Team Members

Company Alignment

by Unre Visagie

Align with the company and customer for maximum career growth
Chapter 3
p.3
But I’m still not sure if I understand the concept of alignment well enough. Can you tell me more about it?
The process of alignment with the company and customer to obtain the maximum value addition and growth, entails the management of three important factors:
The “personal passions” of the individual. This refers to interests, skills and aptitudes of the individual at the time of recruitment.
The “company’s business needs” are to create wealth for all its stakeholders and to grow and develop its team members and employees to their maximum potential.
The “customers and their expectations” which in general are to obtain reliable and cost-effective products and services in order to satisfy the needs of the customer’s customers. Satisfying these expectations constitute the challenge and opportunity for our company to build our business.
The ideal is to strive to maximize the area of overlap of the customer, your company, and the individual.
The concept of alignment can be explained as follows:
The individual employee brings talents, knowledge and skills into the company. The customer has a need for products and services. The company has systems and processes in place directed at bringing its products and services to the customer.
With an increased communication of yourself, your team and the company, you can identify what value you can add in achieving the company’s goals and objectives and what changes you need to make in order to be most effective in your job.
The company exists because of customer needs. The individual contributes talents, knowledge and skills to the system and processes of the company. The main focus of business is the arena of overlap between the individual, the company and the customer.
Now I see…to grow your contribution you need to understand:
Your needs and skills growth
The company’s dynamics
The customer’s dynamics and needs
In order to align ourselves with the company and customers, each of us has to look into our behavioral patterns, response models, values and drivers. This will become clearer as we proceed.

Align with the company and customer for maximum career growth

Chapter 3 p.3

w&t_question

I Ask

But I’m still not sure if I understand the concept of alignment well enough. Can you tell me more about it?

w&t_exclamation

I Answer

The process of alignment with the company and customer to obtain the maximum value addition and growth, entails the management of three important factors:

w&t_ch3_b_smallvenn1 The “personal passions” of the individual. This refers to interests, skills and aptitudes of the individual at the time of recruitment.

w&t_ch3_b_smallvenn2 The “company’s business needs” are to create wealth for all its stakeholders and to grow and develop its team members and employees to their maximum potential.

w&t_ch3_b_smallvenn3 The “customers and their expectations” which in general are to obtain reliable and cost-effective products and services in order to satisfy the needs of the customer’s customers. Satisfying these expectations constitute the challenge and opportunity for our company to build our business.

w&t_ch3_b_smallvenn4 The ideal is to strive to maximize the area of overlap of the customer, your company, and the individual.

w&t_binoculars

I Explain

The concept of alignment can be explained as follows:

The individual employee brings talents, knowledge and skills into the company. The customer has a need for products and services. The company has systems and processes in place directed at bringing its products and services to the customer.

With an increased communication of yourself, your team and the company, you can identify what value you can add in achieving the company’s goals and objectives and what changes you need to make in order to be most effective in your job.

The company exists because of customer needs. The individual contributes talents, knowledge and skills to the system and processes of the company. The main focus of business is the arena of overlap between the individual, the company and the customer.

w&t_question

I Ask

Now I see…to grow your contribution you need to understand:

  • Your needs and skills growth
  • The company’s dynamics
  • The customer’s dynamics and needs
w&t_elephant

I Advise

In order to align ourselves with the company and customers, each of us has to look into our behavioral patterns, response models, values and drivers. This will become clearer as we proceed.

Purpose of the Walk and Talk guide

by Unre Visagie

Purpose of the Career Development Guide
Chapter 1 p.3
What is the Walk & Talk process and what does it aim to achieve?
In our journey through life each of us seeks opportunities to take stock of who we are and where we are going.
The Walk & Talk process is a structured and coordinated process intended to lead the individual through a journey of discovery and personal development in the business and career environment.
Not only does this process assist you in the development of your knowledge, skills and self-awareness, but it should enable you to increase your contribution in the playing field called BUSINESS. It strives to grow your insight into what you can do differently as a team member, as an employee and for your customers in the quest to enhance your efficiency, effectiveness and value add.
Fundamentally, a business strives to build a successful company through successful team members with satisfied customers.
From that basic objective, it follows that there are THREE important role players in the business, each with different requirements whose interests need to be met and satisfied.
You, the individual
The company
Your customers
The company’s success will be measured in the final analysis by the financial returns which it delivers to all its stakeholders (including you).
This will depend on the degree of “overlap” of interests (also known as the Economic Value Add) which can be achieved amongst the three role players. The Walk & Talk process focuses on growing the individual in order to extend this overlap for maximum mutual benefit.
While keeping in mind to satisfy the differing needs of our three main role players…
Let the journey begin!

Chapter 1 p.3

w&t_question

I Ask

What is the Walk & Talk process and what does it aim to achieve?

w&t_exclamation

I Answer

In our journey through life each of us seeks opportunities to take stock of who we are and where we are going.

The Walk & Talk process is a structured and coordinated process intended to lead the individual through a journey of discovery and personal development in the business and career environment.

