by Solange Lopes | May 14, 2014 | Career
Hump Day
Happy Wednesday! It’s Hump Day, mid-week, almost there, and we’re still awake….Sort of…
Wednesday is usually that point mid-week when we get our much-needed boost to keep carrying the professional torch to its last resting place (for the week-end), and pick it right back up on Monday morning.
So why is it that I just walked in here with my shirt inside out? And why do I feel like I could use just about another night of sleep?
Well, because life, with all it encompasses of kids screaming in the morning, stubborn traffic, and coffee lids improperly screwed on (and coffee properly spilling onto shirts otherwise worn inside out), just happens…And the audit report is still due by end of day today, and I did not even bring a sweater to wear over that huge coffee stain on my shirt (which thankfully I’m now wearing the right way).
Is it Wednesday?
Happy Hump Day!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 13, 2014 | Career
Three-quarter sleeve linen blazer – $79 – Nordstrom
For our lunch break, we are in summer mode with this three-quarter sleeve linen blazer from Nordstrom. Linen blazers are a summer staple for the fabric’s breathability, and the fact that it travels so well. And yes, linen is prone to wrinkling, but it’s par for the course, for an otherwise beautiful, classy and very office-friendly fabric in the summer (unless of course you manage to roll it into a ball, stuff it in a suitcase, and then decide to wear it, in which case we won’t be commenting…).
The reviews are rave for this blazer. However, one word of caution, it runs small, so you may want to pick a larger size. It’s $79 at Nordstrom, and is a steal!
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion you’d like to recommend? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com, or post a comment below!
by Solange Lopes | May 13, 2014 | Career
Happy Tuesday, corporate sisters!
Have you wondered whether being buddy buddy with the boss would actually boost or hurt your career? Most times, we may tend to think being in the boss’s good favors would actually work in our favor, putting the spotlight on our achievements, helping us find informal sources of mentoring in our manager, or placing us in prime position for promotion, in other words, helping us boost our career. While it may very well work to our advantage, being close, and in certain cases, too close to the boss, may actually backfire.
Beware of personal and professional lines becoming blurred. Friendship and career sometimes mesh well, and sometimes, well…don’t mesh at all. While engaging in a friendly, genuine relationship with the boss may have its perks, it may be helpful (and wiser) to set honest expectations and boundaries.
Prioritize your work! Whatever the situation, your work is always priority, at least at work! Keep in mind that as deep the friendship, when you step in to work, you are there to do just that…work!
Mind Perceptions!
Just as in life, perceptions also tend to override true facts at work as well. Rather than to allow the personal to affect your professional outlook, draw a smart line between your manager and your friend. Your career will thank you later…
So, buddy buddy with the boss: career asset or liability?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 12, 2014 | Career
Printed Ashton Shirtdress – $89.95 – thelimited.com[/caption]
For our lunch break, we are loving the Ashton shirt dress from The Limited. The dress is airy, light and yet still very fashionable for work, not to mention a super easy alternative for those days when you have about 5 minutes to get out the door.
I personally favor shirtdresses as staples in my work wardrobe precisely because they are so easy to throw on, and work great for both work and the week-end. Add a nice skinny belt, an easy pair of pumps, and a coordinated blazer or cardigan, and you can literally go from the boardroom to cocktail hour in a cinch!
It’s $89.95 at The Limited, and you can event get 40% off on this item, as well as on most full-priced items.
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com or post a comment below!
by Solange Lopes | May 12, 2014 | Career |
Work Gossip – huffingtonpost.com[/caption]
Happy happy Monday! Hope all of you corporate sisters out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day week-end, and that you are up and ready to face the day on this sunny Monday (at least on this side of the blogosphere)…Ok, ok, a bit too enthusiastic for a Monday morning, when many of us would rather get back under the covers and watch some gossip channel…
Well…about gossip, some good news is that it can actually help you at work. Unlike what Aunt Shayna’s advice may recommend, minding your own business at work may not exactly play to your best advantage. Actually, quite the opposite may prove to be true. Gossiping, positive gossiping that is, may actually very well turn out to be one of your main career advancement ingredients.
Spreading positive gossip about your work or department will pay back. As the famous saying goes, charity begins at home. And when it comes to gossiping, the rules are the same. Have you recently successfully completed an outstanding project? Has the department you manage been nominated for a Breakthrough Award? Or are you just working on new, exciting projects that may bring about some positive changes? Well, gossip about it. Good news and positive energy are contagious, and while they may shine some great light on you, they may also encourage others to follow suit.
Speak positively of others: if you have to spread gossip about others, let it be positive. And by the same token, let it reflect positively on you as well. Have a member of your tea who’s just been recognized for her outstanding contributions to the company? Gossip about her. Is your Director spearheading one of the most innovative projects since sliced bread? Yup, time to gossip.
Influence positive change through gossip: Not only should you use your gossiping power for your own and others’ career good, you can also encourage colleagues, managers and other stakeholders to join in the fun. Careers and career advancement are no longer what they used to be. As networking plays a huge part in what have increasingly become non-traditional career paths, we are called to non-traditional (and frankly more fun) devices, like some good ol’ (positive) gossiping.
Gossiping at work? Good for you…
