Peak Pathway Magazine's Blog : career development forum

1. Prep for the week ahead This one seems like a no brainer. But chances are it gets pushed to the bottom of your to-do list because it sounds like more work. Mapping out your week is a great way to be in control of your work life, not lose focus, and ensure you have enough time for family and me-time. So take a few minutes out of your Sunday to sit down with your list of tasks and a calendar. Slot all the meetings, deadlines, milestones, and appointments for the week ahead. Also pencil in the person stuff, like time for the gym/yoga or even a hobby, movie night, a date night with your partner, some quality time with the kids, etc. Once you’ve got it all down you’ll have a better idea of the week ahead, maybe juggle things around so that one day isn’t chock full of deadlines or put together a plan do deal with those tough days. 2. Set aside some me-time We all need some time apart to de-stress, relax and rejuvenate our mind. Try to set aside some time in the morning fo...

  Leaders face difficult decisions on a daily basis. How you handle the pressure, make the decision and address the situation can determine your company’s future. So how do you get better at making decisions? Here are some tips. Tackle the ‘mundane’ decisions you’ve been putting off As a leader you’re so busy focussing on the big picture, you tend to push the ‘smaller’ decisions to the backburner. In your quest for growth it’s possible you’ve been putting off other more mundane or ‘easy’ decisions. But it’s important to get back to these sooner rather than later. Even small decisions can have big implications somewhere down the line, whether it’s not renewing an employee’s contract, turning down a speaking opportunity, etc. Avoid postponing decisions however mundane they might seem; tackle them in a timely manner for better operational efficiency. Train your second rung to make decisions on established policies Often companies have well-established policies on a variety of t...

  “Whether we want to admit it or not, both our office life and personal life is important. We work eight to ten hours a day in search of a better personal life, so it’s important to give that it’s due and actively work towards striking the right balance. And remember to always cherish the moments spent with family and friends.” Expect the unexpected “Our personal and office livescome with their own set of complexities and both are very dynamic in nature. The moment you feel you’ve managed to achieve the balance between your two lives, there will be a surprise event that will disturb it and change the rules of the game. And so we start to once again get stressed out and strive hard for that balance. This is the constant game of life and it is important to recognise that. It’s very rare that there will come a time when you feel you have truly achieve a constant balance. So acknowledge the fact that it will require constant effort and learn to roll with the punches.” Quality o...

Many argue that work-life balance is a myth and a wild goose chase, while others insist that it is definitely attainable as long as you know how. And that debate won’t likely get resolved anytime soon. But the crux of the matter is that in today’s busy life, stress is a part and parcel of all our jobs. And while it is not possible to avoid it completely, we can let it not affect your personal life and spoil our time with loved ones. After a hectic day at work, leaving the stress at the office is an absolute must if you want to have a healthy life. Here are five ways to help you do just that. 1. Unwind during your commute Once you are done for the day and have left the office, you are off duty. Use the time you spend on your journey back home to wind down and make the transition from office mode to home mode. Technology has ensured we are connected to our work at all times, but it’s important to draw a healthy boundary between personal time and work time. So use the travel time to d...

Mentoring is an effective way to transfer knowledge, promote best practices and develop a strong talent pipeline in your organisation. It’s key to developing the next generation of leaders. But like any relationship it needs to be cultivated and nurtured, and requires time, focus, and energy. Mentors need to engage with their mentees and build a relationship of trust and confidence. However, this is easier said than done. Here are some smart strategies to help you out if you’re considering kick-starting a mentoring relationship. 1. Set mutual goals for the relationship Ask questions to understand what the mentee would like to gain from the relationship. What are their work and personal development goals? In essence find out their reason and purpose behind the search for a mentor. Talk about both sets of expectations and how much time both of you can commit to this relationship. Then, together prioritise the key elements you’ll address, how much time you’ll spend on them and how mu...

What excites you right now? The one elicits a wide range of answers, from personal to professional, and gives you a glimpse into in deeper aspect of the person’s personality. It gives the person an opportunity to talk about something they are passionate about, making for a much more engaging conversation. It’s possible the answer might overlap with your work or life, providing for a deeper connection. What are you looking forward to? This is a question that is as Burkus says “forward-looking”. This makes it a broad enough question to elicit a range of responses. So rather than asking a question that elicits a monotonous, standard response, you’re giving the person the option to choose from a much larger database of answers. This again helps further the conversation, reveal a personal facet, and help you find common ground. It also shows that you’re interested in building a rapport and investing in the conversation. What’s the best thing that happened to you this year? This is a ...

Some leaders have a certain ‘it factor’ that makes them great at engaging people, maintaining high performance teams, and motivating employees to explore their talents while pulling them all towards a collective goal. This doesn’t come from a position of authority or power, but rather from their ability to be magnetic leaders. Here are some of the top traits of such leaders, and while some are natural talents, there are quite a few that have been honed through repeated practice. Authenticity People are drawn to leaders who aren’t afraid to be themselves because employees value authenticity. Such leaders aren’t pretending to be nice to employees to manipulate them into getting their way. Approachable, honest and transparent are some other phrases employees use to describe such leaders. They are perceived as being fair with a genuine interest in people. All of these factors increases employees’ trust in them, heighten engagement and motivating employees to put their best foot forward...

  1. Develops and maintains relationships “Relationships with peers, subordinates, superiors, etc are not only built but also maintained through regular positive interaction with others. Effective communication forms the strong base of your relationship. And regular communication helps maintain them. If effective communication is lacking, you will not be able to maintain close relationships or develop new ones. A leader that communicates well creates a team that performs well, in all departments of an organisation. Also when employees are able to converse efficiently with each other there are fewer misunderstandings. And even if misunderstandings are there, they will be resolved in an amicable manner. As a result employees are more productive.” 2. Fosters innovation “In an organisational context, good communication certainly promotes innovation, as employees feel more comfortable openly communicating new ideas, which can lead to advancement and development. In addition, if ...

Music legend David Bowie passed away earlier in January at the age of 69, after a battle with cancer. A man who started his career at 13, David Bowie quickly realised that he needed to be much more than a musician if he wanted to survive—he needed to learn the business of music. Credited with changing the business of rock and roll, executives and entrepreneurs would to do well to learn from how he ran his commercial affairs. #1 View mistakes as stepping stones Bowie started off as a musician, but soon a poorly worded contract between him and his first manager, Tony Defries, taught him that he needed to pay attention to the finer details of his business. Once they parted ways, Bowie took control of his affairs with a vengeance and employed the same visionary and adventurous approach he brought to his music. He may have suffered a loss, one that could have stifledhis budding career, but Bowie didn’t allow it to be a stumbling block, he made it his stepping stone instead. Losses are ...

10. You must be passionate about what you are trying to achieve. That means you’re willing to sacrifice a large part of your waking hours to the idea you’ve come up with. Passion will ignite the same intensity in others who join you as you build a team to succeed in this endeavor. And with passion, both your team and your customers are more likely to truly believe in what you are trying to do. 9. Great entrepreneurs focus intensely on an opportunity where others see nothing. This focus and intensity help eliminate wasted effort and distractions. Most companies die from indigestion rather than starvation, i.e., companies suffer from doing too many things at the same time rather than doing too few things very well. Stay focused on the mission. 8. Success comes only from hard work. We all know that there is no such thing as overnight success. Behind every overnight success lie years of hard work and sweat. People with luck will tell you there’s no easy way to achie...