Celebrities know that every misstep, embarrassing moment, or poor decision they make will be broadcast everywhere. Rarely, this can enhance one's image, but more often such personal slip-ups are damaging. View this article about Michael Phelps:

Michael Phelps Apologizes to Bong For Hitting It So Hard

Amusing, perhaps, since this probably will not harm Phelps's ability to secure endorsements...in fact it may even make him seem a little more, well, human. But if you work in a corporate environment, it is unlikely that you would benefit from such exposure.

So how do you keep your personal life separate from your professional persona in a world where employers check the Facebook pages of job applicants, business is pleasure, and major deals are made over drinks? Depending on the industry in which you work, this issue may be more or less of a problem. Here are a few pointers for protecting yourself:

If you are meeting someone over drinks, DO NOT GET PLASTERED. Some strategies for preventing this are: adhere to a two drink limit; order something non-alcoholic - sparkling water or a virgin daiquiri; or, my favorite, order something gross, like a dirty martini. You'll drink it more slowly, I promise.

Do NOT discuss personal drama with professional contacts. Of course your personal life will come up in a casual setting - this is often how business alliances are made. But do yourself a favor and keep the conversations about your personal life limited to your hobbies, your pets, or your kid's tee-ball team.

Harness the power of positive statements. If you are chatting with a potential client or business partner, talk about the things you like, not the things you don't like. You want to leave an impression of energy and optimism, not cynicism.

Good luck, and behave!

According to CNN / Money, we are in for a long recession:

Slim Chance of a Turnaround in 2009

But there is a silver lining to tough times. Business and Management expert Jim Collins gives a great interview to CNN / Money about how the smartest companies, and individuals, thrive during times like this:

How Great Companies Turn Crisis into Opportunity

Do you feel invigorated or demoralized by challenging times? Chances are, you're feeling a little bit of both. Take heart in the fact that everyone around you is struggling too. We will get through this time together, and later, we will marvel at our perseverence.

If you are having trouble finding a job, you might choose to go for an EMBA.  When you enter the program, recognize that you do have a job and that is making your EMBA launch you to where you want to be.  Treat it like a job in a corporation.  Now is the time to network. 

 

No matter what you’ve done before in school, this time you put yourself to work.  Make professors your mentors, talk to them during office hours, class times, look at case studies they present as catapults toward the career that you want.  Every time you are assigned a project or a paper even if it’s a group effort, choose something that will provide you research information and introductions to the companies that you eventually want to join.  You might interview the heads of such companies, or ask to write a review of their advertising or marketing. 

 

Do not ignore your classmates or the other students.  You more than likely will have them in your life as colleagues even bosses.  Talk to the career center while you’re a student to line up interviews for you during the course of your program, unless your current company is paying your tuition.  Understand that the career center can be a great connector throughout the years that you spend on your program. 

 

Remember, if you are out of sight you are out of mind.  This is no time to pick petty fights with the professor or the program about what’s fair or what’s required.  But learn to work the system for what you think you need.  Always have your end goal in mind.  This pro-activity is a starting skill of a great career.

 

1. Do you feel your colleagues/bosses/employees don’t respect you enough?

2. Do you expect these people to be your friends?

3. Do you wish/expect them to help you out when you perform badly, miss a deadline, show up late, or have
been out sick?

4. Do you wish your boss and colleagues appreciated you
more?

5. Do you take responsibility for the workload of others
who are not doing their jobs well enough?

6. Do you fear conflict that would come from speaking up
when things are wrong or unfair?

7. Do you hold your tongue because you are afraid you’ll
Hurt someone’s feelings or even get fired?

8. Do you envy’s other people’s success?

9. Do you become personal with your coworkers?

10.Do you feel hurt or betrayed when you receive
criticism about your work performance?

11.Do you ever feel criticism from others even though they have not voiced any?

12.Do you keep yourself from excelling in the presence of others for fear of their envy or jealousy?

13.Do you let others make decisions for you even when
They go against your intuition?

14. Do you find that you have difficulty saying NO to unreasonable requests from your bosses or colleagues?

15. Do you stop yourself from stating your honest opinions about work-related issues for fear that you’ll be disliked?

16.Do you feel that you are not living up to your potential?

17. Do you have difficulty evaluating your own job performance?

18. Do you think about work when you’re off work?

19.Do you go out of your way to befriend people in the workplace whom you would not want to be friends with outside?

20. Do you wish that you would be promoted because your work is good?



If your score is 50-80, it is time to examine your underlying problems at work. Are you in a job that has grown stale? Do you feel like you have ceased to learn? Are you constantly frustrated by one individual in particular? Are you letting interesting projects pass you by? Try to identify what is causing your anxiety. Then I will tell you how to address the problem.

