Equality of Opportunity & Upward Mobility in America

This blog we share results of a study to help you improve your income and situation

Angie attended 18 schools before she turned 16. The only work she had seen her father do was to hold a cardboard sign on a street corner saying that he would work for food. Two women in her Church took an interest in her. They helped her believe in herself, improve her grades, and learn to set goals.  She got a job and was admitted to a good private university. She joined the Army after graduation. She served in Afghanistan in community building. After two tours, she got a great job in Pubic Administration.

Study on Upward Mobility

Harvard University released findings from the Equality of Opportunity Project on upward mobility and geography. The findings section of the study stated the following:

• “In particular, areas with a smaller middle class had lower rates of upward mobility
• A high concentration of income in the top 1% was not highly correlated with mobility patterns
• Areas in which low income individuals were residentially segregated from middle income individuals were also particularly likely to have low rates of upward mobility
• Quality of the K-12 school system also appears to be correlated with mobility
• Areas with higher test scores (controlling for income levels), lower dropout rates, and higher spending per student in schools had higher rates of upward mobility
• High upward mobility areas tended to have higher fractions of religious individuals and fewer children raised by single parents”

Cities with the Most Upward Mobility

Absolute Upward Mobility is a measure of the intergenerational income mobility of a place, i.e., a higher number means that a person with low income parents is more likely to earn a high income. It is defined as the expected income percentile for children born to parents at the 25th income percentile.

The top five cities, with their Absolute Upward Mobility score,  include:

1. Salt Lake City, UT 46.4
2. Pittsburgh, PA 45.0
3. Boston, MA 44.8
4. San Jose, CA 44.7
5. Newark, NJ 44.6

Friday we continue our review of Harvard’s study on opportunity and upward mobility

This blog will improve as you submit comments, questions, and experiences. We will answer your questions in future blog posts. Please submit your comments and questions so we can answer them.

Fit Into the Organization 16: Summary & the Importance

This concludes our series on how fitting in helps you get the biggest raises and better jobs

Bennie was a good person and a good manager. He started managing a mid-size branch of a global charitable organization. He performed well, made friends with other managers, and fit into the organization very well. As a result, he received a promotion to upper management at the global headquarters. Once again, he made friends and fit into the headquarters staff. He headed up the organization’s response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. That led to a prime assignment in the Caribbean, then, back to headquarters. In all situations, Bennie’s ability to make friends, understand the corporate culture, and fit in led to his promotions and good reputation.

Summary of How to Fit In

We have discussed several ways for you to fit into your organization. They included fitting in

• Culturally
• Visually
• Conversationally
• Organizationally
• Professionally
• Socially
• Written rules
• Unwritten rules
• Support team members
• Stay connected with former friends & co-workers
• Make your boss look good

Your mentor, internal network, and research help you fit into the organization.

Consequences of Not Fitting In

Companies do not reward, nor appreciate people who do not fit in. You’ve probably worked with someone who doesn’t fit into the organization. People who don’t fit in can impact the organization negatively. People who do not fit in may:

• Irritate co-workers, clients, or suppliers
• Reduce productivity and morale
• Drive away your best workers or team members
• Cost time and money

Why would companies reward someone who creates these situations?

Importance of Fitting In

You need to fit into the organization to keep your job, earn the biggest raises, and get the best promotions. Team players—who produce well—get rewarded. You follow these guidelines, you will get rewarded too.

Companies seek to run smoothly. They seek cohesion among their employees. Even when companies seek for diversity in thought and action, they want teams that work well together. Smooth work means smooth production, efficient production, effective production. That’s how companies think. Fit in.

Wednesday we review new studies of about geography, education, & poverty

This blog will improve as you submit comments, questions, and experiences. We will answer your questions in future blog posts. Please submit your comments and questions so we can answer them.

Fit Into the Organization 15: Study Corporate Culture

This continues our series on how fitting in helps you get the biggest raises and better jobs

Clare was one of the great mentors, workers, and leaders I’ve ever had the privilege to know. He had been blessed to have been the protégé of one of the great leaders in the world. He shared his knowledge with others graciously and freely. He excelled at discerning and fitting into corporate cultures. As a result of fitting into the culture, he grew and expanded every department and division he directed. He was a master seed planter. He would plant an idea in someone’s mind and let the idea mature and grow within them to the point they championed the idea as if it were their own.

