How to Stay Motivated During Tough Times

September 29, 2010 By 1 Comment

The economy is still bad and the job market is bleak so tell me something I don’t already know! How is a well qualified candidate supposed to keep her spirits up when the prospects for gainful employment are dismal? While I believe it’s important to have a sense of reality about the economic environment, keeping a positive attitude is crucial so you are not paralyzed by fear. I met a woman who was so preoccupied with being laid off at work that it began to impact her performance on the job. Don’t let fear become a self fulfilling prophecy and work to keep the power of positivity part of your strategy for self motivation.

I read a terrific piece by Roland D. Nolen about staying positive in tough times and want to share his action steps to keep a positive attitude.

  • Don’t fall into the misery loves company syndrome. If your friends and contemporaries frequent the pity party, get yourself out of that environment fast. This behavior is negative and a drain on your time and energy and in the end it doesn’t solve your problem, nor does it make you feel better.
  • Avoid toxic people. Or at least deal with them in very small doses. You know exactly who they are and why their negative, complaining, and critical behavior drags you down. Just say no!
  • Limit your TV time. When you are stressed and feeling down your occasional TV time can turn into extended hours of lying around feeling lethargic and watching anything just because it’s there. Spend your time wisely and re-energize yourself by exercising or getting out into the fresh air so you can work on job related tasks more effectively.
  • Take a half hour each day for motivation time. Read a motivational book or listen to an emotional speaker’s CD to jazz yourself into a positive mindset. Some of Nolen’s favorites include
    • Over the Top by Zig Ziglar
    • Live Your Dreams by Les Brown
    • The Power of Focus by Canfield, Hansen, Hewitt
    • What Makes the Great Great by Dennis Kimbro
  • Try new things. To overcome the fear of failure, rejection or pain, try something completely new to get your mind off your troubles. Try a new hobby, sport, or past time to refocus on something positive.
  • Reward yourself. With every small success or baby step, reward yourself for your accomplishments. By setting small, attainable goals you will feel as if you are actually moving forward (and you are!) on your journey towards the big picture.

If you get your mind off your problems occasionally, you will give yourself time to re-energize. Staying positive and motivated is much better for your health and well being and will enable you to keep trying as you work towards your goals.

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Results-Only Work Environment

September 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It may sound idyllic but wouldn’t it be incredible to work in a results oriented environment where your time was your own to be productive as you saw fit? In this world, the team would be high functioning because they are playing to their strengths and passionate about their individual roles as well as their accomplishments.

It may seem too good to be true but Cali Ressler of BNET.com put together an amazing list of 10 things leaders and supervisors can do right now to kick the habit of the archaic time-based management model to get teams focused on results.

  1. Make meetings optional. Let people evaluate their need to participate. If they know they can make better use of their time (and the company’s), then they should.
  2. Stop judging how people spend their time. Cut the sludge, or office digs and inappropriate slams, according to Ressler about when people show up, leave, or how they spend their time. Judgmental language can hurt loyalty, engagement, and productivity.
  3. Reward employees based on results, not how much time they put in at the office. Don’t use references to time positively or negatively. Some people work faster than others and setting up a competitive environment where co-workers are trying to out-time each other is a waste of energy. Focusing on the results will level the playing field and ultimately let people play to their time strengths.
  4. Don’t prescribe what work/life balance looks like for your team. Balance should be up to each individual – let them determine if they need to utilize a flexible schedule or work from home options. Again, focus on results and stop comparing yourself to your colleagues.
  5. Don’t handpick who gets to be flexible and who doesn’t. If you really want a flexible, results-based environment then the rules must apply to everyone regardless of rank or seniority. Period.
  6. Stop managing by walking around. Every time you check in on someone, they have to stop what they are doing, reorient their thinking to deal with your spontaneous visit and then regroup to get back to their work task when you leave. Don’t interrupt work flow unnecessarily but checking up on people. Trust them and they will deliver.
  7. Quit using fake crises as a management tool. Dropping a last-minute or urgent request on your employees is like crying wolf. Plan ahead and be respectful of their already full plate of tasks.
  8. Don’t think that you are a great boss if you let people leave work early during a snow storm. This kind of behavior reinforces the fact that you have control over your team’s time and they don’t. Let people make sound decisions and judgment calls themselves.
  9. Get clear about performance goals, communicate often, and hold people accountable. If your employee is not performing, talk to them. Find out why and ask what they need to succeed. Don’t shirk your responsibility as the manager to hold performance reviews. This tool is important for communication, goal setting and motivation even if a promotion is not at stake.
  10. Trust people like you trust yourself. Your goal is to make the work environment vibrant and letting your employees earn your trust is a valuable commodity. They want to succeed and live up to their expectations as well as yours. Create a workplace where trust is expected and revered.
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Tana Poppino, Barrel Rodeo Rider

