Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Importance of Having an Opinion at Work

The Importance of Having an Opinion at Work The Importance of Having an Opinion at Work In school, were taught to understand both sides of every issue. If you can argue for and against a point, youre more likely to truly understand all dimensions of the problem at hand.In the workplace, its also helpful to understand all angles of an issue. Earlier in my career, I worked in strategy roles. My internal customers, so to speak, were C-level executives. When I shared my ideas, I tried to remain balanced, presenting both sides of the argument. I wanted to be unbiased in my approach.But one executive I worked for wanted to know my ideas. On multiple occasions, he would ask me, But Angela, what do you really think about this issue? He once told meI was the only employee hed ever had whose personal opinion he couldnt guess. In a way, this felt good. I was separating the business and the personal.Over the years, Ive learned that this is not always the best approach. Recently, something happ ened to remind me of this point. Ive been working with a smart person to help me on a project. The person is an expert in an area I know nothing about. I respect their experience and perspectives. When it was time to make a decision, I asked the person, What do you think about this? The person responded with, Well, I generally try not to influence my clients with my own opinions.There are certain times in your career when youre brought in to work on a project because you know more about a particular subject than anyone else in the room. When that happens, its time to share your opinion. Its time to have thoughts based on your past experiences. To a degree, its okay to have biases in that moment. The bias you have is your past experience guiding you past experience that nobody else in the room has.Dont get me wrong. There are times at work when your employer is just looking for someone to complete a task. In those moments, theyre not looking for feedback, suggestions, or improvement s.But when youre hired to be a consultant, a strategist, or a high-level thinker, you should have an opinion. Your opinion will guide your client to success. It will take them to a level that they wouldnt be able to reach on their own. Thatswhy they hired you. If they were just looking for a button pusher, theyd find someone cheaper todo the job.So stand up and speak up. When its your turn to have an opinion, have one. And if you dont have one for a specific reason, explain that. But be sure the reason is not because youre avoiding having to say something.Its true, you may fail if you speak up. But failure happens to everyone. Plus, with your experience and your expertise, youre the person least likely to fail in the room. Your boss knows that, and theyre depending on you to help out.You can only do that if you have an opinion.A version of this article originally appeared in theMemphis Daily News.Angela Copeland is a career coach and CEO at her firm,Copeland Coaching.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Navigating a Personal Crisis at Work

Navigating a Personal Crisis at WorkNavigating a Personal Crisis at WorkNormally, I am that reliable co-worker you can always count on- the one who never calls in sick. But that all changed a year ago, with a first trimester miscarriage, the loss of my aunt who I was extremely close to, and abedrngnisher miscarriage where I had to have surgery.This rollercoaster of unfortunate events could have knocked me down, made me not want to get out of bed, and affected my performance at work. But instead, I chose to stay positive and do everything I could to keep going, especially at the office.I hope that you will never have to deal with a personal crisis, but if you do, here are three things that helped me move from my bed to my desk- and get the best assessment ratings that Ive ever received at work.1. Dont Worry About Work When Youre Picking Up the PiecesAfter my first miscarriage, I headed right back to work and didnt give myself enough time to grieve and heal. I consumed myself with my j ob, and I used it as a way to not deal with what had happened.But this was the wrong approach. A few months later, the grief hit me even harder because I had never dealt with my emotions in the first place. Work became extremely tough, and it seemed like little issues that I could normally handle were making me overly emotional. I was fragile, but no one around me knew what was really going on.After my second miscarriage, I knew I needed more time off to take care of myself. So I took a week off and worked from home for another week. This allowed me to handle my emotions earlier, instead of using work as a crutch to avoid the feelings that I needed to go through (and then eventually falling apart later). My entry back to work after my second miscarriage was a whole lot easier because I took more time off for myself.2. Be Honest With Your Co-WorkersInitially, I didnt want to tell anyone I worked with what I was going through. I thought about just saying I was sick for a week. But I k new that was so unlike me that it needed a better explanation.I realized that, when I opened up and let everyone know what I was going through, they were able to understand better. They were happy to pick up my workload right away, and they didnt expect me to be doing anything. Because they were so supportive, I could really focus on myself. On the other hand, if I had just said I was sick, I would have been worried about work my entire time off.If you dont feel like you can talk to your manager about what you are going through, ask your friends or family to help you. After my first miscarriage, my husband called my manager and let her know what was going on. My boss then contacted my co-workers and clients so no one expected me to be answering emails or phone calls. Even if you have a ton of work piling up (like I did), youll likely find that your manager and co-workers will be more than willing to pick up the pieces.3. Dont Miss Out on Your BenefitsI worked for the same company fo r six years and never understood my benefits. I realized later than I would have liked to know that my company offered some amazing benefits, including free confidential counseling and research programs.Look in to the programs that are available to you, and dont hesitate to take advantage of them. Even though counseling isnt talked about much, its not something to be afraid of, and it doesnt mean you are weak (or crazy). Counseling was a huge part of helping me get back to normal so that I could complete my work assignments and better manage my work relationships during the difficult times.My company benefits also covered medical research programs- I could have someone complete a research report about a medical condition I had and email it to me. This information was so helpful, and it would have taken me weeks to do by myself.Its tough to make that first step and to ask someone else for help, but I promise, youll be so glad you did. If I hadnt made that choice to put myself first, I wouldnt have been able to perform well at work and continue to do the things that I love to do everyday (like helping young professionals find jobs on my blog).Above all, remember that you are not alone in your struggles and that there are ways to deal with your personal issues and totenstill perform fabulously at work. As hard as things may seem, dont give up, and dont deal with your crisis alone.Photo of stressed man courtesy of Shutterstock.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

