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From the Field
Fields Of Success Newsletter
February 1, 2010      
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Dear From the Field Subscribers,  
 
I have read and listened to advice that is provided to help individuals manage their careers, deal with staff cutbacks at their companies and stay employed.  The sources of the advice has been articles in newspapers and periodicals and interviews with career counselors and human resource professionals.  A frequent piece of advice is to volunteer for projects and assignments to demonstrate the value that individuals can provide to their employers.  I agree with this advice with the qualifier, look before you leap! 
 
I am quite sure that you have heard this or similar advice many times.  In times of anxiety and stress such as the current employment environment, we overlook things that we know to be true.   
 
This edition of From the Field provides suggestions for evaluating potential assignments, projects and initiatives before you volunteer or should I say before you leap.
Look Before You Leap!    
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I once took a leap before I looked in my career. I was offered an assignment that was a promotion and could place me on a path that could lead to even greater responsibilities and rewards.  I jumped at the opportunity. I accepted the assignment without performing an adequate evaluation of the circumstances, risks and downside possibilities.  There were questions that I should have asked, but did not.  During my 34 years in the business world, I witnessed others take leaps like the one I took.  These leaps included volunteering or accepting assignments to a new position, leadership of projects, programs and initiatives or joining a project team.  Looking back on those experiences, I can offer considerations or steps that you should take before volunteering or committing. 
  • Consider the likelihood of your success.
  • Ensure that the sponsor or your potential boss and you agree on the specific criteria for measuring your accomplishments or success.
  • Ensure that the individuals on whom you will depend will be committed to providing or delivering what you expect from them.
Questions that will help you consider the likelihood of success include: 
  • What is the reputation of the sponsor or your potential boss?
    • Does he/she have a reputation for supporting project managers and/or their subordinates when things get tough?
    • Do they seek to determine the causes and help subordinates by taking on challenges and issues that are beyond the authority or control of their subordinates?
    • Is the sponsor or your potential boss someone who has a history of 3-5 years and gone and is at the 3-5 year tenure at the company? (Will he/she be at the company when the project is scheduled for completion or leave shortly after you commit?)
    • How much support is there for this project among members of management beyond your sponsor?  (Is this project, initiative or program viewed as his/hers, not essential to the success of the company or organization? Will the project continue to receive funding and resources if the sponsor leaves?)
    • How much support is there for your potential boss?  How is he/she viewed by peers and other members of management?
    • Is the management style of the sponsor or your potential boss conducive to your success? 
  • Are available funding and resources sufficient to complete the assignment or for your success?  How does the funding and resources compare to similar assignments, projects, initiatives or programs?
  • How does the time allowed for completion of this assignment compare to the time it took to complete similar assignments or to accomplish similar objectives?
I suggest the following questions to ensure that the sponsor or your potential boss and you agree on the specific criteria for measuring your accomplishments or success.
  • When and how will we know that the objectives have been achieved or the assignment is completed?
  • When will you no longer have to work on the assignment?
  • What do you have to do or provide to bring the assignment to a successful close?
  • What will be the criteria for rating your performance?  (What will you have to accomplish to meet or exceed expectations?)
  • Who will provide input into your performance appraisal in addition to the sponsor and your future boss?
I recommend that you consider and direct the following questions to the sponsor or your potential boss to ensure that the individuals on whom you will depend will be committed to deliver or provide what you expect from them.
  • What needs to be done by others to ensure that you can achieve your objectives?
  • Have those individuals, teams or departments committed to accomplishing what is expected of them?
  • What has been their performance record?
The suggestions that I offer will:
  • Determine if the timing of the assignment is right for you?  (Are there factors beyond your control that present a high probability of being barriers to your success?)
  • Help you establish understandings and parameters to increase the probability of your success.
  • Provide factors for your Early Warning System, critical factors to which you should pay close attention for acting quickly and decisively to ensure your success.
In today's challenging employment environment, professionals need to seek opportunities to demonstrate the value that they can offer to their employers and to distinguish themselves.  Seize the moment, the right moment. 
 
There is no reward for being the Captain of the Titanic.
 
Are you considering volunteering for an assignment or being considered for an assignment?
 
Fields of Success provides tools and techniques that can be tailored to address your specific needs and circumstances.  Fields of Success embeds its been there factor in the assistance that it provides to its clients.
 
We offer free complimentary coaching sessions to help you focus on addressing the challenges, issues and needs that you are encountering. 
 
Visit the Fields of Success website to schedule a complimentary session.
    
Click here to visit Fields of Success website. 
 
 
Linwood Bailey
Principal
Fields of Success
Career Management Partners
Input from Our Most Valued Source: You! 
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If you could ask one question about managing your career, what would it be?
 
Please send your questions to foscoaching@att.net.
 
Thanks!
About Fields of Success 
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Fields of Success provides insight, solutions and results to assist individuals and organizations with the accomplishment of their goals.
 
Fields of Success provides value to its customers through the delivery of coaching products and services.  The company focuses on satisfying the needs of entry to middle management level professionals.
 
Fields of Success offers the been there factor.  Fields of Success has experienced and migrated through many of the challenges that business professionals encounter.   
 
Click here to visit Fields of Success website 
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About From the Field  
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Fields of Success issues From the Field semi-monthly.  From the Field provides suggestions, ideas and tips focused on helping business professionals increase their effectiveness and manage their careers. 
 
Please feel free to forward From the Field to your colleagues, associates and friends by clicking on the Forward email link at the bottom of this newsletter.   
 
Please click here to read previous editions of From the Field
Contact Information
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phone: (574) 273-0358
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