The Darling CEO

Money, Business, and Life Tips for the Working Mom

How to Make a Great First Impression at an Interview

First impressions matter. In fact, they matter a lot. Making a good first impression can make or break a job interview. As an interviewer, I can attest to this. Wrong or not , hiring managers form an immediate opinion of you within the first few seconds of an interview. In fact, some scientist feel that first impressions are made upon seeing someones face in just a fraction of a second!

But fear not. There are some things that you can do to help make a great first impression during your next job interview.

Be Kind to Everyone 

Be kind to every single person you see on your way in.  I heard a horror story once of an interviewee going full road rage on someone on the way to the interview. Come to find out, that person was the hiring manager.  You do not know who does what or what influence everyone has in the company so just be nice to everyone. This goes for anyone that you interact with after the fact as well. Recruiters, HR, drug test coordinators, whomever it is just be nice, people talk.  It’s not just the hiring manager that is forming a first impression of you and people talk!

Shake Hands Firmly 

Make the first move and firmly shake hands with everyone in the interview. And make it a good and firm handshake. I once lost out on a job because I had a “limp noodle” handshake. True story. It matters and a firm handshake conveys confidence that helps frame others inital impressions of you. 

Appear Calm and Un-rushed

Don’t come in as a rushed nervous wreck. Convey calm from the very beginning of the interview and others will naturally gravitate towards you.  Need some help with this? Try some guided meditation in the parking lot or bathroom before you step in. At the very least just take a moment to stop and take a few breaths to gain your composure.

Smile

Again, seems pretty obvious but you would be surprised how many people do not smile.  A friendly smile goes a long way in forming a positive first impression. 

Build rapport quickly

Try to establish common ground fairly quickly. Ask about their weekend or take note of any degrees that they have displayed. Having something in common with someone works wonders for gaining a good first impression and starting a relationship off on the right foot.

What have you found to create a positive first impression in an interview? What do you pick up on when first meeting someone? Leave a comment below!

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How to gain a positive first impression during an interview. Check out Darling CEO for interview tips and strategies.

8 Must-Have Leadership Qualities

Must-Have Leadership Qualities

Updated January 20, 2019

Being a leader is one of the most difficult (yet rewarding) roles that you can have. You get to inspire a group to do their very best work. This doesn’t sound so difficult but people are people. Every person on your team is different and they all have their own sets of values, pet peeves, and motivators. Luckily, leadership is a skill that you can continue to learn and refine along the way. The first step is knowing what qualities make for a good leader.

Let’s check out 8 must-have leadership qualities that every great leader needs to exhibit.

Empathetic

If you are leading people you need to try to understand them and empathize with them. Why are they making the decisions that they are? What could be going on in their lives that is impacting how they perform at work? It is critical that you have an understanding of your team and how they work. Demonstrate empathy and understanding to their situations and challenges. Try to work with them to allow them to bring their full selves to work.

High Integrity

Every leader need to have high integrity. This means a few things. For one, this means holding yourself to the highest ethical standard. Having high integrity also means that you follow through and do what you say you are going to do, always. If you say that you are going to do, make sure that you do it. If you can’t for some reason make sure that the reason is clear and not just an excuse. As a leader, you set the tone and moral compass for the office. You want to make sure that you are setting the bar high.

Passion

The main goal of leadership is to inspire people. You can never do that successfully if you don’t have passion for your people and purpose. Try to make sure that you are very clear on what you are trying to cause. How are you helping people? What role are you playing in your community? Make sure that you reground yourself in this ALL. THE. TIME. You will have bad days that you can quickly lose your passion and enthusiasm. Leadership is hard and sometimes even the best employees can be jerks. Those are the times that you and your team should review your purpose and mission.

Trusting

One of the most important leadership qualities you can exhibit is to be trusting of your team. Only insecure leaders assume the worst in their employees. Instead of looking for what employees are doing wrong, look for what they are doing right. Sure, some employees are awful and they can make it easy for you to assume that all of them are bad. But treating every employee like they are not insanely qualified and honest almost always backfires. Most importantly, you are creating a toxic environment for them and yourself. You are also limiting their potential. They will only meet the expectation that you place upon them. So if you expect that they will be lazy and provide crappy work. Guess what? Eventually they will be lazy and provide crappy work. Give them a reputation to live up to.

Good Communication

As a leader, you need to exhibit good communication skills. You should have concise and clear communication in meetings, email, and over the phone. Nothing takes away from your message like a bunch of typos and spelling errors, so details matter. You should be clear, concise, and paint a vision for your employees. Use language that makes for their background. Don’t talk too rudimentary or too advanced for where they are. If you struggle with public speaking, study some best practices or even take a course online or join a local Toastmasters group.

