The WorkNET » In the Trenches with Becky http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET A World of Possibilities Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:00:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 Settling http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/settling/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/settling/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:03:20 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1239 No, I’m not talking about my house or my backside. I’m talking about the word I’ve heard and have been using with my clients that I never imagined I would use—it’s okay to “settle” for less! In the old days, the days where jobs were easier to come by and people could hold out for their “dream” job, I would rarely encourage people to “settle” or take a job just to take a job. With the economic downturn, employers becoming lean and mean, the job search process becoming longer and tougher, I don’t encourage my clients to turn down a job offer when it isn’t in their area of interest or the “dream” match. If it means they keep their house or car and have to work a job that may not be the best match, I vote with keeping the house and paying the bills. I don’t like it but I like even less the idea of my clients going deeper in debt while they wait.
So what can we do to keep the dream alive when the client may have to take a survival job?
• Help clients discover positive support groups to join.
• Encourage them to engage in some type of healthy activity that allows them to give back or help others.
• Do things to stay healthy—it’s tough to job search and maintain employment when you’re sick.
• Hold them accountable for their job search and don’t let them slide just to be nice.
• Discover ways to help them think outside of their box or industry.
• Tap into other agencies that can help them retrain or go back to school. There’s pockets of money out there for people to return to school. Find them.
• Teach them how to use LinkedIn or other networking sites that can link them with industries or people that can help them discover job leads.
• Help them identify their network. They may think they don’t have one, but they do.
• Teach them how to use their network.
One last thought, maybe “settling’ can actually turn into a dream job. If clients take a “settle” job, help them see the positives in the job and how they are gaining new skills that will make them more employable when their industry recovers and things turn around—as they will.
What are you doing to help clients get through these tough times?

pinkslipNo, I’m not talking about my house or my backside. I’m talking about the word I’ve heard and have been using with my clients that I never imagined I would use—it’s okay to “settle” for less! In the old days, the days where jobs were easier to come by and people could hold out for their “dream” job, I would rarely encourage people to “settle” or take a job just to take a job. With the economic downturn, employers becoming lean and mean, the job search process becoming longer and tougher, I don’t encourage my clients to turn down a job offer when it isn’t in their area of interest or the “dream” match. If it means they keep their house or car and have to work a job that may not be the best match, I vote with keeping the house and paying the bills. I don’t like it but I like even less the idea of my clients going deeper in debt while they wait.

So what can we do to keep the dream alive when the client may have to take a survival job?

  • Help clients discover positive support groups to join.
  • Encourage them to engage in some type of healthy activity that allows them to give back or help others.
  • Do things to stay healthy—it’s tough to job search and maintain employment when you’re sick.
  • Hold them accountable for their job search and don’t let them slide just to be nice.
  • Discover ways to help them think outside of their box or industry.
  • Tap into other agencies that can help them retrain or go back to school. There’s pockets of money out there for people to return to school. Find them.
  • Teach them how to use LinkedIn or other networking sites that can link them with industries or people that can help them discover job leads.
  • Help them identify their network. They may think they don’t have one, but they do.
  • Teach them how to use their network.

One last thought, maybe “settling’ can actually turn into a dream job. If clients take a “settle” job, help them see the positives in the job and how they are gaining new skills that will make them more employable when their industry recovers and things turn around—as they will.

What are you doing to help clients get through these tough times?

Photo by Bernard Pollack

pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/settling/feed/ 0 When all else fails…what next? http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/what-next/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/what-next/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:40:50 +0000 Chris Webster http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1232 The idea for this post actually comes from my husband. As I’ve posted before, he has been unemployed since June 2008. Just so you don’t think he’s a slug, he has been unemployed as an artist in the giftware/greeting card industry for over 30 years. He’s never been unemployed before. His previous employer did a company reorg and his job was eliminated. He knows his industry and is quite talented. So does he take just any old job? My answer—not if he doesn’t have to! But he’s getting a bit discouraged.

