Most people I work with in my coaching practice say to me…

“I believe if I do a good job, my work should speak for me and I will be recognized for the great work I do. I’m not comfortable self-promoting.”

Then I ask…

“So how is that strategy working for you? Are you getting the recognition you believe you deserve?”

I inevitably get a sheepish look, followed by the words “hmm, not so well” or some version of that.

At that point they are open to addressing their discomfort with self-promotion and we can move forward.

How about you? Are you comfortable self-promoting?

Yes, I’m asking you.

Don’t run away. Stay with me.

I’m not talking about the type of self-promotion that makes you feel like you’re boasting or bragging.

No!

What I’m talking about is Authentic Self-Promotion.

It’s the type of self-promotion that feels true, congruent, ethical and uplifting to you.

It’s the type that lets you showcase your gifts to the world, and leaves you feeling fulfilled.

And it makes people want to engage with you and learn more about you.

It’s an art that you can learn.

Here are 3 tips to get you on your way.

1. Change your thinking about self-promotion

If you stop thinking about self-promotion as this dirty, awkward or comfortable thing and start to see it as a way to make you visible so that you can get the recognition you deserve, it becomes easier to master.

2. Observe others

Look for people who you think self-promote in an admirable way. What can you learn from them? Make it your mission to deeply and curiously study what they are doing right and model that.

3. Practice

Now that you’ve observed a few things that you can model, look for opportunities to take a turn. Keep practicing authentic self-promotion, get feedback, adjust until you can do it without discomfort.

Don’t be afraid to blow your own trumpet – in the most authentic way.

Find yourself in an unexpected crisis at work?

A change did not turn out as well as you thought it would and now your joy at work is impacted.

It could be that your team has been restructured and you’ve ended up in a team you have no desire to work with

Or new management has arrived and created changes that don’t work for you.

Maybe you’ve missed out on a promotion.

Or that your once peer is now your manager.

The list is endless because stuff happens all the time.

And you get angry and bitter…that reaction is quite normal.

What matters is how you deal with these very emotionally charged changes.

If you choose to stay or absolutely cannot leave, how do you exhibit consistent values and professional character no matter what. How do you guard your personal brand and professional reputation when you are angry, bitter or frustrated at work?

Here are some tips to help you protect your personal brand through the turmoil.

Vent, then move on quickly

Emotions need to be released. Without a doubt, you need to be able to process your negative feeling towards the situation.

However, limit the time it takes to move on and limit the number of people you confide in.

Remember what you focus on expands so if you dwell on your painful circumstances, you get more pain.

Make your own plan for where you want to be and start working on it

Will you go or will you stay?

Appreciate what you have gained so far and move on to greater things…those things that you want for yourself. Not what someone else has decided for you.

In most cases you’re still in control and you still have a choice – stay or leave.

If you plan to leave, then develop a calculated exit strategy that leaves your reputation intact as you move on.

If you’ve slipped, admit it and apologise

Lost your cool in a meeting due to all this pressure?

Admit it, apologise and guard yourself against making the same mistake again. There is no need to damage your reputation even further.

If you chose to stay during unfavourable circumstances, have the strength of character to stand tall, live your values no matter what inner turmoil your current work situation is putting you through.

In other words, find the resolve to deal with your circumstances without diminishing your credibility.

Remember the world is now very small

Six degrees of separation is a myth and news travels really fast. A bad reputation can follow you around and can be hard to shake off.

So…protect your reputation no matter what!

Self-sabotage is a result of twisted thinking.

I call it Warped Thinking.

This type of thinking is distorted and causes one to undermine themselves and fall short of their potential or to fail in realising their ambitions.

Self-sabotage is common, it’s frustrating and can be painful, if it becomes a habit.

The good news is that you can reverse self-sabotage.

You can do this by changing the THINKING that caused it in the first place.