September 27, 2010 By 1 Comment

Raised on a ranch in southeast Colorado, Tana Poppino has spent her entire life around horses. That love and a competitive nature drew her to the world of rodeo at an early age.  She participated in the amateur rodeo ranks throughout high school and college but pursued a career at Grand River Dam Authority in their media and communications department which she enjoyed for 20+ years.

Tana worked for the GRDA in Vinita, Oklahoma, which is a state-owned public power producer. They operate 2 coal-fired generating plants, and three hydro plants which produced electricity for about 15 cities and towns in Oklahoma, as well as rural electric cooperatives. She worked for 20+ years in the Media/Marketing Department producing corporate videos, annual reports, company brochures/media and corporate photography. Tana also worked with many cities and civic organizations on their marketing efforts and although she enjoyed her job she never called it her career passion. [Read more...]

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Are You a Workaholic?

September 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I consider myself someone who is incredibly involved in my work, my life, and my additional activities which cover a multitude of areas from my book project, consulting practice, performing life, and the non-profit theatre company for which I serve as a Board member, to name just a few. My life is full, hectic, and often moving at break neck speed.

Although I thrive in the fast paced environment I have created, I’ve recently tried to come to terms with work/life balance to determine if this is even possible or realistic for someone like me who is living life to the fullest and determined to serve multiple missions.

What I have learned is that I can’t do it all – all of the time.  So I have to think of balance or down time for me as something I can consciously plug in some of the time. I have also learned the hard way that burning the proverbial midnight oil leaves me drained and unable to run on all my creative cylinders so I need to honor my body’s need for sleep and relaxation.

So to all of the workaholics out there, here are some tips I am trying to incorporate into my life on a more regular basis. It’s been a slow process for me but the awareness was my biggest first step.

  • Listen to your body. Get the amount of sleep your body needs to function well every night and don’t compromise. If you are over tired and run down you will get sick and then it will take longer for your body to recuperate in the long run. Work smarter not harder to get the amount of sleep your body deserves.
  • Set clear boundaries. If your workplace closes shop at 5pm and you are the only one who stays late something is wrong. Set boundaries and stick to them.
  • Eat real food. Eat whole foods – fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and proteins that are not processed and preservative laden. Take the time to prepare your lunch and bring it with you so you have control over your food (and don’t raid the vending machine) when things get crazy at work. Also take a break and actually eat your food slowly so you can chew and taste every bite. Studies show if you eat food quickly, you are more likely to over eat and gain weight. Back away from the computer and enjoy your well earned lunch break.
  • Make time for friends and loved ones. Be present with your family and make time for those you love. Work is important but family is as well, so be in the moment when you are with them and spend quality time enjoying your loved ones and not thinking about work.
  • Get out into nature. Take a walk outside and stretch your legs and breathe some fresh air during your work day. A short break can help you regroup, refresh, and let the stress roll off your shoulders.
  • Step away from the computer at home. Avoid the urge to check your iPhone, Blackberry or laptop at home. Unplug from work and the technology that tethers you to it every now and then so you can enjoy some peaceful time at home.
  • Evaluate your life purpose. Reflect on what you are doing that is creating imbalance in your life and really think about your personal goals. Consider your behavior and your health and ask yourself if you are really happy and fulfilled. If you answer yes, then you may be ok with your current sense of balance but if you are unhappy then you are also in control of making a change for the better.
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Would You Want Your Daughter to Work Here?

September 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

One of my favorite new resources is The Glass Hammer (www.theglasshammer.com) a wonderful online forum for relevant and provocative career development issues for women. While the age old frustration of the glass ceiling and the concept of gender equality in the workplace are still alive and well, I read an article on The Glass Hammer which really struck a chord.

Ann Weisberg from Deloitte relayed a story about a senior male partner who spoke on a panel about the issue of gender diversity. He asked his audience, “Would you want your daughters working here? If the answer is no, then you should own part of that solution.”

Along with the wise women at The Glass Hammer, it does give one pause to consider the simple question – Would you want your daughter working here? and if that might finally change the way companies treat gender diversity and equity.

