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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.