by Solange Lopes | Feb 25, 2015 | Career |
Serena Williams and her coach – Photo credit: http://2013.rolandgarros.com
I recently hired a coach to help me through some transitions in my life. Now for most independent, can-do-it-all-and-still-look-good, ambitious women out there, asking for help is already a stretch. Now, asking, looking, and paying for guided help, most times with perfect strangers only known through reputational guarantees or referrals, is a whole other ball game. Yet, what was considered pure luxury not too long ago, may prove to be a necessity today…
While many a successful athlete attributes their winning performance to the outstanding training of their coaches, most career and business people lack the same foundational support to their performance. Many wonder if a coach will really make any difference in their circumstances, or are even worth the expense. In my experience, here are 5 reasons why you should seriously consider hiring a coach, whatever your life or career station:
1. It’s an investment in yourself! How many times have you thought about splurging on a spa day, a nice manicure or that gorgeous pair of shoes that’s been calling your name (and credit card number), just in the past week? How about investing in re-committing to your life plan, or even finding out what it is and how to successfully reach your goals? That may pay off in way more spa days than you can imagine…
2. It helps you put yourself in perspective! One of the things a coach will help you do is take a hard, honest look at yourself. And it may sting at first…Through probing questions, and your own commitment to be as honest as you can, you will find yourself uncovering layers of yourself you may never have imagined existed. My coaching sessions made me understand I needed to set boundaries and stop relying on others for my own well-being, and it liberated me…
3. It will help you remove mental blocks! Our biggest obstacles are in our heads. By targeting your innermost convictions and ideas about yourself and the world around you, an effective coach will let you see your own mental blocks, and help you get past them. Sometimes you just need someone to tell you what you already knew all along…
4. It will help you make a plan! You’ve got to have a plan for success, or at least some faint roadmap of what success looks like to you. Success will require you to adopt new attitudes and thought patterns and ditch others. A powerful coach will provide you with tools to chart your own path. Something as basic as a daily calendar or a morning ritual schedule can change your entire life…
5. Last but not least, it will motivate you! We all need a boost, whether in life or at work. Success is not built alone! Effectively using a coach will remind you of why you started it all, what matters to you, and why you’re doing what you’re doing. And that’s the little extra motivation you may need to cross the finish line…
Have you used a coach before, or are considering doing so? Are you a coach yourself, and looking to provide advice? Chime in…
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 24, 2015 | Career
Zendaya Coleman at the Oscars 2015 – Photo credit: washingtonpost.com
If you’ve ever sported a hairstyle that’s raised one or more ahem…indelicate comments at work, you may have identified with Zendaya Coleman’s earlier blasting of E’s Fashion Police. As a recap, Fashion Police’s Giuliana Rancic referred to the beautiful Zendaya and her gorgeous dreadlocks at this year’s Oscars, stating she “must smell like patchouli oil…or weed”. Not the most delicate comment she could have made, even for the “spicy” fashion review show host, especially when the comments in question have a questionable racial undertone.
How about you? Have you had to face interesting, even racially tinged comments about your hair, especially your natural hair, in the workplace? How did you address, or rectify the situation? What would you advise other women of color in particular, and women sporting non-mainstream hairstyles in general, do when faced with these situations?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 24, 2015 | Career
Contrast piping pantsuit – $119.99 – Photo credit: macys.com
I like suits that mix professional conservatism with a bit of funky edge, like this contrast piping belted pantsuit from Macy’s. Loving the notched collar jacket and straight-fit pants, as well as the flattering belt to match! The alternating black and khaki colors keep this suit from being boring, and so does the sale price of $119.99!
I’d pair this stylish suit with an elegant pair of nude pumps like these Ivanka Trump Kayden shoes from 6pm, or these very well reviewed Hogsed pumps from Aldo!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 24, 2015 | Career
When it’s better not to speak ups work – Photo credit: happyblackwoman.com
“Tis better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt”. Abraham Lincoln
A lot has been said about the importance of women speaking up at work, as well as the numerous obstacles they face, especially for women of color, when trying to do so. There are many biases and obstacles against female employees speaking up in the workplace, from the proverbial “manterruptions” to the simple fact society is not yet accustomed to women leading and contributing significantly at work. Yet, part of being effective and successful at work, is also knowing when to not speak up.
In today’s extremely political workplace, speaking up is crucial. Yet distinguishing between when to express one’s opinion and when to reserve them for a more appropriate time or occasion, can also be just as important. Here are 5 situations when you should consider whether not speaking up may actually work to your advantage:
- When you need to listen: Learning is more effectively done by listening than talking. Take advantage of mentoring opportunities, or occasions when constructive criticism and advice is offered to you to learn and position yourself at work. Rather than talking, absorb the newfound knowledge and take precious notes!
- When you don’t need to be right: You don’t always need to be right, at work or in life. Mistakes happen, and part of managing them is owning up to your errors and committing not to repeat them. In these instances, the less you say to justify yourself, and the more you do to fix the problem, the more reliable and trustworthy you come across as!
