Why Communication Is Important in Change Management

Why Communication Is Important in Change ManagementWhy Communication Is Important in Change ManagementYou cannot over-communicate when you are asking your organization to change. Every successful executive who has led a successfulchange management effort expresses the need for over-communicating during a change experience and makes this statement in retrospect. No organization exists in which employees are completely happy with communication. Communication is one of the toughest issues in organizations. It is an area that is fruchtwein frequently complained about by employees during organizational change and daily operations. The reason? Effective communication requires four components that are interworking perfectly to createshared meaning, a favorite definition of communication. The individual sending the message must present the message clearly and in detail, and radiate integrity and authenticity.The person receiving the message must decide to listen, ask questions for clarity, a nd trust the sender of the message.The delivery method chosen must suit the circumstances and the needs of both the sender and the receiver.The content of the message has to resonate and connect on some level with the already-held beliefs of the receiver. It must contain the information that the employee wants to hear. It must answer the employees most cherished and cared about questions. With all of this going on in communication, its a wonder that organizations ever do it well. Fortunately, change management practitioners have provided a broad range of suggestions about how to communicate well during any organizational changes. Recommendations About Communication for Effective Change Management Develop a written communication plan to ensure that all of the following occur within your change management process. Communicate consistently, frequently, and through multiple channels, including speaking, writing, video, training, focus groups, bulletin boards, intranets, and more ab out the change.Communicate all that is known about the changes, as quickly as the information is available. Make clear that your bias is toward instant communication, so some of the details may change at a later date. Tell people that your other choice is to hold all communication until you are positive about the decisions, goals, and progress, which is disastrous in effective change management. Provide significant amounts of time for people to ask questions, request clarification, and provide input. If youve ever been part of a scenario in which a leader presented changes to a large group via overhead transparencies and then fled, you know what bad news this is for change integration. People must feel involved in the change. Involvement creates commitment- nothing else is as significant during a change process.Clearly communicate the vision, the mission, and the objectives of the change management effort. Help people to understand how these changes will affect them personally. If y ou dont help with this process, people will make up their own stories, usually more negative than the truth. Recognize that true communication is a conversation. It is two-way, and real discussion must result. It cannot be just a presentation.The change leaders or sponsors need to spend time conversing one-on-one or in small groups with the people who are expected to make the changes.Communicate the reasons for the changes in such a way that people understand the context, the purpose, and the need. Practitioners have called this building a memorable, conceptual framework and creating a theoretical framework to underpin the change. Provide answers to questions only if you know the answer. Leaders destroy their credibility when they provide incorrect information or appear to stumble or back-peddlewhen providing an answer. It is much better to say you dont know and that you will try to find out.Leaders need to listen. Avoid defensiveness, excuse-making, and answers that are given too q uickly. Act with thoughtfulness.Make leaders and change sponsors available, daily when possible, to mingle with others in the workplace.Hold interactive workshops and forums in which all employees can explore the changes together while learning more. Use training as a form of interactive communication and as an opportunity for people to safely explore new behaviors and ideas about change and change management. All levels of the organization must participate in the same sessions. Communication should be proactive. If the rumor mill is already in action, the organization has waited too long to communicate.Provide opportunities for people to network with each other, both formally and informally, to share ideas about change and change management.Publicly review the measurements that are in place to chart progress in the change management and change efforts.Publicize rewards and recognition for positive approaches and accomplishments in the changes and change management. Celebrate each s mall win publicly.

