How To Conduct An Informational Interview (Part II)

Christi Hegstad March 7th, 2013

As discussed in my previous blog (Part I), informational interviews are one of the best – and most under-utilized – ways to enhance your knowledge and network in a particular business or leadership area. By seeking ideas from people who are successfully doing what you’d like to do, you’ll gain rich, quality insights that you can’t match with an internet search or motivational speech.

In addition, you strengthen your relationship with your interviewee (or perhaps *create* a relationship, if you’ve never met!) and increase your network in a field that matters to you.

Now that you have prepared for the interview, prioritized your questions, and set up your meetings, here are a few additional tips to ensure terrific results:

Respect her time.

Above all, show the utmost respect for your interviewee. You can demonstrate your appreciation by honoring her time: If you invite her for coffee for 30 minutes, wrap up in 30 minutes. You may not have addressed all your questions, but since you’ve prioritized them, you’ll get what matters most.

Do your homework.

You want to ask relevant questions and get richness that you can’t find elsewhere. Therefore, you need to do your homework on your interviewee before you meet. Don’t ask a question like, “How long have you worked at ABC Company?” if you can easily find that information on LinkedIn. Use your time wisely (and again, respect your interviewee’s time) by asking specific, unique questions.

Ask permission to take notes.

I strongly encourage you to take notes so you capture key points in the moment, but you definitely want to get their approval first. Let them know your notes are for you only and keep that promise.

Thank them!

Thank everyone for their time – even if it was only the initial telephone call where someone said, “Sorry, but no.” For those who meet with you, either by telephone or over coffee, follow up with a handwritten thank you.

For an added touch, periodically keep your interviewee posted on your success. For example, if you meet with your interviewee because you’re considering starting a business, then 3 months later you do, let him know. Consider how wonderful it would feel to receive a note saying, “I just wanted to let you know that, in part because of our conversation, I’ve decided to do what I love!”

Remember, you can employ informational interviews for a whole host of reasons: to learn about a specific field or industry, to gain tips for making a career change, to begin building relationships within a company, or even to find a leadership mentor. Your interviews will benefit you for years to come, so take the necessary steps to ensure they benefit those with whom you’re meeting, too!

What is your experience with informational interviews? What tips would you add? Feel free to comment below or on Facebook or Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

How To Conduct An Informational Interview (Part I)

Christi Hegstad March 5th, 2013

Thinking about starting a business? Switching careers? Becoming a stronger, more impactful leader?

One of the best strategies for gaining ideas to successfully do what you love (and for getting unstuck) involves conducting informational interviews. This strategy is also extremely underutilized so, in addition to building your knowledge base, it’s another way to set yourself apart!

What Is An Informational Interview?

At its core, an informational interview is an opportunity for you to talk with role models, experts, and people successfully doing what you want to do. You invite them for coffee (your treat) or arrange a brief phone consultation, then ask specific questions in order to learn from their experience and wisdom.

Such interviews are win-win: you gain insights which can help you chart your own course, build your confidence, enhance your knowledge and network, and strengthen your relationship with your interviewee.

At the same time, in sharing her experiences and advice, your interviewee may rekindle her passion for her role, clarify her own vision and goals, and enjoy making a difference by helping you succeed.

A client of mine recently conducted several informational interviews to acquire firsthand insight into the new career field she is exploring. She came to our next coaching call overjoyed with what she had gained – not only “insider secrets” but links to discussion forums, book recommendations, classes to consider, and suggestions for additional people to contact.

“In 2 hours of conversations,” she shared, “I got more than I did with months of research and internet scouring on my own!”

How To Prepare For An Informational Interview

Just as if you were about to interview for a job or meet with a prospective client, your successful outcomes will depend heavily on your preparation. Today I offer 3 keys for setting up a successful informational interview. (Watch my next post for tips on conducting the actual interview.)

1. Create your prioritized list of questions.

Start by brainstorming everything you question about your new endeavor: logistics, fears, training needed, potential barriers, anything that comes to mind.

Then, identify which questions will most likely get you the information you need to move forward. Finalize a list of your top 10 questions; you likely won’t have time to ask all of them in a 30-minute coffee date, but you’ll be well-prepared and – since you’re prioritizing them – will definitely address the most important ones.

