Knowing What You Want: creating your own agenda
Merry L. Lindsey, PhD
Women’s Faculty Association
Oct 12, 2007
WomenFinding Answers
Why should you set an agenda?
• Where do you want to be in 5 years?
• What is your dream job?
• What motivates you?
• What does success mean to you?
If you do not know what you need to learn, you probably
will not learn it
How can I know what I want?
1. Education +
2. Mentoring +
3. Networking
SUCCESS
To create your agenda:
1. think about the role you want
2. observe those doing it
3. determine what skills they have that you
need
4. develop a plan to acquire these skills
Shaping your direction
Success
Does success = leadership?
What does being a leader mean to you?
Leaders are:
• Credible– know what they are doing
• Adaptable– can lead others in a dynamic environment
• Flexible – self-aware, respect others’ views
3 levels of competency
Unskilled
Skilled
Overused
Phases of leadership development:
1. Building skill competencies
- establishing credibility
2. Leading others
- acquiring adaptability
3. Management
- demonstrating flexibility
How to develop skills
• Get specific and detailed feedback
• Do not spend time perfecting something you are already good at
• Focus on weak areas
• Create a plan- what to
-stop doing
-start doing
-keep doing
• Track progress & adjust
Learn from others
• Read autobiographies of leaders you admire
• Read about how to develop skills you need
• Take a course
• Get a partner/ mentor/ soundboard
• Stretch
Is your annual performance review a good time to find out
something is not working?
Summary
• Define your goals
• Believe in yourself
• Set your plan
• Recruit help
GO FOR IT!
Conclusion
"Success is having a flair for the thing that you are doing, knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a sense of purpose."
-Margaret Thatcher