by Solange Lopes | Jan 2, 2018 | Career
Workwear: Lightweight Down Coat – Photo credit: llbean.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
When the temperatures start dipping so low you can see the air you breathe, it’s time to seriously cover up! I love that this LLBean ultralight down coat combines exceptional warmth with a lightweight look and feel. I’m not usually much for puffy down coats, but this one weighs much less than traditional down coats and looks much more fitting too. It’s on sale for $199 at LLBean.
In similar styles, I also like this hooded version, also from LLBean. This belted long down coat from Lands End is also a great choice.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jan 2, 2018 | Career
If you ask most working women what their biggest concern is when it comes to thriving in their careers or businesses, the answer can usually be summed up in one word: Productivity. With so much on our plates, it can be a challenge to be as productive as we’d like to be. This is especially true considering all the distractions we now customarily have to face on a daily basis, from social media to unnecessary meetings and last-minute to-do’s.
As a working mom, being more productive is like trying to lose those last five pounds from my first baby. It’s this endless race to do as much as feasible in as little time as possible. The only thing is, it ends up being just that, an exhausting, oftentimes unproductive, race. As a result, we end up chasing the elusive badge of honor of “busy-ness” instead of the fulfillment of true productivity.
Rather than this endless busy race we too often find ourselves in, here are 10 hacks for working women to be more productive at work:
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Plan at least a week ahead
This may sound cliché, but the results are anything but. Planning a week ahead allows you to prepare the resources you need to complete whatever task is on your to-do list. Rather than rushing at the last minute, you can give yourself enough time to tackle your to-do list.
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Hack your mornings
Mornings are a sacred and precious time, especially for busy working women who are always on the go. Hack your mornings by getting up earlier and starting your day before the rest of the world, and their associated distractions, gets up. If you’re not a morning person, start by small increments. The point is to get an early and productive head start.
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Exercise
Exercising is one of the most underrated productivity tools. The more physical exercise you practice, the more mental and physical energy you actually have. It may sound counter-intuitive, but it’s actually true. Schedule some time to exercise daily, even if only 20 minutes, and notice how your productivity increases.
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Prioritize
Rank your tasks in order of priority. Consult with your manager or team to agree on what needs to be completed first, and focus your efforts there. Don’t squander your time and energy trying to do it all when you can knock off the most impactful items on your list instead. The point is not to do it all, it’s to do it well.
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Eliminate distractions
The biggest obstacles to peak productivity consist of the distractions surrounding us. If you happen to have a smartphone, 99% of these distractions are stored in there. From social media apps to texts from friends and family, there virtually exist a gazillion ways out there to take your focus off of what you’re supposed to do.
The easiest, and by far most effective way to limit these distractions, is to eliminate them. This means deleting these apps from your phone, stopping your notifications, and postponing checking your email, among other ways.
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Control your calendar
Don’t let your calendar control you! Instead of leaving it open and at the mercy of unlimited meeting requests, block off the time you need to tackle your priorities. You don’t need to have a meeting scheduled or some other event to block off your calendar. Instead, use your discretion to keep your calendar off-limits.
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Set a strict limit on meetings
Meetings are one of the biggest time suckers at work. Don’t allow these to reduce your productivity though. Instead, set ruthless time limits on any meeting you attend. Keep them to their allotted time too. Make sure to inform the other meeting participants that you will not be able to stay past the scheduled time. If you see the meeting is lasting longer than scheduled, you may even consider excusing yourself.
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Group your interruptions
Interruptions are almost impossible to avoid at work. To limit their negative influence on your productivity, consider grouping them instead. Ask your team members, reports or even managers, to schedule a time with you when you can go over any open items or questions they may have. This way, you don’t have to be constantly interrupted and waste unnecessary time.
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Delegate and outsource
You can’t do everything. More specifically, you can’t do everything that you’re not particularly good at. Take a look at your schedule and consider delegating and/or outsourcing the tasks or chores that are least impactful and are not aligned with your strengths.
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Schedule breaks
Being productive doesn’t mean working tirelessly and endlessly. Instead, the most productive people are also those who periodically stop and take breaks. To ensure that you don’t skip on your breaks, schedule them in your calendar.
