Seeking A Promotion? Don’t Do This

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one-hundred-1165990_1920Attitude can be everything when it comes to work, especially if we are seeking a promotion. How we conduct ourselves both on a day-to-day basis, as well as when we are tasked with new challenges, bears more weight than sometimes we realize.

A crazy example of this recently happened to a friend of mine. For the sake of the story and protecting the innocent, I’m going to call him Joe.  Hi Joe!

Joe manages a team of hard-working, educated professionals who all contribute to the success of multi-million dollar projects. Everyone works on multiple projects at once, and sometimes a person may be moved to a different project based on where the help is needed at that moment.

This sounds pretty typical of a workplace environment, doesn’t it?

Even Joe, at his senior level, jumps from project to project, staying late and coming in early. It’s the nature of the industry.

Imagine Joe’s surprise when a member of his team came to him, expressing frustration because he had been asked to work on a new project, one that he didn’t particularly like.

He told Joe point-blank, “I’m not going to give it 100%.”

Wow.

“I’m not going to put in my best effort because I don’t like this project.”  Or, what the employee was really saying, “I’m going to have a toddler’s temper tantrum. Nyaah, nyaah, nyaah.”

There is so much wrong here I almost don’t know where to begin. Let’s look at possible explanations for this employee’s approach to handling this work situation:

  • It’s reverse psychology of some sort, telling his boss he’s not going to do a good job and hoping that when the he does deliver a good product, his boss thinks more highly of him.
  • Maybe he’s trying to hide the fact that he’s only good at one type of work, and the new project doesn’t play to his strengths?
  • He won too many “Participation” trophies and is now convinced he knows what’s best for him.
  • He’s never heard the word “No”.
  • Perhaps he’s simply lazy.
  • Could it be that he’s really that stupid to tell his boss he’s not going to do his best?

This is a highly educated person who’s been employed long enough to figure out how business works; you’d think he would have enough common sense to know better.

I’ve managed dozens, if not hundreds, of people over the course of my career, and while I know not everyone was pleased with all of their assignments I’ve never had anyone tell me they would not give it their best shot.

This employee was clearly not thinking when he uttered those fateful words. 

While not an offense that will cost him his job, it is definitely going to be remembered.

Here’s what I anticipate will happen:

  • First, this conversation will be shared by his boss with other leaders of the firm
  • As a result, when new project opportunities come up, this employee will not be the first person considered
  • When reviewing candidates for promotion, this employee will not be advancing. With an attitude like that, why should he be trusted to handle more responsibility for the company?

The lessons here are many. Most important: Think about your long-term strategy and career growth before complaining to your boss about a short-term project.

Giving 100% to a short-term project will add to your resume and has the potential to make both you and your boss look like super stars. The long-term implications show you are a team player who can deliver on any number of projects vs. being a whiner who is self-centered, lazy, and refuses to work except on select projects.

It’s your choice; it’s your career.  But don’t complain when you don’t get a promotion.

Career Panic: How Do I Know If This Job Is The Right Job?

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keyboard-114439_1920My first career-panic moment occurred at the beginning of ninth grade.

I was only thirteen at the time when the guidance counselor asked, “What do you plan to major in when you get to college?”

The blank stare on my face must not have registered my answer for her as she persisted by asking, “Well, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

Honestly, I didn’t have a clue. Not one.

At that point my career plans consisted of trying out for cheerleader for the current year, with a backup plan to continue with dance and orchestra.  Looking ahead to high school I was leaning more towards drill team vs. cheerleading but I figured I had another nine months before tryouts to think about it.

The panic that took over as I thought about a life-long career option was almost too much to bear.  I went home in tears, convinced that I would be a failure in life because I had not chosen a career path at age thirteen.

My parents just smiled and said, “Don’t worry; you’ll figure it out. One step at a time.”

Easy for them to say! My life was falling apart before my eyes and they’re telling me to remain calm?

Looking back, I know that mom and dad were right.  I only wish they would have explained things a bit more.

I see a similar type of panic with some of my younger clients when they are interviewing for a job or an internship. Despite having years of college and/or degrees on their resume, many have yet to truly determine what they want to be when they “grow up”.

