http://www.cmyjobs.com/what-employers-want-from-employees/
How Emotionally Competent Are You? Employers Want To Know
As I think back to my elementary school years, I recall a section of my report card that measured how well I got along with others. It may have been something as simple as a check mark next to the words: ‘Plays well with others’ or ‘Has difficulty getting along with others’. The little box holding the check mark was important because teachers understood that children come to school with varying family dynamics and some are more prepared to succeed than others. The success I’m referring to involves their emotional development—their ability to understand and handle their own feelings.
Several years ago, I listened to an educator lecture about children succeeding or failing during their first year of school. He shared that teachers can tell which children have parental support with school activity. He said that by the time the child gets to school, s/he should be able to perform basic motor skill functions, such as color inside the lines and cut along a line with scissors. Imagine with me how a child feels after finishing their first coloring page and hearing “good job—you stayed inside the lines”. What a boost that becomes to their pride and self-esteem as they receive that first dose of public recognition.
Now, how about the child that hasn’t yet learned how to correctly hold a crayon, or use a pair of scissors? What about that child’s pride and self-esteem? Well, guess what? Those tiny seeds of pride, self-esteem, and self-respect germinate, and like all other seeds, they either increase or not, depending on the attention and nurturing they receive. Furthermore, that nurturing process continues throughout life as people deposit their seeds into our lives. So our view of self is largely due to the influence of others.
We’ve all heard that ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me’. But the reality is names do hurt because they conjure mental images in the mind and create perceptions. Sometimes deceptive and destructive thought patterns—patterns that eventually become a part of a person’s belief system, rob them of self-respect, self control, and achievement.
“Mind paralysis begins the moment a person starts believing that little voice in their head that says ‘that’s just the way I am”
Deceptive and destructive thought patterns mislead us into believing that we are not in control. But the reality is, we are every bit in control! Have you ever heard the slogan, “If it is to be, it is up to me”? It’s true. We ultimately have the last word when it comes time to decide on our choices. We have a free will and although we are bombarded by outside influences begging us to think, feel, or act a certain way, the final decision is still ours to make. We either choose to let those outside influences dictate our attitudes and deal with the aftermath, or choose our own attitudes and be in control. Mind paralysis begins the moment a person starts believing that little voice in their head that says ‘that’s just the way I am’, or’ that’s just the way that it is’. The person that goes around complaining and laying blame is a life casualty. They choose to take the easy way out by referring to themselves as the ‘black sheep’ of the family, like that excuses them from trying to better themselves, or like it’s everyone else’s problem that they can’t cope. That’s a shame and a cop-out! Their problem is not that they try to fail, no; their problem is that they fail to try! Those destructive thought patterns have taken hold and all but paralyzed their will to try.
Emotional Incompetence Leads to Declining Productivity and Morale in the Workplace
In today’s economy, employers have the option of selecting the best possible candidates. The candidates they seek are people that can energize and maximize productivity—people that are emotionally stable and can help their companies grow and prosper. In fact, most companies have a probationary period that allows them to gain better insight into an employee’s work habits and communication skills. The probationary period also works on behalf of the new employee, in that, s/he may find that this employer is not a good match and decide to pursue other interests.
My leadership experience has taught me that there are a select few that make it difficult for every organization. These are the high maintenance employees in the workplace; those that cost employers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in L&I claims, absenteeism, costly quality-related warranty claims, and poor service. Because of their emotional instability, they cannot be depended upon to carry their weight of the days’ work load. They cause morale to suffer as coworkers carry the extra load and are subjected to their daily whining and personal drama routines. I wish I could say that this type of employee doesn’t exist, but unfortunately, they can be found in every place of business. So employers expect, and have a right to ask about the degree of emotional competence walking through their doors.
I’ve read resume after resume and I will tell you, they all focus on employment history, education, and qualifications. What they don’t reveal, however, is emotional competence. They don’t reveal a candidates inner stability and the extent of their coping abilities. They don’t reflect the ‘attitudes’ a candidate will bring and expose to the workforce. If they did, employers wouldn’t face the ‘people’ problems they face today, caused by emotional incompetence.
Take the Initiative and Mind Your Own Business
The good news is we can begin today to change and become stronger emotionally by developing a stronger mindset. We’ve all heard someone say: Why don’t you mind your own business—right? What that means is: pay attention to what’s going on inside your head, because we become what we think about. If we go about with a loser’s mentality, blaming and laming, guess what we become? We choose to either blame and lame, or know and grow. Change begins by improving our thought life. One way to improve thought life is to add new ‘truths’ for the mind to consider.
