by Solange Lopes | Nov 7, 2014 | Career |
Infinity Scarf – $51.00 – Photo: lastcall.com
Scarf season is upon us, and I’m loving this chunky striped infinity scarf from Neiman Marcus Last Call. Loving the chunky, cozy knit of this scarf that looks oh so comfortable, and oh so stylish! This scarf is on sale for $51 at Last Call (psssttt….Last Call is offering 20-40% off pretty much everything!)
I’d pair this stunner with these also stunning brown distressed riding boots, or these slightly more expensive Charles David suede and leather boots, or for the most fashion adventurous among us, these short boots with a stacked heel. Perfect for a comfortable and cozy week-end!
Enjoy!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 7, 2014 | Career
Photo: huffingtonpost.com
We all know in order to thrive, we need to speak up more at work. Especially when it comes to women’s empowerment at work, we’ve heard just about it all…
Yet what do you do when you can’t even seem to get a word in edgewise at work? It’s all fine and dandy to recommend employees, female employees especially, speak up more, when in most cases, work conversations are monopolized by a select few. And that’s when you are even invited to the conversation…
If you speak louder, especially as a woman, you are automatically categorized as overly aggressive and brash. Add to that being a black woman, and you readily fit the “angry black woman” stereotype. If you try to be too diplomatic, you’re dubbed as the office doormat, and become invisible at best, ignored at worst.
I’ve been in numerous office environments and meetings in which I’ve literally had to jump on top of the table, pull a Jackie Chan pose, fly up in the air and land on my curls to get noticed. Not really, but you get my drift…It took all I had in me to get a word in edgewise for just about a minute or so…So I’ve had to learn, the hard way:
1. Don’t ask for the floor, take it! In male-dominated, patriarchal-type professional environments, you’ve got to fend for yourself. Don’t sit there with your perfectly manicured finger raised (the index one, please). Find something to say (and no, it doesn’t have to be earth-shattering), and say it, loud and clear! If it helps, stand up and speak up!
2. Steal the spotlight! This is one of the only times you can break a holy commandment! Use your facial expression, and your entire body language to get the spotlight! Lean in, stand up, make eye contact, this is your moment, take it or lose it!
3. Go ahead, fake it ’til you make it! Yes, your heart is beating, your palms are sweaty, and your vision field just got awfully blurry. Feel the fear and do it afraid! State your opinion or question with as much assurance as you can muster. Remember you’re being paid for this!
How do you manage to get a word in edgewise at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 6, 2014 | Career |
Sorry – Photo credit: huffingtonpost.com
So you messed up…at work! You made a mistake, pulled the wrong report, did not show up to the quarterly departmental meeting, or used one of your supposedly innocent white lies and got caught…Should you hang your cute head low and say I’m sorry (only to be sorry you did), or fake the funk and not let anyone see you sweat, no matter the offense?
I’ve witnessed both extremes at work. The very humble employee who was too quick to apologize for anything and everything, and the very proud one who would rather forego dessert than ever admit their wrongs (who lets go of dessert, really?). I’ve found a lot of it boils down to personality adjustments, and to just realizing there’s a way to apologize at work that is neither humiliating nor coward. And as tricky as it may seem, there are tricks to the whole saying “I’m sorry” thing!
My $0.05: Saying sorry sucks (I still haven’t admitted to Dear hubby the effects of my shoe addiction). Yet what sucks more is to lack leadership, especially at work. So suck it up, and instead of just saying “I’m sorry”, admit how your behavior has affected your boss, co-worker or team, and offer up a way to make it up. It’ll make you sound honest, brave and even ingenious! Now that’s a strong apology…
How do you apologize after screwing up at work? Are you sorry you said sorry?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 6, 2014 | Career |
Sweater dress – $88.80 – Photo: nordstrom.com
‘Tis the season for the Nordstrom clearance sale, one my favorite sales ever! Hence today’s pick of this Betsey Johnson plaid fit-and-flare sweater dress. I love the comfort and ease of sweater dresses, and I have to say, until recently, I found many of them a bit too relaxed for work. Thankfully, there’s a new crop of sweater dresses that are not only work appropriate, but around the clock flattering. This plaid sweater dress is on sale for $88.80 at Nordstrom!
And while we’re on the topic of sweater dresses, Nordstrom has a few more of them, totally work-appropriate, uber-flattering and on sale to boot…like this Eliza J color block one (here‘s the plus-size equivalent), or this elegant drop-waist one, or even this luxurious wool and cashmere option. I also love this plus-size rib knit turtleneck choice, as well as this mock two-piece sweater dress, also plus-size.
