One of my favorite new resources is Ivy Sea www.ivysea.com Founder, Jamie S. Walters is a visionary author and culture shift leader helping women to reclaim their feminine Mojo and express is to the world. Jamie takes you beyond business as usual and offers individuals and organizations help in transforming unhelpful perceptions and patterns of inner and outer communication, leading to manifested vision, awakened creativity, smoother relationships, and lasting change.

I recently read an article by Jamie where she discussed how to unearth and nurture an employee’s strengths. Often the job performance reviews focus on weakness without highlighting strengths. She notes how a spotlight on weakness may result in a self fulfilling prophecy, where you build a poor image of an employee and she performs “down to her potential” which breeds mediocrity from someone with star potential.

Jamie and I are kindred spirits on the strengths quest mission. I am committed to helping individuals understand that they are not broken and if they focus on their strengths instead of their weaknesses they will thrive in careers that speak to their passions and provide true satisfaction.

Here are some action steps Jamie details that apply to both the boss and the employee. If you are an enlightened boss you will use these strategies to uncover the strengths of your team members. If you are a frustrated employee, you can deftly suggest these tactics to your boss.

Make time for positive recognition. Take the time to express genuine positive feedback on jobs well done. Be specific and share examples and watch your colleagues walk taller and embrace their inner confidence. According to Jamie, the benefit is two-fold: the employee knows what behaviors are most valued, and you help shift your thinking from “can’t do” to “there is potential here.”

Identify ways to apply existing strengths in new ways. What qualities has your staff member demonstrated and how can you utilize these to fulfill needs in your organization? Don’t be limited by the job title. Your receptionist may be an ideal project manager, so throw traditional responsibility norms out the window, according to Jamie.

Ask your employee what she likes to do. Imagine that – someone asking what you like to do! To avoid the all too common phenomenon of the Peter Principle where every employee rises to his level of incompetence, tap into what your staff member really likes to do. Find out what she believes is her most valuable contribution to the organization and unleash her to do what she believes she does best.

Turn a weakness on its head. Jamie suggests that instead of chastising an employee for her weakness, look to the exact opposite of that task to unearth a possible strength. It’s certainly worth discussing with your colleague and chances are if she is not a good closer, it may be because she is a fine idea generator.

Test-drive a new role. You may have hired an employee for a specific role but in time you realize that she would be utilizing more of her strengths in a difference function for the organization. Consider what Jamie calls a mini internship program, where employees shadow co-workers to learn more about the roles and needs of the company. This test drive could spark new ideas for the boss and the employee and a role-shift could be the best and most expedient way to use existing talent in a new way to meet company goals and develop satisfied employees.

Cheers to Jamie for illustrating very specific ways to uncover our strengths at work!

I recently taught a work/life balance seminar called I Will Survive! and opened the workshop by admitting to my audience that I was a work-a-holic. I found myself in the same boat as my participants with a hectic work day followed by endless evening activities leaving precious little time for family and fun activities.

When I accepted this seminar gig a few months ago the topic was pre selected for me and I knew this was uncharted territory in my repertoire.  So I began my quest to learn about this elusive concept of work/life balance to see if I could indeed practice what I was about to preach. I am happy to report that it’s not impossible to achieve balance if you are willing to be flexible and let some things go.

I  learned some valuable lessons that I shared giddily with my workshop group and now my goal is to put these into practice more regularly myself.

• Get time on your side. Don’t over plan and be realistic. It’s rare that 50% of any to-do list gets accomplished in a day. Be willing to admit that life happens and that things beyond your control can throw off your schedule.
• Prioritize ruthlessly. Determine what is important and what can wait. Treating everything as a top priority is draining and depleting. Don’t give in to the instant and immediate answer syndrome – buy your time wisely.
• Learn to say no. Saying no to one thing can open up the door to something else. Don’t feel the need to over explain – just practice saying no, thank you.
• Pace yourself. Channel your inner runner and think in terms of a marathon not a sprint. Pacing maximizes effectiveness.
• Organize. Eliminate clutter and chaos and receive the gift of 240-288 hours per year.
• Use technology to make the most of your time. Set boundaries for your personal and professional time. Turn off your cell phone at home.
• Know it won’t always be perfect. Time management isn’t an exact science. Don’t stress out, do what you can and enjoy the time you spend more pleasantly or productively. Be grateful for what goes well and learn from your mistakes.
• Be mindful of your health and wellness. Don’t let your health suffer from stress. Take time to be quiet, meditate, or take a short break. Eat well; avoid fast food and plan for busy times. Exercise; make it a part of your routine and schedule it into your day. Get regular check-ups from your physician. Be sure to get enough sleep – this is your best healing opportunity.
• Play to your strengths. Delegate projects to empower others and stick to doing what you do well.