You want your list ready before you contact anyone. Why? Because your potential interviewee may respond with, “I don’t have time to meet for coffee, but I can give you five minutes right now.” Having your top questions ready will ensure you get what you need while respecting your interviewee’s time.

Some questions you might consider:

How did you get to where you are today? What has your path been like?

What are the top 2-3 lessons you’ve learned along the way?

If you could, would you follow the same path? What might you do differently?

And, of course:

Who else do you recommend I speak with? May I tell him you referred me?

2. Contact your potential sources, starting from the top.

Who will provide you with the information you seek?

Jot down names of people you already have in mind, role models, recommendations from people in the field, and results from your targeted internet search.

Just like with your questions, put your contacts in priority order. Starting at the top, contact each person with a (brief!) introduction and your invitation. Be prepared for some to accept and others to decline. Continue down your list until you’ve arranged a fair amount of interviews.

3. Prepare your mindset.

Shift to a positive, win-win mindset before making your calls and conducting your interviews. Two important “Don’ts” here:

a) Don’t take “No” personally. Your potential interviewees are successful and busy, and this won’t be the best time for everyone. Thank each person for her time and move forward.

b) Don’t feel you’re “wasting her time.” I wrote my doctoral dissertation on mentoring and found that the mentors benefited just as their proteges did – only in different ways (renewed energy, clearer focus, sense of making a difference and leaving a legacy). You definitely want to be respectful of their time and help make it a mutually beneficial experience, but don’t approach them with a mindset of, “Why would they ever say ‘Yes’ to this?”

These three strategies will help you start preparing effectively for your informational interviews. Watch for my next post for tips to actually conduct the interview in a positive, results-oriented manner that benefits both you and your interviewee!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

What’s Your Flamboyant Action This Week?

Christi Hegstad March 4th, 2013

CLARITY KICKSTART – Week of March 4, 2013

“To change one’s life, start immediately, do it flamboyantly, no exceptions.”

~ William James

Coaching Tip for the Week:

Step-by-step and well-planned, or NOW – what’s your preference?

Around this time of year, many of us tend to forget our New Year’s resolutions and fall into old routines. While small, consistent changes in habits yield the most sustainable results, sometimes we overthink and overplan, and need to simply act.

This week, consider one statement that you want to be able to say about yourself at the end of the year.

Then, take one bold action (maybe even a flamboyant one?!) to ignite your motivation. Sustain it throughout the year with small, consistent actions, but start it with a flourish.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter. Want to receive Clarity Kickstarts in your in-box every Monday morning? Click here!

Are You Strong – Or Just Skilled?

Christi Hegstad February 26th, 2013

Barbara Sher, author of I Could Do Anything…If I Only Knew What It Was, once shared this story:

When I was a single working mother with two babies, you know what my skills were? I could clean house like a demon, catch a moving bus with my arms full of laundry, groceries, and kids, and squeeze a dolloar until the picture of George Washington screamed for mercy.

I do NOT want a career that uses those skills, thank you.

We often confuse skill – being good at something – with strength. But as this excerpt clearly shows, a vast difference can exist between the two.

The problem? We often choose work based on our skills, without giving adequate attention to our strengths.

This involves much more than just semantics. At its most basic, a skill is something you’re good at. You might be a skilled pianist or excellent with numbers, for example.

A strength, however, is something you’re good at that also lights you up, that brings you energy.

If you’re excellent with numbers but cringe every time you face a spreadsheet, your skill does not translate into your strength. Or if your fingers fly across the keyboard but you hate every minute of playing, you are not engaging your strengths – you’re demonstrating your skill.

Reports show that less than 1/5 of us feel we use our strengths daily at work. What do you think this means in terms of morale, productivity, satisfaction, and engagement?

Assessments like the StrengthsFinder can help you uncover your strengths, as can asking yourself reflective questions such as:

1. What activities light me up or make me lose track of time?

2. What am I frequently complimented on and enjoy? (The second part of that question is important!)

3. What activities engage my talents, knowledge, and skills?

And then:

4. How am I engaging my strengths at work?

If your answer to #4 is, “I’m not,” don’t assume you’re in the wrong field or that you can’t leverage your strengths until you find a new job. I have a client who is a gifted artist and writer, but her professional role doesn’t allow for much of either. So she started a blog where she showcases her art and writes about it, and has developed quite a loyal following while embracing her strengths.

