Category Archives: Professionalism

Baby Boomers: Remain Current and In Style

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DavidByrneSuit

David Byrne’s Big Suit Circa 1980s

As a Baby Boomer, I am becoming increasingly aware of how other people perceive my age group. Seventy-six million strong, Baby Boomers have reshaped the workplace, providing greater opportunities for the generations that follow us. If you are a Baby Boomer and choose to remain in the workplace in the coming years rather than retire, ask yourself: Are you remaining current in your look as a professional? Or are you stuck in the 1980s, still wearing suits with shoulder pads twice the size of your body? If you are, burn them now. Don’t bother donating them to charity because they don’t want them either. It’s time to clean out your closet and update your look. When you remain current and in style, you elevate your level of professionalism.

I recently attended a fun afternoon at a friend’s home, enjoying an image consultant’s presentation. All attendees were asked to bring a favorite jacket or accessory. I chose my favorite robin’s egg blue suit jacket. The little voice inside my head had told me many times that it was outdated, yet, it remained in my closet. Sure enough, I tried it on in front of eight other women and their reaction was clear. “It makes you look old.” Ugh! I then modeled a suit jacket with a more tailored body and shorter cut and voila!…the reaction “WOW! You look fabulous!” resonated throughout the room. I heard the message loud and clear. It’s time to replace the old with the new.

I have seen many Baby Boomers like me in the workplace, wearing clothing that is either outdated or tired looking. The result: The people themselves look outdated. Suits today range in price from affordable $50-$100 new, on sale or at quality resale shops, up to several thousand dollars, depending on your taste (and budget). You can still look like a million dollars with limited funds.

How current are you? Take an afternoon to try on your professional wardrobe in front of a mirror. How does your wardrobe make you look? Youthful? Vibrant? Out of touch? By adding a few fashion forward pieces to your wardrobe each year, including scarves and jewelry for women and new shirts and ties for men, you can take off years from your life.

Now look at your hair style.

Men: If you want to look younger and more attractive, ditch the bad comb-over and shave your head. Yul Brynner started it – shaving his head – in 1951 for the lead role in The King and I and look where it took his acting career. He maintained that look for the rest of his life.

Women: If your hair is big in any way, then it’s stuck in the 80s. Ask your stylist to give you a more current hair cut and style. Do the same with your makeup. What are the current colors? Remember, powder blue eye shadow looked good on Twiggy back in the 1960s (and bright turquoise eye shadow looked good on Mimi on the Drew Carey Show for comic effect only). Ask a professional what make-up complements your coloring.

People will notice the difference in the “new and improved” you. They will most likely ask if you lost weight.

Your outward appearance is one way to demonstrate your level of professionalism. As you mature, remain current in your wardrobe choices so that you look vibrant, vital and stylish. Two questions: What are you doing to enhance your professional look? What simple, inexpensive changes are you making that will help you look more current and in style?

All due respect to David Byrne of the Talking Heads: Nobody wore the “big suit” better than you! I remain a huge fan.

Note: Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964.

 

Protect Your Credibility

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ThumbsUpYou will have many opportunities in your life to compromise your credibility. Don’t! The credibility that you enjoy today has taken years to build. Why risk throwing it all away? Protect it. It is one of your greatest assets, built on the foundation of your character and competence.

Credibility is a lifelong commitment.

Business mogul Warren Buffett says, “It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” With today’s social media platform, that five minutes quickly morphs into two seconds.

Credibility is one of those intangibles in life that can change dramatically from moment to moment. Within those moments, you will have choices. Credibility first showed up in the national media in the late 1990s ranging from political and religious scandals to corporate and celebrity debacles. Today, the news continues to be filled with people who made poor choices (and who knew better). When we examine any case, it comes down to one thing: Choice. Each leader or organization had a choice to make: the high road or the low road, truth or deception. Always, always take the high road. When you think no one will know or notice, correct yourself then and there. Your conscience will guide your decisions.

