by Solange Lopes | Jun 7, 2017 | Career
You know the feeling…You’re at your desk, staring at the same screen for over an hour, desperately trying to jumble a coherent string of words together. You’re browsing social media, looking at all the people with these amazing careers who are changing the world. You’re listening to the umpteenth podcast of why you should make an impact in your work, and yet, you’re still stuck trying to put together the first sentence of that memo for the department meeting in an hour…
Is it you, the economy, or has summer robbed you of whatever fragile motivation you had left? After all, you have a job, right? And you should be thankful for it, right? Yet, you can’t help but feel this unsettling thing in the pit of your stomach, that you’re not quite where you should be.
If that’s you and you’re wondering where your career really stands, here are 7 signs you’ve hit a professional slump:
You’ve been having the same roles and responsibilities for years.
Yes, certain jobs and functions are pretty static. However, if you haven’t noticed the slightest change in your job duties, or worse, your responsibilities have actually declined, it’s time to consider the big career “S” (as in “career slump”).
What to do: Ask your manager why your roles and responsibilities have remained flat (or even declined) over time. Review your past performance reviews for indicators of areas of improvement, and be willing to have an honest conversation with your boss (and yourself).
You’ve hopped from job to job with the same title and responsibilities.
If your resume is starting to look like an obstacle course with many different employers and pretty much the same job responsibilities, you may be in the slump. Take a look at your work history over the past 3 to 5 years, and if your salary hasn’t improved and your job duties have remained the same, time to consider getting out of this career rut.
What to do: Take some time to go over your work history, and ask yourself what has prompted these career changes. Identify your weaknesses and areas of improvement, and start working on them right where you are. If feasible, share your concerns with your current manager and devise a plan to get to the next level. You may also want to consider if you’re in the right career (use this app to identify your career match).
Employees who came in after you were promoted faster than you.
This one is going to sting, but you’ve got to keep it real. If John was hired a few months after you, and got the promotion you were expecting, it may be a stroke of luck (or interesting office politics) for him. But if a few people hired after you nabbed their promotions and you’re still waiting in line for a professional miracle, it may be time to stop and think.
What to do: Bring it up with your manager during a performance review or even a routine 1-on-1. This is not a matter of comparing yourself with other employees but rather of assessing where you stand in your group or department. Have the courage to ask what’s making you lag behind and what you can do to improve.
You’re not learning anything.
If the last thing you learnt about your field or industry was over a year ago, it’s time to take a breather. A thriving career is one in which you’re constantly learning, evolving and growing. If you’re not exposed to any new material, responsibility or topic, then you’re lagging behind.
What to do: Make a quick inventory of any new skills or information you may have acquired in the past year. If the list is nowhere close to being satisfying, first ask yourself if you’re not putting enough effort to learn. Then have a conversation with your management to identify areas in which you can learn and acquire new skills over the next year.
Communication is coming to a standstill.
If your managers and co-workers are limiting their communication with you, it’s time to ask yourself some serious questions. Are topics and ideas being discussed around you that you have no clue about? Does it seem like important talks happen behind closed doors and you’re not part of it? That gut feeling is right, you’ve hit a serious slump’
What to do:It’s important to address miscommunications or lags in communication as soon as they start occurring. Ask your team and managers why you’re not included in key conversations. Even if you’re not getting honest answers, assess the situation and evaluate whether it’s worthwhile for you to stick it out, and what you can do improve it.
Do you recognize these signs? What would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 2, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
Cheers,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 31, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
I’ve been talking to a lot of my girlfriends lately, from all parts of the world, about our careers. The resounding echo I get from these conversations is pretty much the same. For many, if not most of us, we’re looking for more meaning in our work.
It’s not quite the grandiose mid-life crisis, filled with crazy shoe-shopping extravaganzas, trips to exotic locales or fantasies about the perfect man (ok I said fantasies). Neither is it the effervescent fever of the quarter-life, filled with question marks and existential queries of all kinds.
This crisis right here has us question the very meaning of our work. It has us asking ourselves questions like: “What’s my purpose?” “What’s my passion?” “”Heck, do I have a passion?” What am I here to do?”
In between shuttling the kids to and from school and activities, making last minute meal plans, trying to pray the laundry away, we stop and ask ourselves if we’re really fulfilling our purpose. Heck, do we even have a purpose, other than care for everyone else around, go above and beyond at work, home and everywhere in between?
As messages of female empowerment have never been more in our face than ever, it seems to be increasingly difficult to keep our power. We’re called on to slay as we climb the corporate ladder, build businesses, maintain successful relationships and friendships, and still find enough time to exercise, exfoliate and try the latest natural hair product out! Really?
What no one really talks about, at least not loud enough, is the fact that in the midst of what may be the biggest achievement century for women, we’re simply…exhausted! And a bit lost… Even more so as we don’t really have a chance to publicly admit it…
While we’re all about gender equality, female entrepreneurship and everything badass, fierce and slaying for women, many of us are lost. Yes, we’re slaying at work, at home and in business. We’ve got jobs (in the words of RHOA’s Phaedra Parks), kids, side hustles, meal plans, exercise routines, down to scheduled intimacy…
We’ve never been busier, but are we fulfilled? We’ve never been more positive, but are we intentional? We’ve never worn so many hats, but are we productive?
