by Solange Lopes | Feb 19, 2015 | Career
MICA – Photo credit: urbanwearables.com
Smart wearables have been on the market for some time, and I have to say, both the often high price point and clunky look never really made them must-haves for me. However, I’m liking the new MICA (stands for “My Intelligent Communication Accessory)! It’s a smart jewelry accessory created by Intel and luxury design firm Opening Ceremony, that not only notifies you of who likes your Facebook picture, who emailed you on Gmail or texted you, along with other social notifications, but actually looks like jewelry. No clunky look here, but a real funky, stylish, jewelry look that can be worn from the office to after-hour drinks.
My $0.05:At $495, this smart bracelet is comparable to the lower-end Apple watch, and less pricey than a pair of Google glasses. If you’re in a splurging mood, why not invest on a fashion piece that’s both pretty and useful (because really, when does that happen?)
What do you think of the MICA smart bracelet?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jan 29, 2015 | Career |
Overwhelmed at work – Photo credit: http://i.huffpost.com
It’s January, and for most of us at work, it’s just crazy! Year-end deadlines, 10K filings, audit committees, yearly reports, everything is due yesterday. Work is coming at you from every corner, management is running around like a chicken without head (or much of anything else), the vending machines are back in business (hello failed New Year resolutions), and the mood is kicking (literally). If you’re overwhelmed at work, and chances are you may be more than a few times a year, do you speak up and say so, or ask for help (or more chocolate)? Or do you just keep your head down and plow through mountains of work without a word, for the sake of a paycheck?
Being overwhelmed at work has become commonplace. While there are tons of tips and tricks, from time management to living in the moment, to deal with the barrage of to-do’s our jobs have become, one thing many of us fail to do in those instances is simply to speak up! I’ve found myself in many instances when I was downright miserable, with too much on my plate, smiling and faking the funk, acting like I “got this”. Truth is, all I had was a great chance at providing sub-par work in a sub-par state of mind at a sub-par time, which turned out to be exactly what happened.
My $0.05: Speak up! At the risk of sounding like a normal human being (sorry, Superwoman-wannabe), say it like it is. It’s not an admission of guilt, rather it’s a courageous self-assessment. You’re not helping anyone trying to kill yourself, and producing sucky work as a result. Ask if some of your work can be re-distributed, or if the deadline can be pushed to allow for it to be done well. Always emphasize the importance of work quality over quantity! You, and your entire management team, will be glad when the report comes out stellar (and you come out sane!).
Do you speak up when overwhelmed at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jan 29, 2015 | Career |
Potty Training – Photo credit: http://2.bp.blogspot.com
We’re currently in the throes of potty training our last one. If you’ve ever tried potty training a two-year old who has no idea why you’d want them to sit on an open bowl, or separate from anything coming from their own bodies, including their own feces, you know this is closer to boot camp than tea time. A great manager of mine, who at the time was also going through the fun of potty training, wisely said to me: “It’s like good management, you’ve got to learn to get the worst out of people before you can get the best.” Back then, it made me smile, this past week-end, it made me seriously question my management skills as I insistently interrogated my toddler “Baby, is this poop or chocolate?”
The average age for potty training around the world is 23 months, allegedly (not in my household, but anyhow…). Most children will be fully trained within three to six months, and 98% of kids are potty trained by age 3. Despite such statistics, the long-lasting psychological effects of potty training, mostly know through Freud’s theories, can last a lifetime, and can be especially challenging for complex or special-needs personalities. This is all to say it just doesn’t happen overnight, and requires some attention, discipline, and careful handling of individual personalities. Just like good management…
- Good management requires knowing who you’re working with: Listen, not every kid is the same, and not every employee is the same. I was dealt some beautifully challenging little people, who have to know the why’s and how’s of potty training inside out. Why do I have to poop in the toilet? What’s that (must we answer)? Why YOU don’t sit on the potty? The same goes for each and everyone of us at work. Some of us want to understand the why of everything, others could care less, others want to know the most efficient (and faster) way to do things, other will ponder on details all day every day. Bottom line: we’re all different, to get the best out of people, you’ve got to know who they are and how they work best. Period.
- It’s about helping others succeed: That means understanding what’s standing in their way, and helping them remove their own roadblocks. What it does NOT mean is imposing roadblocks, and ensuing punishment, on individuals who are simply trying to do their best. In psychoanalytical terms, Freud would have called this “anal retentive” behavior, in reference to a child being punished during potty training, in turn becoming stubborn and overly orderly. It’s about helping here, not hindering.
- Leading by example is key: I had to sit on the toilet next to my little one for hours on end to show my support to the process. Half of it was bonding time, the other half had my bum painfully asleep. Yet it was necessary. Managers who lead from afar are ineffective and intimidating. The real winners are those who get in the trenches with their teams, get dirty and help get the job done. Period.