Here is a simple but effective process you can use anytime you find yourself practising self-sabotage. I call it the WARP technique

W – WRITE down the thought you are having

Notice the thought that’s running through your mind and write it down. It might be something like…

“Why bother?”

“I won’t succeed anyway”

“Who do I think I am to get this done”

“I’m not smart enough to do this”

Hone in on the one thought that is holding you back. You will notice it as a small niggling voice in your head that won’t go away and that causes you to feel stuck.

A – ASK yourself is it really true.

Are you 100% sure that the thought is true? What evidence do you have for it? More often than not you will realise that you don’t have evidence to support your self-defeating thoughts. You will notice that you are over exaggerating the situation.

R – REPLACE it with a better serving thought

The realisation that the thought is not 100% true allows you to replace the thought with a better, more realistic one. One that will empower you and propel you into action.

P – PRACTISE the new thought consistently

Once you identify the new thought, think about it often until you believe it solidly.

You will be surprised what you can accomplish when you get rid of warped thinking using the 4 step W-A-R-P technique.

If you find this technique hard to do by yourself, let me know and I’ll guide you through it. Email me at nancy@thriveatwork.com.au

Its end-of-year reflection time. So here’s an exercise for you.

Find 10 minutes when you can sit quietly and reflect on the past year.

Get your journal, note pad or computer and answer each of the following questions.

Don’t just answer them in your head, you have to write your answers down.

The act of writing helps you clarify your thoughts and anchors your reflection so you will remember them.

Here are the five reflection questions:

Your gratitude and pride reflection:

1. What are the top 3 things you are most proud of accomplishing this year and for each, what are you specifically grateful for?

Your challenges and learnings reflection:

2. What were the top 3 lesson-generating challenges you had this year and how did each make you a better person?

Your to-do reflection

3. What things did you want to start but didn’t, or started but did not finish, that you wish you had?

Your desired goals reflection

4. What are your top 3 goals for next year and for each, what will achieving the goal give you, make you feel and mean for you? For each goal, what would it mean if you did not accomplish it? Why is each goal important?

Your career / work / life / business reflection

5. What do you want to be different in your career / work / life / business next year? Pretend it’s December and you’re looking back. How has your career / work / life / business changed?

If you answered all 5 reflection questions, you now know:

• the progress you made this year and what to focus on next year
• the hard things you faced this year and how they helped you grow
• the unfinished business you will need to make time for or decide not to do at all
• the goals you can set for next year
• the things you want to achieve in your career / work / life / business

ENJOY!

Do you find yourself procrastinating despite a real desire to complete that outstanding project or task?

You can’t explain it, but every time you think of dealing with that task, you remember 101 other things that need doing first.

You find yourself stuck!

You can’t understand why there is so much resistance to getting that project or task completed.

Let me shine a light on the probable source of the problem. You are experiencing one of the following…perhaps you’re experiencing two, or maybe all three root causes.

The 3 things that could be working against you are…FEAR, UNCERTAINTY or DOUBT.

FEAR:

If fear is stopping you, then the best antidote is to START. Do the smallest action you can think of to get moving. For example, if you want to write that blog post, then open up a blank document and type the heading of your post, save the document, and that’s it. Come back tomorrow and write the first sentence and see how fast that blog gets written.

UNCERTAINTY:

If uncertainty is causing you to procrastinate, the answer is to build momentum first by doing ONE THING. Stop looking at the end picture or the list of all the required steps to accomplish the goal. Instead focus on one step in the process. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t make that a big deal. Just pick one thing and do it. It does not matter where it fits in the sequence, just do that one thing. Then ask yourself what you can do next, and do that. You will find your flow.

DOUBT:

If you find yourself procrastinating because you are not convinced of your ability to succeed, the best strategy is to FINISH something. Pick one small item that is almost done and finish it. The sense of accomplishment will give you the energy and confidence to get more things done.

