Is real excellence a blessing or a curse in securing a fulfilling/rewarding career path?

In the age of measurables, calculated by the matrix of choice, individuals oftentimes are obliged to comply with set operational performance and behavioural standards. Experience with a diverse group of clients has shown that many individuals feel they have to turn down the thermostat to average, or even lower than average temperatures, to best sell themselves – Is this justifiable perception?

It seems that this approach has also permeated the recruiting process. “You are high energy”; “You will intimidate the rest of the team”; “I get you, but I am wondering if you are not too advanced for your peers” are just some of the feedback people receive when applying for what they thought were ideal positions.

I was especially taken aback this week, when a dynamic engineering graduate, with a stellar academic record, excellent peer feedback and above average people/leadership competencies, was rejected by a major organization for an entry level position. Given the extremely positive tone of the interview, he requested a post-interview debrief: “We loved you… but are looking for a rowboat… you are a speedboat” was the alarming reply.  Apparently his strategic thinking and innovative ideas were not wanted until “some years down the road”. He was advised to “dumb it down” for his next interview!

None of this makes sense to me! Surely an employer would grab such an individual and groom him for a position that would allow his ability to flourish? My work with graduating students over the years leads me to believe that this not an isolated incident.  Much like a litigation lawyer asking for strictly “Yes/No” answers, the current trend to rigorously use the behavioural interview format, at times ignoring nuance, and stifling lateral thinking interviewees! The message sems to have become more important than the person! Have individuals been reduced to mere workplace commodities?

Our career planning, job search/interview and career transition programs prefer to encourage candidates to look for positions/organizations that will fully accommodate rather than curb their contribution. In our experience, full and pleasurable investment of all competencies is the first step in achieving career fulfillment!

For more information on our Career Programs: (416) 962-6700   

A National Leadership Initiative in collaboration with Canadian Women in Communications

Rodger Harding has been invited to present the CWC (Canadian Women in Communications) National Women Negotiating for Success Workshop Series to nine chapters across Canada.

This initiative is designed to enhance the ability of women in managing the key elements of negotiation to better achieve their personal and business goals. Participants will be encouraged to to create an individual negotiation style that will pave the way to the best possible career outcomes in years to come.

In particular, the workshop will focus on the circumstances facing women in the fast-paced and constantly changing environment in which we all work today. Negotiation strategies will be identified to assist with the effective identification, analysis and management of situations where an accurate and ongoing interpretation of people and events are required.

Rodger will share negotiation expertise that reflects his extensive management consulting, diplomatic and legal experience. His interactive approach will provide a sound foundation of key negotiation principles as well as the enhancement of any theories, methods and expertise already known. Rodger believes that the outcome of any negotiation will dictate a course of action based on actual, not perceived realities. It is in this spirit that the workshop is designed to: 

• Link Negotiation to Leadership
• Illustrate the difference between negotiation and confrontation
• Provide techniques that enhance rapport and good ongoing relationships between parties to any negotiation

All participants will receive a comprehensive handout/summary that will serve as an ongoing resource 

 Please follow link for an article written about the New Brunswick event by Rachel Bloomer for the Telgraph Journal:

 http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/251993

Chapter Negotiation Workshop dates:

For more information visit Canadian Women In Coomunications 

“In business, you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.”  - Chester L. Karrass

 The following is a related interview with Richard Cloutier on Radio CJOB Winnipeg: 

The month of November sees a nine-chapter nationwide roll-out of the Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) Navigating Your Career in a Digital World Program. The events are designed to provide members with a realistic overview of how to transfer, refine and enhance existing career competencies from traditional to relevant and emerging roles in a changing and redefined industry. More...

Dear Clients & Friends,

Harding International & Associates Inc. opened its doors ten years ago. Exhilarated by my role in launching and directing the challenging initiative that enabled government officials to present the New South Africa to the world, I was inspired to open a consultancy that would utilize my legal and diplomatic background to successfully assist in the difficult task of fully marrying individual/team talent and expertise to greater organizational objectives/goals. A decade and several thousand consultations, seminars and speaking engagements later, I am strengthened in my vision that this may be accomplished to great advantage by accommodating people who want to be what they are rather than what others expect them to be.

Interestingly my original mission statement holds true to this day. I was not interested in growing a vast company with teams of people that needed to be managed, but rather in providing clients with a hands-on, customized and personal service that ensures residual value. This approach has attracted a diverse, yet like-minded core client base. New clients are as a result of referrals or when individuals move on to different organizations. I am deeply grateful for this, as selling is perhaps the most time consuming and challenging aspect of the job. More...

Rodger Harding featured as a Canadian Achiever   

Rodger Harding was delighted to be featured as a Canadian Achiever.

Dick Drew writes contemporary stories of living Canadian Achievers - To read "Canada's Enthusiastic Immigrant" please visit:

Canadian Achievers 

Southern Ontario Chapter   
PMI-SOC Breakfast Meeting

On Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Rodger Harding has been invited to discuss Corporate Intelligence from a Project Management perspective.

 The presentation will be entitled:

 The Project Management Team, the Eyes & Ears of an Organization

 Content will include:

• Intelligence Gathering VS Espionage 
• Unnecessary sharing of information - What walks out the door 
• Information Gaps - What the organization needs to know 
• Establishing Client Confidence - The Human Factor in Information Gathering
• Negotiation: Overcoming resistance – Ensuring relevance to decision-makers 
• Measurable Communication Success – Effective delivery techniques - An awareness of personal/team/company intelligence impact on others

 For more information on the event visit:

http://www.soc.pmi.on.ca/cde.cfm?event=179233