FranklinCovey Blog | January, 2010

How Good Are You at Getting Along with Others?

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 | FranklinCovey News, From the Desk of Stephen R. Covey | 3 Comments

USA Weekend just published my article “7 Highly Effective Ways to Help Americans Get Along” on January 17. This article is very timely. We seem to be at an all-time low for civility and discourse. Time and time again we hear of people having outbursts and dialogue is missing, even at the highest levels of government. What can we do to change that? How can we find ways to get along and build respect and understanding? How good are you at getting along?

To read my article, please go to www.stephencovey.com. By becoming a member of my free online social community, you will be able to access my article and the self-quiz “How Good Are You at Getting Along?” › Continue reading

Tags: 7 Highly Effective Ways to Help Americans Ways to Get Along, Communication, Indian Talking Stick, Respect, Stephen Covey, Trust, Usa Weekend

Tips For Writing Great Cover Letters

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 | FranklinCovey News, Great Work, Great Career | 4 Comments

I’ve been asked, “Isn’t it a waste of time to write a cover letter for every resume I send out?”  My answer is:  Only if you want to get a job.

The purpose of a resume is to obtain an interview, to start a conversation with the employer. Your cover letter is your opportunity to begin that conversation.  To say, “Hi, here’s why you should talk with me.” 

The worst thing you can do is write a “one size fits all” cover letter.  Just like your resume, you need to target your cover letter to the specific needs and values of the prospective employer.  Ideally, your cover letter is a one-page proposal to fill an important business need at your target employer.  This will require you to research your target employer—on the web, by asking if anyone knows anyone who works there, by reading blogs that mention the employer.  Your cover letter should include four things:

1. Start by summing up the problem or opportunity your target employer faces and describe how you plan to help solve it. Use numbers that are meaningful to the organization.
2. Give evidence that you can solve the problem and, if applicable, that you have solved one like it in the past.  That evidence could include work and educational accomplishments—facts that would lead your prospect to conclude you’re right for the challenge.
3. Provide contact information.
4.  Request a meeting.

What tips have you used when writing cover letters? I would love to hear from you.

Author: Jennifer Colosimo, Chief Learning Officer at FranklinCovey

You can also follow Jennifer on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jencolosimo

Webcast: Achieve Your Highest Priorities in 2010

Friday, January 8th, 2010 | FranklinCovey News | 1 Comment

Kick off the New Year by joining us for a free 1-hour webcast on FranklinCovey’s renowned time management principles.

When: Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Time: 3:00 pm ET/2:00 pm CT/1:00 pm MT/Noon PT

Presenter: Dave Green, FranklinCovey Senior Consultant

In this webcast you will learn:           

• How to set goals for the New Year
• How to use Outlook, Lotus Notes, and even the Blackberry the “FranklinCovey way” to spend more time on proactive priorities and less on reactive distractions
• How to plan for and achieve work-life balance
• How to help others (even your children) be better at planning and prioritizing

Join Dave Green for this enlightening session. Dave developed FranklinCovey’s Time Management for Microsoft Outlook webinar course and is one of FranklinCovey’s most popular webinar presenters.

 Please click this link to register for this 1-hour webcast: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/523008432

Your source code is: CB01

Tags: Goals, Time Management, Webcast

New Book: Great Work, Great Career Part 2

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 | Books and Audios | No Comments

Over the holidays I was able to reflect more on what I learned from  Great Work, Great Career, which I read before the holiday.

I wanted to share with you a bit more about what I learned…

After writing my contribution statement I moved on to the next section about cause.

I reflected on my cause for a while which is something I try to do at the start of each new year. I know my cause and it is deeply personal. My personal mission statement and my professional cause are aligned and feed each other. Do you know your cause? Have you written a mission statement? › Continue reading

How to Build Emotional Bank Accounts

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 | Great Work, Great Career | 3 Comments

Below is another great question that has come in regarding Great Work, Great Career.

Q:  I struggle to find ways to add value to my contacts/network/village.  What are some other ways to build the Emotional Bank Account?

A:  I see my village as three circles, each one a bit smaller than the other with different levels of EBA deposits required for each.  The largest circle is the network to which I contribute in a largely electronic fashion.  The middle-sized circle are colleagues or friends that I have met face-to-face and probably talk to occasionally or meet for lunch.  The smallest circle are my most trusted friends, family, and colleagues.  Each circle of the village requires different activities.  I contribute to my large social network by posting and answering questions and passing on information that will be useful to an individual or group of people.  Just today, on the Organizational Change Practitioners group on LinkedIn I responded to a request for a change activity for large groups.  It started a conversation with Hanna, the woman who posted the question.  I also contributed to a conversation on the Sales Executive Council Peer Roundtable regarding the Inside Sales function.  By contributing to the small number of groups I belong to, I build relationships and build my reputation without investing more than 30 minutes/week.  › Continue reading

Tags: Emotional Bank Account, Organizational Change