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Professional Buzz

Professional Buzz

Professional Buzz is a blog warehousing relevant information, tips and tools for students and professionals looking for career development and advice. Topics range from leadership and management skills to interpersonal communication and innovation in the workplace. The blog is written and curated by Associate Dean of the Graduate College, Anne Converse Willkomm – drawing on her academic and professional experience to provide insight into the latest professional trends, challenges and skills needed to thrive in today’s everchanging workplace.

Categories

Professional Development & Career TipsLeadership & Management SkillsInterpersonal CommunicationInnovation in the Workplace
Oxford Comma

Why You Should Care About the Oxford Comma

I get asked every so often what all the hullabaloo is about the Oxford comma, also known as the serial or Harvard comma. I not only use it but am an adamant supporter. Why?

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Smiley face

Are You Happy?

Most of us spend eight hours a day at work. When you add in commuting time, it means we spend nine to ten hours – on average – away from home, family, friends, hobbies, and pets. This translates to almost half of every 24-hour period, and when you account for sleeping, it means the majority of our time is spent at work.

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Influencing Others

Influence, Part II

Spotting influence around us means that we need to be open about what and who influences us. Think about the times you yielded to the group and the times you separated yourself; this will give you an idea about what influences you and how.

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Influencing Others — New Car

Influence, Part I

Last week, I attended the 2017 Philly Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Symposium, themed "Ignite Your Influence." It was a great day, full of information and networking, but it was the keynote speaker, Jonah Berger, a Wharton professor and best-selling author, whose message resonated most for me.

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What Is Professional Studies?

What Is an MS in Professional Studies?

Students often ask me, "What is the MS in Professional Studies Program?" Conversation often tends to focus on what it is not. Therefore, I thought I would take this opportunity to talk about what it is.

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Image os of a pyramid connected by steel balls, similar to a rector set

Power Systems

Recently I participated in a power system exercise. It was based on the research of Barry Oshry. Essentially, within any type of organization (this also applies to our personal organizational structures such as families and friend groups), people fall into certain roles: tops make the decisions and shape the vision, middles work to execute the vision of the tops, as well as prioritize the needs of both tops the bottoms, and bottoms are the ones completing the work. It is important to note, that we tend to float between the levels based on situations, areas of expertise, etc. For example, a CEO is considered a top in most instances, but in the board room, the CEO becomes a middle or even a bottom.

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ethics word cloud

Ethics

Is a company’s main responsibility to make as much money as possible for its shareholders/owners or to make as much money as possible—under certain standards?

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Two silloutte faces with words in each image

Empathy

How many times have you heard, “Put yourself in someone else’s shoes…?” The ability to understand how another person's beliefs, feelings, and experiences makes them feel is known as EMPATHY. Well, empathy is essential to good leadership. At the end of this post, take the empathy quiz.

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Image of a wooden box containing old photographs

Historical perspective

If history is not your thing, I am not suggesting that you must develop a passion for the subject, but to be a great decision maker, you have to understand how we got to where we are before you can take a step forward to determine where we are headed.

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The Dreaded Employment Gap

The Dreaded Employment Gap

I get questions every so often about employment gaps and how to handle them on resumes because they can invite unwanted questions. The gaps can occur for many reasons: a lost job, a spouse’s job promotion and subsequent move, raising children, or caring for a sick child or elderly parent, to name a few. So, what is the best way to handle the gap on a resume?

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Pink, red, and white small candy hearts

The Heart Business

Did you know Valentine’s Day is a 30 billion dollar holiday? Companies such as 1-800-Flowers, The Hershey Company, Hallmark Cards, Necco, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Victoria’s Secret, Tiffany & Company, and we can’t forget the US Postal Service or the trucking company (Armellini Express Lines) that are responsible for getting cards and flowers to their respective destinations – all these companies rake it in during the days surrounding February 14th.

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Image of a bronze statue hand with the cornice of an ornate building in the background

Practice Civility

In Christine Porath’s article, The Hidden Toll of Workplace Incivility, published by McKinsey&Company in December of 2016, she details the rising trend of incivility in the workplace.

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