They ask me, “How do I know if this job is the right job? Or even the right company?”  “What if it isn’t ‘The One’”?

The answer is: You don’t know.  None of us has a crystal ball.

You don’t know if it’s the right job, the right company, if you’ll enjoy the work, or if you’ll like the people.

The only thing we can do is take it one step at a time.

Personally, I look at several criteria when evaluating a job offer:

  • How does this job fit into my overall career strategy, both long-term and short-term?
  • Will the job add something new to my resume? Skills, title, responsibility, industry?
  • Is this job satisfying a personal need and/or desire? Example, transitioning from one career to another. Could be considered part of your career strategy.
  • What’s my gut telling me?  Do I have a good feeling about the work I’ll be doing, the people, the company?
  • Conversely, have any warnings gone off in my head that won’t go away?  Sometimes that means ignoring a monetary offer so good it’s hard to pass up.

It can help to write down the answers to such questions or even perform a SWOT analysis if that makes you feel better.

But don’t over-analyze; there is no perfect answer.

Accept the job offer that feels right based on your criteria and give it your all.  Learn what you like – and don’t like – about the work and the industry.  Apply those learnings when you decide to move on to the next opportunity in a few years.

Sometimes we’ll hit a home-run the first time at bat.  But don’t panic if you strike out. More than likely, it will take a few swings before we find our true calling. 

We learn from every job experience, even those we are not crazy about.

Remember: One step at a time. One job at a time.

6 Things NOT to Expect from Your First Job

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startup-594090_1920Most of us have high expectations of our first job out of college. We create a vision of where this first job will take us, even creating timelines for achieving success.

Others share our visions of grandeur, with high-fives from friends and huge sighs of relief from parents who can finally claim they are now fiscally responsible for one less person.

It’s great to have a career vision and strategy; the problem is that often our expectations for our first job are unrealistic. We fail to think of what NOT to expect from our first job.

Not sure where this comes from; it may be a combination of information gathered from college career centers, professors, other students, social media, and even parents.  Add a bit of imagination, some hope and desires and you’ve got a recipe for disappointment.

Some will be quick to blame Millennials, as clearly they feel “entitled” and obviously are to blame for any misunderstanding of the work world. Not so fast; I’m pretty sure most of us were at least a tad bit disappointed by the ugly truth that was our first job.

If there’s blame to be placed, it’s on the rest of us who have gone before – including parents – for not setting the record straight.

This is for anyone who is about to graduate, or who has recently joined the workforce.

6 Things NOT to expect from your first job

  1. A Huge Salary. This is all relative. Many starting salaries today seem exorbitant to us career veterans who had to eat Ramen noodles with our starting salaries.  Yet I know better than to argue with a recent grad. The point is this is your first job; you have little to no skills yet that command a large salary.  Work hard, make yourself invaluable and the salary will follow.
  2. Quick Promotion. Somewhere it became popular to promise candidates a quick rise to the top, or at least the next level. Reality Check: The only thing you are promised at hiring is the job you are being hired for. Period. After that, the clock starts ticking again and you have to prove yourself to a company full of people that don’t know you.
  3. Praise for a Job Well Done. Parents of Millennials have done kids no favors here, encouraging them in all endeavors even if they performed terribly. It’s nice to be told “Good Job” at work, but it’s rare. It’s your job to do a good job; that’s why you were hired.  So don’t expect any special recognition for it.
  4. Control of your time. Others are counting on you at work, which means you are not able to come and go as you please 100% of the time.  Be considerate; arrive on time to morning meetings; stay late if necessary; possibly work weekends despite the fact that your friends are out on the town. Even your vacation needs to be taken with the consideration of your boss and teammates in mind. Someone has to be available in case of a crisis, right?
  5. Doing the Work vs. Reinventing the Wheel. Armed with a freshly minted degree, it may be difficult to understand why the company isn’t anxious to have you completely revamp the way it does business. Sometimes it’s best to listen and learn first, then once you’ve got a real understanding of how it works, make a suggestion based on experience.
  6. Your career will be defined by this job. Who came up with this? While your career will be influenced by EVERY job you have, you are not defined by your first job. If that were true, I would be an engineer, despite the fact that I’ve had a successful career in marketing and PR, and am now a Certified Professional Career Coach.  Don’t put this pressure on yourself. Accept your first job; work hard at it; learn from it – the good and the bad – and apply those learnings to your next opportunity.

