by Solange Lopes | Oct 3, 2018 | Career
For many of us, especially as working women, finishing the year strong is an important priority. It can also be a quite the burden, as the end of the year is a stressful time. Not only is it sometimes instrumental to our success at work and in life, but the pressure of the coming holidays also adds to the general sense of overwhelm.
I used to dread the last quarter of the year thinking about the holidays, performance reviews, year-end commitments, and other obligations would have me breaking in hives at the drop of a hand. It took a long time for me to sit down with me, myself and I, and start trying to find ways to finish the year strong and reduce the stress at year-end.
Related: How to deal with office stress during the holidays
Here are seven tips that can help you finish this your strong:
Make an inventory of what you have accomplished so far
It always helps to start with the good stuff. What have you succeeded at so far in the year? What have your accomplishments been? Taking stock of your successes not only helps put perspective in your journey; but it also helps you visualize where you stand in terms of the goals you set at the beginning of the year. I like to sit with a piece of paper and a pen as I enter the last quarter of the year and take stock of my accomplishments, as a way to boost myself up and to see how many of my goals I have actually met. It also gives me a good sense of how far I have to go for the remainder of the year.
While it’s important to take stock of your successes and celebrate, it’s crucial to understand everything you have learned in the course of the year. This may come as a result of failures, learning experiences and your overall journey as a whole. I like to keep a running tally of everything I learned through every project I tackle in my work and my business. This is very helpful for me to take stock of my progress, but also a performance review time when I actually have to discuss this progress throughout the year.
Make an inventory of what you need to finish
Now that you’ve taken stock of your accomplishments, it’s time to consider what you need to finish to achieve your goals for the year. Which projects have been lagging behind and do you need to complete? Which major goals are unfinished and need you to push forward before the year ends? Are there any new commitments you need to attend to?
As I approach and enter every quarter, especially the last quarter of the year, it’s important for me to make a list entitled “To Finish”. These are the important commitments and projects that need to absolutely be completed by the end of the year.
Clean Your Networking Database
The last quarter of the year is also a great time to attend to your networking efforts. A large part of this is to update and clean your networking database, which is basically the list of all your networking contacts. Which recent contacts have you not yet added to your networking database? Which contacts have you not kept touch with in more than six months? Which contacts may you need to remove from your networking database?
Related: 7 ways to Refresh Your Networking List
Cleaning your networking contacts database is key to finishing the year strong, as it will help you strengthen your networking relationships. This will come in handy as you approach the end of the year.
Schedule a feedback session
Feedback is a powerful tool to assess your progress and how much further you have to go to finish the year strong. It’s one thing to assess your own progress, and take stock of your accomplishments and lessons learned; it’s another to have the perspective of someone else on it.
Related: 4 ways to leverage the power of feedback in your career
Schedule some time with your managers to go over your performance and get some feedback. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to just your managers. You can also schedule some time with your co-workers and team members to conduct informal feedback sessions. Having various people’s perspective on your work can help you enormously in adjusting your performance and finishing the year strong.
Related: 7 Easy Steps to Prepare for a Stellar Performance Review this Year
Plan to ask for more.
The end of the year is a great time to start thinking about a pay raise or improvement in your salary while you still have time. Schedule a time to discuss this with your managers. However this has to be a different time then when you schedule your performance review.
Related: Forget Karma, How to ask for a raise (even as a woman)
Asking for a raise or other additional benefits during the last quarter is key to securing your professional future as you get ready to start a new year. It’s also a strategic time as you’re able to gather what you have accomplished so far, as well as your lessons learnt, so as to make a better case for yourself.
Related: How to make more money without leaving your job
Prepare your year-end communications.
Year-end is a great time for strategic communications, from end-of-year plans and announcements to holiday mailings. As you enter the last quarter, think of drafting your year-end communications before the busyness of the holidays takes over. Take time to carefully craft these and schedule these ahead of time.
This is particularly important if you’re an entrepreneur running your own business, as year-end may be also be a financially crucial time for you. Taking time to do this ahead of time will save you many headaches, and avoid costly mistakes or omissions.
Don’t forget about self-care!
