TRENDS IN THE BOARDROOM


What I learned about business from Sean Payton

First, you need to know, I am a huge football fan.  It all goes back to watching football with my father as a little girl; it was something that bonded us. He decided even if I was a girl, he could still teach me the technical aspects of the game. Actually, this knowledge became somewhat of an “equalizer” for me in the workplace with many of my male colleagues who were surprised and shocked by my knowledge of the game.

My dad coached Pee Wee Football for years and was a huge Washington Redskins fan since Virginia did not have an NFL team, per se.  So, fast forward to Charlotte, North Carolina and I am literally living in the Carolina Panthers’ backyard. What happens? Well, you adopt the home team and so many years ago, I joined “Panther Nation”.  I still get goosebumps when I hear Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” being belted out after a win by those of us left in the stadium, singing along in our triumphant, off-key shouts of glee.

So, with this perspective, you now understand why I was watching the NFL Playoff Game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams a few weeks ago.  While I am definitely not part of “Who Dat” Nation during the regular season – we are division rivals – I did cast my allegiance to the NFC South team in the Playoffs. So there I was, on the couch cheering on Brees and feeling good about their performance, when late in the 4th quarter, the unthinkable happened. No, not an interception or fumble.  It was a blatant, and I mean blatant, missed personal foul that would have most likely sealed the game for the Saints and their quest for the Super Bowl.

Read more »

How To Network Like A Pro

Networking is a crucial pillar to building a successful career, but it often gets a bad rep as being this smarmy, glad-handing way of getting new business. Fear and shyness can cripple some people to the point that networking feels like a terrible chore and is avoided at all costs.

Learning this important soft skill can mean the difference between you reaching your career goals or staying in the same place the rest of your career.

Let’s talk about some ways to network correctly and how to build your sphere of influence like a pro.

Networking is about building relationships

First of all, networking is not about putting on a cheesy smile, slipping your business card into a handshake, exchanging a few surface greetings, and then hoping that person decides they want to do business with you. Networking is about building relationships and getting to know people.

Read more »

Four Ways to Uncover A Company’s Culture Before You Accept A Job

It’s never too early to uncover the culture at an organization. Doing so before accepting a job can be a wise move. You may find that either you’re not a good fit for that company, or that company is not a good fit for your values and work style. 

It’s important to find out what you can about policies, the organization’s leaders and stakeholders, the work environment, and the numbers. How is its stock doing? How does it compare to competitors? Doing your due diligence will help fill in some of those crucial planks, and it can help you get a feel for the company before you walk in the door for your first interview.

Here are four ways you can get the real scoop on a company’s culture:

1. Look to social and traditional media

See what people are saying on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook about the company, it’s products, employees, and services. Check out sites like Glassdoor to see what former employees have to say. Investigate what business media are saying about this organization and its key stakeholders.

Read more »

How To Choose A Career That’s Right For You

Choosing a career path can be a daunting task. Whether you’re a college student feeling unsure about what to do after graduation, or you’re a professional simply looking for a change, it takes some self-reflection and honesty to answer this question.

Get to know yourself

First, take time to get to know yourself. What are your values? What matters to you? If you want to choose a career path that’s right for you, it’s crucial that you become self-aware and know the answers to these questions because they can help guide you throughout your career. So many of us climb the corporate ladder, shape-shifting as necessary depending on what organization we work for, pausing only when something we’re told to do sends shivers down our spines. Instead of taking the time to identify our values, we plod along just hoping to avoid making any terrible mistakes.
A better plan is to craft a values statement, identifying the things in life that are most important to you. This will help you get to know yourself, and it will help you know when to say no to the things that will only be distractions from your real goals. Gaining clarity on values can also help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as well as likes and dislikes. Aligning your values with the mission of the organization may help you in deciding which employer is going to be a cultural fit for you personally. Having this clarity can also help you in assessing your passion and deciding how you want to make your mark in the organization you are spending the majority of your time working for day-in and day-out.

