Stacy-Williams

Stacy Williams

Here are six activities that can be used either during in-person or remote trainings to get talent professionals started.

6 Learner-Centered Activities That Teach to Experience

August 2017 - TD Magazine

How agents stay on top as their industry evolves.

The Real State of Real Estate Agent Training

It makes no difference what you call it—balance, quality of life, life/work prioritization—we all seem to be on a recurring quest to find some sense of rhythm to our lives. We want a flow that fits the lifestyle we’re seeking while we’re working and pursuing the other important parts of our lives. In co-authoring Career Moves: Be Strategic About Your Future, I had the opportunity to research and talk with workers about what was in the forefront of their minds these days. Of the six wish list items described in the book, the issue mentioned in every piece of research and by everyone we spoke with was the “desire for more of a focus on well-being.” Sure, you could argue that well-being is just another way of saying balance. But I think it’s more. This quest for balance isn’t limited to a simplistic formula of how many hours we should spend at work and how many we should be at play or rest. It’s a lot bigger than that. And the quest has become more urgent as our workplaces shift and change at an ever-increasing pace. Most of us understand that workplace demands aren’t likely to ratchet down anytime soon. To stay competitive, organizations need to keep upping their game. That translates into higher expectations of all of us. So how can we respond? We can try to keep up the current pace—keep doing so much more that we drain our creative energies and lose our motivation. Or, we can take advantage of the latest tools to help us become more productive, which can be a good thing if the tools work for us. We can also consider another tactic. We can stop long enough to consider what well-being looks and feels like for each of us, personally. No single definition of well-being fits the same for a Millennial just beginning her career, a single dad with two teenagers to provide for, or a couple who share caretaking duties of their elder parents. Each has a different take on well-being. So, this approach gives us more of a sense of control, especially when the length of our “to-do” lists becomes un-doable. Do yourself and your career a favor. Before walking into your next meeting, or lobbying for more responsibilities, ask yourself these questions: How high is my sense of well-being at this moment in my career journey? You can define well-being any way you wish. Tom Rath and Jim Harter, authors of Well Being: The Five Essential Elements (Gallup, 2010) define it this way: “Wellbeing is about the combination of our love for what we do each day, the quality of our relationships, the security of our finances, the vibrancy of our physical health, and the pride we take in what we have contributed to our communities. Most importantly, it’s about how these five elements interact. Your own definition may be different. Perhaps you place more emphasis on one element over another. Maybe your definition has a larger spiritual component. Everyone is unique. Bottom line: you need to define it for yourself and determine how you rate yourself before you can move toward increased well-being. You don’t have to quit your job and move to a remote island; you just have to decide how you want to shape and approach the activities that are part of your life right now.What do I need to bring to my everyday activities to achieve more well-being in my life? More focus? Less interruptions and distractions? Opportunities to demonstrate more of your skills and talents at work? A better transition routine to move from your workplace to home? Whatever it is, first identify it. Then, you can determine how to change it to more of what you need.What support do I need to start making small shifts in my daily or weekly routine to better align with an increased sense of well-being? Is there a colleague at work who can partner with you in this quest? It’s likely others you work with also want more of a sense of well-being. Could you partner with someone and share what works for each of you? At home, what people or activities could support you on an ongoing basis?What do you need to say “no” or “yes” to so you can experience more control and engagement in your life? Of course you can’t say “no” to requests from a boss who needs your contribution to projects that are part of your job. But there are other requests from co-workers, committee members, or neighbors that you can say “no” to in your effort to maintain balance and prevent burnout.  Don’t forget that by saying “no” to some things, you’ll be able to say “yes” wholeheartedly to others that will bring you more joy and well-being. For more ideas and strategies for managing your T&D career, join us on Thursday, September 19, for a free Career Week webcast with Williams and co-author Annabelle Reitman, who will outline a variety of career options and strategies from their new book,  Career Moves: Be Strategic About Your Future.