The Brain and Emotional Intelligence: New Insights by Daniel Goleman

Book Review by Divya Gupta

    “It is never too late to develop further strengths in emotional intelligence.” – Daniel Goleman

 

 

Daniel Goleman in his first digital book “The Brain and Emotional Intelligence: New Insights” explains coaching and enhancing emotional intelligence abilities in a simple way.

Goleman starts his book with his famous Emotional Intelligent Model: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Management – Positive impact on others.

He explains that through Self-Mastery we get the awareness and management of our internal states. These skills make us an outstanding individual performer, contributor, or lone star. Competencies like managing emotions, focused drive to achieve goals, adaptability and initiative are based on emotional self-management.

In the chapter Managing Stress he describes – how some people recover from stress quickly once they get upset, while others are very slow. He explains clearly about stress hormones and performance; ‘good stresses’ and ‘bad stresses’. He emphasizes on anti-stress benefits and on increasing concentration abilities for effectiveness.

In my favorite chapter ‘Developing Emotional Intelligence’ we learn about the brain lessons for coaching and enhancing the emotional intelligence skills on our own.

Goleman being an advocate of “social/emotional learning” says – if we are preoccupied by worry, anger, distress, anxiety, or whatever stress, we are going to have a diminished capacity to pay attention to what we should be doing. But if we can manage those emotional upsets, our working memory – that is, capacity of attention to take information – increases and makes us a better performer.

What a great read for everyone who wants to know more about behaviors and emotional intelligence and wants to be a star performer!

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Divya Gupta, MBA, PCC, ACPEC, CCC, CPRW is an ICF Certified Executive Coach and can be reached at – divya@ConfidentCareer.com

www.ConfidentCareer.com

http://divyagupta.wordpress.com

Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/DivyaGupta1

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Practical tips for expatriate and repatriate spouses:

After coaching many expatriate and repatriate spouses, closely observing many of my friends and family and being an expatriate myself I feel expatriate spouses mainly need assistance in the following areas:

• Relocation assistance: Once the relocation process goes smooth, they could start their job search more quickly and with a more positive, confident attitude. Thus relocation assistance can indirectly enhance the job search process.
• How and where a spouse can learn the local language: Help and encourage the spouse to identify and take on-line or in-person language classes as language barriers can increase isolation. Learning local language includes local lingo, e.g. when I came to US I had an excellent written and verbal English but one day I was stuck answering my 3 year old son. We were sitting on a couch watching TV. He suddenly said, “Mom, scoot over”. I said “What scooter? you want a scooter”. He said, “No mom, scoot over”. Then my husband said, “Just move… scoot over means, move.” So after that I started paying close attention to nuances in the local language.
• Volunteer work assistance: Expat spouses need assistance in utilizing their time and to be challenged intellectually. Visa restrictions may not allow expat spouses to be employed, but they can still volunteer. For example, when I came to the US, I used to feel very bored. Being human resources professional I love interacting with people. So I started volunteering with a women’s organization, and through that organization I could develop new skills, take some classes and make some good friends along the way.
• Employment assistance: In order to help expat spouses who would like to find employment, it would be helpful to include information on employers who sponsor work visas.
• Job search coaching: Including interview coaching, resume preparation, transfer of skill set and identity issues would be particularly helpful.
• Assistance in establishing a small business: Some spouses wish to establish their own business or a portable career. So when they relocate again they will have something to do, they wouldn’t be starting from scratch again. Online careers are great for trailing spouses. Provide related information including how to adapt to local business practices and regulations, how to set up a small business in the local setting. www.score.org is a great resource for this. I have helped many spouses in establishing on-line tutoring, website development business, selling their paintings on internet, etc.
• Preparation on local dress code: I know this sounds silly but I struggled with the concept of what to wear where. What’s appropriate dress for my husband’s co-workers house if I am invited for dinner, what’s for my husband’s office if I am visiting there, what’s for Christmas parties, etc. It was a big challenge for me then as I wanted to be included in the group.
• Cross-cultural training: To have a short discussion about local culture with the spouses is a good idea.
• Connecting expatriate spouses for practical support from another expatriate spouse during the settling-in period. In my experience the best source of support and assistance would be another expatriate spouse who had already settled into the location.
• Further education: Targeted information for those spouses who want to pursue further studies or need to take re-qualification exam at the host location. For example, in the US for Degree Evaluation go to –

Foreign Credentials Service of America
1910 Justin Lane
Austin, TX 78757-2411
Phone: 512-459-8428
Fax: 512-459-4565
email: info@fcsa.biz
www.fcsa.biz

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Divya Gupta, MBA, PCC,  ACPEC, CPRW, ACCC is the ICF certified Executive and Career Coach, can be reached at –
divya@ConfidentCareer.com
www.ConfidentCareer.com
http://divyagupta.wordpress.com
Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/DivyaGupta1
Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1

Dramatic Representation of US Unemployment!