Did I mention the last quarter of the year is a stressful time? Let me repeat it again: year-end is a stressful time! This is why it’s so important to prioritize
self-care. You may ask yourself if self-care is even possible as we enter the last months of the year. Not only is it possible, it’s absolutely necessary!
For me, what self-care at year-end looks like is all about interweaving rest moments into my busy schedule. Although there’s much to be done, I make sure to put my phone and laptop down for at least a full day a week. What does it look like for you?
Now your turn: How do you plan to finish the year strong?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
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by Solange Lopes | Sep 27, 2018 | Career
In the past few years, blogging has certainly become extremely popular. There are millions of blogs worldwide around a multitude of topics. Blogging has almost become a cheap commodity. However, there are still some great benefits of blogging. One of these is blogging to boost your career.
As a career woman, you may think that adding blogging to your career objectives is not necessary. As a matter-of-fact, you may even consider that it may be a hindrance or an unnecessary effort. However, blogging can actually help you take your career to the next level in ways you may not have thought possible.
Here are a few ways blogging can boost your career:
Blogging about your area of expertise can help position you as an expert
Anytime you write about a given topic, it requires you to learn about it first. It also demands that you reach a certain knowledge around said topic. As you start blogging about a topic related to your career, you actually become an expert at it. This is because you would have performed some advanced research on it, and immersed yourself in it more than the average person.
As you become knowledgeable about your area of expertise, you also start to be perceived as an expert. Companies may recognize you as such, and perceive your expertise as a positive asset. In many instances, it may be what positively separates you from other candidates applying for the same job.
Pick an area of your career that interests you
The not-so-secret secret of blogging effectively is to write about something you enjoy. Blogging can be time-consuming and require extensive research. It’s important to write about a topic that you’d get less tired about in the long run. An area that is more inspiring and motivating for you will lift you up when you don’t feel up to blogging or sharing your expertise.
What is it about your particular area of work or career that part of your interest? What would you be willing to do research for for free? Those are the topics you should blog about.
Add your own spin and creativity to it.
What differentiates bloggers, as well as professionals in general, is the level of creativity and innovation they put into their work. As you add blogging to your resume, consider also adding your own spin on any topics you write about and share with your audience.
Many bloggers are guilty of regurgitating information they copy and paste from the web. However, the best ones are those who are not afraid to dig deeper and go a step above what everyone else can find on Google. How can you infuse your own personality and worldview into your perception and transcription of your area of expertise? This will set you apart as a thought leader and a potential asset to organizations and businesses looking for fresh minds and vibrant talent.
Now your turn: Would you blog to boost your career?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
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by Solange Lopes | Sep 24, 2018 | Career
If you have a hobby you enjoy doing in your spare time, you may wonder how to actually turn it into cash. If so, then you are among a large part of the population that is striving to create additional streams of income doing exactly what they love. I was always fascinated by people who are able to turn their hobbies into cold, hard cash. The most interesting part is that they are able to do that on a very part-time basis while still holding on to their careers and fulfilling their various personal and professional responsibilities.
In the age of social media and technology, it has become even easier to monetize any hobby, from writing and blogging to knitting or fishing.When I started blogging, it was purely for fun and to relieve some of the pent-up energy I had from work and life in general. As I got more interested in it, I realized there are many bloggers out there for actually making a living out of something they might have started as a hobby. This is when I started thinking of the very possibility of monetizing our hobbies and even turning them into actual careers.
Here are a few way you can do the same with your hobby:
Get clear about what you like you as well as your natural strength,talents and abilities.
Taking your hobby to the next level by monetizing it also means being very clear about what it is and what your natural strengths and abilities around it are. Being aware of what you enjoy doing and how good you are at it will give you the confidence and the strength you need to pursue it. As I was enjoying blogging and writing in general, and that I realized that I had some skills around it, I was able to be more confident and more energized to develop it.
Get clear about your why
One of the first questions to ask yourself when seeking to monetize your hobby is: “Why do I want to monetize this activity?” Is it to create a side income? Is it to change careers? Is it to replace your full-time income? Is it to follow a passion? To defend a cause? Whatever the reason is, it’s important to be clear about what may spur you to turn your hobby into a source of income. It is your “why” that will help you in times when your motivation falters, or when you’re not sure whether to continue or not.
