January 2023 – Unceiling You

Career Development Natalie Luke January 18, 2023

8 Mistakes That Derail Your Career

Putting on your big girl pants is essential because your career won’t manage itself. There are times when even superstars make mistakes that harm, or even derail, their careers. The amount of time you spend at work is considerable. It would be a shame to undo all the hard work you have put into it by making a mistake that could have been avoided easily.

Avoid these mistakes that harm your career:

Undervaluing your worth. Don’t hesitate to ask if you deserve a raise or promotion. It is rare for a company to give you more than you ask for. As long as you are willing to stay in the same place and earn the same salary, they are more than happy to accommodate you. It is essential to be assertive, but don’t let your assertiveness become a nuisance. Remember that you can always search for another position if you feel undervalued.

Failing to toot your own horn. Don’t keep your good work to yourself. Communicate with others, making sure people know about your work. Make use of LinkedIn and keep your activities up-to-date. Have you told your peers what you’re working on? Do they even know what you’re doing? Let everyone know how great you are.

Take on projects that showcase your strengths. Allow yourself to be seen if you want to succeed. As a result, others will notice, and your reputation will grow.

It’s a narrow path; you’ll need to avoid bragging while also letting folks know about your great work.

Gossiping. It is generally not a good idea to speak badly about others. Unless you have something positive to say about someone, avoid talking about them. Oversharing has negatively affected everyone at some point. Discuss your ideas and the person you are conversing within the conversation.

Failing to make your boss look good. You’re there to serve your boss at the end of the day. Your job is secure if you make her look good.

Being too negative. It’s not acceptable to constantly complain or criticize at work. Ensure that your workplace maintains high standards and that you are supportive of them. It may be time to look for a new job if you cannot think of anything positive about work.

Staying away from negative people is also a good policy. If you associate with them, you may be penalized.

Searching for another job on company time. Your company could check your internet log occasionally. You may find your employment ending if you spend all your time on Monster.com. Search for a new career on your own time and computer

Publically searching for a new job. It’s your business what you do on your own time, but you want to keep your employer from knowing. Keep a lid on your social media messages. It’s optional, or intelligent, for the entire world to see that you’d like to work for someone else.

Underdressing. Take a look around the building where you work. It is common for people with more prestigious jobs to dress better than the rest. Dress like your boss if you want to be taken seriously. Dress differently from your peers.

In your workplace, people will start associating you with influential people. You’ll have a better chance of succeeding when a new job opening arises within the company.

Avoid making mistakes that can derail your career. To summarize, remain professional and value your abilities. When considering a career change, keep your search to yourself. Career complacency is not a good thing. Take charge of your career and see it flourish.

Career Development Natalie Luke January 11, 2023

Transform Your Career by Developing Emotional Intelligence for the Workplace

As more studies show emotional intelligence improves employee productivity and job performance, it becomes a more coveted skill in the office.

Emotional intelligence is when you can understand the emotions of yourself and others and manage your own feelings well. It shows a balance between intellect and self-awareness.

Emotional intelligence is an asset. Studies show that emotional intelligence training improves employee productivity. That may be because emotional intelligence reflects an ability to make better decisions, problem-solving skills, and being a great communicator.

Emotionally intelligent people can come up with solutions from a holistic perspective.

Emotional intelligence is rated into four categories:

Self-management. Thinking clearly when you feel stressed, anxious, or angry is challenging. Self-management is the ability to separate your emotions from how you should act.
Self-awareness. You can change negative habits, thoughts, or behaviors by becoming self-aware. Your beliefs and emotions affect your thoughts and behaviors when you have a high level of self-awareness.
Social awareness. Being socially aware means being able to “read the room.” This ability allows you to see social dynamics and understand what others need to feel comfortable. An indicator of social awareness is how well you can pick up on social cues and needs.
Relationship management. A good relationship manager works well with others, manages conflict well, and builds positive relationships. Good interpersonal skills are indicated by good relationship management.

Are you interested in improving your emotional awareness to excel at work?

Follow these tips to build emotional intelligence:

Practice self-awareness. Being self-aware entails being able to look at yourself objectively.

To develop this:

● Practice self-reflection in a journal daily.

● Notice when you are triggered.

● Think about the feedback you receive.

● Practice seeing things from other people’s points of view and not just your own.

2. Receive criticism with grace. Don’t react to criticism without thinking. Learn from criticism and grow from it.

3. See conflict as an opportunity to learn and understand more about others. It can be frustrating to deal with conflict, but it is inevitable. Take conflict as an opportunity to understand another person’s perspective instead of avoiding it.

4. Learn to “read the room.” Do you have a good sense of what people around you are feeling? Is there someone you can turn to when you need help? What “unwritten rules” do people follow at your workplace? Position yourself in your organization as a superstar or a changemaker if you can read the room.