In their book, Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It, authors James Kouzes and Barry Posner in their research asked professionals how they felt when they were in the presence of truly great leaders. The top ten replies were: Capable. Challenged. Enthusiastic. Inspired. Motivated. Powerful. Proud. Respected. Supported. Valued. Do you believe people feel this way about you? How do you demonstrate your credibility? How does your behavior align with your actions? What could you do to enhance your credibility? In everything you do, choose credibility. You will sleep better at night.

A mantra to consider: “I choose to protect my credibility.”

Be an Experience Creator

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BlondeGirlExcitedOf the many roles that you play in your life, did you know that you can also play the role of Experience Creator? What is an Experience Creator, you ask? Let me create two scenarios for you. Imagine this:

Scenario One: You arrive at the office with your espresso latte in one hand and briefcase in the other. You want to get to your desk quickly so you can check to see if the meeting time you requested with the Regional Vice President is a go. You have worked really hard on this project and are eager to share your thoughts with the RVP. All you can think about is your ideas. You are focused on those ideas, almost obsessed about them. You can’t get them out of your head. As you breeze into the office, so focused, and so determined to get to your desk, you don’t hear it, you don’t see it and you don’t experience it: The cheerful “Good morning!” from your department assistant. In fact, every morning you are so focused on what you are thinking that you miss her hellos. That simple “Good morning” that she shares with you every day is her way of being an Experience Creator. An Experience Creator creates a positive, even memorable, experience for other people.

What is the result of your not acknowledging the assistant’s greeting every morning? She thinks you don’t like her. In fact, she shares with one of your co-workers that she thinks you don’t like her. “She adores you,” your co-worker replies. Your co-worker decides to share this important piece of information with you because she thinks it’s something you need to know. She’s right. You are so appreciative that she shared this information with you that you vow to make a change the next day.

Scenario Two: You arrive at the office with your usual espresso latte in one hand and briefcase in the other. You pause before you enter the building. You take a deep breath and consciously feel the air entering your body. As you walk, you are aware of everything around you. As you enter your department, you make it a point to stop at your department administrative assistant’s desk, smile and say, “Good morning, Haley!” Now you are the Experience Creator.

Think about the many people who you come in contact with on a daily basis. Customers. Co-workers. Friends. What kind of experience you are creating for them? Is it positive or negative? Are you friendly or guarded? When you remind yourself that you are an Experience Creator, it will completely change how you see others and ultimately how you see yourself. When you create a positive experience for others, it positions you as a professional who cares.

Practice saying this new mantra each day: “I am an Experience Creator!”

Connect Across the Generations

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Courtney & Christine connecting

I recently found myself in an interesting position: Being the oldest person at my table at a professional organization’s awards event. Surrounding me were young professionals and college students in their 20s and 30s. As a Baby Boomer, I could have easily told myself “I don’t have anything in common with these young people.” That’s not my style. Instead, I considered it an opportunity to engage in stimulating conversation.

My conversation partner for the evening, Courtney, is a college senior majoring in marketing management/supply chain and a scholarship recipient. As we shared information during dinner, I was struck by her poised professionalism, intelligence and ambition. What impressed me the most: She is completing her fifth internship. That’s right. Fifth. With each internship experience, she has expanded her knowledge about different industries and marketing/supply chain functions.

I couldn’t help but recall some of the people who have participated in my communication workshops over the years. While discussing generational communication, invariably someone would say, “Generation Y has a sense of entitlement” or “That generation hasn’t had to work for anything…everything has been handed to them.” I wished those people could have been sitting with Courtney and me that evening. They would not have been so quick to judge her or her generation.

When you have an opportunity to converse with someone who is a generation or two younger than you, consider these simple tips:

Respect. When you show respect to another person, it will come right back to you.

Open your mind. Approach the conversation openly; don’t be judgmental. All too often, people make false assumptions about young people.

Listen. Really listen to their life experience. What is different for them? When it comes down to it, is there really that much difference between what they want out of their life and career than you did at that age? You had dreams once, didn’t you? Hopefully you still do.

