He Said, She Said: Communicating between Genders at Work

If you think it’s difficult to discern what your significant other is really trying to say to you, consider how complicated communication between genders gets when you throw office politics, power struggles, and work challenges into the mix.
At work, men and women use strategies in communicating with each other that the opposite sex may view negatively. Often, misunderstandings can be avoided when coworkers look beyond personalities and consider the different ways men and women communicate.
Let’s look at a few examples from both sides.
MEN’S BEHAVIOR
Trash Talk. Men use negative banter, joking, teasing, and playful putdowns as a way to subtly keep themselves at the top of the power hierarchy. Such “trash talking” is a common component of male relating.
What women think: Making others feel small is decidedly not a female trait. Women tend to see putdowns as arrogant or hostile.
The middle ground: In general, trash talk is usually harmless, as long as both parties “play.” When both parties engage in it, it can even be a way to bond around a problem, such as a trying work assignment or demanding sales quotas.

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Gen Y Workers More Optimistic Than Gen X’ers and Baby Boomers

The legend of the fountain of youth occurs in many cultures going back centuries. One aspect often associated with youthfulness is a sense of optimism about the future. The Kenexa Research Institute (KRI) asked, “Is there any evidence to support the notion that being young brings with it a sense of optimism about the future or is the notion of youthful optimism just another one of those myths with little substance?”
A recent study conducted by KRI measured Employee Confidence in the workplace by contrasting younger (18-29 year olds) and older workers’ (50+ year olds) levels of confidence. The study was conducted between June 2008 and June 2009.

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A Person of Talent

Much has been made in the media recently about the lagging pay prospects of America’s working men and women. According to one report, in fact, the total remuneration of American workers is now down to 56% of the country’s gross domestic product. That’s just 7% better than it was in 1929, at the start of the Great Depression!
As bad as this situation is–and it is terrible–there’s another side to this story, one that seldom gets told. This overlooked reality is the positive financial experience now being enjoyed by a large number of non-executive workers. These people are not the privileged few at the top of the heap in corporate America. They’re working men and women down in the ranks of the workforce, and their pay is going up, even as it declines for so many others.

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Ask. Then Shut Up.

Not too long ago, a very close artist friend posted a question on Facebook: “Does anyone have any suggestions on how to close a sale?” Apparently, she had been experiencing some frustration with prospective buyers “dancing” around the notion buying her paintings–and not being able to get them to cross the finish line, so to speak.
It reminded me of a tip I received not long before from a senior colleague at Principal, as we were about to go into a closing meeting with a business prospect: “There may be a point when I place our solutions on the table, and ask him to make a decision,” Mel said. “There may be an awkward silence…”
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Keith F. Luscher is author of the book Prospect & Flourish, and is a Marketing Representative with Principal Financial Group. Prior to joining Principal, he served professionals in the insurance and financial services industries as a management consultant. In that role, he advised producers on issues related to marketing and prospecting, and developed groundbreaking educational curriculum. Luscher is also a nationally known author, speaker, and expert in media, interpersonal communication and marketing.

The Career & Get A Job Tip Series: Post #1

This morning I presented to a room of 100 summer interns — and a few recent graduate new hires — on some of my favorite subjects, “Careers, Culture and Cool.”
My goal was to provide them one or two gems that might help them in their careers — and help them get jobs once they graduate from college.
To put their current opportunity in context, I shared that only about 20% of college grads this year got jobs after graduation. Of all the people that applied for a summer internship position at EMC’s headquarter campus, only 5% got in.
I’ll share my tips with you — but first, let me share Rachel’s. Rachel managed to be one of the 20% of grads to land a job this year. And, she also managed to get into EMC’s ultra elite Marketing Leadership Development Program. She sent me these tips this afternoon saying that her job search experience is still so fresh in her mind, she thought these tips might help someone else out.

