Entrepreneurship

Feeling Disengaged at Work? Here’s How to Recommit…

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It’s normal to feel mentally checked out at work from time to time. But especially in times of economic uncertainty, when your job stability could be in question, it’s important to check back in and refocus on your professional reputation.

Start by determining your career commitments. Ask yourself, “What do I want to be known for at work?” Perhaps it’s your enthusiasm, great communication skills, reliability, or ability to work well under pressure. These might be new skills you want to learn, or old ones you want to fine-tune or improve.

Then, commit to an action plan to bring these skills to life. You don’t need to make big, sweeping changes—even small shifts in body language, mindset, communication, visibility, or productivity can result in a significant and lasting impact on your reputation.

Finally, commit to solving simple but impactful problems. Don’t underestimate how much value you can add just by sharing or applying what you already know. Being an impactful problem solver could be as simple as showing a coworker how to use a tool they’re unfamiliar with, or troubleshooting an issue that’s impeding your team’s productivity.

As you embark on these next steps, avoid seeking external validation from others as the only measure of your success. The investment you’re making in your career is invaluable.

When Your Employee Isn’t Ready for a Promotion…

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When an employee is eager to advance, it can be difficult to tell them they’re not ready for a promotion, but you can do it with compassion and a focus on their future.

Start by shifting your mindset. You’re not delivering bad news; you’re developing a shared understanding. Remember, the conversation offers an opportunity to reaffirm your belief in your employee. Acknowledge their efforts, validate their feelings, and assure them that their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. You could say, “I see a lot of potential in you, and I believe in your ability to grow into the role you want.”

Then shift to your reasoning. Highlight where your employees is now and what they need to do in order to move forward. You might say something like: “Right now, you’re excelling in [current competencies]. What’s needed for the next step is further development in [specific competency]. Let’s explore targeted training or projects to bridge this gap and prepare you for the responsibilities of your next role.”

Finally, create a roadmap. A great individual development plan will allow your employee to gain the necessary experience, boost their exposure, and open them up to the learning and development they need to take the next step.

4 Leadership Characteristics to Develop…

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Leadership isn’t a quality you either innately possess or lack; it’s the sum of eight skills you can develop over time. Here are four of the characteristics that will help you become recognized as a leader.

Authenticity. Work to build self-awareness, and put yourself in positions to highlight your strengths and improve on your weaknesses.

Curiosity. Ask questions about what you don’t know. Think expansively and ambitiously. Present as someone who constantly wants to learn, explore, and innovate.

Analytical thinking. Leadership requires the ability to break down complex problems, identify their root causes, and come up with fresh solutions. Develop your analytical skills by focusing on cause-and-effect relationships and being attentive to patterns and trends.

Adaptability. Take on assignments and seek out experiences that demand flexibility. Push yourself to work in new environments with different kinds of people.

The Quiet Strength: Less Talk, More Power…

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In the world of power and influence, sometimes saying less can mean more. It’s like a secret trick in the game of looking powerful. When you choose your words carefully and speak only what’s essential, you create an aura of mystery and control around yourself. This doesn’t mean staying silent all the time, but rather knowing when to speak and when to hold back.

Imagine you’re in a meeting or a discussion. While everyone else is eager to put their thoughts out there, you listen, observe, and only chime in when you have something impactful to say. This approach can make your words carry more weight. People start to pay more attention to what you say because you don’t waste words on trivial matters.

By speaking less, you also avoid the risk of saying something wrong or unnecessary that could weaken your position. It’s like playing a strategic game where every move counts. You become like a wise chess player who thinks several moves ahead, speaks through actions and keeps their strategies close to their chest.

Moreover, when you’re not rushing to fill the silence, you give others the space to reveal more about themselves. This can be a powerful tool, as it allows you to gather information and understand the dynamics at play without giving away your stance or intentions.

In essence, embracing the power of speaking less is about exuding confidence and wisdom. It’s about knowing that you don’t need to prove your power with a flood of words because true strength often lies in thoughtful silence and well-chosen words. So, the next time you’re in a situation where you feel the urge to speak up, take a moment to consider if this is a moment to listen and let your silence speak volumes.

Get Past Your Need for Constant Approval at Work…

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It’s natural to seek the approval of your colleagues and employees. But being a great leader is about striking the right balance between trusting yourself and considering what others think. Try these strategies to ensure your decision-making, self-esteem, and overall sense of worth don’t become overly dependent on outside opinions.

Do a gut check. Take occasional pauses from the daily grind to ask yourself: Are my decisions truly reflective of what’s best for the team, or are they serving my desire to be liked? This introspection helps differentiate between internal drivers of behavior (like personal values, ethics, or genuine interest) and external drivers (like the desire for praise, fear of negative judgment, or the need to fit in).

Formulate your own opinions first. It’s easy to be swayed or influenced by colleagues if you’re not fully anchored in your viewpoint. Avoid reading others’ feedback or consulting them until you’ve arrived at your thoughts on the matter.

Try the “So what?” test. If you find yourself obsessing over what others will think, challenge your fears head-on with the “so what?” test: So what if this decision or opinion isn’t universally popular? So what if it doesn’t meet every expectation? So what if I have to change course later? Most of the time, you’ll find that the worst-case scenarios you’ve dreamed up are exaggerated or unfounded.

What to Do When Project Stakeholders Aren’t on the Same Page…

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When project stakeholders have competing visions, confusion—and even conflict—can ensue. If you’re leading a big project that feels misaligned, here’s what you can do to ensure that everyone has the same success criteria and is working toward a clear, common goal.

Uncover the root of the misalignment. Is there a lack of clarity about the organization’s big-picture goals? Are there disagreements about how to allocate resources? Or is there poor communication happening at the employee level? Meet with your stakeholders individually to identify what’s getting in the way of a collective vision.

Get everyone on the same page. Gather all the interested stakeholders, virtually or in person, to discuss the situation with the express goal of finding common ground. You’re here to build a shared agreement about what success looks like.

Know when to let go. Despite your best efforts, it’s not always possible to get everyone on the same page; sometimes people will continue to pursue their own personal agendas. If the issue is minor, the most productive solution may be to ignore it and move on. If it’s major, escalate the issue to find a workaround—or intervene with the problematic stakeholder.

Changing a Behavior Takes Deliberate Effort…

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We all need to grow and develop, and that often means changing some well-worn behaviors. But how exactly do you do that, especially when you know how hard behavior change can be? Try following these four steps.

  1. Increase your self-awareness. You can only change your behavior when you’re aware of how it’s perceived by others and of the thoughts and feelings you experience as you attempt to change. Regularly seek feedback, and be wary of any instincts that feedback is either unnecessary or inappropriate. Noticing such thoughts is the first step to overcoming them.
  2. Make commitments. This will raise the likelihood that you’ll follow through. Tell other people—a coach, peer, or team member—what you’re hoping to work on.
  3. Overcome interference. Watch out for thoughts that might derail your intentions, like “Do I need to change that behavior? I’ve succeeded so far.” These defensive feelings are normal, but you need to recognize them for what they are: interference.
  4. Practice. It’s rare to set an objective for personal change, choose a path, and execute it with no trouble. Successful change usually requires trial and error, which takes deliberate practice. So start small and thoughtfully try out the change and learn from your experience.
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