5. Listen to others. Listening is a skill that people with high emotional intelligence possess. Do you talk all the time or make space to listen? Listen to what people say in meetings and ask what they think.

6. Speak up and express yourself. Speaking up when it matters is also a skill that emotionally intelligent people possess as excellent listening skills. Feel free to pitch your out-of-the-box ideas or make sure your opinions get heard!

7. Work to people’s strengths. Different people have different strengths and work differently. Adapt to the different types of people on your team. Create an environment where each person can thrive and be engaged and innovative.

People with higher emotional intelligence efficiently manage their stress levels, build better relationships, and read the room.

● The ability to manage your own stress levels enables you to lead a team through high-stress situations calmly.

● Maintaining good relationships with your team members will keep them motivated and engaged.

● Reading the room can also help you find the right person to approach when working on a problem or noticing a colleague is stressed.

Developing emotional intelligence will benefit you both at work and outside of it.

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Confidence Building Natalie Luke January 4, 2023

Modern Rules for Women Supporting Other Women at Work

If you’re feeling unhappy at work, you are not alone. The employee well-being platform Gympass surveyed 9,000 employees worldwide and found that nearly half (48%) reported a decline in well-being in 2022. The survey found that over 25% of respondents were “completely unhappy” at work. Moreover, a recent Gallup survey found that 60% of employees are emotionally detached from their jobs, and employee stress is at an all-time high.1

Women in the workplace experience unique challenges, such as financial insecurity and increased burdens on parents and caregivers. Without additional resources, it’s easy to burn out.

Discover how women can support each other. Here are some practical strategies for bonding and collaborating with other women.

Cultivate Relationships

Harvard Business Review research found that both male and female executives likely had a diverse network of peers. However, it is also crucial for women to have close female friends to achieve greater authority and higher salaries.2

Keep these strategies in mind:

Focus on giving wisely. Helping others is essential to building professional networks and personal friendships. You can lend your expertise and time by reaching out to others. Create a supportive environment by performing random acts of kindness when it makes sense, and you can do so from a centered place while setting boundaries. Give when you don’t feel you will resent giving.
Be selective. It is more important to have quality friendships than quantity. Find other women who share your interests and values. If someone consistently fails to respect your boundaries or declines your invitations to get together, move on.
Pace yourself. Mutually beneficial relationships take time to develop. Be patient. Learn about each other gradually.
Have fun. Friends see each other outside of the office and talk about stuff besides spreadsheets and coding. Plan outings and host parties. Take a vacation or bake cookies together.

Encourage Work-Life Balance

It is still the case that women are responsible for the overwhelming majority of household work at home. According to the American Psychological Association, stress and other health issues are caused by this.3

Try these techniques to enhance work-life balance:

Suggest flexible hours. A significant increase in remote work opportunities has been attributed to the pandemic. Supervisors at your company are willing to experiment with alternative schedules as long as employees complete their responsibilities.
Examine benefits. Tell your employer what perks matter to you and other women at your workplace. You may prefer gym memberships instead of bean bag chairs and ping pong tables.
Review workloads. Does your performance review reflect realistic expectations? See if adjustments need to be made with your colleagues.
Take time off. Studies have shown that excessive overtime and unused vacation days reduce productivity. Set an example by leaving the office at a reasonable hour and taking advantage of your annual leave.

Develop Leadership Skills

There are also challenges facing women at the top. Also described in the McKinsey report are Onlys: women at their level who are the sole or only woman. Their workload is more likely to be pushed, and they are more likely to be victimized by microaggressions.

These strategies can help:

Support mentoring. Depending on your career stage, you can look for a mentor or become one yourself. You might even do both. These relationships provide guidance and build community.
Advocate for others. The Devil Wears Prada stereotype holds some truth, unfortunately. Regardless of whether your company culture tolerates bullying of other women, break the cycle. Women must have the courage and compassion to provide constructive feedback and assist other women in advancing their careers.
Network with women. Become a member of a professional women’s group or start your own. Take advantage of conferences that other women are attending and follow up with interesting acquaintances.
Make referrals. Introductions and referrals are effective ways to help other women. Partner with others to find new clients, partners, and friends.

One woman’s success can benefit others too. Ensure that you create an environment in which the accomplishments of each individual are maximized and celebrated.

References:

https://hrexecutive.com/startling-new-wellbeing-data-is-a-call-to-action-for-hr-leaders/?oly_enc_id=7454I7927023I4L
https://hbr.org/2019/02/research-men-and-women-need-different-kinds-of-networks-to-succeed
https://www.livescience.com/20943-housework-distresses-women.html