It’s okay to have high expectations. Just try to avoid unrealistic expectations that may lead to disappointment.

Dig in to your first job. Learn from it. Grow.

 

Win at Work by Knowing How to Act: the Academy Award Winning Performance

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mothers-day-649304_1280We all know actions speak louder than words, right?  How about acting?

What if I told you the key to winning at work is in knowing how to act?

I’m not talking about everyday politeness, keeping your work-space neat, and replacing the paper in the copier. This is deeper and requires us to develop a skill that we can use during the toughest times.

I’m talking about an Academy Award-Winning Performance.

Some people excel at this; others have to work really hard; others fail miserably. Successful business people learn the skill of the Academy Award Winning Performance and use it to their advantage.

I must confess that it took me awhile to understand this concept, and then to use it. Most of the time I get it right although sometimes my performance falls short.

When do you need to be ready with an Academy Award Winning Performance? Some examples include:

  • Putting on a brave face when your coworker receives the promotion you’ve been working towards.
  • Continuing to work hard, despite losing coworkers and friends during a layoff.
  • Maintaining professional composure when your boss or another exec unleashes a tirade about your work.

These are just a few; there are many, many more.

Some people have told me that attitude or such a performance doesn’t matter so they will let their emotions and reactions “just happen”.  That’s one way of doing it, although I would caution anyone who wants to do this as an emotional outburst could come back to haunt you.

One of my clients faced the daunting prospect of being the sole survivor in his department after a layoff. Not only was he sole survivor, as a result he had a new boss and a new position within the company. He was emotionally drained and frustrated, to say the least.

I counseled him to put on an Academy Award Winning Performance, knowing he was looking for his next opportunity outside of the organization. He decided to embrace his new role and, rather than simply doing the assignment his new boss gave him, he went above and beyond, providing her with a new strategy and tactics for execution.

She was thrilled and he received a promotion as a result. All due to his Academy Award Winning Performance.

At the end of the day, he found another opportunity outside of the company that better suited his skills. Yet the real lesson here is by embracing the role of team player, he secured a promotion. Who knows what would have happened had he simply sunk into his negativity?

He also created good will with his new boss which may benefit him in the future. It’s all about networking, you know.

Think about how the occasional Academy Award Winning Performance may help you at work.

Remember: the very best actors are not the ones who win an Oscar. They are the nominees left sitting in the audience, cameras trained on their faces as they smile happily for the winner when deep down inside they must be crying, screaming and cursing at their misfortune.

But they can’t show it. They are on live TV, with the world watching them. Literally.

That’s what it’s like to be a winner at work.

3 Concepts Millennials and Boomers Must Understand In Order to Work Together

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team-866663_1920Is it possible for Millennials and Boomers to work effectively together? The media would have us believe the two groups are like oil and water, impossible to coexist in harmony.

A self-described “Millennial in a Boomer Suit”, I know it’s not only possible but it can be truly rewarding for both groups.

We are actually not that different. My goals, attitudes and ambitions when I was fresh out of college were pretty much the same as today’s graduates. It’s just that I didn’t have the ability to share my thoughts and dreams on social media.

For these two groups to form a successful team, here are 3 Concepts Millennials and Boomers Must Understand in Order to Work Together

1. Respect for Knowledge Goes Both Ways
Boomers have experience that can only come from years on the job in the real world. Millennials bring an understanding of new technology and fresh ways of thinking. Both groups need to embrace the other’s knowledge. Combined, they are a powerful force.

Boomers, it’s okay to admit that you are not up to speed on every new social media platform. Ask the Millennials for a quick tutorial; they love to show their skills and contribute to the team.

