Tenacity- Helping you to prepare for the recession in 2009

In these days of:Recession, Credit Crunch, Downsizing, Redundancies, Restructures and Mergers.  What can you do to prepare yourself for the recession in 2009.

Here are a few suggestions from- Tenacity


1. Keep your CV updated
You have new experiences and learn new skills on an ongoing basis. Highlight some of the top ten skills within your CV

Analytical/research
Communicating effectively
Multi-tasking
Management and leadership
Motivating people
Making decisions
Negotiating
Organisation
Problem solving
Teamwork
Working to deadlines

2. Find your area of weakness and make it a strength
Look at job ads for roles similar to your current role. Are there any areas of weakness then set about getting: training, coaching, reading material on this area make it strength

3. Keep performing in your current job
Don’t let your standards slip or your mind wonder

4. Keep working on your CPD
Keep your continued personal development high on your agenda.  http://cipd.co.uk/cpd/aboutcpd/whatiscpd.htm

5. Invest in Yourself and Your Career.                                                                         Learn a new skill to make yourself more of an asset to your employer or to seek out a second career. Chris Banks Chair of The Learning Skills Council responsible for job training said “Employee with transferable skills is often seen as the biggest assets. A small investment in learning new skills will leave you better prepared” www.lsc.gov.uk/aboutus

6.  Start to get your finances under control by the end of 2008
Set a personal budget and stick to your personal budget during 2009

7.  Look after your physical health
Stress can be a killer and we are all under stress these days. "A total of 13.5 million working days were lost to work-related stress, depression and anxiety in 2007/08.” Health and Safety Executive. Some suggestions are :do some regular exercise, take your lunch, organize your day, and speak to your line Manager and HR rep  www.hse.gov.uk/stress/individuals.htm

 Health and Exercise- www.nhs.uk/change4life

Lawrence Cook a Consultant and Motivational speaker said “Either we can see our problems solely as hardships or envision them to be the invitations that they are : challenges to grow and discover our greater selves as we work through problems, rebound form setbacks and recover from misfortunes”

So what are you facing a hardship or a challenge !

8.  Personal Branding

I went on a business branding course a few weeks ago and the point was discussed about our personal branding. Personal branding is : your personal image i.e. body language, posture, and clothes facial expression.

In addition, it’s your personal thoughts i.e. being an expert, your credibility, emotionally connecting with your audience, the impression you leave with people. How important is it then to make a good first impression especially at this time of recession.  

By the time you have read the first line of this text someone has made their first
impression of you. A few facts:  

It takes 7 seconds too make a judgment on a person when you  first  meet. Therefore, the way you present yourself is vital.

You have 1 minute to make a good impression and 93% is dependant on how you looked 7% on what you say.

you can never change your first impression, you might be given a second chance to improve on it.

We have at our disposal the opportunity to control the first impression that people  have of us. So get it right first time

The Brand called You -by Tom Peters

"Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to   be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.

You're every bit as much a brand as Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop. To start thinking like your own favorite brand manager, ask yourself the same question the brand managers at Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop ask themselves: What is it that my product or service does that makes it different? Give yourself the traditional 15-words-or-less contest challenge. Take the time to write down your answer. And then take the time to read it. Several times.

If your answer wouldn't light up the eyes of a prospective client or command a vote of confidence from a satisfied past client, or -- worst of all -- if it doesn't grab you, then you've got a big problem. It's time to give some serious thought and even more serious effort to imagining and developing yourself as a brand.

Start by identifying the qualities or characteristics that make you distinctive from your competitors -- or your colleagues. What have you done lately -- this week -- to make yourself stand out? What would your colleagues or your customers say is your greatest and clearest strength? Your most noteworthy (as in, worthy of note) personal trait?"

So how are you doing with Your Personal Branding?

There more to come watch this space – Tenacity