Staying Positive is a Choice
Negative messages are everywhere. According to research, 77% of the messages we get every day are negative. No wonder! Just turn on the TV, read the newspaper, get on the web—and you’ll see it. There are even sites now that are for the sole purpose of putting in negative remarks. Yuk.
So how can we stay “up” when things seem so “down?”
First, recognize what we can’t afford to do… sticking our head in the sand and not looking at the news is not an option. As professionals, we simply must stay attune to the world’s happenings. So here’s one thing I’ve started doing…and it works!
Every morning before I get out of bed, I think of five things I’m grateful for—usually one is simply getting up in the morning.
Seriously, that sets the tone for my thinking more positive through the day. Then when something negative comes along, I can much more readily say “Oh well, “or at least I can keep from letting it get me into a negative mind set.
This seems appropriate for this time of year with Thanksgiving right around the corner. Try it…you’ll like it…along with the turkey!
Does Your Office Space Reflect Your Brand?
When you think about personal branding, most of the time, you consider things like, what does my personal appearance say about my professionalism? Or, what does my web site say about my innovation? Or what does my speech say about my work ethic? What gets forgotten, or not even considered, is what does my office say about my company?
And I mean physical office. Not your wonderful co-workers and superiors, but rather the four walls, dozens of cubicles and computers, carpets and wallpaper. What do these things say about your company’s unique brand?
I recently worked with a Fortune 500 company in their office space. They were great! What was remarkable about this experience is exploring the different offices. All of them were exactly the same size. From top dog to the bottom, all the managerial employees had the same office space. It was very disctinctive. Not something that I see every day. It sends a strong message of equal respect in the workplace. The physical building reminds all of them that all of their voices are worthy of being heard. It discourages favoritism and shifts the focus away from power struggles.
Another great example of a distinctive workplace is Pixar Animation Studios. The Pixar Story, a documentary about this film studio, showcased its creative, mind-simulating set-up. With scooters and Hawaiian decorations, it looks just like the sort of place that would be filled with cartoonists and grown-up kids. It also offers a lot of space for collaboration, which, as said in the film, is a necessary component for successful films. It’s a space that provides natural opportunities for employees to run into each other, so they can stay connected and unified. More than anything, it’s a creative space that allows each artist room to make his or her own mark. There’s no surprise that Pixar is consistently turning out great, creative films!
So what does your office say about your company’s professional brand? Or even what does your cubicle say about you?
Click here for more insightful information.
Professional Presence In Front of the Camera – How to Get a Great Headshot
Men:
- No checks/stripes
- Be sure there is a dimple in your four in hand knot
- French Blue shirt or off white under jacket
- Zero tie space collar if wearing a tie– meaning there is no space at the top of the collar at the neck
- Sport coat – solid is best. Navy and grey good jacket colors
- Hair – groomed
- Facial hair – groomed
- Put thought into the photo shoot….plan…bring extra jacket…etc.
- Get plenty of sleep. The camera doesn’t lie….emotion, bad news can show. Try exercising ahead, think of things that make you relax or laugh, or remind you of a positive experience.
- Develop rapport with photographer….get into right mental state so you don’t look up tight.
- Every millimeter that you turn your face makes a big difference – know your best profile or side of your face.
- Don’t’ look straight on
- Smile – have a pleasant expression. Practice in front of the mirror
- Purpose = look dependable, trustworthy, sincere, smile….be you, be authentic
Women:
- Hair groomed – bring hair spray
- Wear more make up than usual – no frosted makeup. Know how to use makeup to contour for effect – i.e. higher cheekbones, slimmer facial structure, smaller nose, etc.
- Powder, powder, powder
- No such thing as natural beauty before the camera – must wear makeup
- No cleavage – put your hand around neck, bring fingers down, no lower than 4 fingers below
- Bordeaux is a big fall color. Pink also works well with shades of gray jacket
- No shiny fabric
- Put thought into the photo shoot….plan…bring extra jacket…etc.
