I have always thought that the greatest obstacle to setting goals was writing down all of the steps (process goals) that were needed to reach the final “high, lofty” (outcome) goal. But what I am finding more and more is that it is not the writing of the steps, it is defining that “high, lofty” goal that creates the obstacle. It is because of this lack of an answer to the proverbial question “what do you want to be when you grow up”, that we find ourselves either moving from one job to the next unrelated job, never gaining any useful, transferable skills, or spending thirty years doing the same job without moving up the ladder to success.
It is because of this lack of clarity that the Give Yourself a Boost Brainstorming online/on-demand workshop was created. This free workshop is not simply a slideshow lecture. There are brainstorming exercises that you will do to bring you closer to your ideal vocation.
The workshop is on Screencast.com and an account is not needed to access it. If you could use some help in clarifying your dreams, go to the workshop by clicking on the link: GYAB Brainstorming
Most people don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan. But thinking about how you are going to succeed in your career is not a plan. Thinking about it is nothing more than a thought; an idea. Turning those thoughts into plans requires action and the first course of action is to write your plan down. Yes, it is time consuming, yet, well worth the effort when done correctly.
The second course of action is – action. When you write down your plan for success, you must include process goals as well as outcome goals. Those process goals are your action steps. Think in terms of planning a driving trip to a new destination. You first need to write down the route that you will take to get there. If you don’t, you will get lost, right? Just writing it down will not get you there, however. You have to get yourself (and your car) moving, then, take the proper left and right turns. Those turns are your process goals.
The highest hurdle to goal setting is just getting started. If you need some help, the Give Yourself a Boost – Create a Road Map to Success online workshop will help you leap over that initial hurdle. For more information about or to register for the workshop, click here: http://bit.ly/6vLg9L
I just read a very good blog article entitled Top 10 Unwritten Rules That Could Sabotage YourCareerby life coach Ann Daly. Rule number two is the one that I address almost everyday. Polished Professional Image was created because of this rule.
2. Looks matter. When is the last time you saw a CEO in shorts or a short-sleeved shirt? Bare those arms and legs at your own risk: flesh conjures up images of the beach and the boudoir, not the boardroom.
John T. Molley wrote New Women’s Dress for Success in 1996 and some of the suggestions sound outdated, but in truth, thirteen years later, those canons still hold true. Long sleeves are more professional than short sleeves, which are more professional than going sleeveless.
We women tend to resist these ideals – these canons - because we have evolved and expect that all have evolved with us, but that is not (necessarily) the case. In spite of our strives, women are still considered less professional than our male counterparts especially when we are dressed in casual clothing. Casual business dress is a double-edged sword for us. Dressed casually, we are not professional; wear a suit in a casual environment and we are not team players (you’ve heard it before, “what is she trying to prove dressed like that?”).
Appearance is one area where women have control. Even if management is not your goal, earning as much as possible is and conveying professionalism in your appearance will help you reach your career goals. Don’t worry, though, you don’t have to wear a suit to appear professional. There are a number strategies that will help you project a professional image.
Polished Professional Image developed the online workshop Give Yourself a Boost – Creating a Professional Image to teach women how to project a professional image in all environments, from formal to weekend casual. The workshop was created because image is still an issue for women. Make sure yours is always polished and professional. Remember, for your career advancement, ‘looks matter’.
There seems to be a fundamental difference between men and women when it comes to dressing for important group meetings with upper management. Sounds like I’m generalizing, doesn’t it? Maybe. But I’ve seen it over and over again. Mid-level male managers will put on the blue suit, white shirt and red tie for townhall type meetings with C-level management; every time – the ones who aspire to promotion, that is. They are going to meet (or at least be in the presence of) the company CEO and will make sure that they appear professional and authoritative.
Mid-level and sometimes upper level women managers, will attend that same meeting in their normal, everyday business (often too) casual attire. I think they believe that it is not really expected that they suit up for such meetings. And they are probably right. They are not expected to appear professional and authoritative because, even today, women are not perceived as being as professional or authoritative as men.
And don’t misunderstand. It is not about “brown-nosing” or sucking up to the big bosses. It is about standing up and standing out! If you will notice, upper management tends to seek out the employees who look polished and professional to chat with during networking sessions. Why? Because they appear to have something to offer. Whether they do or not comes out eventually, but they do get that initial contact.
If you are part of the management team or aspire to become part of the management team, make sure you always have a polished professional image, especially at townhall type meeting. It does matter and it is noticed. Remember you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
As I “window shop”, an activity that I love to do, I am noticing more and more suits on the racks. Is there a trend back to more formal wear for work? Even the business casual ensembles are featuring “more business” and “less casual”. The good news for women is, a more formal dress code benefits us. You see, when we are dressed more casually, the perception of our professionalism is diminished.
