Interpersonal Skill Building -- Yank The Suckers & Weeds

According to the National Gardening Association, suckers are rapidly growing shoots rising from an underground root or stem, often to the detriment of the tree. They can be very irritating and annoying for they bear no flowers or fruit. Rather than cut them off, one way to get rid of them is to roughly yank the suckers off to remove the cells and tissues that cause re-growth.

Even if you are not a gardener, you know a lot about weeds. They are everywhere and tend to take over, crowd a plant's root system, and provide a chaotic and unsightly mess. While there are many kinds of weed-killer sprays on the market, orchard growers hesitate to use them for fear of damaging the trees.

Unfortunately, businesses have suckers and weeds too. These unattractive thieves rob the organization blind by ruining its competitive advantage, and choking and stifling its people. To avoid these outcomes, try applying a heavy layer of protective interpersonal mulch to effectively stop all but the most persistent of suckers and weeds.

Here are four suckers and weeds that are typically found in the business garden, along with ways to yank them out before they root too deeply:

Office Politics

Far too many workers put their faith in office politics and believe their careers will either soar or plunge as a result of them. Office politics are a fundamental part of the daily grind. Sometimes people who cannot succeed on their own merit play them, and oftentimes, workers who pursue personal hidden agendas at the expense of others practice them. How do you keep this damaging sucker from taking root?

Learn and understand how the office political game is played. You cannot afford to ignore office politics; whether you choose to play the political game or abstain is up to you.

Use ethical influence to impact others without being sucked into the game. Strengthen professional relationships with others in your company and industry.

Increase your awareness of how the company works-who has informal power and clout, and the unwritten as well as written rules of engagement.

Jumping to Conclusions

We often criticize others for jumping to conclusions or assuming the worst about a situation that may be erroneous or is not justified by the facts. When we jump to conclusions, we tend to label others based on prejudice or stereotype, interpret their behavior as a result of assumptions, and narrow our objectivity by becoming overly critical or intolerant. To uproot this weed, you have to continually dig deep into the soil of your mind and heart and repeatedly yank it out:

Think of ways to jump to positive conclusions or consider alternative aspects of any problem, issue or situation.

Refrain from speaking or acting before hearing all the facts. Stop wasting precious time and energy on what you think may have happened. There may be a perfectly good explanation for why a particular action was taken. Ask for it.

Avoid the tendency to pigeon-hole others or use labels and stereotypes.

Wishy-Washiness

Do you have a boss or co-workers who just can't seem to make of their minds? One minute they model commitment and confidence, promise to support and back you up; the next minute they hesitate, become indecisive, and do not know the right direction to take.

You will need both hands to handle this slippery weed:

Focus on what's important. Ask for advice and insight. When you have considered all the available facts, move forward with prudence and good sense.

Put some stakes in the ground. Take a stand and stop straddling the fence.

Clearly outline any roles and expectations; then follow the plan.

Double-Talk

In the business world, double-talk looks like excuse making and blame shifting. It often involves the deliberate use of ambiguous, vague or confusing language that is spoken or written in an earnest, sincere or meaningful tone. Yet, when you reflect on what you have just read or heard, you realize it is a mixture of sense and nonsense, drivel, rubbish, and just bunk! When someone uses double-talk, we are left with a bad taste in our mouths. So, how do we get rid of this poisonous weed?

Don't do it! Understand that to continue to engage in double-talk will negatively impact your character, integrity and reputation in the end.

When you hear double-talk, try to discover motives, hidden agendas, intentions and reasons by listening with an objective filter.

Hold yourself accountable for your mistakes and failures instead of making excuses and blaming others.

Don't let pervasive suckers and weeds choke your career and business garden. Don't just cut them out; yank them-root system and all! You'll be more successful if you do.

Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover? and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/