Maybe in this great rush to have it all, do it all and then some, maybe we’re skipping a few steps…That may be why after all the empowerment, the glass ceiling smashing, business dominating and all the slaying we can possibly muster, we’re still left wondering about what work really means to us….And how we can really, truly, achieve meaning through it? Not the meaning the world is looking for, but our own kind of unique, peculiar, flexible meaning….
Just scroll through the timelines of most of your girlfriends, mine included. Most likely, you’ll see gleaming pics of happy vacations, perfect family moments and extreme productivity. With the perfect Insta-worthy background too…
What you won’t see are the doubts, the moments in your car when all you want to do is scream because baby daughter got another late ticket at school, you forgot your left earring and you’d give up dessert forever to get a job you really love.
But you know, you’re an adult now, you’ve got to toughen it out and put on your brave face…So you dry your tears, post another positive affirmation on Instagram, and leave the daunting task of finding deeper meaning for your work to tomorrow….
After all it ain’t a crisis if no one knows about it, right?
Let me ask you this: do you agree that many women are trying to find deeper meaning in their work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis
by Solange Lopes | May 30, 2017 | Career
Summer is right around the corner. While most of us may be thinking days at the beach and picnics outdoors, the rest of us may be doing the Monday to Friday work “thang”. Which also means finding practical, easy and stylish ways to dress for the office or the business when temperatures are rising…
But…What’s a Capsule Wardobe Anyways?
If you’re wondering what a capsule wardrobe is, it’s simply a collection consisting of a few pieces of clothing (and some stylish) shoes that you can mix, match and merchandise to create multiple outfits.
I love the concept of a capsule wardrobe for any season, especially for work. It’s one of the smartest and most efficient ways to manage your wardrobe while being on point with your fashion. And did I mention saving oodles of money by not shopping impulsively but instead relying on a few statement pieces and essentials to build a solid, no-fail, “look-at-me” wardrobe? Plus the opportunity to purge that overflowing closet of yours, and finally give away those 1980’s neon pumps you know you ain’t wearing anytime soon…
How do I create my capsule wardrobe for work?
When it comes to creating your perfect capsule wardrobe for work, it’s all about your personal style, your own sense of comfort, and your office’s dress code. Is your office more business casual, or is it on the super conservative side? Are you more into being comfortable and able to move all day long? Or is your personal style more feminine and romantic? Whatever your answers to these questions are, they will help you identify pieces of clothing that fit you best. For more inspiration, you can use Pinterest boards, magazine clippings, or style blogs for your favorite looks.
What essentials should I have in my Summer Capsule Wardrobe for Work?
Dressing for work in the summer can be tricky. It’s hot outside, and due to some odd pact between the forces of air conditioning and inside offices, the A/C is on blast inside. Which has prompted me over the years to create my own mix of style and practicality for my summer work wardrobe.
For this summer workwear capsule wardrobe, I’m leaning towards colors with neutral accents here and there. Because I’m generally into bright and cheery colors… I’m also all for lightweight blazers and cardigans to ward off the curse of the office A/C, and accessories that let your personality shine.
I’ve deconstructed this capsule into groups of similar workwear items:
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 1: The Dresses
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Dresses
- Adrianna Papell Stretch Sheath Dress – $98
- Julia Jordan Fit & Flare Dress – $138
- Sophia Shirtdress – $120
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 2: The Tops
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Tops
4. Ravello Top – $80
5.Tie-wrap poplin shirt – $65
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 3: The Skirts
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Skirts
6.Solid Cutout Skirt – $39.99
7. Alyndra Printed Skirt – $128
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 4: The Lightweight Jackets
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Lightweight Jackets
8.Amber Jacket – $190
9.Striped Blazer – $39.99
10.Alana Cardigan – $95
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 5: The Trousers
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Trousers
11. Turquoise Ankle Grazer Trousers – $37
12. Crepe Tapered Leg Trousers – $45
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 6: The Shoes
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Shoes
13. Tory Burch Elizabeth Sandals – $183.99
14. Stuart Weitzmann Chicpearl – $398
15. Cole Hann Taly Grand Bow Wedges – $132.99
16. Michael Kors MK Flex Mid-Pump – $89.99
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 6: The Shoes
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Bags
17. Daniels Drive Abigail Shoulder Bag – $398
18. Cedar Street Medium Harmony – $298
Summer Workwear Capsule Essentials 7: The Accessories
Summer Workwear Capsule_ The Accessories-2
19. Dita Bib – $68
20. Slim bow drops – $32.00
Now the entire Summer Workwear Capsule Wardrobe:
Summer workwear capsule
- Adrianna Papell Stretch Sheath Dress – $98
- Julia Jordan Fit & Flare Dress – $138
- Sophia Shirtdress – $120
- Ravello Top – $80
- Tie-wrap poplin shirt – $65
- Solid Cutout Skirt – $39.99
- Alyndra Printed Skirt – $128
- Amber Jacket – $190
- Striped Blazer – $39.99
- Alana Cardigan – $95
- Turquoise Ankle Grazer Trousers – $37
- Crepe Tapered Leg Trousers – $45
- Tory Burch Elizabeth Sandals – $183.99
- Stuart Weitzmann Chicpearl – $398
