Is your personal growth stunted? 5 signs that it might be
[bctt tweet=”Sometimes we get stuck because we haven’t learned anything new, these tips should help” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What to do when you’ve lost your mojo We all want to become the best we can be. But what happens when you’ve lost your mojo? There’s a chance that your personal growth might be stunted. There’s no shame in that, it happens to the best of us: sometimes you just get stuck and it feels gross. Here are some signs to help you tell, and some quick simple ways to overcome it. 1. You’re really comfortable right now Life is fine. Like, just fine. Everything is just okay. You’ve got a good steady rhythm at home, at work and in your relationships but it’s been steady like that for A WHILE… to the point of standing still. You look around you and feel the buzz around you, but you’re on the outside. While being in this position isn’t necessarily bad, it’s not amazing either. It’s just —you guessed it— fine. You’ve stopped growing. Ask yourself: When did I last get excited about creating something new and of real value? If you’re struggling to find an answer, it’s time to change. Why not take on a new challenge? Join a society at university, or a network at work. Volunteer at a local charity that your care about or look for opportunities to give your skills to budding entrepreneurs. All you have to do is reach out and ask —over the phone, in person or using social media. It’s all there ready and waiting for you. 2. You’re bored at work Even when we’re in our dream jobs, work can sometimes be less than glamorous. There’s always that one activity that you’d rather skip. When you face this boredom or frustration you need to…. Ask yourself: Is it time to move on, or do I just need to do something different where I am? Next, have a conversation. With your boss, your manager or your team (if you are the boss/manager) about new opportunities or projects that you can try out. Of course, the way you ask depends on your role at work, so take that into consideration. Once you’ve identified these new personal growth goals you can set monthly or weekly goals to drive your progress. Many of us make great 1-5 year plans but struggle to translate them into our daily hustles. 3. You don’t leave conversations feeling inspired, motivated or energized You can’t remember the last time you learned anything of value, every conversation feels the same. I get it, it’s happened to me before. But too many people blame others, they claim that there aren’t ‘enough people to have intelligent conversation’ with. Well, before you blame others for anything in life, always look at yourself. Be the change you want to see in the world. Ask yourself: What do I bring to the table? If you’ve followed personal growth steps 1 & 2 above, you may eventually have something new to bring to your conversations. Once you’ve done that, you can start planning how you expand your horizons and your network. The age-old saying goes, ‘your network is your networth’ and if you haven’t made any new friends lately, maybe it’s time to go to an event, #SheHive or conference to get the conversational juices flowing again. [bctt tweet=”Before you blame others for anything in life, always look at yourself” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 4. You know as much as you did yesterday, and the day before that… and the day before that Sometimes we get stuck because we haven’t learned anything new. Personal growth involves your body AND your brain. We all have our niche —whether it’s fashion, tech, finance, politics or anything in between. But we can all benefit from knowing a little bit of everything across the board. Some employers call this being a ‘t-shaped’ person, someone who has deep knowledge in a few areas and broad knowledge across many others. These types of people can work well in many situations and are typically more employable. Ask yourself: When was the last time I learned anything new? The good news is that in the age of Google, a lot of information is $free.99 – shout out to SLA for this free guide right here. You can learn most of the basics on a shoestring budget, or no budget at all. What have you got to lose? 5. You lack energy and feel sluggish Sluggish. What a word, sounds horrible right? You might feel chronically tired, or that you’re living life in slow motion. Sometimes this is because you’ve been working too damn hard, but other times it’s caused by the fact that you aren’t doing much at all. If it’s the latter, the final thing you can do to boost your personal growth is actually get moving. Ask yourself: How can I shake up my routine in some way? This might be something really small like changing the route you take to work or your night-time beauty routine. It could also mean becoming more active. YES, I do mean going to the gym, joining a sports team or doing a class. A little sweat never hurt anyone! It sounds kind of crazy, but the more you work out, the more energy you have for other areas in your life. So, no excuses. Try these recommendations out and let us know how they work for you. Doing something new is scary, but life begins outside of your comfort zone. So does personal growth. You’ll be challenged in a new way, and you’ll develop into a more well-rounded person in the process.
