Visual Goal Setting

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Have you ever read the book “The Secret”? I’m not usually one to believe in the laws of attraction and I don’t buy into self help books. However when a friend told me about the book this summer, I must admit that I was intrigued.  Here is an excerpt of the product outline from the Chapters website:

In this book, you''ll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life -- money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You''ll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that''s within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life.

Yes, the book was somewhat cheesy. However, it did inspire me to make a visual reminder of all the things that I wanted to achieve over the next few years. Making a vision board does not guarantee success and it doesn’t mean that you can forget about hard work and dedication. In fact, the exact opposite is true. It’s a goal setting activity and a visual motivational tool that reminds you why you are dedicating your time and energy toward achieving your goals. I filled my board with inspirational quote and images of things that I want in my life: Travel, Independence, Relationships, Hobbies, Continuous Learning, Success...

If you're interested in making your own, Entrepreneurial Woman has a great vision board how to guide that teaches you how to make a paper, digital and video version.

What’s on your vision board?

How to Tell Your Organization's Unique Story

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From the time I began my very first job in the communications field, I have worked on projects that are intended for external audiences. I delivered key messages to Canadians on behalf of our nation’s largest purchaser, engaged with online art and culture communities, worked on local promotional campaigns in agency and informed the public about health related topics. Although my passion truly lies in PR, I must admit that I am fascinated by what is done “behind the scenes” in order to create a strong organizational culture.

When internal communication channels come to mind most people automatically think of intranet, newsletters and message boards. However, storytelling plays a major role in constructing organizational culture. This motivational tool is especially powerful during times when organizations are dealing with difficulties such as a PR crisis (BP anyone?), an acquisition or during downsizing. Organizational stories can describe many things. It can tell a tale about how an organization was founded or how an employee revolutionized how the organization conducts their business. The main goal of storytelling is to help employees easily transmit and memorize key information such as values, visions, ideas and norms.

Some of my favorite examples of organizational story telling take place at FedEx, HP and Ford.  FedEx couriers share their unique stories about how they go through great lengths to stay true to the company’s motto: “Absolutely, Positively Whatever it Takes”.  One courier shared a tale about how he jumped in the ocean to retrieve a package that had fallen from his truck. At HP, employees are told a story about how the founders started the company with $538 in the garage behind a rented house in 1937. During a management meeting, 300 Ford managers were told the story about how a senior executive raised money to build a habitat for a gorilla who spent 27 years in isolation at the Atlanta Zoo.

What are the characteristics of a good organizational story?

According to Wilkins (1984) and Zemke (1900) there are five steps to take in order to ensure that the story impacts on the organization’s culture:

1. The organizational story must be concrete and non-fiction. Therefore it must be about real people, describe a real event and be set in a real time and place.  The point is to make the story relatable to all members of the organization no matter where they are located or what department they work in.
2. The story must be known to all members of the organization. This ensures that it is ingrained in the organization’s culture.
3. The story must be believed by the internal audience. Employees must recognize that it is also believed by their peers.
4. The story must be used as guidance. It should demonstrate how things are done within the organization.

What’s your organizations story?

So You Want to be a Protégé?

Since the beginning of my budding career, I have had the opportunity to work with women who have inspired me and have helped shape me into the young professional that I am today. I consider these ladies mentors. These relationships are my first step toward a long and successful career.Why you ask? It's because they have already been successful in what I am working to achieve. They act as trusted advisers who willingly give me guidance, share their experiences, provide me with opportunities and offer me their support in order to enhance my professional development.

How to go about finding a mentor:

     1. Look to the people you currently work with.
My mentors were not assigned to me through a program. Instead, I came upon them through organic relationships that were formed with managers and senior colleagues. Don’t be shy to send a potential mentor an email or ask them out for coffee, he or she will most likely be happy to help!

     2. Mentorship programs in your organization.

Some organizations offer mentorship programs where less experience employees are assigned to an    individual who is higher up in the organization. This gives the individual being mentored an excellent   opportunity to learn about the organization and to become more easily ingrained in its culture.

     3. Professional Associations are also a good place to look.

If you just don’t click with the people you work with or if your organization doesn't offer a mentorship program, you may have better luck finding a mentor through a professional association. For example, The International Association of Business Communicators offers a mentorship program that helps less experienced individuals increase their knowledge of the communications profession, helps them pinpoint potential job possibilities, enables them to gain professional experience and helps them establish a network in their field.

Now off to your first step of success!