How to keep your job Cover.indd - Richard Maun

The AVE Concept
✓ HIGH people skills are characterised by people who are
adept at mixing with all levels in an organisation. They ask
purposeful questions and listen to the answers. They know
how to sell ideas and how to overcome resistance. They
are not passive or meek, but they know when to pursue
a point and when to withdraw and put the relationship
ahead of intellectual victory. They use language skilfully as
a tool to get the job done and are comfortable presenting
to groups. They are generally well liked, have few enemies
and are considered to be polished performers within the
organisation.
PR is the third key factor in our work to become an Added
Value Employee. Public relations encompasses how the whole
organisation perceives you and what you do to promote yourself
and foster strong relationships around the whole environment. With
good PR, people become aware of your skill set, your transferable
skills and the potential you have to offer the organisation. If you
think about yourself as a business then PR is about branding and
differentiation6 – your shop window. What special skills are you
known for? How would you summarise yourself in 3 or 4 words?
Why were you hired in the fi rst place? Do you have a senior
management mentor? Do you take part in discussion groups and
clubs? Throughout the decision-making layer of the organisation,
who knows you exist and who are your supporters? When a
decision is made, people are often canvassed for their opinion and
there are three broad categories that we all fall into:
1. Never knew him and never will. We are asked to leave.
2. Know him and don’t like him. We are asked to leave.
6 Differentiation means making people aware of what makes us special and
unique in a positive way.
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