If your score is 20-50, you are experiencing some anxiety at work. You probably like your job, but have a few nagging issues that bother you. If there is a project that you have your eye on, I will help you find a way to get the assignment. If there is a co-worker who undermines you I will tell you how to deal with that person in a way that makes you demonstrate your cool head and leadership skills.

If your score is 0-20, you have a very healthy attitude toward your work environment. I can show you how to take the good work you're doing and turn it into a promotion or that raise you've been waiting for.

You look to the President of a country as a leader and a great motivator. This President is thoughtful, prepared, inclusive, and non-complaining. He does not blame or finger-point; he is both realistic and optimistic. He is an excellent guide for all of us. Whether you are struggling or in a stable position but yearning for change, you will need courage - The courage to develop your abilities and explore. If you are afraid, what will make you stronger this year? Start by looking for examples of courage and perseverance. Here are some other positive actions you can take:

1. Take a course to improve skills that you have.
2. Learn something new that will make you more valuable or take you on a new path.
3. Develop more team skills by working on a task force at your organization.
4. Join a professional society or voluntary committee.

In this endeavor you will apply the huge social skills of learning from each new person and you will gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of your organization. Additionally, you may discover that your activities lead you in a wholly new direction.

Showing belonging is an essential prerequisite for successful careering, and I have found through my research that Achievers unconsciously fulfill these requirements in every aspect of their lives, both professional and social. But many of us who have trouble getting ahead are held back by our belief system, which is made up of fears and lies.

Right now is the time to turn those ideas around. With the amount of layoffs occurring all over America, you have to promote yourself and your accomplishments and prove that you are critical to your company's ability to stay afloat in a bad economy. For women, self-promotion can be difficult. But think of the stakes, and remember that it is harder to lay off an employee with whom the boss has a personal relationship.

Read this excellent article on self-promotion for young women, from the Wall Street Journal:

Young Women More Vulnerable During Layoffs

If you run an organization, or even supervise your own team, it is important to solicit feedback and ideas. President-elect Barack Obama has done this on a large scale, by creating an online forum where any citizen can submit a policy idea. Once the idea is submitted, fellow citizens can vote up or down and comment on it, creating a stimulating debate about the issues of the day. The most popular ideas will comprise the President’s Citizen’s Briefing Book. You can submit your ideas here:

Citizen's Briefing Book

This is a great example of modern democracy, and one that you can emulate as a manager. Be open to new ideas. First, you must know the character of those you supervise – how do they work, and what do they tend to complain about? Does one issue or idea come up multiple times among your employees? If so, you might want to consider implementing some changes to address the problem. Make your employees feel as though their voices are heard, and demonstrate that they are by adapting your management style to the needs of the company.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, but the last thing you want is for employers to see you as desperate. Can gimmicks really work, and if you are willing to take the risk, how should you go about it? Read about some people's outlandish efforts to get a job below:

Going to Extremes to Land A Job

If you are going to try something unconventional, you'd better do your homework. Make sure that you know EVERYTHING about the company you are targeting and about the individual who will be doing the hiring. You should know exactly what the culture and needs of that company are, or you may risk looking unprofessional.

Today, Hilary Clinton is undergoing a very public job interview. How is she proving that she is unquestionably the best candidate for the job? There are several strategies that she uses that you should use in all of your job interviews too:

1. Remember the accomplishments of those interviewing you and congratulate them.
2. Mention shared views and achievements corresponding to your own.
3. Behave like you would in the position for which you are being interviewed. Hilary Clinton is already answering questions as the Secretary of State would.

By using these strategies, Clinton is showing belonging. She is positioning herself as one of them and one who is able to handle the job. By showing herself to be their equal, she is not a supplicant hoping for approval - she already has it.

As first lady, Michelle Obama will be scrutinized for how she manages to maintain work/life balance. Read this piece from Today's Workplace:

What Will First Lady Michelle Obama's Work-Life Balance Efforts Look Like?

If you have kids, do you feel guilty when you're at work? Do you feel guilty at work because you are not with your kids? Read Michelle Obama's orginal essay on the topic here:

Our Many Hats

The Boston Career Blog conducted an interesting poll about job goals for 2009. Read it here:

Resolving to Accept Reality

Many people are nervous about job security right now, and the last thing on their minds is getting ahead. Changing jobs is a great way to move up in good times, but in bad times, can it leave you vulnerable to getting laid off? If you are thinking about changing jobs, read CNN Money's article on this subject here:

Workers Saying No to New Jobs


If you are in a good job, but worried about keeping it, read CNN Money's advice on maintaining job security here:

Keep Your Job: A Ten Point Survival Guide

To gift or not to gift and what is appropriate? It’s always appropriate to gift. But for most of us there is no need to be extravagant. Ideally you will give your boss something small, elegant, and thoughtful, but not too personal. It's harder than it sounds!

