by Solange Lopes | Jan 22, 2014 | Career |
working from home
If you’re one of the many corporate sisters (and brothers) buried under snow today on the Northeast, and who had to (or wished they could) work from home today, you may be wondering when is a good time to request working from home. First off, you may want to check if that is even an option. Rather than remaining silent and forgoing the possibility of working in your pajamas while your kids flush the car keys when you’re not looking (yes, it has happened!), just ASK! It took me years to work up the nerve to ask if there was even a remote chance to work from home, only to find out that it would have been ok all along (are you kidding me?)…
- Make sure you ASK right off the bat: Whether it’s right during the interviewing process or even in your first months of employment, ask, in a professional but firm manner, what the company policy is in terms of working from home. HR will usually direct you back to your direct supervisor or manager. Here again, ask the question as professionally as you can, and remember the worst that they can tell you is: NO!
- Explain your circumstances: Whether you are shooting a quick email to the boss on a snowy day asking to work from home because the kids’ school is closed, or if you are requesting to work from home one day a week to care for your newborn, make sure to explain your circumstances. While you may want to be specific, there is no need to delve too much into the details of your personal life.
- Always offer something in exchange! As an influential big corporate sister once told me, “nothing is for free, so next time you ask for something, offer something else in return.” It’s been my mantra ever since at work. When requesting to work from home, offer alternative solutions to potential problems that may pose themselves. Yes, you won’t be physically present at the office, but you may be able to use tools such as Webex to host long-distance meetings, for instance. Anticipate potential issues/objections, and offer possible solutions.
How do you manage to request working from home?
by Solange Lopes | Jan 22, 2014 | Career
Chelsea Cardigan – New York & Co. – $49.95
If you’re on the East Coast like we are, you know this is definitely sweater season. And for our lunch break today, this New York & Company Chelsea cardigan is making us just swoon…I love the windowpane pattern, and am absolutely gaga over the pink and black combination! Girly and bold yes, but also preppy and sophisticated enough to still pull any work look up! With its 3/4 length sleeves and button-front closure, it lends itself to many outfit combinations. Add a slim belt to it as in the picture, and voila!
It’s $49.95 at New York & Co., and is also available in black and white for those who would rather opt for a less bold color pattern.
Seen a great, work-appropriate piece you’d like to share? Please post a comment or email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
by Solange Lopes | Jan 22, 2014 | Career |
footage.shutterstock.com
Yesterday, we wrote about requesting feedback at work, and how it can actually positively impact your career. Now, it’s one thing to actively seek and request feedback, and an entirely different thing how you receive this feedback. Whether the feedback received is positive or negative is actually less important, to some extent, to how you manage to receive it and use it to your advantage.
- If you’re receiving positive feedback: now although this scenario may seem to be the easiest one, as in “just smile, nod, and receive your manager’s or mentor’s accolades”, it may require a bit more than just acknowledging how great you are. Acknowledge your achievement and thank your manager or co-workers for recognizing you, but also get more specific as to your performance, asking for what you could have done even better. As a dear big corporate sister pointed out to me, never sleep on your laurels, and always ask what more you can bring to the table, and conversely, what more in terms of experience, know-how and recommendations, you can also get. If there are more challenging areas or topics that you would be particularly interested in exploring, now is the opportunity to broach the subject! Use a positive feedback or review session as a launching pad to bigger and better opportunities within your department and your company. And do not hesitate to take advantage of your successes to propel you to the next level, it’s always a win-win for both yourself and the company!
- If you receive negative feedback: this scenario is the least pleasant one, but also presents growth opportunities in its own right. Tread carefully as you’re being read the riot act. Do not let negative emotions surface and overpower your professionalism. Accept the feedback, thank your manager or co-worker, take a minute to breathe…and start asking your own questions! Ask for specific examples or instances when you failed to meet expectations? If you do not agree with these, speak up in a professional and constructive manner by outlining the work you actually did complete. Do not resort to ineffective back-and-forth with the person providing feedback. State your point, and respectfully disagree if necessary. Also, devise a plan with your manager or co-worker to address those areas where you received negative feedback, establish a deadline and commit to it! Through it all, please make sure to take detailed notes that you can refer to in the future. And keep level-headed, as a negative review may certainly be unpleasant, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to improve and to show your boss and co-workers what you are capable of.
