Executive Spotlight: The #1 Skill Executives Need To See In Every Employee

Advertising Executive Spotlight: The #1 Skill Executives Need To See In Every Employee Jenna ArcandFebruary 03, 2023 Image from Bigstock {"adCodes": [{"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}], "adsOrder": [2]}

Every hiring manager looks for different skills in the job candidates they're hoping to hire. Not only are job candidates being evaluated on the hard skills they possess; they're also being evaluated on their soft skills—the skills that don't belong on a resume but can be identified during a job interview. It's these soft skills that separate the good employees from the great ones. Executives, managers, and other leaders within an organization keep this in mind when interviewing job candidates and reviewing the performance of current employees.

We recently asked our leading executives what's the number one skill they need to see in every employee who works for them.

Here are their responses...

John Schembari, Senior Education Executive

Growth mindset. We live in a world of constant change. Even the best-laid plans are often shifted due to unexpected circumstances. For example. educators had no choice but to switch to teaching remotely during the pandemic. There was no time to become comfortable with the technology first—we had to dive in! To remain profitable, many companies also need to reconfigure services and/or products from time to time and the most successful employees are those who are always open to learning new things. One can teach skills—the core competencies needed to do a job in many cases. However, it is not as easy to get inside someone's head and affect an employee's will unless one is able to tap into that employee's intrinsic motivations. When a growth mindset is already present, this makes any change—even difficult ones—just a tad easier to implement.

John Schembari is a current K-12 teacher/school leader academic improvement coach and former school building and district administrator. He loves to draw, travel, swing dance, and read nonfiction.

John Cox, Advertising & Marketing Executive

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Curiosity is one of the top things I need out of each of my team members.

That is, they must possess an acknowledgment of the fact that no one of us knows everything and they must be curious in proactively seeking out new knowledge to add to their personal toolboxes.

In my team’s work on brand development and activation, and more specifically, digital marketing, it especially holds true that the industry, best practices, and tools used are ever changing and evolving. Maybe that involves consuming the latest books, blogs, podcasts, or following subject matter experts on LinkedIn.

In total, each team member must really have a passion for lifelong learning and constantly seek out new ways to stretch and grow in their own expertise and in the execution of their work.

John Cox has 20+ years of performance excellence in advertising and marketing, leveraging Google-certified skill sets in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and paid search strategy, web planning and conversion measurement, and creative direction and graphic design.

Mark Taylor, Product & Operations Executive

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Clear, concise written communication. Less is more.

For example, when it comes to project status “decks,” my expectation is no more than one page (two at a push). So:

1) On-point title: sets the scene.

2) Background: one or two single-sentence bullets (the story so far).

3) Status: three to five single-sentence bullets detailing tasks completed since the last update (bad news first please).

4) Next steps: two to three bullets detailing key tasks to be done next (win my trust by making sure that these tasks are clearly reflected in the “Status” section when we have the update next time).

Make removing every word from the deck until it stops making sense a game.

And don’t confuse ruthless editing with time wasted on “perfection.” The process of creating crystal clear prose with no excess fat is a pathway for you to get a deeper understanding of the project’s current challenges.

Mark Taylor has 20+ years of risk, technology, and product management experience working in global and regional financial services firms in the UK and the U.S. He's managed teams of 40+, successfully addressed 100+ regulatory issues, and has saved companies $15M+.

Steve Barriault, Global Technical Sales Management

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Resilience in front of adversity.

Look, sales and field engineering are not for the faint of heart. They can often be exhilarating, but there is no doubt that they can be hard.

Each time that you step into a new account (or even an existing one), life can throw you a curveball. The budget you thought was there for your project is gone. The client forgot to tell you one key factor in their development environment that will make your deployment hell—assuming they knew anything about it at all.

Oh, and you travel for work? What do you do when the airline throws a wrench in your plans?

Trust me, I went through it all.

The best sales and field engineers are the ones that can deal with this. When facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge, they make a plan, execute, and when they fail—and fail they will!—they try again. And again. And again. Until it works or the clock times out.

No experience? I can deal with this with education. You made a mistake at times? If you never did, I would say you are not trying hard enough.

But when the going gets tough, you can't stop and get discouraged. And that needs to come from you.

Steve Barriault is a multilingual presales, sales, and business development management professional with 20+ years of experience in the sales and marketing of software & technological solutions worldwide. He's built sales infrastructure from the ground up, going from $0 to millions of $ through both direct sales and distributors.

Lisa Perry, Global Marketing Executive

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The most important skill I look for in an employee is their willingness to learn. This includes being open-minded to new ideas, sharing their thoughts and insights with co-workers, and being able to think on their feet and solve problems at a moment’s notice, with a “can-do” attitude. These skills are crucial for an employee’s personal and professional growth and contribute to the company's overall success. The willingness to learn allows employees to adapt to new challenges, develop creative solutions to problems, and continuously improve their skills and knowledge. It also helps to foster a culture of innovation and improvement throughout the organization.

