Sunday, March 15, 2015

Books, Chat and Chew Event

Kimberly A. Ferguson and Jacque Howard
of Trenton 365
What an amazing time we had at the Books, Chat and Chew -- Book Release Party on March 12, 2015. Chelsea L. Dixon, founder of GamePhox Unlimited, LLC and author of the newly released "Bridging the Gap: A Simple Guide to College" shared the limelight with a handful of other  area authors. I was fortunate enough to be in the number; and as part of her book release event, I was interviewed by the extraordinary Jacque Howard of Trenton 365, WIMG.  During the interview, we discussed Marketing You: Be STRATEGIC, as well as some of my other endeavors!  Check out the full interview at:


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Monday, February 23, 2015

Don't Just Stand There: Personality Type Is a Journey

SO MANY POSSIBILITIES
As I walked into the ISTJs Anonymous Group, I very strategically scanned the room for an empty seat away from the others. The problem was that everyone in the group had probably done the same because people were seated in every other seat or every two seats. As life would have it, I would have to sit right next to someone. . . I tossed and turned in my bed to awake myself from the nightmare.
Okay, so there’s no ISTJs Anonymous (at least that I’m aware of), but perhaps there should be. We ISTJs get a bum rap. With ISTJs making up about 13% of the population, it would be awesome to fellowship with fellow ISTJs, as long as we did not have to hug or touch each other, of course!
As a certified practitioner for one of the most widely used personality assessment tools in the world, I have developed a love for understanding type. I gained my certification to help others delve into type for career and professional development, but the reality is, it has helped me to realize that type truly is a journey. . . my journey.
The beautiful thing about our personality type is that once we understand the different dichotomies and the many beautiful combinations, it is (or should be) our goal to develop ways to navigate the possibilities in ourselves and others. What am I saying? Type does not box us in. . . although others may try to. Instead type opens up a world of possibilities!

ONE TO GROW ON

Let me give you an example: Based on my type, I have a preference for Sensing (I=Introversion, S=Sensing, T=Thinking, J=Judging). As an introverted sensing person, other people (those associated with the type community included) often assume that I cannot pick up on hidden meanings or interpret them (which is a characteristic of my inferior Jungian functional preference of Extraverted Intuition… in case you were wondering). As such, when people are attempting to be sly or clever, internally I am interpreting the behavior, then analyzing the behavior). This happened to me just the other day. I had someone asking me a number of questions about myself under the guise of genuine interest, when she very clearly had an ulterior motive. I played along, strategically responding with a forced smile, and quickly removed myself from the situation. By the way, the smile wasn’t phony; it was deliberate.
I was insulted. Yes, ISTJs do have Feelings, contrary to popular belief; however, like the stereotypical ISTJ, I put the experience in my “one to grow on” stack, tucked it in the corner of my mind for future use (when necessary), and moved on.

THE LANGUAGE OF TYPE

In my personality type classes, I teach type basics, focusing on the dichotomies. Then we focus on communication; speaking and delivering based on the preferences of others. I never encourage people to manipulate each other, but I do encourage folks to communicate with language that speaks to the other person’s preferences. Speak the language of type.

NAVIGATING TYPE

I have a clear preference for introversion; I draw my energy from within. However, when I am standing in front of a group for a speaking engagement or training class, extraversion grabs the wheel – and in that moment, I am energized.
The key to navigating type is to avoid adhering to one category and tap into its true power, which I am working on daily. My preference for introversion, sensing, thinking, and judging doesn't define me.
Type is about growth. It’s about extraversion and introversion; sensing and intuition; thinking and feeling; and judging and perceiving. It’s about replacing the 'OR' with an 'AND'; and being able to effectively use each side depending on the need.
About Kimberly A. Ferguson
Kimberly A. Ferguson is a professional development trainer, speaker, coach, and the author of "Marketing You: Be STRATEGIC". For more information about Kimberly,
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Friday, February 20, 2015

Pull It Together. . .Who's Going to Hire You If You're Frazzled?

Uh-oh! Just when you thought you were about to hit a home run, the interviewer throws a curve ball. Instead of knocking the ball out of the park, you miss it completely. The question has you frazzled. You pause for 5 seconds but it feels like eternity. And as you blurt out a less than stellar response, you can tell that he is not impressed. As he begins to ask the next question, you begin to obsess over the mistake you have made.
If this (or a similar) scenario has ever happened to you, you are not alone. Sometimes we make mistakes during job interviews. The good news is that it is not the end of the world, and it does not have to be the end of the interview (in most cases)! There are several steps that we can take to ensure interview success, even in the face of an error. Check out my Your Career Matters Video. In it, I respond to a question by giving 3 tips that you can begin using immediately:
Prepare! Prepare! Prepare!
  • Prepare for Challenges. Think about your last interview. Where did the problem occur? What was the mistake that you made? What would you have said or done differently? Prepare a new response.
  • Self-Assess: Take an honest look at your resume. Prepare for any possible de-railers concerning your qualifications. Are there any areas that may raise red flags for employers? Gaps in employment? A decrease in responsibility? A short stint at a company? Determine what those de-railers may be. Then, craft and practice an effective, meaningful can-do response.
Assess the mistake. If you make a mistake, evaluate it. Was it an enormous, noticeable error? Was it something minor that only you caught?
Stay in Control. Mistakes happen. We’re human. Breathe and get over it! You can go back and rephrase the answer. Just stay in control. You want to appear confident and sure of yourself.
And remember: Concise is the key. When recovering from a mistake, if you have to backtrack, make your recovery concise. Don’t spend a lot of time on the recovery. Recover and move on! Get right to the point, and keep it positive.
About Kimberly A. Ferguson
Kimberly A. Ferguson is a professional development trainer, speaker, coach, and the author of "Marketing You: Be STRATEGIC". For more information about Kimberly,
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