A question I’m frequently asked is, “What is personal branding, and why should I care?” My advice is the same regardless of career level or aspiration. Your brand is the experience that people have when they interact with you, whether that’s in person, on social media, or via your content. The number one goal of your professional life is to be the CEO of your career. To do so, you need to build a str...

The workplace continues to evolve, and with this comes changes in almost every aspect of business, such as office processes, business transactions, and even dress codes. As companies become more and more open to the idea of employees showcasing their personalities through their work and the way they dress, does the old adage “dressing for success” still ring true? The answer is yes, and here are the reasons why:...

While speed and efficiency are necessary leadership traits in our always-on, do-more world, there’s also a point of diminishing returns. If we let agendas and clocks dictate all of our meetings, we could be undermining our own efforts to encourage meaningful collaboration and innovative thinking. Consider the unfortunate impact. Many people are reluctant to speak up and contribute something that disrupts the cad...

Workaholism is an addiction that is plaguing the average worker in the U.S. Research shows that almost half consider themselves “workaholics,” putting in four hours of unpaid overtime per week, and spending another four hours just thinking about work. How can professionals manage their time in a more balanced way and push back to establish more work/life balance? To learn more about this, I caught up with Dr....

“Young People Are Going To Save Us All From Office Life,” cheered the headline of a recent New York Times article that caught my eye. As the article explored, flexibility is often cited as the highest priority for newer professionals as they evaluate jobs. But I would argue that, in our current five-generation environment, workplace improvements should appeal to employees of all generations. Wondering how yo...

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, make sure you carve out time to consider what you need to honor your life and career in 2020. Professional development is a great investment in your continuous career journey, whether you are starting a new role or entrepreneurial venture, or trying to maximize your career growth in an existing organization. As the Queen of Transferable Skills – I also know how import...

Studies increasingly show that self-awareness is more valuable than smarts alone. Research shows that leaders who are more self-aware get promoted faster and are awarded more responsibility. Like many qualities, self-awareness is not a fixed trait. But you can learn and cultivate it intentionally. If you’re looking to boost your EQ, there are a number of ways to understand yourself better. Start a daily mindful...

We hear it often…it’s better to play to your strengths rather than trying to fix your weaknesses. While that may seem like a “no-brainer,” especially when it comes to work and career, it’s surprising how many of us continue to work against our own proverbial grain. We’ve all heard about the challenges of trying to fit square pegs in round holes. If you’re in a job where you find...

Have you ever watched a toddler over the course of several hours? They’re amazing! After taking their very first step, they plow forward with such intensity you might think they’re going to break into a run. Instead, they stumble and drop to their seat. Without crying or skipping a beat, they try it again. No overthinking or blaming. Fall down? Get up! Simple. Why then, when faced with obstacles, do adults of...

It’s the fourth quarter of the year. That means that salespeople are scrambling to get deals signed, finance people are getting ready to close out the year, and that the dreaded self-appraisal is upon us. The self-appraisal is a common performance management practice. Ostensibly, an employee’s self-appraisal and rating should give the manager valuable data on the quality of an individual’s performance. It...