...r u?

Barath Surendran is a budding Entrepreneur and gives career Guidance in his Blog: http://jobhoppers.blogspot.com/
Also runs few Internet sites http://www.techemate.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barath_Surendran
http://EzineArticles.com/?Empowerment-takes-more-than-a-minute---WRONG!&id=1041244

Email Marketing Made Easy

2007-10-30T02:43:00.000-07:00

Michael Port on small business marketing

2007-10-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

Gary Halbert : The Greatest Copywriters in History

2007-10-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

Taylor Mali on what teachers make

2007-08-21T22:23:00.001-07:00

Success requires Social Intelligence than IQ

2007-08-14T22:47:00.000-07:00

The secret of sales success

2007-08-07T04:55:00.000-07:00

Check This out!

2007-07-29T03:08:00.000-07:00

How to Start a Business for job hoppers

2007-07-28T00:42:00.000-07:00

How to Start a Business for job hoppers

IF you are quitting too many jobs then you should considering starting something on your own, why? Because no one is going to pay you money for being unemployed. Starting a business is not for the rich, it is for the unsteady professional with a narrow specialization wanting to become remarkable. I was one among the job hoppers wanting to earn a living by starting a business and I learn few lesson’s a hard way along the road.

1. Don’t think BIG, Think Small, PRACTICAL and REALISTIC.
Why? You are not going to become bill gates tomorrow. First start making those few initial sales going in your business.
Focus on stabilizing your income for at least a year or two.

2. Don’t sweat the small stuff, Relax and go slowly, steadily and passionately. Don’t be in a hurry even though people around you push you to be so.

3. Become a student of Marketing. Study books on direct marketing and sales.

4. Get it from Authors like Robert kiyosaki, Dan S Kennedy and Robert Ringer.

5. Internet is the best place to start generating Leads and never become addicted totally with the Internet. Offline is the Best way to close the sale.

6. Leverage by selling other peoples products. Which can be done by acquiring reseller rights or becoming an affiliate?

7. If you are a Product creator then leverage by giving reseller rights to marketers.

8. Just keep going. Never Quit!

It’s a matter of Time, patience and through consistent approach you will succeed in your business venture.

Barath Surendran is a budding Entrepreneur and gives career Guidance in his Blog: http://jobhoppers.blogspot.com/
Also runs a small Direct Marketing business and few Internet sites http://www.techemate.com

How to Start a Small Business Part 1

2007-07-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

How to Start a Small Business Part 1

By Varun Pratap

9 years ago, I decided I would rather struggle and starve than find a normal 9-5 hr (is there such thing as 9-5? I wonder) JOB. I was just a greenhorn right out of high school at ripe age of 17. I had my shares of ups and downs. And boy, do I have few horror stories to share?

Today after putting together a successful business, I often wonder if I’d do things differently if I have to start again. Of course there are tons of things but I am going to highlight most important ones here. I know these are going to help you a lot.

I don’t know why you are starting out? may be you don’t like your boss or may be you think it’s better to work yourself and make all the money. Regardless of your reasons, you’ll find this list helpful. Don't forget you can use these techniques on internet too.

1. Have More confidence in Your Skill : No matter who you meet, be it an expert businessman or an authority figure in your niche. Have more confidence. I cannot stress this enough. If you have worked hard to learn a skill then I can bet, there are only a few people better than you.

I was a programmer and I understood this unknowingly to the extent I was arrogant about it. I have met many highly paid programmers and knew their skills weren’t at my level. If I start again, I’d not mind crossing the arrogance line once again.

Why? If you are confident in your skill, that’ll come across in your communication and will help you land a client or two regardless of your experience. I had more than few HR managers of big firms looking to hire me.

2. No More Free Work : I’d do no work which doesn’t get me paid right now. Nope, never. I did this mistake to “build my portfolio”. And trust me not many people trust your skills if you are working for free.

If you like doing charity work, then I can show you tons of guys who’ll squeeze every drop of blood out of you before you say “Hi”.

3. Give discounts or Free for promise of more work: Now my first client was like “If you work for me, I’ll get you this guy, that guy and that guy’s account and more over you guys aren’t even experienced, nobody will pay you a single dime”.

If that happens to you. Find a better client. Trust me… This client was big headache. I had a bad hunch, but my partner told me to go ahead. Now this client would change his requirements of this project every day and then later cut down the deadline from 90 days to 50 days.

If you have been in programming, then you know it’s not easy at all. From coding, to testing and debugging. We worked like maniacs… and what we got? Nothing, Nada, zippo.

No more price cutting or competing on price. You'll always end up on losing side.

Well the only good thing we got out of this client was understanding how to deal with people like him. That’s it. Never got paid for this project. My finger tips still hurt after working for him day in day out. I might talk more about dealing with guys like him in another post.