I recently interviewed a woman for my blog who has spent the past 30 years working in high profile corporations. She is a C-level professional working in a male dominated world and during our interview she brought up the same issue from a personal experience that one of her male colleagues had to deal with. She shared that when senior men see the work environment through the lens of their entry level daughters it actually hits home and this may be the factor that will finally move us towards some significant changes in work culture.

If companies genuinely want to improve their efforts with gender diversity then they must treat women’s initiatives as a business imperative, according to Barbara Adachi, the National Managing Principal for Deloitte’s award-winning Women’s Initiative. Once these programs become a mainstay anchor in workplace culture and not an add-on or special HR initiative, then we will move forward and impact careers by developing talent, retaining excellence, and building communities in organizations.

Perhaps the question about whether or not you would want your daughter working in your work environment will become the new litmus test for changing work culture for the better and for good. This is a powerful paradigm shift in thinking that has the potential to make the gender issue a personal one for everyone – not just women.

 

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Sharon Gilchrest O’Neill, Psychotherapist and Author

September 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sharon Gilchrest O’Neill caught the Psychology bug early during her undergraduate studies and later earned a Masters in Organizational/Industrial Psychology. This course of study was a great foundation for her Human Resources career that began with the Exxon Mobil Corporation in Florham Park, New Jersey. She loved the work and was among the first generation of women at Exxon to work in upper level administration. Sharon was thriving in her career and her male colleagues were shocked that she was willing to work even when she became pregnant.

In the 80’s it was rare to see women executives in the workforce and some men still had the archaic mindset that women could not function at work while they were pregnant. Sharon worked intensely until right before she delivered her son. She had planned a 6 month maternity leave to spend time with her newborn but the corporate world was not at all willing to consider part-time or flex-time options so she was back at work after a 4 month leave. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reinvention Stories

Back to School

September 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The fall traditionally marks the time when students of all ages head back to school. Some begin the journey of an undergraduate education while other, non-traditional students embark on professional or graduate degrees and additional credentialing to increase to their skill sets and marketability.

Whether you are a recent high school graduate or a seasoned professional going back to school, here are some tips to make the most of your time in the classroom.

  • Get to know your professors. Not only are they interesting people, but if your class is large this is a way for them to connect your name with your face. Faculty members have vast networks and in addition to helping you grasp the particulars of their course, they can be helpful in connecting you with professionals in your chosen field. Building a genuine relationship takes time so plan to attend office hours frequently and earn the right to ask for a letter of recommendation or job reference down the road.
  • Seek out mentors. Look to upperclassmen, alumni, or advisors to help you on your academic journey. Ask questions and be a well informed student so you can take advantage of the many resources at your disposal on campus and beyond.
  • Manage your time wisely. Schedule your class time and study time and treat your new academic mission like a job. Also be sure to schedule fun time or activities to de-stress and relax since you will be better engaged and able to perform if you are well rested and in good health.
  • Stretch your mind. Take advantage of classes that will take you to new places and intellectual reaches beyond your chosen major, concentration, or degree program. Education is also for self edification so feed your mind and add to your well roundedness as a person.
  • Set goals. Some will head back to school to hone a particular skill set while others are looking for a broad based liberal arts education. Think about what you want out of your education so your time and money is well spent and focused.
  • Be multi culturally aware. We are indeed a globalized world now so make friends with people of different backgrounds and experience cultural protocols that are different from you own. This will empower you in the multi cultural career arena and give you sensitivity for others that will be helpful in the professional world.

Remember, you need not earn a full degree to ramp up your skills and experiences to become more competitive in the job hunt. Look for classes, certifications, workshops and continuing education seminars that can serve as the short term approach to honing your craft.

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Speak Up for Yourself!

September 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In the business culture of 2010 it’s still widespread for the gender roles to be strongly defined with (often supported) male aggressive behavior and female deferent behavior. Ladies, I urge you to take more control of your professional persona and speak up at work!

According to Dr. Linda Tillman, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and founder of SpeakUpForYourself.com being assertive is an honest and authentic expression of one’s feelings, opinions, and needs. It is often associated with positive self-esteem and a better self image. When you communicate assertively you express what you want in a clear manner respecting the rights and feelings of others as well as your own.

Aggressive behavior can be filled with anger, bullying, subjugation and punishing language to infer guilt or shame. This is nasty stuff and we’ve all seen it in action. I urge you all to be empowered at work and in life and embrace your inner confidence to speak up and communicate with power so you are valued and heard.