Utilize the Local Library
One option would be to utilize the local library system. There are a number of self-help books, tapes, and compact discs available, free of charge. Reading and listening to self-help materials, help rehabilitate thought patterns toward transforming and renewing the mind. Someone may say, ‘I can’t help what I think about’. This too is false, because we can choose to consider other thoughts—thoughts that do not steal our joy or passion for work, but encourage us to press on toward better outcomes and improve the way we communicate.
Effective Communication Skills Can Be Learned
A few years ago, I joined a speech club. My main goal was to learn how to speak in front of others. I was terrified! What made the difference for me was their support. They wanted me to grow and overcome my fears. Today, I’m still a part of that club; I didn’t quit or talk myself out of attending.
What I learned by staying on was, not only could I not speak well in front of others, I also needed help with my listening and evaluating skills. A friend and mentor of mine put it in perspective for me one day. He said: “Ruben, if you focus on improving your job, you’ll gain a living. But, if you focus on improving yourself, you’ll gain a fortune!”
I encourage you today to take charge of your personal development and growth. Mind your own business. You’ll find that your mindset will improve, your emotional competence will strengthen, and the person you’ll become will be exactly who employers are looking for.
About the Author
Ruben Colón currently resides in Houston, Texas.
Core Competencies: Relations and Quality Excellence Facilitator
Background: Marine Manufacturing and Healthcare
Manufacturing Experience:
- 15 years with US MARINE-BAYLINER
- 10 years with General Motors
Healthcare Experience:
- 7 years with St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA.
Professional Memberships: Toastmaster’s International
Currently pursuing a career as a service excellence coach and motivational speaker.
Patra Frame: What Does an Employer Expect from a Job Seeker Now
|
|
The Office Special $2.25 The brilliant and devastating comedy of The Office is brought to a satisfying conclusion in The Office Special, originally a two-part Christmas special on the BBC, set three years after the end of the faux-documentary’s second season. The former office manager David (Ricky Gervais) now ekes out a desperate existence as an oblivious quasi-celebrity, making awkward, humiliating visits back to t… |
|
|
Exclusive By Mini Gadgets Conan – No Fee GPS If the unit crosses the limit you set it will provide you with an alert and full information. Live tracking Mode: As close as you can get to expensive web based live tracking solutions without the cost! Send a simply text message to the Conan telling it how often and how mant times to update you (Up to 255 times per setting) and it will keep you posted with automatic updates. The Conan GPS can pro… |
|
|
Corporate Confidential: 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn’t Want You to Know—and What to Do About Them $8.89 Cynthia Shapiro is a former Human Resources executive who’s pulling back the curtain on the way that companies really work. In Corporate Confidential, she unmasks startling truths and what you can do about them, including:* There’s no right to free speech in the workplace.*Age discrimination exists.* Why being too smart is not too smart.* Human Resources is not there to help you, but to protect th… |
|
|
10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College, Revised: The Know-How You Need to Succeed $6.12 You’ll learn a lot of things in college, but there’s one thing the textbooks won’t teach you: how to acquire marketable job skills before you graduate.Award-winning college professor and student adviser Bill Coplin has been developing skill-based liberal arts curricula for more than 30 years, and has helped thousands of students get great jobs. Here, he lays down the essential skills you need to s… |
|
|
The Power of a Positive No: How to Say No and Still Get to Yes $5.00 No is perhaps the most important and certainly the most powerful word in the language. Every day we find ourselves in situations where we need to say No–to people at work, at home, and in our communities–because No is the word we must use to protect ourselves and to stand up for everything and everyone that matters to us. But as we all know, the wrong No can also destroy what we most value by … |
|
|
TurboTax Home & Business Federal + e-File + State 2010 – [Old Version] $7.99 Designed for sole proprietors, self-employed, consultants, 1099 contractors, and single-owner LLCs. Expanded interview walks you through entering business income and expenses to help you maximize business and personal deductions, home office deductions, depreciation and more. Create W-2 and 1099-MISC forms for your employees and contractors. The Intuit TurboTax Home & Business Tax Year 2010 Softwa… |
|
|
TurboTax Home & Business Federal + State + Federal efile 2009 $42.89 TURBOTAX HOME & BUSINESS WITH… |
|
|
LandAirSea LAS-1505 Tracking Key Vehicle GPS Tracking System $199.99 Tracking Key Las-1505 Landairsea Tracking Keyideal For Parents Who Want To See If Their Teenagers Are Speeding Or Employers Who Want To See Where Their Employees Are Driving; Small, Pocket-Sized Gps Device; Receives Signals From 24 Gps Satellites Orbiting The Earth; Internal Computer Accurately Determines The Location Of Device Within 2.5 M & Records Data Every Sec; Can Be Easily Hidden In Or Unde… |