Decisive

Leaders have to make decisions literally all of the time. Many times they don’t have a lot of information to support their decisions and other times they have too much information to support their decisions. They have to balance the needs of their employees, customers, shareholders, themselves, their community, and on and on. You have to be comfortable making a decision, believing in that decision, communicating that decision (even if it is not going to popular), and even pivot from that decision if need be.

Friendly

Be nice to your employees. Try to get to know a little about them as people and share a bit about yourself. What do they like to do outside of work? Do they have kids? What are their kids names? Do they like to travel? Try to get people to want to do right by you. And that starts by forming rapport. Now, I’m not saying ask employees questions when they are not uncomfortable in sharing. A simple “how was your weekend?” or “any fun plans for the summer?” will work.

You also need to share some information about yourself. It is important they know that you have a life outside of work and you are a person. Share how your weekend went or where you are going on your upcoming vacation. Just remember that employees don’t necessarily need to know every detail about your life. No need to share your Jagerbomb fueled Saturday night debauchery. Keep it friendly, yet professional.

Empowering

As a leader, you need to challenge your employees and empower them to do a great job. Too many insecure managers hold on to authority because they think that they are the only ones that can do something the right way. Unfortunately, so much talent is wasted under this type of leadership. I’ve experienced this in my own leadership journey. When I was pregnant with my first child, I felt awful so I was forced to give up some authority to my team. You know that? They absolutely crushed it. We had our very best year and exceeded so many difficult sales goals. The best part was seeing how much my employees grew and developed during that time. Trust your people to do the work that you are paying them to do and get out of their way.

What leadership qualities do you find most important? Any not on this list? Let’s chat! Leave a comment below.

 

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8 Steps to Take Before Starting A New Job

8 Steps to Take Before Starting A New Job

Starting a new job is one of life’s most stressful events. Even it is an excellent opportunity, you are still encountering new coworkers, a new boss, a new environment, new routine, new lunch spots, and more. While it can be unnerving, there are some steps you can take to make it a little easier.  Here are steps that you can take before starting a new job.

Starting a new job?  Take the Dominate Your New New Masterclass on Udemy. This course will walk you through all the steps you need to take to be a success in your new role!

Look Your Best

You want to look your very best in the first few weeks of a new job. First impressions are important so you want to look professional and polished at all times. Additionally, the biggest benefit of dressing in your best is the increased confidence boost you will get when you need it the most. Starting a new job is scary and can unnerve almost anyone.  Looking your very best is a surefire way to put some pep in your step and channel your inner Beyonce. You don’t necessarily need to buy a whole new wardrobe. Invest in a few affordable wardrobe pieces, buy a nice pair of shoes, or even get a haircut.  Anything that you can do to look your best so you can feel your best.

Scope out your new coworkers

Research your new coworkers as much as you can (without being creepy).  Go on LinkedIn and learn about their career path. Do a quick Google search and see if they are affiliated with professional associations or non-profits.  The more context you have, the faster you can start making connections with your new peers. Tip: People can sometimes see when you view their LinkedIn profile. You can mention when you meet them that you were trying to research the company and learn more about them before you started. Most people would appreciate the eagerness to learn and find that flattering.

Research the company

Research everything you can about your new company.  There is a ton of information out there on most companies. Start by reviewing your new company’s website and social media accounts.  Pay close attention to the tone and language being used. Review what customers are saying about your new company so you start to get a sense of what your company’s strengths and opportunities are. LinkedIn is also a great source of information. You can check out fellow employees, job postings, and company statistics.

If your new company is publicly traded, there is likely a ton of information available. Before you start your new job, you will want to review your company’s annual report (also known as a 10-K). This required filing details not only key financial information but also includes other information to help you familiarize yourself with the company.  You can likely find the annual report on your company’s website in the investor relations section.  Don’t worry about the financial statements if you aren’t familiar (it can be pretty intimidating if you aren’t a CPA) but make sure to read the letter to shareholders from the CEO, which often highlights the company’s successes and key strategies.

Research the Industry

Just as it is important to research your company, you will want to research the industry.  Again, LinkedIn is a great place to start. Start by entering your industry in the search bar. From there you can look at content (articles) related to your industry as well as industry groups you can join.   Another great source of information is Google. Just search for your industry and review some of the news and top sites that populate.

Even if you aren’t starting a job in a new industry, take this opportunity to brush up your knowledge. Sometimes when you are starting a new job, it gives you a new perspective which can be helpful.  You should at the very least familiarize yourself with the new segment or market that you are entering. Dominate Your New Job Masterclass provides you with checklists for what you need to research for your company and industry!

Practice Your New Routine

The very last thing you want to be on your first day of starting a new job is late.  Before you first day, practice your new routine.  At the same time as you normally would get dressed,  drop the kids off at daycare, grab your morning coffee, drive to your new job, and find a parking space.   Make this practice run as realistic as possible so you can familiarize with the new routine and ensure you have enough time. Trust me, the little things help make your first day run smoother.