It takes a conscious effort to leave work at work. Fight the guilt because you have the power to do so. Nurture yourself and take advantage of your options. Make choices that favor you and create the balance YOU want!

I know this isn’t feasible all of the time but I am making a conscious effort to move forward with baby steps. The number one lesson I learned is that balance does not happen all the time. We can’t have it all – all of the time, but we can create an equilibrium that is workable by being willing to change and stay flexible. It takes some mental furniture re-arranging and it won’t happen overnight, but consider creating the balance you want to live by prioritizing what you value. And remember, you should be at the top of your own list!

Alicia Sable Hunt, known to all as Sable, grew up in the Hamptons in the 1980’s during the height of materialism, big money, and a recreational drug culture that was rampant in this affluent east coast community. She benefitted from the very strong grounding of a religious household and ended up in nursing school, an anomaly in her group of friends, most of whom pursued high profile and high paying corporate careers. Sable attributes her passion for helping people to her mother who instilled strong values in her at a young age.

A Nurse in the Kitchen

Always comfortable in her own skin when working with patients, Sable experienced a variety of settings in the medical field from bedside nursing to intensive care, and outpatient clinics. But, she developed a love for oncology care working with cancer patients. With 15+ years under her belt as an oncology nurse, Sable understood the immense struggle of those fighting cancer and the nutritional challenges they uniquely face. Proper nutrition is paramount during cancer treatment but many patients suffer from loss of appetite and taste preventing them from receiving the nourishment they need. Sable feels strongly that patients should be able to thrive while continuing with their daily lives during cancer treatment and recovery. Championing the cause in 2006, she stepped into her kitchen and began baking up a solution, and Sable’s Foods was born. Read Full Story

Jane Austen, the English novelist who wrote romantic fiction was known for her biting social commentary in the 1800s. I believe she would have been an avid blogger if she was alive today and I imagine she would have thousands of connections in her LinkedIn profile. As much as I adore Jane Austen’s work, whenever I re-read her novels or watch a movie or BBC mini-series of her work, it makes me appreciate the modern times in which I live.

Jane’s plots, although often comic, highlight the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security. She was a rare bird to be a female published author in her day. Thankfully, times have changed and modern women can make their way in the world with or without a significant other in their lives. We have choices and have been empowered to lead authentic lives and forge careers that are meaningful to us as individuals.

Jane Austen would have been inspired by Tracy Robbins, the highest ranking woman and Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources for Intercontinental Hotels Group, PLC. Tracy shared 4 tips for success in a recent interview that we can all learn from.

1. Stretch Yourself – take on projects that have potential to make a big impact on your career and your life. Make those accomplishments visible and find authentic, effective ways to promote your achievements.
2. Be Yourself – be genuine in your life and career choices. Don’t fake-it to fit in or get ahead on the job. Honoring your values and passions will reap greater rewards in the long run.
3. Have Fun – laughter breaks down boundaries. Add some levity to each day and don’t take yourself too seriously. Develop your sense of humor and enjoy a good hearty laugh – it’s good for your health.
4. Develop Your Team – be relentless, caring, and tenacious about developing your team. Surround yourself with great people who do what you can’t and support them and encourage them to achieve success together.

I dare say that Tracy’s words of wisdom would be applauded by Jane Austen!

I had the great pleasure of attending a webinar by Carolyn Wiethoff, professor at the IU Kelley School of Business and an expert on organizational behavior. She gave some startling statistics about how women still earn between 60-80% of what men are earning in the same positions across different career fields. Her research attributes this to the good old boys club, male dominated work cultures, and overt discrimination, which are not new issues for 2010. What surprised me was her report that some women are also lacking breadth in their work projects such as opportunities to work on international assignments and complex cases because some bosses feel they might not be able to handle it due to family constraints.

While research supports that women do prefer positions with flexibility, it’s also important for women to ask for what they want in a work environment. Men are 58% more likely to ask for a higher starting salary when an offer is made while most women just take the job, as is.  Women who do reach the pinnacle of C-level or executive positions are often considered oddities referred to as the female doctor, or female CEO. I’ve never heard a single reference about a male CEO. I find it unsettling that in 2010 women have not advanced significantly in the equality arena and are still openly discriminated against in the workforce similar to conditions decades ago.

But, my take-away optimistic hope from Wiethoff is that from here on out we need to redefine equality. Women should be encouraged to seek out male mentors and role models (in addition to women!) to integrate in the male dominated work environments. When men and women both take advantage of flex time, maternity/paternity and family leave, we will move closer to this not being something that only women have to do in order to take care of their families. I look forward to the day when telecommuting and utilizing technology to accomplish the job virtually are acceptable options for all and not special dispensations for a limited few.