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Woman fired for racism on Facebook (personal branding gone wrong)

Article provided by Brand-Yourself.com
Another case of how someone’s Facebook account got them fired.
This is first of a long trail of increasingly inappropriate comments that Lee Landor, who worked for a politician in NY, left on Facebook. She “resigned” effective immediately within a day of the comments.

Now there are a few things to be learned from this:
1. Don’t use Facebook or any other social networks while working unless it is part of your job description. It can be hard to resist the urge but you’re getting paid to fulfill your responsibilities and not talk to friends. A good quote from the article below:
Dick Dadey, the executive director of Citizens Union, a good-government group, said ‘Landor’s comments were inappropriate because they were made on government time and with government resources.’ Dadey added that ‘allowing government employees, especially those involved in representing elected officials to the public, to comment on political issues on personal websites made it difficult to discern official policy from private opinion.’

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Eleven Ways to Be a Master Networker

Some of you are natural networkers. You are constantly in contact–taking the time to talk with people both inside and outside of your company, and you don’t even have to think about it. Some of you are not natural networkers, but you have learned the critical elements needed to create and maintain a healthy network. The fact is, no one becomes a master networker overnight. It takes time and experience as well as a willingness to try new behaviors. The most important thing is to take the first step.
As a master networker, remember that just as you are looking for individuals to be in your network, others will be looking to put you in theirs. If you meet someone you know you would like in your network, be mindful of their time. Engage with them and if it is going well, ask if they would like to have lunch to continue the conversation. If they seem vague or unresponsive to your suggestion, leave it alone and follow up with them later.

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What it is like to attend Adelphi University

Garden City, New York is the home of the 75 acre campus, Adelphi University. The student body represents 36 states and 47 countries; 37% of the overall 5,100 students represent diverse backgrounds. Adelphi is known for its performing arts, which includes a dance team. For leisure, students can take advantage of low ticket prices to broadway plays, or enjoy beaches located nearby the school.

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Adult Children Moving Back Home

Even prior to the economic downturn, kids were returning home… “Its too expensive out there!”
Ellen Gibran-Hesse, author of Failure to Launch: How to Get Your Teens and Young Adults to Independence agrees with me that as parents we have enabled our children to remain dependent. Parents are continuing to support their adult children beyond what is necessary. They are denying their children the experience of “roughing it” and earning their way. When we are sitting around reminiscing as adults – how many of our stories are about when we first started out? The good ole days when we had card board boxes as end tables, crates for book shelves, bean bags and pillows for sofas…
Many want to point their fingers at the young adults, blaming them for taking advantage of the generosity of their parents. I am afraid, I hold the parents responsible. This dependency started many years prior to the post college years. We begin teaching independence in elementary school. We begin teaching about financial responsibility when we start paying an allowance. We teach personal responsibility when we expect them to be productive members of the family which includes chores, responsiblities for younger siblings, and respect for others.
If you have an adult child living with you… expect them to be productive members of the family. Expect them to contribute in as many ways as they can to benefit the family. Communicate with them what the expectations are and how long this arrangement will be available to them. If you have not taught this independence earlier, then teach it now.
Article by, College Parenting Expert, Dr. Debi Yohn, whose advice on successfully getting college students through college with an emphasis on graduation and rewarding employment is sought by parents from around the world. Now for the first time, she reveals 27 Winning Strategies for Success – a guidebook geared to parents of new college students. Get her free e-Book now at http://www.collegeparentsadvice.com/ and improve your child’s chances of a successful college experience.

Recruiters Should Treat Candidates Like Loved Ones

My blog article yesterday about how some corporate recruiters rudely ignore candidates touched a cord. I heard from a lot of candidates and a few recruiters who echoed my sentiments. I also heard from a few recruiters who expressed surprise that candidates actually want to hear that they’re rejected and aren’t quite sure what to tell them.
Folks, think about your favorite family member applying to a job with your organization. What would you tell them and when? Answer those questions and you’ve answered your own question about what you should tell all candidates and when for they all deserve the same consideration as you would extend to your own loved ones.

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