Learn What You Can

Our final recommendation for fitting into the organization includes learn what you can about the culture of each organization in which you work. In the first post of this series, we discussed identifying and fitting into the specific culture of your organization.

In this post we refer to studying the concept of culture. The more you understand the concepts of corporate culture, the better you fit in. We suggest you read one item a month and attend one seminar a year to understand culture better.

Sources of Information

You can study corporate culture from a variety of sources: articles, books, consulting firms, and more.

• The following publications and web sites discuss interesting tips about corporate culture
  • Entrepreneur magazine
  • Inc. magazine
  • The Conference Board
  • McKinsey & Company
  • The Ladders
  • Monster Board
  • About.com
  • Corporate Culture Consulting
  • World Business Culture
  • Forbes
• You may also enjoy the following books about corporate culture
  • Organizational Culture and Leadership by Edgar Schein
  • Good to Great by Jim Collins
  • The Clayton Christensen Innovation Collection by Clayton Christensen
  • Who Moved My Cheese by Ken Blanchard
  • Our Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter
  • The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Group
  • The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton
  • Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Monday we conclude our series on fitting into the organization with tips to tie it all together

This blog will improve as you submit comments, questions, and experiences. We will answer your questions in future blog posts. Please submit your comments and questions so we can answer them.

Fit Into the Organization 14: Build Your Internal Network

This continues our series on how fitting in helps you get the biggest raises and better jobs

Brent understood the power of building a network. He naturally reached out to people. His friendly demeanor and outgoing personality made positive impressions on co-workers, colleagues, and suppliers. His network of contacts allowed him to accomplish more at work because he always knew someone who could help him perform more effectively. He also received an unexpected benefit. One of his contacts told him about a part in a local theater production. One performance created additional casting and eventually parts in independent films.

Connecting People Together

Electronic networks connect different devices together: computers, printers, scanners, tablets, and more. Human networks connect people from different divisions, departments, and disciplines. An internal network consists of people you connect inside the company. You may connect to people whose expertise can help you get your work done quicker, can help them get their work done better, and improve everyone’s career.

Examples of people you should add to your network include people working in:

• Accounting
• Marketing
• Sales
• Secretaries
• Receptionists
• Call centers
• Transportation pool
• Facilities and housekeeping
• Manufacturing
• Shipping and receiving
• Information technology
• Human resources
• Purchasing

Learn, Serve, Grow

I’ve mentioned Jared and Sarah Stewart’s concepts outlined in City of Influence. One of their keys for building relationships is learn, serve, grow. They will guide you to developing your network of friends and contacts.

• Learn about them, their needs, their goals, and problems
• Serve them to help them achieve their needs, goals, and problems so they
• Grow their productivity, performance, and careers

Ensure Two-Way Benefits

Make sure that you keep the relationship mutually beneficial for your network. Too many people make the mistake of taking advantage of their network by focusing the benefits of the relationship on their own needs.

You will gain more benefits from the relationship if you focus on providing benefits to your network, more than the benefits you receive from the relationships. Seek formal and informal ways to do something nice for your network.

Friday we suggest good sources of information to study about business culture

This blog will improve as you submit comments, questions, and experiences. We will answer your questions in future blog posts. Please submit your comments and questions so we can answer them.

Fit Into the Organization 13: A Mentor Will Help You Fit In

This continues our series on how fitting in helps you get the biggest raises and better jobs

Kerry was looking for a new job. He attended one of our groups to accelerate his job search. We shared how 35% of people find jobs through word-of-mouth and the need to contact family and friends. The next day he informed the group that he had contacted his first mentor from when he worked at a Fortune 100 company. His mentor was now an executive vice-president with the same firm. The mentor mentioned how nice it would be to have Kerry back at the company. He arranged introductions for Kerry to six directors. All because he contacted a mentor.

Definition of a Mentor

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a mentor as “a trusted counselor or guide” and “tutor, coach”.  The title comes from the story of Odysseus who entrusted the teaching of his son Telemachus to his friend Mentor.

Everyone needs a trusted guide, coach, or mentor to guide them through the alligators of business. Even new chief executive officers require someone to tutor them about the culture, written, and unwritten rules of the company they lead.

