Mark Hirschfeld

Track coach Bob Timmons wasn’t impressed with his new long-distance running recruits, but then he saw he saw something in a sophomore runner…

… a glimpse.

He started working with that young man to help him develop the ability to take his performance from a “glimpse” to a full performance, and a few years later that young runner, Jim Ryan, set a world record.

Every day in our workplaces there are folks who are working hard. They may not have put it all together, but they may have shown a “glimpse” or two along the way.

Have you seen a “glimpse” recently? If not, do you need to take more time to truly see what’s going on with your team?

Let’s identify and recognize those glimpses, and then work to help our team members build on those glimpses.

Who knows, we just might help develop some world-class performances.

For discussion: where can I focus my attention to see some “glimpses” where I work?

#ThankYouThursday #recognition  #appreciation #gratitude #grateful #inspiration

My employer has created a free site to recognize folks. Use it as often as you would like! Give some appreciation, right now: https://appreciate.biworldwide.com/

For those of us in the United States, as of early November 4^th, we await the final election decision. This waiting can be emotional, frustrating, and stressful.

For those who are searching for a job, waiting to hear about a decision regarding employment can also be fraught with the same emotions.

What can you do when you’ve been interviewed for a job and the prospective employer tells you’re still in the running but they don’t have a decision?

~ Don’t stop the rest of your search! Even if you are a finalist in a job, continue to work any other opportunities on your board. Until you have a firm offer and start date you should assume you don’t have the job.

~ Get feedback from coaches who know the prospective employer to determine if there is anything else you can do to advance your best interests.

~ Take care of yourself. In these stressful times when there is no decision, take care of yourself and get into a circle of folks who can encourage and support you.

What is common about these three pieces of advice? They are within your control, and in the midst of waiting for a decision you want to control what you can.

Hang in there.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources  All posts at www.markhirschfeld.com

#career #careercoach #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

It’s election day in the United States. This is a big deal, and there will be lots of attention paid, justifiably, to this event.

But you can still advance your job search:

~ I just checked, and there are still postings on job boards! Take a peek and see if a new opportunity looks right for you and get that application and resume posted.

~ The internet still works and libraries are still open, so you today can be a time for you to conduct research about prospective employers and maybe an new industry you’re exploring.

~ There may be some folks who would love to take a few minutes for a networking call today to distract them, so go ahead and ask! And if folks don’t want to meet today, perhaps you can use today to schedule a time for a networking meeting sometime down the road.

If you are here in the U.S., please vote (safely) if you haven’t already done so, but if you’re in the job search this can still be a productive day to advance you toward your ultimate goal.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources  All posts at www.markhirschfeld.com

#career #careercoach #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

This plea is to those of you who are fortunate enough to have a job. If someone asks for you for a few moments to ask for advice, please do so. If you know the person well enough and feel comfortable writing a reference or validating some of their skills on this platform, do it.

One exceptionally important thing you can do in a networking meeting it to provide connections to a job seeker from your network. I was trained by my father to understand and utilize the power of networking, a skill others may not have.

I have used this privilege to my own benefit over the years, and am now using that to help others navigate these often complex systems called employers.

I’ve heard some say they are uncomfortable taking networking meetings because of the fear they can’t help. You don’t need to have all the answers. In fact, just listening to folks who are searching can make a difference—you help them feel heard.

Reach out and help not because you may receive something in return (although you might); do it because it’s the right thing.

There are twelve training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout the videos reference. This content is free. Please consider passing along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources 

#jobsearch #hiring #jobs #careers

A former job search client told me about how a first interview with a prospective employer got off to a great start because she was learning about the employer. Prior to her interview she had been online and noticed a news story about the company, which she referenced in the “small talk” introductions. The hiring manager hadn’t seen the article, so was grateful for her bringing it up and it offered them an opportunity to connect. The rest of interview went well.

This is a good example of the importance of doing your homework about a potential employer. In some cases that can be accomplished in online research—the web site of the employer, online review sites and social networking sites can all be useful.

In other cases you need to do some networking with people you know who may have insights or can introduce you to people who do.

There are twelve free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please consider passing along to friend or loved one who may need help: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources 

There can only be “salesperson of the year.”

Only one team can get their product to market first.

Only one person can win the contest for best design.

But every person—each of us—can do something better than we’ve ever done before.

Each of us can have a “personal best.”

Each of us have had a times in our work when we’ve done something better than we’ve ever done.

Maybe you were a new salesperson who was just starting with a company and got furloughed for no fault of your own. You didn’t compete with longer tenured producers, but you had a couple of months where you did better than you had before—you had two personal bests. A prospective employer may be very interested to know of your personal bests, as those successes, although modest, provide evidence you were heading in a positive direction.

In the world of sports we celebrate when athletes have a personal best. Take pride in your personal bests and learn to tell those stories to the market.

#career #careercoach #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

A “panacea”—a solution for all remedies.

When it comes to recognition, there isn’t really one panacea that will inspire all employees equally. It turns out you need a series of resources at your disposal. According to our research it’s important employees experience recognition:

~ for which there is not necessarily an economic value,

~ for which there is an economic value, and

~ of a milestone or service anniversary.

According to our data, when employees don’t experience any of these three forms of engagement that are the least happy, committed and working hard on behalf of their employer. When they experience one of these forms of recognition their engagement increases, there is a bit more increase when they experience two, and yet another significant jump if they experience all three.

Even though there is no panacea, it’s not difficult to develop a strategy where you use these three forms of recognition to support an more productive, inspiring culture.

#ThankYouThursday #recognition  #appreciation #gratitude #grateful #inspiration

My employer has created a free site to recognize folks. Use it as often as you would like! Give some appreciation, right now: https://appreciate.biworldwide.com/

To keep myself occupied and out of the hair of Mrs. Hirschfeld, I planted an herb window garden. Included in my assortment are the “Simon and Garfunkel” combo—parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.

The fledgling plants bend.

They bend toward the sun.

Toward the light, which helps them grow and thrive.

If you’re in the job search, you too should bend toward the light, toward what will help you thrive.

Bending toward the light will mean something different for each of us, but here are a few ways:

~ Get a coach and some good friends who will provide encouragement, guidance and inspiration,

~ Network, network, network. Interacting with new contacts can be difficult, but most often is positive and affirming.

~ Work hard on your search, AND take time to recharge. I find being in nature is helpful, but others it might be a good book or a satisfying movie.

~ Your “bending” may also mean you avoid negative people. That isn’t often easy, but think about who brings you light and who causes darkness.

~And don’t forget you can bring light to others, including fellow job searchers.

It can be a long and challenging road to secure a new job. Spend your time bending toward the light.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources 

#career #careercoach #jobhunting #careers #jobsearch

I was conducting a workshop with a group of people who had lost their jobs because of a plant closure. They all knew and worked with each other. I had given the group an exercise for each person to think about their successes at work, which can provide insights into strengths.

One gentleman couldn’t think of any. His colleagues all jumped in to remind him of several successes he had. He told the group he “just thought that was what he was supposed to do in his job.” Although that may have been true, his friends reminded him he did those things very well!

You may have done some things for so long that you don’t realize how special that ability could be to another employer:

~ Think about your successes, where you received recognition from others, won a contest or had a “personal best”.

~Take time to get feedback from others about your successes. Have them look at your resume to determine if there’s something missing that would be valuable to another employer.

What you’ve achieved in your prior work could be the exact kind of work another employer is looking for, so spend time thinking about your successes, even those you may consider modest.

#jobsearch #career #hiring #strengths

There are twelve training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout the videos reference. This content is free. Please consider passing along to friend or loved one who may need help: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources