Commonwealth FINISHING STRONG: Corps Training BALANCING FOR A SUCCESSFUL April 2019 Presented by END OF TERM & BEYOND Julianne
AGENDA Opening & Introductions • • What Success Will Look Like • Balancing For Success • Lunch • Finishing Strong with Your Service Finishing Strong for Yourself •
INTRODUCTIONS Name Host Site Favorite accomplishment or experience from your service year so far (big or small)
WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE In words or images, what will a successful finish to your service year look like/include?
BALANCING MY COMMITMENTS Map out the major commitments you’re balancing (service, family, work, school, job search, friends, etc.) Then, under each one, list: ▪ Something that is making you feel overwhelmed/worried, ▪ Something specific that you can tackle/check off within the next week (and by when), and ▪ One major motivation that keeps you motivated around that commitment.
MOTIVATIONS FOR CC SERVICE Think back to: Why you joined the Commonwealth Corps, ▪ What keeps you most excited day to day, ▪ ▪ Long term goals/experiences that inspire you, ▪ Ideas from your “letter to self,” etc…. What is the strongest motivation for your service? How can you tap into that regularly through June?
THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjHmiC79mMc A visual summary by illacertus
TIME MANAGEMENT REMINDERS: BALANCING SHORT AND LONG TERM When managing your time, it can be helpful to use time management strategies. One that is easy to use is the Urgent/Important Framework: Urgent nt Not ot Urgent nt Im Impor orta tant Important activities Long-term projects done under the without pressure of specific/immediate deadlines deadlines Not ot Im Impor orta tant nt Activities done with Tasks that can waste urgency, but not time and do not help always the best use you accomplish goal. of time. Based on 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , Stephen Covey
QUICK STRESS MANAGEMENT REVIEW Reactions to Stress & Stress Management From Concern Worldwide (U.S.) Inc.’s Innovations for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health initiative. (innovationsformnch.org/uploads/publications/HHWC_Stress_Management_Manual_Final.pdf ) Other Reminders: You can’t control other people, but you can control your response. Building in breaks when you can. Reaching out for support.
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE This represents all of things that are outside of your control. Examples: the jobs available, who else is applying for the same position, the weather, etc. This represents all of things that you can influence, but can not fully control. Examples: your match for a position, the attitude/energy during an interview, others’ This represents all of perception of you, etc. things that are 100 percent within your control. Examples: Writing a Resume, Finishing a Cover Letter, Apply for a job, etc.
FINISHING STRONG WITH YOUR SERVICE: CHECKLIST FOR SUCCESS ❑ Weekly schedule → June ❑ Exit/successor letter; ❑ Reviewing goals/targets ❑ Org. buy in/awareness ❑ Updating service plan ❑ Max. community opps. ❑ Documenting materials ❑ Exit debrief/paperwork ❑ Transitioning ❑ Staying motivated relationships Navigating balance of being in temporary service position in ▪ organization with ongoing goals/projects.
SUSTAINING YOURSELF & LIFE AFTER THE COMMONWEALTH CORPS Reminders from past trainings: Professional connections (organization and community) Personal connections Career or educational next steps Celebrating and capturing your accomplishments Continuing to serve/staying active in your community Transition planning (departure from clients/students, financial changes, leaving a program focused on your development, etc.) Staying connected to host site, CC, MSA, and the larger service movement
FINISHING STRONG FOR YOURSELF: CAREER PLANNING/JOB SEARCHING Job searching is a long process. The set CC end date can be a plus and a minus. Keep in mind things you can do before/while applying: ▪ Explore yourself/goals (activities from January & March trainings) ▪ Map out network of people/organizations you know ▪ Set up informational interviews (up to 10 MSA hours) ▪ Update resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, etc. ▪ Reviewing jobs of interest for skill mapping ▪ Plan elevator pitch ▪ An overview of your experience/skills/strengths ▪ What is the Commonwealth Corps? ▪ What is capacity building?
FINISHING STRONG FOR YOURSELF: CAREER PLANNING/JOB SEARCHING Applying now for July can be hard, but it’s not too early to apply for certain positions. Be clear about your schedule limitations, however: ▪ Agency might be flexible for the right candidate. ▪ Hiring process can take longer than you think. ▪ Host site may be able to arrange some flexibility in your final weeks. ▪ Value of going through the process itself.
FINISHING STRONG FOR YOURSELF: STAYING CONNECTED POST-SERVICE Plans for staying connected to: Your host site and clients, ▪ CC/MSA, ▪ ▪ Other CC members, ▪ Partners/new contacts you’ve met, ▪ Your community, and The larger service movement. ▪
SAYING GOODBYE AND/OR STAYING CONNECTED Saying goodbye to clients, partners, teammates ▪ Stressing continuity with your host site ▪ Agency policies around contact/goodbyes ▪ Personal preferences (including private contact info) ▪ Not overcommitting to future roles/connections (Can “blame” program for term ending) Staying connected with your host site ▪ Formal roles (volunteering or employment) ▪ Informal roles
REDEFINING PROFESSIONAL GOALS Set SMART-ly goals ▪ Specific: focused ▪ Measurable: there are some metrics to tell us whether or not we achieved it ▪ Achievable: ambitious, but not unattainable ▪ Relevant: realistic given your context, location, abilities, time of year etc. ▪ Time-bound: having a deadline Brainstorming actions Reflecting quarterly https://idealistcareers.org/redefining-career-goals-part-3/
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION Is working toward this goal giving me satisfaction and making me feel accomplished? Is my timeframe still achievable? Which of my action steps am I doing well/not so well? How have you found ways to balance successfully completing your service responsibilities and reaching your goals, with preparing for your next steps? How are you feeling about finishing your service and leaving your site? What are your concerns, if any? How can you address those concerns?
CLOSING Professional and Personal Action Planning One way I will be preparing for success for the end of my term: “I will be finishing strong by….”
Thank you & finish strong!
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