We discussed how mentors help you fit into the organization in each of the posts related to this topic. Mentors orient you to the culture, the written and unwritten rules regarding appearance, communication, productivity, and more.

How to Develop a Relationship with a Mentor

Companies used to manage mentor programs for new employees. In the day when companies sought the loyalty and long-term tenure of their employees. They found formal mentoring programs prepared future executive and top managers provided an excellent return-on-investment.

Few companies invest in formal mentoring programs anymore. They don’t find a long-term return-on-investment in employees they expect to stay with the company less than 5 years. So, you must find your own mentor and develop a mentor and protégé relationship.

Several sources will help you:

• American Psychological Association
• University of Washington
• National Mentor Partnership
• Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity

Wednesday we emphasize the role a network plays in helping you fit into the organization

This blog will improve as you submit comments, questions, and experiences. We will answer your questions in future blog posts. Please submit your comments and questions so we can answer them.

Fit Into the Organization 12: Make Your Boss Look Good

This continues our series on how fitting in helps you get the biggest raises and better jobs

Curtis, one of my original mentors, taught me a very valuable lesson when I started my career. He taught that the role of a good employee was to make your boss look good. He emphasized the importance of focusing on ensuring that you contributed to achieving the metrics your boss needed to fulfill. Curtis practiced his own advice very well. As a result, each time his boss received a promotion, he took Curtis along with him. Curtis ended his career as the COO of a global retail chain.

Focus on Achieving and Exceeding Your Boss’ Goals

Discuss your production and quality goals with your boss. Verify that  your goals align with your boss’s. Then,

• Create a graph using a spreadsheet or graph paper
• Write your weekly and monthly goal on the graph
• Adjust your goals for seasonal changes.
• Enter your actual production on the graph each week so you can compare actual production to goals.
• Communicate your success to management and verify that your production meets their expectations.
• Ask your supervisor, on a regular basis, if expectations changed.
• When you are meeting expectations, ask your supervisor if there is anything else he or she would like you to do.
• Offer to do more than you currently do. We used to call it be a work grabber.

 

Improve Something at Work

Look for a process or situation you can improve at work.

• Observe it for a while
• Think of ideas to solve or improve it
• Discuss what you observed with your supervisor
• Share your ideas to improve it
• Ask their opinion and permission to implement possible solutions
• Communicate your success with home run statements

Resist the urge to take credit for all the improvements in your production and the processes at work. Recognize the contribution your supervisor makes to your success. Maintain open communication with your boss. Remember, make opportunities to make your boss look good.

Monday we highlight how to build a relationship with a mentor that helps you fit in better

This blog will improve as you submit comments, questions, and experiences. We will answer your questions in future blog posts. Please submit your comments and questions so we can answer them.

Fit Into the Organization 11: Connect to Past Co-Workers

This continues our series on how fitting in helps you get the biggest raises and better jobs

Dave attended college 35 years ago. He kept intermittent contact with his former classmates over the years even though none of them lived in the same state. He started his own business after years of successfully working in several businesses. One of Dave’s major clients reduced their work by 30%. Dave reached out to his former colleagues and found an entirely new market that more than compensated for the lost work.

Keep Important Information About Friends and Co-Workers

My best friend in high school and college had a birthday this week. He calls me on my birthday every year. We stay in touch. Old friends add their competence to yours vicariously. They built different skills, connections, and wisdom. You can tap into theirs and share yours with them if you stay in touch.

Take time to add the names, job titles, phone numbers, email addresses, birthdays and other information about people in the same company to your address book: a real book, a Gmail or other email account, or Microsoft Outlook. Change the information if they go to another company.

 

Contact Current and Former Co-Workers

Call or email 2 people who used to work at your company, but moved to a new company. Share a few brief & positive comments about what is happening at work. Ask them about what is happening in their workplace: what they like, what they do, people they work with, and projects they work on. Limit the call to no more than 5 minutes. Keep the conversation professional and not gossipy. Do not backstab.

In addition, build your internal network by strengthening a relationship this week. Ponder what you have to do on your job. Identify someone that does that task better than you do. Talk to them this week about how they learned to do it so well. Ask them for tips you can use to improve your ability to do that task.

Friday we review how Making Your Boss Look Good (MYBLG) helps you fit in

This blog will improve as you submit comments, questions, and experiences. We will answer your questions in future blog posts. Please submit your comments and questions so we can answer them.