Millennials, remember that tried and true ideas may still be the best way to go – experience does count for something. Listen and learn first before pooh-poohing established programs. Your colleagues will then be more receptive to enhancing existing methods with new techniques.

2. Understand the Similarities and Embrace the Differences
Common misconception among Boomers is that Millennials are 8 to 5’ers; not willing to work the long hours that Boomers are accustomed to.

Actually, Millennials are more than willing to do what it takes to get the job done. The difference is that they don’t put boundaries or limits on “work” vs. “personal” time. They are used to having technology at their fingertips and are comfortable taking a break from their personal time to complete a work assignment “after hours” if it means they can attend a fitness class first.

Boomers may need to relax the expectation of staying late at the office unless there is a deadline; Millennials need to communicate openly with their managers about their commitment to completing work in a timely manner.

3. We’re All In it to Win It
At the end of the day, Millennials and Boomers want the same thing: to do a good job, a feeling of satisfaction and to advance in their careers. Possibly more money, of course, and recognition. The point is, neither group wants to fail. Both are “In it to win it”.

Winning takes team work. There should be no “Us young people” vs. “Us mature people”. This serves no purpose except to bring morale down.

I’ve learned a great deal throughout my career from both older colleagues and younger ones. Each brings different set of skills and knowledge, yet critical to my own development. Without learning from all different levels, I would not be where I am today.

Respect Knowledge. Understand the Similarities. Embrace the differences.

The result? We all win.

The Trick to Achieving Success: Have a Plan

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January is almost over; time to review your first month’s progress for the New Year.

Did you achieve your goals?

If this question makes you uncomfortable, I’ll take it that you either

  1. Didn’t achieve your goals for the month, or
  2. Didn’t set any goals to begin with.

Worst case, you did not develop a plan for the year at all.

Let’s have a moment of silence for anyone without a plan.

The trick to achieving success is to have a plan.

This includes setting goals. The plan does not have to be an elaborate PowerPoint presentation with schematics set to music. What it does need are realistic, achievable, goals with action items and a time table for results.

Some people refer to these as SMART goals. Whatever you need to make it work, just do it.

Recently Hubby and I met with our mortgage lender who works independently without the comfort of a large firm backing him up. He’s smart, easy to work with, explains the details in a way that we understand, and watches out for our best interests. And he’s successful.

In his office I noticed a small grease board with “2016” written at the top. Below was the number of new mortgages he was going to close; the number of new clients he wanted to engage; and personal goals that included vacations and flying lessons. This small board hung on a wall facing his desk so he had to see it every time he looked up.

It’s a daily reminder of what he needs to do in order to be successful in 2016.

His board made me realize I was behind in my planning and had failed to set my goals for the year. Usually I write them on my own grease board and place it in a prominent location. This year, they are still in my head, swimming around with all sorts of to-do lists and other distractions.

Successful people are not successful because it just happens; they are successful because they plan the work and work the plan.

We’ve got a few days left in this first month, people, to get this year started on the right foot.

  • Write down your goals for the rest of the year.
  • Include dates for completion.
  • Review your plan each month.
  • Adjust accordingly.

Most importantly: place your goals where you can see them every day.

Now, GO! We have work to do.

The Best Cure for the Holiday Hangover. Or, How to Get Back to Work After the Holidays

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girl at computer-1064659_1920The New Year is starting out exactly the same as last year: with a holiday hangover.

You know what I’m talking about. It’s like someone took a giant pin and burst the bubble of fun you’ve been having for the last month. Suddenly there’s a cloud of responsibility looming; nudging us as if to say, “No more fun for you; it’s back to work!”

For just a short time we’ve been able to ignore any career-related issues. Hate your job?  Even the craziest offices settle down as the company holiday party relaxes toxic co-workers. Then your PTO kicks in and suddenly things don’t seem as bad this time of year.

Looking for a job? You tell yourself hiring slows while managers take vacation, you decide to spend this “down” time updating your resume and developing a strategic job search plan that begins on January 1st.

Yes, all will be better after the holidays.

Guess what? The New Year is here. January 1st has come and gone.

Where is the strategic plan you had in mind? How about the updated resume? New business cards?