Bring a Pen

Don’t assume that they will be providing you with a pen and paper. Sounds crazy, but make sure that you come prepared with the basic essentials to start. Sometimes employers forget about this step when trying to get ready for a new employee. You want to start taking notes right away so have a pen and notebook (check out the best notebook in the world here). handy just in case.

Rise and Shine

The morning you start your new job, get up a tad earlier than normal. Perform some form of self-care such as meditation or yoga (or even a cup of coffee unrushed). Start your day with gratefulness for this new opportunity.  Believe that the day is going to be a complete success. Write down and say some positive affirmations that will help fuel you for the day ahead.  Listen to some uplifting music. Be your badass self!

Enjoy the Day

Have fun. What an exciting time in your life and you have the opportunity to get a new start. You will have the opportunity to meet new people and some will likely become your friends. This new job will provide you with opportunities to learn new things and expand your skills. These are all pretty awesome things.  Now, your day will likely not go perfect and that is okay.  Just keep focused on the positive and opportunities ahead of you.

What tips do you have for starting a new job?  What can you do before your first day to make it go smoother? Leave a comment below.

8 Steps to take before you start a new job. Starting a new job can be scary, follow these easy tips to make it easier!

 

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Public Speaking Tips

7 Simple Public Speaking Tips

Show of hands, who loves public speaking?  Nobody?    Anybody?

You are not alone if your hand didn’t shoot up.  The fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias. In fact, three out of every four individuals suffer from glossophobia, the fear or public speaking.

Luckily, public speaking is a learned skill and one that you can conquer over time.  Follow these simple public speaking tips to help you conquer your fears and begin captivating your audience.

Control the Controllable

Anything that you can control, you should control. If you are speaking at a new venue, go there at the same time as you would. Scout out a good parking spot and a quiet place to gather your thoughts before you presentation. Check out the room and see where you will be speaking. Ensure that the audio/video equipment is working and you are comfortable using it. Anything that could possibly go wrong that day, try to prevent.  Not only with this help prevent mishaps, but it will make you feel more calm and confident when you really need to.

Dress the Part

Confidence is key in public speaking. Do whatever you can to improve your confidence. Consider your audience and dress in appropriate dress. Buy a new outfit, get a manicure, buy some new lipstick, get a blowout. Do something (or all the things) to make you feel your absolute best because that will shine through in your presentation.  When you feel your best, you do your best.

Know Your Audience

Understand your audience and what message they are looking for.  Put yourself in their shoes. What would best resonate with you. What would speak to you and make you take action or think differently.  Would you want humor or would you want a more serious tone?  Would you want facts to influence your decision? Would you want actionable steps or something more strategic in nature?   If you aren’t familiar with the audience, reach out to the meeting organizer. Ask them what success looks like for your presentation and ask them to connect you with someone that will be in attendance. What better way to find out what your audience is looking for than to ask them!

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice until you feel comfortable and then practice some more. And practice with anyone that will listen and provide you honest feedback. One time I    was preparing for a big project and I  presented my material to my five year old son. He wasn’t able to provide very specific feedback but he gave me a confidence boost when he told me I was the best ever.  If you don’t have an adorable five year old around, try rehearsing with a coworker or a friend.    Every time you rehearse the material, you will feel more and more confident.

Not only do you want to practice WHAT you will say, but also HOW you say it. You will want to practice your tone, use of filler words, and pace of speech. When people are nervous, you tend to talk fast and/or use filler words in your speech. This can distract your audience fro the message you are trying to convey.  Use an app such as LikeSo to help you practice this aspect of your public speaking skills. I  downloaded this app and use it religiously as I’m preparing for big presentations. Not only did it help me with my pacing (I talk entirely too fast) but it also helped me identify a filler word that I wasn’t even aware I used. It’s well worth the $5 investment!

Outline

When you are drafting your material, draft your speech as an outline.  Do not write it out in essay form. Watching someone read their speech is painful for everyone.  As a speaker, it is too easy to get lose your place on the page so you increase the risk of fumbling your words. You also lose the ability to truly connect with the audience by limiting your eye contact and movement.

When I’m preparing for a new presentation, I always follow a simple process. 1.) I start with a high level overview. What key messages do I    want to convey to my audience?  I  bullet point this out at a high-level.  2.) I then start to fill in the outline with more detail. Here is where I    start to fill in specific facts or steps that I  want to include. With this level outline, I ensure that I have my introduction, transitions (how you move from thought to another), and my conclusion completely scripted.   This level outline is the one that I use to practice.  3.) I  then condense this outline back down to a high level to use for the presentation. Hopefully at this point you will have much of the presentation memorized and this outline will just help serve as a guide if you lose your place when you are presenting.

