Quick Ways To Improve Your Performance

Too often we think that improving our performance at work requires time-consuming certification programs, advanced degrees and months of hard work. While they are important elements in a plan, don't over look those small opportunities to improve. Here's a few quick ways to build a better circus performance:

• Connect with a potential mentor. A simple phone call or e mail could reap big dividends over time.
• Ask for a new responsibility. Okay, we know you are already overworked, but what's the value of tackling a short-term task that improves your skills and enhances your resume?
• Visit your professional association's website. They have current articles related to your profession and downloadable pdfs with good information about industry trends, etc.
• Volunteer. Start with a short-term event for a local charity or non-profit. You will rub shoulders with people who will appreciate your commitment to service-and could be of help in building your network and support team.
• Focus on building individual relationships. Everyone is so busy and when you single someone out for support and encouragement, it shows your genuine concern for their well-being, and is a breath of fresh air in an impersonal work environment.
• Update your resume. It's a good chance to see how you have grown (or not) while in your present position.

While many of these tips won't replace the more involved forms of job performance improvement, they are effective "acts" to begin getting more standing ovations at work.

Find Time for a New Thought

We truly live in the information age. It is amazing how easy it is to find "stuff" about most any subject. Sometimes it is too easy to fill our minds with trivia and quick "bites" of information thanks to TV, email and the web that we forget to actually learn new things and think new thoughts.

When was the last time that you:

• Attended a college or university class to learn something new?


• Read a "non-fiction" book?


• Attended or listened to a workshop, lecture or religious service?


• Learned a new skill or developed a hobby?

Learning should be a life long process. We should never stop thinking new thoughts, discovering new things and developing new skills and talents. Continuous improvement never ends. It is...continuous!

Lucky Preparation

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." What a powerful quote! Read the quote over again. Do you believe it? If you do, consider the question: "What kind of luck are you preparing for?"

Another quote comes to mind: "Don't wait for your ship to come in-swim out to meet it."

I have a friend who lost his job over a year ago. He is extremely talented and should have had no trouble finding a job. Unfortunately, he allowed himself to gain a substantial amount of weight and added some facial hair (not that there's anything wrong with facial hair-but it does have a different effect on the appearance of someone). I can just see some prospective employer failing to see beyond appearances and missing the chance to hire a fantastic employee. On the other hand, this person is definitely not taking the right opportunities to present himself in the best light possible.

It is critical to prepare for when the right opportunity comes along. Your preparation should be a conscious, daily labor. If not, the danger is that the right opportunity comes along and we are not prepared. Get ready!!

Making Performance Improvement Easier

While at the NSDC conference in St. Louis this week, we were introduced to a service called "Teacher Studio." The formal description is as follows:
TeacherStudio is a vital, worldwide professional learning community allowing teachers to see, hear, and collaborate with exemplary educators in action. Through a unique combination of networking technology, rich-media, and proprietary tools, TeacherStudio allows educators from member districts to come together anytime, anywhere to share ideas, receive mentoring, and learn best practices.

An oversimplified description would be a professional development YouTube for teachers-without all the clutter and irrelevant media. Think about it. Teachers are always so busy and professional development, especially viewing the practices of seasoned veterans and dynamic instructors, is almost impossible. With this service, however, teachers in districts who subscribe to the service can leverage the best practices of their instructors and share across the district. You can also view content posted by other member school districts. The information is searchable as well so you can find just what you are looking for.

And as a teacher, you can work on your performance improvement when it works best in your "lineup." I also envision a first year teacher struggling with how to teach a concept or deal with a classroom issue-and they have waited until late in the evening to begin focusing on it. With Teacher Studio you could log on, find the information or assistance you needed and be better prepared for the next day-how cool is that? There is much more to the service-that's just one example.

How about in your organization? How convenient is professional development for your employees? With busy schedules and unique development needs of each employee, how do you make it easier for "improving myself professionally" to be an act in their lineup on a regular basis?