FINISHING STRONG: Corps Training BALANCING FOR A SUCCESSFUL April - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Commonwealth Corps Training April 2018 Presented by Amy & Julianne

FINISHING STRONG:

BALANCING FOR A SUCCESSFUL END OF TERM & BEYOND

AGENDA

• Opening & Introductions
• What Success Will Look Like
• Balancing For Success
• Finishing Strong with Your Service
• Finishing Strong for Yourself
• Closing

 Name, Host Site, and something you learned or were inspired by from this morning’s event

INTRODUCTIONS

 In words or images, what will a successful finish to your service year look like/include?

WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE

 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.

BALANCING MY COMMITMENTS

 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?

MOTIVATIONS FOR CC SERVICE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjHmiC79mMc A visual summary by illacertus

THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE

SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

This represents all of things that are 100 percent within your

• control. Examples:

Writing a Resume, Finishing a Cover Letter, Apply for a job, 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’ perception of you, etc. 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.

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

• t Urgent

nt Im Impor

• rta

tant Important activities done under the pressure of deadlines Long-term projects without specific/immediate deadlines Not

• t Im

Impor

• rta

tant nt Activities done with urgency, but not always the best use

• f time.

Tasks that can waste time and do not help you accomplish goal.

Based on 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey

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.

QUICK STRESS MANAGEMENT REVIEW

 Weekly schedule June  Reviewing goals/targets  Updating service plan  Documenting materials  Transitioning relationships  Exit/successor letter;  Org. buy in/awareness  Max. community opps.  Exit debrief/paperwork  Staying motivated

FINISHING STRONG WITH YOUR SERVICE: CHECKLIST FOR SUCCESS

• Navigating balance of being in temporary service position in
• rganization 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

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 Jan. training)
• 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: CAREER PLANNING/JOB SEARCHING

 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.

FINISHING STRONG FOR YOURSELF: STAYING CONNECTED POST-SERVICE

 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

SAYING GOODBYE AND/OR STAYING CONNECTED

 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
• f year etc.
• Time-bound: having a deadline

 Brainstorming actions  Reflecting quarterly

https://idealistcareers.org/redefining-career-goals-part-3/

REDEFINING PROFESSIONAL GOALS

 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?

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

 Professional and Personal Action Planning  One way I will be preparing for success for the end

• f my term:

“I will be finishing strong by….”

CLOSING

Thank you & finish strong!