Not only does this process assist you in the development of your knowledge, skills and self-awareness, but it should enable you to increase your contribution in the playing field called BUSINESS. It strives to grow your insight into what you can do differently as a team member, as an employee and for your customers in the quest to enhance your efficiency, effectiveness and value add.

Fundamentally, a business strives to build a successful company through successful team members with satisfied customers.

From that basic objective, it follows that there are THREE important role players in the business, each with different requirements whose interests need to be met and satisfied.

w&t_ch1_a_three_circless

You, the individual

The company

Your customers

The company’s success will be measured in the final analysis by the financial returns which it delivers to all its stakeholders (including you).

This will depend on the degree of “overlap” of interests (also known as the Economic Value Add) which can be achieved amongst the three role players. The Walk & Talk process focuses on growing the individual in order to extend this overlap for maximum mutual benefit.

w&t_elephant

I Advise

While keeping in mind to satisfy the differing needs of our three main role players…

Let the journey begin!

Wealth Creation

by Unre Visagie

Create wealth by adding value to products and services
Chapter 3
p.1
You regularly refer to “wealth creation”.
What does this mean?
The creation of wealth is a fundemental concept in the economy of a country. And is the reason for the existence of a business.
Wealth can not be distributed before it is created.
There is so many examples of activities in a country that consume wealth. Only business creates wealth.
People start companies, invest in companies and work in them because they are eager to participate in the process of creating wealth in order that they, in turn, can share in that wealth.
The process whereby a company creates wealth is by “adding value” to products and services which it in turn sells to customers.
Only as the company “maximizes its value contribution to the customer” can the company maximize its business and grow its turnover and profits.
Finally, as the team members and employees of the company maximize their contribution (value add) to the company, can they expect to reap the rewards of their efforts and share in the wealth created.
The fundamental key to this understanding which is the subject of this Walk & Talk process, is to optimize and grow the different interests and needs of the three main role players in the business – the individual, the company and the customer.
The redistribution of wealth without the creation of new wealth results in a redistribution of poverty.

Create wealth by adding value to products and services

Chapter 3 p.1

w&t_question

I Ask

You regularly refer to “wealth creation”.

What does this mean?

w&t_exclamation

I Answer

The creation of wealth is a fundemental concept in the economy of a country. And is the reason for the existence of a business.

Wealth can not be distributed before it is created. There are so many examples of activities in a country that consume wealth. Only business creates wealth.

People start companies, invest in companies and work in them because they are eager to participate in the process of creating wealth in order that they, in turn, can share in that wealth.

w&t_binoculars

I Explain

The process whereby a company creates wealth is by “adding value” to products and services which it in turn sells to customers.

Only as the company “maximizes its value contribution to the customer” can the company maximize its business and grow its turnover and profits.

Finally, as the team members and employees of the company maximize their contribution (value add) to the company, can they expect to reap the rewards of their efforts and share in the wealth created.

The fundamental key to this understanding which is the subject of this Walk & Talk process, is to optimize and grow the different interests and needs of the three main role players in the business – the individual, the company and the customer.

w&t_elephant

I Advise

The redistribution of wealth without the creation of new wealth results in a redistribution of poverty.

Mentoring

by Unre Visagie

The different aspects concerned with mentoring in a company
Chapter 8
p.1
Some companies have formal mentoring programs in order to assist new team members.
Is there a mentoring program within your company?
To assist all team members of to reach their maximum potential, is fundamental to the philosophy of the company. An active mentoring program is therefore part of the management process within the organization.
Every person should aspire to become a mentor since that is the best mechanism whereby succession planning occurs. Succession planning in turn is the best way to ensure your own advancement.
The following Mind Map illustrates the processes which show successful mentoring as well as the links to the other skills described in this book.
Mentoring:
Understanding human needs
Responsibilities of a mentor
Mentoring, Coaching and Councelling.
Other skills required for mentoring:
Career planning and performance management
Interpersonal skills
Effective team skills
Underlying principles

The different aspects concerned with mentoring in a company

Chapter 8 p.1

w&t_question

I Ask

Some companies have formal mentoring programs in order to assist new team members.

Is there a mentoring program within your company?

w&t_exclamation

I Answer

To assist all team members to reach their maximum potential, is fundamental to the philosophy of the company. An active mentoring program is therefore part of the management process within the organization.