My own why has always been to follow my purpose. Whenever I hit a wall or I’m too overwhelmed, I remind myself of the very reason why I even started on this journey. It keeps me going, motivates me, and helps me make sense of it all.
Identify your target audience
As you seek to monetize your hobby and start a business, another question that you want to ask yourself is: “Who is my target audience?” This is a fancy way of saying: “Who am I serving?” Your target audience is made up of the people whose problems your hobby-turned-business is meant to solve.
For The Corporate Sister, it’s working women who want to thrive in their careers and in life on purpose. For any financial advice blog or business, it would be people who desire to better their financial situation. For someone who is passionate about surfing, it would be other people who are passionate about the same things and are looking for solutions around it.
Identify an unmet need that you can help solve
The root of making money out of anything is first identifying an unmet need and then solving it. Your hobby-turned-business has to be able to answer a question that keeps many people up at night. Those people are your target audience.
For instance, if your hobby is knitting, your audience may be made up of people whose problems are centered around knitting. You may be helping them solve problems around knitting more effectively, having better tools to knit or selling their knitting products. Whatever the problem that you’re helping to solve is, orienting your hobby towards providing an effective solution that your target audience needs is the answer.
Provide solutions to your audience’s needs
Once you have identified an unmet need that your audience has, now it’s time to provide solutions. You can do this by creating products or services through which you can channel the answers you’re offering. If you’re a blogger, then your blog should be helping your target audience through your articles, as well as through adequate products and services. As an avid knitting fan, you may be creating a new knitting product or even a community of people like you who are interested in finding motivation and inspiration around knitting. The point is create a solution to answer the questions of your target audience.
Create a community
Monetizing a hobby cannot done alone. In the world of business you need other people. In other words you need a community to support your efforts and direct your products and services at. This community may be made of your target audience, as well as other people who also thrive and gravitate around your idea.
Social media has made it easier nowadays to build such a community by providing online access to like-minded people. Networks and groups of individuals interested in your hobby are also great sources of support and community.
Enjoy the process
One of the biggest mistakes many people make when monetizing a hobby is losing the enjoyment and the fun of the process while striving to succeed. The reason why you started was because it was enjoyable in the first place. This is why you launched into this adventure of turning your hobby into a business.
It’s important then make sure that you don’t lose this joy as you start thinking about dollar figures and profits. A good way to do this is to keep reminding yourself of your why. Another way is to be aware of your own progress and evolution as an individual as you’re monetizing your hobby. Is the process making you happier, more miserable or flat out drained? This will help you calibrate and adjust as you go through this journey.
Now your turn: How do you go about monetizing your hobby?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister
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by Solange Lopes | Sep 13, 2018 | Career, Find Your Purpose
I’ll admit it. I’m a recovering people pleaser. There, I said it…For the longest time, I had the strongest aversion to the word “No”. It was as if I were compulsively moved to utter the one word that would grant me others’ approval: “Yes!” Although in many cases, I could see how whatever was being asked of me was not in my best interested, I couldn’t help myself.
If you’re a recovering people-pleaser, you may have felt disconnected by this need to positively answer others’ needs. You may have been silently crumbling under the pressure those around you may have unknowingly (or knowingly) put you through. You may even have felt trapped, not knowing what to do and too ashamed to admit your people-pleasing tendencies.
What many see as a weakness, or “being too nice”, is often a natural response developed by certain individuals in order to make life easier for those around them. This is also so they can feel better as well. However, issues arise when this type of behavior turns into a prison of inadequacy and fear.
Truth is, people-pleasing tendencies do not help anyone. On the very contrary, they hinder both the people-pleaser and those around him/her. The solution is not to wait for others to apply less pressure on you. Rather, it is to change your own behavior first.
Here are a few steps to get started out of people-pleasing into wholeness and becoming the best version of yourself:
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It starts with acknowledging the problem
The first step is always to acknowledge the problem. You may not want to be perceived as a people-pleaser, which in turn may create an attitude of denial. Instead, allow yourself to look at the way you react in an honest way, yet without judgment. It’s only then that you can be more aware of yourself and commit to change.
