Happy Friday! As much as we’re excited for the end of the week (TGIF), Friday also happens to be one of the most strategic days of the week. While most of us cannot wait to dash out the office doors and go enjoy this summer week-end, we’re also coming back on Monday to a slew of unfinished projects, unplanned assignments, and basically…more headache.
I found out early on that taking a preventive approach to the big dilemma of starting your work week effectively may just work best. Rather than stressing out about work over the week-end, or being in a really despicable mood on Monday morning, why not prepare for the following week on Friday? Doesn’t sound exciting? Well, in my book, the principle of “work hard, play hard” does pay off…
1. Tackle the unpleasant tasks NOW! Nothing like the present moment. Dreading to make that phone call to request additional audit evidence first thing on Monday morning? Do it NOW and avoid starting the dewy on Monday with a black cloud hanging over your head. Need to submit that annoying expense report next week? Do it NOW, and save yourself much aggravation at the start of next week.
2. Update and synch your calendar! You want to come to work next week to an updated and in synch calendar. Starting out the week with an inaccurate calendar, and not being exactly sure when that important meeting with the head of Internal Audit is? Not exactly my idea of a Monday…
3. Leave yourself a to-do list! It takes me a few minutes to gather my thoughts on Monday morning, and the last thing I need is to wonder what exactly I have to do. Leave yourself as detailed as possible a to-do list for the following week, sorted by order of priority if possible, and pack up this afternoon with a smile, knowing that when you come back on Monday, you’ll have one less headache to deal with…(after your morning espresso that is…)
For our lunch break today, our corporate fashion pick is this Maggy London print jersey shirt dress from Nordstrom. Loving the geometric hot pink print on this stretch jersey dress. A flattering fit and sliming silhouette, this shirt dress is perfect for your work summer wardrobe. The point collar and elbow-length sleeves make it even more appropriate for more conservative professional environments.
I would pair this dress with an elegant pair of nude pumps, as pictured. I would, however, keep accessories to a minimal to allow the dress to shine. It’s $118 at Nordstrom.
Seen a great, office-friendly fashion pick you’d like to share with our readers? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com, or post a comment!
Happy Thursday! Are you always running out of time on your projects at work? Does there not seem enough time to complete all your work, assignments, special projects, and personal development goals? Do you find yourself often wondering if you genuinely have too much on your work plate, or if maybe (only maybe), your time management skills are in need of a little dusting off…hmmm….
I’ve always loved the “Do it, delay it, delegate it or dump it” time management principle. Faced with so many demands in and outside of work, picking our priorities is sometimes easier said than done. Too many times, everything just seems to be a priority. As a result, endless competing priorities render us ineffective, at times even paralyzing us into utter ineffectiveness.
As corporate sisters, we too often are faced with multiple competing demands. And in life or at work, we proverbially try to do it all. Faced with (and intimated by) the negative stereotypes, the overwhelming racial and gender disparity at work, and the obvious male domination of the corporate sphere, we very often attempt to prove ourselves by taking on any and every work assignment or independent project we can. As we are painfully aware, we constantly have to prove ourselves, despite our qualifications, experience or proven character. And very often, while it may work on the outside, such attitude at work leaves us depleted, exhausted, and empty on the inside…In addition to decreasing our effectiveness and lowering our professional results as we go…So what is one to do to prove themselves while still carrying a heavy professional load?
Assess your projects or work assignments! Prior to starting anything, sit back, make a list of all your projects, and independently assess each one of them. Is this really a priority? Is the deadline close or far out? How much weight does it have on your review? How important is it as compared to the rest of your goals?
Once your assessment complete, and possibly vetted by management to avoid any surprises, proceed to categorizing these as best as possible. If it’s not a crucial project yet still needs to be completed in the foreseeable future, then delay it! If execution of this project can be trusted to someone else, allowing you to deploy your precious resources and energy on a more urgent, more important assignment, then delegate it. Finally, if this project has zero impact on your line of work, provides no benefits to you or your team, and is more costly than beneficial, then well, this may be one to dump!
Stand by your decision! Worse than a leader who does not deliver results, is one who does not stand by her decisions. While this process may not exactly be easy or definitive, it needs to be one you stand by and carry through to the end in order to see any results. Keep in mind that you still may have to discuss your decisions with management, and adjust as you go. However, it is best to stick to your original assessment in order to evaluate how well this time management approach works and better it the next time around!
Are you doing it, delaying it, delegating it or dumping it this time around?
The Corporate Sister.
Here you are on vacation, laying by the pool, the sun is beaming, you are surrounded by the most beautiful of coconut trees, and…you are on your laptop, checking your work email. Yes, you! Although you would never admit to it out loud, you…miss work!
As much as we look forward to vacation, especially as corporate sisters continually plagued with guilt and disavowed fear, there are those insidious times when we do actually miss work. When despite having proclaimed for months on end that you deserve this vacation, that you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, that there’s always work to do and never a break to be had, here you are…internally complaining about not having 24/7 Wi-fi access and wondering if your last audit report got reviewed already…
Yes, you miss work, and it may be normal. Only 59% of Americans took vacation last year, and a significant percentage of employees do not use the entirety of their time off. As wired as we are to constantly be professionally “on”, it hurts us more than it actually benefits us. From affecting our health, increasing our stress levels and making us more prone to disease in general, not allowing ourselves any time off also decreases our productivity more than we may think.
So yes, despite the fact that you may miss work (and never, ever, ever admit it in public), you may just have to teach yourself to enjoy being “off” for a while…and trust you’ll be better for it…
I’ve been on the hunt for an elegant, classy yet modern midi skirt for a while. I literally fell in fashion lust with this swanky Topshop quilted jacquard midi skirt, what with its flawy pleats and classic A-line shape.
Besides, nothing like a white skirt to amp up the elegance factor during the dog days of summer. It’s $96 at Nordstrom.
I would pair it with a contrasting darker top, preferably tucked in. Midi skirts can be tricky to pull off on shorter or smaller frames, but with the right pair of heels and a fitted top to balance it all out.
Seen a great, office-friendly fashion pick you’d like to share? Please post a comment or email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
It’s coffee break time, and it’s also…snack time! How about not feeling guilty about that bag of peanut M&M’s? What if you could leverage all the time sitting down at your desk to actually… work out? Yup, work out…
I stumbled upon the Instride body cycle on Joyus,com, and loved the concept right away! For those of us who are struggling with fitting in any fitness at all in their days, the Instride cycle allows you to get your cardio on right at your desk! You can literally turn your desk into a spin studio, right as you’re putting the last spin on that quarterly report…
It’s $90 on Joyus, and while you’re at it, check out the below Joyus video on the Instride body cycle:
Our lunch break fashion pick today is this Paro print cream printed silk front top from Reiss. Loving this elegant take on the basic tee, with the luxe silk front and lightweight jersey back.
The modern sketch print on the front gives this top a contemporary yet classic edge, while the silk-trimmed round neckline and sleeves amp up the oomph factor.
I would pair it with an elegant pair of slacks or pencil skirt. This top would be perfect worn alone during the sweltering summer months, or layered under a basic blazer or cardigan. It’s $102 at Reiss!
Psst..Reiss is having an up to 50% sale on select items!
Seen a great, office-friendly fashion piece you’d like to share with our readers? Please post a comment below, or email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