Did you do anything aside from reveling in time off?

Yep, it’s the holiday hangover. Too much fun; not enough work.

Ironically, despite supposedly being refreshed from taking time away from work and responsibility, it’s hard to get back to our jobs or the work of a job search after the holidays.

The holiday hangover has a firm grip on us.

The best way to get back to work or to your job search after the holidays? Hit it hard, and right away. The more you dive in, the easier it is.

  • Review. What were you working on before the holidays? What do you need to pick up and what can be dropped?
  • Prioritize. Scan email for important “must do now” items. Do not get sucked into trivial tasks that can wait until later.
  • Plan. Make a list of what you want to accomplish, with specific deadlines.
  • Work. Go for it; don’t think about it. I’ve found that once I start working, it’s amazingly easy to get back into the groove. It’s the thinking about it that’s torture.

If all else fails, make plans to meet friends after work or on the weekend to have fun. We all need balance in our lives.

Remember: Review, Prioritize, Plan, Work. It’s the best cure for the Holiday Hangover.

5 Areas to Purge for Success in 2016

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new-years-day-1062608_1280I’m done with New Year’s resolutions. Never have been a fan.

The reason? More often than not, we find ourselves sad at the end of the year when we realize once again we have failed to deliver on our expectations by not sticking to those resolutions (made in a moment of insanity) before the clock struck midnight on December 31st.

So, no resolutions for me.

Something I always commit to is an annual plan, with goals for me and my business including time frames. Using a grease board, I write down my goals for the year, including strategy and tactics for achievement. I’ve found this to be more realistic and I can actually say I’ve achieved my goals. Maybe not every single one, but most of them.

Looking ahead at my goals for 2016, one word comes to mind: Purge.

It’s not so much a word for me as it is a movement towards newness and away from things that are no longer working. To me, “purging” consists of getting rid of unnecessary items, words or thoughts that are standing in the way of my success.

If I’m going to be the best at what I do, then purging those things that are no longer helping me be productive needs to be my number one priority.

Let me share what I’ll be working on; here are 5 areas to “purge” for success in 2016:

  1. Office and desk. I’ll admit I have a love affair with office supplies, especially notebooks and pens. My color-coordinated file folders are great but they need to be in the file drawer, not on top of my desk. As a result, my environment is not conducive to working which makes it tough to stay focused. Purging my desk of extra pens, notebooks and other stuff to help me focus is a top priority.
  2. Habits. Checking email, Facebook, Twitter and a host of other online sites is a habit that’s gotten out of hand. As a marketer, I can argue that all of these are necessary for my work. True, but there’s got to be a limit to when and how much time I allow myself for this. Goal: Purge the “random checking” of these sites and replace the habit with “scheduled” checking to better manage my time.
  3. Email. Thousands of emails clutter my inbox. Simple purge here: set aside a few hours one day to delete all but the most recent emails. Going forward, delete email weekly, if not daily.
  4. Resume. Despite the fact that I revise my resume at least once a year, I still need to purge items that are no longer needed and look for better ways to tell my story. This is an often over-looked task for most people, who rarely review their entire resume, only adding new information at the top as-needed. Yet unnecessary words and/or phrases may actually be harmful to a person during a job search.
  5. Thoughts. Sometimes I am my own worst enemy when it comes to moving forward with a project or idea. In an attempt to understand all sides of the project, I can focus on the negative rather than the positive. I plan to purge these thoughts and replace them with my plan for success.

There are more areas I could purge, yet I want to achieve my goals so I’ll start here. When I achieve these, I’ll add more.

Stuck with what to achieve this year yourself? Feel free to use my word, Purge. Start with your resume and move forward from there. Add your desk, maybe a habit or two; even your email if your inbox is full.

If you get really adventurous, attack your clothes closet. That’s what I plan to do next.

3 Things to Remember When Asking for Time-Off at the Holidays

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As a retailer, holidays were understandably difficult. Even in the corporate office we needed at least a skeleton staff on hand to assist the stores as needed. When I moved to PR, I don’t have to tell you that it’s a 24/7 job, no matter what. News never sleeps; there always seems to be a crisis as soon as you schedule a day off.

