One look at an email can rob you of 15 minutes of focus. One call on your cell phone, one tweet, one instant message can destroy your schedule, forcing you to move meetings, or blow off really important things, like love, and friendship. ~ Jacqueline Leo A newish word has crept into our social media … Continue reading “Phubbing” Can Lead to “Phlubbing”
Category: Workplace Strategy
Women’s History Month: Thank you, Billie Jean King
"Without Billie Jean King I don't know if any of us female athletes would be here." ~ Serena Williams Today is International Women's Day, and in the United States March is Women's History Month. Each year during this month, the National Women's History Project (NWHP) honors women in history with a theme, and this year it's … Continue reading Women’s History Month: Thank you, Billie Jean King
The Power Suit – It’s Still A Thing
"Fashions fade, style is eternal." —Yves Saint Laurent With the trend toward dressing down at work continuing, it is important for women to remember that the power suit is still a thing. The Suit - The Great Equalizer The struggle for equality in the workplace is ongoing; but to make progress in all fields women … Continue reading The Power Suit – It’s Still A Thing
Will Corporate America Please Stand Up?
"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." ~ Abraham Lincoln With the voices of women echoing from the ranks of the entertainment industry and the chambers of Congress about the evils of sexual harassment, the jaw-dropping numbers of powerful men toppling from their pedestals and promises of severe consequences to perpetrators … Continue reading Will Corporate America Please Stand Up?
We Interrupt this Woman…
The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting. ~ Fran Lebowitz A long accepted workplace practice when women and men are present in any kind of meeting -- regardless of the industry or setting -- is men speak and women listen, or women speak and men interrupt them. On the whole, women … Continue reading We Interrupt this Woman…
Coping With The Workplace Bully – Part 2
Bullies want to abuse you.
Instead of allowing that, you can use them as your personal motivators.
Power up and let the bully eat your dust. ~ Nick Vujicic
The last two entries, Scoping Out the Political Landscape and Coping With The Workplace Bully - Part 1 of 2, addressed the related topics of workplace politics and bullying and focused on background and statistics on bullying as well as current efforts to eliminate bullying. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, here are a few more insights:
Coping With The Workplace Bully – Part 1
"Come, we'll have him in a dark room and bound. My
niece is already in the belief that he's mad: we
may carry it thus, for our pleasure and his penance,
till our very pastime, tired out of breath, prompt
us to have mercy on him: at which time we will
bring the device to the bar and crown thee for a
finder of madmen. But see, but see."
~ Sir Toby Belch (speaking about Malvolio),
William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4
(Note: This two-part entry on bullying concludes my year-long series on job search skills and beginning a new job.)
Scoping Out the Political Landscape
"Chess, insanity and politics have always been inextricably
connected." ~ Sarah Hurst
Political dynamics begin in infancy and continue to pre-school. They intensify in elementary, middle and high school (for students and faculty/staff), and flourish on the college campus (for students as well as faculty and staff), and in the workplace. Politics are an integral part of our civilization. Thus, it's the wise person who recognizes and deals with the various political landscapes of his or her life. And very often navigating political situations can resemble a Chess game. To be clear, I am not an expert Chess player, having only tried my hand at it once or twice in my youth; but I am an expert on office politics, having played that game for several decades! And, having watched a few Chess games in my time I do see the similarities between it and the game of politics.
Renew, Regroup, Reinvent
“I was never surprised that they did not have a phoenix on display. There is only one phoenix at a time, of course, and while the Natural History Museum was filled with dead things, the phoenix is always alive.” ~ Neil Gaiman, Unnatural Creatures
“Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes.” ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Just as the Phoenix of ancient mythology could be reborn, we humans love to reinvent ourselves -- in effect start over with a revised persona and fresh outlook -- whether rarely, occasionally or perpetually. Reinvention can either be desired or prompted because we are dissatisfied, bored or deeply concerned with a particular situation or our status in general.
How to Bond with Your Boss
Andy: She hates me, Nigel.
Nigel: And that's my problem because... Oh, wait. No, it's not my problem
Nigel: But we're not expected until Tuesday. Did she say why?
Andy: Yes. She explained every detail of her decision-making.
And then we brushed each others' hair and gabbed about American Idol.
Nigel: I see your point.
~ The Devil Wears Prada
The key to a positive work experience is forging a great – or at least good -- relationship with your boss. That might be a challenge with some bosses (think Miranda in Devil); but when you're hired, this becomes your No. 1 Priority. For the time that you report to a particular manager, that person holds your career with the company in his or her hands. There are exceptions; but generally speaking, that’s the rule.