Stay away from clothing, jewelery, candles, food baskets, or bath supplies. In other words, try to avoid things that touch the body. Candles are another no-no simply because they are bland and TOO impersonal. Clothing and jewelery are too personal; your boss is probably already drowning in holiday food baskets.

If you know what your boss's hobbies are, you can get something related to them. Otherwise, start with trinkets or note cards. Museum gift shops and companies like Papyrus or Anthropologie have great, tasteful items for women. Gadgets are often a good bet for men, and catalogues like Hammacher Schlemmer or Skymall are full of travel items for the jet-setting executive.

Remember, If you spend a lot of care wrapping your gifts, it doesn't matter if it's modest. Wrap with a note attached, saying how much you appreciate the person.

For further advice, read this article from Forbes:

So You Have to Get the Boss a Christmas Gift

Do you have any advice about what to get the boss for Christmas?

A great article from Huff Post on how to deal with negative, manipulative, or just plain annoying co-workers:

Co-workers Driving You Bananas? Avoid Getting Bruised!

Do you have any great strategies for dealing with irritating co-workers?

The Huff Post reminds us not to let the holidays wash away our impulse to stay engaged in the issues of our day:

Ignore Your New Flatscreen. Put Down Your Wii. Use the Week After Christmas to Volunteer

Along with volunteering, a great way to get to know your neighbors and to participate in your community is to host a party for your candidate of choice. Do you know somebody who is running for city council? Is there an issue that you care deeply about, that you'd like to discuss with a politician who can do something about it? Find out who your representatives are, and who will be running in upcoming elections.

Host a party and invite all of your neighbors. Candidates are not allowed to host their own fundraising events, so they will be grateful for your participation. Your neighbors will welcome the opportunity to discuss neighborhood issues, and it will provide a forum for getting to know one another. Instead of having to come up with polite topics to discuss, as at cocktail parties, your neighbors will have plenty to talk about. In this way, it will be easy to get to know one another. Hosting a party for a community leader or candidate is a great way to raise your profile, to network, and to be a good citizen.

Rod Blagojevich is an extreme example of a “bad boss,” but it is worthwhile to examine how such abuse of power can creep into everyday situations.

There is a temptation in positions of power to believe that because you make the rules, you are above them. It’s a dangerous point of view. Indeed, the higher you go, the more you will be tempted to bend your own rules. Often such behavior will require the complicity of your employees, drawing them into unethical practices that can jeopardize their careers as well as yours.

Not only has Blagojevich ruined his own career, but he has stained the careers of everyone who worked for him, and called into question anyone who has been in any way associated with him. This of course represents his failure as a leader, and it is why many politicians institute self-regulations such as refusing gifts valued over five dollars.

When you are creating rules in your own workplace, lead by example. Your employees will respect you for it, and you will gain a reputation for fairness and integrity.

In stressful times, it can be easy to take your stress out on your employees. This can happen in subtle ways - even the sense that you are anxious can lower morale. As a leader you must instill confidence, even in the worst of times.

When morale is low, it is vital that you know how to use your employees' best assets. If you don't get along on a personal level, do not let it be known. As always, it is important to listen to your employees, and to analyze how they respond to criticism or certain types of behavior.

You should never use your authority as an excuse to make your private opinions about an individual enter into or affect your working relationship. By remaining professional, you secure your reputation as a fair manager and you encourage loyalty. This is the mark of a true leader.

With these principles in mind, I am going to re-post a list of questions that you can ask yourself, or even better, your employees (in an anonymous fashion) to determine if you are an effective manager:

1. Are my directions usually clear?
2. Do I often change my mind or alter your assignments after they have been given?
3. Do I edit your work without improving it?
4. Am I open to new ideas and innovative plans?
5. Do you think I am disappointed in your work?
6. Do I provide consturctive criticism?
7. Do you trust me?
8. Do I help develop your skills and promote you?
9. Am I available to you when you need additional assistance?
10. Do I create or operate in crisis mode too often?

Think about these questions honestly and add some of your own. Create an anonymous questionnaire and distribute it to the employees you supervise. You may be surprised by the results. If you have further questions, you can call private meetings with individual employees to get more detailed feedback. These meetings can be tricky, but incredibly useful if you handle them properly. More on how to do that in my next entry.

Welcome back everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This week's theme will be how to create a productive AND positive workplace environment. I decided to write about this topic after reading this article, from the Bing Blog:

Scientific Proof Crazy Bosses Can Kill You

Here is a more positive article on the topic of productivity and workplace morale, from The Wall Street Journal:

Want to Create an Innovative Culture? Here's How

Take a look at these articles; next I'll expand upon them with advice about how to tell if you're a good boss and how to make sure you remain one during times of economic strain.

I will not be posting this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but check back on Monday, December 1st for continued posts.

Best holiday wishes,

Adele

How helpful is your financial adviser? CNN Money offers some tips on finding out:

Help For Mounting 401K Losses