Another client thought she needed to switch careers in order to employ her love of financial details. In the meantime, she volunteered to lead a fundraising campaign at work and found that, with that simple tweak, her current job (which she already enjoyed) met her needs and let her play to her strengths.

Regularly engaging your strengths leads to positive results for you, your business, and those who receive your services. Strengths are also, of course, a required component of successfully doing what you love! Where do you currently employ your strengths? How might you use them more fully? As a leader, how can you help others identify and engage in their strengths, too?

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below or on Facebook and Twitter.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Your Work’s Ripple Effect

Christi Hegstad February 25th, 2013

CLARITY KICKSTART – Week of February 25, 2013

“We experience a greater sense of purpose in our work and volunteer activities when we care deeply about the needs that we are serving.”

~ Kevin & Kay Marie Brennfleck

Coaching Tip for the Week:

Whom do you help?

Your work makes a difference in others’ lives, whether you are on the front lines of customer service or in a solo research lab. When you can connect what you do with who (and how) it helps, you will find greater meaning and purpose on a daily basis

This week, consider the ripple effect of your work.

Who is impacted by what you do? Whom do they impact?

What result are you putting into the world? What additional results does it lead to?

Your circle of influence is wide – and a powerful motivator when you stop to consider its reach.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter. Want to receive Clarity Kickstarts in your in-box every Monday morning? Click here!

Who’s In Your “Circle Of 5”?

Christi Hegstad February 21st, 2013

Jim Rohn often said, “You are the average of the 5 people with whom you spend the most time.”

Think about that for a minute. With whom do you surround yourself most frequently? And if you are essentially their average, are you o.k. with that?

Maybe it’s the anticipation of spring, but I tend to relate this concept to a flower bed. Rarely do you see a garden patch where one flower thrives and all the others surrounding it have withered.

Those planted next to each other, experiencing a similar environment, tend to grow at a similar rate. They share nutrients, support each other’s needs for growth (like sunlight), and find strength – from elements like wind – through the group. With proper care and attention, they thrive.

Consider your coworkers, colleagues, even friends. Do you serve each other in a similar way?

In their profound book Repacking Your Bags, authors Richard Leider & David Shapiro call these “nutritious people”: people who genuinely “feed” our souls and nurture the deepest parts of us. When surrounded by them, we thrive.

This month, pay attention to those with whom you spend the most time. Make sure your Circle of 5 includes cheerleaders, role models, and people with qualities to which you aspire. Think of them as your own personal garden of growth: “feed” each other positivity, support one another by sharing resources and ideas, and enjoy the strength you gain as a group.

With a powerful Circle of 5 in your corner, you stand stronger when on your own, too.

Who do you include in your Circle of 5? Share your ideas below!

3 Habits Leaders Must Develop (My Literal Lightbulb Moment!)

Christi Hegstad February 20th, 2013

Two months ago, the Midwest experienced a snowstorm that closed roads, cancelled schools, and – for many of us – knocked out our electricity for a couple of days. While the power outage allowed us to enjoy some candle-lit quiet time with family, it also pointed out something surprising: the immense power of our habits.

Now, I like to think of myself as a pretty intentional person, but two days without electricity reminded me of the strength our habits have over us. Guess how many times I walked into a room and – even after 10 or 12 hours with no electricity – flipped on a light switch? Of course I knew we had no power, but it was such a habitual action to walk into a dark room and immediately reach for the light!

Every time I flipped a switch, especially as the day wore on, I had an initial “Duh!” moment. But my literal “Lightbulb Moments” also reminded me how deeply ingrained our habits are, and how often we – as Darren Hardy puts it in The Compound Effect – “sleepwalk through our choices.”

Fortunately, positive habits can prove just as powerful as negative ones. You likely brush your teeth daily and buckle your seatbelt every time you enter your car without much thought. As leaders, we need to consciously implement success habits so that we can lead effectively and serve as models for those who look to us for direction.