Begin and End Strong

Public speaking experts know that the beginning and end of any presentation is the most critical. You want to start off strong and confident to capture the audience’s attention.   Tell a story, share a fascinating statistic, make the audience laugh.   You have a short time to make a first impression.

You also want fo finish strong. Every time you end a presentation you will want to briefly summarize what you discussed, repeat your key message that you want them to take away, and share clear calls to action. The audience should know why and how to take action and be energized to do so.

Tap Into Your Alter Ego

The last tip that I’m going to share is a tad unorthodox but probably the most effective.  As we already established public speaking can be terrifying for most people.  We also established that you need to bring your full confident self to the table in order to be effective. What happens if you are not quite confident?  Well, then you fake it til you make it.   Step into your superhero alter-ego before you step on the stage.  Todd Herman is a world renowned performance coach and has written a book on this very concept, The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life. The notion is that you create an alter-ego of someone that embodies everything you desire. In this case, it would likely be someone that is extremely confident and knowledgeable in the subject matter, someone who is naturally charismatic and engaging, someone who communicates clearly and causes people to take action, and someone that is confident and poised.  Before you take on public speaking, you step into this character and “become” them.   This helps you perform better and ward off some of those insecurities and worries that you may have.   I  was a bit of a skeptic but this technique has been so incredibly helpful.  In fact, many athletes, performances, and CEOs are client’s use this technique and have proven it successful.

You will make mistakes along your public speaking journey. Your first presentation will not be that great. But you know what? Your next one will be better. And the one after that even better. You will continually learn and grow with each presentation you give.  You have a lot of great knowledge to share, now go out there and share it!

What is your biggest public speaking challenge?  What tips do you have to share? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below!

Become a master at public speaking with these easy 7 tips! Overcome your fear and improve your public speaking skills.

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30 Powerful Affirmations for Work

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase using the link, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

Positive affirmations for work can be very powerful and effective in helping you mange your stress and realize your true potential. If you are new to affirmations, check out this great article from MindTools on what affirmations are, how to use them, and how to craft your very own.

30 Powerful Affirmations for Work

I will succeed today and accomplish everything I set out to do.

I am capable and confident to take on any thing that comes my way.

My team values the work that I put in and I am a valuable member of the team.

My boss values and believes in me.

I put my best foot forward every day and

I find the work that I do challenging and fulfilling.

I will tackle and conquer every challenge that comes my way today.

This work comes easy to me. I am very qualified for this role.

Every challenge that comes my way helps me grow and develop.

I am creative and ideas flow out of me.

I have the courage to go after my dreams.

I am powerful and courageous. Anything is possible when I put my mind to it.

I am a strong communicator and enjoy presenting information.

I excel in all things that I put my mind to and success comes naturally to me.

I am grateful for the opportunity to do what I love to do everyday.

I am an asset to the company that I work for.

I have unlimited opportunity for growth. I can grow into any role that I choose.

I avoid gossip and anything that takes away from my positive mindset.

I am calm and collected in the face of chaos.

I will not worry about what I cannot control. I can only try my very best.

I am resilient and do not give up when encountering adversity.

I can do this and I will do this.

Today is the perfect day to to be happy and grateful.

I have the energy and health to take on the challenges of the day.

I am full of solutions to the problems that come my way.

I seek wisdom when I run into an obstacle.

Wealth flows easily to me.

I am capable of great things and will accomplish all of my goals.

I am focused on what my priorities are and make the best use of my time.

I am destined and ready for greatness in this role.

 

What are your favorite positive affirmations for work? Please leave a comment and share!

 

 

 

How to Deal With a Bad Boss

How to Deal With a Bad Boss

We have all had one, a bad boss.  A study by Life Meets Work found that 56% of American workers claim their boss is mildly or highly toxic.  Unfortunately, all of these bad bosses are wreaking havoc on their employee’s careers and emotional well-being.  According to the American Psychological Association, 75% of Americans say that their boss is the most stressful part of their workday. Additionally, having a bad manager is one of the most cited reasons for leaving a job.  Oftentimes, we don’t know how to deal with a bad boss so it can cause long-term damage to our careers.

However, I’ll dare to say there can be a silver lining to having a bad boss. They can actually help you become a good leader. I’ve had a few bad managers over the course of my career. As awful as those bosses were, they helped me strengthen important skills and become a better leader myself.

So, while having a bad boss is never fun, it can be helpful for your career if you learn how to deal with them effectively.

Here are some strategies on how to deal with a bad boss.

Look For The Best in Your Boss

The first thing you should do is look for the best in your bad boss. Instead of assuming they are trying to be a bad boss, assume that they don’t know how to be a good one.