My Career Path from Executive Assistant to Vice President

My Career Path from Executive Assistant to Vice PresidentMy Career Path from Executive Assistant to Vice PresidentHow did one administrative professional follow a career path from executive assistant to vice president of an international training organization? Learn the three skills you can embrace for an engaging career.Ive been immersed in the role of the administrative professional for the last 17 years. In fact, my abflug in the administrative career welches as a temporary professional for OfficeTeam filling roles at a variety of assignments in numerous industries medical, financial, media and mora.In this span of time, Ive had roles where I shined and roles where I was quite the opposite of shining.Heres what Ive learned and how it has contributed to my successful transition from executive assistant to vice president of Office Dynamics International.Be observantPay attention to the things that are said. What do yur leaders wish they could get done? What is of value to them that keeps getting pushed aside because they simply dont have the time?Pay attention to the things that they dont say. Body language, facial expression, attitude, resistance what are these non-verbal cues telling you about your work environment and the leaders you rckendeckung?Pay attention to the surroundings, the people leaders care about and the things they value. These insights can prove valuable.Remember that familiarity breeds complacency. Stay alert and on top of your game, no matter how long youve been in your position. When you pay attention to the points Ive mentioned above, youre equipped to fill a need simply by listening and understanding.When I began working for our founder and CEO, Joan Burge, I would hear her say revamping a program was important to her and I could see that it would greatly impact her business if she invested the time in the program. Yet, she wasnt getting to this important project. I picked up on her cues and stated that I recognized the importance of this project to her as well as the impact it would have on the organization. I asked what I could do to assist her in getting the project started. She hadnt thought about how I could get involved, but after hearing the needs and being observant, I came to the table with ideas and the program rejuvenation was a great success.Did you know that a majority of both managers and admins feel that support staff are more valued by their employers than they were 10 years ago? Download OfficeTeams Office of the Future Guide to learn more about top traits and attributes shared among the best administrative professionals.Be open to getting outside your comfort zoneDont ever let fear hold you back and keep you small. In order to continue developing professionally, there will come a time when you will be challenged. And that is a good thing, even if failure is on the other side of that challenge.The most tremendous amount of growth and showcasing of any aspect of my skill set has taken place when I was doing things outside my comfort zone. Allow yourself to try new things and be surprised.One of the most amazing parts of working with Joan Burge for the last nine years has been that shes always had faith in my abilities and often challenged me with new projects or leadership roles. I was often terrified on the inside, but would say yes to the new opportunities that came my way because I believed I could achieve them. One of the most memorable examples was when she asked me to speak at our Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence. I had never written a session before and I would be speaking in front of 250 of my peers. It took a lot of preparation and skill development. I wasnt amazing or perfect on my first go, but its given me the chance to develop a skill set I may have never otherwise had a chance to flex.Subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter for free articles and resources to help you land a new job and succeed in your career - all sent directly to your inbox.Be engaged in your careerI grew from administrative assistant to executive assistant and then to vice president in my career with increased responsibilities as I transitioned to each new role. One of the most impactful things I did along the way was to act as if. This means to act as if I was responsible for the company. I believe, as administrators, we have great impact on the companies we work for. What would Joan do? was a mantra of mine for a long time.My engagement has come from a genuine care and concern for my employer and the cause we serve. As you navigate your own career path, channel your engagement by finding what drives you at work. What are you most passionate about? Is it supporting others, the cause of your organization, or a genuine respect or admiration for the people you support?Everyones career path looks different. In fact, our desires for our own career paths can be vastly different.My parting tips for you as you reach for your career goals areLook forward with a plan in mind for yourself.Be flexible with your plan.Pay attention to the people and environment around you.Always show up and do your best work.Try new things, even if they scare you a little.Find a cause youre fired up about and let your passion show.What steps have you taken that have allowed you to advance in your career? Share them with others below.Jasmine Freeman is vice president of Office Dynamics International. She has been very involved in the marketing and social media side of the business, making sure the company and its founder and CEO Joan Burge are known and connected to administrative professionals worldwide. Shes a contributing author to three books Life Choices Putting the Pieces Together, Life Choices Its Never Too Late and Amazon best-seller Who Took My Pen ... Again? Jasmine is also a TEDx speaker (check out her talk From Zero to Silly).