Procrastination: The bad, the ugly, and how to deal with It
[bctt tweet=”You can’t be a #MotherlandMogul if you’re a serial procrastinator, time to break free” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Do you always apologize for delayed work? Do you feel guilty that you missed the deadline again, for the umpteenth time? And if you did finish the work, it was at the last minute after scrambling with time? Well, let’s cut to the chase. You are a serial procrastinator who pushes the production of any work forward to the next day, next week, next month, next year and eventually to never, instead of pulling it forward. For that reason, procrastination is the opposite of productivity. Many people are procrastinators, and they do not even know it. Sometimes procrastination can be good. For example, I sometimes have to push forward writing an article because I just don’t have the right word or phrase to start the piece. But once I get the inspiration, I embark on writing and occasionally, I have to type it while on my toes. Do you really need to procrastinate? If you can’t push forward looking good before going out for a date, you shouldn’t hold back writing that proposal that you have been sitting on for the past three months. Today is the time! To make sense of procrastination, its effects and how to deal with it, I caught up with Ken Munyua, a business support and training manager at Talent Recruit Limited in Nairobi, Kenya. According to Mr. Munyua, who is also a psychologist, “Procrastination is the inability to undertake urgent duties with the haste they deserve.” He adds that it could be as a result of a habit — “choosing not to take things seriously and execute them promptly, which later turns into bad behaviour.” “Procrastination is both a behavioural and a psychological issue. It starts as a habit and turns to uncontrollable aspects.” [bctt tweet=”Extensive inactive procrastination can also contribute to lowering one’s self-esteem” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Self-loathing? Apart from degenerating into bad behaviour, extensive inactive procrastination can also contribute to lowering one’s self-esteem. How, you ask? Munyua notes that the inability to perform necessary tasks always leads one to be in problem be it in school, at home or in business. “The constant reminder and backlash from the seniors make one feel as if they are victimized or segregated from the others.” What’s more, this can cause you to loathe yourself for not being able to meet individual or collective goals on time. No one wants to feel less of a person for always being late in doing something, and when one does, they may feel unwanted or unloved, leading to a downward trend of one’s self-esteem. Many women in business are caught up in the procrastination web due to a few reasons. Munyua outlined three major reasons why procrastination is common: The wish to be perfect: Some people wait to do work to its best. At the end, they do it in a hurry to the point of not delivering it well. Poor planning: Some business women like to plan work in terms of urgency and importance. Thus, there are delays on the important aspects of work. Others are easily swayed away by distractors. [bctt tweet=”@MaureenMurori sought expert help in this article on overcoming procrastination ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How to overcome procrastination “A habit which grows over time becomes a bad addiction. Do not form it; learn to concentrate on what is your task before any other duty,” advises Munyua. He adds that people should learn to avoid distractions, be they human or technological. Avoid delays: Always live to do what is expected now and not tomorrow! Draw a plan: It is advisable to set priorities and consider the urgency of the work. Write it down on paper: When it is written on paper, work becomes real and demands commitment. Set personal deadlines before the stipulated ones. This ensures that you are always ahead. Reward yourself: Rewarding yourself for achieved goals, motivates you to work harder to achieve more in future. Rewards can be as trivial as ticking an achieved activity, to a chocolate bar or a holiday in Hawaii. The choice is yours. Avoid distractions like social media, and friends who do not share in your vision. Endeavour to learn from those who had the same issues and were able to resolve them. When all is said and done, procrastination can be a symptom of an underlying technical or moral failure. It is important to check and recheck why you need to push work forward. Could it be due to the fact that the work isn’t working for you? If so, you should plan to change the work or your approach to it.