Three sometimes-forgotten habits leaders need to develop include:

1. The Habit of Awareness.

Leaders need to know what’s going on with their teams – including those things left unsaid. By consciously paying attention, asking open-ended questions, and looking for moments when actions don’t align with words, we can create a habit of awareness that allows us to address needs swiftly and effectively.

2. The Habit of Proactivity.

When you address – and even anticipate – issues early, you can course-correct before a stumbling block becomes a brick wall. Creating goals and action plans support a proactive approach, but don’t just leave these to annual goals or big projects. Even a weekly staff meeting allows you an opportunity to prepare a results-based agenda, define desired outcomes at the start, and encourage every attendee to share a recent “win” to start the meeting on a positive tone.

3. The Habit of Recognition.

While we often think people leave positions because of money, benefits, or some other tangible item, more often than not it’s because they do not feel appreciated. You can build a stronger, more cohesive team (not to mention prevent the challenges turnover brings) by developing the habit of praising, thanking, and acknowledging individual and team efforts. Frequent expressions of appreciation go a long way towards employee morale, engagement, and loyalty.

In his well-researched book The Power of Habit, author Charles Duhigg reminds us that a habit “cannot be eradicated – it must, instead, be replaced.” What unhelpful habits do you need to replace? Which of these 3 leadership habits could you implement instead? With this conscious approach to leadership, we can make our habits work for us rather than prompting those head-slapping “Duh!” moments!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach their highest potential with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Make Your Work Your Gift

Christi Hegstad February 18th, 2013

CLARITY KICKSTART – Week of February 18, 2013

“Shift the paradigm from ‘work is hard, difficult, and something I have to do’ to ‘work is my calling, a chance to exercise my gifts, and an opportunity to make a positive difference in the world.'”

~ Dennis Bakke

Coaching Tip For The Week:

Does your work highlight your strengths and gifts?

If yes, rock on! If no, what are you doing to change that?

We must remember – whether we own our businesses or work for others – that we are in charge of our careers. It’s up to each one of us to know our strengths and leverage them in a way that makes a difference (and makes us happy!).

This week, start thinking of your work as your calling, something you were meant to do. Approach each day as an opportunity to spread joy and kindness, to connect, to make a difference. This perspective shift will not only change your work experience, it will change your life.

Ready to design your Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles? Just a couple spots remain in our VIP Virtual Workshop – click here and join us!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach their highest potential with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

10 Years, 10 Do-What-You-Love Lessons

Christi Hegstad February 14th, 2013

Today MAP Inc. celebrates 10 years in business. Upon reflection, we have learned about 83,000 lessons along the way – and that’s a conservative estimate 🙂 Today I’ll share 10 of them in the hopes that they support you in successfully doing what you love!

1. It’s never too late – or too early – to do what you love.

A few years ago, a beautiful 83-year-old woman participated in my Year of No Regrets class, excited to make her next chapter her best! And every time you purchase a craft from a child’s “store” you can rest assured you’re supporting a passion – and a budding entrepreneur. Start anytime, anywhere, with whatever you have.

2. Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

Innovators typically don’t follow the beaten path, which is both liberating and frightening. Don’t shy away from doing what you love simply because you don’t know how to proceed. If you can’t find someone who’s done what you want to do, start asking around – a friend of a friend of a friend will probably have the perfect resource to get you started! (And chances are, it has been done before, but not in the unique and brilliant way that you will do it.)

3. You don’t have to figure it all out.

Oh, if only I had figured this out years earlier! 🙂 Planning and strategizing matters. So does reaching out to others (see #5), acknowledging that you don’t have to know everything, and moving forward with faith.

4. Success stems from 3 keys: clarity, confidence, & meaningful action.

It all starts with a clear vision and purpose. Once you know what you’re striving for and the reasons behind it all, you can act with confidence, purpose, and have fun with it!

5. You need a team.

At the start, your team may come in the form of cheerleaders, advisors, and friends who keep saying, “You can do it!” Later, your team may grow to include assistants and employees. And always, all along the way, seek out mentors, hire coaches, and ask for/invest in the help you need.

