FaithRalston.com

November 2007

Greetings!

This month I've met many leaders as I've traveled around speaking about talents. A few highlighted events were:

• Speaking to leaders at Regions Hospital
• Keynoting at first-annual Sales Shebang conference
• Speaking to Association of Grant Managers at the McKnight Foundation, and
• Delivering Play to Your Strengths to a packed-house at the Midwest ASTD conference

What a joy to meet so many new friends. And for newcomers - welcome to the BOLD LEADERS newsletter!

Today I'm sharing insights from my coaching experience with leaders. Many of you are struggling with similar concerns.

Need a speaker? Invite Faith to speak at your next leader meeting or sales event!

In This Issue

• Upcoming Event
• How to Avoid 5 Talent Traps

PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Awesome Women Organization

Location: Best Buy World Headquarters Campus

Address:
7601 Penn Avenue So.
Richfield, MN 55423

Pricing: $145 Awesome Women members; $195 non-members

Open to public - both men and women welcome!

Register online or call Chris Bedwell at (763) 783-9200.

In this session, you'll learn the 4 Meta Talents essential for project and team success. You'll discover your top talents and the value you bring. You'll identify ways to find your "sweet spot" - or where your talents line up with the needs of your organization and opportunities around you. Leveraging your talents helps you work better with others, expand your career, and feel valued and appreciated at work. You'll enjoy the projects you're working on, contribute your best, and make a bigger impact!

Whether you're self-employed, working for an organization, or planning a career move, leveraging your top talents is the one thing you must do to be successful.

Click Here to Register


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How to Avoid 5 Talent Traps

I recently asked a friend, "How's your new job going?" She replied,

"I feel like a tiger in a cage. I could offer so much more than I'm being asked to do."

Do you want to bring more of your talents to work? What's keeping you from doing so? In my work as a leadership coach, I've discovered five common traps that prevent employees from delivering their best.

# 1. You don't see your value. You might think your talents are 'no big deal.' Many leaders don't recognize the impact they're having on others. You've learned that modesty is noble so you don't focus on your worth. But this false modesty doesn't serve you.

ACTION: Take time to ask your customers, employees, and boss, "What do you appreciate about my work? How do you and others benefit from my services? Specifically, what do you value most?" Take a personal inventory of your strengths. Create a value proposition for your self. Recognize the value you bring to others.

# 2. You don't tell others. You might be working hard and producing great results, but no one notices or sees the value you bring. Don't wait to be picked out from the crowd. You can't assume others will recognize your talents. You must tell them.

ACTION: Start talking about what you love to do. Find ways to offer your best talents. Help your boss and co-workers recognize projects with your name on them. Calmly describe the contribution you want to make. It's the quiet clarity about your offering that makes you believable.

# 3. You don't say 'NO.' Are you a promiscuous head-nodder? When others ask for your help are you too quick to say yes? You want to be helpful and a team player so you jump right in. But soon you're struggling to keep your promises.

ACTION: Ask your self, "Is this project mine to do? What is the best value I can bring to this situation? Does this fit with my priorities?" And if it's not, then say no. NO is not a four-letter word. In today's organization, it's your responsibility to place your self where you can contribute the greatest value.

# 4. You don't ask for help. Are you trying to muscle your way through challenging projects? You might think, "This will be over soon. I can handle it. I just have to get through this week!" But there's always another crunch time around the corner. When you're in the middle of a quagmire and overwhelmed - you might get mad, get even, get skinny, get fat, cry, or blame others, but the one thing you don't do is ask for help.

ACTION: Recognize your limitations. Ask for help. Call on other's talents to help you. Challenge yourself daily with this question, "What am I doing now that could be done by someone else?"

# 5.You don't take risks. You want to play big. But while pondering what to do next - you end up marinating. You try to figure it all out before making your first move. Contemplating too long is dangerous. You end up frustrated and spinning your wheels.

ACTION: Step into the unknown. Then gradually the right path will open up. Rarely do I see individuals achieve their goals in straight-line fashion. Listen to niggling desires and take action. Learn more, explore and take risks towards your goals. You'll feel disconcerted at times - yet energized and alive.

It takes effort to side step these 5 common traps. Challenge yourself to see your value, tell others what you do, say 'no' more often, ask for help, and take bigger risks. I promise you'll have more fun and discover renewed passion for your work.

Have a great month!

Faith

Topics

• Coaching Skills
• Developing Employees
• Leadership
• Managing Talents and Career