You'll read 4 more tips in my next part of this series.

Read My blog on Freelancing and How to start a small business. These tips will help you launch your freelance career or your small business with more confidence and surety.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Varun_Pratap
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Start-a-Small-Business-Part-1&id=656774

Sundays Are For Reflections!

2007-07-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sundays Are For Reflections!

By MarieLouise Falk

Thank God for Sunday. A day for reflection. Life is moving as I feel it in different speeds. When we were kids the seasons were so long. The winter holidays were extreme long. The snow was deep and high. Our summers were very hot.

In the early teenage time seemed to speed up little more. Do you remember your older relatives always made comments like Gosh how big you are now and oh what time is running away. Now you can relate to those comments. So what can we do? Is it always like this? I think when you are busy and you are happy time is moving faster. When you are sad, unhappy and do not have things to do time seems to stand still.

What is the advice then? Time is always moving so we can not do anything about that. It is the way we see it or interpret it.

Lucky us we can not do anything to change the time so it has to be ourselves. Take the Sunday to reflect on how you use the time. Is it important to do that? Well it is all up to you.

For me I like to take the time to do it on Sunday. As the bible say to rest on the seventh day. I prefer to take the rest on Sunday. You can choose which day you like most. Maybe you are working on Sunday and prefer another day and that’s fine. It seems to be a set time we are on this planet. What we do of it is very personal. Some people just live the days as it come others like to plan every detail of it. If you do plan it think again of what you are planning. What is important in your life today? Is it the same as it was years ago? So now when you plan what is it you are aiming for? Maybe it is the brand new car or a great holiday? Or is it a long life plan for the family? Can we enjoy life more without planning? If we would let go of the watch who would tell us about the time?
Try that every now and then. Let go of time. Enjoy the moments that comes by. Look at the nature. How is the nature created by the time? Watch the animals they do not have a clue what time it is. When I am at my evening walks I notice that the gees walks in different ways as I approach them and another direction as 1, 5 hours walk I meet them again. They have their night snacks along the path. The sunrise is also in a different look. The colours are different and the air is thicker in the evening and thinner in the morning. Flowers and the grass smell different depending on the time. Be out there taking a smell and watch the nature. That is what I mean by thank God is Sunday.

MarieLouise is working as a personal trainer and a life coach. She is also very skilled as a networker with several years experience from different MLM companies. http://marielouisefalk.blogspot.com

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Sundays-Are-For-Reflections!&id=655866

Zig Ziglar Package

2007-07-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

Zig Ziglar Package

Zig Ziglar Product Blowout Package

Take advantage of Zig's 4 Best-Selling packages (including Family, Sales, Motivation and Christian Motivation Packages), all 4 at tremendous savings (also includes FREE shipping)! Go to: Click here

Zen Steps To Calming Down Easily

2007-07-20T22:57:00.000-07:00

Zen Steps To Calming Down Easily

By Dr. Brenda Shoshanna

It's easy to calm down quickly. No matter what is happening around us, we never have to become trapped in stress or anxiety. It's important to learn how to calm down quickly this as negative emotions can easily become addictive. The longer we hold onto them, the harder it can be to let go. Zen offers many pathways to becoming free of negativity. This article is based upon Zen principles and value-centered counseling. It offers enjoyable and effective steps to calming down, feeling good about yourself and finding that peaceful place in the storm.

Open The Treasure House Within

In Zen students are told: "Open the treasure house within." This is a reminder that we are all are endowed with many resources hidden within. In order to access our innate abilities, we must stop looking everywhere else and forget about depending upon others. Instead, we are told to spend time each day taking responsibility for what's going on inside. We turn our attention within, discover who we truly are and stop rejecting ourselves and others. As we do this, we are beginning to open the treasure house within.

Pay Attention

We are what we think about. When we stay fixated on one person, thought or situation, it is easy to become caught in the grip of self centered, obsessive thoughts. The more we pay attention to that which is negative or upsetting, the more strength it has to rule our lives. This can be counteracted easily.

Take control of your attention and what you're focusing upon. Spend time each day developing concentration. This is also called meditation (or zazen). Sit with a straight back, do not move, follow your natural breath. Let random thoughts come and go. Do not suppress them, but do not let them grab your attention away. (At first you may be besieged by many surprising thoughts and feelings, but if you simply notice them and then return your attention to your breathing, these will soon die down). Count your breath from one to ten, then all over again. Do this for at least ten to fifteen minutes without moving. By not moving we are stopping what is called the monkey mind.

