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| Take the Initiative and Increase Your Value |
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The best way that I've found to further your career is to not let opportunities pass you by. I've heard many people through the years say things like "That's not my job" or "Let someone else do it." I'm guessing that those people aren't much further in their careers than they were at that time. Taking the initiative to tackle the tough issues in business is what gets you noticed.
I hope you enjoy this month's article.
Robert J. Loeb, President & CEO
Vericom Corporation |
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| Initiative: The Path to Success |
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By Mike Mitchell
Manager of Telecommunications
DeKalb Regional Healthcare System, Atlanta, Georgia
In 1998 ivillage.com conducted an online survey that included this question: What is most important for getting ahead in the workplace? Of the 7760 responses, 55% listed initiative as the most important trait required for success. The initiative we're talking about here is the characteristic of a "person with a purpose". The word "initiative" conjures up images of an employee who is always looking for ways to improve a situation, process or environment.
Initiative is marked by a continuing activity, and is not defined by a one-time occurrence. One employee told me that he always leaves a hospital restroom in better condition than when he found it. He does the little things that take only a few seconds (like cleaning the mirror) but his initiative creates a better environment for all of our patients and visitors. Another staff member takes the initiative to routinely pick up scraps of paper off of the hallway floor. Again, these are not big things but these employees are motivated to improve the appearance and cleanliness of our hospital. They take the initiative to do just that every day.
Of course, there are opportunities for us to take initiative which are farther reaching. Perhaps there's a new call accounting or ACD report that you know will be beneficial to other department managers but you haven't taken the time to send it out. You might be aware of a process which involves several departments, including yours, that needs to be improved. However, you've been apprehensive to take the initiative to improve the process because of the cost, employee conflicts, or some other reason.
As you take initiative consider the following questions:
Is this undertaking something I can do myself or do I need other employees to get involved?
Can I motivate them to help?
Why am I motivated to take action?
What steps will I need to take to carry out this initiative?
Am I willing to make the time commitment required?
Are there more important priorities at this time?
Would this project be considered someone else's assigned responsibility?
Do I need anyone's approval to take action?
Who will benefit from my initiative?
What is the cost
We describe a person who takes action on an idea as one who takes initiative. If our goal is to be successful in our chosen field, we must be aware of our opportunities, make the appropriate decisions, and take the initiative to improve our working environment. Initiative is the key to increasing your value and moving up to the next level in your career.
- Mike
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Mike Mitchell, has over 20 years management and leadership experience in the Telecommunications Industry. He is currently the Manager of the Telecommunications Department of DeKalb Regional Healthcare System in Atlanta, Georgia. He can be contacted at: mmitchell@telexcellence.com |
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| Telecommunications News You Can Use
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Carrier VoIP gains momentum
By Kevin Mitchell
As we move further into the 21st century, it is apparent that IP networks are the next-gen networks for all forms of communication. It's difficult to find a fixed-line carrier not modernizing their network with VoIP or planning to do so, as there are many strong drivers impelling service providers to deploy next-gen voice equipment, particularly capex and opex savings, and, more importantly, the ability to offer new and previously unavailable services. |
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Broadband Is Too Important to Be Left to Cable-Phone Duopoly
Washington Post (08/14/05)
Back when he was an executive at insurer Blue Shield of California, Dr. Jeffrey A. Rideout marveled at how tech companies thought hospitals and doctors should use more information technology but didn't use their clout as buyers of health insurance to make it happen. Now the 43-year-old former Rhodes scholar is medical director of Cisco Systems Inc. And if he has his way, Silicon Valley is about to take a big step forward. |
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Major vendors resisting the urge to merge
By Ed Gubbins
Much of the discussion at the 2005 VoIP: Telephony conference in June 6 focused on the IP multimedia subsystem architecture and its current and future role in the evolution of voice-over-IP technology. While some panelists disagreed on the potential of IMS, they were unanimous in their belief that VoIP eventually will dominate the telecom landscape in both the residential and enterprise markets.
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