Read more »

How to fall in love with your job again

       It’s another day at the office. You’re trying to stay focused on the tasks in front of you, but the day-to-day hustle has made the job you love feel mundane. And there at your desk, surrounded by everything you thought you ever wanted, you’re suffocating.

Sound familiar?

      Or maybe your story is that you’re just trying to make a paycheck. Circumstances brought you to your current job, and you haven’t had a chance to even think about what you really want. You can’t always pursue your passion because you have to put food on the table. How can you fall in love with the job you didn’t want, but it’s what you got?

Before you give up, let me tell you there is hope. It is possible to fall in love with your job all over again (or for the first time).

Here are some ways to work toward that right now:

Read more »

Gift-giving In The Workplace – How To Navigate Those Gray Areas

Getting through another season of gift-giving in the workplace can create a whole new kind of holiday stress. Shopping for friends and family can already be a struggle for some, so the thought of finding a gift for a colleague that is inoffensive and appropriate can become a daunting task.

In light of all the news that has surfaced in the last month about sexual harassment, my hope is that professionals will become more aware of how their actions, including their gift-giving, can affect their careers and reputations.

Some do’s and don’ts are more apparent than others, but what about those seemingly gray areas? A gift-giving pitfall has the potential to be a career downfall. Here are some guidelines for office gift-giving that can help you conquer your shopping and calm your career anxiety.

Read more »

Why You Need A Life Board of Directors

What is a Life Board of Directors?

There is a lot that goes into managing a career. One invaluable tool that can make all the difference is having a Life Board of Directors. This board should be made up of people who can give you honest, blunt feedback and seasoned advice on all aspects of life. Look at it as a round table of experts you can glean from. Surrounding yourself with a network like this can be a crucial part of your growth as a professional.

Why you need one

networking

Having only one mentor isn’t bad, but consulting with a group of mentors is more effective. Instead of learning from one person and their experiences, you are learning from the expertise of multiple people. The outcome is the ability to make informed decisions. This sphere of influence fosters growth and improvement, setting you up for success.

Who to put on your board

When it comes to choosing people to be on your life board, look for a variety of expertise and experience. Depending on your career path, find colleagues, clients, industry peers, supervisors, and so on. Find people who have more experience than you and have the skills you’re still needing to develop. You can also choose people you don’t know personally, but you are studying their practices or career moves. Maybe you read their books, listen to their speeches, or follow them on social media. You also need to make sure the members you pick can contribute in different ways and they’re not just a fan club singing your praises.

Read more »

You better Handle Your Social Media Reputation with Care

In today’s world, it’s almost impossible not to be involved with social media. It has become a huge part of daily communication and a main source for news. It has amplified the importance of building and protecting your reputation. When it comes to your reputation on these platforms, posting the wrong photo, quote, or phrase can easily damage the character and impressions you’ve worked to build. The question to keep in mind before you post something is, “How will this post affect my career?”


One insensitive tweet, a thoughtless Facebook post, an inappropriate Instagram photo, an offhand comment on LinkedIn, can cause some damage. Anything can be misconstrued, taken out of context, or over-hyped. All of your accomplishments, all of your successes, every performance measure you’ve met or blown out of the water, all of that speaks to your professional reputation. Don’t destroy what you’ve been working so hard to build up. 

Read more »

Getting a handle on your work-life balance

Work-life balance is one of the most talked about topics, but even with all the chatter, working professionals still struggle with implementing balance to their life and career. It’s not always easy. I know having that healthy work-life balance can be a hard task to keep up with, especially when you ‘re managing a thriving career while staying on the top of your competition.

When you have a healthy work-life balance in place it won’t seem impossible to maximize your career success because you’ll know what matters to you. You’ll know what success looks like. You’re not going to constantly struggle to attain an abstract vision of success, meaning that you won’t be defined by someone else’s vision of success.

Read more »