“I am a jack of all trades kind of person, with a variety of interests, skills, and talents. Is there a place for me in today’s workforce?”
Want to love what you do? Make a difference? Learn about people and yourself in the process? Are you an encourager? Are you emphatic? If this sounds like you, there is a great place to find your niche and those challenging opportunities for personal and professional growth and development, work for a Non-Profit.
Yes, the wonderful, rewarding realm of the Non-Profits could be just the ticket. These are organizations designed to help, either people or causes, in some way, shape or form and come in a variety of opportunities. Social Service agencies, local, county, state, and federal government positions, and public education are places to consider.
The benefits of working at non-government social service organizations are as numerous as the types of positions that are available. Most of these agencies consist of a small, versatile, dedicated staff that is committed to an ideal. No, you don’t have to drink the kool-aid to join; just care, show up, and be accountable. These are the types of careers that are worth more than a paycheck. They are a way to make a positive difference by giving people a hand up. Being lean, these agencies value flexibility, the ability to multi-task, and the willingness and ability to learn on the fly. They look for problem solvers who can think outside of the box and be up to trying new ideas to resolve problems.
The government is one of the largest non-profit employers. True, most of us do not think of the government as a non-profit, but it is what it is. The role of government, on every level, is to provide services to its citizens. These services run the gamut from accounting to Zoology, from Law Enforcement to Forestry, from, well, you get the idea. And in terms of a benefits package, the government, especially state and federal employees, is not to be sneezed at. This is a field that relies on people who want to serve and is always on the lookout for talented individuals. Yes, you do have to jump through more hoops, and the pay in the private sector is higher, but there is a dignity, a feeling of pride, in working for the government.
Public Education is a great place to explore when looking for the right work “home”. Classroom teachers rely on creativity and effective communication skills to impart knowledge to their students. With summers off as the primary perk, life in the classroom means being organized, observant, understanding, and being prepared are essential for learning to occur. And if you have the ability to remain calm under stress, and think not only on your feet but outside of the box as well, will mean you are one of those teachers who your students will remember.
And teaching is only one career opportunity in this field. There are numerous positions in administration, food service, maintenance, medicine, support staff, and transportation, which insure our children are taken care of properly and are ready to compete.
The real impact of Non-Profits is in community based organizations. Most of these organizations were founded by people who saw a need and filled it. These could be support groups, which provide someone to listen, to empathize, and to inform. They are environmental groups who fight for the “greater good” by making people aware of what is going on and who are not afraid of getting their hands dirty to help clean up the mess.
So if you want a career where you can make a positive difference, help your community, help others, and get that warm glow of accomplishment in your heart, look into careers at Non-Profits. All you touch will be glad you did.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Just What Is It You're Trying To Say
“What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Cool Hand Luke
When I sat down to write this article about the importance of Communication Skills in the 21st century workplace, you would think that this story would write itself. It seems like an easy idea to explain. Just look at all the different ways we have to get a message out; TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, billboards, t-shirts, telephone, fax, e-mail, voice mail, a memo, reports, the way we dress, the tone of voice, body language, choice of words, but how to approach this subject.
As with any broad based topic, we need a place to start. Going to a handy dictionary, this was the definition that was written; Communication is an act or instance of transmitting information. The key here is passing along information. And the more effective we are, the better opportunities for career advancement and growth will appear.
When most of us think about this topic, we think of the spoken word. And one thing we learn, is that there is more to this than meets the ear. The tone of voice, pace, diction and the words we choose play into whether or not our message is understood (not just heard). Good communication allows others to hear the message and pass it on. Knowing who your audience is and the reason why you are talking to them enables you to focus the message so the person you’re talking to can not only “hear’ but understand what exactly is being communicated.
To help strengthen this part of communication, the key is to listen. Listen to a reporter or an education\nature program. Hear how people use words to describe events and ideas. Then, talk to someone about what you heard. Put the information into your own words so you can understand it first. Then, pass the knowledge along. Listen to what the listener is saying so you can try to hear what they heard. Make sure that both parties have an understanding of the idea and build on it. Listening is a passive skill that pays a HUGE dividend. To be able to solve a problem, one needs to listen to the details, the story behind the event. Asking questions, repeating back what was said, allows you to see where the problem lies and sometimes offers simple solutions. There is an old saying, “we have 2 ears and one mouth and they should be used in proportion”. Listen twice as much as you talk.
