Here’s a grab bag of what’s crossed my desk, mind, & facebook feed this month:
If you are interested in self-development or in the business of developing others, Albert Bandura is someone to know. He was recently awarded the National Medal of Science for his work. Bandura pioneered the idea of self-efficacy, which refers to a person’s belief that they can succeed, accomplish what they set out to do, and reach their goals. People who possess the knowledge and skills to be successful may not believe they can actually do it. If this is the case, the lack of self-efficacy should be addressed first. Coaching can help people with this through an examination of limiting beliefs and thoughts, although the term self-efficacy isn’t thrown around too much in the coaching world. Some of Bandura’s other research on social learning theory is the basis of what I know and believe about behavior modeling which I wrote about last month.
At yesterday’s ATD Baton Rouge meeting, the speaker reminded us that talent retention continues to be critical for organizations. It is more challenging than ever in the always changing employment environment. The expectation of lifetime employment is rare. One of the newest twists is that doesn’t really bother most people in the workforce today because of easy access to job information and the ability to connect directly to employers with just a few keystrokes. Now more that ever, ‘we are the masters of our fate, we are the captains of our careers’. (trying here to reference Invictus if it’s not clear)
Just enjoyed a wonderful lunch with a group from my Women in Transition meetup. I started my meetup twenty-five months ago and have met some of the coolest people that I likely would never have known otherwise. Today’s lunch reminded me of the importance of connecting with others. I always recommend to career clients that they get out, network, and meet people outside their usual orbit because that’s a way to find great opportunities. I know someone who found a fantastic job because she chatted with a stranger at the dumpster of her apartment complex. Meetup.com is just one source for events. Others include the local library, churches, arts councils, volunteering, and newspaper planning calendars.
Finally, an important post from Patti Digh about her experience in an emergency room when having a heart attack. Know the signs of heart disease in women and don’t dismiss them in yourself or in others.
What has crossed your mind lately? Comment below.
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