8 Steps to Jumpstarting a Successful Job Search

8 Steps to Jumpstarting a Successful Job Search8 Steps to Jumpstarting a Successful Job SearchHow to Set the Stage for a Successful Job SearchBefore you start applying for jobs, make aya youve set up your job search for success.When youre waiting to receive the first draft of your professionally written resume, it can feel like an eternity especially when youre itching to land your next job.However, dont consider this time to be a waste. While a well-crafted resume and cover letter are key to a successful search, theyre only one piece of the job-search jigsaw puzzle.To land the right job as soon as possible, there are a lot of things youll need to do before you can start applying for jobs. Use this valuable time to complete the action items below so you can hit the ground running as soon as youve approved the final draft of your resume.Write down your goalsBe clear on the schriftart of job youre seeking and write it down. You are 10 times more likely to accomplish your goal when you do this. Not only that, but this information will influence many other aspects of your search, from the types of employers you target to how you prioritize your networking activities. Consider all aspects of the job, from the work environment and industry to your commute and desired salary. The better defined your goals, the more efficient your job search will be.Create a target company listLanding a new job often requires you to pursue multiple job opportunities at the same time. To streamline the process, its helpful to build a list of companies that meet your location, industry, size, and corporate-culture needs. Use the information you brainstormed above to create your target list of employers.Then, research each company on your list to get a better sense of their current job openings and determine if anyone in your existing network is somehow connected to these organizations. abflug following these employers on social media, especially if they have accounts dedicated to recrui ting, and set up Google News Alerts for each of them to keep you in the know. Get organizedTake a little time to figure out the best way for you to keep your job-search activities organizedCommunication Consider creating a professional-looking, new email address with Gmail thats reserved for your job-search activities. Also, if you decide to upload a picture to your email account, make sure its appropriate for your job search. Revisit the voicemail message on your cell phone, as well, to confirm that it includes your name so employers know theyve called the right person.Job applications Whether youre interested in a web-based solution like Huntr or JobHero, or you prefer to go old school with an Excel sheet or Word document, its important to find a way to track your job applications and other job-search activities. Keep track of the company name, job title and location, job listing URL, where you found the job, the point of contact (if applicable), the date you applied, and the name of the resume file you used for the application. As you start applying for jobs, be sure to document the date you followed up on your application and if you secured an interview.Job boards Run some Google searches to uncover niche job boards in your field or industry (e.g. marketing job boards). Make a list of all the job boards youd like to use for your job search and start creating your profile on each so all you have left to do is upload your new resume.In addition, upload apps to your smart device that will help you stay organized and search on the go.Audit your online presenceOver 90 percent of recruiters admit to looking at candidates online profiles regardless of whether the candidates provided this information. If youre not actively managing your online presence, you may be hurting your chances of landing the job. Google your name to get a sense of what employers will find when they search for you and set up Google Alerts for your name to actively monitor it going forward. Then, deactivate or update any profiles you have on job boards, social media platforms, online directories, and so forth to ensure employers will find the same professional online that they will meet face-to-face. Finally, increase the security settings on personal accounts you dont want employers to find.Earmark jobs that interest youStart searching for job opportunities online that youre interested in and qualified to do. Before you add a job to your list, ask yourself these questions to make sure the job application will be worthwhile.In addition to adding the job to whatever system youve chosen to organize your applications, be sure to save a copy of the job description in a Word or Google document so you have it for future reference. Oftentimes, a company will take down its job posting once its received enough applicants, so you may not have access to this information when its time to prepare for the interview.Prep for your job applicationsResumes and cover letters work best when they are tailored to specific job openings or employers. While professionally written resume will be in great shape, youll mucksmuschenstill need to make minor tweaks to the keywords to customize it for a specific job listing. These small optimizations will increase your applications chances of getting past the hiring bots and on to someone in HR for review.Jot down the keywords that are used repeatedly in the job description, and make a note of any skills or qualifications that seem very important to the employer. That way, you can be sure to highlight this information in your cover letter and resume when the time comes. Also, if there isnt a name associated with the job listing, do a little online sleuthing to uncover the name of the hiring manager or recruiter responsible for the role. That way, you can properly address your cover letter.Make networking a priorityTheres no denying the power a strong professional network can have over your career success especially when your e looking for work. In fact, youre 10 times more likely to land a job when your application is accompanied by a referral. Use this time to ramp up your networking efforts.Take a second look at your existing contacts and prioritize them based on their connection to the companies, fields, and industries that interest you. Start reconnecting with these people and setting up coffee dates and phone calls to ask for help with your job search.Also, explore new professional associations to join or events to attend that sound interesting and are relevant to your goals. Click on the following link for more ideas on how to grow your professional network.Line up referencesReferences may not belong on your resume, but they play an important role in your job search. Line up at least three references from people with whom you currently or previously worked. The idea is to identify people who have insight into your skills and capabilities and who you trust to say good things about you and your perf ormance. In other words, target people who are willing to advocate for your candidacy. Then, contact these people and make sure theyre willing to be a reference for you when the time comes. Once your professional resume is ready, be sure to send each of your references a copy so they have a better sense of your current goals and qualifications.Now that youre starting your job search on the right step, are you ready to start interviewing? Take this short quiz to create an interview coaching plan thats right for you.Recommended ReadingHow to Connect with Potential Employers zugreifbarGet Organized and Improve Your Productivity with These AppsThe Importance of Networking (and How to Do It Well)