---

Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:50:53 GMT Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young - International Herald Tribune BBC News Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young International Herald Tribune - 4 hours ago AP HELSINKI, Finland: Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari said Saturday that finding jobs for more than 1 billion young people in the Middle East and Asia will be a major challenge to peacebuilding in the next decade. Ex-President Of Finland Is Awarded Peace Prize Washington Post Nobel Finn Wall Street Journal Voice of America - findingDulcinea - Burlington Hawk Eye all 1,468 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:12:07 GMT Palin hammers Obama on the abortion issue in Johnstown - CNN Boston Globe Palin hammers Obama on the abortion issue in Johnstown CNN - 44 minutes ago (CNN) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took her message to voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, lashing out at Sen. Barack Obama for his views on abortion. Palin drubs Obama on abortion during Pa. rally The Associated Press Palin Gets Personal On Abortion Issue CBS News MSNBC - New York Times Blogs - Pittsburgh Post Gazette - The Tribune-Democrat all 95 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:06:21 GMT This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz - Ars Technica Canada.com This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz Ars Technica - 3 hours ago By Jacqui Cheng | Published: October 11, 2008 - 09:30AM CT This week's most-read Apple news was all over the map, but in a good way. Don't Buy A Mac Laptop* Washington Post Apple may launch new laptop United Press International Forbes - CNNMoney.com - Computerworld - Macworld all 182 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:43:05 GMT Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says - Washington Post Boston Globe Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says Washington Post - 14 hours ago By Del Quentin Wilber Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell told jurors in the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens yesterday that the powerful Alaska Republican had a "sterling" reputation among the nation's military and political leaders. Reporter's Notebook: Powell Takes the Stand for Stevens FOXNews Powell says Sen. Stevens' integrity "sterling" Reuters CNN - The Miami Herald - ABC News - Anchorage Daily News (subscription) all 2,873 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:13:53 GMT Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. - The Associated Press ABC News Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. The Associated Press - 1 hour ago HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Now that the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled same-sex couples have the right to wed, opponents of gay marriage are pinning their hopes on an infrequent ballot question in a longshot bid to block the unions. Video: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage AssociatedPress Conn. Ban On Gay Marriage Reversed Washington Post New York Times - Boston Globe - Reuters - San Jose Mercury News all 1,674 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:41:18 GMT Obama Aims for Electoral Edge, Block by Block - New York Times Sydney Morning Herald Obama Aims for Electoral Edge, Block by Block New York Times - 29 minutes ago Lukas McGowan is focused on getting voters out on Election Day. “Once we register them,â€� he says, “that’s only half the job. Obama thanks McCain for remarks, presses attack Reuters FOX News poll: Obama leads McCain United Press International Voice of America - CBS News - The Associated Press - Washington Post all 2,330 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:21:34 GMT GM Is Said to Be in Preliminary Talks With Chrysler (Update2) - Bloomberg BBC News GM Is Said to Be in Preliminary Talks With Chrysler (Update2) Bloomberg - 2 hours ago By Jeff Green Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp. is in preliminary talks with Cerberus Capital Management LP's Chrysler LLC about a possible merger or other partnership, people with direct knowledge of the talks said. Source: Chrysler, GM discuss merger, acquisition The Associated Press GM mulled Chrysler acquisition: Huh? BloggingStocks DetNews.com - Right Pundits - Fox 28 - Forbes all 1,000 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:39:15 GMT RSS feeds Web Site Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Your Resume Format - What Is The First Thing You Need To Do?

The first thing you need to do before you write... Read More

Everyone Should Have a RED BALL in the Job Search

May I explain what about what a red ball means... Read More

Where Do I Go From Here?

Making Your Future Work Better For YouIt's the commonest concern... Read More

How Can You Find Freelance Writing Jobs?

Do you think that there is a big sign that... Read More

Planning To Work Abroad

Working abroad can be an exciting, rewarding and horizon broadening... Read More

Difficult Relationships at Work - Dealing with Workplace Conflict

Difficult Relationships at Work - How to Influence the UncooperativeWe... Read More

Searching for a Federal Job

Many years ago searching for a federal job was a... Read More

Ive Got the Big Bad B Word on My Job!

That "B" word---B O R E D O M.How did... Read More

Negotiate Better Job Offers with This Twelve-Point Checklist

You've been through an employer's interview process successfully and have... Read More

Auto-Disqualification - When Your Resume Never Reaches the Decision Maker

How would you know if your resume did or didn't... Read More

Bullseye Interviewing

An interview is much like a blind date. You have... Read More

10 Steps to Escape the Job World and Create the Life You Really Want

1. GET THE POINT ? OF LIFE, THAT IS.... Read More

How To Power Negotiate Your Next Bonus

A raise in your base salary is a permanent source... Read More

Building a Solid Network

A client who has a fine arts degree wanted to... Read More

5 Ways to Combat Job Burnout

Job burnout happens when the stress or prolonged frustration of... Read More

Hiring the Perfect Fit Through ELance.com

Outsourcing has moved upward in the most-improved columns of efficiency... Read More

Top Ten Reasons to Start A Catering Business

There is little doubt that Americans still have a deep... Read More

The 10-Step Resume Critique

Your resume will generally receive a 15- to 30-second scan... Read More

Do You Need Help Writing A Winning Cover Letter?

Your cover letter is critical to your success. It sets... Read More

Job Search Lessons From The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is a game but, like sports in... Read More

Do I Have to Provide a Salary History?

Often you see job postings with a request such as... Read More

Career Search from Within

Seeking meaningful and fulfilling work can become a discouraging, confusing... Read More

Lets Talk About Trust

I agree with Brooker T. Washington, "Few things help an... Read More

Writing Resumes

Use a resume as a foot in the doorWhen you... Read More

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone in the Job Search

Most everyone these days knows what a comfort zone is.... Read More