Let’s Begin With A Happier You…

SVForumEngineering Leadership SIG

Gayatri Patel – June 20, 2013

Reflect

Benchmark

TargetStrategy

Test, Try & Iterate

Journeying Back

Career Successes

Life Events-Activities

Interests

Lessons Learned

Me

Life Events

Life Influence

rsLife

Decisions

• People• Communities• Environment• Marriage

• Relocation• Children

• Job Position• College Selection• Hobbies

Caroline

Music

Map your life happenings & take-aways…Insecure/Eager Learning/

Determined Confident/Risk Taker• Marketing/Sales• Merchandising

• HS-College Transition• First Job• Drivers License•Married• Graduated College•Move Away From Home

Care

er

Life

Insp

irat

ion

• Big Picture• Better Process

Take

Aw

ayBe

tter

men

t

Father

• Brand/Sell Myself• Diversify

+/-

Labe

l

Hard StartEducationDeveloper

• Career StartedTandem Computers• Birth of #1 Daughter• Move to new home• Birth of #2 Daughter

• Jimmy• Bill• Kristin• Daughters• Products

• Women can succeed• OK to take risk• Enjoyed my work• Believed in what I was doing• Top down support key• Education Costs• Long working hours

• Need to grow how to sell ideas• How to deal with challenging relationships & conflict

NPI SupportManager

Internet ProductManager

• Computers Hwr/Swr/Networking• Bus Dev, Marketing, PM, Support, Course Dev• Internet-Security-Queuing

JimmyDaughters

• Jerry-Vivek• Venkat• Dieter• Daughters• Pioneering

• Need to exercise

• Not doing anything for me…no hobbies• Not exercising

BenchmarkWhat’s your starting point?

Getting Started

Human Resources

Team

Indirect

Inward Influences

Emotions Outlook Energy

OutwardInfluences

Relationships

Community

Direct

Me Relationships Community Environmen

t

Get to know yourself Get to know those around you Get to know your surroundings Ask how others perceive you Who is like and not like me?

What makes me happy? What keeps me healthy, energetic and

productive? What do I influence-project to others?

• Insights Discovery Model

• Myers Briggs Assessment

Example: On a Bad Day

•Excitable•Frantic• Indiscreet•Flamboyant•Hasty

•Docile•Bland•Plodding•Reliant•Stubborn

•Aggressive•Controlling•Driving•Overbearing• Intolerant

•Stuffy• Indecisive•Suspicious•Cold•Reserved

Cool Blue

Fiery Red

Sunshine Yellow

Earth Green

•Sociable•Dynamic•Demonstrative•Enthusiastic•Persuasive

•Caring•Encouraging•Sharing•Patient•Relaxed

•Competitive•Demanding•Determined•Strong-willed•Purposeful

•Cautious•Precise•Deliberate•Questioning•Formal

Cool Blue

Fiery Red

Sunshine Yellow

Earth Green

Example: On a Good Day

Source: Insights Group Ltd. “The Insights Colour Energies”; www.insights.com

Assess Individual &

Team

• Ask, Ask, & Ask: What motivates them, influences their productivity, reactions to change or conflict,

• Team player/leader/worker, complimentary strengths, positive or negative influence to others, …

Develop Individual

• Support their own self discovery• Identify people who can provide feedback• Challenge, Learn, Partner

Develop Team

• Team Events “Get to know each other” • Reinforce work environment & core values• Rate eNPS, Work Life Balance, Innovation, Risk

Taking, etc.• Partner with Human Resources

BenchmarkWhat’s your starting point?

TargetWhat do you want to be?

Define how you want to be perceived

Define what WILL make you happy

What are your Must Have’s…Let Go’s?

What will keep you balanced?

Set aspiration targets

Incorporate training, mentoring, network support, etc.

Target frequent positive acts

Set productivity landmarks

Incorporate aspiration targets to work development plans

Set individual eNPS, WLB, … goals

Do for others as THEY would like(not what YOU would like)

Question

What is the magic ratio of positive interactions for every negative interaction for productive workgroups?

A. 3:1B. 5:1C. 13:1D. 10:1

Source: Reference Losada M’s 1999 study in “How Full is Your Bucket?” book; Authors Tom Rath and Dr. Donald Clifton

StrategyWhat’s your action plan?

Take care of you!!! Follow your passions Strengthen your strengths Upward is not always best Refreshes rebuild… Continuously learn, be challenged

and track your progress Observe and follow from what others do

well

Surround yourself with inspiration

Compliment your weaknesses

Upward is not always best

Deliver positive energies

Indirect

Inward

Emotions Outlook Energy

Outward

Relationships

Community

Direct

Me Relationships Community Environmen

t

StrategyWhat’s your action plan?

Partner with Human Resources Active monthly management of development plans

Mentor, Coaching, Shadowing opportunities Leverage company resources and training Industry and technical workshops, conferences Focus on progress Set productivity landmarks

Proactive WLB; Implement cultural changes; discuss w/staff Practice what we preach Quarterly/Half Year Team Building Events Energy project workshops and culture changes Invite company leaders to discuss company values w/team Power of positive energies, happiness, and creativity End the week on a positive note…sense of accomplishment

Incorporate bi-weekly innovation brainstorm/POC sessions Hack-a-Thon like events Events Celebrate learning from failings Track what wrongs were prevented External presentations

Indirect

Inward

Emotions Outlook Energy

Outward

Relationships

Community

Direct

Me Relationships Community Environmen

t

Question

How many human interactions/moments do we experience on an average waking day?

A. 32B. 400C. 1600D. 22,000

Source: Nobel Prize-winning Psychologist, Daniel Kahneman

Test, Try & Iterate

Test your limits Tweak your strategy Never give up

Live Long, Prosper & Be Happy

Reflect

Benchmark

TargetStrategy

Test, Try & Iterate

Map your life happenings & take-aways…Ca

reer

Li

feIn

spir

atio

nTa

ke A

way

Bett

erm

ent

+/-

Labe

l

SVForum Engineering Session June 20, 2013 Gayatri Patel – gayatrihp@gmail.com

DESCRIPTION: As you know, the first step on your career journey towards greatness begins with you.  But have you asked yourself, "Who am I…really?  What am I good at?  What is important to me?" The discovery of what makes you fundamentally and uniquely you will lead you to greatness in your career, relationships, health and life.  "Employee Happiness" is getting a lot of airtime these days. Let me share some self-learned approaches for 'continuous discovery of oneself' from my journey that have helped me make career choices. I hope that you will be able to apply these insights to achieve your greatest potential and become a happier "you".