The bad news is suits and formal business-casual attire can be expensive. In this economy, buying a wardrobe of suits can be a challenge to our budgets. Even the separates can get pricey.
The exciting news is that suits are showing up in some of the budget-friendly clothing stores. I stopped in a Dress Barn a few days ago. I was attracted by the purple outfits that were in the window (purple is hot this season). They had some really attractive suits and separates in there from A.S.L. Tahari, Jones New York and Calvin Klein! And the prices were very reasonable. What’s more, they have a layaway plan. If you are planning to update your professional wardrobe with a more formal look, check some of the budget-friendly stores. And rejoice in your professionalism!
During the summer months, the hosiery controversy is hose or no-hose. The jury is still out on that subject. In the fall, the hosiery controversy usually involves color. This season, textured hosiery are part of the fall fashion trend and the controversy is extended to texture as well color. What do you think? Check out this short slideshow and weigh in on the poll.
Animal prints are back for fall (does it ever really go out of style?). The question always comes up about whether or not it is appropriate for work. You can wear your animal prints to work as long as you don’t overwhelm the outfit with it. There is a right way and a wrong way to wear animal prints at work.
Choose one article for the print. If you are wearing a skirt and top, wear a printed skirt with a solid top or a printed top with a solid bottom. If you are wearing slacks, wear the print on top. Animal print pants look too much like evening or lounge wear.
Another option is to show your animal prints in accessories. The season is showing animal prints in shoes, bags, belts, even jewelry. Again, pick one. Did I mention, pick one animal. Don’t wear zebra, cougar, giraffe and python. That’s sensory overload.
We can show off our animal side, just exercise restraint.
One of the greatest challenges that women face in the workplace is being taken seriously. I know! It’s hard to believe in 2009. We have come a long way, baby; can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and still have to strive twice as hard as a man – oh, wait, that’s not how that went.
But that’s how it is. And the business casual environments that we find ourselves in doesn’t help much. There are a few tricks, however, that you can employ to polish your business casual looks. It’s in the details. The quick fix is to simply add a jacket or blazer to your look. It gives any outfit a more polished look.
You don’t have to break the bank or mortgage your home to have a polished professional image. There is a polished professional look for every budget. The key is to choose quality over quantity. You will do better in the long run by purchasing a few higher quality clothes rather than buying a closet full of inferior quality clothes. Higher quality clothes fit better, hold their shape better, look better and last longer.
Inferior quality clothes have a looser weave or knit, a poorer fit (too tight or too baggy), lose their shape after a few cleanings and start to pill and fall apart after a few wears. They may seem like a bargain, but if you have to replace a classic black A-Line skirt each season, where is the bargain? It is a better deal to spend $100 for one skirt that will last years than to spend that $100 on a $20 skirt that doesn’t last one season. And don’t be fooled, cheap clothes look cheap.
But don’t get hung up on price. Look closely at the fabric and construction. I have seen expensively priced clothes made with poor quality fabrics and horribly constructed (pulled seams, uneven hems, and loose buttons) and I have seen inexpensively priced clothes made with high quality fabrics and constructed flawlessly. Also, wait for the sales. The upside of the down economy is that retailers, including designer labels, need to sell their inventory. So, for a change, it’s a buyers market. Now is the time to get the biggest bang for you buck but keep it polished.
As summer fades into fall it’s time to buckle down and re-evaluate your professional image. It often gets put on the back-burner during the summer months because we are more laid-back during this time. Our clothes are more casual and often, so are our attitudes. So to get ourselves into the swing of things let’s start with an attitude shift away from the fun of summer.
Consider, for a moment, the next level of your career track. Mind you, it is not necessary for you to be on the leadership track. After all, not everyone wants the stress levels that come with leadership. Once you determine your next level, think about the level above that and imagine how the woman looks who holds that position (always set your sights two levels up so that you can stretch and grow). How close is your image to that image? If you are pretty close, fantastic! Keep up the good work. If you are not so close, don’t despair you can get there from here – even in this economy.
September is national Improve Your Professional Image month (in the Polished Professional Image Nation, that is). We will look at some ways to improve your professional image in a business casual setting, a blue-jean casual setting and even a formal business setting. Stay tuned.
Most people don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan. But thinking about how you are going to succeed in your career is not a plan. Thinking about it is nothing more than a thought; an idea. Turning those thoughts into plans requires action and the first course of action is to write your plan down. Yes, it is time consuming, yet, well worth the effort when done correctly.