What are your best hacks to be more productive at work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 30, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
Cheers!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister
by Solange Lopes | Dec 27, 2017 | Career
As women of color, we face unique challenges in the workplace and in business. Being double minorities in work environments in which we are often the “only ones in the room” comes with its share of obstacles. There’s a reason why it is said that women of color face a concrete wall in business.
As a Black woman in Big Corporate, like so many others, I’ve experienced many of these obstacles. Yet, as much as they affect many a woman of color at work, they’re not usually widely shared. My girlfriends and I would discuss these, and even laugh about them at times; but we’d never share them outside of our small group. We were too scared of being misunderstood and adding even more grief to the whole situation. Besides, some of these challenges can be so subtle that it makes it hard to even demonstrate their existence.
Here are 7 unique challenges that women of color face at work day in and day out:
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Being judged according to false stereotypes
The “angry black woman” stereotype is only one of the damaging images used to portray and unfairly judge many a woman of color. Many are the negative ideas that precede women of color before they even enter the room, speak up, or perform at work. It’s because of these very false stereotypes that many retreat in a professional corner, or get extremely defensive.
Being aware of these stereotypes is a hard realization, yet one that is necessary in order to combat them. Unrelenting dedication, commitment, assertiveness, along with a good dose of patience, are also key.
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Playing the advocate to the entire Black race (along with other minorities)
Issa Rae’s hit series Insecure does an amazing job at exposing how women of color, and Black women in particular, are sometimes expected to be representatives of their entire communities. At the non-profit organization she works, Issa is pretty much considered an “urban encyclopedia”. Her best friend, Molly, is the only Black woman associate in her law firm, which prompts one of the senior partners to ask her to speak to one of the new Black interns whose boisterous ways are not aligned with the firm’s culture.
When you’re the only woman of color in your team or department, or one of a only a few, you can quickly become the advocate for the rest of your community. Which means being asked to pass along sensitive messages, like Molly in Insecure, or explain just about anything and everything that has to do with your culture.
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Working twice as hard
Poppa Pope said it right in the hit series Scandal: “You have to be twice as good as them”, when referring to what Olivia Pope would have to do to be successful in her career. Sadly, it’s advice most women of color receive from their childhood on, and have to apply through most of their careers.
How many times have we seen women of color over-studying, overdoing, and outperforming everyone else at work; only to be passed over for promotions or asked to trained someone else they would later report to? As sad and infuriating as it may be, it’s very much a reality for many women of color at work.
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Being the odd woman out
Have you ever found yourself in the midst of environments where you have no cultural references to contribute? For many, if not most women of color, it’s more the norm than the exception.
When you’re the only woman of color, or one of very few women of color in the room, your experiences, culture, entertainment are seldom discussed or shared. Instead, you may find yourself getting relegated to the silent corner. Or, on the opposite end of the odd spectrum, you may be at the end of interesting observations and compliments about your hair, skin, or even body shape. This is not always intentional on the part of colleagues and managers. However, it’s a hard reality that many, if not most women of color, deal with every single day.
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Being at the end of double standards
There are many instances in which women of color are subject to double standards in the workplace. From differences in work expectations and perks to dress codes, these double standards can be as subtle as they can be disheartening.
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Having to do the “voice switch” and other ways of watering ourselves down
If you’re a woman of color at work, you may have had to do the “voice switch” at work. You know that time when you water down your natural voice tone to sound more “professional”. Somehow, hitting the proper “business” tone may contribute to giving more credibility to women of color who are routinely considered unprofessional, from their natural hair to their assumed aggressiveness.
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Being rejected by other women of color
When there is a belief that there are only so many spots available to women of color, it can create an atmosphere of prejudice between them. The same occurs when it’s also believed that these same women may not be competent.
The fear of associating with other women of color and being misjudged keeps many from mentoring and supporting their counterparts. Instead, they opt to stay away.
All in all, being a woman of color is a very unique experience that is seldom shared and discussed for fear of the lack of understanding or judgment that may result. However, it’s important that we start telling the stories that can change the landscape of work for the better. The more we can talk about the obstacles we face, the more we can share tools and find the appropriate solutions.
