Pulling floral prints at work is far from being easy. Yet this bright floral print dress from ASOS is both fun and work-appropriate at the same time. Love the classic cut of the dress, which is nicely balanced by the bright print and slim fit. This dress is $77.64 on ASOS.
Other floral print alternatives include this Alice & You midi dress, as well as this midi pencil version with a knot detail.
So what do you say? Yay or Nay?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
We’ve all been there, at some point or another, in our careers…That point when you’re not too sure where your career’s going…When you doubt yourself and your professional abilities. to the point of considering dropping everything and backpacking through the Himalayas (except you haven’t owned a backpack since 8th grade and the kids are sure as hell not coming for the ride walk)…That point when you just need to raise your head up, lift those shoulders, and reclaim your power at work…
When I was in between jobs, changing industries and not exactly trusting in myself, I remember telling myself over and over: “You got this, you can do this, you need to get your power back!” And thats also what I talk about in the “TCS Guide to Taking Back Control of Your Career“, my e-book on reclaiming your power at work
Whether it’s after a layoff, or struggling through a particularly challenging project at work, or facing annoying issues at work, feeling powerless at work isn’t exactly the best. The danger is that for some of us, it starts with a temporary feeling and ends seeping into every facet of our career. Before you know it, you’re dragging yourself to and fro work, going through the motions day in and day out, and doing the absolute exact job for decades. Dreary enough?
Here are 7 ways to get out of that temporary funk and reclaim your power at work:
It’s a mindset thing first and foremost! The first place we lose our confidence, and hence our power, is in our minds. For women at work, evidence has been strongly suggesting women are way less self-assured then men. While there’s no doubt women’s competence seeing how companies employing women outperform those who don’t, the confidence gap is undeniable.
Work on your mindset first, to eliminate any tendency to see yourself as unworthy of success. The less mental barriers, the more power you’ll regain over your career. In my new e-book, the “TCS Guide to Taking Back Control of Your Career”, I borrow one of Southwest Airlines’c ore values and call this mindset power the “warrior spirit”!
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”: the saying still holds very much truth to it. In a highly evolving, complex and volatile work environment, its becoming increasingly necessary to be prepared. Taking even a small amount of time to prepare sets you apart from your competition and makes you stand out. Think of it as bootcamp to prepare you for outstanding results in your career!
Stephen Covey used a great analogy to make us think about managing our time more effectively. By illustrating that we should prioritize our tasks (put the big rocks in the jar first), he demonstrated as early as the ’80s how important it is manage our time. And even most importantly, how important it is to set our own priorities, based on what’s truly important to us…
Working all the time and not making time for fun, rest, or relaxation, can rob us of our power at work (and in life). Is it any surprise that so many of us caught in the rat race end up feeling disempowered and disengaged in our careers?
In my e-book, I talk about how through my own career, I’ve come to believe less in work-life balance (or any balance at all really), and more in the concept of ironing out our priorities and making peace with the fact that while we CAN have it all, we just can’t have it all at the same time(thanks Oprah)!
Taking your career back is also about positioning yourself at work. It’s about being visible, and making the right moves in your career. In the TCS Guide to Reclaiming Your Power at Work, I discuss how it takes a village to build your career!
Dare to be visible, and to surround yourself with the right influences, mentors and guides in your career!
One of the biggest assumptions among women at work is that there’s “not enough room for all of us.” There are so few women in top career positions that every time any of us gets close to accomplishing a milestone, it seems others are robbed of the same opportunity.
Learn to refill your confidence mug constantly, and to see more opportunities where there seems to be scarcity!
“Emotional” is a word that’s gotten a bad rap with professional women for the longest time. You can’t show emotion at work! If you’re a woman at work, your emotions may overtake you and reflect badly on your performance. It’s not until the concept of “Emotional Intelligence” or EQ became popular that the corporate world started paying more attention to emotions at work, especially as it relates to gender differences…
Yet our emotions are also our guides, as I explain in my e-book. They’re the barometers that help us assess whether we’re going in the right direction or not. Don’t ditch your emotions, but instead use them wisely as an asset at work.
How do you reclaim your power at work? Share your insights with us…
PS: For more on taking back control of your career, get a copy of my e-book now available on Amazon!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
Corporate Catwalk; Split Neck Sleeveless Blouse
I’d pair this colorful top with some work-appropriate statement earrings like this Demeter pair from Baublebar. It would really compliment the split neck cut of this top and get you ready for the week-end in no time!
Yay or Nay?
Happy Friday!
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
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…
PS: Like this post? Click HERE to get The Corporate Sister’s career, lifestyle and entrepreneurship, bi-weekly updates.
To your success,
The Corporate Sis.
Corporate Catwalk: Obi Wrap Dress
Today’s Corporate Catwalk pick is this clean, pristine obi wrap dress from Asos. I love the clean cut of this wrap front, wide sleeves dress that’s perfect to go from the office to after-hours.The matching waist tie adds a flattering touch to this simple, yet extremely elegant dress. The obi style, borrowed from the Japanese sash used in traditional dress, is also gorgeous in modern clothing. The dress is priced at $72.79 at Asos!
I also like this pencil dress with obi wrap, also from Asos, as well as this floral version.