5 tips to make the most of a slow day at work
When the big conference is over or the quarterly sales report is in, then comes the slow day. Everyone in today’s workplace has moments of downtime every now and then —as you probably do if you’re reading this. But forget #NetflixAndChill, it’s time to #HustleAndChill. Even if you’re excelling at your job, now isn’t the time to rest on your laurels. Use these slow days as opportunities for self-improvement by checking in on your goals rather than your Facebook or Instagram. Here are a few tips for what to do when you find yourself with a few extra hours on your hands: Plan ahead You know how your boss lovingly exclaims, “What would I do without you?” Make sure he or she is prepared for the unexpected sick day or your departure for a new position by drafting a detailed list of your daily, weekly, and monthly activities to ensure that your successor will be well equipped to follow in your footsteps. It’ll also help you avoid forgetting the little things like sending a check for a vendor or drafting invitations to an annual event. It’s never too early to start on hand-over notes —it’s easier to remember what you’re doing while you’re doing it rather than racking your brain as you’re headed out the door. (You’ll also earn brownie points from your boss that will help you maintain a good relationship even after you’re gone). Learn As the saying goes, “good things come to those who hustle.” Got your eye on a raise or promotion? Take this slow period as an opportunity to learn a new skill or hone a weak one. If you increase your value to your company, your employer will be more likely to reward your efforts. Sign up for a webinar, listen to a podcast, or take an online class from sites like Coursera, Skillshare, or edX. Interested in shifting to another role? Visit other departments and learn about their work. Even if your colleagues only need help with menial tasks, they’ll appreciate the favor (and be more likely to return it when you’re in a crunch). Organize To maximize your time when things are busy, set yourself up for success by organizing your paperwork. Organize your online and offline space by saving those client emails that you took hours to draft, filing feedback on projects that you can reference during your next feedback session, and making sure your work space is tidy. A clear space leads to a clear mind. Connect Having a good reputation in your field is part performance, part visibility. According to the Harvard Business Review, “workers are happiest in their jobs when they have friendships with co-workers.” Take advantage of your free time, and follow up with other industry professionals as well as current and former colleagues. It’s an opportunity to build trust and camaraderie at work, but also learn more about what’s going on at your company and in your industry. Grab lunch or coffee or simply spend time acknowledging the contributions of those around you with a handwritten note —old-fashioned gestures are always appreciated. Daydream In today’s competitive global economy, people are being paid more to think than to manufacture. So along with your A-game, it’s time to bring your imagination to work if you’re gunning for that promotion. After all, Archimedes had his “eureka” moment in the bathtub, Newton developed the theory of gravity while lounging in his mother’s garden, and J.K. Rowling came up with Harry Potter while staring out a train window. Now, imagine if those people had been new deep in the drudgery of paperwork or catching up on email. Studies show that daydreaming indicates an active mind more open to creative breakthroughs. Creativity is about thinking outside the box, so put away the phone, turn off the monitor, and let your mind wander. You might just come up with the next game changer.
4 reasons you should start that business
[bctt tweet=”There is never a perfect time to start a business and you may never have enough capital” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Traditional career paths aren’t just for everyone, neither is entrepreneurship. And you know what? That’s totally okay. Some are destined to be entrepreneurs but for others, it’s scary, intimidating and too demanding. It can be a terrifying journey but can also be fulfilling and rewarding. All it takes is preparation and a significant amount of effort to start that business. Mind you, there is never a perfect time to start a business. You may never have enough capital, enough experience or zero risks. And there are no guarantees that your business will either fail or succeed. But hopefully, the reasons below are enough to make you want to start that business you have been meaning to. Here are 4 reasons why you should start that business. 1. Flexibility in hours You are able to do whatever you want, spend more time with family and friends. And even get involved in your community. You can work from anywhere too. How cool is that! However, running your own business requires some serious organizational skills or else you may end up with a lot of wasted, unaccounted hours. 2. Creating your own environment You get to set the formality and culture of your organization or business. Everyday, new challenges will bring you new experiences and perspectives. This is not as easy as it sounds but these three points can assist you in creating that environment: Develop an individual and business strategic plan: The process of developing a strategic plan is a reflective process. It is as energizing as it is interesting. Linking your individual goal with your business plans works extraordinarily well. The effect ensures a cohesion of values and aspirations. Have a business personality: Write a concept note that aptly highlights the personality of your business. This is important because it summarizes what your business is all about and what it does. It is also a great way of sharpening fundraising skills as well as communicating why your business exists. Enroll in a class or online course: This will help to facilitate your personal and professional growth while strengthening your analytical skills. This can amazingly help you in articulating your business’s strategies. [bctt tweet=”Start your business if you want to create your own working environment, and more” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 3. Pursuing your passion You can do what makes you happy by creating something from scratch while learning the ropes of your industry. First-hand experiences and exposure to new cultures are great for business growth. 4. Creating jobs Improve the economy with new job opportunities and use your products and services to improve people’s lives.