Stop The Monkey Mind

The monkey mind is the mind that jumps from one thing to the next, fears, demands, criticizes and sabotages our lives. It is the part of ourselves, which causes sorrow and fear. By taking charge of our focus, by not paying attention to or responding to the many negativities the monkey mind throws our way, we become balanced and calm. As we do this regularly, we are no longer carried away by passing feelings and thoughts. Instead, we discover a peaceful place in the storm to which we can always return for comfort and strength. Focus on Strengths not Weaknesses

As we focus upon our strengths, not our weaknesses, little by little, fear, anger and depression fade. Rather than struggle with problems, we learn to become available to solutions. This is accomplished by working with focus. The question we always keep before us is: What am I focusing on this moment? Am I dwelling on problems or open to solutions and new ideas? Am I aware of where I am right at this moment, or lost somewhere in a dream? Am I grateful for what I have, or dwelling upon the wrongs I think others have done me? Life continually renews and confronts us with new tasks, challenges, opportunities and solutions, day after day. Are we in touch with this ever-flowing reality? Are we focusing on the gifts we are always receiving, and ways we can give back to others as well? By choosing to take charge of our focus we dissolve the primary cause of our suffering – a monkey mind that has run wild. Take Constructive Action

Once we take charge of our focus, we place it upon what we are receiving, what we have to be grateful for. Then it is easy to take the next step and naturally become aware of what others need from us, what we have to offer, how we can give back. Then we do it. We take action. We do not hesitate. We focus upon simple, daily actions, which are constructive for ourselves and others. We spend some time each day doing "deeds of service", finding ways we can give to others, make their days easier and happier.

As we focus upon giving and encouraging others, a strange thing happens - our personal anxiety vanishes, and we, ourselves, become filled with joy. Before long, we become filled with something even more important than joy - self respect.

A primary source of stress and anxiety is low self esteem; feeling badly about ourselves. The most powerful way to get rid of this is to have a healthy dose of self respect. When we fill our lives with constructive actions, self worth develops naturally. It does not come about through artificially boosting self esteem, but as a result of living a life worthy of respect. In this manner we grow able to handle any situation life presents us with. When we are able to do that, not only do we calm down easily, but enjoy all aspects of our days. We feel like life is a gift we are receiving; and we become a gift to life as well.

Discover The 2000 year old Zen secrets for being calm, balanced and positive, no matter what’s going on in your life in Living By Zen, by Dr. Brenda Shoshanna, http://www.livingbyzen.com Psychologist, long term Zen practitioner and founder of Value-Centered Counseling has helped thousands. Well known speaker, and award winning author of many books including. Get free ezine and articles at http://www.brendashoshanna.com Topspeaker@yahoo.com

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Corporate Policy Making

2007-07-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

Corporate Policy Making
Check out this info on Corporate Policy Making click here

Attrition Attrition Attrition

2007-07-20T03:41:00.000-07:00

Attrition Attrition Attrition is all the latest buzz word by HR professionals and HR itself doesn’t know what to do about it. Check out The Article on Attrition click here

Vision Directed Interviews: How to Succeed within Interviews

2007-07-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

Vision Directed Interviews: How to Succeed within Interviews

By: Pamela Watson

You've probably read numerous job interview tips which list the ways to respond to the difficult interview questions: Tell me about Yourself; What are your work-related weaknesses?; Why are you leaving your current employer? These are the usual dreaded questions that we all expect to hear from interviewers. Typically interviewees are advised to create well-prepared and rehearsed scripts to respond to these dreaded questions. And so, during the course of the interview, interviewees sit on the edge of their seats waiting to respond, trying to remember the correct answers. And consequently, the interview becomes a race, a highly tense setting designed to stay one step ahead of the other with scripted conversation and pre-planned positioning and second-guessing. The possibility of authentically assessing the merits of the position and being able to evaluate how you might fit within the company's culture and mission is minimized in this scenario.

Optimally, the interviewer and the interviewee should operate within the same mental space. To effectively hire someone who fits within the organizational game plan, as well as the specific position, the interviewer needs to ensure that the questions will provide opportunities for detailed, authentic discourse. At a minimum, the interviewer is looking for information regarding situations/projects/tasks/assignments in which you've handled, the specific steps undertaken to achieve results, and the direct results accomplished.

As an interviewee, you have to be able to deliver this information....no matter the question. Additionally, as an interviewee, the only way you'll be able to respond with full confidence (without referring to a script) is by ensuring that you've done your homework. To confidently manage the interview, it's important to know where you're heading - - to know your vision. Everything else should flow directly from your career or personal vision. Every tactic you undertake to find the new job, the new career opportunity, or the promotion should emanate from your established vision. In this manner, you will be able to hit the answers to those dreaded questions without feeling nervous because the interview is not the most important tactic - - it's one step within a strategy. It's your well-crafted vision that's essential, not a well-prepared and rehearsed script based on someone else's words. Authentic interviews happen when you're able to effectively convey your vision, your passion, your success stories.

