“Holding your team accountable isn’t an exercise in control. It’s an exercise in empowerment.” Unknown Clients often tell me that they measure their own success partly by the success of their team. As we talk about this topic, the conversation invariably leads to discussing the challenges they face leading their team. And when it comes to their challenges, accountability seems to be the #1 issue. If you, too, are challenged by this, here are five strategies to help you keep your employees accountable: Set Clear Expectations – It’s critical to clearly define team members’ roles and responsibi ..read more

"It's not about finding your voice, it's about giving yourself permission to use your voice." - Kris Carr Ever been in a meeting and have a “lightbulb” moment?  This is when a thought or idea pops into your head that pertains to the discussion and is most likely impactful. This is one of those thoughts that makes you feel excited, even a bit nervous and is followed by your gut telling you to speak up and share your idea.  But because you’re afraid of looking bad, embarrassing yourself or being criticized, you play it safe and choose not to share it. What often happens next is y ..read more

“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” - Jana Kingsford — Several years ago I wrote in my newsletter about work-life balance. Today, many people feel it has become a trite topic yet I am finding this to be something my clients are still challenged by. While they may not be able to name what’s going on as a work-life balance issue, they know something doesn’t feel right - they are tired, feeling like a hamster on a wheel and not accomplishing the important things. How does this show up for you? Knowing that work-life balance has different meanings, I’d like to share a r ..read more

“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.” - Brene Brown — When introducing yourself in business, what do you normally say about yourself? For me, I always talk about my career credentials, experience and the type of clients I work with. I’m betting you do something similar. I have to confess I’ve been rethinking how I introduce myself after participating in a presentation by an inspirational speaker who talked about the changes she’s made to her professional introduction. I’m so impressed with her story that I want to share it with you. Like me, the speaker has alwa ..read more

All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You. - TOM PETERS IN FAST COMPANY I received a number of responses to last month’s newsletter on personal branding; here are a few - “Thanks for explaining the meaning of personal brand and its importance for my career, something I’ve never been clear on.” “I liked your three-step approach to crafting a brand statement and will give it a try.” “Great point - if you don’t create your brand statement ..read more

” Your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.” - Jeff Bezos Last month, I was asked by the Illinois CPA Society to speak to their Women’s group about Personal Branding. I love speaking to groups and personal branding is one of my favorite topics. I talked about what personal brand is and why it so important for professionals to have one, and I shared my three-step approach to crafting a personal brand statement. After the presentation, one of the attendees told me that she was motivated to craft her own brand statement, something she’d never done before or knew ..read more

As promised, this month I am addressing how to have a resume that grabs attention. Sadly, the job seekers I work with often tell me that they never hear back from companies after submitting their resume and application for a job. According to Glassdoor, the average hiring manager and recruiter spends six seconds reading your resume. That’s right, only six seconds. Unbelievable! What can you do to immediately grab that attention? Here are my three resume “must-haves”: Attractively Formatted Resume Resumes must be nicely formatted, well-organized, and easy to read. The easier to read the better ..read more

Does any of this ring a bell? When people reach out to me for guidance on their job search and career, we begin by having a short “get-acquainted” call so that I understand how I can help. One of the questions I always ask is: “What are your top three job search/ career challenges?” What I have found is that while prospective clients vary widely in terms of where they are in their careers and the types of jobs they are seeking, the challenges they face are remarkably similar. You are not alone if you feel that looking for a job can be an isolating and disheartening experience, and you can take ..read more

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt — As I think back on the year, I am reminded of the Teddy Roosevelt quote above. It had a profound effect on me when I first read it back in April – there was the newness and uncertainty of the pandemic along with the isolation from being quarantined with only the news to rely on.  I remember living in a place of fear, loneliness and confusion.  Then I happened on this quote and it helped me realize I was operating in a place of fear, which was not serving me. It helped me make the choice to shift my focus from ..read more

What a crazy year 2020 has been! As companies have had to pivot their policies and ways of working to keep their employees safe – yet motivated – it’s becoming increasingly important that a company’s leadership team continue to communicate effectively and be in sync with their decision-making to drive business. I have found that the best-run companies take a proactive approach to staying connected and facilitating discussions among their top people so that operations proceed smoothly. A leadership team I am currently working with took this proactive approach when the CEO asked me to facilitate ..read more