Worry in the Workplace
November 14, 2008 by Julie Cohen
Do you find yourself spending time while you’re at work, and even when you’re not at work, worrying about your performance? Thinking, for example:
- “How am I going to get this all done?”
- “I’m not cut out for this work.”
- “They think I’m better than I really am.”
- “I’m going to screw up eventually.”
- “Why am I even working here?”
- “I should get out now before I ruin my reputation.”
If any anxiety-producing questions are running through your head, they are not helping you be an effective professional, leader, team member, or human being. Read more
Bouncing Back from “Bad” Feedback
November 7, 2008 by Julie Cohen
Feedback has an effect on you whether you’re receiving it from an annual performance review, a 360 feedback assessment, or a seemingly well-intentioned comment from a supervisor or colleague. Your interpretation of the feedback depends on a multitude of factors including the source, the content, the intention, your ability to change in relation to the feedback, and how you’re feeling when you receive it.
In some instances, the new information rolls off your back with all of the other data you process each day; other times you can use it to change behaviors, improve performance or enhance business results. A challenge can arise when the feedback seems ill-intentioned, doesn’t come with support or direction, completely surprises you, addresses a very sensitive issue, or seems just plain wrong. The resulting impact can include diminished motivation, disillusionment with work and career, anger, increased insecurities or feelings of professional futility. Read more
Can I Really be Satisfied with Work?
October 29, 2008 by Julie Cohen
Do you feel like you fell into your work? So many of us go to law school because it was expected, or we become doctors because it’s the family profession. Professional choices are made because it’s what we ’should’ do, as opposed to pursuing what we want to do.
The results of making these decisions, or lack of decisions, can be varied. For some of us, this path is acceptable. The work may be interesting, challenging, or financially rewarding - which can be enough to keep us engaged most of the time even if its not ideal. Read more
What is Work/Life Balance, Anyway?
October 22, 2008 by Julie Cohen
I just got off the phone with a client, Rob, who works 70 hours per week, plus he has numerous conference calls and follow-up work during the weekend. He’s married with a young child and would like to spend more time with his family. He used to play tennis regularly but hasn’t been on a court in over 2 years. Rob hasn’t even been out with his close circle of friends in months.
Rob is often miserable, and finds it difficult to balance his challenging work with other things that used to bring him enjoyment.
Lauren, another client, has similar professional and personal circumstances as Rob: working very long hours with a small family; wishing she had more time to be with her son and husband; she used to jog regularly and yearns to take a yoga class occasionally.
Through all of this, Lauren is energized and enthused about work and life, and makes the most of each free moment.
Both Lauren and Rob are in similar situations - they both work very hard professionally with little time for personal commitments. How can they have such different responses to their extremely busy lifestyle? It’s all about how they look at work/life balance. Read more
Is Your Career LinkedIn?
October 15, 2008 by Julie Cohen
Social networking is the buzzword of the moment…Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, LinkedIn and many more. People are asking, “is it relevant to my career or professional life?” With so many options, it’s easy to become overwhelmed if you’re trying to figure it all out, and you may even question whether it’s worth the time to invest in setting up an online profile.
If you’re searching for a new job, wanting to change careers, trying to advance in your current field, developing your credibility as subject matter expert in your field, or building your own entrepreneurial venture, LinkedIn is an invaluable resource. Read more
Sorry No More!
October 8, 2008 by Julie Cohen
Do you find yourself saying “I’m sorry” too often at work? Have you noticed a pattern of prefacing feedback or sharing of your ideas with an “I’m sorry, but?” Clients often come to me noticing their overuse of this phrase and the negative impact it has on their professional stature. What place does saying “I’m sorry” have in the workplace?
Words Matter
The words that you communicate with tell more than just your message. These words also tell others about you and how you interact with your world. Here are some examples of the potential negative impact of over-apologizing: Read more
Negotiating Salary Negotiation
October 7, 2008 by Julie Cohen
I just finished a discussion with a client regarding salary negotiation.
A soon-to-be MBA grad, he has a job offer that he really wants to take, but is dissatisfied with the base salary and wants to address a few other issues in the overall package. He feels that the salary is set because it’s part of a management training program, so he doesn’t know how to proceed to get closer to his ideal compensation package.
Everything is negotiable.
There is no downside to asking for more of what you want. No one will be surprised if you ask to negotiate for additional salary or other perks. And, your job offer won’t be rescinded for having this type of discussion.
Some things to keep in mind about your salary negotiation process: Read more
Mistakes Happen
October 1, 2008 by Julie Cohen
Dennis, an accountant, was part of an audit team for a large corporation. As he was reporting some data findings to his project manager and the rest of the team, his manager pointed out an incorrect assumption Dennis made that resulted in erroneous figures and that could have legal repercussions. Fortunately, the mistake was found before the results were presented publicly and Dennis was able to correct his reports. Unfortunately, this incident left Dennis feeling incompetent, embarrassed and questioning his professional abilities.
Most of us have made mistakes in the workplace. They happen! Some are small and can be easily rectified. Others may seem larger, impact other people and projects, and may cause embarrassment, frustration and self-doubt. What do you do in order to rebound from an error and continue moving ahead professionally? Read more
Doing, Doing, Done! - Finishing that Big Project
September 24, 2008 by Julie Cohen
Big projects are daunting, whether it’s a strategic plan, a screenplay, a new business plan or a book. Although you want to complete it, you find that things prevent you from attaining the goal - getting it done.
During a large project it’s easy to become distracted. Procrastination sets in, you lose focus, you become frustrated, and you check email 47 times a day. You doubt your competence and ability to do what you set out to do. These factors pull you away from the task at hand. What is needed to stay on track, feel good about your progress and finish? Read more
Networking is Not a Dirty Word
August 28, 2008 by Julie Cohen
You walk into a room filled with people. You look left. You look right. All you see are dozens of people wearing “Hi, My Name is ____” badges. You panic. You want to run and hide. “I don’t want to make small talk with these strangers,” you cry to yourself. But alas, you’re here, at the dreaded networking event. Anxiety sets in. You want to go home and never go to another networking event again.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We all make excuses for not networking: “I don’t want to sell myself,” “I don’t want to impose on anyone,” “It feels sleazy,” “I hate small talk.” There are many more excuses, but they all miss the point: Networking is a valuable tool that enhances your job search, your career advancement, and enables you to find a satisfying and rewarding career path and more. Overcoming the resistance to networking is crucial to your career, job search, and life. Read more
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