As an employee, focusing on your willingness to learn is essential to staying relevant in your career while maintaining a competitive edge in the marketplace. As the business world is constantly evolving, employees need to be able to adapt and acquire new skills and knowledge to stay current and relevant in their field. Learning new skills also enable employees to be proactive in identifying and addressing challenges and opportunities, which can lead to greater success for both the employee and the company.

Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.

Andrea Markowski, Marketing Executive

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Combining the many bits of knowledge and skills gathered over your life and applying them to your current work role can make you stand apart as a valuable asset.

For example, I learned a practical structure for theatrical acting and directing while in college. As a marketing director today, I use a modified version for a strategic framework.

How can this be? Well, both the art of theatre and the art of marketing possess crucial elements of audience psychology and message communication.

Would just any marketer know this tie-in? Probably not.

Is this something an employer would ever teach me? Nope.

When you successfully adapt a learned approach to a different function, you bring a fresh perspective through pattern recognition and critical reasoning.

Your ability to connect the dots from your past jobs and life experiences to your current role brings creativity and innovation that just can’t be taught. It is a skill I seek and highly encourage in team members.

Andrea Markowski is a marketing director with specializations in strategy development, digital tactics, design thinking, and creative direction. She has superpowers in presentations and public speaking.

Ana Smith, Talent Architect & Global Learning Strategist

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Self-awareness would be the skill that I would like to see in every employee I work with!

The main reason is that self-awareness is a mindful consciousness of your strengths, weaknesses, actions, and presence. And therefore, self-awareness requires having quite a clear perception of your mental and emotional states.

When you have a deep and meaningful self-awareness, it allows you to react to different situations and understand what triggers habitual responses for you, how you relate to other people, and why you feel the way you do toward certain individuals, amongst other areas.

Self-awareness is very important and can bring benefits in both your personal life and professional life. For example, it can help you identify what you like about your job and how to build a successful career path that can keep you motivated and fulfilled by your work.

How do you build this skill? These are a few ideas:

• Assess your own capabilities - with a high level of self-awareness, you’ll see where you can excel and where you can grow.
• Find a peer coach - someone you trust and respect who is willing to support you in your self-awareness journey.
• Practice mindfulness - being aware of your surroundings without imposing any personal biases.
• Be willing and open to receiving feedback - in order to grow you need to listen to different perspectives.

And let's not forget that like with any skill, it is a journey!

Ana Smith helps people & organizations achieve their full talent potential by developing and co-creating people strategies and customized solutions, and turning them into impactful outcomes and collaborative relationships, using coaching as the "red thread."

What's the #1 skill you need to see in every employee who works for you? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily's Executive Program.

From Your Site Articles

• 5 Transferable Skills Job Seekers Need ›
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• 6 Leadership Traits Great Managers Must Have ›

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When you're unemployed, one of your biggest fears is being judged by others. When it comes to dating, that fear can be amplified.

The number one question asked when meeting someone new is, “What do you do for a living?" For many people who are out of work, that simple question can feel like a kick to the stomach.

Don't let unemployment shake your confidence. Here are a few tips for handling the awkward “I'm actually unemployed" talk so you can keep dating while you're unemployed:

1. Discover What You're Passionate About

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Being single during a career transition can be an exciting experience, according to Adam LoDolce, a Boston-based dating coach for both men and women. "Dating is the perfect time to redefine yourself," he says. According to LoDolce, it's extremely important to discover what you're really passionate about during this transitional period. "We put so much emphasis on having a good job," says LoDolce. "You need to realize that, even if you have a good job, it's not automatically going to get you the girl or the guy."

Incorporating passion and excitement into your conversation is key during a career transition. By changing your perspective, you can control how people view your situation.

2. Avoid Conversation Killers

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There are three common questions that come up when you're getting to know someone new. They are:

• What do you do for a living?
• How old are you?
• Where are you from?

These questions are major conversation killers, according to LoDolce. "It's boring conversation," he says. "If you're unemployed, work on deflecting these questions and making fun conversation. Have fun."

So, what do you ask instead? Here are a few conversation starters to try:

• What's your dream job?
• What are your hobbies?
• What are some places you'd like to visit?

3. Focus On Your Passions

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"Stop focusing on what people do for a living and focus on what they're passionate about instead," says LoDolce. Although some people are lucky enough to have a job they are passionate about, many people out there aren't doing what they love for a living.

Talking about your passions will not only help someone get to know you, but it will also be more interesting for both parties involved.

4. Be Positive

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"Being honest about your unemployment is the best approach to communicating with a new guy [or girl]," says dating expert Marni Battista. That doesn't mean you have to be negative about it, though. Battista suggests putting a positive spin on your situation. For instance, rather than talking about how the economy is killing your industry, or how hiring folks just don't "get you," focus on what's working.

Here's an example: "I love being a teacher, and am confident that my expertise in integrating technology into the classroom is going to land me an amazing position. All the interviews are great opportunities to practice and discover what the marketplace is looking for."

