Trainer and Careers Counsellor FRANK NEWBERRY offers his advice on what people may need to do to get on in their chosen careers. He also looks ahead to some exciting workshops planned for groundsmen and greenkeepers later in the year.
‘Do YOU want to get on in your CAREER?’
ASSUMING your answer is ‘yes’ to the question above - here’s another question for you: Career-wise, what do you think are a person’s most important achievements or qualifications for career advancement?
Is it, for example, a person’s:
A. Knowledge and awareness, their NVQ/SVQ’s or qualifications on paper?
B. Skills and ability i.e. the capabilities and experience they’ve built over time?
C. Attitude and disposition e.g. a positive attitude and cheerful character?
Interestingly, in working with employers I often find that when hiring, firing and promoting they’ll:
1. Shortlist people for job interviews on the basis of their: ‘knowledge and awareness’, i.e. their qualifications on paper (CV’s etc.)
2. Verify their ‘skills and ability’ at the interview stage with tests and questions
3. When checking references, slyly call others and ask ‘off the record’, what’s he or she is really like, but almost without fail they will retain, promote or dismiss people on the basis of their ‘disposition and attitude’.
PERHAPS you could take a moment to consider the people you've had dealings with in the past, especially colleagues and bosses. I wonder who, from experience, you'd prefer to have working alongside you? Would you like a knowledgeable, skillful but miserable sort as a colleague or boss? Or perhaps someone less aware, having a bit less ability but happily possessed of a cheerful disposition? Well I know what I like, and I’ve asked thousands of people the same question and it seems everyone wants to be working next to a cheerful soul. In fact, research has been carried out recently into what makes some people nice to know and good to work with, and what makes others the types we all want to avoid.
Here are the results of the research, but brace yourselves, for I had to honestly admit that in a couple of key categories I was definitely lacking something and you may have to admit to one or two yourself. Check out this list of seven key interpersonal skills and do an honest audit of where you stand against these criteria.
Seven Key Interpersonal Skills
1. Interest in others The authors of the research say this means you are genuinely interested in others’ views; you listen to their ideas and respond to the things they say.
2. Appropriate humour You are amusing, humourous and light- hearted and others enjoy conversations with you.
3. Avoidance of complaining You are unwilling to burden others with your troubles and you avoid repetitive, negative comments.
4. Verbal skills You have ability with the spoken language and the capacity to speak in a manner that others find interesting and coherent.
5. Openness You are willing to say what you really think and to share real opinions and feelings.
6. Tact You are sensitive towards others and do not give offence in conversations.
7. Broad conversation base You are able to talk about a wide range of subjects and to contribute on various topics
IT’S quite an intimidating list and I can remember feeling quite depressed when I first read it. I thought, ‘who do these people think they are, telling others what people like and don’t like about people?’ Then after a while I went back to the list and had to admit that I do like it when people take an interest in me; I do like it
when people don’t whinge even when I know they have every right to complain. I marked myself down on numbers 2 and 6. Apparently not everyone understands my sense of humour and this is probably linked to a degree of tactlessness on my part - a family trait apparently!
Meanwhile for those who want to get on in their careers the message is clear:
1. Some, if not all of the criteria listed have already, and will in the future, impact on your career prospects
2. An honest self appraisal will identify where your skills need to be enhanced
3. Most of the skills, rightly or wrongly will be linked, by others, to both attitude and disposition
BEFORE I finish and, if you’re still with me, let’s see what can be done to help you in your career. First there is a need to accept that whilst educational courses can help you climb so far up the career ladder, they do not reflect what employers value most and we neglect the attitudinal issues at our peril. Secondly, this magazine’s education and training section will continue to include not just information on college courses and qualifications, but will also tackle personal and career development issues in a series of articles with topics including stress management, motivating a team, influencing skills and personal presentation. And thirdly, following on from the highly successful media training course run earlier in the year, Pitchcare will begin a series of short, practical workshops on key career development issues later this year….. so watch this space!
‘FRANK Newberry is a fantastic speaker and advisor who delivers with such personal friendliness, flair and charisma … I learned things I will never forget’. Stephen McGuigan, Head Groundsman, Beverley Racecourse, N. Yorkshire (Used with permission). Frank has worked directly with groundsmen and
greenkeepers in various roles since 1989 and has a well deserved reputation of being able to consistently bring commitment, enthusiasm, and a sense of joy to his training and consulting work. Frank has also gained a national reputation in the golf course industry as an inspirational speaker and coach.
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