Check out this vivid representation of how high unemployment has blanketed most of the US. Truly these are tough times for job seekers but keep heart, remember it is the darkest before dawn!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T6vuoQdY6Q

Free classes available for Laid-off professionals

If you have lost your job, you have a chance to gain the knowledge and skills through various free classes available on-line. It is a good time to train or re-train getting ready for the next phase of in your career. There are many free classes available to assist laid-off professionals.

One of my clients is a senior human resources professional and got laid-off from the fortune 500 company. In addition to job search, she also enrolled herself in the programs offered through “Workforce Investment Act”. She is taking free online classes building skills in Project Management and learning new best practices in Human Resources. She thinks this is the best time and energy investment she has made so far after her lay-off.

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is a federal program that gives workers the chance to equip themselves with the skills and information needed to compete in the new economy. Every state has WIA certified training programs and you can look for the program in your states. It is a great way to refresh your skills or learn new ones.

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Divya Gupta, MBA, ACPEC, CPRW, ACCC is the Executive and Career Coach and can be reached at –
divya@ConfidentCareer.com
www.ConfidentCareer.com
http://divyagupta.wordpress.com
Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/DivyaGupta1
Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1

Achieve you dreams through coaching

The value that coaching brings to you is hard to measure but you can feel the difference through happiness, satisfaction toward life, achieving career goals, work/ life balance, and positive attitude. If this happens to my client, as a coach it is extremely satisfying for me as well.

My philosophy about coaching is to increase your self-confidence, to make you more secure about your life and career. If you are confident, you are automatically going to be a better employee, spouse, parent, employer, co-worker, sibling, etc. I ask a lot of powerful questions which makes you do a lot of thinking aloud. I leverage appreciative inquiry, emotional intelligence, and positive psychology to encourage you to hold yourselves accountable for your learning, actions and goals. It is my objective to make you aware of the real situation and to chart a path to success and fulfillment.

Some of you are quick to explore new ideas or approaches; others take their time in exploring deeper layers of their thinking. Once you are working with a coach, you feel that you are growing as a leader, as a more confident person, and you start believing in yourselves. Coaching really helps you achieve your dreams.

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Divya Gupta, MBA, CPRW, ACCC is the Executive and Career Coach and can be reached at –
divya@ConfidentCareer.com
www.ConfidentCareer.com
http://divyagupta.wordpress.com
Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/DivyaGupta1
Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1

How to excel a dinner interview (and still enjoy the food)!

Today I got a call from one of my clients with questions on dinner interview. He wanted to know what exactly a dinner interview means. And why companies conduct this type of an interview? After having two successful interviews with the hiring manager and human resource manager, he was asked to come for the series of on-site interviews. The recruiter said that the hiring manager would like him to come a day before the interviews for a dinner meeting, if possible. My client knew the answer that he has to go for the dinner meeting as it is hiring manager’s preference.

So now the question is what is the purpose of a dinner interview and how to excel at one?

The purpose is clear; employer has chosen to assess your abilities out of the office setting and may want to see you in a more social situation to see how you act. Perhaps the job that you are applying for requires entertaining customers or potential clients.

Brush up your table manners and dinner “interview” etiquette keeping the following tips in mind.

• Keep your resume with you just in case it is needed.
• Always dress conservatively. A suite or a blazer is fine.
• Let the company representatives choose the place and make the reservations.
• Check out the restaurant menu ahead of time so you know exactly what you might want to order.
• Turn off your cell phone just as you would before any interview.
• It is best not to drink alcohol during the interview but having one glass of wine with dinner is acceptable. Water, juice, or iced tea is the safe choice.
• Order simple foods that are easily eaten with a fork and knife. Avoid spaghetti and other difficult to eat foods such as sandwiches or pizza and never order the most expensive item on the menu.
• Never speak with food in your mouth. Take very small bites, so you can quickly finish and swallow the bite before speaking.
• Don’t offer to pay the bill. The interviewer invited you so he or she will pay for the meal.
• Remember to thank your host for the dinner at its conclusion and make sure to follow up with a “thank you” letter as you do with normal interviews.

During the dinner interview, focus on good manners and etiquette. Relax, listen, and participate in the conversation. Be confident. Good Luck!

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Divya Gupta, MBA, CPRW, ACCC is the Executive and Career Coach and can be reached at –

divya@ConfidentCareer.com

www.ConfidentCareer.com

http://divyagupta.wordpress.com

Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/divyagupta1

Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1

Rewarding experience at the local Career Fair

It is my pleasure to share with you my recent experience at our local Career Fair. I was invited as an expert to provide career, job search and resume writing coaching to the attendees. The hall was huge and full of people. Many job seekers were standing in line to wait for their turn to get the coaching.

I was given 15 minutes to coach each person but that felt too short with everyone I spoke with. Some of the job seekers were in career transition, some in career exploration, and some just needed help in moving forward and upward.

