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We all know that “professionalism” is a key component of career success. But what does it actually mean in real terms? And, more importantly, how can you enhance your professionalism without losing yourself in the process? These are important questions and ones I hope to answer in this article.
Showing up as your best self at work doesn’t mean always being perfect. It means being reliable, adaptable, and kind to yourself, even when things aren’t ideal. With that in mind, here are some simple things you can do to create the right environment and processes that support you in showing up consistently as your “best” self, whatever that happens to look like on any given day.
In today's competitive job market, standing out as a candidate can be challenging. The competition is fierce and fast. But it’s not impossible. People get new jobs every day! Somehow, they find a way to connect with the right person and make a strong enough impression to win the job offer. While it may be hard, it can be done.
As a career coach, I frequently tell people that stretch opportunities are your best ally for career advancement. If you’re looking to accelerate your professional development, hands-on experience is the most effective way to quickly build new skills while also enjoying the additional benefits of on-the-job learning.
Complacency describes a state of self-satisfaction that typically comes with a lack of awareness for potential deficiencies. It is one of the most significant—and common—threats to career growth. Learn how to identify signs of complacency in your own career and take action to prevent its dangerous onset.
Depending on the situation and what you’re looking for, a move in any direction (be it up, down or sideways) can be a strategic form of advancement that puts you on a path to achieve your long-term career goals. As you consider advancement options in your own career, I encourage you to consider how and when a backward or lateral move might serve you.
A raise is both a reward for the value you’ve created in the past and an investment in your future potential—the value your employer expects you to bring to the organization moving forward. Focusing on one side of the equation or the other is a tough sell. Considering both will help align your efforts with what really matters to your employer and increase your chances of financial success in the future.
If you’re invested in your work and care about doing a good job, it’s only natural to get emotional from time to time. But emotions can also be dangerous. One of the most important strategies to manage emotions at work is to GET CURIOUS. There are two important questions you can ask to help you do this.
In the professional world, everyone wants to stand out in a positive way, and that can be hard in a crowded marketplace. If you want to make a name for yourself, you have to take intentional steps to do a little bit more than the average person—and that’s where professional certifications come in.
No matter how much you love what you do, feeling unhappy at work is something almost everyone can relate to. We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. When it happens, here are some important steps to take before jumping into a job search.
So, you didn’t get the job. Bummer! But it’s happened to everyone at some point. In the midst of disappointment, it’s only natural to ask, “Why?” And sadly, there's no simple answer. Explore the many possibilities so you can be better prepared in the future.
Years ago, I developed a handy, somewhat silly, but very powerful strategy for managing my own emotional space. While it may seem trivial on the surface, I know from first-hand experience and through the experience of my training participants, that it REALLY works. If this is an area where you struggle, give it a try!
Using your relationships to get ahead is not only perfectly acceptable, it’s expected in the business world. But you have to learn how to leverage your network without taking advantage. You don’t want people to feel used, and you don’t want to ask for too much. There is a right way (and a wrong way) to approach this process.
In the modern workplace, "authenticity" has become a bit of a buzzword. The drive to be our "true selves" at work is a direct response to the robotic corporate personas that previously dominated office culture. However, as much as authenticity is championed, it's important to recognize that there's a fine line we have to walk.
We love to soak up new information and expand our horizons. But there’s a point when being an enthusiastic learner can turn into professional development overload. Acquiring knowledge is very beneficial, but trying to implement everything at once can be overwhelming (and really, it’s impossible!). Here are some practical tips to help you stay passionate about learning without going overboard.
In the busyness of everyday life, it's easy to adopt a "do it later" mindset, especially when tasks seem small or insignificant. However, this approach can lead to something called “operational debt,” a buildup of unfinished tasks that can seriously hinder your productivity. Preventing this is a crucial part of workload management. As much as possible, we want to avoid creating operational debt in the first place.
Documentation is a vital tool for enhancing productivity, accountability, transparency, and (most importantly) peace of mind. Whether paper-based or electronic, effective documentation practices can have a profound impact on your professional life.