Here’s his question—When he’s tried everything the “experts” have suggested and still nothing works—what does he do next? Keep in mind he’s married to me and I’ve offered my share of advice! To give you a sense of what he HAS done…here’s the list in a nutshell…made cold calls to employers, gotten names of hiring managers when a position is open and made a “sell yourself over the phone” call, attended many seminars on successful job searching, had experts review and update his resume, has a pretty good LinkedIn profile that he’s actively using and been to a workshop in upgrading those skills, attends a weekly job search networking group in his field, returning to school to upgrade his computer skills, tailors all correspondence to specific job. There’s more, but you get the idea. His isn’t just sitting around waiting for the job fairy to show up! He feels stuck and out of creative ideas.
Believe it or not—I’m a bit stumped myself. That’s why I thought this was a great subject for my post this week. He has a couple of big things that are stopping/hindering his process. 1)  The giftware industry is at a virtual standstill. Nobody is buying cutsey dust catchers—they’re paying their mortgage and buying food for their family. 2)  He’s no spring chicken. Do the math. He started working straight out of college and has been employed for over 35 years. Before the economic downturn, he was seeing retirement in less than 5 years. He fears he’s being discriminated against and that’s tough to prove. He’s smart, articulate and interviews extremely well. He’s kept in great shape and has outside interests that keep his energy and enthusiasm high.
I admire him as he has kept a fairly positive attitude through all of this. I must admit, it has been nice to come home to a lovely meal I didn’t have to fix and to have extra help with chore around the house, but it’s important he continue to feel like a productive contributing member of the family and society.
So what does he do when all the expert advice he’s received doesn’t work? Your ideas?

failfinishThe idea for this post actually comes from my husband. As I’ve posted before, he has been unemployed since June 2008. Just so you don’t think he’s a slug, he has been unemployed as an artist in the giftware/greeting card industry for over 30 years. He’s never been unemployed before. His previous employer did a company reorg and his job was eliminated. He knows his industry and is quite talented. So does he take just any old job? My answer—not if he doesn’t have to! But he’s getting a bit discouraged.

Here’s his question—When he’s tried everything the “experts” have suggested and still nothing works—what does he do next? Keep in mind he’s married to me and I’ve offered my share of advice! To give you a sense of what he HAS done…here’s the list in a nutshell…made cold calls to employers, gotten names of hiring managers when a position is open and made a “sell yourself over the phone” call, attended many seminars on successful job searching, had experts review and update his resume, has a pretty good LinkedIn profile that he’s actively using and been to a workshop in upgrading those skills, attends a weekly job search networking group in his field, returning to school to upgrade his computer skills, tailors all correspondence to specific job. There’s more, but you get the idea. His isn’t just sitting around waiting for the job fairy to show up! He feels stuck and out of creative ideas.

Believe it or not—I’m a bit stumped myself. That’s why I thought this was a great subject for my post this week. He has a couple of big things that are stopping/hindering his process. 1)  The giftware industry is at a virtual standstill. Nobody is buying cutsey dust catchers—they’re paying their mortgage and buying food for their family. 2)  He’s no spring chicken. Do the math. He started working straight out of college and has been employed for over 35 years. Before the economic downturn, he was seeing retirement in less than 5 years. He fears he’s being discriminated against and that’s tough to prove. He’s smart, articulate and interviews extremely well. He’s kept in great shape and has outside interests that keep his energy and enthusiasm high.

I admire him as he has kept a fairly positive attitude through all of this. I must admit, it has been nice to come home to a lovely meal I didn’t have to fix and to have extra help with chore around the house, but it’s important he continue to feel like a productive contributing member of the family and society.

So what does he do when all the expert advice he’s received doesn’t work? Your ideas?

Photo by Divya and Deepak (Nimbu)

pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/what-next/feed/ 3 Stuck http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/stuck/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/stuck/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:07:00 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1218 I believe part of my job is to be creative and innovative in my work. What happens when I get stuck, as I often do? Who do I have to talk to or what can I do that kick starts my creative juices? I’m writing about this as right now I feel stuck with what to write so I thought…write about being stuck!

It’s easy to get stuck without realizing you’re stuck. If you’ve been in this field for any length of time you can get comfortable doing things the same way you’ve done it for years or remain in your bubble without getting out into the real world. Every day I challenge my clients to get out of old patterns, consider new careers, go back to school or volunteer. In my mind I think it’s very realistic for them to take on new ideas, try new things or reach out and do something different. But more often than not, they don’t jump out of their comfort zone.
As I reflect on this, it’s no wonder that they don’t. It’s not something I’m comfortable with so why should it make sense and be easy for them. In this economy, stretching, trying new job search techniques is an absolute must for sob seekers. You and I MUST lead the way and push ourselves to sometimes be uncomfortable. It doesn’t automatically happen you have to make it happen! So what can you do? Here are some ideas and I’d love to hear yours:
• Take a class
• Try a new sport
• Go to a job fair even if you’re not looking for work
• Seek out a person you admire and introduce yourself
• Drive or take a new way to work
• Set up an Informational Interview with an employer
• Update YOUR resume
• Learn a new skill
Keep in mind that if you expect your clients to move out of their comfort zone, you have to be willing to do the same.

stuckI believe part of my job is to be creative and innovative in my work. What happens when I get stuck, as I often do? Who do I have to talk to or what can I do that kick starts my creative juices? I’m writing about this as right now I feel stuck with what to write so I thought…write about being stuck!

It’s easy to get stuck without realizing you’re stuck. If you’ve been in this field for any length of time you can get comfortable doing things the same way you’ve done it for years or remain in your bubble without getting out into the real world. Every day I challenge my clients to get out of old patterns, consider new careers, go back to school or volunteer. In my mind I think it’s very realistic for them to take on new ideas, try new things or reach out and do something different. But more often than not, they don’t jump out of their comfort zone.

As I reflect on this, it’s no wonder that they don’t. It’s not something I’m comfortable with so why should it make sense and be easy for them. In this economy, stretching, trying new job search techniques is an absolute must for sob seekers. You and I MUST lead the way and push ourselves to sometimes be uncomfortable. It doesn’t automatically happen you have to make it happen! So what can you do? Here are some ideas and I’d love to hear yours:

  • Take a class
  • Try a new sport
  • Go to a job fair even if you’re not looking for work
  • Seek out a person you admire and introduce yourself
  • Drive or take a new way to work
  • Set up an Informational Interview with an employer
  • Update YOUR resume
  • Learn a new skill

Keep in mind that if you expect your clients to move out of their comfort zone, you have to be willing to do the same.

Photo by Meg Wills

pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/stuck/feed/ 1 Intentions http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/intentions/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/intentions/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:08:09 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1198 I recently began a course to better my career coaching skills. The facilitator asked us to define “intentionality” as it relates to working with job seekers. My first response was FOCUS. Not a tragic thought but as I’ve continued my reflections, I peeled back a few more layers and decided you first must figure out what the focus IS before you can be intentional.

Your focus may be different than that of the job seeker. You may be focused on helping them develop the best possible resume so they can job search and maybe they haven’t job searched in years and don’t even know to use a resume to showcase their skills. It’s no wonder the job seeker may appear uninterested or even angry. As a team, the focus is different. So it would seem the two parties involved need to agree on the focus, then the work that is done can be intentional.
Back up still one more step—to agree on the focus the job seeker and you must figure out the goal. The focus will change depending on the goal. If the goal of the job seeker is to return to school and work part time, how and where they look for employment changes. Goals can be discovered by listening, asking good questions and reflecting back to the job seeker what you’ve heard. Once a goal is determined it’s easier to become focused and intentional.
Your job can actually become easier as well. Between you and the job seeker, you can determine action items that will help reach the goal. So I’m becoming more intentional with the questions I ask and reminding myself to focus on what the job seeker is really saying.
What’s your definition of “intentionality”?

focusI recently began a course to better my career coaching skills. The facilitator asked us to define “intentionality” as it relates to working with job seekers. My first response was FOCUS. Not a tragic thought but as I’ve continued my reflections, I peeled back a few more layers and decided you first must figure out what the focus IS before you can be intentional.

Your focus may be different than that of the job seeker. You may be focused on helping them develop the best possible resume so they can job search and maybe they haven’t job searched in years and don’t even know to use a resume to showcase their skills. It’s no wonder the job seeker may appear uninterested or even angry. As a team, the focus is different. So it would seem the two parties involved need to agree on the focus, then the work that is done can be intentional.

Back up still one more step—to agree on the focus the job seeker and you must figure out the goal. The focus will change depending on the goal. If the goal of the job seeker is to return to school and work part time, how and where they look for employment changes. Goals can be discovered by listening, asking good questions and reflecting back to the job seeker what you’ve heard. Once a goal is determined it’s easier to become focused and intentional.

Your job can actually become easier as well. Between you and the job seeker, you can determine action items that will help reach the goal. So I’m becoming more intentional with the questions I ask and reminding myself to focus on what the job seeker is really saying.

What’s your definition of “intentionality”?