- Cole Hann Taly Grand Bow Wedges – $132.99
- Michael Kors MK Flex Mid-Pump – $89.99
- Daniels Drive Abigail Shoulder Bag – $398
- Cedar Street Medium Harmony – $298
- Dita Bib – $68
- Slim bow drops – $32.00
What would you add this summer workwear capsule?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 29, 2017 | Career
“I love Mondays!” say very few people. I mean, you just have to look at the onslaught of #mondaymotivation tweets and social media posts around you on Mondays to realize it ain’t winning the Oscar for Favorite Day of the Week. Just sayin’…
After years of waging a very public vendetta against Mondays, I finally started to make peace with it when I started building my own business, side-hustling and freelancing. The simple reason for this sudden pro-Monday niceness on my part is that I realized that there are only so many hours in the day. When your time is literally your most precious commodity, and you have to distribute it between kids, hubby, family and laundry (did I say laundry), then you know you can’t afford to waste a Monday…
So after years of Monday-hate conditioning and celebrating the start of a new week with excessive caffeine, sugar and facial frowns, it was about time to find a way to beat the Monday blues at its own game. Although I’m an avid reader of motivational quotes and other inspiring Monday shenanginans, I had to come up with my own creative strategies to get my Mondays work for me:
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Trick Your Mind to Plan Ahead
You’ve heard it before. Plan, plan, plan, and plan some more…But really, who wants to add planning on top of everything else there is to do? Yes, we know we need to plan, but we’re still praying for some magical trick of the Universe for the house to be magically clean, the laundry washed, folded and put away, and that work report finally completed…
So instead of beating yourself up because you haven’t planned for the time to plan this week, you can trick your mind to get into a “planning” mind. Instead of writing unending to-do lists, think about what you want to accomplish in the course of the week. Now plan according to your goals. I find this a great way to align your goals with you plan for the week, while encouraging you to accomplish your objectives
Recommended Tools:
- Mindmeister: this tool is great to create mind maps to outline your ideas and objectives.
- Evernote: I like to call this app my “second brain”. You can store your ideas and to-dos in individual notes and notebooks that you can retrieve at any time
- Todoist: This app lets you set up simple checklists with due dates and task rankings. It also integrates with Google Calendar and Evernote.
- Moleskin 18-month Planner: This 18-month planner lets you put your brain on paper beautifully.
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Start with the fun stuff (and the stuff you’re good at).
Contrary to popular opinion, there’s something about enjoying what you do. As in, not forcing yourself to start with the very tasks that make you dread getting up on Monday mornings in the first place.
One of the simplest, and most overlooked secrets of productivity, is to have fun. What are the tasks that excite you the most? What are the goals that you’re most enthusiastic about? What are the tasks that utilize your strengths and shine the spotlight on your talents? These will give you the boost you need to tackle the less…fun stuff.
As a blogger, Monday is my content writing day, simply because it’s what I enjoy the most and where my strength is. Creating and writing content inspires and gives me a boost, so I can move on to the nitty-gritty of administrative and technical tasks with more motivation and even a pep in my keystroke. I literally save the best for, wel…first!
Recommended tools:
- Good&Co app: This app lets you determine through a series of quizzes what your strengths are, and what your fit is in terms of career and company
- Spotify: Add some fun to your workday with your own selection of music to help you enjoy your work by creating playsuits that suit your schedule and mood.
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Mind your health
One of the most unsuspected reasons why Mondays are such a drag is that we’re not as healthy as we could be. I mean, if you’ve spent the week-end enjoying your fave snacks and have officially broken up with the gym, chances are your Mondays will be quite rough.
Make your Mondays more productive by keeping up with your health. Whether it’s an earliy morning job, a mid-day walk, or a week-end fitness regimen, being healthier also means being more productive, especially on Mondays…
Recommended tools:
- Sworkit: This app is perfect if you want to get healthy on the go and find an exercise routine that fits your lifestyle. You can easily fit it in on a hurried Monday morning too.
- 5dollarmeal.com: Get healthier by strategizing when it comes to what you eat. This meal planning site helps you create healthy meal plans.
- The VitaminShoppe: Put your health first with the right vitamins to keep up your well-being and productivity
- Headspace: Take care of your mental health by using this app. It helps you learn to mediate and guides you through the entire process.
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Have something to look forward to
The best part of acing your Monday is rewarding yourself after it. You’ll be more motivated to win on Mondays if you know there’s something to look forward to. I usually set a reward for myself on a weekly basis, whether it’s mani/pedi, free time to read, or a new book…
Start your week with a reward in mind, and tackle your goals with gusto, on Monday!
Recommended Tools:
- Tip Yourself: Reward yourself by saving money. You tip everyone else, so why not tip yourself when you reach your goals?
- Ebates: Reward yourself with shopping that puts cash back in your pocket (you can try Ibotta too)
Now your turn: How do you turn your Monday into the most productive day of the week?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