The most intimidating and therefore uncomfortable way of Communicating is by the written word. Brevity, the right choice of analogies, and the words chosen paint a picture. Great writing is an art, but good, effective writing, delivering information in an easy to understand way, is what communications are all about. Pace and flow are important, but spelling and grammar more so. With spell check, dictionaries, and thesauruses at arm’s reach, there is only 1 excuse for mistakes of this type, carelessness. When you take your time and put the effort into developing your writing skills, it is an investment in yourself.
And how do you develop this skill? By writing, of course. Yes, you have to sit down with a pen and paper (or sit in front of a computer) and write something. Get used to writing again. Write out instructions on how to make ice cubes or do laundry. Look at how you present each step. Make sure the key points are covered. Use easily understood words. Let someone else read it and see if they can follow your instructions.
Reading is a very important aspect of strengthening Communication skills. As you read, you begin to see how others generate an idea clearly. You can learn how to use words better and develop your vocabulary.
We communicate in many different ways. Each brings a dimension, a depth to the information, such as its importance and how we recall and use it. Like most skills, you can make it stronger thru practice. The clearer you can get to the point and make it successfully, will determine the opportunities your future will hold.
When I sat down to write this article about the importance of Communication Skills in the 21st century workplace, you would think that this story would write itself. It seems like an easy idea to explain. Just look at all the different ways we have to get a message out; TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, billboards, t-shirts, telephone, fax, e-mail, voice mail, a memo, reports, the way we dress, the tone of voice, body language, choice of words, but how to approach this subject.
As with any broad based topic, we need a place to start. Going to a handy dictionary, this was the definition that was written; Communication is an act or instance of transmitting information. The key here is passing along information. And the more effective we are, the better opportunities for career advancement and growth will appear.
When most of us think about this topic, we think of the spoken word. And one thing we learn, is that there is more to this than meets the ear. The tone of voice, pace, diction and the words we choose play into whether or not our message is understood (not just heard). Good communication allows others to hear the message and pass it on. Knowing who your audience is and the reason why you are talking to them enables you to focus the message so the person you’re talking to can not only “hear’ but understand what exactly is being communicated.
To help strengthen this part of communication, the key is to listen. Listen to a reporter or an education\nature program. Hear how people use words to describe events and ideas. Then, talk to someone about what you heard. Put the information into your own words so you can understand it first. Then, pass the knowledge along. Listen to what the listener is saying so you can try to hear what they heard. Make sure that both parties have an understanding of the idea and build on it. Listening is a passive skill that pays a HUGE dividend. To be able to solve a problem, one needs to listen to the details, the story behind the event. Asking questions, repeating back what was said, allows you to see where the problem lies and sometimes offers simple solutions. There is an old saying, “we have 2 ears and one mouth and they should be used in proportion”. Listen twice as much as you talk.
The most intimidating and therefore uncomfortable way of Communicating is by the written word. Brevity, the right choice of analogies, and the words chosen paint a picture. Great writing is an art, but good, effective writing, delivering information in an easy to understand way, is what communications are all about. Pace and flow are important, but spelling and grammar more so. With spell check, dictionaries, and thesauruses at arm’s reach, there is only 1 excuse for mistakes of this type, carelessness. When you take your time and put the effort into developing your writing skills, it is an investment in yourself.
And how do you develop this skill? By writing, of course. Yes, you have to sit down with a pen and paper (or sit in front of a computer) and write something. Get used to writing again. Write out instructions on how to make ice cubes or do laundry. Look at how you present each step. Make sure the key points are covered. Use easily understood words. Let someone else read it and see if they can follow your instructions.
Reading is a very important aspect of strengthening Communication skills. As you read, you begin to see how others generate an idea clearly. You can learn how to use words better and develop your vocabulary.
We communicate in many different ways. Each brings a dimension, a depth to the information, such as its importance and how we recall and use it. Like most skills, you can make it stronger thru practice. The clearer you can get to the point and make it successfully, will determine the opportunities your future will hold.
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