Jenny Handley Performance
Jan 25
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

VITAL TO LOOK AT YOUR YEAR THROUGH A THEME

At the start of a year I always consider having a theme. It could be learning, fun or balance. After every experience, especially the more challenging ones, my reflection includes looking back on the incident or project and asking myself, did I learn, did I have fun, did I keep the scales balanced? It is quite easy at the beginning of a year to learn when your mind is clear and the pace is only picking up. There are still a lot of social things happening, and if you allow yourself to be caught up in the last few weeks of student holidays, you too can retain that relaxed feeling. Fun happens naturally, and balance does not require too much effort. The challenge lies in the change of the seasons.  January is easy, there is still the rosy residue of holidays and people are smiling and happy to re-connect. In February the glow may start to subside and by March you will notice when you get up early that you may have to put the lights on. The sun sets earlier and the days start to shorten (and hopefully that dreadful southeaster disappears!). That’s when you are firmly in routine […]
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Jan 18
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

CLEAR YOUR HEAD – AND OFFICE – THIS MONTH

One of the great advantages of a holiday is that you have the opportunity of de-cluttering your mind. Not everyone makes use of the chance, but those who do arrive back at work energised and inspired. One of the best ways of ensuring that this clear head space stays is to de-clutter your working space. January is a great time for operation clean-up. Whilst we are working in a digital age, it is surprising to see how people keep the paper craze going. Some of us (guilty as charged) like to keep things ‘in case’ we will need it, or simply because we don’t like letting go. Take a day to clear your space. Try to motivate your team to do it with you. Someone has to take charge of the common space like the office kitchen, boardroom, bathroom and stationery cupboard – put names into a draw and ensure that whoever gets these also gets a gift…it could be a half-day off to reward them for their efforts! Here are some practical tips to get you going: Work out what you would like the overall area to look like, and try to match storage facilities, be they cupboards, shelving […]
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Jan 11
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

HERE’S TO A YEAR OF PLANTING GOOD SEEDS

One of the most upbeat songs that makes me sing when driving is Black Eyed Peas’ “Tonight’s gonna be a good night”! Funny how if you are told something is good, it is more likely to feel good? Let’s take that attitude with 2016. May it be a good year. May it see the fruits of your labours and may it be the result of good, strategic planning. I am a firm believer in having five-year plans, broken down into one year chunks. Any task or goal or plan when broken into smaller bite-size pieces, feels more achievable and less daunting. In addition I like to compartmentalise my life into different areas – work, play, family, friends, finances, fitness and health, personal development etc. A great way of starting a great year is to sit with pen and paper (or do it electronically) and put your categories of life into a column. On the right hand side then have three columns – short term, medium term and long term goals.  It is impossible to separate work and personal life completely, and if you write family or friends in your first block, do not feel guilty about it. The investments we […]
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Dec 14
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

MENTOR SOMEONE WHO PUSHES BOUNDARIES

How do you choose a mentor? A good starting point is for the mentee to make a list of their qualities and competencies, to see where they need to develop their potential. Our natural inclination is to request mentoring from someone we admire and feel comfortable with. That is often the first mistake – we do not grow in comfort; we grow more in situations where people push our boundaries and our buttons. The ideal coaching partnership is for two people of opposite profiles to work together, as the learning then becomes symbiotic. So often someone may also ask someone to mentor them because they are senior or in the position that they would like to eventually be in. That too does not necessarily make them their best mentor. The mentor needs to look at the potential and the progress plan of the mentee. Are you really the right person to assist? Sometimes you may be able to impart sufficient wisdom in one conversation and be brave enough to suggest professional guidance. The first conversation should start with the mentor asking, “What do you want?” and then, “What do you actually need?” Do not allow mentoring to be simply a […]
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Nov 30
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

DEVELOPING POTENTIAL IN OUR WORKFORCE

There are many similarities between coaching and mentorship, the most important being that they both concentrate on developing potential. Both involve support, questioning, development, commitment and encouragement. Mentoring, often provided from within an organisation, provides the opportunity for the junior of being able to follow in the footprints of someone more experienced, traditionally older and wiser. If you struggle with grasping the differentiation, then consider a sports coach – they could be outsiders who are secured for their ability to bring out the best in a sports team. They arrive twice a week for the team practices, and are present on the day when the going gets tough, at the matches, shouting direction from the sidelines and providing motivation at half-time. After the game they congratulate the team or if there is a loss, they identify the weak spots. Executive coaching requires the same principle. A coach is a facilitator, a supporter and not a friend. It is preferable, but not essential, to have someone who has knowledge of your industry. They should listen, guide, inspire, motivate, direct and challenge you to ensure personal growth. Coaching happens through a series of goal-directing conversations that are outcomes-based, with the coach responsible […]
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Nov 23
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