Negotiate your way to financial success Part II: Negotiation mistakes and how to avoid them
In the last segment, we discussed the essential steps for negotiation. Of equal importance are things you should not do during negotiations. Mistakes during a negotiation can hinder its success. Don’t get emotional It is imperative that during negotiations you maintain a professional stance, even when you feel undermined. For example, bursting into tears and lamenting about the unfairness of an offer can prove counter-productive. Your tears won’t persuade your negotiation partners to give you a fair deal. Moreover, emotional persuasion will not help you win your negotiation partners’ respect. It will only get them to “pity” you. You never want to start a business relationship out of pity. Pity does not get you the deserved respect in the long run. Emotional outbursts during a negotiation will hurt its effectiveness and productivity. Tip: Rather than using emotional persuasion, use objective facts. Humanize the negotiation but do not personalize it. Don’t make unsupported assertions One could be tempted to make unsupported assertions when negotiations seem to go downhill. Don’t! Using fiction to support your bargaining point during negotiations will hurt your chances of success in that deal. Remember, you will likely be dealing with savvy business individuals who most probably have researched your assertion. They’ll definitely be able to spot a fictional assertion. There is nothing worse than being unethical during a negotiation and tarnishing your reputation in the business industry. News travel fast! Tip: Prior to a negotiation, gather as much hard data as possible to support your assertions. Where relevant data is unavailable, use comparable data. When using comparable data, be transparent with your business partners. Do not disguise the comparable data as one that speaks on the matter at hand. In the same light, don’t rely on spontaneous brilliance. Prepare! Do not make spontaneous decisions Do not feel pressured to make a decision on the spot. It is perfectly okay if your negotiations require a series of meetings before reaching a bargain. Tip: Ask for time to make a well-informed decision. Do not say “No” Yes! I really meant to say do not say “no” during negotiations. Never say “no” during a negotiation, even when declining an offer. Instead, positively decline the offer. You should be able to embed “no” into the kindest phrase your potential business partner has ever heard! For example, you have been recently offered a job with an unattractive salary. Rather than emailing the employer to say “Thank you, I have decided to decline your offer,” you could do it better. Consider calling and saying, “Thank you for the offer, I am excited about the position and the opportunities it will offer. However, after reviewing the compensation package, it would prove challenging to be able to meet my financial obligations. Nonetheless, I remain open to hearing about future opportunities that will match our mutual needs.” Such an approach will allow you to continue future conversations with your potential business partners, employers, or even schools. In fact, this approach helped a friend get more financial aid from a top law school. Tip: Bury your “no” in a positive statement. Make them feel good about your response so that they barely dwell on the fact that you just said “no”. Do not give an ultimatum During negotiations, your goal at all times should be to negotiate. Yes, simply negotiate. Avoid using an ultimatum during negotiations. It sends the wrong signal that you’re unwilling to further the negotiation discussions or find a win–win scenario. Moreover, an ultimatum will put your negotiation parties on the defensive. For example, saying “this is my best offer, take it or we have no deal” is wrong. It’ll likely to make the other party believe that a negotiation ends if your offer is not met. Never give the impression of foreclosing the possibility of finding a mutually acceptable bargain. Such aggressiveness will likely be counterproductive in achieving success. Tip: Rather than give an ultimatum, which focuses on the “I,” focus on the “we,”. Express your willingness to create value for all parties while also noting the need to meet a deadline. You may consider telling your negotiators that you would like to reach a decision by a certain deadline. Such timing should, however, be reasonable. This can help you pay attention to cultural nuances (as discussed below). Such an approach will allow all parties to focus on reaching an agreement within the stipulated timeframe. Do not ignore cultural nuances It is imperative to pay attention to cultural nuances during negotiations. This could play a vital role during the value-creation process. For example, direct eye contact with negotiation parties is strongly encouraged when dealing with US negotiators. This conveys sincerity and could enhance negotiations. In China, however, such a gesture could hinder a negotiation’s productivity. Direct eye contact is considered inappropriate or rude in China. Tip: Do not apply blanket tactics during negotiations. Research the negotiation parties and be sensitive to cultural idiosyncrasies. This will help you succeed in maximizing your negotiation potential. To summarize, avoiding these negotiation blunders will improve the likelihood of a successful negotiation. It would provide the ability to realize your desired outcome. If you would like insights on a particular topic, write to us! We are listening.