Be interesting and interested. Keep the conversation moving between the two of you by being interested in what the other person is saying and by adding value to the conversation. Courtney was equally as interested in me, curious about my career path and life. We kept the conversation balanced throughout dinner.

Be open to new ideas. As I struggled to focus and snap our “selfie” with one hand, Courtney showed me how to use the volume button on the side of my iPhone to snap the picture. Brilliant! I welcomed the new approach.

I have mentored many young people throughout my career and will continue to do so. Anything that I can do to help launch their careers or provide guidance, I am willing to do. Courtney and I are now connected through LinkedIn and I anticipate great news and achievements in the months and years to come.

I learned a great deal about Courtney, her background, interests and dreams because we engaged in meaningful dialogue. What can you learn from someone who is younger than you? How can you open your mind and be fully receptive to the experience? How can you be supportive of their hopes and dreams?

How to Select the Right Mentor

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ResourceWordSecond in a series.

Before you select a mentor, first consider Lesson 2: Decide what assistance you need. This will guide your selection process to find an appropriate mentor. Here are a few examples:

Are you thinking of changing careers? Find someone who has successfully transitioned from one career field to another, whether by choice or necessity. The key: Has this person made the shift easily?

Do you want to start your own business? Look no further than business owners who you already know, or consult the pages of your local business journal to find entrepreneurs who have been successful in their business ventures.

Are you trying to figure out how to climb the corporate ladder? Maneuvering the culture and politics of large organizations requires the guidance of someone who has already survived this feat. Look within or outside your organization.

Do you want to be considered for more high-powered assignments? Pay attention to people you know professionally who are working on large projects with greater responsibilities and who have credibility as a project leader.

Are you interested in getting more involved in the community? Observe who is already contributing to your community’s growth and development through boards, task forces or committees. Review their accomplishments.

Can one mentor help you with more than one of these needs? Absolutely. For instance, if you are interested in elevating your visibility, a mentor could assist you with the last three examples listed above.

When you decide what your need is, it will become clear to you who may be an appropriate mentor for you. Do your research. Interview several potential candidates to see who best fits your needs. You will know when you find the perfect mentor because you will feel the connection from the beginning. Choose wisely. Mentoring relationships can last several months or even years.

How do you begin a mentoring relationship? Ask the person you have selected if s/he would consider being your mentor to help you with your specific needs.

Make the Most of Being “In the Room” – Part 3

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To take full advantage of attending networking events, make the most of the time you have to connect with others. Since my recent posts have covered what to do when you are “in the room,” here are my tips on what not to do:

Don’t feel compelled to hand out as many business cards as you can. It’s not a competition to collect the most cards. Rather, concentrate on building relationships. It is better to meet fewer people who you will remember rather than more people who you will forget. Think quality, not quantity.

Don’t talk about yourself non-stop. There is nothing more tiring than someone who drones on and on about their wonderful self. Focus on the other person, not yourself. You will keep them engaged, and they will look forward to seeing you at future events.

Don’t wait for people to approach you…approach them first.  This puts you in charge of the conversation. When it is time for you to move on, you simply thank them for their time and move on.

Don’t talk to the same person throughout the evening. You don’t want to monopolize one person’s time. Give that person the freedom to mix and mingle with other people.

Don’t scan the room for other people to talk to while you’re talking with another person. You will make the person you are with feel unimportant. Remain focused on the conversation and then break free to talk with other people.

Don’t spend a lot of time with people you already know, unless you have something specific you want to discuss or you want to spend a few minutes touching base.

When you approach networking in a strategic way, you will get the most out the experience and so will others.

Make the Most of Being “In the Room” – Part 2

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As a continuation of last week’s post on what to do when you attend a networking event, here are my remaining tips:

Peruse who is in the room. If there is someone specific you want to meet or reconnect with, approach that person first. That way, you invest the time up front with the person or people you want to connect with the most.