What unique challenges have you faced as a woman of color at work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 27, 2017 | Career
Every year, I sit down and reflect on the lessons I’ve learnt in the course of the past 12 months. As much as time seems to be flying these days, every year is an opportunity to look back and reflect. Many of us would prefer looking forward, especially if the past has been a source of failure or discontentment. However, unless you look back, you cannot learn from your wins or losses. And unless you learn, you’re not growing or progressing.
If you’re in the same place as you were last year, you’re not growing. Don’t stay in the same place.
2017 was a transition year for me, from jumping into entrepreneurship to changing my mindset to work and live differently. Here are the 10 most important lessons I learnt in 2017:
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Purpose beats money, every single time!
Don’t get me wrong, we all know bills need to get paid, shoes bought, etc. As a CPA by trade, I know all too well the importance of money and finances in our lives, careers and businesses. However, in 2017, transitioning into entrepreneurship taught me that purpose always beats money!
Whether it’s through a side hustle, a profitable business, or a change in careers, following one’s purpose is the ultimate way to success, whatever success may mean for you. Always make sure to have a solid financial plan in place though.
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Growth is better than promotion
Many of us look to promotion and increase in our careers and businesses. However, we often forego the opportunity to grow and learn. In turn, this affects our ability to maintain ourselves at the level we’ve managed to climb to.
Transitioning into entrepreneurship taught me the importance of growth, both personal and professional. As a matter of fact, it’s the personal growth that fuels our professional growth. Unless you’re growing personally, your career or business may not grow as effectively.
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The dream is free, but the journey will cost you.
If 2017 taught me one thing, it’s that there is a cost to any dream, goal, intention or desire. Social media has us believing that the process is easy and glamorous. Any worthwhile dream or goal requires a fair amount of sweat equity and seed planting, before we can even start reaping the benefits.
The average success story takes at least 10 years. The millionaire you see on social media has been working late nights and early mornings before going to their daytime job for years now. That entrepreneur who “suddenly” makes it to the top has been living frugally on their savings for years. As a matter of fact, both of them may have filed bankruptcy once or twice, lived in their cars, or missed a meal or two.
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Not everyone will go with you
Ever heard the phrase “If you want to find out who your real friends are, start a business”? I found out it’s a very accurate statement. While I don’t necessarily believe in “expecting” others to support you, or to do anything for you for that matter, I also think that life will show you the people who can go with you to where your purpose is leading you. And those who were there for a season or a reason…
Your network is really your net worth, so watching who’s in your circle can determine where your career, business and life end up. The energy you surround yourself with is so important. I learnt that who and what you allow in your life is your responsibility. That few relationships are permanent, and that we must learn to recognize where we should put a priority and where we should not.
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Your mental health is a priority!
What my career and business have taught me in 2017 is that my mental health is such an important part of my career, business or life. It’s not just about working hard and hustling all day, every day.
Doing great work in the wrong mental state can wreak havoc on your professional or business results. I’m learning to check in with myself more, and listen to my own mental concerns as a priority.
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A financial foundation is crucial to success
Jumping into entrepreneurship on a part-time and full-time basis in 2017 has also confirmed the importance of minding my finances. This is not just about keeping a budget, or balancing your checkbook regularly.
It’s about creating a solid financial foundation of savings, investments and monetary power to create the life we want. It’s hard to go after one’s purpose or dreams when you’re worried about paying the rent or putting food on the table. Rather, it’s about creating wealth in a way that serves us and others in the context of our purpose and vision.
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It’s ok to be different, trust your own voice
When I started a blog, I took a different path. Jumping into entrepreneurship was a drastically different journey than anything I, or anyone else I closely knew, had experienced. However, at first, being different and doing things differently made me mistrust my own voice and doubt myself.
Having to stick to my own vision and goals has taught me to trust my voice and own my differences. It’s the only way to be everything we can be.
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Plant seeds first
Another thing I’ve learnt this year is the power of investment. When we think of investments, we think of money. However, what I’ve realized is that investing my time, energy and faith can reap the biggest rewards.
Going from side hustle to full-time business demonstrated for me the importance of planting seeds first. It’s about putting forth the effort and down payment first, sometimes way before we can get the pay for it. It’s about fighting for something you may not be able to see right away. Fight for it anyways.