For me, it started with feeling the extreme pressure of over-committing and being unable to say no to external requests, especially at work. Over time, it became unbearable and un-manageable, to the point that I had to take an honest look at myself. That’s when I could recognize there was a problem, and that it started with me.
Related: How to establish your authority as a working woman
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Realize that relationships are about exchanges
If you’ve ever been in uneven relationships, where you did most of the giving and caring, you know it’s not a pleasant feeling. As a matter of fact, it can turn out to be quite a burden to carry.
When I started realizing that some relationships were depleting me more than they were fulfilling me, I had to take a pause and re-consider. Healthy relationships are about give-and-takes in both directions. Otherwise, you may find yourself in situations in which you over-function, prompting others to under-function. As a result, you end up being in unhealthy relationships.
Related: How to improve your work relationships this year
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It’s ok to be your most authentic self
Many of us wear a mask, especially in the workplace. Outside of the workplace, there’s also a tendency to subject ourselves to a certain status quo. This prompts us to not always be, and show, our most authentic selves.
It took me a while to own my “weird” as I call it. As an introvert, I operated mostly in extroverted environments, which seemed at times foreign. You may also wonder if owning your “weird” or being your most authentic self is ok in your environment, and to what extent. However, it’s our uniqueness and special values which truly allow us to bring our best contribution to the world.
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Get comfortable with the word “no”
I have a big “NO” written on a Post-It note above my desk in my office. It serves as a reminder that not only is it ok to say “No”; in many cases, it’s the best response. It’s one that I have had to grow accustomed to using over and over again.
Not all opportunities, requests, or relationships are for you. This is why it’s so important to master the art of saying no.
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Let go of the past
People-pleasing tendencies can create a negative hold on you from the past. You may have been hurt by others’ behavior or pressure from those around you. However, it’s crucial to let go of past traumas and difficult memories to be able to muster the courage to grow.
Are you a recovering people-pleaser? How have you overcome these tendencies?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
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by Solange Lopes | Sep 5, 2018 | Career, Find Your Purpose
Faith and religion are some of the few topics that are considered taboo at work, along with politics. In general, we simply avoid talking about faith at work. In most, if not many instances, we also don’t see how faith can integrated with our work, or how it could impact it in any way. We tend to separate our faith with our careers, believing that they are two entirely different areas of our lives.
I used to do the same, until I realized that if my faith is an integral part of who I am, then it also impacts my career and the work I do. Whatever is part of your experience, mindset or worldview, does influence your career as well.
It took me a long time to find a way to accept and integrate my faith and career in a way that didn’t deny either. If you’re wondering how you can also do it for yourself, here are 5 lessons I learnt:
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Acknowledge where you stand
One of the most important aspects of integrating your faith and your work is to acknowledge where you stand. Being realistic about where you’re at in terms of your personal and professional growth, as well as in your career, will help you assess the best ways to integrate your faith and work.
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Use your faith as motivation to excel
My faith has always been behind my motivation to genuinely and authentically succeed. It’s also been the substance of my hope and resilience, even as I faced professional obstacles and roadblocks. Having faith allowed me to believe in a higher purpose for my existence, which in turn translated into doing the best work I could in whatever capacity I was in.
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It’s less about religion than about how you do your work and live your life
When we talk about faith and work, many people often think that it’s about religious expression, which can be perceived negatively in the workplace. However, I’ve found that it’s more about how you choose to live your life than about your actual beliefs. Your ethical values, as well as the way you treat your work and the people around you, say more about what you believe in than any religious symbol would.
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Preserve your authenticity
In my instances, I’ve found myself considering whether I should wear a mask at work when it came to my faith. However, I realized that what we believe in is nothing we can really, or should, hide. Part of being authentic, in and outside of the workplace, is preserving who we truly are by not denying our beliefs. This doesn’t equate imposing our beliefs on others. However, it also doesn’t require being inauthentic in that aspect.
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Take advantage of what your organization offers
Many organizations and businesses offer places of worship catering to various faiths and beliefs, which is a wonderful sign of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. I have taken advantage of these, and have found that it’s brought a certain level of peace and serenity in my day. It’s ok to integrate your work and your faith in this way as well, and honoring your organization’s efforts and commitment to the diversity of their employees.
