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Human Relations MGMT611

Lesson 32

TAKING CONTROL OF YOURSELF

Enthusiasm

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882), U.S. poet and essayist.

Nothing is as contagious as enthusiasm. It is the genius of sincerity and truth accomplishes no victories

without it.

Attributed to Bulwer Lytton (1803 - 1873), British novelist and politician.

Passion is like genius: a miracle.

Romain Rolland (1866 - 1944) French writer.

A variety of factors makes us do what we do not want to do. We will learn to control our behaviour and

importance of flexibility. In the previous lecture we have learnt about horizontal growth instead of vertical

growth. In this lecture we will learn those behaviors which are beneficial to us in terms of satisfaction and

bringing rewards to us from the organizations we work for.

Taking control of yourself

The new model of career advancement fits a definition of career success as attaining the twin goals of

organizational rewards and personal satisfaction. The same definition fits the theme of this text.

The tactics and strategies in this section center on the idea of individuals taking control of them in order to

advance in their career. If you have control over yourself then you will have control over the resources

around.

How to take control of yourself

A. Develop Outstanding Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills are more important than technical skills. If you can develop social networks successfully

then you can have more successful career. Getting ahead in business-related fields is exceedingly difficult

unless you can relate effectively to other people. Workers are more likely to be bypassed for promotion or

terminated for poor interpersonal skills than for poor technical skills.

B. Develop Expertise, Passion, and Pride

Career advancement usually begins by the person developing expertise in a specialty or subspecialty.

Famous people typically launched their career by being good at something such as sales, accounting, or

engineering.

Although expertise is highly recommended, the workplace also demands that a person perform a variety of

tasks as is required in working on a team. Passion goes hand in hand with expertise, and contributes to

creativity and leadership. Developing expertise and being passionate about your work leads naturally to

being proud of what you produce.

Develop a Code of Professional Ethics

An ethical code determines what behaviour is right or wrong, good or bad, based on values. When faced

with an ethical dilemma, ask yourself three questions:

(1) Is it legal?

(2) Is it balanced? And (3) Is it right?

C. Perform Well Including Going beyond Your Job Description

Good job performance is the bedrock for any career, a principle supported by common sense and research.

Also, take on tasks not expected of you.

Performing well on all your assignments is also important because it contributes to the success syndrome, a

pattern in which the worker performs one assignment well and then has the confidence to take on an even

more difficult assignment.

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Human Relations MGMT611

D. Create Good First Impressions

Favorable first impressions lead to continued contacts with internal and external customers, and can create a

halo about the quality of future work. Looking successful and projecting a sense of control also contributes

to a positive first impression. According to one leadership theory (the leader-member exchange model), the

leader forms in-groups based on favorable first impressions. Creating a negative first impression places one

in the out-group. Another key contributor to first impressions is a person's communication patterns and

method of self-presentation.

E. Document Your Accomplishments

Keeping an accurate record of job accomplishments can be valuable when being considered for promotion.

New learning should also be documented. Let key people know, in a tactful way, of your accomplishments.

F. Be Conventional In Your Behaviour

Conventional behaviour helps one gain acceptance. Areas for conformance include attendance and

punctuality, grooming, courtesy to superiors, and adherence to safety rules.

G. Take a Creative Approach to Your Job

Take initiatives. Organizations place heavy emphasis on creative problem solving. For maximum career

benefit, make innovative suggestions that are likely to earn money or save money.

H. Keep Growing through Continuous Learning and Self-Development

Keep on working hard to bring efficiency and quality to your work. Given that continuous learning is part

of the new model of career advancement, engaging in regular learning will help a person advance. Self-

development can include any type of learning but often emphasizes personal improvement and skill

development. Continuous learning and self-development follow the Japanese philosophy of kaizen, the

relentless quest for a better way and higher quality work.

I. Observe Proper Etiquette

Proper etiquette is important for career advancement because such behaviour is considered part of acting

professionally. Business etiquette is a special code of behaviour required in work settings.

J. Develop a Proactive Personality

An active agent in taking control of forces around him or her stands a better chance of capitalizing on

opportunities. A proactive personality is a person relatively unconstrained by forces in the situation and

who brings about environmental change. Managers prefer proactive employees because they take the

initiative to take care of problems.

K. Take Sensible Risks

Successful career people, including proactive personalities, tend to be moderate risk takers. Not risking

anything can mean risking even more, including the inhibition of your career. Sensible and calculated risks

might be helpful in career advancement.

L. Learn to Manage Adversity

Some adversity is almost inevitable in an ambitious person's career. A general-purpose way of handling

adversity is to first get emotional support from a friend or family member, and then use the problem-

solving method.

It is important not to be bitter and cynical about your problem. Look to minimize the self-doubt that

comes from the mental script, fear narrative, in which you tell yourself that if you try again, something terrible

will happen. A current method of managing career adversity is to do a career boomerang, or be rehired by an

employer when a new job does not work out.

M. Develop the Brand Called You

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Human Relations MGMT611

Sometime your name is associated with success. Success syndrome plays a role in your and organizational

success. The names of some actors/actresses are associated with success. Tom Peters urges career-minded

people to develop their credentials and their reputation to the extent that they stand out so much they

become a brand name. In this way you are not tied to one company or one job. You begin developing

brand-you by identifying the qualities or characteristics that distinguish you from co-workers.

Business etiquettes

Let us discuss some business manners and etiquettes.

· Be polite to people in person

· Write polite letters

· Practice good table manners

· Names should be remembered

· Males and females should receive equal treatment

· Shouting is out

· The host or hostess pays the bill

· Introduce the higher-ranking person to the lower-ranking person

· Address superiors and visitors in their preferred way

· Make appointments with high-ranking people rather than dropping in

· When another person is opening a door to exit a room or building, do not jump ahead of him or

her

· Be courteous about the use of common facilities or resources like the use of photocopy machine

· Be sensitive to cross-cultural differences in etiquette

References:

Dubrin, A.J. (2005). Human Relations: Career and Personal Success. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey,

07458.

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