“Tips and Secrets to Greater Career Success” Making Yourself Indispensable Al Ballon, Stockton District Manager July 2014

 Explore an alternate perspective on building leadership competencies  Learn about the power of self-assessment tools  Overview of pivotal leadership competencies  Share a manager’s perspective on critical skillsets  Unveil stark realities about current work environment Learning Objectives

Mark Samuel, IMPAQ CEO “Making Yourself Indispensable: The Power of Personal Accountability”  Being indispensable means you are adaptable, learning and growing with an organization that changes and evolves … at the end of the day, you are either working to make yourself indispensable or working yourself to make yourself obsolete” Building Leadership Competencies

“If you want to get to the top, develop skills that complement what you already do best”  It is pretty easy and straightforward to improve on our weaknesses, get measurable results by linear development – We do so by learning and practicing basic techniques  Developing strengths is very different: Doing more of what you already do well yields incremental improvements. To become better, you need to work on complimentary skills by non-linear development Making Yourself Indispensable: John H. Zanger, Harvard Business Review Article

 The Interactive Process: Cross-Training  The combination of two activities produces improvement substantially greater than either one can produce on its own  Marathon runner : Run, run, run but also a regimented diet, yoga, muscle building exercises, etc.  Complimentary Competencies  Developing complimentary pairs of competencies can result in significant improvement in overall leadership effectiveness Making Yourself Indispensable: John H. Zanger, Harvard Business Review Article

 Getting Results  Focuses on results  Establishes stretch goals (vision)  Takes initiative  Interpersonal Skills  Communicates powerfully and broadly  Inspires, persuades and motivates others  Builds relationships  Develops others  Collaborates and fosters teamwork  Character  Displays honesty and integrity  Personal Capability  Exhibits technical/professional expertise  Solves problems  Innovates  Practices self-development  Leading Change  Develops strategic perspective  Champions change  Connect the group to outside world Making Yourself Indispensable: Leadership Competencies

Making Yourself Indispensable: Core and Leadership Competencies Model Source: Office of Learning (OL)Office of Learning (OL)

 Building Strengths …. Step by Step  Identify your strengths  Choose a strength to focus on  Select a complimentary behavior  Develop it in a linear way Making Yourself Indispensable: Building and Magnifying Strengths

 Complimentary companions to the ability to persuade and motivate others:  Connects emotionally with others  Exhibits clear vision and direction  Develops others  Champions change  Is a strong role model  If rated low on communication, this would be a strong companion to strengthen your powers of persuasion  Remember: Focus on a competency that matters to the organization and something you feel passionate about Making Yourself Indispensable: Building Strengths

 Supervisor feedback  Are you described as a poor performer, an under-achiever, a solid performer, or a star performer?  Your colleagues  Mentor Feedback  OL: Leadership Self-Assessment toolLeadership Self-Assessment tool Making Yourself Indispensable: The value of Self-Assessment

 Two main reasons  SSA needs you …… future leaders  The opportunities have never been better !!!  Let’s put it into context  Organizational challenges: Attrition and fiscal constraints  Increased wait times, phone call volume, workloads  How is SSA meeting these challenges?  Flattening of the organizational structure  Online services  Remote assignments: Virtual, Telework  Greater collaboration between components: capacity management/resource sharing Why is Making Yourself Indispensable Sooooo Critically Important?

 “State of Readiness”  Expand your technical and educational skillset  Raise your visibility  Embrace virtual job opportunities  Be resilient How To Make Yourself Indispensable? As SSA employees, we each play a central role in helping the Agency meet its service commitments despite fiscal challenges.

What are some of the key competencies that managers may look for in a prospective Analyst, CR, TE, SCT, TA?  Flexibility … “Attitude defines your Altitude”  Communication skills  Thirst for learning  Interpersonal skills  Ability to prioritize  Problem solver  Integrity  Customer service orientation Making Yourself Indispensable: A Manager’s Perspective

What are some of the competencies that I may look for in a prospective OS, ADM, DM? Management-centric  Leadership  Business acumen  Strategic thinking Making Yourself Indispensable: A Manager’s Perspective

 That thing about mobility  Act the part  Guess what? If you don’t like your boss, he/she probably doesn’t like you either !  Get your hands dirty  There are no guarantees  Get a mentor  Results, results, results  Don’t show your ugly side  Make it difficult for managers not to select you  Maintain a strong life/work balance or you’ll burn out  Have fun at work. It’s OK !  No network, no advancement Stark Realities: “Lo Que Papi A Ti Te Dijo..” Your performance and your career aspirations must focus on adding value to the organization

 Did I mention “get a mentor” …..  60% of IT managers surveyed stated that a mentor is necessary for success. Yet, only 20% of IT workers have a mentor  Mentors help you navigate through pitfalls, help you clarify your goals, provide you with unfiltered feedback, and much, much more Stark Realities: “Lo Que Papi A Ti Te Dijo..”

 “All life depends on relationships..” National Geographic  “Those that are flexible, never get bent out of shape”  “Difficult times provide opportunities”  “Being successful doesn’t necessarily make your great. What makes you great is when you reach back and help somebody else to become great” (Joel Osteen) Favorite Quotes

 Are you able and willing to make yourself indispensable?  Are you ready to disrupt the norm?  Are you ready to embrace a greater leadership role? If You Are …  You need to convince those above you that you are a valuable resource  You must demonstrate that you are indispensable Closing

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