Theme: A Guide to Thriving on Change
Length: 30 minute speech or 1 hour lecture
Designed for: Employees, teams, workforces in transition, trainers, HR professionals, businesses, professional organizations, seminars and retreats.
Summary:
The cannons of change continue to reverberate throughout Corporate America these days, shaking the very foundations of employee security, morale and loyalty. And out of the dense smoke comes the predictable cries from employees that are all too familiar: "They just don't care about their employees. All they care about is the bottom line."
To be successful today, the foot soldiers of business, the employees, must learn new guerilla survival tactics to help them achieve their own goals, including empowering themselves, maximizing their career options and employability, improving their market value and ultimately increasing their self-esteem and self-worth.
We call this the "I Am My Own Company" process. It recognizes that each of us, whether we know it or not, are "independent contractors." This is true whether we work for a single company for 40 years or for 40 companies a year at a time.
This presentation takes employees, managers, senior executives, outplaced workers, college students -- nearly anyone who has or will work in their lives-- on a voyage of self-discovery. This is not your typical presentation. It is told by a late Boomer and a Generation X'er who were once aspiring corporate climbers. During their rise to the top, they were outplaced, outsourced, downsized and replaced at various points in their careers. They understand the challenges and opportunities that face today's workforce. And as successful entrepreneurs today, they understand the similarities between working for yourself and working for someone else.
What we teach:
To take responsibility for your career. Understand that your actions, performance, self-esteem and the changing marketplace are interdependent. Don't let negativism, resignation, disappointment and the "situation at work" rule your life. Be true to yourself and your own business, "Me, Inc."
Become accountible for your work. Don't blame the system for your inability to affect change, accomplish tasks or complete assignments. Failure to perform to the best of your ability is a personal failure nothing else.
Take advantage of professional development opportunities. This includes memberships in professional organizations, seminars, workshops, accreditation, continuing education, etc.
Focus on developing your work skills. The workplace is continually changing. Don't lock yourself into the status quo. Cross train when possible and try something new. Your marketability in the future should be of primary concern to you.
Analyze your performance daily. At the end of every work day as you're driving home, think about the day's activities. Did you perform at your peak level? If not, what prevented you from doing your best? What was the best part of the day? What task did you enjoy doing the most? These daily performance reviews become the standards you'll gauge all your days by and help you excel in your career as an "independent contractor."
Understand your sphere of influence. A lot of workplace agnst occurs because employees try to deal with issues they don't have any control over. Learn to influence those areas you do have control over and forget the rest.
Neutralize the "fear factors." Make it a priority to figure out what you're afraid of in your career. Don't let small fears block lifelong goals.
Like the Scouts, Be Prepared! Being in charge of your career, thinking like an independent contractor, and empowering yourself helps you gain control of your own life. Sell yourself constantly. Be aware of your image. Don't set yourself up for disappointment. And finally, realize that there is life out there after the next round of rightsizing, downsizing and inevitable layoffs.
About the speakers:
Robb and Sharon Zerr are owners of CommuniCreations, a creative services agency providing communication solutions to clients that are innovative, effective and affordable.
Robb is a former internal communication director for Pacific First Bank, Egghead Software and Providence General Medical Center. He has been in the communications field since 1979 and is a noted expert in employee communications and an award-winning practitioner. He's the late Boomer of the team.
Sharon is the Generation X'er, taking a slightly different career path. After working in support roles with several organizations, she struck out on her own as an independent film and video producer, working on major projects for Microsoft, Carson Pirie Scott, MTV and Comedy Central. She currently heads the New Media Division of CommuniCreations.
Working together as a team for the last three years, they have taken CommuniCreations from a small creative services agency to what it is today: a small creative services agency that is very successful. Their clients include Avant! Corporation, Food Markets Northwest, Global Training Alliance, Thriftway, Stormans, Inc., and Weyerhaeuser.
Availability:
The Zerrs are available for speaking engagements throughout the Puget Sound region, the U.S. and abroad. For more information on availability and fees, please call (360)769-0623 or e-mail them at ccreate@pacific.telebyte.com