We’ve all heard the powerless and ineffective communication trap that some women fall into by letting their tone rise at the end of a sentence indicating a question when it should be a declarative statement.  Pop your inner vocal helium balloon and end your statements with conviction. I call this a sturdy dismount when ending a sentence and encourage my students and clients to envision a gymnast landing solidly into the floor after a flip on a balance beam.

Dr. Tillman also echoes my strong feelings about women who over apologize. Save the “I’m sorry” for when you’ve actually done something wrong. So many women use this as filler and a way to excuse yourself for little things that don’t need excusing. Life happens – just apologize for the big and relevant things.

So how do you become more assertive and communicate with power? Here are some tips from Dr. Tillman that we can all learn from.

  • Develop a value and belief system that allows you to assert yourself. Give yourself permission to be angry, or to say no, or to make mistakes. You are human after all.
  • Resist giving in to interruptions until you have finished what you have to say. You can assertively respond: “Just a moment, I haven’t finished.”
  • Stop self limiting behaviors such as over smiling, over nodding, tilting your head or avoiding another person’s gaze. Eye contact is powerful, use it to your advantage.
  • Listen and let people know you heard what they have said.
  • Use “I” language to be clear and constructive about your feelings:
    • When you do (behavior)…the effects are (results) and I feel (emotion).

You need to practice assertive behavior so it becomes natural and second nature to you. Enlist trusted family and friends for constructive feedback and reward yourself when you achieve a desirable result due to assertive behavior. By being assertive you will raise your professional clout at work and command the respect you deserve.

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Debra Fine – Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Best Selling Author

September 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

First an engineer and then a stay at home Mom, Debra Fine experienced a life transformation that led to a new career. After shedding 70 pounds and experiencing a painful and complicated divorce, Debra found herself a single mother with two small children and no income. With a renewed sense of self awareness after the weight loss, Debra literally began to watch and listen to people and study their conversations. A self described awkward and dorky youngster who excelled at school but not with interpersonal skills, Debra evolved into her authentic self and found her pearl within. [Read more...]

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Phone Etiquette 101

September 8, 2010 By 2 Comments

I returned a call from a prospective client who did not answer the phone and instead of a professional sounding voicemail message, I was greeting by 30 seconds of Mick Jagger singing “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” before the proverbial beep. While the lyrics of the song might actually echo the current sentiment of this frustrated job seeker, there is a time and a place for everything and this was not the best use of their professional air time.

First impressions are made instantly whether in-person or by phone. Make sure your voice mail message is clear and articulate and sounds like the consummate professional you want others to believe you are – especially if you are applying for jobs. Nothing turns off a recruiting employer more than an inarticulate message that is barely intelligible. Listen to your message to make sure you can understand yourself and spend the time on multiple recording tries if you must, to get it just right. Speak slowly and channel your inner TV News Announcer.

Likewise, when you actually answer your phone at work or your personal cell, consider how important your greeting is to the listener. If you are at your workplace be sure to announce where that is as well as your name so the caller can identify you quickly. Adding a pleasant “How can I help you?” can be an excellent touch if you are in a service profession and dealing with clients.

Just answering “hello” is not enough and puts the responsibility on the caller to do dig for information. For example – when I am at work at the law school I answer my phone: “Office of Career & Professional Development, this is Caroline – how can I help you?”  It may look like a mouth full in print but it doesn’t take that long to articulate and my callers are put at ease immediately knowing that even if they dialed the wrong number, I am there to help.

Here are some essential phone etiquette tips to help you make a positive professional impression:

  • Make sure you speak clearly as you answer the phone and identify yourself.
  • Use the caller’s name in your conversation.
  • Practice good listening skills.
  • Before placing a caller on hold, ask their permission first and thank them.
  • Always use a pleasant, congenial and friendly tone.
  • Never interrupt the person while he/she is talking to you.
  • Don’t multi task while on the phone – they can hear you typing while you check email!
  • Do not answer the phone if you are eating or chewing gum. Sounds obvious but do I have stories to tell about this!
  • When hanging up the phone, make sure the caller or person called hangs up first.
  • Smile when you answer your calls. Even though the caller can’t see it, they’ll hear the smile in your voice.
  • Use a “telephone voice” in which you control your volume and speed. Speak clearly.

Lastly, check your voice mail messages at home, at work, and on your cell to make sure that they are current and professional sounding. We live in a phone-centric world so it’s important to practice proper communication with this medium.

Filed Under: Career Wisdom
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