Hi there, new career
As a young person living in the information age, I’m glad I can ignore the norm and choose my life’s path. I like that I can decide to either go into a business or choose paid employment. Really, due to the current economic rat race, young people should dare more instead of being mere spectators. Yes, there’s the need to survive, save some money and launch business ideas but you may just need a new career. Only a few companies are willing to keep up with the energy and novelty of young people anyway. But this does not in any way mean you can’t make things work for you as a young woman. Here, you’ll find a couple of ways to make employment work for you, especially if that’s your choice: Know your stuff You’re expected to add value and make a certain contribution to whatever industry you’re in. This means you need to read, research and be up to date with trends in the industry. This way, you’ll stand out and have better chances at promotions, raises and maybe even a smart pep talk with senior management. In the event that the first two benefits never come, don’t give up just yet. Keep furnishing yourself with all possible details, attend workshops and push for training. If it appears that your employer does not see your value, you may need to search elsewhere because another employer will! Network This cannot be emphasized enough in today’s job market. A lot of doors are open for folks who never cower in a corner, waiting to be noticed. You pretty much have to get out there and talk to people. Get linked with industry experts and mentors who can walk you through this journey. The probability of your success and growth will be a lot higher than if you don’t network. If you’re an introvert, don’t let this define you. You can find unique ways to approach people and network. Use your voice Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and revolutionary behind the ‘Lean In’ mantra argues that women have taken a back seat for so long at the workplace. This is so because we are not leaning in to ask for what we deserve as much as men do. Women tend to do a lot of the work then sit at the table waiting for an applause. Hey, great things don’t come to people who sit back. You’ve got to make demands on your success. Have you seen a man’s reaction when he’s accomplished a project, no matter how small? He walks right into the boss’ office and asks for a bonus/raise/promotion. Girls, it’s about time we did just that! It doesn’t matter if you’re labelled pushy, use your voice to get want you want. And hey, the worst you can get is a ‘no’, right? That never killed anyone, you know. Develop other skills outside your mainstay If you’re a marketer, try cultivating some design skills. If you’re an accountant, blend that with finance. If you’re in the hospitality industry, get into a language school. Find skills that complement your core profession. These seemingly little things make you unique in the workplace and help your career advancement. Never stop learning, and this is an ode to the power of the internet! You could learn a so much from the comfort of your home. Self-teaching is the new thing. And who knows, you could even start a business from that. Opening your mental horizons is one of the best things you can do to yourself especially when you’re young. Have fun I know this sounds crazy when your mind is mulling over how soon you want to switch jobs or leave full-time employment. But guess what, you need to grow where you’re planted and take in some sunshine while at it. Organize your desk, do fun stuff with your colleagues, kick start an employee initiative…try out things that punch monotony and her friend boredom. You could start by being grateful that you have a source of income, then get bold at realising happy and cheerful moments. This kind of positive energy is what you’ll need to be productive. Don’t sit with the whiners, you’ll be one of them before you know it. Good luck and be well. I believe you’ll make it. And remember, shoot for the stars!
Peggy Ballou: Young women should create vision in their career
Sometimes, busy professionals need specialised one-on-one training to boost their businesses. That’s where the boutique coaching comes in. Boutique coaching is the art of discovering the best in people and getting them to utilise it. In Ivory Coast, Peggy Ballou is at the forefront of talent management and human capital. She is the founder of Social Achievers, a non-profit organization which aims to develop personal and professional skills in high school students in Ivory Coast. Peggy spoke to SLA about young women creating vision in their career while sharing top tips on improving career skills. What does it take to run a boutique coaching and human capital firm? Running a boutique coaching and human capital firm in Ivory Coast is a challenging experience. Especially when only a few have basic knowledge of the services you offer. A boutique firm is one of a small size and/or narrow line of service. In our case, we specialize in career coaching for professionals in their mid-career, on one hand. On the other end, we help SMEs strategically plan and manage their human resources. Our ultimate goal is to provide advisory services on the strategic function of HR as opposed to the traditional view of staff and payroll administration most business owners have. Managing a business of this sort requires experience, innovation, perseverance and excellent communication skills. I personally work from home and my team consists of a virtual assistant and a community manager. Sometimes, I work in a client’s office with other independent consultants. The biggest challenge is to get the first clients, especially corporate ones. I spend most my time educating and nurturing the prospects on the importance of our services to improve the results and performance of their staff. I do this by networking, writing articles in HR Magazines and doing public speaking. How have you sustained your business through the years? I have been in business since September 2013. I started while I was still living in Canada. I was running it in parallel with my corporate job, at nights and during weekends. I a humble beginning, and in 2015, I took a leap of faith, quitting my job. I went back to school to obtain my coaching certification and started working on my business full-time. I am still at the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey and still have a lot to learn. However, I have personally grown considerably over the past few years and learnt a lot on the do’s and don’ts in the process. For 2016, my main focus is to systematize and streamline my business in