Common Sense Ideas for Becoming the Career Star You Are Meant to Be

Today is Friday, so this post is on interpersonal competence. 

I love the internet.  By following links, you can find some of the most interesting information.  Yesterday, I was doing that just and cam across a site run by the Alberta Canada Government entitled “Financial Careers in the Alberta Public Service”.  No disrespect, but this is not the type of site that I have bookmarked.

Nevertheless, the site had some great information on a subject closely related to interpersonal competence: relationship building.  The site had a competency model on relationship building.  I really like it. 

To begin, relationship building is described as: developing and maintaining win/win relationships and partnerships.  Following this, there were four levels of relationship building:

1. The ability to establish formal working relationships.
2. The ability to build informal working relationships.
3. The ability to develop win/win relationships.
4. The ability to maintain and use a wide circle of contacts.

Each of these was further defined.

·        Formal working relationships -- Builds relationships with clients, stakeholders and organizational members, by following through on commitments, respecting confidentiality, and demonstrating an interest in their work-related issues and activities.

·        Informal working relationships -- Makes a conscious effort to have informal or casual contacts with clients, stakeholders and organizational members.  Shows an interest in their issues and activities that go beyond the workplace.

·        Win/win relationships -- Actively seeks opportunities to contribute to positive outcomes for clients, stakeholders, and organizational members.  Approaches issues or disagreements with the objective of reaching win/win solutions.

·        Wide circle of contacts -- Develops formal and informal relationships with a wide circle of people, beyond those involved in current activities, including potential clients, stakeholders and information links.  Nurtures existing and potential relationships to help achieve the department's strategic plans.

·        Following through on commitments

·        Respecting confidentiality

·        Demonstrating an interest in work-related issues and activities

·        Informal or casual contact with others

·        Showing an interest in other’s issues and activities

·        Seeking opportunities to contribute positive outcomes

·        Approaching issues with the objective of reaching win/win solutions

·        Developing formal and informal networks of diverse people

·        Nurturing existing and potential relationships

These nine bullets are descriptive of interpersonal competence.  I’d like to add a tenth:

·        Giving credit where credit is due

That’s why I began this post mentioning the Financial Careers in the Alberta Public Service site.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.  Check out my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a small business.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.