Coffee Break: Can You Pick Your Work Assignments?

by Solange Lopes | Jan 21, 2016 | Career | 1 comment

One very interesting question I got from a reader and friend recently was: “ Is it OK for me to pick my work assignments, instead of just waiting to be put on specific projects where help is needed? Doesn’t that show initiative on my part, instead of just blindly doing what I’m told?”

Hmmm…interesting question indeed? And quite a thorny one too…

On one hand, asking to be involved in projects or areas you may have some interest in definitely shows a spirit of initiative and independence on your part. However, it can also be a double-edged sword if the same spirit of initiative leads you to not consider or flat-out refuse other projects directly assigned to you by a supervisor.

My $0.05 (because $0.02 won’t get you much these days):

When it comes to work assignments, you need to balance a proactive attitude with a “I’m willing to go where I’m needed” spirit. Voicing out your preferences and asking to be involved in this project or that assignment will certainly make you stand out. However, always balance these types of requests with the caveat that you would also be more than happy to help in any other area where you’re needed. You don’t want to come off as too abrasive or not wanting to follow directions.

While you should express yourself and communicate your interests, always welcome work assignments directed your way to help as much as possible where you’re needed. Use opportunities like performance review times, or general career-related conversations with your supervisors and peers to subtly express your interests and preferences in terms of work projects.

That’s my $0.05….Would you agree? What’s your take on this?

To Your Career Success,

The Corporate Sis.

Seven Power Tips to Run Your Career Like Beyonce Runs the World

by Solange Lopes | Jan 21, 2016 | Career | 1 comment

Despite all the advice out there about controlling, picking or changing your career, do you ever feel that at the end of the day you may not have much control over it? That the pressure to gain a paycheck, advance in rank and find your professional place keeps blowing you left and right on the winds of Chance, your boss’ s moods or what is needed today?

Take my friend S. for instance. She was taken off a project she had worked so hard on for three months. She was needed to finish another project on behalf of another colleague who was not available to complete it. The other assignment was in an area S. had very little interest in, while the one she had been taken off of was a high-profile assignment in an area she was hoping to specialize in. At the end of the day, she felt she had no control over which assignments she was put on, and over the direction of her career altogether. Which in turn made her disengage at work and feel less motivated and driven.

According to this January 2015 Gallup poll, the majority of US employees are disengaged at work. That means less than 1/3 of all US workers were engaged in their jobs in 2014. Let’s not even talk about what that translates into in terms of dips in productivity and spikes in chocolate-covered strawberries…But I digress…

Typical? Yes.

Usual? Heck yes.

Unavoidable? No.

Take Beyonce for instance. Yes, the Queen Bey, that one! The woman has built a steely career while still “running the world” and staying up “all night”, but we won’t go there…But what’s even more impressive is that unlike many artists in the business, she controls her musical career from the way she sounds to the way she looks, to the type of public and private presentations she wants to make…

And unlike my friend S. she has a pretty strong say in the path she wants to chart for herself, even as said path is pretty crowded and not as fair as we may all want it to be…

I know what you’re thinking: Could we compare apples with apples here? Beyonce’s probably somewhere tanning on her yacht across the Mediterranean, while some of us are trying to close this month’s books and refrain from spitting bad words to the computer screen. Ok, I get it…

Even if some of us are not exactly sailing across the Mediterranean right now or planning their next mega-million album deal, for most of us, taking back control of our careers and reclaiming our own professional power is much needed. Why spend so much time at work if we feel lost, disengaged and frankly over our last bag of chocolate-covered strawberries?

And since there’s no harm in “faking it ‘til we make it”, here are 7 power tips taken straight from the Queen’s career book into our careers:

1. If you don’t ask for it, you won’t get it! The Queen’s Team knew to ask for Facebook support to release her much-acclaimed 2013 self-titled album. Likewise, taking your career to the top also requires you to make the ask! Whether it’s volunteering for a new assignment, requesting to become part of a work group, or simply asking for more time to better complete a project, you won’t get it unless you ask!
2. Know and speak your value! The only reason Beyonce will close a deal, is if it’s beneficial to… her! Case in point, her deal with Pepsi included an agreement from the company to promote her Superbowl half-time show and reserve money she could use on her own creative endeavors. How’s that for a good deal? In your career as well, make decisions and agree to contracts, offers and arrangements that benefit you!
3. Set and share goals! Her 2013 mega-album release was done to accomplish three clear goals: no leak was allowed, every song would have a video, and both fans and critics would have access to it at the same. In the same way, your career goals, whether short or long-term, should have specific, measurable, and realistic goals as well.
4. Don’t let others walk all over you. Not everyone is going to like, or support your career’s direction. Although big name retailers like Amazon and Target refused to carry her album back in 2013, the Queen still chose to upheld her own plan. In other words, get ready for some serious opposition as you climb the corporate ladder. However, realize and understand that in order for your career plans to materialize, you will have to stand your ground!
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment and diversify, but always know your strengths! From movie roles to endorsements and various other projects, Beyonce know how to experiment with diverse areas of the business. Likewise, nothing prevents you from expanding your scope of knowledge and involvement career-wise. However, remember to take with you and apply your strengths to any project you may be involved in. That’s your brand!
6. Stay humble! What an inspiring moment at the 2009 VMA Awards when the Queen was up against Taylor Swift, who ended up winning! Despite Kanye Wests’ rumbling and public disapproval, Beyonce remained gracious and even offered Taylor Swift the opportunity to give the acceptance speech she wasn’t able to complete due to Kanye’s interruption. In your career as well, always remain humble and poised, and show graciousness to others no matter what.
7. Be competent and work hard! As cliché as it may sound, there really is no substitute for hard word. The Queen has shown us over and over her dedication to a flawless end product, whether it’s a video, song, or movie. In your career, cultivate excelling competence and also only offer your best product!

Which one of these tips have you been applying in your own career book? Which ones would you like to add?

Love,

The corporate sis.

How to improve your work relationships this year

by Solange Lopes | Jan 15, 2016 | Career | 2 comments

Me: “But why?”

Co-worker/friend: ” She just doesn’t like you. I’m sorry.”

That was the beginning of a conversation that would end in S. quitting her job a few months later. The woman she was working with at the time did not like her. As simple as that. And because the same woman was close to her manager, her life would become hell.From private remarks on the quality of her work, to furtive accusatory glances in the cafeteria, not to mention the public disparaging comments, work had become a “no-woman” zone for her. And since it was more important for her to be mentally healthy and happy, she left.

Such is the story of countless women who end up jumping from one job to another because of unhealthy work relationships preventing them from unlocking their best at work, or combining their personal and professional life effectively. 

After all, you’ve heard it before: “It’s not what you know, but who you know..” Ok, although you need a minimum of knowledge and qualifications not to mess up the monthly financial reporting, your relationships at work do play a huge role in your career as well. After all, you do spend upwards of 8 hours with the same people who may play a part in your career advancement…or in your career taking a few steps back…

In my career, I’ve worked with the most  encouraging, positive and upbeat people who have managed to motivate me and make me want to go further, faster and higher in my career. And just like everyone else, I’ve had the not so pleasurable experience of working alongside some of the most interesting (and not in a good way) professional characters. From backstabbing co-workers to unsupportive managers, you name it. And at the end of it all, it’s obvious how much relationships can shape, in some way or another, one’s career and life perspective.

Hindsight being 20/20 (even for half-blind glasses wearers like myself), we’ve all been at the receiving end of some pretty disastrous, or at least not as satisfying work relationships. Here are some tips I’ve dug deep into the sea of my career relationships to improve connections at work and make them work for you:

1. Connect More: This may sound counter-intuitive, especially if you’ve been involved in not-so positive work relationships. Yet the best way to improve work relationships is to connect more with co-workers and superiors. A team member of mine used to organize “connect sessions” at the beginning of each year to reconnect with his team, as well as other teams, and share goals. How about making it a point to connect more regularly with yours and other teams at work? It may be in organizing individual sessions with mentors, yours or other teams. Or you may choose to have a periodic meet-and-greet out of the office with your colleagues? It may also be as simple as having more open, genuine exchanges with people at work extending beyond just work…
2. Model the behavior you would expect: We often expect to be treated in a certain way, while not noticing that others may never have been actually exposed to what a healthy and supportive workplace looks like. How about modeling the behavior you would like displayed in your team or work environment? Show attention and respect to your colleagues, by being more punctual, answering to texts and emails within 24 hours, complimenting them on a job well done or simply curbing the gossip.
3. Get more personal: Let your co-workers see another side of you, a more personal, deeper side of you that allows you to connect with them better. 

How do you improve your work relationships?

Love,

Solange.