Photo by Marfis75

pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/intentions/feed/ 0 I’m a Dinosaur http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/dinosaur/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/dinosaur/#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:42:05 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1176 dinosaurBelieve it or not, I don’t own a cell phone! The new and improved versions don’t even excite me. Most would think I’m insane and should return to the stone age where I belong. But for my life and situation—not owning a cell is okay—for now!

There’s other areas in my life where I’m behind the technology curve as well. Like I said, it may be okay for me, but that mindset is not okay for my clients. Especially if they plan to find a job and stay employed for the next 20 years. Luckily, I have a co-worker that is a very smart man when it comes to computers, the latest phones and the newest technologies. It’s one of the reasons I hired him because I’m at least smart enough to know my weaknesses.
In past years I have been relying on floppy discs to give to my candidates that hold their resumes, sample cover letters and business cards. Guess what? They don’t work anymore! I was turning a blind eye until our computers finally decided to break down and not recognize a floppy disc. So we’re trying new ways (that some have been using for a very long time) to accomplish the same task. It’s not without stops and starts but I think we’re progressing.
I post this thought to ask you—how are you upgrading your skills? What you teach? How you coach? How are you staying current with the latest trends? Are you teaching skills that actually put and keep your candidates in the running?
If we don’t continually upgrade our skills and knowledge, how can we expect that of our candidates?

dinosaurBelieve it or not, I don’t own a cell phone! The new and improved versions don’t even excite me. Most would think I’m insane and should return to the stone age where I belong. But for my life and situation—not owning a cell is okay—for now!

There’s other areas in my life where I’m behind the technology curve as well. Like I said, it may be okay for me, but that mindset is not okay for my clients. Especially if they plan to find a job and stay employed for the next 20 years. Luckily, I have a co-worker that is a very smart man when it comes to computers, the latest phones and the newest technologies. It’s one of the reasons I hired him because I’m at least smart enough to know my weaknesses.

In past years I have been relying on floppy discs to give to my candidates that hold their resumes, sample cover letters and business cards. Guess what? They don’t work anymore! I was turning a blind eye until our computers finally decided to break down and not recognize a floppy disc. So we’re trying new ways (that some have been using for a very long time) to accomplish the same task. It’s not without stops and starts but I think we’re progressing.

I post this thought to ask you—how are you upgrading your skills? What you teach? How you coach? How are you staying current with the latest trends? Are you teaching skills that actually put and keep your candidates in the running?

If we don’t continually upgrade our skills and knowledge, how can we expect that of our candidates?

pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/dinosaur/feed/ 0 360 Degree Mirror http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/360-degree-mirror/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/360-degree-mirror/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:02:56 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1163 mirrorOne of the things I hate most about clothes shopping is the 360 mirror. You know the ones that show all the bumps, lines, cellulite and those lovely spots that we work hard to ignore or cover?! Guys, you may not get this, but if you’ve ever gone shopping with a woman you may have seen the pain in their eyes from this experience.

No matter which way you turn, you see yet another spot you can’t ignore. You must be honest with yourself or drag someone along that will be honest for you before you buy or when you get home and put the outfit on again, you’ll wonder what you were thinking. Worst case scenario, others may actually laugh out loud when you enter a room wearing that “monstrous” outfit. It then hangs in the back of your closet for the next several years until you get the courage to “donate” it to a worthy cause and finally admit the mistake.

This experience is not unlike job searching. Unless you or someone you trust does a rigorous inventory of your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll never find the outfit (read “job”) that best matches you. I personally think it’s best to have an objective partner help in this process.

In your efforts to help others look for and find work, it’s part of your job to be the 360 mirror. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it or your clients will continue to job search and never really see the true reflection of how they’re seen by others.

Some tips for being an effective 360 mirror:

  1. Tell them first that being a 360 mirror is part of your job. Don’t blindside them!
  2. Be honest. Don’t pussyfoot around the issue.
  3. Represent the employer’s perspective. Not your own! This isn’t about your preferences.
  4. Give solutions—don’t just point out the problem! No one likes to be told about an area of concern without hearing what can be done to remedy it.
  5. Hold them accountable for making the correction.
  6. PRAISE! PRAISE! PRAISE!
  7. Notice whatever baby steps they may be taking. They must learn to walk before they can run.
  8. Don’t ever give up! You may be the only 360 mirror they have.
Photo by Julie (autumn_bliss)
pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/360-degree-mirror/feed/ 0 The “Un” unemployed http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/unemployed/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/unemployed/#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:09:17 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1143 The “Un” unemployed
I’ve created a new category in my world of helping people look for work…the “un” unemployed! Who are they? They are the working families and friends of the unemployed. I speak from experience as to the struggles THEY face as THEY watch THEIR loved ones go through the process of losing jobs and looking for work. My husband was laid off in June 2008 and is still looking for work. Seems strange and ironic that my job is all about helping people deal with barriers, find jobs and I struggle as I helplessly stand by and watch him.
He chuffs when I offer advice—I get that. He wants to do it his way, in his time.
When I run into friends they ask how HE is doing. Never me.
I’m frustrated and angry too. Where are the support groups for me?
Depression contributes an overall feeling of despair for the job seeker. Those “un” unemployed experience depression and anxiety too.
Why did I choose this for my post this week? Part therapy for me—part as a reminder to check with the “un” unemployed in the lives of my clients when I can. If I’m experiencing anxieties, anger and frustration, I can only imagine how families and friends of my clients may be feeling as they watch people they care for struggle.
What can we do? Should we change our methods? Should families and friends be included in new ways as we continue our work?
Your thoughts????

familyI’ve created a new category in my world of helping people look for work…the “un” unemployed! Who are they? They are the working families and friends of the unemployed. I speak from experience as to the struggles THEY face as THEY watch THEIR loved ones go through the process of losing jobs and looking for work. My husband was laid off in June 2008 and is still looking for work. Seems strange and ironic that my job is all about helping people deal with barriers, find jobs and I struggle as I helplessly stand by and watch him.

  • He chuffs when I offer advice—I get that. He wants to do it his way, in his time.
  • When I run into friends they ask how HE is doing. Never me.
  • I’m frustrated and angry too. Where are the support groups for me?
  • Depression contributes an overall feeling of despair for the job seeker. Those “un” unemployed experience depression and anxiety too.

Why did I choose this for my post this week? Part therapy for me—part as a reminder to check with the “un” unemployed in the lives of my clients when I can. If I’m experiencing anxieties, anger and frustration, I can only imagine how families and friends of my clients may be feeling as they watch people they care for struggle.

What can we do? Should we change our methods? Should families and friends be included in new ways as we continue our work?

Your thoughts????

Photo by Steve Polyak


pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/unemployed/feed/ 2 Patterns (Part 4) http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/patterns-pt4/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/patterns-pt4/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:59:35 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1107 Why do clients go back to old ways, patterns or beliefs? That’s been my focus for the past few postings. A comment I hear and have made is “they don’t really want to work at all” or “they’re not really interested in my help”. These may be the reasons we use or believe to be true when we see clients return to destructive ways. I’m suggesting that we are wrong!

After almost 20 years in this business I am certain two things are at play:
1. We haven’t really uncovered and addressed their fears.
2. We haven’t discovered for ourselves and them what motivates them to shift or change a pattern.
So we must look at ourselves—not the clients! What do you have to do differently to get this information and effectively use it? You may have to ask better questions, listen more attentively, give them permission to tell you the tough stuff, or create a safe environment for them to truly connect with you. This is an ongoing process for both you and your client. It also will be different for each individual. Therein lies the challenge!
If a client appears bored, uninterested, unmotivated, and goes back to previous destructive behaviors, check the following:
1. Are you giving them the necessary education or information?
2. Are you holding them accountable?
3. What do they fear they haven’t shared with you?
4. What will motivate them to try and stick with a new way of thinking or behaving?
Think that will solve the issue? Check back for my next post that will address another reason why old patterns return.

pathsWhy do clients go back to old ways, patterns or beliefs? That’s been my focus for the past few postings. A comment I hear and have made is “they don’t really want to work at all” or “they’re not really interested in my help”. These may be the reasons we use or believe to be true when we see clients return to destructive ways. I’m suggesting that we are wrong!

After almost 20 years in this business I am certain two things are at play:

  1. We haven’t really uncovered and addressed their fears.
  2. We haven’t discovered for ourselves and them what motivates them to shift or change a pattern.

So we must look at ourselves—not the clients! What do you have to do differently to get this information and effectively use it? You may have to ask better questions, listen more attentively, give them permission to tell you the tough stuff, or create a safe environment for them to truly connect with you. This is an ongoing process for both you and your client. It also will be different for each individual. Therein lies the challenge!