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Tell your story
As a woman of color at work, I used to hide out behind a professional façade. It took me a long time to realize that our real power is in our ability to tell our stories and be authentic about our own experiences.
Through my blog, my career and business experience in general, I’m learning that my story, just like yours, is valid and deserving to be told. Most importantly, I’m learning that it can make a crucial difference in others’ lives as well. The more authentic we can be, the more glass ceilings and concrete walls we can tear down.
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Freedom is the ultimate goal!
Last but not least, the most important career and business lesson I’ve learnt is to pursue freedom. My definition of success is to be free to thrive and flourish professionally and in business as none other than…myself!
This also means financial freedom, as well as the freedom to decide how I get to use my time, doing what I love. While it may mean initial sacrifices at first, the glimpse of the possibility to create a life of freedom is the ultimate motivator!
What business and career lessons have you learnt in 2017?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 26, 2017 | Find Your Purpose
The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year. They can also be the most stressful, aggravating, and a direct path to financial ruin, in addition to awakening all your past family feuds and your need to hit the gym, but I digress. For many, it can also be a time of grief or nostalgia over far-away family, people they’ve lost, or financially dire situations.
As an immigrant, while it’s a time of joy and family bonding, I’m always reminded of the part of my family that is not with me. The parents, siblings, and dear friends scattered all over the world who don’t get to celebrate with me unless we happen to be in the same geographical area. The loved ones we’re fortunate to see on social media or on Facetime, but can’t hug close. Yet, we still have to find peace with it all…
Sometimes, navigating the highs and lows of the holidays is just a matter of finding peace in the midst of it all. Here are a few ways to create a little more of that, and a lot less of the not-so-good stuff:
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Get organized
The holidays are usually a busy time of year. This also means that you will be overwhelmed with so much to do and not enough time to accomplish it all. I used to wait until the last minute to rush and try to get everything done. Something about the adrenaline rush…
Yet, I’ve learnt to actually come prepared and have a plan to tackle the holidays. Whether it’s making a list ahead of time, schedule your shopping activities, or pre-make some meals, find ways to get organized and minimize the stress.
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Take care of you
Take some time to unwind and rest over the holidays. Many of us usher in a new year with loads of stress instead of peace and tranquility, simply because we won’t take a break!
As much as we may have a to-do list filled to the brim, it’s ok to stop and observe a pause! This may mean leaving some emails unanswered, skipping social media and not worrying about the house being in tip-top shape. Instead, you will have a chance to recharge your batteries and come back fresher and more energized than ever!
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Do something for someone else
I’ve learnt over time that the best way to solve my own problems is to help someone else. There’s something about coming to others’ aid that fills us with peace. At a time when we’re so hurried and stressed out, helping others may just be what we need.
Whether it’s a simple phone call to a relative, volunteering at a local shelter, or offering a total stranger a cup of coffee, try doing something for someone else. Anything.
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Let it go!
Do you notice how the holidays can seem to awaken a host of difficult feelings we may have buried inside forever? It may be a sign that it’s time to let go of those challenging emotions and feelings that cost us so much of our peace of mind.
Whether it’s bitterness, resentment, anger or simply confusion, let it go. Opt instead for not having all the answers, and focusing on what makes your soul smile. It’s a win-win.
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Forgive yourself for what you didn’t know
As you let go of the internal turmoil that may plague you, also consider forgiving yourself. We don’t often realize how much we hold ourselves hostage to our own expectations as well as those of others. The end result is as debilitating as it is damaging to our peace and progress.
Forgive yourself for what you didn’t know, didn’t do well, or failed at. Turn these into lessons instead, and make peace with where you are on the way to where you’re going.
How do you find peace over the holidays?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 26, 2017 | Career
Being a woman of color at work also means facing unique challenges, such as being the only one in the room or fighting the proverbial “concrete ceiling” in business. This also means that fitting in can be an uphill battle, especially in environments with blatant racial bias or covered stereotypes. In many instances, we may feel that we have to compromise on our true values in order to be accepted as who we are. Or that we must leave ourselves at the office door for fear of being rejected. However, how effective is it to compromise one’s integrity for success, at work or anywhere else for that matter?
