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The challenge of underemployment
A career coaching colleague and I were discussing the ongoing challenge of underemployment. “Why can’t there be an easier way for people with talent to get connected to opportunities that match their strengths?” he asked. I’ve been in this line of work for 25 years, and I’ll confess I’ve become more of a realist than I was at the start of my starry-eyed career. Since then I’ve drawn these conclusions: The world of work is a teeming pool of evolving, inefficient activity. Businesses are continually growing, shrinking, and changing, as do their employee needs. The majority of us—about...
read morePerception shifts. Turning negative to positive.
“I’m really stressed out about this, but I’m also kind of excited about it, too!” This came from a friend as he described a big project he’s working on. His eyes were shining and he was noticeably happy. I was happy, too, because just weeks before he’d been complaining about this same project, but had been clearly discouraged about it. He was stressed both times, but once negatively, and the other time, positively. That’s the difference between distress and eustress, and according to performance coach Samantha Attard, Ph.D., we have the power to shift from the dark pressure to the lighter...
read moreThe power of new beginnings
In the afterglow of the eclipse, I’ve been thinking about William Bridges’ transition model, and the applications it has in our careers and lives. In his book Transitions, Bridges talks about the endings, neutral zones, and new beginnings that come with shifts, and those were all a part of Monday’s experience. The first step in Bridges’ model is endings, where what existed before ceases. As my husband and I stood in the mall parking lot in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska—a location that would deliver the total eclipse opportunity–we watched as the formerly bright sunlight was slowly wiped away....
read moreRecognition for a job well done.
My mom had major surgery recently, and I spent a week post-op nearly round the clock by her side. I wanted to be there if she needed me, but mostly it was for my own peace of mind. Was she being well cared for? I needn’t have worried. Never before in my more than five decades have I had such an up-close view of today’s healthcare system. After spending over 140 continuous hours observing the processes and professionals, I was amazed and impressed at the expertise and dedication of people and systems in place to deliver care. The roles they fill—Certified Nursing Assistant, nurse, physical...
read moreLaid off? Some tips for how to move forward.
“A few of my colleagues who have worked for the same company for 30 years are getting laid off. Could you write a column about what they should do? Most of them don’t have any idea.” This comment came from a reader, so here’s a step-by-step plan for them: Catch your breath. Getting laid off can be a huge shock, and it’s likely that you won’t be thinking straight for a while. Rather than updating your LinkedIn profile immediately, go into crisis mode instead, until your head stops spinning. Talking with someone you trust about your feelings and options has been shown to speed up transitions...
read moreFear and change. How to keep your career edge.
Worry you’re losing your edge in your career? You’re not alone–there’s even an acronym for that: FOBO – Fear of Becoming Obsolete. Local bestselling author Debra Benton, in partnership with Kylie Write-Ford, tackle this topic in their newly-released book, “The Leadership Mind Switch.” Here are a few compelling data points to get you thinking in more progressive directions: “Every two days, we create as much information as we did from the dawn of man through 2003”, informs Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google. An attitude of, “We’ve always done things that way,” is digital Darwinism, and...
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