In just a few hours, I got the opportunity to coach a variety of job seekers (from mid-level Professionals to Senior Vice-Presidents) and addressed a number of different questions such as:

1. I have been working in the same company for last 25 years but now the position has been eliminated. How do I address this in the resume and in the interview?
2. How do I present numerous job changes on my resume?
3. What is the best method to handle job gaps?
4. How can I re-enter the industry that I worked in 5-10 years ago and really enjoyed?
5. How should I present two simultaneous part-time positions?
6. How to best demonstrate career progression?

Although tiring at times, at the end of the day it was indeed a very fulfilling experience. Personally, this is one the best ways for me to give something back to the community. All the people I spoke with thanked me for my advice and tips while I am just so grateful for the opportunity.

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Divya Gupta, MBA, CPRW, ACCC is the Executive and Career Coach and can be reached at – divya@ConfidentCareer.com

www.ConfidentCareer.com

http://divyagupta.wordpress.com

Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/DivyaGupta1

Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1

Tips for writing a Strong Resume

A resume is basically a personal marketing document of your experience, skills, knowledge, and education. A good resume communicates key skills for the targeted job to the employer within 30 seconds. Here are some tips for writing a strong resume:

• Start the resume with your name at the top followed by contact details.
• Avoid writing contact details in the header as many Application Tracking Systems are not able to read the headers.
• Make sure to write the targeted job at the top after your name and contact details.
• Tailor your resume with the keywords that match the typical job description for the targeted job.
• Quantify as much as possible, it is easy to get attention when accomplishments are stated in numbers.
• Be consistent, if you bold a Company name then make sure to do in all the jobs, same way if you abbreviate your State in the address then abbreviate the States for your job locations.
• Stick with black and white resume i.e. no colored fonts as it looks professional in a typical conservative, corporate environment.
• Limit the size of your resume to 1-2 pages.
• Include only the information that is relevant for the job you are looking for and exclude all the personal information such as marital status, children, hobbies, etc.

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Divya Gupta, MBA, CPRW, ACCC is the Executive and Career Coach and can be reached at –
divya@ConfidentCareer.com
www.ConfidentCareer.com
http://divyagupta.wordpress.com
Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/DivyaGupta1
Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1

Top Things to consider when choosing a Job Board

When you are in job search you always look for good job search websites. There are hundreds of thousands of job sites and it is very confusing for you to decide which job board is useful to spend time on.

The big job boards like www.monster.com, www.careerbuilder.com, and www.hotjobs.com are the good starting place to start your job search. After browsing at these sites for a few minutes you will get a good idea of the jobs available in the market and what kind of skills and experience employers are looking for in a particular position.

But if you are looking for something special, a unique job opportunity or if you are a candidate with unique skills then look for a niche job board run by an entrepreneur who knows your industry, advertises in niche publications and attends the right tradeshows.

Some popular job boards are:

• www.monster.com
• www.careerbuilder.com
• www.hotjobs.com
• www.indeed.com
• www.dice.com
• http://www.linkedin.com/jobs
• http://www.twitterjobsearch.com/
• www.usajobs.gov
• www.jobvertize.com
• http://www.jobseekersadvice.com/
• www.simplyhired.com
• www.recruitmentresources.com
• http://craigslist.org/
• www.jobcentral.com
• http://www.hound.com/

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Divya Gupta, MBA, CPRW, ACCC is the Executive and Career Coach and can be reached at –
divya@ConfidentCareer.com
www.ConfidentCareer.com
http://divyagupta.wordpress.com
Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/DivyaGupta1
Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1

Top 10 Phone Interview Tips

Phone interviews are very common in today’s job search market. Employers and recruiters use phone interviews to screen candidates as it saves cost and give them opportunity to interview out-of-town candidates before inviting them for in-person interviews.

The moment you start your job search, be prepared for the phone interview. Relax, stay confident, be prepared, and keep these tips in mind.

1. Answer the phone only when you can talk for few minutes. If the time isn’t convenient, ask if you could talk at another time and suggest some alternatives.
2. No chewing gum, eating, drinking, driving, or taking care of other stuff when on the phone.
3. Smile when talking with the recruiter as when you smile you show your positive attitude.
4. Find a place which is not only comfortable but also free of any distractions so that you can keep your focus and remain attentive.
5. Always keep a notepad and a pen ready and take notes.
6. Have your resume and job ads filed in such a way that you can find them easily and quickly.
7. Have your elevator pitch written and ready with the resume, so you can introduce yourself clearly and quickly with confidence.
8. Have your strengths, weaknesses, and a short list of your accomplishments written and available with your resume.
9. Speak slowly and articulately, give short answers and don’t interrupt the interviewer. Avoid using your “ums” and “uhs” and “Okays”.
10. After the interview, thank the interviewer and follow-up with a thank you note. Make sure to get the email id and name of the interviewer.

Remember, the goal of a phone interview is to get a face to face interview.
So you should plan and prepare for it carefully. Leave a great impression and show your interest in the position as well as the company.

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Divya Gupta, MBA, CPRW, ACCC is the Executive Career Coach and can be reached at –

divya@ConfidentCareer.com

www.ConfidentCareer.com

http://divyagupta.wordpress.com

Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/divyagupta1

Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1