As a woman of color at work in Big Corporate, I found myself in many cases wondering about how I could fit in better at work. As an African immigrant, a Black woman hailing from a richly diverse background, being in rooms where I was the only one had me constantly pondering on ways to fit in better without selling out. As an introvert, the challenge was amplified even more.
Most will tell you to just “come as you are”, “be who you are”, you know, “do you”. In many contexts, this is definitely sound advice. Yet, when your paycheck and by extension your professional future, depends in large part from how you are perceived, dynamics may operate a tad differently. When you have to wonder whether wearing your hair natural may cost you the promotion, or if sounding a certain way will disqualify you from advancement opportunities, the game changes.
For many, if not most of us, being double minorities in the workplace goes without saying. Fitting in with integrity in some work environments may not always be possible. However, as all challenges, deciding to use this as a constructive, rather than destructive, experience is a matter of perspective. I’d personally rather go the constructive route, with a few principles to keep in mind whenever we wonder about fitting in at work as women of color:
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Assess your environment
All professional environments are not made equal. Which also means you may need to assess yours as best as you can. There are silent codes and understated office politics at play in any professional setting. Understanding these can go a long way towards figuring out how best to approach your own career progression.
This is not about “selling out” or compromising your integrity to adapt to a give professional environment. It’s about being able to navigate the power plays that are inevitably in action at work.
Who are the people you work with in terms of their personalities, processes and even triggers? How do the dynamics of your particular office work? What have been the experiences of other women, more particularly women of color? The more information you can gather about your work environment, the better positioned you will be.
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Keep professional at all costs
The capital rule at work can be summed up in one word: “Professionalism”. When in doubt, ALWAYS keep professional! When wondering if you fit in, or how to fit in to your team, department or company in general, go the professional route!
The reality is that no one shows up exactly as they are at work. It would have been much easier to spot hidden agendas and other work shenanigans then. Yet what will always pay off is to put professionalism first!
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Be professional, but don’t hide out!
Yes, we all wear a mask at work, in one way or another, because: office politics, paycheck needed, urgent coffee need, etc. However, for many women of color at work, it also means that we tend to hide out for fear of not fitting in and being ill-perceived. In turn, it stifles our contributions and impedes our growth.
Sometimes, the best way to fit in is to stand out! Diversity is the catalyst of innovation and progress. However, many times we don’t tell our stories, don’t raise our hands and sit at the back of the room to keep the status quo. It’s up to us to educate, share and empower ourselves and others with our work, stories and initiative.
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Be open-minded
As women of color at work, we may be the only ones at the table. Or in the cubicle, while the conversation is going on at the table. As much as we may face challenges, it’s also important to be open-minded.
Not everything is negatively directed at you, not everyone is out to get you. Sometimes, it’s about showing up more, speaking your mind, doing your best work, telling your story. Sometimes, it’s about educating the rest of the world on things they may not necessarily know or realize. Every time, it’s about creating an opportunity to learn, grow and become better, for all parties involved.
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Create your own path
Fitting in as a woman of color at work may also mean creating your own path. No two careers are alike. Neither are two businesses, or life paths for that matter. As much as we may look at what others are doing, be it mentors, colleagues or successful people around us, respecting the uniqueness of our own professional trajectories is key.
For some, it may mean starting a business. For others, it may mean presenting a different perspective at work. For most, it may also be about paying heavy dues to push back the corporate “concrete wall”. Whatever “it” may be, let it lead you to better yourself and others.
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Make peace with your story
At times, the internalized mental stories and societal stereotypes we pick up as part of our journey as women of color can stand in our way. It’s important to make peace with them, and leaving the associated pressure behind.
I found it was much easier to assume my uniqueness at work when I stopped worrying about what happened before, or what society would want me to believe about myself.
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Mentor another woman of color
Last but not least, one of the best ways for women of color to fit in at work is to mentor other women, especially other women of color. There’s a need for our particular experiences, challenges and journeys to be shared and used to educate those coming after us.
Keep striving, keep working, but most importantly, keep the door open for others! Be willing to share your story, bring another woman to the room, sit with them at the table. Be a mentor.
What’s your take on it?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