- When you’re being too competitive: Healthy comparisons and competition can help you better your performance. However, trying to one-up a co-worker and undermine their performance so yours looks better, is always a bad move. Focus on success, yours and everyone else’s. Congratulate your peers and management on their achievements, and celebrate others’ successes!
- When you’re biting on more than you can chew: Under-promise, and over-deliver, should always be your mantra. Do not bite on more than you can chew at work, especially when your performance evaluation heavily depends on it. Be realistic, assess your deadlines and only speak up to offer promises you can actually deliver. Otherwise, silence is golden…
- When you need to wash your mouth with soap: While casual swearing may be OK in certain office environments, keep your language clean as much as you can! In doubt, keep civil! You never know what can come back to haunt you in the future, so keep it clean and cool…
When do you think it’s better to keep quiet at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 23, 2015 | Career |
patricia_arquette – Photo credit: salon.com
Way before Neil Patrick Harris’s joke about the “whitest” Oscars, we knew Diversity was going to be the loud elephant in the room at this year’s Oscars. And right we were, as actors, directors, and other nominees alike took to the stage to highlight diversity issues, from gender equality to immigration issues, not to mention LGBT and suicide. Yet what struck a chord (whether in a positive or negative way) for many working women out there, was Best Supporting Actress winner Patricia Arquette vibrant call for wage equality...and the ensuing big foot she managed to stick in her mouth backstage!
Yet, after all the excitement is starting to die down, we’re realizing now, while her speech may have come from the right place, it may be hitting the wrong nerve for many women of color everywhere.
Yes, there’s gender inequality at work; yet, for women of color, the pay gap is even wider, with Black women earning 64 cents on the dollar, and Latina women earning 54 cents as opposed to 77 cents for white women. Lesbian professionals earn less than straight and/or gay men, not to mention there is still lacking legislation against harassment and firing of LGBT employees.
My $0.05: Let’s look at the positive, shall we? It’s great for anyone with a worldwide platform to advocate for gender equality, regardless of race, background or sexual orientation. Was Ms. Arquette’s speech a bit narrow, and maybe a tad awkward backstage? Yes, there was a lot more that could have been said about women’s struggles everywhere. Yet let’s remember every bit helps…
And as far as I’m concerned, telling the whole world on national TV it’s women, all women’s, time, is not bad at all…
What do you think?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 23, 2015 | Career
Collared Shift Dress – $40.35 – Photo credit: asos.com
Today’s Work It pick is this easy, somewhat funky collared shift dress from ASOS. I like the deconstructed silhouette of this dress that is versatile enough to be merchandised from the office to after-hours. This dress is $40.35 at Asos!
I would “merchandise” this easy dress with statement accessories like this Cartier Santos de Galbee ladies’ wristwatch from auction site Invaluable, which offers one of the world’s largest selection of watches, including women’s watches. Nothing like a classic piece of statement jewelry to dress up a simple outfit, or provide a sense of overall effortless style, especially when like myself, you like to mix up high- and low-end pieces for a fashionable, yet financially savvy, career look.
Cartier Santos de Galbee watch – Photo credit: invaluable.com
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 22, 2015 | Career
Photo credit: http://diedrecallam.blogspot.com
Happy Sunday! The weather is still beautiful (not) in the Northeast, Oscar night with all its diversity (or lack thereof) is abuzz in the media (as we’re wondering who’s going to trip this year), and we’re ready to take a chill pill before work starts again tomorrow. In the meantime, as we’re lounging in our cozy pajamas, here’s my weekly news update:
- New York Fashion Week 2015 was in full swing this past week, and we selected 12 NYFW styles you can actually wear to work, 10 Power Lady Career Picks from the best shows, and did a recap of 7 career lessons we took from one of the biggest fashion events of the year;
- In other (less fashionable but oh so important) news, Think Progress writes Walmart just gave a huge raise to thousands of employees, by raising its minimum wage to $10 an hour;
- In Twitter news this week, Buzzfeed reveals women and girls are posting their achievements to Twitter to redefine what it means “to do it like a girl”;
- The New York Times confirms what we already know, you’re supposed to love your job and show it to, even through forced smiles;
- Money is huge part of success, and Forbes gives us tips on on how to raise financially savvy kids, as it reminds college students why they should worry about their credit scores;
- Speaking of college students, MarketWatch reveals African-American students tend to carry more debt than their white counterparts, hence the need for financial education, while the Washington Post reveals why student debt is harder to pay than mortgages;
- Speaking up as a woman of color at work is challenging, and Forbes’ Ruchika Tulshyan wrote the most compelling article about it (a must-read);
- Women save as much or more than men, however they tend to have less in their 401Ks because of the wage gap, as shown in this New York Times’ interesting analysis by sex, ethnicity and demographics;
- Before you retire tonight, take a look at Business Insider’s list of 9 things successful people do before bed (and #1 is my absolute favorite);
- Wondering why you don’t make as much money? Business Insider shows you the personality types most and least likely to rake in the Benjamins.
Happy Sunday!
The Corporate Sis.