And what better than these elegant Ann Taylor shooties to pair these sweater dresses with, or these classic ankle boots that can take you from day to night in a few stylish steps!
Any Suggestions, comments? Please leave a comment or email me at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 6, 2014 | Career
Why you should get mad at work – Photo: deeper story.com
Much has been said about not getting mad at work, and keeping your professional cool under all circumstances. Especially for us Black women for whom the angry black woman stereotype sometimes plays more of a role at work, than our actual performance. Case in point, the Internet upheaval that last happened after Shonda Rhimes was oh so inappropriately depicted as an “angry black woman”.
However, as someone who has lots of emotions,I happen tobelieve emotions should be channeled in a productive, fruitful manner at work, lest they shall become totally unuseful and downright damaging. And I also happen to believe it’s not only OK to get angry at work, it should be recommended. If you look at some of the least publicized yet highly effective characteristics of great leaders, you’ll find some of the most successful leaders around us do get angry, very angry!
Now I’m not suggesting you go on hollering at your co-workers, breaking your computer screen (it was obsolete anyways), or giving everyone a quite overdue piece of your mind. No, what I’m not saying is what everyone else might advise when you feel your inner thermostat rising, that is to swallow it up and get over it!
Your emotions are not only valid, they are powerful! Channel them the right way, and they may open the doors to treasures of achievement:
1. Acknowledge how you feel! I don’t know about you, but my emotions are like a ticking time bomb. The more I ignore them, the more destructive they become! Recognize you’re angry, and don’t try to bottle up your feelings!
2. Ask yourself why you’re angry! Dear hubby and I attended a marriage seminar at our church during which our pastor gave one powerful word of advice that stayed with me ever since. Getting angry is one thing, understanding the root cause of your anger is another. Is that negative performance review at the root of your anger, or are you no longer interested in this job? Is your co-worker’s promotion the real problem, or rather the fact you’ve outgrown your team?
3. It’s not the anger, but what you do with it! Even the Bible says it’s OK to get angry, it’s the ensuing sin that’s the real problem! Getting angry is not only OK, it shows you have a pulse! Now it’s up to you to grab your anger by the shoulders, and turn it into the decision you’ve needed to make for a long time, the motivation you’ve lacked for some time, and ultimately the success you know you are capable of achieving!
Do you get mad at work? How do you channel your anger in the workplace?
The Corporate Sis
by Solange Lopes | Nov 4, 2014 | Career
Asking dumb questions at work – Photo: dailymail.co.uk
I wrote earlier about how to lead by asking questions at work, the right questions that is. Yet, except for the super-smartest among us, we’ve all at some point or another, thought of a not-so-smart question, and for the few unlucky among us, actually asked, out loud, the dumbest question ever. And don’t get fooled, your mama or first manager or caring nanny may have told you one day there are no dumb questions, but truth is, there are…There even are some that are so dumb you’re still struggling to understand how your educated, savvy self came up with them…I know I do…
Believe it or not, there are some benefits to stupidity at work. I have myself said a few things I’m not particularly willing to remember. There are even rules around asking dumb questions, without sounding dumb. Yet what do you do to recover from asking a dumb question at work?
My $0.05: Ok, it’s hard to take back a dumb question, especially at work. In my experience, recovering from a verbal faux-pas requires two things: finesse and honesty. Acknowledge you may need to rephrase the question or you may have overlooked possible answers or resources. Most importantly, whatever you do, do NOT call yourself or your verbal mishap stupid or dumb. Move on with finesse, and put it all on account of a pretty humbling learning curve.
How did you recover from asking a dumb question at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 4, 2014 | Career |
Skirted wool-blend coat – $132.66 – Photo: norsdstrom.com
If you’re on the hunt for a fabulous, yet still warm and very much office-appropriate coat for winter, this may just be it. I’m loving the swingy, skirted hem on this elegant Via Spiga wool-blend coat. The double-breasted closure is classic, while the rounded collar is oh so graceful! This coat is on sale for $132.66 at Nordstrom!
In other skirted wool-blend coat options, I also like this peacoat option, this great color-block option, and this plus-size option! If you prefer A-line zip coats, here is my earlier pick!
And to boot, this great circle scarf from Modcloth is a great (and warm) pairing to any coat of your choice!
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion pick you’d like to share? Please email me at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sis.