How do you react when receiving positive or negative feedback?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jan 21, 2014 | Career
Exercising at work – missandmrsonline.com
During our lunch break, we raved about the Zippy jacket from Athleta, and talked about exercising at work. For many, using the privilege of having a gym on their work premises or nearby their place of employment is a must…while for others (especially those who are not exercise-prone like hum, yours truly), exercising at or around work leaves much to think about…
Basic questions like “where can I shower after my workout?” if you decide to use your lunch hour to hit the gym, or “How do I make sure I look presentable after a sweaty workout session?”, or even ” What if I run into my boss as I’m huffin’ and puffin’ on the elliptical?”, come to mind…
As much as we may want to put our best foot forward, and keep up with all our healthy resolutions for the New Year, combining professionalism and exercise can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. After all, perception is big in the corporate environment! And when it comes to being perceived in nothing less than your best, meeting the boss as you return from your sweat session looking quite disheveled may just not be the type of impression you’d like to give off…
For my $.05, I know first-hand that impression counts a lot at work. However, there is no reason not to allot allowed time into taking care of your fitness. If you are concerned about your image, invest in some quality exercise gear, locate shower facilities in your building, or start stockpiling your baby wipes supply (they come in handy when you don’t have access to a shower). And yes, I better apply all my $.05 of advice to myself first, which I am planning on doing, and will update you as to how that is going pretty soon…
So what do you think? Would you carve out some time at work to exercise? If you already do exercise on your job premises, how are you managing to do it?
The Corporate Sister
by Solange Lopes | Jan 21, 2014 | Career
Zippy Jacket – $89 – Athleta.com
For those of you who do work out at
Zippy jacket – $89 – Athleta.com
lunch (yes they exist, and no, I’m not one of them….yet!), we’ve found this amazing Zippy jacket from Athleta that will make you look fashionable even at the gym. As many corporate settings also offer the privilege of a gym inside or nearby their buildings, and as you may very well run into your boss or that annoying co-worker as you enter or exit the workout premises, you want to be prepared. We love the look of this French terry hoodie, that even has ruching details that will make you look slimmer and appropriately covered after your big sweat session. In addition, the wicking fabric will keep you comfortably dry and warm as you clean up and head back to your desk for a super-energized rest of the day…And it would certainly look amazing with the gym tote we found and wrote about a few weeks ago, also from Athleta!
It’s $89 at Athleta (psst! Athleta offers free shipping on all orders over $50…you don’t say)….
Seen a great, work-appropriate piece you’d like to share? Please post a comment, or email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jan 21, 2014 | Career
johnlund.com
Feedback is a big component of your performance at work, although many a time not enough emphasis is put on it by managers and employees alike. While most companies have a feedback system in place, mostly via periodic performance reviews, these can turn out to be too informal and infrequent to truly have an impact. When asked once about the adequacy of feedback at one of the organizations I worked at, an outstanding and very successful corporate sister had this smart reply: ” I believe that as members of a corporate organization, we should be proactive and take it upon ourselves to request the feedback necessary for us to advance in our careers.” While others were passively blaming the organizational structure, or the managers, for inadequate feedback, this sister was taking it upon herself to take charge of her career by requesting feedback. Since then, and by following her example, I’ve made it a practice to not just passively wait for the mid-year or quarterly review session at work to get (or give) feedback; but also to proactively seek (and provide) feedback on a regular basis. And to my surprise, it has proven to not only be an effective way to monitor my own performance, but also has been much appreciated by my superiors and co-workers alike:
- Actively seek feedback! Do not just wait for your regularly scheduled performance review to hear what your manager or co-workers think about your performance. When I started making it a habit to openly ask for formal and informal feedback outside of the mandatory performance reviews, I noticed that not only were the managers and co-workers I was requesting this feedback from open to provide it, but as a result, my performance significantly improved.
- Ask for feedback when it’s necessary! Many are the work projects that we are all involved in, and not all of these do warrant a feedback session. Target those projects and assignments that have significant impact, and proactively request feedback on those! You do not want to appear as the one who is always asking “How am I doing? Am I ok? Am I ok?”. Instead, you want to come forward when necessary and when it counts. Like they say, make it count….
- Last but not least, take the 360 degree approach to feedback! A manager I once worked for displayed a great example of leadership by requesting feedback from the entire department she supervised! Not only did she humble herself to ask how her performance was perceived, but also how her personality and attitude at work had an impact on the rest of us. As she explained later, feedback is an all-around process, not just an upward one. Feedback is best used and most inspiring when it also spreads laterally to peers and co-workers, and even downwards to direct or indirect reports. We can even give and get feedback outside of our own groups and departments. That is the power of feedback, as it’s not just a one-way process, and can extend way beyond our direct professional surroundings. And the wider the feedback circle, the better for us!
Will you be proactive and request feedback at work?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jan 20, 2014 | Career |
Nine West Eriee pumps – $50.99 – Zappos
For our coffee break/watercooler chat/shopping fix, we found these Nine West Eriee pumps on Zappos.com. Not only are these leather upper with curved collar and stitched detail pumps gorgeous, they also seem to be very comfortable. With a lightly cushioned footbed, wrapped heel, and an easy slip-on wear (according to the Zappos fit survey, these pumps are rated by 67% as having moderate arch support), these heels are perfect for the office as well as to transition to a night out. At 3 1/4”, they are definitely work-appropriate (check out our post on how high your heels should be at work).
They are on sale for $50.99, down from $79 at Zappos.
Seen a great, work-appropriate piece or pumps you’d like to share? Please post a comment below, or email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sister.