order to scale it and make it sustainable. What is your model for human capital development? I see the human capital (talent) management as a 360° integrated process as the image below: Very often, organizations, especially SMEs, don’t strategically plan and align their staff with the business objectives. They place less emphasis on employees development. We are here to help in different aspects of the human capital management from the workforce planning to the talent acquisition; from training and development to succession planning. Our vision is to make human capital the most important asset of organizations by maximizing the potential of each individual contribution in meeting the business objectives. Why is human capital the heart of a business? How can young entrepreneurs leverage human capital? Human capital is the set of knowledge, experience, and talent that people have and can benefit an organization. As entrepreneurs, we know how important it is to hire the best employees and put the right persons in the right position. When starting out, entrepreneurs don’t have enough resources to invest in the human capital. But they could leverage human capital by identifying and selecting staff according to the potential and natural talents of each person. They don’t need to rely solely on just past experience. To attract the best people, young entrepreneurs should think of career development and advancement opportunities in their companies. It’s also recommended to invest 1% of the revenues in staff training and development. That investment will improve the overall performance of the organization. How can young women improve on their productivity at work? For me, productivity is the ability to produce the best result possible in the shortest amount of time. As young women, we often have to balance work with family duties. Hence, it’s important that we are organized and focused on productivity. At work, it’s crucial to identify what are the main priorities and focus on what matters the most. It takes discipline and dedication. Productivity also implies systematization. Whenever possible, young women should create systems in their work and personal life (checklists, templates, various spreadsheets, automated email responses, menus, pre-made grocery lists etc.) and establish routines. Finally, it’s important to note that motivation is a driver of productivity so young women should find purpose. They should create a vision in their career and life to stay motivated and keep their productivity level at his best. If you weren’t in your current profession, what would you be doing? I would be a diplomat or an ambassador! Did you enjoy this article? Sign-up for our newsletter to get even more amazing content directly in your inbox. Click here.
Negotiating your way to financial success: 4 essential steps to effective negotiation
Women often shy away from negotiations for fear of being perceived as aggressive or of losing the offer. However, we tend to forget that the people we negotiate with are, sometimes, merely doing what they are hired to do – secure a deal at the best price possible! Indeed, at other times, the negotiator may be just be sticking to a strict budget or testing the waters. For example, I spoke to a Ventures Capitalist who stated that he could not trust an entrepreneur who never attempts negotiating an offer because such a person would most likely attract a lot of “lemons”, i.e. deals that no one wants. As such, when a potential business partner or employer offers a seemingly ridiculous price, do not take it to heart. Instead, Pause. Breathe. Negotiate! The goal of every negotiation process should be to negotiate effectively. Effective negotiation involves these key elements: Research Before commencing on negotiating a price, it is imperative that you conduct a thorough research. For example, if you have been offered a new job, you should embark on a prevailing salary research on the said job role. This information would come in handy and serve as a backdrop during your salary negotiations. On the other hand, if you are negotiating with a potential business partner, your pre-negotiation research might focus on determining your potential business partner’s interest and positions in relation to yours. This would greatly help create value during negotiation. Understanding your best alternative to any negotiation This is a great tool for preventing an undesirable outcome to a negotiation and guaranteeing financial success. For example, have you ever had those moments when just moments after agreeing to something, you blurt out, “why did I agree to that?” or “what was I thinking?” While this may be okay when negotiating with your siblings about who should do the dishes, this (hopefully) should never be the case when negotiating with a new employer for that dream job or with that new business partner. To this end, it is critical that before any negotiation, you determine your options (i.e. substitutes to your ideal negotiation outcome). To begin the process, first, determine your minimum threshold for the object of negotiation. For instance, if you are preparing to negotiate a new job offer and you are not willing to accept a salary below the current one, then your current salary is your minimum threshold. Secondly, on identifying your minimum threshold, determine your alternatives in the event you are unable to negotiate this with the new employer. Write these alternatives down in an order of preference. Your best option on the list should be one you’ll be happy with. Active listening It is also critical that you show some flexibility during negotiation by making a sincere effort to understand the other party’s points. This is can be achieved through an active listening habit. Active Listening ≠Hearing. John M. Grohol states that, “active listening is all about building rapport, understanding, and trust.” Active listening requires that you understand and make a genuine effort to understand the other party’s point of views. It requires: (a) Rephrasing what you believe you heard from the other party: This involves using phrases such as “to make sure I understand, you would like…”, “I understand you feel…” and “to make sure I capture your concern…” (b) Seeking clarity: During negotiations, it is also imperative that you seek clarity on fuzzy points. For example, if the other party has drawn a conclusion and you are unable to determine the logical steps to such a conclusion, seek to understand the underlying assumption. Examples of helpful phrases include: “You concluded XYZ, please can you explain the rationale?”, “what factors did you take into consideration in