by Solange Lopes | Nov 13, 2014 | Career
Asymmetrical zip skirt – $24.99 – Photo: target.com
I was at Target the other day, and absolutely fell in love with their selection of skirts. Especially this Mossimo knit asymmetrical zip skirt which has great style and great price, at $24.99! Loving the original cut of this skirt that is as flattering as it is work-appropriate (without being totally boring)!
I’d pair this great skirt with sharp black pumps like these mid-heel, asymmetrical Rebecca Minkoff pumps (on sale for $157.60 at Shopbop), or these less conservative, more splurge-ey Loeffler Randall pink beauties. Now if I really wanted to amp up the style factor, I’d rock these Tory Burch Sutton pumps for an added “umph” effect. That’s what you call pairing high and lower end items for a maximum style effect at work…
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion pick you’d like to share? Please email me at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 13, 2014 | Career
Photo: http://tempesttcup.wordpress.com
Being an introvert in today’s workplace is not the easiest thing, far from it. Especially during meetings when introverts definitely have a hard time being heard… As one who enjoys quieter energy and smaller groups myself, today’s workplace, where apparent success seems to be attributed to whomever speaks the first and the loudest, can be quite a challenge.
Throwing an introvert in an open meeting in the modern workplace can feel like throwing a fish out of water. While unfortunately, our work culture seems to favor assertiveness to the point of aggressiveness, it’s crucial we stay true to ourselves to be our very best. So how does an introvert kick ass at work and show leadership within the modern work culture while staying true to themselves? Much of it starts in meetings:
1. Start strong! Do not wait for the meeting to get significantly under way before feebly attempting to get a word in edgewise. For introverts at work, the best defense is the attack! Come prepared, and lay your game plan at the start of the meeting, before ideas and words start flying. Intimidating? Yes, so make sure to splash some cold water on your face before entering the room…Action!
2. Volunteer to be on stage! One easy way to take center stage without having to fight to get your voice heard is to volunteer to do so. Worked on an exciting project? Volunteer to present it to your co-workers.
3. Use your uniqueness! As introverts, we tend to sit back and observe. As a result, we tend to catch more of the innuendos in the conversation, and as such be able to ask important questions and uncover unsaid truths. Be willing to use your unique perspective to say what needs to be said, and make a lasting impression!
What are your hacks as an introvert to assert yourself in meetings?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 12, 2014 | Career
Eternity app – Photo: itunes.apple.com
Wondering where the day has gone! In between work, life, and all the other obligations that fill our lives, the one thing that continuously seems to elude us is time! And of course, there’s an app for that…
It’s called Eternity, and it is structured to point out what you spend your time on! And while you may not be willing to admit it just yet, you may need to deactivate your Facebook account (ok, temporarily…)…
My $0.05: The $2.99 investment for this iPhone/iPad app is worth realizing how much more you could be achieving (or how much less you need to be doing)…
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 12, 2014 | Career
Down coat – $110 – Photo: amazon.com
A friend of mine just came back from Toronto, where her accounts of the bitter cold reminded me the temperatures are about to dip for us in the Northeast too. Hence today’s pick, this Calvin Klein stylish chevron packable down coat. I like that this coat is lightweight and packable (hello easy traveling!), yet warm. And the chevron quilt lines definitely add an elegant touch to it! This coat is $110 at Amazon!
Flattering down coats that don’t engulf your entire frame and make you look like a mini snowman, are not always easy to find. I like this more expensive hooded North Face option from Nordstrom, as well as this DKNY faux-fur trim maxi version from Bloomingdales’. This sleek, belted Michael Kors puffer version from Macy’s has me tingling from fashion pleasure as well…
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion pick you’d like to recommend? Please email me at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 12, 2014 | Career
Have you ever found yourself helplessly complaining about your manager’s unfair micro-management at work? Or the latest corporate policy? Or even your overly competitive co-workers? For years in my career, I’ve complained over and over again, if only to myself, about things I didn’t like, policies that left me baffled and attitudes I could not comprehend. Even as I stepped into new, better situations, small things would trigger old emotions I thought were buried away, dragging me back into old self-victimizing patterns.
As described in Psychology Today, “learned helplessness is an attitude of giving up when we face adversity.” Every time we complain of the world we perceive as unfair, we position ourselves as victims. And the more we feed into this “learned helplessness”, the poorer our performance and our health.
And this is also how we continuously keep giving your power at work, damaging ourselves and our careers in the process. Instead, striving to ask ourselves and others to figure out how to discover new solutions and possibilities can make us more successful, happier and healthier!
What can I do to better this situation? What are my options in the face of professional uncertainty? Should I begin looking for a new job? What are tangible ways to improve my performance? All these are questions to help us see beyond adversity, and give us the one thing that will restore our power at work and in life…It’s called hope!
How do you keep yourself from giving away your power at work?
by Solange Lopes | Nov 11, 2014 | Career
Is it ok to shop online at work – Photo: picture quotes.com
As Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching, I was writing earlier about the significant dip in work productivity around the holidays. And frankly, much of this drop in productivity can be safely attributed to nothing less than…ahem, shopping online! With the limited time on our hands and the seemingly unlimited online sales and discounts (did you check out my 10 favorite Veterans’ Day sales by the way), spending the money we’re making while at work often seems to be OK…
A recent article from the Daily Mail Online revealed workers spend nine days a year shopping online! And while with all the technology around, we could have guessed online shopping is on the rise, a survey reveals companies are not exactly buying all this commercial surfing online. 51% of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) interviewed reveal their companies are blocking access to online shopping, while 30% admit to monitoring employees’ online behavior. So is shopping online while at work really OK?
My $0.05: KNOW YOUR OFFICE! Learning your company’s rules should be your first step when considering shopping online. Most companies have more or less clear online browsing policies. However, if your company’s policy is somewhat vague, hold off and shop on your personal time. If you’re going to surf online while at work, limit it to lunch breaks, and please log off any account you may have logged into to protect the security of your information. Doesn’t sound fun? Nope, but missing your paycheck because of the latest holiday sales would be much less fun as well…Shop safely (and at your own risk)!
Any other recommendations for shopping online while at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 11, 2014 | Career
Long sleeve turtleneck – $29.99 – Photo: anntaylor.com
I’ve always found turtlenecks to be a great, but slightly tricky basic for winter. I’m on the rounder side of the petite spectrum, and finding a nicely fitting turtleneck that doesn’t add 10 pounds to my frame or doesn’t hug me in all the wrong places is often a challenge. Hence today’s pick, this Ann Taylor long sleeve turtleneck in soft jersey, on sale for $49.99 plus a 40% discount applied at checkout (check out my 10 favorite Veterans Day sales).
Loving the casually dressy look of this great layering piece, which would be impeccable under a sharp tweed jacket like this one, or a more expensive alternative like this DVF pick.
And if, like me, you’re loving the combination of a great skirt with a turtleneck as the model is sporting above, check out my selection of leather skirts which would be a great addition to this basic.
Happy Veterans Day!
The Corporate Sis.
