This Is Not The Career I Ordered™
Savvy Professional Career Wisdom by Caroline Dowd-Higgins
How Time to Think Can Help You Do Your Best Work
The pandemic induced work style of back-to-back meetings without transition time and overworked and overwhelmed employees has dangerously normalized into the status quo. I hear from clients, friends, and colleagues that the daily meeting blitz leaves no time to do the work. Evenings and weekends are spent catching up on the mountain of email and […]
Brave Not Perfect: Taking Bolder Risks
With social media permeating our daily lives at every turn, things can seem pretty flipping perfect out there. In this Instagram world where photos are filtered and flawless, and family and friends seem to always be having the time of their lives, it’s easier than ever to fall into the “perfect” trap. In her book, […]
Tap Your Inner Meryl Streep
Whether you have the performance gene or not, there are times in your professional life when you have to command an academy award winning performance to offset your emotions – especially fear. You remember the tag line of the Dry Idea deodorant commercial: Never Let Them See You Sweat – the same holds true in […]
Building Resilience
In my previous career as a performer, I quickly learned the necessity of developing a thick skin. Disappointment was a regular phenomenon since I didn’t land every audition I pursued. But as I developed my resilience it also helped me hone my craft and focus on what I did have control over. Resilience is a […]
Go Ahead, Be Ambitious!
I was conducting a mock interview for one of my clients, a focused, smart, and confident woman going through an intentional career reinvention. 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 […]
What Do You Do?
No doubt you have been asked this question at a cocktail party or when meeting someone for the first time. It seems to be the American Way and the quintessential question to start off a conversation with a person whom you don’t know. I’ve seen men and women in career transition flinch from this question […]
Lessons worth Repeating
I recently came across a wonderful article by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a professor at the Harvard Business School who shared five lessons from 2010 that she believes are worth repeating. These professional development words of wisdom will stand the test of time so consider them as you move forward this year and beyond. 1. Surprises […]
You Have the Power
I spoke at a women’s book club this week and was inspired by the collective wisdom of these engaging and talented professional women. The discussion focused on rejuvenating existing careers since most of the women present were happy with their organizations but saw room for improvement and wanted to make some modifications in their workplace […]
Make a Positive Impression as the Newbie at Work
When you start a new job it’s important to establish a positive first impression with colleagues. The adjustment period will vary depending on the person and the organization but the attitude you exude at the start will set your tone in the office culture for a very long time. Here are some great tips from […]
What’s Your Plan?
I’m spending the week in Manhattan as a visiting guest faculty member at NYU and enjoying every minute of the experience. In addition to meeting with students (grad and undergrad) in a variety of academic disciplines, I have been working with staff and faculty members teaching career development strategies and action plans. The common question […]
Are You Ready?
It’s official, national unemployment rates are starting to drop for the first time in two years. While the single digit unemployment rate is cause for celebration, it also begs the question – are you ready for the job market? If you are a first-time job seeker or a career changer, now is the time to […]
Building Trust at Work Leads to Productivity
As a career development specialist, I have studied personality and how it impacts communication in the professional workplace. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator™ I have helped shape strategies for individuals and organizations who previously hit road blocks when trying to establish trust and open lines of communication. One need not be certified in MBTI to […]
Schedule an Integrity Day
A fellow career coach and friend, Angela Beeching shared a great article about Integrity Day – a targeted day when you collaborate with friends or colleagues to get things done. I’m a big fan of assigning accountability masters in life to give you a gentle nudge, or a firm kick, as need be to help you […]