As a result, staffing for holidays was crucial. Even if we were not present in the office, someone had to be available at all times. Still, as managers we always wanted to let everyone have at least some time truly “off the grid” and away from work to enjoy the holidays with their families.

So how does one go about asking for time-off, whether at the holidays or any time of year?

Here are 3 things to remember when asking for time-off at the holidays:

  • Start early. If you are planning a vacation, it’s best to ask in advance. Remember, almost everyone wants time-off at the holidays. Also remember just because you ask first does not mean you are a shoe-in to get your requested days. Find out if the department or company has a policy about holiday vacations. Maybe half the team gets the week before Christmas, the other half gets the week after. Or some will take Christmas and others take New Year’s; and switch the following year.

 

  • It’s all in how you ask. I’ve noticed a trend among younger workers who simply tell their manager, “I’m taking off on XX dates”. Um, no; you need to ask. Vacation requests will be much better received if you position them this way: “I’d like to take off on XX dates and wanted to see if anyone else in the department had requested those dates. If not, does this work for you?” Simply because you want to take off on certain dates doesn’t meant that you automatically can. It has to work with others’ schedules. Especially your manager’s schedule.

 

  • Confirm that your work will not be left at a critical stage. Anytime someone is away from the office, it’s tough on those left behind. Pre-arrange for someone to cover for you while you’re out. Leave instructions how to handle any hot items that might come up, as well as a list of contacts that may be of help. Have this info ready when you request time off. Your manager will appreciate your forward thinking.

Even if you are asking for time-off during the summer, these tips still apply. Ask early; be respectfully of others in your department and plan your work. Everyone will thank you!

6 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Crappy Job

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sitting on couch feet-932346_1920

Ever feel stuck in your job?

Maybe you thought it was your “dream job” and it’s turned out to be more like a nightmare.  Perhaps the work you thought would be interesting is more than a little boring, similar to watching paint dry.  The promise of a fast track to promotion is more like life in the slow lane, with grandma behind the wheel.

We’ve all been there.  And it’s not fun.

Yet even under the most trying of circumstances, there are still things to be thankful for.  We learn best in the worst situations.

Here are 6 reasons to be thankful for your crappy job:

  1. You Have a Job.  Totally understand that you might be sick of hearing this, yet it’s important to step away from the pity-party and understand how important this really is. You.Have.A. Job.  And it pays money.  Those who have visited the Land of Layoff understand how valuable it is to have even a not-so-good job.  You have two options: develop an exit strategy, including networking and interviewing to find a better job, or put on a happy face and stay put. Your choice.
  2. Resume Builder. Even crappy jobs provide opportunities to build your skills and your resume.  Take advantage of all chances to learn something new.  If the company offers classes on-site or will pay to further your education, take advantage.  Additional skills and education will come in handy whenever you do decide to leave the company.
  3. Food. At any office there’s usually birthday cake or holiday treats, either sent by vendors or brought in by co-workers. Take advantage!  Trust me, you will miss free food if you ever decide to work from home, or heaven-forbid, your number comes up during a lay-off.
  4. Colleagues and Networking.   Even if you’re not BFFs with your work-mates, they may be valuable network connections for you in the future.  Establish professional relationships with some of your colleagues and connect on LinkedIn.  Do it now before you decide to leave the company. You never know who might be able to help you land a great job down the road.
  5. Paid Vacation and Other Benefits.  A no-brainer.  Those who are self-employed know this is huge.  Be thankful for things like paid vacations, 401Ks, health insurance, and any other benefit your employer throws your way.
  6. Reason to Get Up in the Morning. Sure, it’s fun to dream about staying home in your jammies all day.  Reality is, it gets old after, oh, two days. For many, our jobs – even if they are crappy – provide the main reason to get up and interact with others vs. retreating into the world of bad TV.  Face it; if you want to find a new opportunity or simply be productive, you’re going to have to leave the house at some point.

You may feel like you have a crappy job and I feel your pain, having been there before myself. Just remember that even the worst jobs are blessings.