Here’s a great quick read about some career myths that maybe you should avoid.
Dave Willmer really hit the nail on the head with these 7 tips. More than one I need to work on still :)
7 IT Career Rules Worth Breaking via CIO.com – Continuing Education by Dave Willmer <info@cio.com> on 8/1/10
Sometimes sticking to the status quo can actually hinder your career success. Dave Willmer offers some suggestions to help you keep your IT career moving forward.
An effective way to prepare a presentation is to begin with a clear understanding of the purpose of the presentation. Generally there are three main types of presentation, each with a different goal. Depending on which type you’re targeting, your content and focus may change.
The primary goal of a discussion presentation is to gather input and feedback from the audience. Discussion presentations are most effective when one or more discussion questions are clearly defined and communicated to the audience. Supporting background information is typically provided to provide context before opening up for discussion. A typical audience for a discussion presentation would include subject matter experts and other core individuals. Multiple discussion presentations may occur in order to include all facets and aspects of a discussion. For example an initial discussion may present a challenge and solicit possible options. A second discussion may present the proposed solution to all impacted parties to solicit feedback from those individuals.
Informational presentations are typically geared to larger more general audiences. The focus of an informational presentation is more “matter of fact” in nature, discussing the facts of a situation. Presentations of the Inform type don’t typically ask questions of the audience. Ideally those questions that do surface would look to clarify points within the presentation. Inform presentations can also be thought of as training presentations. The objective is to communicate information clearly from one group to another.
Once various alternatives have been considered and evaluated, the Approval presentation provides the opportunity to explain the problem and proposed solution for acceptance by leadership or governing entities before moving forward. Effective approval presentations typically frame the problem, as well as process that led to the solution. With the objective of this presentation type concluding with a yes or no decision, all efforts should be made to answer potential questions well before the actual presentation. This type of presentation should avoid debates about the correct way to accomplish something. Those discussions should occur before this in discussion presentations. The result of those debates and discussion should be summarized in the approval presentation.
Effective approval presentations provide a clear explanation of the problem faced, summary of findings and options reviewed, as well as a brief overview of the steps taken that led to the proposed solution. Most importantly the presentation should clearly communicate what the audience is being asked to approve. At the conclusion of the presentation the audience should have a solid understanding of their task at hand and information required to accomplish the task and approve or deny the proposal.
Regardless of your situation, beginning with a clear understanding of your objective is critical for achieving success, and presentations are no exception. Clearly identifying your presentation type enables you to guide and focus the discussion to meet the real objectives of your presentation. Utilizing the Discuss, Approve, and Inform concepts will help you succeed in your future presentations.
Are you happy with your current position in your company? No, what are you doing about it? I hear people complaining way too often that they are unhappy with their work and for whatever reason they put up with it. The overwhelming reason is that people are waiting for someone to pull them up through a corporation. They’re looking for a manager to create a development plan, waiting for an executive to offer them a promotion, waiting for a project manager to ask them to be on the next big project.
No one cares about you
The bottom line is none of this will happen. Sure there are the cases where people are really recognized for the value they provide but it rarely happens. Think about it, if you’re doing a great job in your current role, why would a manger want to pull you out of that roll and put you in something else, she needs a competent person in that roll.
Provide a successor
Sure you may think you have job security being the linchpin in a critical system, but if you’re the only one who can do it there is no way your managers will push to get you on something else. As for a development plan, most development plans are geared toward what the enterprise wants not what you want. If you’re a java developer and you want to be well rounded, ask your manager if you can take a class on C#. Best of luck with that.
Create your own development plan
We’re not talking about a development plan for HR, make one for yourself. Don’t just sit there looking at it, act on it. Truth is if you haven’t learned anything new in the past three months you’re not going anywhere.
Learn something new each quarter
The whole objective is that you need to work for what you want and where you want to be. Point in case, you want your managers job. How willing do you think your boss would be to stepping out of your way. Exactly, your manager has no interest in grooming you for his position. If you see no room for movement within your team look elsewhere.
Find your own path
Better yet move someone out of the position you want. No I’m not talking about hiring a hit man. Pick a position you want and get close to that person. Understand what *they* want from their career and help them get there. Challenge them to be better ask them questions, compliment them in front of key people, help them get where they way to go. If you’ve played your cards right you’ve show you have the skills and have been visible enough to slide right in to the empty chair.
Help your obstacles move
You might find yourself in a place where everyone is very content and no one wants to move anywhere. First be careful you don’t catch what they have. Truth is there is nothing wrong with aspiring to be better than you are. It’s not a sign of weakness, rather is a sign of strength. Sure your developer buddies may laugh that you sound like you want to be a manager, but in five years they’ll still be there doing the same thing, you’ll be bringing in more cash, doing cool new things.
Embrace your dreams, they’re not nightmares
Finally it’s called the corporate ladder for a reason. You need to take the time and effort to climb it. You need to work at it, find resources, look for opportunities, be proactive. If managers and leaders really were to pull you up through the ranks it would be called the corporate elevator. You need to make it happen.
Give yourself that promotion
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