Yay or Nay?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
Savvy app – Photo credit: savvy.jobs
What if you were given a career crystal ball to pick the perfect job for you? I mean, your dream job. The one that wouldn’t just be tailored to your preferences and qualifications, but would also match the particular way women conduct their job searches? Like Tinder for savvy career women…
Turns out, there’s actually an app for that, and a pretty good one at that! The Savvy app targets experienced professional women, catering their content especially to them and the employers that would potentially hire them. It started out as an app called Poacht, where job seekers could anonymously input information about their desired positions and look through available openings.But when co-founder and CEO Maisie Devine started noticing the app’s popularity with women, she decided to pivot it towards women professionals, and renamed it Savvy.
When I first read about the Savvy app, I literally jumped in my career woman’s heels. It’s about time that the fact that women approach the job search process differently than men be acknowledged, and even better, catered to. “Women follow a different job search process. When a woman looks at a job description, she will apply only if she feels 80 percent qualified, whereas men feel comfortable applying if they’re only 20 percent qualified,” Devine said in summarizing the app’s appeal. This alone makes the entire recruiting process incredibly gender-biased.
In addition to helping women find the right career fit, this app also helps employers leverage the enormous high-potential pool of female talent that may be self-disqualifying. In addition to giving companies the opportunity to tap into the value of gender equality within their own walls…
All in all, this app is a win-win for both professional women, and companies alike. So next time you’re in search of a great career fit, or know a corporate sister who is, please share the wealth…
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
Muhammad Ali – Photo credit: quotes gram.com
On June 3, 2016, Muhammad Ali, aka The Greatest of All Time, ended his last fight on Earth, at the age of 74. The three-time heavyweight champion’s being remembered for more than his spectacular fights in the ring. We also remember Ali for being a civil rights champion, an outspoken leader, and in general for living a big, bold, most inspiring life. For generations, he’ll always be the emblem of ultimate strength, courage and service.
Reading his most famous quotes this morning, I can’t help but feel a surge of hope, passion, and determination at the remembrance of an extraordinary life and legacy. And as we close another chapter, I’m filled with pride as I read over and over about the life of a man who rose to the greatness he himself never doubted, the success he could see in the eye of his mind, even before anyone else could…
As a career woman, I take with me these few universal, yet powerful, lessons we can all apply to the work of our lives, as we seek to make a difference in our own great, unique capacities:
“I am the Greatest; I said that before I even knew I was.” – Muhammad Ali
If there ever were a quote from Muhammad Ali to give us that oomph, that belief that you can break any barriers, remove any obstacles, and beat the odds no matter what, it would be this one. At the end of the day, it’s a mindset thing! You become what you believe, so believe you’ll succeed. Stop looking at your present circumstances, your current job, that boss, those co-workers, and instead work towards those goals…
“Don’t quit; suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali
Career success doesn’t just happen; it’s the sum of those tough, hard moments spent working after-hours, studying for that certification, putting in that extra effort! Whether it’s finally getting that degree, going for that challenging certification, or putting in the extra time at work, those hard-earned dues are what set the greatest apart. And yes, you may buy the shoe after…
“To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.” – Muhammad Ali
As women at work especially, we tend to doubt ourselves way too much. Many times, we’d rather think we don’t deserve the promotion, or don’t meet all the qualifications, than actually go for the job or ask for the raise. The old adage of “fake it ’til you make it” still holds. From dressing for the position you want to going for that job you’re only 60% qualified for, pretending you are the best can actually turn out to be half of the battle.
“I am gonna show you how great I am“. – Muhammad Ali
There’s something about being bold that takes you one step further, even when you’re not quite sure where you’re going. Even when your knees are shaking in the meeting room, and you fear speaking up. Or when you’re scared of asking the money you deserve in a salary negotiation. Or when you have to fight to get credit for your work.
Ask for those opportunities to lead at work. Speak up and present a different point of view. Don’t be afraid to disagree, not even with the boss. Boldness has a way of opening doors…
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” – Muhammad Ali
I know there were times when ambition in my own career made me forget to be humble and also serve others. Despite all the talks about advancing oneself at work and “taking your opportunities”, the mark of true leadership is humility and service to others. It can be a hard balance to strike though…
Remind yourself to help others along the way, even as you fight to make a spot for yourself. Mentor others, help them reach their potential, make time to answer questions and provide guidance. And constantly remind yourself that someone also did it for you…
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life”. – Muhammad Ali
Are you willing to take risks to take your career to the next level? Whether it’s accepting that challenging position, or actually resigning from that zero-potential job, mustering the courage to make the difficult decisions in your life and career is what will separate you from the rest of the fold.
“You could be the world’s best garbage man, the world’s best model; it don’t matter what you do if you’re the best.” – Muhammad Ali
Public speaking is not my strength, writing is. I could write reports, emails, and memos of all kinds for hours. Put me in front of an audience, and I might need extra cupcakes to keep going…
In your career as well, capitalize on your strengths. Dedicate yourself to what you do, and do it better than everyone else. You don’t have to be everything to everyone, especially not at work. Do what you do, and do it so well everyone will know you by name. Period.
RIP Muhammad Ali!
The Corporate Sis.