All in all, integrating your faith and work is not as complex as it may seem. It can actually help you bring more motivation, peace and serenity in your work, while keeping your authenticity intact.
Now your turn: How do you integrate your faith and work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
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by Solange Lopes | Sep 4, 2018 | Career
Projecting authority as a working woman, especially as a woman of color, can be a challenge in the workplace. Due to the many stereotypes associated with being a woman at work, it can be difficult to get the respect and consideration you deserve as a working woman. This is largely due to the fact that women are still the minority at work, in number and representation. Additionally, many organizations still adhere to a patriarchal, and mostly masculine professional mentality, which only reinforces this. While this can be a sad reality in many professional environments, there are thankfully some powerful ways in which you can establish your authority as a working woman in any capacity and professional setting.
As a woman of color at work, I, like so many others, have found myself in situations when projecting the authority associated with my work responsibilities was a challenge. While I was tempted to blame others at first, I quickly understood that stereotypes and general perception bias embedded in centuries of past history were much more to blame. I decided then, rather, to focus on how to bypass these biases and establish authority in a constructive and healthy manner.
Related: Is the Angry Black Woman Stereotype Keeping You From Career Success?
As I learnt through this process and from other working women, here are some of the ways I realized can be used to project authority as a working woman:
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Dress Formally
Appearance is key. Most people will form an impression (and opinion) of you in the first five minutes they meet you. While initial impressions may be misleading, they are still relied on by many, if not most, people as they decide whether or not to attribute a certain level authority to someone else.
Just as you’d show up to an interview well-dressed in a professional suit or attire, consider presenting yourself in a formal dress to establish your authority. There is something about a professionally dressed person that commands respect, and projects their authority.
Related: 10 wardrobe tips you must consider when transitioning careers
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Display your competence
Establishing your authority is also a matter of proving that you can be trusted when it comes to your professional competence. Unfortunately, there are a number of negative stereotypes and biases directed as minority groups such as women and people of color that tend to suggest otherwise.
Don’t hesitate to display your competence, not as a way to brag or boast; but to show that you know what you’re talking about. This may mean positively contributing to meetings, or being a reliable source of information and guidance. Overall, it’s about showing a spirit of excellence in the work you do.
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Be ethical
As mentioned earlier, establishing your authority is also about laying a foundation of trust between yourself and your colleagues or higher-ups. It also means showing high levels of integrity and ethics in everything you do, from your dealings with peers and management to your business decisions.
It starts with considering the impact of your decisions and how they may affect those around you. By taking others into consideration, you’re also sending a positive message of trust and authority.
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Make use of formal titles
Along with a formal dress, formal titles are also part of the trappings of authority. While they may not always be necessary, they can help in establishing you as a respected professional figure. Whether you’re a professor at a university or a manager at an accounting firm, making use of your title is less about boasting than it is about projecting your authority.
The only caveat here is that it’s important to determine the cases in which making excessive use of formal titles could be perceived negatively. As always, use your judgment to assess the situations you’re in.
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Build positive rapport with others
While it’s important to use formal trappings of authority such as titles and professional dress, it’s also crucial to build a positive rapport with others at work. Authority is better cemented with respect, consideration and positive relationships with others.
Positive rapport with others also involves setting the appropriate boundaries, while being as firm and assertive as needed, when needed. This is not about being the office doormat, but rather installing respect in others through a positive, yet firm attitude.
As a working woman, especially as a woman of color, it can be challenging to establish and maintain your authority in the workplace. Yet, keeping in mind these few useful and practical tips, and applying them as you deem necessary, can certainly help.
Now your turn: How do you establish your authority as a working woman?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister
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by Solange Lopes | Sep 3, 2018 | Career
Transitioning careers is a big change in your life. From the nature of your work to your new environment, there will be numerous modifications to the way you’re accustomed to working. One of these will even affect the way you dress. This also means that you may have to change your wardrobe as you transition to your new career.
I believed starting a new career would only impact my work. However, to my surprise, I also realized that the way I would present myself would also change. For some career transitioners, the change will be almost imperceptible. For others, it will be a drastic departure from what their usual professional wardrobe.