Challenge yourself to meet several people you don’t know. Sometimes you just don’t feel like it. When you open yourself up to it, you will  usually make some great connections. This approach keeps it interesting for you.

Attend meetings and events by yourself. You will remain flexible and not have to rely on others. If you do attend an event with a colleague, agree to split up to meet some new people, and then come back together later in the event.

Practice the art of breaking away. Use several conversation break-away’s, such as, “It’s been great meeting you. I’m going to meet a few more people before the program begins.” Or “Excuse me. I need to freshen my beverage.”

Smile! There is nothing more inviting to another person, especially someone you don’t know, than a smile. People will gravitate towards you.

Stand. Never sit. It allows you the freedom to move throughout the room. Sit only when it’s time to start the meal, if there is one, or when the program begins. If seating is not assigned, select your seat, place the napkin over the chair to indicate the seat is taken, and move back to the mingling area.

Now that I have shared some networking favorites from my “Do” list, I will share favorites from my “Don’t” list in my next posting.

 

A Peer Group is a Prized Possession

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Your peer group is one of your most valuable and prized possessions. Yet it is often under-appreciated. Could it be that we are taught from elementary school to compete with each other? I can honestly say that I would not be half the professional person I am today if it were not for my peers who helped me. One of the fastest ways to shorten any learning curve is to look to your peers for advice, guidance and assistance. You may be surprised how willing they are to share their knowledge.

A few years ago, I received a call from a young woman who was referred by a mutual colleague. She wanted advice on how she could reach people and let them know about her new business venture. I recommended several professional organizations to her. Based on my positive experiences, I mentioned how valuable peer support groups are and how generous people are with their time. There was a long silence and then she said, “Why would I want to spend time with my competitors?” Her comment stunned me. I couldn’t believe how short sighted she was. I explained the value that peers bring to your career. She was not interested in my philosophy. Oh well. I tried.

In what ways are you tapping into the knowledge of your peers? And how often do you share your knowledge with them?

Practice the Greatest Networking Mind Shift

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“What do you do?” is the most common question people ask when they meet someone new. What do you think about these four words? How do they make you feel..as you ask the question or as someone asks it of you? It’s very limiting, narrowly focused and impersonal. Let’s analyze this question:

What is directed to what the person does, not who the person is.

Do you…

Do is career focused and reflects an interest only in position and status. When you meet someone who is in transition or between jobs, or does not work, you put that person in an awkward position. Without thinking, the question could be demeaning to the other person. Let’s create a mind shift and change this phrase to “Tell me about yourself.”

Tell me encourages action; you want to hear about that person.

About

Yourself The focus is on the other person…not just the person’s career…what a concept!

Try this the next time you attend a function. You will be surprised by the responses. People will be delighted that you are interested in them. As you say this new phrase, remember:

  • It focuses on the other person, not on you
  • It allows you more topics to discuss
  • It provides the other person with a choice of what to discuss

Networking is about building relationships, not just collecting business cards. When you see people at future events, they will know you are interested in them, not just their title or job function.

Be On Purpose – Part 4

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In this final installation of being on purpose, here is one last mantra for you to embrace: “Everything I do positions me as a true professional.” That means that everything about you determines your level of professionalism, like how you interact with others, how you dress, your attitude or how you respond to crisis or change. To me, the word professional represents a person who sets – and lives by – high standards, someone who delivers quality results, and  is considerate of others. It’s not necessary only to have a white collar job to be considered as a professional. Anyone can be professional. It has more to do with one’s character than it does job status or income level. Anyone who comes in contact with customers or clients can benefit from some pointers in “Professionalism 101.” Consider initiating an open dialogue with your work team or employees on the topic by asking questions like, “How do you define professionalism?”, “What benefit could greater professionalism bring to us as individuals and to our company?”, “What type of behavior does a professional demonstrate?” or “How can we treat our customers or clients more professionally?” You may be surprised where the conversation leads you.