Every person should aspire to become a mentor since that is the best mechanism whereby succession planning occurs. Succession planning in turn is the best way to ensure your own advancement.

w&t_binoculars

I Explain

The following Mind Map illustrates the processes which show successful mentoring as well as the links to the other skills described in this book.

w&t_ch8_a_mentorship

Mentoring

Other skills required for mentoring

Planning a Career

by Unre Visagie

Planing and taking ownership for ones career
Chapter 7
p.4
How do I take ownership of my own career? I’d like to plan my career journey in such a way that I make the best choices for my development. I want to proactively choose resources that will assist me on my journey.
I suggest you take the initiative and use the Ten Key Questions and Guidelines from the Walk and Talk Guide to help you plan and manage key elements of your career.
Ten Key Questions and Guidelines
What are your key job roles for customer value contribution?
Can you write down your Key Results Areas (KRA’s) and tasks?
What were your activities and involvements for the previous period?
Obtain input from your mentors and colleagues and compile an inventory of your abilities and job, life and transferable skills.
How does the way you behave match up with the behaviourial expectations of your team members and your job?
What is your ten year vision and have you set SMART goals to get there?
What career options apply to you presently:
Growing in your present job?
Moving horizontally or moving vertically?
Seeking outside opportunities?
Who do you mentor, who are your mentors and what contribution do you need from them?
What have you done about succession planning recently?
What value have you added to your company’s sustainable wealth creation ability?
Without feedback from colleagues and mentors you cannot track your progress on your Journey. Remember that you are also part of another support team and your input will be required to enable others to assess their progress.
Did you know that the Performance Management Process is a powerful tool in helping you to reach your career goals?
You will undoubtedly benefit from studying those pages.

Planing and taking ownership for one’s career

Chapter 7 p.4

w&t_question

I Ask

How do I take ownership of my own career? I’d like to plan my career journey in such a way that I make the best choices for my development. I want to proactively choose resources that will assist me on my journey.

w&t_exclamation

I Answer

I suggest you take the initiative and use the Ten Key Questions and Guidelines from the Walk and Talk Guide to help you plan and manage key elements of your career.

Ten Key Questions and Guidelines

  1. What are your key job roles for customer value contribution?
  2. Can you write down your Key Results Areas (KRA’s) and tasks?
  3. What were your activities and involvements for the previous period?
  4. Obtain input from your mentors and colleagues and compile an inventory of your abilities and job, life and transferable skills.
  5. How does the way you behave match up with the behaviourial expectations of your team members and your job?
  6. What is your ten year vision and have you set SMART goals to get there?
  7. What career options apply to you presently:
    • Growing in your present job?
    • Moving horizontally or moving vertically?
    • Seeking outside opportunities?
  8. Who do you mentor, who are your mentors and what contribution do you need from them?
  9. What have you done about succession planning recently?
  10. What value have you added to your company’s sustainable wealth creation ability?
  11. Are you considering midlife career changes, then read this post.
w&t_binoculars

I Explain

Without feedback from colleagues and mentors you cannot track your progress on your Journey. Remember that you are also part of another support team and your input will be required to enable others to assess their progress.

w&t_elephant

I Advise

Did you know that the Performance Management Process is a powerful tool in helping you to reach your career goals?

You will undoubtedly benefit from studying those pages.

Interpersonal Skills

by Unre Visagie

Interpersonal skills
Effective interpersonal skills are based on effective communication
Chapter 5
p.1
I am of the opinion that the way I get along with my colleagues is very important for my success. What can you teach me about interpersonal skills?
You are right – this is a critical aspect of success. Effective interpersonal skills in your business life as well as your personal life are based on effective communication.
Your contribution and value-add depend in large measure upon your ability to communicate effectively with customers and team members, understanding their behavior and upon the nature of the relationship you maintain with them.
Equally important is your own self-awareness of how you respond to others and how you are perceived by your customers and team members.
This section of the book deals with the various tools and concepts that will assist you in managing Interpersonal relationships.
But first – let’s study the Mindmap.
Apply the process of Actions & Results rather than Analysis & Understanding.
Use your great personal capacity and gain in understanding of how and where you do your best work while you work; avoid focusing on analyzing yourself and once you understand you will do something. Take action and learn as you do, rather than analyzing, trying to understand and then doing.
Interpersonal skills:
7 habits of highly effective people
Growing the arena – The Johari window
Stimulus and response
Association and Dissociation
Finding common ground
Understanding DISC profiles
Feedback gap:
Stimulus and response
Responding to anger signals
Effective questioning
Productive listening
Association and dissociation

Effective interpersonal skills are based on effective communication

Chapter 5 p.1

w&t_question

I Ask

I am of the opinion that the way I get along with my colleagues is very important for my success. What can you teach me about interpersonal skills?

w&t_exclamation

I Answer

You are right – this is a critical aspect of success. Good interpersonal skills in your business life as well as your personal life are based on effective communication.

Your contribution and value-add depend in a large measure on your ability to communicate effectively with customers and team members; understanding their behavior and respecting the nature of your relationship.

Equally important is your own self-awareness of how you respond to others and how you are perceived by your customers and team members.

w&t_binoculars

I Explain

This section of the book deals with the various tools and concepts that will assist you in managing interpersonal relationships.

But first – let’s study the Mindmap.

Apply the process of Actions & Results rather than Analysis & Understanding.

Use your great personal capacity and gain in understanding of how and where you do your best work; avoid focusing on analyzing yourself and thinking that once you understand yourself you will do something.

Take action and learn as you do, rather than analyzing, trying to understand and then doing.

Interpersonal skills

Close the Feedback gap