"When you cast blame on life's circumstances, it leaks a 'Debbie Downer' energy to your date and he [or she] will be more turned off by your negativity rather than the fact that you are unemployed," says Battista.

5. Don't Be Too Serious

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Afraid of an awkward pause in the conversation after you break the news to your date? Try to make light of the situation as best as you can. "I find that most awkward moments are awkward because you are feeling awkward," says LoDolce. You need to feel comfortable.

If you start feeling uncomfortable, LoDolce suggests joking around and making light of the situation. "If you're overly serious about it, it's going to be uncomfortable," he says.

6. Spruce Up Your Online Brand

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"In the online dating world, your first impression is digitized—and your career is part of that," says Laurie Davis, author ofLove at First Click: The Ultimate Guide to Online Dating. Most dating profiles have a section to discuss your job. When you're unemployed, avoid listing a hopeful job title or giving a resume rundown. Avoid posting old photos, or mentioning a would-be job or past position because it sets expectations you can't live up to in person. Not to mention, giving your total work history will give the impression that you're trying too hard...and possibly hiding something, she says.

Davis suggests relying on the industry drop-down menus that dating sites offer. If a description can't be avoided, focus on volunteer work or passions. When talking about projects that are gaining momentum, use confident phrasing.

"Your match doesn't need to know the intricacies of your experience in a first impression," Davis explains. Say something like "I'm a management consultant" rather than "I'm trying to start consulting for executives since I did a lot of that in my past job." "Overexplaining isn't confident," she says.

We hope these six tips help you stay confident on the dating scene while you're unemployed! There's so much more to you than your career.

Need more help with your job search?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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True or false? Recruiters don't read cover letters.

Most people may think this is true, but guess what? They're wrong!

Recruiters do, in fact, read the good cover letters.

So, what does that tell us? If most people don't hear back from recruiters, and recruiters only read good cover letters, that means a majority of cover letters aren't written well and, therefore, don't stand out to them.

That may be hard to hear, but it's the truth.

CRITICAL Cover Letter Mistakes

Often, there's WAY too much "blah, blah, blah" and "brag, brag, brag" going on in a cover letter. If you write a cover letter that only focuses on how great you are, recruiters are going to toss it.

Why? Because it's exactly like all the other cover letters they've read.

Think about it. Why should they think you're incredible when they've read hundreds of other cover letters saying other people are incredible, too?

If you want to stand out in the hiring process, you MUST have an attention-grabbing cover letter. This an important tool to have, and one that shouldn't be glossed over. In some cases, your cover letter can hold more power than your resume. That's huge, right?

Getting Personal On Your Cover Letter

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Because the cover letter holds so much power, you need to know how to write one that stands out from the rest. One way to do that is to show a personal connection with the employer.

So, how exactly do you do that?

You can explain how you learned that what they do is special. Showing them that you personally connect with their brand will make you memorable.

Another thing you can do is tell them what it was like the first time you used their product or service. That also shows recruiters that you understand the company and that you believe in what they do.

Lastly, you can tell them about an overall life experience that helps you feel connected to their tribe. This shows that your values and beliefs align with theirs.

The big fact here is that the more personal the cover letter, the better! When you have a cover letter that really has recruiters at "hello," you know you have their heart AND their mind engaged.

Creating That Crucial Connection

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The reason you want to get personal in your cover letter is because you want to create an emotional connection with a recruiter. Once you establish that connection, you're not just a piece of paper anymore.

This is what we at Work It Daily call a disruptive cover letter. Why? Because it disrupts the reader and gets them to snap out of autopilot mode and really think about who you are as a candidate.

The First Step When Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter Bigstock

The first thing you need to do is watch a quick video tutorial on how to write this kind of cover letter. You're going to want to see specific examples so that you know how you should be writing them.

Step 2: Fill Out A Simple Template

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You'll have a template that tells you where the beginning, middle, and end of your cover letter are, and what content should be where. This gives you a great foundation for how to fill out a cover letter properly.

Step 3: Submit That Cover Letter For Review

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Once you're done with your amazing cover letter, have someone review it.

It's always good to have a second set of eyes on this, especially someone who understands cover letters, recruiters, and the hiring process. This person should be checking grammar, spelling, etc.

So, when all is said and done, how long should it take you to craft a disruptive cover letter? The average time is between one and two hours. That may seem like a lot of time, but think of it this way: once you've built a cover letter you know will grab a recruiter's attention, you'll be able to use that cover letter format for other job opportunities. You'll just have to tweak the content in your disruptive cover letter here and there to match the company and job you're applying to.

Does The Disruptive Cover Letter REALLY Work? Bigstock

Here at Work It Daily, we know these disruptive cover letters work. We've seen hundreds of our clients write KILLER cover letters and get calls for their dream jobs!

So, wouldn't learning how to write your own disruptive cover letter be good for your career? If so, how much would it be worth?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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