Download WICT SE Monthly Discussion Guides

Hi ladies! Hope all of you are enjoying your summer.
As we look towards the remainder of this year, it is a great time to think about what you want to
accomplish both professionally and personally by setting Goals and Objectives. Take advantage
of this opportunity to discuss your G&O’s with your mentor, as well as schedule your meetings
for the next six months.
July 2012 Discussion Guide
Your discussion could include topics such as:
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Individual goals – How did you develop your individual goals for the year? How would
success be defined for these goals? Do your individual goals align with your team’s
goals?
Measuring progress – How will you track the progress of your individual and team
goals? How will your prioritize your multiple goals?
Evaluating performance – How will you measure goal completion and achievement?
As goals change throughout the year, how will you and your team stay focused and
motivated?
August 2012 Discussion Guide
As we further our careers in the workplace, it is helpful to consider the personal brand and
leadership style we convey to our teams as well as our target markets. Your brand is your
personal combination of abilities, style, and conduct. You can manage your brand to affect
people’s perceptions in the same way that businesses use brands to shape customer
expectations. Take a moment to talk to your mentor about each of your leadership styles and
personal brands, and consider the following topics:
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How would you describe your ‘leadership brand’ today?
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Are you actively doing anything to enhance your leadership brand?
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What is the best way to market your brand/style to your key “target markets”? How do
you clearly define who your key “target markets” are?
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How does your leadership style change throughout your career in different organizations
or groups?
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In order to make yourself invaluable to an organization, how have you differentiated your
personal brand or leadership style?
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How has your personal brand been affected in these times of change?
September 2012 Discussion Guide
Building Strong Networks
In addition to your mentor, you have a vast network of people around you that are critical to
your career development and progression, including clients, colleagues, and other contacts. It
is always beneficial to maintain these relationships, as they may be helpful resources to you in
the future. Take this opportunity to talk to your mentor about ways to build strong networks.
Possible suggestions for this topic could be:
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How do you identify potential contacts? How do you make connections and build
relationships?
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Who are some people with whom you have kept consistent contact with, that have been
integral to your career growth? How do you maintain those relationships?
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What is the size of your business network? How do you make the network size “work for
you”?
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What types of formal or informal networking opportunities do you participate in (e.g.,
forums, conferences, speaker events)?
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Do you know your counterparts in other companies? In other countries?
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Do you utilize social media to maintain your relationships? If so, how do you leverage
the tools to make the most of it?
October 2012 Discussion Guide
Career Management-Gain Further Insights into Your Mentor’s Career Path:
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What are the key roles in your mentor’s career that led her to this point?
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How did your mentor select her roles? How did she manage the transition from role to
role?
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What were some of your mentor’s goals at the onset of her career? How did these
change and remain the same?
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Who had great impact on your mentor’s success? How?
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What are some of your mentor’s greatest challenges/success in her career?
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What would your mentor do differently?
November 2012 Discussion Guide
Skill Gap Management
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What skills do you need to develop to grow in your current role? What specific actions
can you take to build out those skills? How can your mentor help you develop in those
areas?
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Discuss getting to your next role: Share with your mentor what you would like your next
role to be. Discuss the skills that an individual in that role possesses. Based on your
mentor’s assessment which skills do you need to focus on developing?
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Define several specific actions you can take to develop the skills that will help you be
more successful in your current role and prepare for your next role.
December 2012 Discussion Guide
Most of you have either observed or directly been involved with a performance evaluation
process. Either way, as a leader, you are focused directly on the achievement of your team's
key business objectives as well as your employees’ professional development. Performance
Management is a subject that is probably coming up often this month, and would be a great
topic to talk about with your mentor.
Questions for your discussion could include:
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How do you assess the capabilities of your team, from your highest to lowest
performers?
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How are you building a pipeline for successors in key positions on your team?
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How do you ensure the right people are receiving the development & training they need?
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In these challenging times, how do you mitigate the risk of key talent leaving your
organization?
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How do you ensure a performance evaluation is not a 'once a year' activity?