Camp Counselor Interview Questions

Camp Counselor bewerbungsinterview QuestionsCamp Counselor bewerbungsgesprch QuestionsCamp counselors provide guidance, oversee activities for campers, and perform many other valuable functions on the job. Summer camps look for applicants who love working with kids, enjoy outdoor activities, have stronginterpersonal skills,and excellentcommunication skills. Be sure to highlight your credentials in yourresume and cover letters, as well as during job interviews. While some summer camps offer part-time punkts, employment opportunities exist for full-time counselors as well. There are also other positions to consider if youre interested inspending the summer working at a camp. During an interview for a camp counselor position you may be asked various types of interview questions, as your interviewer will want to make sure that youre a good fit for both the jobandcampculture. Learn how toprepare for an interviewand arm yourself for success by reviewing the following list of specificinterv iew questions. Preparing for Your Camp Counselor Interview To prepare for your interview, review the job posting and other information you can find thatlists thejobrequirements. Also review your resume and be prepared to discuss and highlight any experiences you have had thatdemonstrate your ability to meet those requirements. This especially helps with behavioral and situational interview questions. Because many people interviewing for camp counselor jobs are high school and college students with limited work experience, its perfectly acceptable to include relevant experiences from school or other activities in your interview answers. Before the interview, research the camp for which you are interviewing. Carefully review the camps website andotherinformation writtenelsewhereonline. Get a feel for the camps mission, the structure of the camp, the population of campers you would be working with, and the camp culture. Types of Interview Questions Camp counselor interviews may include a number of types of questions. Youll find that many are common interview questions that apply to any positions, such as questions about your employment history, education, and your skills and qualifications for the job. You may also be askedquestions about yourself, including queries about your personality and work style. Expect some of your interview questions to be behavioral.Behavioral interview questionsask you to explain how you dealt with past experiences. For a camp counselor interview, manybehavioral interview questionswill be about how you have handled conflict or issues that have come up with similar groups of children, peers, or coworkers in the past. You will likely also be askedsituational interview questions. These are similar to behavioral interview questions, in that they ask you about different work experiences. However, situational interview questions concern how you would handle a futurescenariorelated to your job as a counselor. For example, an intervie wer might ask how you would handle a difficult situation with a camper. The following specific questions, sorted by category, will go a long way toward getting you prepared for many of the interview questions the camp administrators have planned for you. Personal Interview Questions These questions are designed to determine whether you are a good fit for a summer job as a counselor. What qualifications do you have that make you suitable for this position?Are you a team player?Do you prefer to work alone or with others?How do you handle stressful situations?What do you do when you dont know the answer to a question?What made you want to be a camp counselor?Did you attend camp as a child? What did you like about it? What did you dislike? Questions About Working with Children Employers will also want to know about your experience working with children. If you dont have formal work experience, mention babysitting, volunteering, or anyotherrelevantexperiencewith children. With wh at age groups do you have experience working?What do you like about working with kids?What are the top three qualities everyone who works with children must have to succeed?What sorts of activities would you do with a group of children ages 5-6?Do you hope to have a career working with children? Behavioral Interview Questions Hiring managers ask behavioral interview questions as a way to discover how you would act in a particular situation. Explain a time when you had a conflict with a friend, coworker, or employer. Who was involved? What was the conflict? What was the outcome?Tell me about a time that you helped resolve a particularly difficult issue with a child.Give an example of a time that you changed a childs emotions from frustration or sadness to happiness.Tell me about a time (at work or school) when you acted as a leader for a group of people. Name a type of activity you would do with children of this age group.Tell me about a time when you put the needs of another(or others)ahead of your own.Who was the person? What was the situation and how did it go? Situational Interview Questions The interviewerasks these types of questions to determine how you would handle situations thatmayarise in your job as a counselor, if you were to be hired. What would you do if one of your campers refused to do an activity with the rest of the group?What would you do if it was raining and you had a group of twenty campers to entertain?How would you handle a child who was misbehaving and not following instructions?What would you do if a parent was angry with you for the way you handled a situation with their child?Imagine one of your campers is homesick and wants to go home. What would you do? Questions About the Camp Take the time to learn as much as you can about the camp before you go to the interview, so youre comfortable responding to questions about why youre a match for the job. Why would you be a good fit for our camp?Whatmadeyou decide to interview for our camp rather than another? Work through the questions and focus on brief, yet informative answers. Work in anyapplicable personal storiesandrelevant accomplishmentsofwhich you are proud, and which can help you come across as a confident, capable, and experienced candidate for hire.