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