6. Thick skin helps.

When you want to lead, live boldly, and make a difference, you naturally subject yourself to criticism. While not always easy to navigate (especially for the people-pleaser in you), here’s what I’ve discovered: It’s much easier than living with a string of I wish I would have‘s. Believe in yourself and your amazingness.

7. Be open.

Ten years ago, I never predicted that MAP Inc – which started as a subscription newsletter – would evolve into a coaching & training firm. And 10 years before that, I never would have predicted an entrepreneurial path at all! You can simultaneously move towards a vision while being open to interesting detours and saying “Yes” to opportunities. For this reason, I often end my goals with the phrase, “This or something better.”

8. Your heart tells the truth.

You know those activities that fully engage you, light you up, and make you lose track of time? They’re clues to your passions and strengths. Pay attention to what energizes you and where you feel “in the zone,” then pursue those moments. Often.

9. Know what matters most.

In his book Living A Life That Matters, Rabbi Kushner wrote, “Burnout results not from hard work – we’re capable of working very hard – but from a sense of futility, the fear that all the hard work isn’t making a difference.” When you can connect your work to your purpose and to the bigger picture, you may still work hard, but it will be with intention, meaning, and grace. Know what you’re working for, and keep visual reminders handy.

10. You can make a living, a life, and a difference ~ all at once.

And it’s a glorious experience – for you, for your family, and for the countless people you impact over a lifetime.

As you move forward in your career, business, or leadership role, keep this in mind: we want you to succeed! We want to benefit from the gifts that only you have to offer, we want to learn from you, we want to experience the positive difference you’re here to make.

And please, please remember: regardless of the size of your paycheck or the “fanciness” of your title or the amount of recognition you receive, YOUR WORK MATTERS. YOU matter! And you can make a positive difference in the world!

Here’s to doing what you love!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach their highest potential with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

3 Leadership Must-Do’s – And 1 Absolutely-Must-Not-Do

Christi Hegstad February 12th, 2013

Ask 10 leaders for their definition of “leadership” and you’ll likely hear 10 diverse responses. Even top researchers in the field differ, as evidenced by the shelves and shelves of books on the topic – each slightly varied from the one next to it.

We all know good (and, unfortunately, poor) leadership when we see it, but what really contributes to leader success?

As you pursue your leadership path, consider these 3 must-do’s:

1. Leaders must create a clear, engaging vision.

In his book The One Thing You Need To Know, strengths expert Marcus Buckingham states leadership simply: “Great leaders rally people to a better future.” A key factor involves creating a clear and vivid vision of that “better future,” one that excites and energizes your team and that serves a magnet.

Seek your team’s input in designing that vision, then crystallize it using stories, past successes, and all 5 senses. Nothing can stop a motivated team moving together towards a strong, positive vision.

2. Leaders must leverage individual strengths.

There’s a saying, “Never try to teach a pig to sing – it wastes your time and annoys the pig.” We experience the same results when we try to force people to take on tasks that weaken or deplete them.

Instead, invest the time to learn your team member’s individual strengths, then play to them as much as possible. Your organized, detail-oriented committee member may thrive at planning the specifics of the next event and handle it within an hour, whereas your big-picture, innovative member might procrastinate, drag her feet, and do a less-than-stellar job with that same task.

3. Leaders must actively listen.

Listening is different from hearing or (ouch) the old “nod-and-smile” technique. Active listening allows you to catch details and nuances that you’ll miss if you’re only thinking about what to say next.

More importantly, active listening lets your team member know that her ideas matter – that she matters.

Whenever possible, take the necessary actions to ensure a quiet, mindful meeting experience. Turn off distractions, practice eye contact, ask follow-up questions. Think of the last time you were truly listened to, then model that with your team members.

And the absolutely-must-not-do?

Don’t make assumptions. Don’t assume that because you’re clear about your vision that your team is, too. And don’t assume that just because someone is good at something, he is strengthened by it or enjoys it. Exceptional leaders go deeper than assumptions, and they are rewarded in myriad ways for it.

What must-do’s, or must-not-do’s, would you add to this? Share your thoughts below or on our Facebook page.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach their highest potential with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

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