This Is Not The Career I Ordered™
Savvy Professional Career Wisdom by Caroline Dowd-Higgins
Should I Stay, or Should I Go?
The world-of-work is changing fast with unemployment at a record low and the Talent Wars in full swing. The Worker’s Market and the post-pandemic journey have given you the opportunity to reconsider your values and assess whether your current workplace is a best fit. As a career and executive leadership coach, I hear on a […]
The Inside Scoop About 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 understandable and 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 […]
Recruiters Seek a Learning Mindset When Recruiting Top Talent Top
“I wonder…” Whenever I hear coaching clients start off a sentence with these two words, I feel heartened. It means wheels are turning…intuition is kicking in, and mobilization is in the offing. It means my clients are curious, and ready to move past what is safe…beyond the known. It signals that they’re ready to step […]
Don’t be a Career Loser – Take All Your Paid Time Off
As a recovering workaholic, I strive regularly to integrate life and career to honor my personal relationships and my professional ambition. My life often resembles a roller coaster with ups and downs of activity and never a consistent steady balance – and that’s OK. This reality check has allowed me to navigate the ultra-busy career […]
Should I Stay, or Should I Go?
The world-of-work is changing fast with unemployment at a record low and the Talent Wars in full swing. The Worker’s Market has given everyone the opportunity to reconsider their values and assess whether their current workplace is a best fit. As a career and leadership coach, I hear on a regular basis from clients asking […]
Don’t Be Your Own Worst Career Enemy
We’ve all been in job situations that weren’t ideal but if you are looking to move up or move on, your professional attitude is something that will pave the way for a new opportunity. I read a great piece in Gamut News about self sabotaging career behaviors that you need to be aware of. When […]
A Career Letter to The Class of 2022
It’s graduation season and I’ve had the honor of speaking at commencement ceremonies this spring. Here is my career wisdom for the multigenerational Class of 2022 that still holds true for seasoned professionals. Dear Class of 2022: As you head into the endemic work world you have an opportunity to design your own career destiny […]
Single Task Your Way to a Healthier Life and Career
Multitasking used to be a sought-after professional competency thought to be a valuable skill for the busy professional. Research tells us that single tasking is more effective and can result in higher productivity and time efficiency. I can envision the woman working at her desk, reading this piece while eating her lunch, checking her email, […]
Approach Work Conflict with a Coaching Mindset
Most of us have experienced an uncomfortable situation at work with a colleague that resulted in a conflict, heightened emotions, or ideological differences. While some conflict averse individuals use avoidance to sweep problems under the rug, that technique does not solve the issue and often results in festering and rumination that can be emotionally debilitating. […]
Should We Fist Bump, Bow, or Shake Hands?
After the long pandemic hiatus from in-person gatherings, I recently attended a few professional events with people in attendance at large venues. It was delightful to see colleagues face-to-face whom I had only communicated with via Zoom after almost 2 years. Some people I met in-person for the very first time since our entire professional […]
Earning the Respect of Others at Work is Worth the Effort
It is human nature to want to be liked at work, but I urge you to go the extra mile to earn the respect of your colleagues and your boss. There is a difference between being liked and respected in a leadership role. If you earn the respect of your team, your people will be […]
Can You Really Love Your Work? Marcus Buckingham Weighs In
I’ve been a longtime consumer of the research, thought leadership, and wisdom of Marcus Buckingham. A New York Times best-selling author of two of the most popular business books of all time. He also has two of Harvard Business Review’s most circulated, industry-changing cover articles, and his strengths assessments have been taken by over 10 […]
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 […]