Have You Created a Personal or Career Vision? More details provided in the next BCM Career Management Guide. Contact me directly with questions, comments, feedback at pwatson@beaconcareermgmt.com

Author Bio
Author: Pamela Watson, Beacon Career Management, LLC www.beaconcareermgmt.com
After 17 years of management , I decided to craft a different vision for my career. I launched Beacon Career Management, LLC in 2005 and have been working towards continually achieving my career vision.

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Career Changes for Baby Boomers: Ability, Not Age, Matters

2007-07-20T02:55:00.000-07:00

Career Changes for Baby Boomers: Ability, Not Age, Matters

By: Kelli Smith

Baby boomers. They're the generation born between 1946 and 1964. They came of age in the early 70s and early 80s. They're the generation that made changes and waves, worked harder and longer, put off marriage and children, did things differently than previous generations.

Whether because of financial necessity or because they have something to offer, baby boomers are staying in the workforce longer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and projections indicate that by 2010 there should be 18.5 million boomers ages 45 to 49 in the labor force, as compared to 14.7 in 1995, and 16.8 million versus 10.6 million in the 50- to 54-years-old range.

They're still making changes. They're retiring later, or not at all. If not downsized or laid off, boomers often continue to work. When they don't choose to continue in the same career, it doesn't mean they're ready to stop contributing, and sometimes they're making transitions to new careers.

"On average there are three to five career changes in a person's lifetime and that's pretty common," says Kevin Gaw, Director of Career Development, University of Nevada, Reno. "It's pretty common that a layoff ends up being a great opportunity for someone to find something that's more suited to them, too."

But it can be challenging to a baby boomer to be suddenly confronted with a career change. They were raised in a world where you got your education, then got your job, and while you may not have stayed with the job until you retired, you would probably stay in the same profession. "It can be jarring to realize you have to transfer your skill set to another area," says Gaw.

In 2004, Gaw's office worked with 208 alumni. Nearly 7.5 percent were going through a career change, three percent because of a forced situation such as layoff or company closure or relocation. The rest of them just wanted to do something different. When you?re faced with an important career shift, there are things you can to do make it easier on yourself and achieve a more enjoyable, productive career change.

• Look at your skills. Determine which are transferable to other jobs.

• Find your passion. What do you love to do? "It's not about the money," Gaw says. "The money isn't what makes us happy. What makes us happy is doing something that's meaningful to us."

• Look at reality. If you want to be an astronaut but can't do math, Gaw says, the reality is it's unlikely. People need to work through that disappointment and maybe change that passion to a hobby rather than a vocation.

• Determine whether you want to make a radical career change? say from legal secretary to Web designer? or stay within the same profession.

• If you like the company you're with but feel the need for change, see if they can retain and retrain you. If it comes down to a complete career change, there are also some things you can do to help create a whole new career for yourself.

• Promote yourself rather than your age. Once you get into a position and can show off your skills, you'll be known for those skills rather than your years.

• Start slow. Before investing heavily in education, determine if it's the right career path for you.

• Network. Many non-entry level positions are found by references. Join professional organizations in the field you want to enter.

• Consider working for yourself. A job market survey conducted in 2005 by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., quoted on thematuremarket.com, indicated that of 3000 job seekers, 13 percent chose to work for themselves, and 86.6 percent of them were over 40.

Another option is to leverage your experience and teach or train. Moving into training and coaching people just entering the profession you're leaving is a fairly informal move. Teaching requires state licensing, and there are programs helping place retiring workers into teaching positions. The University of Nevada Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning takes executives through a first-time licensing program and puts them in the schools in just a couple semesters, often teaching in high-needs areas like math, science and languages. Likewise, IBM unveiled their Transition to Teaching program in September, reimbursing them for tuition and providing stipends while they student teach. Many of their executives are highly trained in math and computer sciences.

Whether making a career change to a new profession or a new position, Gaw says such changes are a normal life pattern. "It's a good thing to be open to change. The challenge is recognizing skill sets and knowing how to capitalize on them and present them to the new opportunities."

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Author Bio

Kelli Smith is the editor for Edu411.org, a career education directory for finding colleges and universities, training schools, and technical institutes.

Article Source: http://www.articlegeek.com

2007-06-27T02:11:00.000-07:00

Goal Setting Workshop in Skill Tree by Barath Surendran

Peak Performance!

2007-03-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I welcome you to this blog. My Intention is to help people who switch jobs at a very high speed. And to help people start focusing on their resources for long term. I welcome everyone to post their views and comments about peak performance. Thank you,

Barath Surendran
http://www.techemate.com/