Co-Founder of Linkedin Leads Seminar in Plano
Socially Savvy Seminar in Plano hosted over three hundred business professionals who came to hear from Linkedin Co-Founder Eric Ly.
Click here to watch the video.
Valerie
What Happens to Your Brand When Change Hits?
One thing is for sure – only a wet baby gets immediate relief from change!
Working 15 years as a change management consultant in Fortune 500 companies, I learned how leaders handle the stress that often accompanies changes like a reorganization, downsizing (or whatever sizing is the buzz word of the day!), mergers or acquisition, and even having a new boss. What can you do during these difficult times to show your strengths and never deviate from your strong brand? Here are a few tips – not only from me, but from those I worked with during those years.
• Push the patience lever to full throttle. It’s easy to lose it! And it takes a strong leader to wait until your own stress has subsided a bit before you say or do something you’ll regret.
• Be willing to say “I don’t know.” Don’t ever fake it ’til you make it. Here’s what an admired CEO chose to do when his company was being acquired. People were constantly asking him what was happening, when would they know if their job was in jeopardy, and who would be in charge – the current or future leaders? So he decided to hold regular “all hands” meetings. Some were in person, others via video conferencing. In these meetings he shared what he could, explained there were some things he simply could not discuss at the moment, answered questions and often found himself saying, “I don’t know….and when I DO, you will know too.” Result? He used the first principle in change management, which is to communicate, communicate, communicate. Even if it is saying “I don’t know.” Because of his leadership behaviors and consistent messaging, the trust level remained high, honest communication was appreciated, and when the acquisition finally happened, people were ready to get on board. He demonstrated some of his authentic brand attributes that included “trustworthy, engaging, ethical and communicator.” These showed up in his behavior big time.
• Help others show their strengths and strong brand. Now is when it’s uber-crucial to express clear expectations and get everyone involved. Consider having your team leaders hold their own discussion groups across departments and locations. Let them show their leadership competencies by talking about the complex issues that may lie ahead and how to address them as a department as well as individuals. Give them the opportunity to show their leadership brand strengths that will identify the business strategy that’s driving the change and demonstrate those behaviors that will encourage each person to be more engaged in the process. One thing most employees want from an organization is the feeling of being valued and an opportunity to use their strengths to get results.
Valerie
Professional Presence Matters
What a joy that I still work regularly with companies in every industry on ways to project a strong presence and personal brand.
It’s a timeless topic and since 1981 I’ve been writing and presenting Professional Presence workshops. So, why is your presence – your Brand – so important?
Here are a few things to consider:
• We cannot NOT communicate by what we wear. We are evaluated by what we wear before we ever speak a word. Recruiters know that. Job seekers learn that. And successful professionals understand that.
• From the tip of our heads to the bottom of our shoes, everything we wear makes a statement. Our hair style (is it current?), our clothing (is it appropriate?), our accessories (are they too much?) and certainly our grooming (check those missing buttons or frayed collars). It’s the little things that can make a big difference in how we are perceived.
• What we wear says volumes about how we see ourselves. Your image can project confidence, power and success. Or it can derail you by being too casual, untidy or careless.
• What we wear shows respect. For yourself and for others. It shows you care about showing a strong brand that stands out from peers and competition. Be who you are, but be the BEST of who you are.
Recently I coached a young man who was identified by his company as a high potential leader. Talented – he is. Smart – he is. Savvy – he was not. He had everything going for him except knowing how to dress appropriately for any situation. Since the company culture was Business Casual, he had the option to wear dressed down attire but it was confusing to him. Just what IS Business Casual – he wondered.
I offer simple models to follow from my book, “Business Casual….Clarify Please!”
1. High level business casual clothing pieces for men
2. High level business casual clothing pieces for women
3. Mid-level clothing for men
4. Mid-level clothing for women
5. Base-level clothing for men
6. Base-level clothing for women
And what is NEVER appropriate in business casual, according to research with human resource professionals
My client simply needed to see the differences and how to choose what was best for the various activities of his role. He learned one simple philosophy: “Dress for where you want to BE, not where you ARE.” In other words, show your brand by what you wear.
Valerie
Leaders Know How to Build Relationships
Valerie Sokolosky Speaking at the Women in Transportation Summit about Leadership Presence, and Personal Branding.
Influencing Without Authority
I wanted to le you know I will be holding a webinar on the topic “Influencing Without Authority”.
Description: Today’s work environment often requires us to accomplish our objectives by working through others. When we have no authority over them, influencing skills become crucial. In this program, Valerie will share tips on how to influence and delegate when you are in the position of authority and when you’re are not.
The details are:
Tuesday, April 17th at 2:00pm Eastern
Click here for more information.
Valerie
Radio Interview
I wanted to let you know of a radio interview I am having on Blog Talk Radio by everydayRadio on April 4th. I will talk about how I built my business and tips I’ve learned along the way.
The details are:
Wednesday April 4th at 9:00pm Eastern
Click here for more information.
Valerie
Career Thought Leader’s Summit
I recently spoke for the Career Thought Leader’s Summit in Baltimore on the Dynamics of Executive Coaching and received this thank you 
Valerie
I Am Presenting Today!
Today, March 14, 2012, I am speaking at the Career Thought Leader conference on “Executive Coaching…What Does It Take?” Click here to check it out!
Valerie
DO AWAY WITH THE “SHOULDS AND OUGHTTAS
Do what you like to do…not what someone thinks you should do. This was brought home recently while I was traveling across country for a speaking engagement. Sitting next to me was a disappointed mother who was going to the university where her second son had chosen to study business. She told me that she intended to get with the advisors at that college and ask them to help her son (who was finishing his first semester!) change his major to something she felt was simply more opportunistic. “I think my son is wasting his time in this major. He should be an engineer, or a doctor or maybe an accountant. But business – aughhhh. And I want someone to tell him that!
You can imagine what I was thinking, especially being so passionate about the importance of being who you ARE, not what others try to mold you to be. Believe me, it was hard to keep my mouth shut. But I did! Clearly, she was not in the mood to listen, having her mind made up that she knew best for her son. I can only say – that’s a sad situation for her son….and I wish him well. Hopefully, he can be persuasive about HIS desires for HIS future – and stand up for what he believes in and likes. For the rest of us, I wonder how often we have felt the need or been influenced to be less than authentic. It’s never too late. Stay true to yourself, know what you want to be known for – and stick to your guns, as we say in Texas!
Valerie
Speaking on Branding Your Style
I was thrilled to recently meet Eric Ly, the co-founder of LinkedIn and to find out about his innovative new company, Presdo.
Valerie