- Get plenty of sleep. The camera doesn’t lie….emotion, bad news can show. Try exercising ahead, think of things that make you relax or laugh, or remind you of a positive experience.
- Develop rapport with photographer….get into right mental state so you don’t look up tight.
- Every millimeter that you turn your face makes a big difference – know your best profile or side of your face.
- Don’t’ look straight on
- Smile – have a pleasant expression. Practice in front of the mirror
- Purpose = look dependable, trustworthy, sincere, smile….be you, be authentic
Click here for more insightful information.
Valerie
How to Lead in a Competitive Environment
If you consider yourself a strategic leader, then you know the importance of translating strategy into action and results. Here are a few tips:
Know yourself—know your leadership brand and what makes you different than other leaders in similar roles. Ask yourself, “Are people willing to be led by me or am I just managing their daily activities?” If you have a strong leadership brand, you are being followed because you’ve won the hearts and minds of those who work for and with you. So, are you an influencer or a director? What is working well for you and what behaviors should you consider changing?
Case Study: Consider the impact one leader had when she first became a part of the senior management team in a Fortune 500 organization.
When I first began working with Mary (name has been changed to protect confidentiality), she was a mid-level, high-potential woman seeking our executive coaching to help her move forward in her career.
In her promotion to a senior management role, the very first thing she did was determine what behaviors were recently pointed out in her performance appraisal as areas for improvement. She then called each of her new peers, requesting a meeting with them in person (and this team was spread across the country). She asked for an hour to meet with each of them on a more personal AND strategic level.
Each peer granted her request, of course, and during those meetings she shared her targeted areas for improvement and asked to be supported in holding herself accountable for personal growth. As a result, each colleague was impressed with her self-confidence in asking for help along with her sincere desire to grow professionally. The powerful ending of this case study is that Mary climbed further in her role to become President of a large division of the corporation before her recent retirement.
Know your role—what is expected of you as you operationalize the expectations of the business with your personal contribution to the organization? How can you be fully engaged in using your strengths? Have you “recently” taken an assessment on how others perceive these strengths? And what can you do to inspire and recognize others?
Case Study: Here’s how a client of ours built a work environment that inspired trust and respect.
Bill developed a communications plan during our executive coaching engagement that outlined—strategically and tactically—how he would communicate his vision for the organization and his business plan for the division. In creating his communications plan, we first determined the clear, consistent and constant message he wanted to share (the 3 C’s of a strong personal leadership brand). Then Bill chose the vehicles for building stronger communication that he felt comfortable using.
Some of the communication vehicles he decided upon included a monthly internal newsletter where he recognized those who made valuable contributions to the organization that month, suggestions he called his Top Ten Tips for the month’s business growth and enhanced customer satisfaction, and a quarterly video conference with his team across the country where he gave the opportunity for Q & A about any issues that were on their minds.
Bill’s leadership attributes included engaging, inspiring, visionary, strategic and trusting. Using his brand attributes and communications skills, he soon led his team in accomplishing outstanding results for the company and ultimately won the award for “Best Loved Boss” of the year.
Valerie
Conquering a phone interview
A terrifying pause, a screaming child, a continuous beeping from the other line. There seem to be so many ways that a phone interview can go wrong. But they’re unavoidable these days. Employers use them to weed through applicants and select potential hires for in-person interviews. I think that there is a way to do phone interviews well. It requires preparation and focus, but it’s possible.
1) Isolate yourself. Clear the room of all distractions, including children, pets, the television, and other phones. Tell your family or coworkers that you can’t be interrupted for the next hour.
2) Use your resources. Lay out your resume, your list of questions, and any notes that you may have. Enjoy the benefit of a phone interview; you can use your cheat sheets!
3) Smile. It adds a positive tone to your voice, and it will relax your nerves.
