Category: Insight

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It’s been a while since I posted on the blog here. That’s a good thing, because I’ve been busy. But bad because I’ve been neglecting this site.

One of my Favorite reads is the Harvard Business Review and in the spring I was ELATED to see an issue dedicated to social media.

Recently I had to teach a course on social media and this edition of the magazine was the focal point for many discussions held in that class.

There are three great articles I think you should check out. One is called “Branding in the Age of Social Media” another is a Case Study on whether or not an employee should be fired for their social media post. The third isn’t social related but is just discussing mental tools to help you master new skills, “Learning to Learn.”

hbr inner narrativeOne of my favorite graphics, which I now have stuck on my pinboard, is this one that was featured in the article showing you how to change your inner narrative. If you do this it will really make you open to learning new things. Including social media.

A lot of times we aren’t receptive to new things because we simply are afraid of the unknown or are scared to try. By switching from a model of unsupportive to supportive self-talk you can change your outlook on so many things. This could relate to personal, work, or social activities. I hope you enjoy these articles like I did and I’ll be back soon!

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Hello world. Since my last posting I have started a new job and switched industries (from government to private) so when I’m not at work learning new ways of doing things, new terms, new thought processes and new rules, I’ve been trying to enjoy my social life and well be social.

Doing so I realize how much I use social media to share what happens in my every day life. It could be a tweet, Facebook message or posting a picture on instagram. Recently I started to realize just how connected I was and tried to implement days or times when I was device free. I realized even though I may not post I still would go on those sites and browse and I wondered what it would be like to be completely social media free.

Interestingly enough I came across this article Baratunde Thurston Left The Internet For 25 Days, And You Should Too.

It was a really great read and it shared just how much he really experienced life when he wasn’t so connected. I’m trying to figure out how I can do something similar, which is a tad bit hard seeing how I manage social media for a company. Perhaps baby steps like the weekend or on vacation could be a great start. While “googling” I even discovered there is a camp for adults that does this. Have you ever tried this? What were the results? 

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Happy New Year! Yes I’m a day late. But I’m very excited for what this year has to offer. One of my biggest things to do at the start of the year is to create my quarterly themes. These themes are birthed from areas in life that I want to focus on and become better in.

For example last year I decided I want to step out the box more when it came to creativity at work. As I reflect I was VERY creative in a lot of areas including implementing a HUGE social media plan at a major conference with over 2000 attendees; I  also put together some unique brown bag presentations teaching people how to communicate and use social media; and I  helped an organization I volunteer with start to brainstorm on creative ways to entice volunteers.

A personal theme was to be better when it came to fostering friendships. By saying that out loud and writing it down I exceeded my own expectations in that area. I saw my friends (both near and far) more in 2012 than I have in YEARS. I did all sorts of craziness to make it happen including just this past weekend going to North Carolina Friday and Saturday and then driving back to DC to wake up Sunday morning to head to New York for brunch with friends. Was I tired? Yes, but the time with friends was well worth it.

Because I’ve been so busy I’m still hashing out this year’s themes. Because I’m a HUGE list maker I do have some ideas brewing. While brainstorming late last night I did come up with my overarching theme for the year which is to recognize my own greatness on a daily basis.

That isn’t meant to be conceited or self-serving but it’s really to make a better me which then makes me a better employee, communicator, writer, friend, servant of the community and the list goes on.

When you feel great about yourself and remember how much you offer to world you can make such an impact. Then that is reflected when you work with clients, or deal with your co-workers, or have a tough situation at work. It gives you the boost to say I can get through this. I have the ability to make change because I know I’m great and I’m great at what I do.

I found an article while researching on a site called the DailyOm called “The Greatness in Others, Recognizing our Own Greatness.” This solidified my overarching theme and will be what I turn back to as a resource throughout the year.

So I challenge you instead of making resolutions, try a theme for the year. If you can find an article that inspires you in that area, even better! I didn’t realize how much of a difference it made until I reflected back on my accomplishments of 2012.

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As the year comes to an end many people are trying to come up with resolutions and goals for the upcoming year. Some people make resolutions to lose weight, eat better or do more. Others create a list of goals they would like to accomplish. Other’s create vision boards so they can see what they’d like to accomplish and some people just like to go with the flow. I am a combo of all of the above. 

No matter what approach you take make sure that you are SMART with your method.

smart goal setting mccluney

Just seeing this method really made me think about how my approach is when it comes to creating plans and setting goals. I realize sometimes I make things to broad when they can be more SPECIFIC. Other things I never know when they are done or if they can be done because they aren’t MEASURABLE. I don’t believe that a goal is unATTAINABLE but I do think that you have to know what you limits are and if they are RELEVANT to you current situation and TIME frame.

The next time you are setting goals for the future this method may prove to be helpful.

How do you go about setting goals?

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A friend and I always have discussions on how we have so much on our plates in our respective offices because we’ve been labeled as jack of all trades. This label has come from us volunteering to do additional projects, at other times going above and beyond on our regular work, or from just being pretty driven and having leadership recognize that.

From my perspective it’s made me well versed and at times has made me feel like a rockstar. But then it’s also become a distraction because in doing so many things I can’t always focus on that one thing that I REALLY want to be great at. I’ve found that because I am spread so thin in the office at times I really pour my passion into my freelance work, which can be great but again, adds to the “too capable” issue.

I was on linked in yesterday and came across this post from Greg McKeown called “The #1 Career Mistake Capable People Make.” I found it interesting and reading it I had a few “aha moments.”

Here is one of the stand out excerpts from it.

The slightly painful truth is, at any one time there is only one piece of real estate we can “own” in another person’s mind. People can’t think of us as a project manager, professor, attorney, insurance agent, editor and entrepreneur all at exactly the same time. They may all be true about us but people can only think of us as one thing first.

That alone made me think what is the one title that I am striving to have. And also would I be satisfied with just one, or am I happy being too capable.

You can read the rest of the article on LinkedIn, but I’d love to get your opinion.

Tell me your thoughts. Is there such thing as being “too capable?”