reaching that decision? etc. (c) Acknowledge the other party’s effort: It is good practice to acknowledge the other party’s sentiments during negotiations. This can be captured by using phrases such as “I understand you feel…”, “it appears that you are…” By implementing the different elements of active listening, you will capture the other party’s attention and help break down resistance (if any). Growing the pie (a.k.a. problem solving or value creation) Indeed, despite showing off superb active listening abilities, negotiations could still end up in stalemates. Even with a lot of patience, this is usually the time where people throw in the towel. But wait, not so fast! Do not give up yet, not without injecting a good dose of creativity into the process. So what exactly does injecting a good dose of creativity mean? This means looking for creative ways to make an unattractive deal attractive. The key here is to determine other factors outside your negotiation points like factors that the other party may be willing to consider (and vice versa). For example, assuming you own a sports drink company and currently seeking investors. On evaluation, your financial statements reveal the need to raise $60,000 and based on valuations, $60,000 equates to a 5% equity stake. Of course, you’d be confident to offer a lower equity stake for $60,000 as the minimum threshold for that percentage of the equity stake. If during negotiations, your preferred potential investor, who owns a sports club, offers $60,000 for an 8% equity stake. This counteroffer falls below what you’d expect but you would really love to have this investor onboard. Rather than end negotiations immediately, you could consider asking if she may also be willing to make your sports drink one of the choice drinks at the sport clubs or introduce you to other sports club owners who might be interested in serving your drink in their sports clubs. This could create publicity and boost sales for your sports drink. Some good phrases for these starting conversations may include “what if…”, “suppose we were to…” The agreement Once you have successfully completed negotiations, it is imperative that you put your agreement in writing. Writing an agreement is an essential step in ensuring that all parties are on the same page (indeed,
Getting comfortable with feeling like a fraud
Ever found yourself in the middle of a great moment —a graduation, getting a promotion, being praised by someone you respect or creating something new— and caught yourself feeling like you shouldn’t be there? Not in a nice, ‘Is this really happening?!’ kind of way. More like a, ‘I don’t deserve this, and I hope no notices I’m a fraud’ kind of way. Ironically, it is because of your greatness that you are more likely to experience feelings of being a ‘fraud’. This is commonly referred to as the ‘impostor syndrome’. Basically, if you attribute your success to everything except the fact that you really are that good, keep on reading. Categorized as “the domain of the high achiever”, Clance and Imes first coined the phrase after a study they did of high achieving women. They described it as feelings of, “phoniness in people who believe that they are not intelligent, capable or creative despite evidence of high achievement”. Instead of crediting success to ability, they attributed it to circumstances or charm. If you’re not sure if this relates to you, here’s a short test you can take to get a sense of where you lie on the spectrum. The concept really hit home for me when I read a quote by Maya Angelou. She said: “I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.” Listen, if Maya-Freaking- Angelou can ‘fess up to feeling what I felt and still be great, then there is a way to succeed in spite of it. So why is impostor syndrome so harmful? There are a few ways that this subtle form of fear could be holding you back from achieving career/business greatness: You don’t shoot your shots, and if you do they are less than they could be In her book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg noted that impostor syndrome made people evaluate their qualifications lower than they should. In the long run, you end up only taking low-risk opportunities, or worse not taking them at all. It affects how you communicate Have you ever ended a well thought-out point with something like, “Does that make sense?” Or worse, do you find yourself apologizing all the time? Seriously, why do you start with “Sorry…” or “I just…” when you speak in a meeting? In an attempt not to be outed as a fraud, you actually can come off sounding uncertain of yourself. It affects your presence In the words of Amy Cuddy, “Impostorism steals our power and suffocates our presence. If even you don’t believe you should be here, how will you convince anybody else?” As with all questions of our ability, there’s no silver bullet to getting past it, but there are ways to not let it hold you back. Accept that you actually are a fraud The only reason you are so aware of how much you fall short is because you are brilliant enough to calculate how much you lack. Be aware of the deficit, but act anyway. Apply anyway, pitch anyway, write anyway. Everyone, brilliant or not, puts their best foot forward and there is nothing wrong with faking it a little before you make it. In the words of Queen Beyonce, “I have accomplished nothing without a little taste of fear in my mouth.” Communicate power Even if you aren’t completely comfortable with feeling like a fraud, at the very least stop sounding like one. Tara Mohr, author of Playing Big says, “I keep meeting brilliant women like you, with powerful ideas to contribute, important businesses and organizations to build, provocative questions to share. But so often, the way they communicate fails to command power. They equivocate, apologize, and look away as they speak.” Be aware of how you communicate. While there is a lot I could add, my one piece of advice would be, watch your cadence and don’t present statements as questions. Focus on delivering value Understand the value that you can bring to the table. We often assume that the skills we really excel at come naturally to everyone because we do them so easily. This then allows us to focus on the things that we can’t do, as we don’t see our skill set as valuable. Keep track of your strengths using tools like LinkedIn. But if you haven’t got it together like that (no judgement, I’m with you!), listen carefully to the feedback you get from colleagues. “I DID that” These three magic words, when said every time you do something awesome, are certain to gain you the respect of the only critic that counts, YOU.
