How to Effectively Manage Your Career (page 3)

by Susan Zitron Woods
Zitron Career Services

Found in this article:

Creating A Personal Career Plan (page 1)
Your Internal Motivators (page 2)
Non-Negotiable Career Criteria (pages 3, 4, 5)

Non-Negotiable Career Criteria

What characteristics and qualities absolutely must be included in each of your career decision criteria in order for you to trust that your chances for success are high? In each one of the following nine criteria, focus on those points and values that, if they were excluded, would kill the offer for you. For example:

+	I must have clear objectives, and the freedom to fulfill them in my own style. I cannot have my activities dictated beyond the "objectives" level.
+	My managers must have total confidence in my ability to do whatever it takes to be successful in my job, and be available for guidance as necessary. I am happy to keep him/her posted, but I will not be micro-managed.

Strong Preferences are not deal-killers. However, if you received two offers, A and B, and both met your non-negotiable values, but B also favored your strong preferences, then you would accept the B offer. Mark your strong preferences with a star (*), as described below:

*	I prefer to be selling products to be used in designs by engineers versus a commodity bought primarily on price competitiveness by purchasing agents.
*	My managers prefer to travel no more than 40 percent of the time, but will travel more if it is a must and only IF the position is a perfect fit with my career plan.

Critical Career Criteria

This section includes non-negotiable values from a variety of people. These examples will help you recognize your own non-negotiable values and create your personal list following each criterion.

1. The Position Title, Function and Authority

Example A: Senior Manager
+	I must be a senior manager at the national or vice president level with managers reporting to me.
+	I must be able to connect with any and all senior managers in order to accomplish my tasks and either report to the president or a senior/executive vice president.
+	I have to be given responsibility and accountability for the position and be able to make my own decisions. This must include substantial check writing ability.
+	I must have hire/fire authority.
+	I must be able to create the business plan, budgetary constraints, goals, expectations and objectives.
+	Regarding resource allocation, I must be able to grow my organization or shrink it based on my assessment of the situation.
+	I must be in charge of total operational costs.
+	I must be involved in the product-offering decisions.
+	I must be involved in how we market our products and promotions.
+	I must have the majority say in the compensation creation for our people or my division.
+	I must be a part of the senior management team that creates the vision and strategy for the company.
+	I, and my team, must be able to get training as needed. I must be the designer of which training programs my people attend.
+	I must be able to share and express my ideas whether they are accepted or not.
*	I would welcome the opportunity to be president of a small to medium sized organization.

Example B: Technical Sales and Marketing Manager
+	The positions I am willing to accept are: technical sales engineer or account executive district or regional sales manager product marketing engineer product line manager
+	My background must be acknowledged as a valuable asset to the company and my peers.
+	My managers must have total confidence in my ability to do whatever it takes to be successful. This is another way of saying I will not be micro-managed.
+	I must have clear objectives, and the freedom to fulfill them in my own style. I cannot have my activities dictated beyond the "objectives" level.
+	I must work in an environment where I am encouraged to use my creativity and where I have the authority to make my own decisions, unless I require support from my boss.
+	My position must be perceived as an integral and valuable function through which the company achieves its overall goals.
+	I must have a technical and customer service support system that generates good will and a positive "you're important" image and feeling to the customers.
+	If the position involves more than a local territory, I am willing to travel overnight approximately 25% of the month. This would look like 2-3 day trips weekly or bi-weekly, or possibly one week per month. More than a week at a time would be too much on a regular basis.
+	If it is a new product line, then I must be given time to learn before I am expected to perform. I would require a minimum of 30 days. Learning can be in a formal class style, or informally, by spending time with company experts.
*	I strongly prefer the opportunity to work in direct sales along with managing or supporting a rep firm.
*	I prefer to be selling products to be used in designs by engineers versus a commodity bought primarily on price competitiveness by purchasing agents.

Example C: Senior Administrative Assistant
+	The position must support a common goal with other people within the department, so that my work is considered valuable and important to everyone with whom I am connected.
+	The job must have specific goals and provide me with the authority and the autonomy to achieve those goals.
+	The position must afford me the ability to interact with a variety of people, whether they are internal or external to the organization.
+	My position must allow me project management functions where I am able to manage the process in terms of operations and logistics.
+	I will back up the reception desk only on an emergency basis.
*	I strongly prefer to have a leadership role with the authority to manage the entire process through to the goal. This is almost a non-negotiable value, but my length of time in the job search will dictate whether or not it remains as a strong preference.
*	I strongly prefer a position that will leverage me into a management position.

You may have a difficult time believing this, but every one of the above non-negotiable values was met by each of the people who wrote them. By using non-negotiable values and their success patterns, they honestly defined the position they truly wanted, knowing full well that anything less would be a compromise. They thought that if they could achieve the majority of their non-negotiable values, they would be pleased. Each one hit 100%, and you can, too.

You will know when you have a non-negotiable value when you ask yourself this: If this isn't included, would I still say yes!

Start your list of non-negotiable values for your desired position title, function and authority.

2. Relationship with Your Boss

Examples:
+	I must have a boss who understands the whole person and who can recognize and value employees as complete and whole beings, even if s/he is a workaholic.
+	My boss must give affirmation of my good qualities, as well as constructive criticism for my advancement.
+	My boss must have enough confidence in him/herself that we are able to have an honest and open relationship. This would look like regular feedback, which includes managing me into a win/win both within the company and with my prospects and clients.
+	I must have an open door relationship with my boss, so that I can get support and guidance as needed.
+	Initially, while I am learning my new job, I need frequent contact at a minimum of three times per week. Once I am launched, I will require weekly contact.
+	My boss must keep the sales force informed on new product information.
+	My boss must be open to dealing with customer nuances that I believe might cause us to either have trouble or lose the account.
+	My boss must be fair, not play favorites and treat people with respect.
+	My relationship with my boss is my number one priority. S/he must like managing and want to create a team. S/he must be willing to invest the time to learn the strengths and weaknesses of employees and help to promote their success, but not at the expense of others.
+	My boss must have business savvy, emotional maturity as a manager of people with solid experience in management ... OR be a strong leader who recognizes s/he is not a manager, and therefore hires competent, self-managed professionals, who are dependable and reliable.
+	My boss must conduct her or himself as a "professional." S/he must keep a level head and get all of the facts before responding.
+	My boss must value his/her subordinates and treat each of us as professionals with respect for our abilities and time.
+	My boss must manage with a clear understanding of long-range goals in order to avoid crisis management as a way of life.

Now write your non-negotiable values and strong preferences regarding your relationship with your boss.

What must occur between you and him or her in order for you to be successful? How many times must you connect in a week, a month? What kind of leadership style, background, experience in the industry, and attitude must s/he have in order for you to be able to perform best? Be honest with yourself, because failure to do so will only lead you down a difficult and frustrating path.

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