Lastly, Wiethoff shared that the generation of young women entering the workforce now are more focused than their predecessors on work/life balance and choose careers that empower them to raise families and lead quality lives out of the office. Once again it all comes down to values and what you prioritize and cheers to these women for knowing what they want. All women and especially those who consciously choose the path of the C-level executive because it fits their values and provides gratification, should ask for more money and you will probably get it! The book It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor by Rebecca Shambaugh is worth checking out.

I have learned that there is nothing stronger than the power of women in community and that women can be inspirational resources in the professional arena. But I also know the reality of being a woman in the professional world and how we often struggle with owning a strong, confident persona while maintaining our authenticity and honoring our femininity at work.

Learning to play nicely in the proverbial work sandbox does not have to be that difficult. Here are some strategies that will help you become a good team player but still empower you to stand out and make your mark on the job to earn the recognition you deserve.

• Preparation = credibility. It’s that simple, be prepared and you will earn the respect of your colleagues and impress the powers that be.
• Pick your battles. There will be difficult situations but don’t fall on your sword for every cause. Be mindful of your values and what is really important to you as well as what will empower you to move up in the organization to achieve your goals.
• Own your confidence. In order to succeed you must believe in yourself and your abilities. By tapping into your humble confidence you can project an image of self-reliance, poise, and assurance that will give your team faith that you can get the job done.
• Be aware of your surroundings but focus on you. On a team you must be cooperative but at the end of the day, you have to be your own best advocate and be ready to take charge of your career future. Don’t wait for a boss or supervisor to groom you for greater things; be proactive and strategize about ways to upgrade your standing in the organization.
• Don’t Gossip. The old adage: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” still rings true. Avoid hallway gossip and treat your colleagues with courtesy and respect. What goes around comes around and you should expect the same professional treatment from others.
• Be aware of yourself and your values. It always comes back to who you are, what you value, and how you want to show up in the world. Take stock of how you want to make your mark and align your personal and professional values so they are validated for you at work.

Early on in her career Ellen Covner, like many other professional women, noticed that working with men could be a very mixed experience. She also learned that group and workplace dynamics often had a style and language all their own that did not promote cooperation, creativity and “drive.” She came to realize that as important as it was to be self-supporting and have a good income, money was not a sufficient motivator to stay in a “good job.” After 20+ years practicing health law in major hospitals and law firms, she was ready for new challenges. She wanted a change that would renew her creativity and joy in her work. The call of the outdoors beckoned and enticed her to focus on promoting environments that nourish people and their properties. Read Full Story

Kari DiFabio had tears of joy in her eyes when she earned her Elementary Education degree and couldn’t wait to get started on her career as a teacher.  After teaching multiple grades in Arizona and Nevada she had a revelation that launched her personal career change. “Sitting in the teacher’s lounge one day, my life flashed before my eyes and I saw myself 20 years down the road, unhappy and bitter if I stayed in this career.”  Following her intuition, Kari quit teaching, moved to California and lived with her grandmother while she figured out what to do next. Read Full Story

I had a wonderful opportunity to present to a group of women earning their MBA and law degrees recently at a day long professional development workshop. As the guest speakers discussed a variety of topics from leadership and personal brand to professionalism, one theme was consistent throughout – be true to yourself.

Authenticity is the ability to be genuine and sincere with your intentions. All too often we make career decisions based on what others want us to do, or what we think they want us to do. Many of my clients and students have shared that they pursued practical professions because their families encouraged them to do so. While I believe families and support systems are important, ultimately the decision about career pursuits should be yours alone.

As the self assessment process reveals, getting in touch with your values, interests, personality, and skills can help you discover career opportunities that truly match your authentic self. The realities of this job economy often force us to take stop-gap jobs in order to make ends meet but never lose focus of your career dreams and continue to work towards those goals.

Think about how you want to show up in the world and how you want the world to see you. Most often, our personal and professional values alignment are close. Have the courage to be true to yourself and trust your gut.

The philosophical movement of existentialism has studied authenticity for centuries and helps us understand more about what authenticity is, along with its relationship to the concept of meaning. Existentialists assert that if an individual is not living authentically in their lives, then they lose meaning and can fall into chronic anxiety, boredom and despair. We spend a large portion of our waking hours on the job so you deserve to be happy in your career.

Muster the courage to make authentic career choices that are meaningful to you. If you can align your values, talents, and vision you can unleash a powerful Trifecta that will lead you towards career satisfaction.

As a self proclaimed, fiercely independent, ambitious, and very satisfied IBM executive, Lara Galloway experienced a values shift that led to a new career. Living the life of a successful, double income, no-kids couple, Lara never envisioned herself with children. She had all the accoutrements of a corporate position plus the freedom to travel and lead a jet set existence – then life changed. She began to consider what she wanted her life to look like at age 50, 60 and beyond.  It was then that she and her husband made the choice to have kids and she says “…it was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Read Full Story