This Is Not The Career I Ordered™
Savvy Professional Career Wisdom by Caroline Dowd-Higgins
2023: Let’s Do This!
As we begin a new year, the time is ripe to start fresh and consider what you need and want to be happy, healthy, and gratified in your life and career. The pressure to pick a new year’s resolution can be stressful. Instead of a singular resolution that is likely to wane in a few […]
Career Pearls of Wisdom from 2022
As the countdown to the new year approaches, I have been reflecting on the many things I learned in 2022 on my career journey. I have been stretched and challenged to consider new ideas. My goal is to honor the values that support my life and career to provide me with meaning, purpose, and gratification. […]
A Teamwork Reboot for the New World-of-Work
Change is ubiquitous and the world-of-work is evolving at a relentless speed. Hybrid work environments, labor shortages and 55% of Americans looking for new roles has made creating team culture a moving target. It’s time to rethink how you lead a team or contribute as a colleague, and as you would expect emotional intelligence tops […]
Can You Hear Me Now? Active Listening 101
The human attention span has decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2022. Goldfish have a 9 second attention span. Ponder that. The over-stimulation of too many meetings and not enough process and creative time have exacerbated the situation. The good news is that active listening is a learned skill we all […]
Prepared for a Career Change? 5 Strategies That Can Help
Unemployment rates are low and hiring opportunities abound, but the workplace will always be ripe with company re-organizations and right-sizing. As the Greek philosopher Herclitus said, “The only thing that is constant is change.” My question to you is, are you ready for it? Job security is an illusion in this day and age, and, […]
Implementing Psychological Safety at Work
The term psychological safety is all the rage in workplace research and publications. I’d like to de-mystify this term and break it down so it’s easily implementable in all work environments. By Definition Katie Taylor wrote a great piece in Atlassian that defines psychological safety as follows: Psychologically safe work environments allow team members to […]
Go Ahead, Be Ambitious!
I was conducting a mock interview for a client, a focused, smart, and confident woman pursuing an executive leadership role. When I asked her if she considered herself ambitious she recoiled as if I used an inappropriate word. After further inquiry she revealed that she never wanted to be seen as the run over your […]
Establish a Gossip Free Workplace
I read a fascinating New York Times article by Shayla McKnight who shared a story about her job interview with an online printing company. The Human Resources Manager was clear about the no-gossip policy and no office politics rule before she was even hired. While McKnight thought the policy was refreshing it also seemed hard […]
Be Your Own Valentine: Love Who You Are
It’s the time of year for cards with red hearts, chocolates, and flowers as Valentine’s Day approaches. It causes anxiety for some who are seeking affection, and bliss for others who are celebrating their love with someone special. This Valentine’s Day I encourage you to see it through a different lens. By all means celebrate […]
Pro Tips from a Recovering Workaholic
My work and personal life is full, hectic, and often moves at break-neck speed. Although I thrive in the fast-paced environment I have created, I’ve had to regularly evaluate my work/life integration to determine if I’m living my values and honoring my life as well as my career. What I have learned is that I […]
Are You a Multiplier or a Diminisher?
From academia to the non-profit arena, and the corporate world-of-work, I have had many clients who complained about bosses who were ineffective leaders. Were these leaders intelligent and talented people? Yes. But were they able to lead a team, motivate others, and empower professional development and success in their colleagues? In many cases, no. I […]
Are You Nurturing Your Network?
Networking is a skill, and it can be hard to keep up with the extended community you worked so diligently to develop. The follow-up step is the key to maintaining strong professional relationships since the one-and-done effort leaves people feeling ill-used and less than willing to share their time and expertise with you again. Kevin […]
Design Your Career Trajectory with Smart Growth
I am a big fan of Whitney’s Johnson’s work and featured her in a new episode of my Your Working Life podcast where she shared wisdom about helping people develop their potential – enabling them to articulate and become the best professional self they want to be. Her new book, Smart Growth: How to Grow […]
Interview Your Prospective Boss Before You Accept a New Role
You’ve heard the adage, people don’t quit their job, they quit their boss. If you are looking for a new career opportunity, don’t miss out on the chance to interview your prospective boss to determine if they are a fit to empower you to do your best work. Your success and satisfaction are aligned with […]
