by Solange Lopes | Apr 29, 2016 | Career
Weekly News Roundup
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news update, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
Think of it as your career gossiping section on steroids…
And while you’re at it, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,IG, and Pinterest!
Here we go…
- Taking risks in your career is always a bit scary, right? Ellevate’s founder and Wall Street veteran Sallie Krawcheck tells you how she takes career risks (and we all may want to take notes);
- Wondering what skills to add to your resume? The Muse lists 12 that will make your resume much stronger;
- In celebrity career news this week, the Kelly Ripa-Michael Strahan saga continues, as we realize being blindsided at work happens to the best of us. Levo League shares 3 ways to deal. And as for me, here are my $0.5 about the whole thing;
- Yesterday was Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day in the US! And for those of you wondering how to co-exist with little ones at work, U.S. News suggests these 6 productive ways;
- We hear a lot about hiring more women in corporations. But do we really know what women want when looking for a job? This great piece from Ellevate gives you a solid idea;
- Next time you swap your eyeshadow for your lipstick as you’re rushing out the door to make it to your 9am meeting, consider one of these 7 ways of turning your morning mess into morning success (and watch the eyeshadow too);
- Going for a raise? Some of the savviest members of Ellevate Network give you a piece of their mind on what may just be one of the most important conversations of your career;
- Next time you’re ready to order in at work, consider these 5 reasons why working late is bull… (and pack up and go do something fun instead);
- And unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve heard of, seen, or read about (not necessarily in that order) Beyonce’s new Lemonade album. In the midst of all the talks and rumors, CNN decodes it for us.
- Did you know there’s an art to maintaining an organized closet? WhoWhatWear tells you how successful women do it;
- To finish on a fashionista note, how about sporting that fringe trend at work? Here’s my edgy but cool corporate catwalk pick for this week.
Happy Friday everyone!
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 28, 2016 | Career
So we all know unfortunate things happen at work…Things like the Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan drama, or down in the non-celebrity world, like when your boss pulls an icky assignment on you, or your colleague steals your thunder in the team meeting…
After all, we spend over 8 hours at work, surrounded by people we may or may not have anything in common with, doing work that may or may not (slightly) get on our last nerve…Not to mention having to keep it all politically correct and PG-50 (I made that one up) most of the time…
Yet in the midst of all the work dynamics and drama, is it ok to vent at work…about work? Is it fine to tell your co-worker you’re not a fan of the new manager, or or that your colleague just went behind your back? Is venting at work about work ever ok?
My $0.05: Ok, venting is human. And so is venting at work. Realistically, not venting at all in the workplace is close to impossible. Besides, there may be some good things to vent about, including anything that may lead to increased efficiency and productivity.
In general, unless you’re venting to a trusted friend, avoid speaking about anything that would make you feel uncomfortable if repeated. Use your best judgment: if it can hurt your career, it’s not worth venting about!
What do you think? Is it ok to vent at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 28, 2016 | Career
Corporate Catwalk: Fringe cardigan – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
of the “keep-it-cool-and-classic” school of fashion, I’m still open to experimenting with funky trends every now and then…
And fringes have been titillating my (sensitive) fashion buds this season…Except rolling in to the high-exec meeting looking like a rock star right before a concert ? Not exactly recommended…Hence today’s trendy but classic pick, this fringe knit cardigan from Lord & Taylor.
Loving the fringe accents on this otherwise traditional piece, lending it a cool, yet toned-down vibe. I’d pair this with a classic pencil skirt like this polished Anne Klein piece , or easy slacks like these Halogen slacks for a busy day at the office.
Yay or Nay?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 28, 2016 | Career
4 things Kelly Ripa taught us about being blindsided at work – Photo credit: online.com
Picture yourself in the “Live! with Kelly and Michael” star Kelly Ripa’s shoes, whose co-host Michael Strahan abruptly announced he’s leaving the show to join the cast of Good Morning America” full-time. Just imagine it’d be you…
Here you are, doing your best work, successfully collaborating with and counting on your team members to bring their A-game too. And you walk into work one day, open your email, only to read the bombshell announcement that one of your best collaborators of over four years is leaving you high and dry for another team…Talk about a serious case of being blindsided…We’re gonna need another cup of coffee, please…
As happened to Kelly Ripa, being blindsided at work can happen to the best of us. It may not end up on all national tabloids like the “Live!” star, but it certainly does happen…While this week, we had the opportunity to watch it on live TV, it can also hit close to home in our own careers.
