Valerie & Company Blog

Before you start clinking your glasses, here’s how to make a good toast

“Consider your words as a gift to the one you’re toasting,” suggests Valerie Sokolosky, owner of Valerie and Company, a Dallas-based corporate-protocol consulting firm. Be sincere, upbeat, flattering and, if possible, make reference to your relationship.

Read more here:

http://www.valerieandcompany.com/market-press/making-a-good-toast.html

A leaders role is to inspire and help their team recognize the small wins that might come during projects. I have found it helpful to actually “create” small wins for the team. Here’s what I mean. Let’s call this C.O.S.T.T. which means that we can “create on-going short term tangible” positive results for the team. When we’re in the trenches doing our day to day activities, we tend to not even recognize those little things that could be celebrated. Some ideas could be a deadline that is met ahead of schedule, a sale that may not have been the big one, but a sale that could be that the team could be proud of, or even a new team member who made a significant contribution to the team. I always try to think of and recognize those wins, no matter how small and celebrate them. This could simply be a pat on the back, taking someone out for coffee, putting ‘congratulations’ in the company newsletter, etc. Everyone wants and needs wins along the way, even small ones. Recognition keeps motivation high!

www.valerieandcompany.com

The dream of every human resources manager, every team leader and every supervisor is to have an entire department or team of employees who are not only quality individuals but also valued contributors to the organization.

If you ask 10 different managers about what a valued employee looks like, you’ll get 10 different models.  However, the common thread is that management wants talented employees they can keep.  Said one CEO, “We want loyal, hardworking associates who get the work done well and, generally, faster than we expect.  Why?  Because that means our business continues and, quite possibly, moves to the next level.”

In spite of the different valued employee models the surveyed managers provided, there were more than 10 characteristics they agreed could be found in every valued employee within their organization.

These characteristics included:

• Good attendance – they show up when expected and they show up ready to work.
• Punctuality – whether it’s arriving at the office, returning from breaks, going to staff meetings or completing tasks, a valued employee is always on time…and can be counted on to be there.
• Being a strong communicator – whether calling in when they expect to be late to updating their supervisor on projects they’re working on.
• Dressing appropriately – for the job they do and for special occasions, too.
• Having a positive attitude – for any job they’re assigned, any situation.  They’re enthusiastic and take pride in accomplishing assignments, well and on time.
• Being prepared – when they come to work, they’re willing to do what it takes to get the job accomplished.  They pay attention, follow directions and volunteer often.
• Working safely and keeping themselves healthy – including not using alcohol or drugs.  They make safe behavior part of their everyday routine and don’t take chances, placing themselves or others in harm’s way.
• Being open to learning new skills, both personal and technical.  They seize opportunities to increase their skill sets and their ability to make a larger contribution to the organization.  They also take responsibility for mistakes and don’t waste time, trying to make excuses or blaming situations on other people or circumstances.
• Working as team players.  They’re willing to work with others to achieve a common goal and will do what it takes to get their team to the finish line.
• Willing to take initiative – when they see something that needs to be done, they do it without waiting to be asked or assigned the task.
• Always being honest and trustworthy.
• Being knowledgeable about the company, its history, its mission and its philosophy – of customer service, quality, etc.

Should these qualities only be important to CEOs, managers, team leaders and supervisors?  In order for the organization to achieve its full potential and its goals, these qualities should matter to everyone on the payroll. 

Without a doubt, employees who have these qualities are more confident in their jobs and usually have increased job security.  However, with the entire organization on this same page, it’s easier to move to the next level of production, competence, service and ability to compete within the market place – and this ability makes everyone, from the mail room to the board room, a better contributor and realizing more value in every aspect of their lives.

Visit Valerie’s site at: http://www.valerieandcompany.com/

Personal branding is a way for you to take more control of your career while knowing how you are perceived in the marketplace. Almost 10 years ago Tom Peters wrote this in Fast Company, “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.”

I am not sure if he expected it to take as long for the noise of Brand You to be finally heard in the mainstream of peoples careers – but the buzz has finally arrived and is only going to get louder.

“Stand Out by Building Your Brand -
How to Brand Yourself to Success!”
Monday, February 9, 2009
7:30-8:30 pm EST

Five Key Things You Will Have Accomplished by the End of the Teleseminar:

1. Understand your unique promise of value

2. Identify your personal attributes

3. Understand the VP’s of Brand You

4. Learn ways to “stand out” and be outstanding!

5. Learn the value of Social Networking

If you are serious about your career and are ready to proactively manage it then this teleseminar is for you!

Read more here:

http://www.valerieandcompany.com/valerie-teleseminars.html