Leadership is an intricate art and it is not for everyone.  Many times people get promoted based on how well they do the job rather than their leadership ability.  Instead of getting mad and taking things personally, try to seek an understanding of why they are making the decisions they are. More than likely it is stemming from a place of insecurity or naivety.  Try to find empathy for them over anger.

Understandably, this is hard to do however you will find that you will be less stressed and upset if you take the high road.

Ask For What You Need From Your Boss

Be very open and specific in terms of what you need.  Sometimes bosses don’t understand what their employees need and employees don’t feel that they can ask.  This just makes a bad situation even worse.

If you need more autonomy, ask for it in a professional and respectful way.  Saying something like “I have found over the course of my career, I learn and perform best when given some freedom to figure things out. I feel I may serve this role better if I have a bit more autonomy. I understand this project is important for you, so I would be happy to meet with you weekly to discuss my progress and gain your feedback.”

Keeping your request professional and focused on how it will help the company will make it hard for your boss to say no.  If they do say no, then you can respectfully ask for their concerns which will open up healthy dialogue.

Leverage your Mentor

Mentors can be extremely helpful when dealing with bad bosses.

First, they can provide a sounding board where you can safely vent and discuss your situation.  You don’t want to complain to coworkers so having someone you can go to is important.

Secondly, they can provide invaluable advice and help you navigate the rocky waters. They have likely experienced their own awful manager, so they have the experience that you can draw upon. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions, get suggestions on how you can approach situations differently, etc.

If you don’t have a mentor, check out this post for tips on how to find one —> How to Find a Mentor

Escalate Your Concerns

If you have tried other solutions and nothing seems to be working, you may need to escalate the situation to your boss’s manager or Human Resources. I would say this should be a last resort option, as much as I hate to say that.

The reason being, that you can’t go back from this.  If your boss is bad, they are likely to hold a grudge which will make the situation even tougher.  I’m not saying this to discourage you from escalating the situation, I just want you to use caution when doing so. I have seen employees do this before it ended up backfiring on them and ends up hurting their careers.

If your boss isn’t listening to your careers, your coworkers are likely to experience the same.   One way that you can escalate concerns more safely is to come forward as a group, rather than individually.   There is strength and safety in numbers in these types of situations.  Your boss can easily dismiss the experience of one, but it is a lot more difficult to dismiss the experience of many.

I  wish that we lived in a world and had bosses that would take feedback graciously.   However, the reality is that sometimes we don’t.  However, if your boss creates a toxic culture that is impacting your physical or mental well-being or discriminates against certain employees, you have every right (and even obligation) to speak up.    If your company protects the boss,  that might not be the right place for you to work.

Quit

Sometimes it takes hard circumstances to force you to make a move. If you have a bad boss, maybe it is a sign that you should be looking elsewhere either in your organization or outside.

You will want to consider whether how and for how long you can tolerate your current circumstance.  While nothing is permanent, if it is likely your boss is not going anywhere and staying would cause you harm, you may want to look elsewhere.  Intuition is a powerful thing and should be followed in situations like this.

I had a bad boss at one point in my career. Up to that point, I was very comfortable in my role. I was performing well, getting a lot of recognition. Everything was going great.  When I got reassigned and received a new boss, everything changed.  I felt like I wasn’t respected nor trusted. I wasn’t able to do what I knew I could do to help the organization. I tried all of the above strategies on how to deal with a bad boss but they just didn’t work.

It was really frustrating so I decided to start looking for new opportunities. Looking back, I would not be where I am today without that little “push” to find something else.  As crappy as that situation was, I’m very grateful for it today.

I think that it is good to have a bad boss every now and then.   Difficult situations are where true growth and breakthrough often emerge.   While you are in the situation, just try to make the best of it, take note of what you could do differently, and never forget these lessons.

Tell us about the worst boss that you had.    What were your strategies for dealing with your bad boss? Did it ultimately help or hurt your career?

 

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How to Get Promoted

How to Get Promoted

I’ve been fortunate to serve as a mentor numerous over the course of my career.   The number one question that I get asked is “how do I get promoted?”. The answer  I always provide is simply, “do what other’s won’t do.”    Even that sound harder than what it really is. It is astonishing how little people either know to do or will do in order to advance their career.   Many times, it doesn’t take too much effort or ingenuity to stand out amongst the crowd.

Here are a few strategies that you can do to get promoted into your dream job quickly!

Ask for Additional Responsibility

Be proactive in seeking out opportunities to take on new responsibilities or projects.  Many people do the bare minimum, so going above and beyond goes a long way with leadership.   Bonus points if you are able to identify a problem and work toward a solution.   Chances are your boss is already aware of them problem but may not have the bandwidth to tackle it.  Taking something of their plate will make you look like a hero and help you develop some new skills!

