As a passionate writer, a naturally forgetful person, and a self-confessed control freak, I have always believed in the power of documentation, especially in the workplace. Documentation is a vital tool for enhancing productivity, accountability, transparency, and (most importantly) peace of mind. Whether paper-based or electronic, effective documentation practices can have a profound impact on your professional life. Here are some of the most important ways you can leverage documentation in the workplace: 1. Capturing Important Details In today’s fast-paced work environment, it’s easy to over ..read more

Like it or not, we all make mistakes in the workplace. But such setbacks don’t have to be disastrous. Using something known as “black box thinking,” you can turn mistakes and failures into positive learning opportunities that can accelerate your growth and even advance your career. What is Black Box Thinking? Black Box Thinking is a transformative process that comes from the aviation industry. It centers around the principle of learning from failures by meticulously analyzing them. Aircraft have flight recorders, or “black boxes,” which are used to dissect every detail of an incident to preven ..read more

Choosing the right size organization is an important decision that can impact your career trajectory and professional fulfillment. As someone who has worked for and with large corporate behemoths, mid-size organizations and tiny struggling startups, I have experienced the benefits and drawbacks of each. Understanding these can help you make an informed decision about which environment will best support your career goals and work style. Large Organizations: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Large organizations often provide a sense of security (though, of course, that isn’t always accurate). With ..read more

In our modern work environment, the dynamics of teamwork have evolved, demanding more from each individual. To thrive in this setting, professionals need to understand what it means to be a balanced teammate. This is my own terminology for a critically important, though rarely talked about skillset. The idea is simple: Being a balanced teammate means you know when (and how) to step up and lead AND when (and how) to step back and follow. Finding this balance is a key ingredient that shapes the success of teams and projects. The Pitfalls of Imbalance When team members fail to strike this balance ..read more

In the dance of professional conduct, confidence moves gracefully, turning heads with its poise and assurance. Arrogance, on the other hand, stomps around and demands attention.   No one wants to be thought of as arrogant. In fact, many of us fear it so much, we go to extremes. We end up hiding in the shadows for fear that any attention at all will get us labelled arrogant. But that’s counterproductive! There is a happy balance we can strike if we approach things thoughtfully and recognize where confidence ends and arrogance begins.   Confidence is quiet yet striking. It’s that ..read more

Many professionals set their sights on management because they think it’s what they’re “supposed” to do. But truthfully, management isn’t for everyone. Some people just aren’t cut out for it, and that’s perfectly okay! There are plenty of other ways to advance your career without going into management.   I speak from personal experience. My first “real job” out of college was as a management trainee at the country’s largest financial institution (at the time). It was a yearlong program and, quite honestly, I consider it a highlight of my career to this day. Not because I loved manage ..read more

Recently, a dear friend of mine was sharing her desire to get a new job. But she was hesitant to leave her current position because (in her words): “What if the new one isn’t any better?” This is a common concern, and for good reason! The grass always appears greener when you’re looking at it from afar. Once you get to that promised land, however, it often isn’t what you thought it would be. Whether you’re exploring a move to another company or considering a new role at your current organization, it’s always a risk. Whether you love where you are right now or despise it or anything in between ..read more

We all want to be good at what we do. But sometimes, the goal of excellence goes too far…and becomes perfection. Perfectionism is a double-edged sword. I definitely think (and know from personal experience) that striving for “perfection” can be a motivating force. But it can also lead to Perfection Paralysis: a state where the fear of not being perfect hinders our ability to get things done. Sound familiar? I’ve fallen victim to this phenomenon more than a few times. That’s why I wanted to share some practical strategies for overcoming this obstacle. Understanding Perfection Paralysis Perfecti ..read more

In our pursuit of effective time management, we often forget one crucial factor: the relative value of time. Not all hours are created equal. An hour on a Monday morning, when you’re fresh from a restful weekend, holds different potential than an hour late on a Friday night, after a taxing week of work. Understanding this can be transformative in how we approach tasks, productivity, and rest. Here are some key considerations for aligning your time management with the relative value of time. Recognize Your Personal Prime Time We all have periods during the day when we’re more mentally alert and ..read more

The quest for indispensability at work often leads to a paradoxical professional dead-end. It’s a widespread misconception that being indispensable makes your position secure. However, the harsh truth is that everyone is replaceable. While it’s important to be a valuable asset to your team and organization, aiming for indispensability can actually be counterproductive. Modern day organizations must be agile, making staffing decisions based on shifting needs, not individual indispensability. Even the most essential employee’s role is subject to the dynamic nature of business. After all, if an u ..read more