NEED TO MOVE YOUR TEAM TO MOTIVATE

In addition to the leader harnessing the support of his team, he needs to ensure that team members support one another, and have a good understanding of one another’s roles and responsibilities (plus challenges and frustrations!) Fractal behaviour is the term given to the repetition of a simple act at frequent intervals. One sees it in nature in the petals of a flower, and in how bricks are laid in a wall. We also see it exhibited in a team – when they are consistent and predictable. This can only be achieved through genuine understanding. Everyone needs someone with whom they can share their war stories and dilemmas – confidentially. It is not a weakness, but a strength to be able to accept wise counsel. A leader needs another leader to listen. It is important that you have someone who you can implicitly trust to listen, sometimes guide, but to always keep the conversation confidential. This person needs to be someone who tells you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear (those lower down the organisation may be inhibited about saying openly what they think and limiting their career options). Discretion is vital, so test […]
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Nov 16
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

FINDING VALUE IN A PERSONAL ASSISTANT

The role of the personal assistant is often an undervalued one. It offers the ideal platform for someone to really learn the ropes of a business, and for a leader, the ideal support. . The well trained PA can learn to anticipate your every move, and when not doing that, act as a sweeper behind you, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. They can move from taking minutes to making every minute count. It all starts with preparation. Clearly define the job description and reinforce the need for the utmost confidentiality. A personal assistant needs to have a clear definition of the word ‘personal’. What defines personal for you may push the boundaries for the PA, so discuss it in detail in an interview. Look for initiative and someone who can go the extra mile. . Take the time to save time. If you have trained your PA and trust them, they will save you time in screening calls and emails, making appointments, preparing documents before meetings, travel arrangements and research. I leave my office before a business trip with a folder that my PA has prepared. In it, in chronological order, will be details and directions of every […]
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Nov 09
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

LEADERS MUST CREATE A TEAM RAPPORT

In the ideal world we would appoint our own team. However, in reality, a team is often inherited or you may start working in an existing team. You now need to take ownership of what someone else crafted. You may instantly feel rapport with each and every team member, or you may be able to spot a back stroker, someone who swims against the tide. Here are some tips for starting work with a new team: • Before you start making changes acknowledge the success of your predecessor. • Do not be premature in making changes or make changes merely for the sake of change. Affirm systems that are working. • Know that it takes time to build trust and expect people to be wary of you at first. • Take time to get to know each member of your team. Another common challenge in a team is when one of the team members is promoted to a leadership position. That may be you. How do you handle the transition from being “one of the boys” to being the “main man”. It may be difficult, but not impossible. Acknowledge that things may change, but indicate that you will appreciate the […]
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Nov 02
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

MAN-WOMAN DYNAMIC BENEFICIAL AT WORK

Last week I planted the seeds of celebrating diversity in a team. The most widely spotlighted difference in the workplace is probably the man-woman debate. Whilst more than 90% of male and female brains are the same, the impact of the differences that do exist is huge. Men react to a threat with trying to find a solution quickly, they want action. A woman will just want to verbalise the issue. But that’s not all… The male brain is more logical, and has elevated spatial awareness and abstract thinking. Of the six language centres in the brain, the male uses one (in the left, logical side of the brain), and the female uses all six. Males moves to find a solution (quickly), and to incentivise action. When you try to get men to use the right hemisphere for emotion, they will have a short attention span – know that you will lose them in a conversation about feelings after about 10 minutes. They will look to do something physical, and you will think that they are bored. They are in fact, trying to re-focus their brains. Ideally they would like to move an emotion to the logical side of their […]
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Oct 26
by jennyhand in Cape Times – Career Times 0 comments

TRUE LEADERS EXPLORE THE FRUITS OF DIVERSITY

There is a direct relationship between success and strong leadership. Leaders of successful teams make an effort to understand the members of their teams. They know that followers want their leader to provide an emotional connection which comes with connectivity, empathy, accessibility and trust. If you ask your team what they want or need, be sure to give it to them – or if not, provide them with an explanation of why not. It hinges on the six Cs: credibility, compassion, courage, challenges, consistency and community. In addition they want trust, stability and hope and appreciation. This appreciation could take the form of: recognition training and personal development flexibility feedback affirmation monetary rewards status treats We cannot apply the same rules to each individual when managing the entire team. Yes, you read right. People are so diverse in terms of personality, values, competencies and strengths, that you cannot expect each individual to respond in the same way. Flexibility is essential, and getting to know each team member is of paramount importance. Not only are all team members so different, but know too that your team’s individual needs change continually. That’s why you need to know when someone has a sick […]
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