Network Genuinely

Most people reach out to hiring managers too late.  Once a job is posted, chances are that the hiring manager already has someone in mind.   Even if they don’t, hiring managers typically take a while to warm up to last minute candidates.  The best strategy is to network with hiring managers before you are even looking for a new job.   Start to form a relationship and get your name out there so when the next position comes, YOU are their plan.

Ask for Feedback.

Try to get as much feedback as you can to help improve on any opportunities and build upon your strengths. Ask for feedback from a variety of people you interact with including your boss (naturally), coworkers, support staff, customers, and employees if you have them. The key to getting quality feedback is asking often and pointedly. Instead of saying “How can I improve?”,  ask “what are three things that I did well in that presentation and what are three things I could look at doing differently?”.   People are often hesitant to provide feedback , especially to a peer,  so you want to ensure that you put them at ease and ask specific questions to get the most meaningful feedback.

Another key to asking for feedback is don’t be a jerk about it.  Don’t get defensive or make excuses (no matter how valid you feel they are). Just listen, smile, and thank them for the incredible gift they just gave you.   Feedback hurts, but if you use it right it makes you better. Always, remember that!

Always Be Learning

As Aristotle said “the more you know, the more you know you don’t know.”  Getting complacent in a job and feeling you are the top of your game (which you often feel when you start looking for a promotion) is a dangerous place to be. It is easy to think that you have nothing else to learn, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Make it a point to learn something new everyday.  Do a quick Google search on your industry and read an article, go on Linked in and read an influencers post, take an online course, watch a YouTube video. With technology, you have literally zero excuses not to keep learning.   Not only will it help you get better prepared for your next role, but it shows initiative that your competition may lack.

Be an Engaged Employee

Listen to me closely on this one, don’t be a PIA (pain in the @ss).  No matter how crappy your boss is or how much you hate your job, keep a positive attitude and be professional.  I’ve seen so many employees that are actually good at their job but be labeled as horrible employees. And you know what? They NEVER get promoted.   Because not only will your current boss not hire you if you are a complainer or Debbie- Downer, but your boss has friends that also know you are a complainer and Debbie-Downer.

Make it Clear What You Want

Ideally, your manager will know what your next move is and when you plan on making it.  You want them to know as soon as possible so they can help you get there.  Your boss knows your strengths and weaknesses and can help you leverage them. They know who the key players are and can help you form the right connections and put good words in for you.  They can keep an eye out for positions that may be opening up that may interest you.

Now, this is assuming you have a supportive boss. I understand that not everyone has that.  If you don’t have a supportive boss, try to let them know anyways.  At the very least, you will have been a professional and given them advance notice that you may be open to other positions in the future.  No boss should stifle your professional development, and if they do even more reason for you to move on.

Just Go For It

Is there is a position open that you are interested in? Just go for it and apply. If the position you want doesn’t exist, create a solid business case for it.  You will never feel entirely ready for a promotion, so if that is what you are waiting on, stop it!  Just go for it.  At the very least, you will have shown your interest and gathered insight into the interview process which would both serve you well for the next opportunity.

My last piece of advice is this- at the end of the day, you own your career.  No one else on this planet does. Your boss and your organization may help facilitate some level of career development but if you sit back and wait for them to initiate your next move, you are probably going to be waiting for a while.   Show initiative, have a positive attitude, and have faith that what is meant to be will be.

Once you land that promotion, Check out the Dominate Your New Job course. This quick, yet extremely effective, course will show you exactly what you need to do in the first 90 days of a job to guarantee success in your new role.

What is your next move? What is holding you back?   Do you have any other tips on getting a promotion?  Leave a comment below!

 

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Maximize Productivity When You Work from Home

8 Tips to Maximize Productivity When You Work From Home

Working from home has its advantages.  You couldn’t ask for a better commute, you don’t have to worry about packing a lunch, you can get housework done between conference calls, and you save money on commute related expenses.

While working from home is proving itself to be the optimal working arrangement for employees and employers, it does pose challenges. It can be difficult to stay focused when you have distractions so close by.

{ Check out how to work from home when with kids! }

Here are 8 tips to maximize your productivity when you work from home.

Start Early

It can be really challenging to get your day started when you work from home.  The best thing you can do is get your day started as early as possible.  The time spent working before others are up and running is invaluable. That distraction-free time is sacred and should be taken advantage of.  It also helps you get motivated and started with your day rather than laying in bed a little too long.

Shower & Get Dressed

I always laugh when people say that they get dressed in full business attire when they work from home. My first thought is always, “Sure you do, Brenda”.    I know I am not about to put on a dress and hose to sit at my kitchen table all day.  Nope.  However, there are some real benefits from getting up, showering, and putting yourself together a bit before starting your day (even if it is just putting on your dress sweat pants rather than your sleep sweatpants).   Getting yourself ready shifts your mindset, improves your confidence, and provides motivation for the day.