Top tips on human resources from two Sierra Leonean experts
The Sierra Leonean economy is in dire need of a streamlined and engaging workforce. Edleen B. Elba and Fullah Musu Conteh are two professionals in the Human Resource field helping to develop, recruit and retain talent in various sectors for the Sierra Leonean workforce. Edleen is a Chartered Human Resources Analyst who owns JobSearch, a human resources management company while Fullah is co-founder and managing human capital consultant at human capital solutions firm TV-PG. In this article by Moiyattu Banya caught up with both ladies and got them to share some tips on building human capital for any business. It is a known but sad fact that the average job seeker in Africa is a young person. Add to this the African Development Bank’s prediction of a youth bulge on the continent. This just begs the question, how will African countries cope with the increase of young people who will far outweigh available opportunities? In post-conflict countries like Sierra Leone, that rate is even higher. According to the 2013 Status of Youth Report released in Sierra Leone, over 70 percent of young people live under a dollar a day. The country’s unemployment rate is at 60 percent and is one of the highest in West Africa. Ladies, how important is setting up an efficient team? What key attributes should young women possess for business? Edleen: Your team is critical. Hire employees with the right attitude. They may not be the most qualified or experienced but you can always train them. People with integrity and those who care about their personal development and business growth are likely to be more committed and therefore, more productive. Fullah: Be professional at all times with your team. When it comes to your team and standards, be professional. Culturally in Sierra Leone, the lines tend to blur between professional and personal relationships. This situation, if not well-handled, can diminish one’s image as a leader. Case in point, as a start-up, you may have set systems in place and your policies may be top-notch. However, consistent adherence can be a challenge when clear-cut boundaries are not set. Evaluate your leadership style, and ensure your team is in agreement with your expectations. Always check for non-compliance to policies and structures, address the culprits and help them improve on compliance. However, if they still don’t fit in, let them go, irrespective of who they are. What would you consider critical for a young woman setting up a business? Fullah : Understand your business market. Understand your competitors, know what the market needs, lacks or has in abundance – then strategically come in. To this end, you can create a niche that caters to your passion and also the market. Use that knowledge to find mentors who can help you reach your goals and potential customers/clients. Know when to take a step back and when to aggressively push with a service or product. While at it, align with international best practices and contribute to Africa’s consistent growth. It’s best to do away with the standard TIA aka “This is Africa’s way” by ensuring that you adapt to best business practices for your clients’ sake and personal prestige. The bar should be raised, always. Let’s talk about the dream team. How can one effectively manage a team without breaking it? Edleen: Share your vision! I would say, share your vision with your employees and give them responsibilities. If they are actively involved in the decision-making process, they are more likely to believe they are a vital part of the business. Also, it is important to have open communication channels. This is essential to any relationship. Be fair, give regular and effective feedback. How do we maintain personal control in the face of business expansion? Fullah: Know and understand your strengths and weakness. Once you do, find ways or people who can help close that gap. For example, I am a transformational person and monotony bores me to distraction. Owing to this, I do not consider myself a sales person as I am terrible at selling my organization’s new products and services. To address this weakness, I have a strong team consisting of a competent operations person and a passionate business development individual. I design products and services while the operations person follows through with implementation. The role of the business development individual is to get clients while I work quietly behind the scenes to make us all happy. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.