The 3 ways being an Aussie inhibits your leadership effectiveness

Societal culture is one of the greatest subliminal influences on our behaviour. Whether we like it or not, we are conditioned to think and respond in a way that is aligned with the culture in which we live and were brought up in.

I’m speaking shortly about leading skilled migrants at the Australian Mines and Metals Association’s (AMMA) annual conference on migration. Here are three things that you need to be aware of as a leader in Australia:

1. Cultural Ignorance is a recipe for disaster. Rather than learning every single culture, it might be worth focussing on the 10 clusters of cultures in the world. For example, Australia is part of the Anglo cluster (with UK, USA, NZ, Canada, Ireland) and all the cultures within this cluster display similar beliefs and behaviours.

2. Culture effects leadership effectiveness. For example, displaying a humane orientated style of leadership is critical in Australia. Not so if your employees are from Latin America or the Nordic countries.

3. Don’t stereotype. While culture influences the style of leadership to which we will respond best, we all have had different experiences. You’ll be a great leader if you first understanding a person’s journey, their culture and tailor your style accordingly.

If you’d like a copy of the presentation, please click here to contact me.

Being slow can be good for your career

People today are in too much of a hurry. In a hurry to get promoted; in a hurry to get the next experience; in a hurry to go on the next course.

Contained ambition is noble. Accelerated ambition is a derailer.

Our working lives follow a natural rhythm with periods of growth and periods of consolidation. Without consolidating our knowledge and experience, we can’t successfully maintain the next level.

Time is a critical ally in our career. Perhaps the Kalahari Bushmen of Africa are right - they greet people by saying ‘Hambashla’ which means “Hasten Slowly”.
Perhaps we all need to hasten slowly in our career.

As emotion goes up, intelligence goes down

Our brain kicks into overdrive when we experience intense emotion. Considering it consumes 20% of our energy on a normal day, in overdrive it is really working.

Anxiety, stress and other intense emotions trigger biochemical processes that prevent neurons from talking to one another. This is why it is difficult to think clearly and remember things when experiencing emotional distress.

Unless we calm ourselves we cannot deal effectively with difficult situations.
Some leaders derail because of this very trait. They have not learnt to process their emotions. In fact, as a society we are not good at processing negative emotions. We tend to ignore it (by visiting Mars or a cave if you are male) which leads to suboptimal interpersonal behaviour.

Finding your strategy to process negative emotion is a key skill for successful leaders. Unfortunately, its not all glory and light at the top of the tree. It's where the storm hits most ferociously.

You never know when relationships will reap a reward

Relationships are critical for your career success.

I caught up this morning with Sam, somebody I’ve known for a long time. He’s just started at a large multinational in a contract role and is hoping that it might turn into a full time position down the track. As with all large organisations, it’s bureaucratic with formal interviews required for even an acting role. This was exactly the case as Sam’s boss is off on extended leave for a few months.

As the Chief HR Officer entered the room for the interview he said to Sam, “I know you”.

“Really?” came Sam’s reply.

“Are you the Sam that used to work for Unilever about ten years ago?” he asked.

“Yes, that was me,” Sam said.

“Well, ten years ago I was in-between jobs and was sussing out the market. I called a whole bunch of senior HR managers to have coffee to find out what was going on in the market. You were one of only a handful that gave me the time to meet.”

Sam was stunned. He couldn’t remember him. “I’m sorry, I don’t recollect that meeting but I do hope I was of some use.”

“Absolutely,” came the reply. “You gave me some great insight into the market and soon thereafter I started here, which has been one of the best moves of my career. Anyway, it’s great to reconnect,” he said as he started to walk away.

“Um,” said Sam, “What about the interview for the appointment?”

The CHRO looked back and grinned. “Don’t worry,” he said, “it went really well”.

You just never know.

5 Tips to Navigate the Global Gloom

We live in interesting times: the global economy continues to be pummelled by a debt crisis and $25 billion has been wiped off the Australian sharemarket this week alone. The GFC is still fresh in our memory and while the Government seeks to allay people’s fears by stating our strong economic position, we cannot predict the future.

So how do you best steer your career during these times? Here are 5 tips to enhance your position in a tight job market:

1. Build and maintain your relationships. Stay in touch with people to network inside and outside your organisation. Use social media (like linkedin) as well as the most powerful tools: phone conversation or coffee.

2. Stay professional if your organisation is restructuring. Careers are cyclical so never burn your bridges.

3. Don’t engage with the rumour mill. It doesn’t suit you.

4. Read up understand what’s going on in your sector, so you’re better positioned if change is imminent (plus you won’t get a shock if things do change).

5. Do your job really well (the wisest career advice I’ve received).

These tips will serve to build your resourcefulness and increase your resilience, both which enhances your growth and development. There are positive outcomes to transpire out of difficult circumstances, just keep your eyes open.

The worst professional job in the world

I was at a Super15 rugby union match recently (go the Reds) and decided that referrees have the worst professional job.

Here's my rationale. If a referee has a really good day at the office, at best, only 50% of their stakeholders (players, fans etc) will think they've done a good job. If they have a bad day at the office, not only will 100% of their stakeholders think they've done a lousy job, but the media will also publically berate them.

Referees universally display the one characteristic critical for career success: resilience. To all the referees out there - I applaud you. (But alas I'm human, so I'll applaud louder if my team wins).

Key Points from the CDAA Conference 2012

I had the privilege of recently speaking at the Career Development Association of Australia’s annual conference in Canberra on how they could better guide their clients through the permanent uncertainty in today’s labour market. I took a number of key points away with me, especially some food for thought around Australia’s workforce today and looking into the future.

 

While we all know it’s a multi speed economy, think about these statistics:

• For every 1 job in mining, there are 5 jobs in manufacturing.
• All industries are becoming high-tech. Two-thirds of jobs now require a post-school education, and it’s trending up. If you have a post-school Certificate III or above, you are 3 times more likely to have a job than someone who doesn’t.
• The largest occupation growth over the next 5 years will be Professionals (eg engineers, geologists, nurses, health professionals, agricultural professionals, child care etc). If you are struggling to recruit these professionals now, it will only get harder in the years to come.
• Australia needs 1 million new workers in Aged Care by 2040. Ouch.