Are You a Life-long Learner

There are many benefits to learning beyond the walls of college or graduate school. Those benefits range from cognitive, social, and spiritual, to career. Given the benefits, we should all strive to be life-long learners, but those who place significance on continued learning, are the same people who forge ahead on the corporate ladder.

Social Media Check-Up

There is one month to the start of a new year. For some that will mean a new exercise regimen, for others it will mean scheduling time to volunteer, and for yet others it will mean it’s time to look for a new job or career opportunity. For the latter, start now by giving yourself a social media check-up.

Happy Thanksgiving

All of us at Goodwin College, wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving – may you enjoy the holiday surrounded by friends and family, and may your plates and hearts be full.

Social Capital

Why is social capital important? Well, within our organizations (small and large), we can’t operate in a vacuum; we need to rely on others to accomplish tasks, projects, etc. You may need to ask for an introduction, expertise, a favor, or you may need an advocate.

Finding Your Voice

I have written a fair amount about the Pennsylvania Conference for Women – it was a great day. Michelle Obama said, as did others, something that has stuck with me, and I’m paraphrasing here, but if you aren’t going to use your spot at the table then move over. So, what happens if a spot at the table opens up, but you haven’t quite found your voice?

Well, I’m not going to sugar coat anything – it’s time to step up.

The B Corp

According to Bcorporation.net, they “aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems.” Rose Marcario, the CEO of Patagonia said, “The B Corp movement is one of the most important in our lifetime, built on the simple fact that business impacts and serves more than just shareholders – it has an equal responsibility to the community and to the planet.”

Lead by example

Remember the old saying, “Do as I say, not as I do?” Well, those are not words to live by. If we want those who work for us and with us to be kind, empathetic, hard-working, etc., then we had better be kind, empathetic, and hard-working. Never did the day exist where one could truly expect those around them to perform in a certain way while they performed in another.

Powerful Words=Empowerment

At the recent Pennsylvania Conference for Women, I heard powerful words of encouragement from the keynote speaker.

Sexual Harassment

As a woman, I would like to think we were making progress, and in some cases we are, but according to a YouGov poll that survey 4,900 people, 25% of respondents reported witnessing sexual harassment at work, and 30% of respondents (80% of whom were women), reported experiencing sexual harassment. And it gets worse, “60 percent of women in tech report receiving unwanted sexual advances,” according to a February 2017 TechCrunch article, it is difficult to argue progress is being made.

Redefining Success

Yesterday, I attended the PA Women’s Conference with 12,000 other women (and a few men). In the keynote address, Shonda Rimes talked with former First Lady, Michelle Obama. There were plenty of great nuggets, but one really stood out. Mrs. Obama said, “At some point we need to create a different definition of success at work.”

Performance Reviews

Self-assessment is a valuable tool. Looking back on one’s accomplishments and one’s failures or weaknesses can, and should, provide a roadmap for future goals and growth. But the honest truth, the performance appraisal process does not facilitate that kind of growth.

Benefits of team building

Team building experiences are not just fun, they provide an opportunity for co-workers to interact with one another in very different ways, see one another through a different lens. We begin to see one another as a fellow human being versus a “co-worker,” someone who has feelings, hopes, and dreams, etc. When we return to the office, we then interact with that person a little bit differently. While we have this shared experience to talk about, laugh about, and reminisce about together, we also are more likely to be supportive, give the benefit of the doubt, or even lend a hand.