4) Speak slowly and thoughtfully. When you answer questions, enunciate and make your words clear. Your interviewer cannot read your lips, so it’s going to be more difficult to understand your words. Also, take time to form a real response, and don’t just say the first thing that comes to mind.
5) Allow for short silences. Your interviewer is probably recording your responses in some way and jotting quick notes. It is natural that there will be some pauses in your conversation. Also, you should feel free to take a pause to form a cogent, strong answer.
Forgotten Forms of First Impressions
A crucial component of your professional image is your first impression. Your word choice, your tone, your appearance and your body language communicate a particular message to the person that you are meeting. Your entire relationship is built on this first interaction.
Even if we don’t do a good job of preparing for this first meeting, most of us know that first impressions matter. We remember the offhanded comment said by our coworkers on the first day or the glaring typo in the opening slideshow. We all think about what our appearance and words say to an interviewer, but it’s easier to forget other opportunities for good first impressions.
- Voicemail message: It’s possible that the first time a future employer hears your voice, he or she is listening to you ask them to leave a message. As a result, keep it simple and classy. This form of impersonal communication is not the time for jokes or a casual tone. Your voicemail message should be functional for business and personal situations.
- Email address: More people will probably learn your email address than your phone number, so make sure your email address sends the right message. It should sound professional and polished, rather than silly or cute. Nothing can ruin a professional-sounding resume like an email address soccermom123@yahoo.com or dallaschick@gmail.com.
- Phone call: When you are talking of a future employer or client in an office, you would never scroll through emails or watch the television on silent. Don’t do it on the phone! When you’re talking to someone, be intentional about your tone and enthusiasm. Also, be as clear as possible because, without body language, communication can be more difficult
First impressions are impossible to erase, and with a little thoughtfulness, you can make them GREAT!
Blank
Sometimes your brain just seems like that: empty. You’ve been staring at the same unfinished email since lunch, or you are re-reading the same sentence in a brief for the tenth time. You just do not know what to do, and what’s worse, you don’t know where to find a solution. You can’t think of a way to address the problem, whether it’s a logistic or personnel issue.
I’ve been there, and it can be infuriating! Most of the time when I’m in this situation, I’m in a serious rut. I’m just running through old solutions that no longer address the current problem.
A lot of the times, I’m struggling to even feel creative or innovative. It’s very important to work through these moments when you feel empty of any solutions. A strong personal brand includes problem-solving skills! If you’re the person who can always seem to find a fix a problem, you become very invaluable.
So I’ve complied some ways to maybe “spice up” the problem-solving process. Maybe they can help youput some ink on that blank page of a mind.
1) Talk to an expert. If you can find somebody with experience dealing with this type of problem, he or she will be an invaluable resource. Even if the old problem was different, just hearing about past solutions can help you see possible ways to attack the problem. You get the benefit of hearing about what works and what doesn’t. You know what they say, ‘hindsight is 20/20.’
2) Talk to a novice. I have a friend who calls her mom whenever she’s stumped. She doesn’t call her to complain or even really to ask for advice. Instead, she knows that her mom doesn’t mind listening as she talks out the issue. Her mom will just ask simple questions for clarification, just trying to understand. It can be a great help to have someone listen as you explain the problem. Maybe when you’re talking it out, trying to make this novice understand why it’s a problem, you might see something that you didn’t see before.
3) Just Google it. Obviously, there are not very many articles about dealing with the multi-variable problems that most of us deal with every day. Googling, though, is an easy way to just read articles and web sites about any issue. I am not suggesting that you take just any web site’s advice as authoritative, but I am suggesting that reading through things online might just stimulate your thoughts. Online, you can immerse yourself in the issue: hear another’s thought, look at from a larger perspective and get out of your own head.
4) Start backwards. As a kid, I always did this when I solved the mazes on the back of cereal boxes. Start by identifying where you want to be: what are you trying to gain. I was trying to reach the very inside with the pot of gold! From there, you can start following out the logical necessities of that place. Shifting your perspective in this way can help you see something you might have missed before!
