How to be assertive at work to stay true to yourself and your career goals

EPISODE SUMMARY

 

In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with AJ Vaughan, Co-Founder of The E1B2 Collective. His focus and dedication is to always put employees first and help forever change the world of work. AJ discusses why it is critical to be open with your career intentions with a company during the interview process and how to ensure that the company lives up to their promises to you as you help deliver value to them through your work. AJ ends the discussion with his thoughts on how companies can increase employee retention for the future and what he has done with employees to make them become more intentional with their career.

 

QUOTES

 

• “I was happy [these companies rejected me], I walked out of the door, with a smile on my face because I knew that was not going to be the place for me anyway because if I try to BS them or if I try to ignore the fact that they ignore my needs, I was going to get into an organization and not be happy.” - AJ Vaughan [11:22]
• “[People say] That’s on you as a professional, to drive your own career [growth], and I agree with that, but on the flip side of it, we all need help. Last time I checked Max and I know this for myself, I’ve gotten nowhere without the support and the intentional direction of others.” - AJ Vaughan [16:12]
• “It’s scary to be this intentional, it’s scary to be that bold [in terms of going for what you want in your career] so again about 20 [out of 400] of those employees [when I was the head of people] though, really took what I said seriously and really applied it and they got tremendous results.” - AJ Vaughan [33:29]

 

TIMESTAMPS

 

• [0:15] Meet AJ
• [1:22] Current relationship dynamics between employee and employer
• [6:09] The importance of showing your true career intentions at the interview process
• [14:29] The long term consequences of not being true to your career goals and taking a job because you need one not because it aligns with where you want to go
• [19:27] How AJ works with companies to ensure employer and potential employee are the right fit for each other
• [20:46] How to ensure what you agreed to during the interview process comes to fruition when you start working for this company
• [24:39] How to set boundaries with teams you don’t directly report to
• [27:10] How companies can help employees stay engaged to increase tenure and decrease turnover
• [31:06] AJ’s strategies in terms of how he helps employees be more assertive and more intentional with their career
• [36:09] Contacting AJ
• [37:38] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS 

 

• AJ Vaughan on LinkedIn
• The E1B2 Collective Website
• Max Chan on LinkedIn
• Chan With A Plan