A recent Catalyst study demonstrates that mentoring does not help career advancement to the degree that sponsorship does. Mentoring is defined as career advice and guidance and sponsorship is advocacy. Usually sponsors have more senior positions than mentors, and it is their responsibility to advocate for an individual and pull them up the ranks to a top level position in … [Read more...]
Five Mistakes We Make at Networking Events
Whether you are a solo entrepreneur or small business owner or career professional, you probably spend a fair amount of your time at networking events to build your business. Here are some common mistakes we make at networking events: 1. We schmooze, but don’t make the necessary connection with people to get business. It’s great to meet new people, but effective … [Read more...]
Does it Work to Fake it until You Make it?
Do you know that low self-esteem can sabotage your career success? In a recent article in Forbes Woman, author Laura Sinberg states that people with low self-esteem often unconsciously sabotage their careers. Sinberg quotes Lois Frankel, PhD, author of Nice Girls Don’t Get The Corner Office. People with low self-esteem often try to remain under the radar screen because they … [Read more...]
What Does it Take to be a Thought Leader?
Last week I attended a panel discussion at Barclay’s in New York City on the topic of How to Be a Thought Leader. The panel included Nicki Gilmour, CEO of The Glass Hammer, Carol Hymowitz, Editorial Director of Forbes Woman, and Barbara Jones, of Editorial Director of Hyperion Books. The discussion focused on professional women and thought leadership. According to … [Read more...]
Are You Taking on More Work Without a Promotion?
This question is the topic of a recent article in Harvard Business Review, “Are You The Victim of An Invisible Promotion?” by Ron Ashkenas. The post poses some direct questions to the reader about whether or not your role has changed significantly in the past six months and whether you have been given new responsibilities with no formal promotion or pay raise. Ashkenas … [Read more...]
You Need to Raise Your Hand
If you don’t raise your hand, you won’t be called on and maybe that’s a good thing; a good thing, that is, if you want to remain invisible and safe. After all, when you raise your hand, you are risking public failure. When you raise your hand, you are sending a signal to everyone that you have the confidence to publicly state your opinion, volunteer for something, or ask … [Read more...]
Channel Your Inner Donut: Be Consistently Good
Writing in a last week’s issue of New York Magazine about the surprising quality renaissance of the just ended television season Michael Hirschorn leads off with the punch line-- “When all else fails, try being good.” Our relentless quest for perfection can distract us from the power of being consistently good. But if you’re consistently good over time you’re probably … [Read more...]
Customize Your Pitch
Why do we hate those nagging telephone calls from strangers telling us to buy something? Why do car salesmen have a bad reputation? The reason, I believe, is that the sales techniques they use are impersonal and we often feel that something is being forced on us that we do not want or need. The fact of the matter is that even if we do need the product or service that’s … [Read more...]
Are You Considering Becoming an Entrepreneur? Here’s a Test.
The Harvard Business Review posted a test this week, “Should You Be an Entrepreneur?” The test of 20 questions was created by the author of the article, Daniel Isenberg, who is a professor of management practice at Babson College. I thought it would be fun to pose these questions to those of you who are entrepreneurs, like myself, or to those of you who are … [Read more...]
On-line Groups and “Discussions”
Are you, like me, sick of on-line “discussions” that are promotions? Books, videos, webinars, classes, insurance products, resume services, MLM opportunities, training programs, conferences – you name it and you will find it posted as a discussion topic. The idea for a discussion forum by social networks such as LinkedIn was just that – providing an opportunity to post … [Read more...]