Summary Sunday Ask Questions

Summary Sunday Ask Questions Who is afraid to ask questions? Many of us, I fear. But questions dont make us look dumb.  Questions are engaging, build rapport and get the brain moving. We are not robots. We are humans, lets start acting like it and ask more questions- of ourselves and others. Ask questions that are reflective. Ask questions that are anti-establishment or that challenge the  status-quo. Ask questions to learn. Ask questions without judgement. Ask open-ended questions. Ask! I found these three posts this week and shared them. I want to make sure you didnt miss them! The Tech Worker Shortage Doesnt Really Exist | Bloomberg Business Week by   Josh Eidelson This may go down as one of my favorite posts of the year. Seriously. The question we should all be asking isis there really a shortage of Tech workers? Really? “There’s no evidence of any way, shape, or form that there’s a shortage in the conventional sense,” says Hal Salzman, a professor of planning and public policy at Rutgers University. “They may not be able to find them at the price they want. But I’m not sure that qualifies as a shortage, any more than my not being able to find a half-priced TV.” Actions by President Obama to increase the number of H1-B visas may be driving down wages according to Eidelson and others. Im all in favor of a global economy, but lets at least take care of our own fragile middle-class first. 3 Magic Phrases Every Interviewer Wants To  Hear | by Lily Zhang for The Muse on Forbes Have you used these three phrases in an interview lately? What about in a conversation with your manager? “I’m really excited about that.” “I actually just spoke with Sarah to learn more about that.” “I’ve had a lot of success with that in the past.” Go give the article a quick read! LinkedIn, Personal Branding or Job Search Targeting: Which Comes First?  by Meg Guiseppi, ExecutiveCareerBrand.com This is a great question.  Does it matter which you do first? Yes. You must start with the hardest stuff firstjob search targeting. The other pieces fall into place once youve set your targets. Megs post links to many other helpful articles shes written to help you fine-tune your brand and LinkedIn profile. Corporate Crime Scene: Questions of Leadership | by Doug Johnston, Impact4Results Doug Johnston has a way with questions. The kind that dont put you on the defensive, but get you thinking about personal accountability- what part did you play? Written for leaders, this post works for anyone at any level, trust me. Weve all been in situations where weve had to deal with someone evil, cruel, or a rabble-rouser. It makes the blood boil. Next time you find yourself stewing (or doing something in response), ask yourself these questions In what way might you have contributed? If you were to go back in time, what would you have done differently? I clearly hear your frustration with this other person, what might they say if I asked them how you might have contributed? What is it about you that makes this very difficult? What is this about for you? If you could have done anything differently, what would you have done?