Black Box Thinking is a transformative process that centers around the principle of learning from failures by meticulously analyzing them. Leveraging this mindset can change the way you deal with setbacks. Here's why it's so important and how you can implement it in your own career.
Choosing the right size organization to work for is an important decision that can significantly impact your career trajectory and professional fulfillment. Big or small or anywhere in between, there are benefits and drawbacks for all. Understanding these can help you make an informed decision about which environment will best support your career goals and work style.
No one wants to be thought of as arrogant. In fact, many of us fear it so much, we go to extremes. We end up hiding in the shadows for fear that any attention at all will get us labelled arrogant. But that’s counterproductive! There is a happy balance we can strike if we approach things thoughtfully and recognize where confidence ends and arrogance begins.
Management isn’t for everyone. Some people just aren’t cut out for it, and that’s perfectly okay! If you’re considering moving into management but not sure if it’s a fit for you, here are 7 signs it might not be a match for your skills and interests.
Whether you’re exploring a move to another company or considering a new role at your current organization, it’s always a risk. You can do your due diligence, conduct research, and ask all the right questions. And yet, you still never truly know what you’re getting into until you’re there.
Perfectionism is a double-edged sword. Striving for it can be a motivating force. But it can also lead to Perfection Paralysis: a state where the fear of not being perfect hinders our ability to get things done. Having fallen victim to this phenomenon more than a few times. I wanted to some practical strategies for overcoming this obstacle.
It's a widespread misconception that being indispensable makes your position secure. However, the harsh truth is that everyone is replaceable. While it's important to be a valuable asset to your team and organization, aiming for indispensability can actually be counterproductive. Discover why and learn what you should aim for instead.
In the professional world, we often encounter demands for immediate results or exceptional quality that doesn’t match the available resources. While it's our duty to clarify and push back on unrealistic expectations, we may face situations where that impossibly high bar is simply non-negotiable. Here’s how to deal.
Self-assessment is a crucial tool for personal and professional development. By evaluating your own performance (instead of simply relying on others to provide feedback), you can proactively identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth.
Prioritization is one of the most important topics under the umbrella of Time Management. It always surprises me to see how many capable, intelligent professionals still struggle with it. Recently, I got curious about why, and the answer surprised me even more.
As we stand at the crossroads of a rapidly evolving professional landscape, it's crucial to understand the key trends shaping the future of work. From advancements in hiring practices to the integration of AI and automation for productivity enhancement, the workplace of 2024 and beyond will be unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Salary discussions are multifaceted and nuanced. More often than not, sharing numbers with co-workers only sparks emotion—and that’s the wrong way to approach any financial conversation. There are better and more productive ways of identifying pay disparity and the reasons (justified or not) for it.
When it comes to Artificial Intelligence, most of us are focused on the productivity side of things, considering how we might use AI to get more done in less time. And certainly, that’s a big benefit. But there are many other uses that have the potential to positively impact our interpersonal dynamics—and those ideas are equally exciting.
Avoidance is often discouraged when we discuss conflict management strategies. But it’s a worthwhile option in some cases! Sometimes the risk of confrontation outweighs the benefits. If you’re wondering whether to address something or just let it go, here are 7 questions to help you make a smart decision.
You play a critical role in the success of your team and organization. However, one day in the near or distant future, you will move on. You’ll retire or get promoted or find a new job. Be proactive and put a plan together now to set your team and organization up for success—and to ensure you leave behind a professional legacy you can be proud of.
Standout Skills refers to a particular kind of professional skillset with 4 distinct qualities. These are skills that excite leaders, make hiring managers pay attention, and often merit higher wages. Explore this concept and see if you possess standout skills!
We ALL want to have an impact on our surroundings; we want our work to be meaningful and our voice to be heard. We want to make purposeful contributions. Learning to leverage our influence is a key way in which we do all of these things and more.
Procrastination can create disastrous career consequences. Instead of feeling guilty and criticizing yourself, it’s helpful to evaluate what’s causing your behavior. You can then put better systems into place to avoid these things in the future. Anyone can beat procrastination with the right tools!