If a client appears bored, uninterested, unmotivated, and goes back to previous destructive behaviors, check the following:

  1. Are you giving them the necessary education or information?
  2. Are you holding them accountable?
  3. What do they fear they haven’t shared with you?
  4. What will motivate them to try and stick with a new way of thinking or behaving?

Think that will solve the issue? Check back for my next post that will address another reason why old patterns return.

Photo by lorda
pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/patterns-pt4/feed/ 0 Patterns (Part 3): Understanding http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/patterns-3-understanding/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/patterns-3-understanding/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:19:48 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=1012 Why is it people return to old patterns? That’s the question I’ve been discussing in my past two postings.
The third reason I believe this occurs is because our clients don’t know HOW to do what they’ve been asked to do or they don’t UNDERSTAND what they’ve been asked to do.
Keep in mind their world may be very different from your world. Imagine you take public transportation everywhere you go—it’s second nature to you. Now you’re working with a client helping them to prepare for the interview. You give them a bus pass so they can get to the interview. You think “they’re set”!  A few days later you check back to discover they NEVER went to the interview! When you ask the reason why, they say they’ve never had to figure out which bus to take as someone has always done that FOR them!
Point:  Check in and ask them BEFORE you expect them to do something.  Make sure they know how to do the task you’re asking them to do! Don’t play assumicide! If they know how to do the task, the second part of this is to check with them to see if they truly understand what EXACTLY you want them to do. You may have to find a different way to say it or actually SHOW them.
It’s important, as well, to check with your clients to discover if they agree to do what has been asked. Not everybody knows what YOU know! The word is EDUCATE!

explainWhy is it people return to old patterns? That’s the question I’ve been discussing in my past two postings.

The third reason I believe this occurs is because our clients don’t know HOW to do what they’ve been asked to do or they don’t UNDERSTAND what they’ve been asked to do.

Keep in mind their world may be very different from your world. Imagine you take public transportation everywhere you go—it’s second nature to you. Now you’re working with a client helping them to prepare for the interview. You give them a bus pass so they can get to the interview. You think “they’re set”!  A few days later you check back to discover they NEVER went to the interview! When you ask the reason why, they say they’ve never had to figure out which bus to take as someone has always done that FOR them!

Point:  Check in and ask them BEFORE you expect them to do something.  Make sure they know how to do the task you’re asking them to do! Don’t play assumicide! If they know how to do the task, the second part of this is to check with them to see if they truly understand what EXACTLY you want them to do. You may have to find a different way to say it or actually SHOW them.

It’s important, as well, to check with your clients to discover if they agree to do what has been asked. Not everybody knows what YOU know! The word is EDUCATE!

Photo by Aaron (Iotae)

pixelstats trackingpixel]]> http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/patterns-3-understanding/feed/ 0 Patterns (Part 2): Accountability http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/patterns-part-2-accountability/ http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/patterns-part-2-accountability/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:43:06 +0000 Becky Roe-Smith http://www.worknet-international.com/WorkNET/?p=928 accountabilityIn my last post I responded to a co-worker that asked “why do clients return to old patterns” by saying there’s more than one reason. Part one talked about fear.

I’ll introduce part two by asking you “if you had to do something you didn’t want to do or didn’t know how to do and nobody was checking up on you to see if you did it, would you do it?” I’ll bet the answer is “NO!” Mine is! Who wants to look bad or like a failure? You and I are not much different than our clients in this regard. Part two is all about ACCOUNTABILITY!


If you ask your clients to do something new, something they’ve never done before and you don’t check back with them to see if they do it, they probably won’t!

So this reason hinges on you! When working with your clients, it’s important to be very clear what you’re asking them to do, when they need to do it, that they agree to do it and that you WILL be checking in with them to see how it’s going! Then you must follow through and check back.

This is especially important when you first begin working with your clients. If your relationship begins this way and they know you’ll be checking in with them to see how they’re doing, they will be more likely to do what has been asked of them. So start off on the right foot.

Let them know that trying a new thing is difficult and they may need help, but that’s what you’re there to do. Offer options if something doesn’t work well, cheers when they succeed and assistance as needed.  Your goal is to help them be successful.

So check with yourself regularly to make sure YOU’RE doing what you said you would! Here’s to a happy partnership with your clients!

Photo by ItzaFineDay
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