Have a Plan

Everyone regardless of where they work should spend the first twenty minutes planning their day and prioritizing what needs to get done. This is especially true if you are working from home. It is too easy to get distracted so it is essential that you have a solid and detailed plan for the day.

For me, I have to write things down with a pen and paper. Every morning, the very first thing I do is look at my calendar and write down what tasks I must get done ranked in priority.  I then block time out on my calendar to complete those items.  Having a plan and sticking to it will keep you productive while working from home.

Identify a Dedicated Workspace

It’s important that you have a dedicated space for work. This space should be comfortable, distraction-free If you have a home office, great. If you don’t have a home office you may need to get creative.  Guest rooms work great, dens, dining rooms, or even the basement.  I have even had coworkers set up their office space in their garage.   It doesn’t matter where the workspace is as long as it is comfortable for you and limits distractions.

Eliminate Distractions

Speaking of distractions, eliminate them as much as possible.  There is nothing worse than sitting on a conference call and the doorbell rings that set off mass chaos inside your home with doorbells ringing, dogs barking, kids running to the door.   We have all been there.  If you are going to be important phone calls,  put a note on the doorbell to not ring it.  Train your dogs and kids to be as silent as possible when you are working.  If noises are inevitable invest in a white noise machine or noise-canceling headphones for your office. It provides some background noise and will hopefully drown out the sounds of your kids screaming at each other in the other room.

Eat Healthy

Working from home provides endless opportunities to snack. For some, it is easier to eat healthy at home because they have fresh fruits and veggies available.  For me, it is too easy to eat those fresh fruits and veggies along with a tub of hummus and pita bread.   You will have to be disciplined when it comes to snacking.  Try keeping a set “lunch” time that you eat and prepare your meals as you would if you were going into the office.  Limit your time in the kitchen and minimize unhealthy snacks in the home.

Pomodoro It Up

Pomodoro is a time management technique developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into 25-minute intervals. In between, you take a short five-minute break.  This technique works wonders for me. I am so focused because I know I only have 25 minutes to complete a task. I find myself busting ass during these intervals.   Afterward, I am able to take a quick break and throw a load of laundry in, take a quick walk, or just sit on my couch completely guilt-free.   Read more about the Pomodoro technique here.

Hold Regular Hours

It can be tempting when you work from home to blend work hours and home hours.  I know when I am working from home it easy to keep your computer up and running throughout the night. This is not a good idea because it can lead to burning out pretty quickly. Setting and adhering to standard work hours helps you avoid this.   Try to stick to the same work schedule and respect those boundaries. Limit work during personal time and limit personal time during your work hours.

Working from home is a fantastic solution for many people.  You just have to be strategic and intentional to maximize your effectiveness. What is your work from home strategy? What techniques have you found that help you be more productive when you work from home? Leave a comment below!

 

Like this post? Check out Darling CEO’s Work from Home Pinterest page for more relevant tips and tricks.

Working from home? Follow these 8 simple steps to maximize your productivity.

 

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Types of Flexible Working Arrangement

if you work in a corporate environment, you have undoubtedly heard the term flexible working arrangement.  A flexible working arrangement (FWA) is simply an alternative working location and/or schedule.  Employees love them because it allows them more flexibility to balance work and home.  Whether you are a business owner considering offering a flexible working arrangement or an employee interested in requesting one, it is important to understand what is available.  Here are the 6 most common types of flexible working arrangements.

Telecommuting

More companies are offering employees the option to work remotely at least part of the time.  It makes total sense too.  Studies show that working from home helps increase productivity, improves employee engagement, and helps employers lower overhead costs.  Sounds like a win-win!  Many employers/employees wonder how often you should be in the office. While there is no one size fits all answer, studies by Gallup have shown that the telecommuting schedule that offers the most productivity is when an employee comes into the office two or three days per week.

Working Remotely

Similar to telecommuting,  working remotely means that an employee works exclusively from another location other than the office.   This is becoming an increasingly popular option as technology permits work to happen anywhere. An employee needs to make sure that they have a suitable space free from distractions.  It is also important to have very clear expectations as it relates to performance. It takes a lot of trust from an employer to offer this arrangement so you will want there to be clear accountability on each side.

Compressed Work Week

A compressed work week is just as the name suggests,   compressing a 40-hour workweek into three to four days.  Most commonly,  a compressed workweek consists of four 10-hour days.  This is not only great for the employee, but it can also help an employer keep overhead costs down. This is a great option for working parents to help them keep childcare costs down.

Flexible Working Schedule

This arrangement allows the employee to select their working hours when it works best for them. For example, a working mother can work a couple hours in the morning, four hours during the school day, and finish up her work after the kids go to bed.  This also improves productivity because it allows workers the chance to select times in which they are naturally more productive.