In which case, here are a few lessons to learn from Kelly Ripa:
- It’s NOT your fault! One of the first things we tend to do, especially as women at work, is to take the blame for unfortunate things or events happening. Did I do something? Is it my fault? Could I have done something differently? While it’s always good to assess the situation, taking the blame, especially when it’s not yours, only serves to create further damage. Understand some decisions come from higher-ups, and you cannot control the politics or dynamics that very often go into decisions made company-wide. So breathe and repeat to yourself: “It’s Not My Fault!”
- You have a right to be angry, but you must step back first! Ripa was widely criticized for taking a week-long break after the incident. Her stepping back was called everything from a “diva act” to “childlike behavior“by the media. But seriously, when was the last time you were blindsided like that, at work, and went about your business like nothing ever happened? And even if you mustered all the self-control you ever learnt in yoga class, tell me you didn’t have to hide somewhere in the bathroom and catch your breath for a hot second? If you have a pulse, you’ll experience anger when things of this nature happen. Even the experts agree the solution is not to repress your anger (and have it flare at the next team meeting over something insignificant), but to manage it in a professional and effective way. And that’s where I praise Kelly Ripa for giving us a wonderful example…Take a step back, give yourself a break and some time to reassess the situation. Whether it’s calling in sick for a much-needed mental day, or going for a drive, or just walking across the parking lot, take a break! That’ll allow you to return calm, composed, and address any lingering drama with professionalism and class just like Ms. Ripa did, when she said this: “The love, the show of support through this bizarre time has been really overwhelming. I really, I needed a couple of days to gather my thoughts — after 26 years with this company, I earned the right. And let’s be honest, I know half of you called in sick to be here, so we get each other. In that time I gained some perspective. I always speak from the heart. I didn’t want to come out here and just say something I might regret. So what transpired over the course of a few days has been extraordinary in the sense that it started a much greater conversation about communication and consideration, and most importantly, respect in the workplace.”
- Express how you feel…but keep it professional! Managing your anger is not hiding how you truly feel. Depending on the environment you work in, consider talking to your team and bosses about what happened. Be diplomatic and professional in your approach, but explain to them in no uncertain terms that you weren’t prepared for what transpired, and how it affected your work as well as your own personal balance. Be sure to present the situation in professional terms, and to discuss the consequences in terms of work and productivity first. You don’t want to seem like you’re coming off from an entirely personal angle. Yet you do want to put the cards on the table as honestly as you can.
- Set expectations…and follow up on them! This is part of asking for what you need. Once you explain that incidents of this nature are highly disruptive to yours and the balance of the team and department, set clear expectations as much as you possibly can. While it’s understandable that some last-minute decisions may be taken from the top, ask to be included in critical talks that would affect you and your team. Go even further by taking the initiative to schedule regular check-ins with management to be kept informed of any upcoming changes.
Now your turn! How would you react if you were blindsided at work like Kelly Ripa?
To your success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 27, 2016 | Career
Coffee break: Are you scared of asking questions at work
You start fidgeting in your seat, take another sip of your coffee, as you try and work up the courage to raise your voice. Ok now, ok maybe not, after that part, or after this one… And before you know it, Anna with the loud laugh, managed to…ask the same question right before the meeting ends.
As you ponder whether you should walk over to her and ask for your question back, or if extra chocolate is warranted in this case, the real question is: Are you scared to ask questions at work? Are you unsure about yourself and doubting your questions are valuable? Or are you just afraid of looking stupid?
My $0.05: There are no stupid questions. As basic as it may sound, I’ve found this to be true at many levels. You don’t know what you don’t know, and in order to do your best work, you must have accurate information.
Besides, asking questions shows you have an inquisitive mind. The brightest leaders ask some of the most pertinent questions of their teams and organizations to extract the information they need to make impactful decisions.
Ask questions that you truly need the answer for, or think could be beneficial to others. Steer clear from “smartie pants” questions just aimed at making you look good ( I’ve had a few of those backfire at me).
The question you may be afraid of asking may be the one on most people’s minds…
Are you or have you, at some point, been too scared to ask questions at work? What have you done about it?
To your success,
The Corporate Sis.