Dress for the job that you want
It’s a cliché, sure, but it also happens to be right. My dad used to always say that the newest hire should always be the best dressed. He told me that if my boss wears khakis and a button-down, I wear slacks and a blouse. By doing this, I give a driven and serious impression to my coworkers and superiors.
Any strong professional image includes the right look. Your clothes send a distinctive message about your professionalism. If you are dressed professionally, you will be taken seriously. You’re more likely to be promoted by your boss if you dress promote-able.
When dressing, think about your personal professional image. Are you thoughtful and serious in the workplace? Dress that way! Wear clothes that work for your body and that project your professionalism. Maybe you should dress traditionally with suits and low heels. Are you creative and polished? Find a wardrobe that portrays your original side but still looks sophisticated.
Where do you get ideas for the right wardrobe for your professional image? I would start first by looking at your coworkers and superiors. What do you like and dislike about their attire? Who just looks respectable? What outfits seem a little sloppy?
With any professional image, the devil is in the details. Consider your attire from hairstyle to shoes. Make sure that no component of your dress looks sloppy, unclean or worn. Like projects and presentations, your outfit should be thoughtfully constructed not just an afterthought. Your professional image depends on it.
Avoiding Miscommunication: Making Your Meaning Heard
What do she mean by that? So what are we supposed to do now? Do you think that they really think that? Why would he say that? Does she even know what she wants?
One of my worst nightmares is that when I walk away from a conversation, this flood of questions enters the mind of the person I was talking to. I never try to give more questions than answers, but it can be difficult to just get the message across! Miscommunication takes work to be avoided, but it is definitely worth the effort. Effective communication helps the culture of the workplace, increases productivity and can prevent some awkward situations.
One sure-fire way to avoid miscommunication is get feedback. The reason that I put this tip first is because sometimes messages are just difficult to communicate, and the only way that you can know if your meaning is understood is to ask. It does not mean that you are not a good communicator or that you think your audience is not intelligent. Asking for feedback and checking for understanding mean that you are being thorough and thoughtful. Make sure that your employees or colleagues know what you mean and give them time to ask you questions.
Another way to communicate effectively is to use the right medium. Think about how the message should be delivered before you deliver it. Does your superior need the situation written out in a hard copy? Would your employee better understand the issue if you talked her through it? Will you confuse your coworker if you do not spell out the implications in person? Also, you need to consider the time and place. A one-on-one meeting sets a tone that is lost in a chat over the water-cooler.
It is also important to be specific! Set hard deadlines if you need something at a specific time. Do not assume that your employees understand exactly what you want unless you tell them! They might be smart, but I doubt that they can read minds. By not being vague, you limit the ways that your message is communicated. “I want this done first” is different in meaning than “This is a time sensitive issue.” One indicates the next step while the other only describes a characteristic of a project.
By thinking about what kind of message you are sending with your words, you are one step closer to communicating effectively. So maybe this time, you can deliver more answers than questions.
Why Should You Take a Risk
You could be just the person to make something happen! Maybe during other times that this project or idea was attempted, the leader was not prepared or was not dedicated enough. Maybe you could be that person to make it work.
You will never have this opportunity again.You will never have this exact moment back. If you don’t try now, you will be losing a moment, a moment of momentum or a moment of excitement.
Don’t let your doubts hold you back. Let them educate you and let them caution you. But don’t let the fact that you have doubts stop you from acting. You will always have doubts, but your decisions must be made.
You’ll never know your limits until you stretch. In order to grow, you need to stretch yourself: in your creativity, in your management skills, and in your innovation.
You just might be able to do it. Sometimes projects look daunting from far away, but up close, they are manageable. Maybe this jump or risk is just terrifying from a distance. Start examining the pieces. Can you conquer this obstacle in chunks? If so, jump!
Valerie