When acclimating to a new career, there are a few wardrobe changes to consider. Here are 10 wardrobe tips you must consider when transitioning careers:
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Ask about the dress code
One of the questions that often gets overlooked when transitioning careers is around the dress code. While some careers have pretty flexible dress codes, others are more rigid in terms of professional wardrobe. I used to work on the audit team of a very conservative insurance company, which required its female employees to wear stockings in all seasons and avoid open-toe shoes. I made the mistake of not following the rules during my first few days for the simple reason that I wasn’t aware of them.
This is why it’s crucial to ask about the dress code as you start a new career. If feasible, consider asking this question during your interview process. If not, consult with the recruiter you may be working with, or your colleagues during your first few days at work.
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Consult current policies and procedures
Most organizations have policies and procedures which refer to their dress codes. Some even send frequent reminders around these. Consulting these is a safe place to begin understanding the wardrobe expectations of your new career. In the absence of these, don’t hesitate to ask your colleagues or recruiters.
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Observe your environment
Your new environment will tell you a lot about the expectations and requirements of your new career. Observe how those around you dress, at all levels of the organization. Take a cue from the leadership and those in position of authority, as they may be most accurately reflecting the expected dress code.
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Re-purpose your current wardrobe
Vince Camuto high-neck sheath dress – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
The point here is not to go invest in a brand-new wardrobe that will cost you more money than you can, and should, afford. Most likely, you already have most, if not many, of the wardrobe pieces you will need to dress appropriately in your new careers.
Off5th Contrast Trim Blouse – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
When starting a new career, I conducted an audit of my current wardrobe at the time. By doing this, I was able to pick out core pieces such as white button-down shirts such as this Off 5th Contrast trim Blouse and sheath dresses such as this Vince Camuto high-neck sheath dress, that I could re-use in my new career. I was also able to set aside those I may not use often or at all.
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Create your own style
Adhering to a pre-defined dress code for your new career doesn’t mean letting go of your own sense of style. Instead, you can incorporate your originality into your wardrobe, while still being mindful of your new environment’s expectations.
As a self-proclaimed “fashionista”, it’s important to me to always have my own style. It could be as simple as adding colors to traditional business suits, such as this LeSuit three-button pantsuit. It could also be adding fun accessories such as this Kendra Scott Betsy Long Pendant necklace and these Lilly Pulitzer Waterside earrings.
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But be practical
When switching careers, it’s important to take into account the practical aspect. This is something I had to learn the hard way, as I would painfully wobble in my high heels and at times overly sophisticated, and weather-inappropriate, work outfits.
However, I learnt over time to put comfort first, while still maintaining a professional look and allowing for my own personality to come through. What this means for me is opting for more practical shoes such as these Karl Lagerfeld Paris scarlet pumps with quilted block heels or these ALDO unbuckle heeled pumps. It was also a matter of picking breathable, comfortable fabrics like cotton, such as in these Lee Platinum Madelyn straight-leg trousers or this Draper James peony pencil skirt.
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Be open to experimenting
A new career will also require you to experiment with the way you approach your professional wardrobe. Don’t hesitate to try your own looks, and wearing pieces that reflect who you truly are.
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Mind your budget
As you transition careers, be mindful of your finances as well. There is no need to over-spend and put yourself in a financial bind simply to “look the part”. Instead, consider more frugal options such as high-end vintage or thrift stores, or lower-priced department stores. As mentioned earlier, focus on re-purposing your prior professional wardrobe as well.
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Dress for the position you want
This piece of advice is as old as time; however, it still applies. As you aspire to advance in your new career, observe the way your leaders dress to inspire your own wardrobe. Yet, you should be mindful of managing egos and office politics as you do so. For instance, donning a wardrobe more expensive than that of your higher-ups may be perceived negatively. All in all, it’s a matter of striking the right balance.
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Enjoy your professional wardrobe
While you may be concerned about dressing for your new career, you should also enjoy the process. Have fun with your wardrobe, enjoy the comfort and versatility of what you wear, as it will inspire to work more joyfully and on purpose.
Now your turn: How do you change your wardrobe when switching careers?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
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