- Good managers are ok with being vulnerable: We’ve been taught in order to make it, especially in the harsh, “beat or get beaten” corporate world, we must be tough. Especially when it comes to women at work, showing vulnerability is a big no-no. You can’t get mad at work, you definitely can’t cry at work, lest your whole career is drowned in a stream of sorry tears. In other words, keep your emotions shoved inside, plaster a big smile on your face, and get to work! Right? Wrong…Good managers, actually great managers, use their emotions as a competitive advantage for their team, and are willing to open up and be seen. In the book “Daring Greatly“, Dr. Brene Brown confirms “there can be no innovation without vulnerability”. No wonder we’re sorely lacking in better businesses…
- Last but not least, sharing is caring! Part of our potty training ritual at home consists in showing we care, and sharing what we’ve learned and what we’ve really sucked at. That is, the good, the bad, the ugly, and a good lollipop to reward good effort. Good managers share information, instead of hoarding it for fear of letting go of their competitive advantage (which it never was meant to be). Passing on knowledge and best practices is the foundation of leadership.
Maybe we should all return to the basics. Now back to my interrogation session: “Baby, tell mommy, is it poop or chocolate? (oh, it better be chocolate)…
by Solange Lopes | Jan 11, 2015 | Career
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Happy Sunday! Hope everyone is enjoying the rest of their week-end. It’s snowy and cold on this side of the blogosphere, and if you’re anywhere around us, as you’re sipping on your warm coffee cup this morning, here are the news that made my week:
- This week, we mourn the deaths of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack in France, as we all shake our heads in disbelief, yet hold on to the hope that beyond blame, we can learn from this tragedy. Buzzfeed remembers the illustrious cartoonists and victims of the attack here.
- As we’re still in the throes of New Year’s
resolutions decisions, Fast Company highlights 5 habit changes you can actually make in 2015, while also listing 10 steps towards a better, more productive you in 2015;
- If you’re considering relocating to a new city, the Daily Muse reveals the true costs of moving cities;
- And if you’re in the process of interviewing, keep in mind employers are increasingly incorporating challenges, simulations and assessments in their hiring process. The Wall Street Journal writes about how employers ask candidates to “show their stuff”;
- According to the Pew Research Center’s report released last week, email still trumps social media, smartphones for workers;
- Forbes released its 30 Under 30 list of most influential, and here are the rising stars in Enterprise Technology. On the other end of the spectrum, here are the least stressful jobs of 2015 (and the most stressful jobs of 2015);
- The Washington Post writes about what leading feminists want in 2015;
- Fortune Magazine writes about what successful women really want in 2015 (unfortunately, diversity is not one of those aspirations);
- In “Huh?” news this week, Jezebel reports Phyllis Schlafly manages to make us question the very concept of human sanity, by arguing women get raped in college, simply because…they go to college! Hmmm….moving on;
- In happy news, The Economist writes 2015 will benefit from a robust economic growth, and ordinary families will benefit (yasss!);
- We’re back on the millennial debate bandwagon, and Talent says new data reveals some surprising truths about the generation we love to hate;
- Bingo! If you’re planning to ask for a raise this year, Huffington Post reveals it actually works most of the time;
- If you’re shortie like me, Business Insider says you’re not in luck, here’s why tall people make more money;
- Last but not least, I really enjoyed this article from Daily Worth, and me too, am done being a nice girl.
Happy Sunday!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jan 7, 2015 | Career |
Photo credit: guidedoc.com
I discussed earlier dating for the successful professional woman. Yet for those of us who’ve been off the dating scene for some time, we tend to be more worried about the balance between work and marriage.
At a time when work is taking more and more space in our lives, tracing clear boundaries between career and marriage is increasingly challenging. Between increasing work demands, a still frail economy, unsatisfying careers, just to mention a few, our most intimate relationships are harshly put to the test.
Toxic work environments, lack of career success, grueling schedules, just to cite a few, all contribute to the demise of many marriages. How do we then, as responsible, ambitious, professionals, keep work from getting in the way of our relationships?
1. Recognize there’s a problem! If you haven’t had a real conversation with your partner for way too long because they’re always working, or if work is making either of you so miserable you can’t stand each other, recognize the issue! Acknowledge there’s a problem, and if you want to save the relationship, it’s time to face it…
2. Talk, talk, and talk some more! Don’t keep your feelings bottled up. Neither of you has to give up on their dreams or hopes to survive. The point of a relationship is to help each other! Discuss your issues at or with your current work, and be honest about what you feel!
3. Pick your battles! Work is challenging. Issues will come up at you every which way, and some days will make you want to eat chocolate for the rest of your life. Yet, in order to balance the rest of your life and your career, pick your battles! Distinguish between what is worth complaining about to your partner and what is just the stuff of everyday. While you may need to address serious work-related issues, you don’t want to over-burden your relationship.
4.Make a plan, and follow through! If either of your careers is threatening your relationship, make a plan. Is it time to quit and survive on one salary? Or is another job a necessity? Can you afford to jump ship and start your own business? Make a plan, and stick to it, together!
How do you deal with work getting in the way of your relationship?
The Corporate Sis.