Part Time or Reduced Schedule

Some employees prefer working a part-time schedule versus a full 40+ hour workweek.   Let’s be honest, working full time does not always guarantee a full 40 hours of productivity. A ton of time is lost on “water-cooler chats” and employees shopping on Amazon during work time.  Employers are finding out that they can get comparable productivity from part-time employees.  This option is not for everyone though.  I have had several friends that went part-time and ended up hating it. They felt that they were never giving their full self to anything. If you are an employee considering this option,  try to chat with people in similar roles that have gone part-time to see how they like it and what advice they would give.

Flexible Time Off

Unlimited vacation time is an increasingly popular flexible working arrangement.  Offering an employee the option to take time off when they need without the restraint of a fixed allotment helps them manage their work and home life more effectively. It also results in less unscheduled absences where you may be scrambling to fill in for that person.

Do you participate in a flexible working arrangement?   If so, what does it look like? What are the pros and cons?  We would love to hear, leave a comment below!

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6 most common types of flexible working arrangements. Whether you are an employer looking to offer flexible working arrangements or an employee looking to request one, it is important to know what is available.

9 Tips for Effective Networking Events

Attending a networking event can be unnerving, even for seasoned networkers.  While it is not the most enjoyable experience for most people, networking is important for not only growing your business but also your personal professional network. In addition, networking allows you to refine interpersonal skills which will help you in all aspects of your life.

Attending networking events doesn’t have to be painful! The process can be easier if you follow these easy tips.

Bring a Friend

This is for you introverts out there.   Does the thought of entering a networking event solo give you hives? Bring a buddy along.  Find someone in your office or industry to tagalong if that makes you feel more comfortable.  Although you can only do this if you vow to actually network. With other people.   Attending a networking event is not very effective if you only network with people that you already know.   Make it a plan to spend the first 5-10 minutes together and then head out on your own. You can check in with each other throughout the event but be careful not to pair off in the corner.

Be Prepared

The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be.  Familiarize  yourself with the location,   ask for a list of attendees so you can do research in advance, practice your elevator pitch, get your business cards ready.  Murphy’s Law is real so anything that you can take care of in advance, do so.  You don’t want to create unnecessary nerves by showing up late or misplacing your business cards.

Have a Plan

It’s best to have a plan in mind for each networking event that you attend.  Know who you would like to connect with before you attend.  You should also set some goals for each networking event.  You can set a goal for how many people you introduce yourself to, how many business cards you hand out, or how many follow up meetings/calls you set.  This not only helps to keep you focused but it can make the event more interesting.

Be Flexible

While it is important to have a game plan, an important part of that plan should be to remain flexible.  Sometimes the people you want to connect with don’t show up.  That just opens the door for you to meet other people that you wouldn’t have otherwise meet.    Go with the flow and keep an open mind.

Don’t Be Rude

Trust me, you don’t want to be that person that ditches a conversation because someone “more important” walks by.    We have all been there, you are talking to someone and the other person keeps looking around looking for their next connection.  Don’t make that mistake with other people.  Be genuinely interested in the conversation that you are in.   If you do need to excuse yourself, do so respectfully and discreetly.   You never know,  the person you are blowing off today could become the “more important”  person tomorrow.

Talk Less, Ask More

As Dale Carnegie put it, “you can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you”.  Human beings like to talk about themselves. It’s our nature.  Want people to remember you?   Try telling them as little as you can about yourself and allow them to talk about themselves.   Added bonus, you will learn more when you stop talking and start listening.  It’s a win-win situation!

Focus on Helping Others

So often, we focus on what we plan on getting from attending networking events.  Flip that and focus on what you can give others.  Ask each person you talk with about who their target customer and think of people you could introduce them to.   You can also offer up any expertise that you may have to help them grow their business. This will not only help you build stronger connections but they in turn will be looking out for you as well.   People always remember people that help them.

Follow Through Quickly

Have a system in place to make sure that you follow through on referrals or connections quickly. The worst thing you can do is form a great connection and not follow up as you said you would. You instantly lose credibility.  You also want to send a quick email or LinkedIn message to anyone that you formed a good connection with.   I always try to follow up the same day or no longer than 24 hours.

Everyone is Nervous

If you are feeling nervous,  know that everyone feels the same way.  Most people don’t find walking up to complete strangers to introduce themselves very appealing.   Knowing that people are in the same boat as you can help ease some jitters.  If you at the event and still feeling nervous, look for someone that might be in the same boat as you.  Go chat up the person standing alone in the corner or sitting alone at a table.   I’ve had some of my  best networking experiences when I force myself to step out of my comfort zone.  You got this!

We would love to hear from you.  What are your tips for networking?  How have you handled networking jitters?

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Networking events doesn't have to be painful. Check out these tips for easier and more effective networking events.