Philip D. Brown

Richmond County Daily Journal

Whether it’s to stay out of the way when the cuts come, or to step forward for recognition and promotion, nearly every employee has motivation to make themselves more valuable to the boss, one speaker said this week.

The Perfect Workday Company CEO Mike Collins shared techniques to achieve just this at a seminar hosted by Richmond Community College’s Small Business Center Tuesday.

“In tight times you’ve got to be able to make yourself valuable if you want to be the one who is kept when others are cut loose,” Collins said. “It may be that your organization is in such a state that nothing you can do, no improvement you can make, will save you, but by learning some skills that will help you become more valuable you become more employable at your next job.

“I believe the real key is making the decision to make yourself more valuable, then looking at the skills you need to improve.”

For reference, Collins supplied a copy of an interview with Harvard Business Review Editor Diane Coutu included in a blog posted April 10, 2008, entitled, ‘Who Gets the Ax in a Recession?’

Coutu outlined four qualities that can mean the difference between unemployment and success.

The four suggestions are: make yourself indispensable, be likable, show initiative and creativity and be a corporate team player.

“In other words, do all those things you should have already been doing to advance in your career,” the blog reads.

During the seminar, Collins provided suggestions about using “to-do lists” and different ways to become more organized to advance your skills.

“You’ll hear some people tell you not to have more than one list, I am not one of those people,” Collins said. “I am a firm believer many of you will need two lists, or maybe even three.”

He suggests making a master list, and prioritizing the tasks on it, then rotating these items onto smaller daily to-do lists.

According to Collins, though, much of what defines our attitudes about our career or workplace are actually projections of our own thoughts.

“Studies have shown that over half our thoughts, and over half our dreams, are negative,” Collins said. “When you’re riding home from work, try this. Think about the things that went right today.”

He also discussed ways to manage stress, to practice “fun/energy connections,” and, of course, how to deal with the difficult boss.

“The tough thing about where y’all live is that there aren’t that many good jobs,” he said. “You may feel like you’re stuck with this boss until one of two things happens. They either retire, or get hit by a bus.”

His advice to heal the broken employee-boss relationship: identify the problem, have regular meetings, toot your own horn, learn from your discussions and know when to bail if the situation can’t be improved.

“There are several things I picked up, but one thing in particular sticks out in my mind,” said RCC Director of Research and Institutional Effectiveness Lucinda Cole. “The idea of strengths and change. The three rules. I really need to work on that. What can I accept? What can I offer? What can I afford?”

Earlier in the seminar, Collins discussed asking yourself these three questions in finding your niche in the workplace.

“The to-do lists is a good idea for me,” Employment Security Commission Employment Consultant Debby Hales said. “I need to set some goals for myself.”

Collins will return to give another seminar next month. The topic will be “What are the best businesses to start now?”

It will be held at the Cole Auditorium June 16 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $5 per person.