Any one of FEAR, UNCERTAINTY or DOUBT is helping you procrastinate. Don’t become good friends with them. Get rid of them FAST!

Challenge yourself to pick the one thing you believe is holding you back the most and try the remedy I’ve suggested. Let me know how you go: nancy@thriveatwork.com.au

1. Know your Worth

2. Master Self-Promotion

3. Make your Presence felt

4. Speak with Impact

5. Role-model Resilience

6. Become Interesting

7. Help Someone Succeed

Get the complete guide for an explanation of each of the 7 ways.

It is a key resource for you if you are tired of waiting for others to notice you and want to create change yourself.

Get the complete guide here

Communicating with impact is a powerful skill to have.

But how do you ensure that people do what you desire following a conversation with you?

Here is a simple but powerful tactic you can use.

Before you speak with your audience, whether it’s an audience of one or of many, be very clear on 3 key things.

Make no mistake, if you want to use your communication to create results you have to be crystal clear and be able to answer the following questions without hesitation.

1. What do I want my audience to FEEL to make this communication memorable?
2. What INFORMATION do I want my audience to have to make this communication meaningful and relevant?
3. What specific ACTION do I want my audience to take as a result of my communication with them?

If you devote a few minutes to answering these questions before each communication you deliver in person or in writing you are guaranteed of getting a result from your communication. That is, you are guaranteed of having impactful communication.

This is imperative. You must do it. Don’t brush it off as being simplistic.

Do it, master doing it each time and watch your influence grow.

Try it and let me know how you go… nancy@thriveatwork.com.au

As someone once said…Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity.

So here are some preparation tips to ensure that you are ready when career opportunities present themselves.

These tips will help you stand out to the people that matter. Do them and you will greatly increase the chances of being noticed, rewarded and elevated.

Here are six things you must do to create your own career luck.

1. Do something outstanding that will get you noticed.

This has to be something over and above your day job. You could solve a problem that your boss, or a colleague, has been struggling with for a while.

By doing this you will leave a positive impression on them. And when a major opportunity comes along, the chances of them putting you forward or recommending you will be greater.

2. Build a network of advocates.

Having people eager and ready to vouch for you is better than tooting your own horn.

Make sure you let your leaders know your recent accomplishments so that they can mention you in discussions with their peers.

This is how people get approached for new or more challenging opportunities and for roles that require a step up.

3. Understand the politics of promotion in your organisation.

Find a sponsor in your organisation. This is someone who will put your name forward when leaders are looking for the right person to take up an important role or challenge.

In the corporate world, a good word from a senior leader (a sponsor) has become the best way to set you apart from all those others seeking the same opportunities.

4. Network within and outside your organisation.

Make time each month to attend a networking event in your industry or in the industry you want to get into.

At each event, your goal should be to have deep and meaningful conversations with at least two people. And remember to be memorable – in a good way.

In your current organisation, make it a priority to set time aside each week to catch up with people you have been introduced to by others or who you’ve met in meetings but have not had a chance to get to know better.

Having a wide network will allow you to reach out and help someone or be helped when the time comes.

5. Keep your credentials up-to-date.

Update your resume every time you complete a major project, go for a course or learn a new skill. You don’t have to wait to get a promotion or to be looking for a new job to update your resume.

Make use of the power of LinkedIn – keep your profile up-to-date, include accomplishments as you make them, connect with people you have met at networking events, comment on things people in your network have published so you can become more visible. You can even publish your own posts.

6. Interview every 6-12 months.

This might sound pointless or even feel like it is going too far but I highly recommend it if you want to stay top of mind when recruiters are filling positions.

Even if work is going swimmingly and you’re not thinking of changing roles, apply for your desired next role, secure an interview and see where you stand in terms of what will get you that next role.

Find out what you need to work on or learn. Get familiar with the questions recruiters ask at that next level. Get feedback after every application or interview so you can gather evidence of what you need to work on.

This will ensure that when you’re ready to move on, you will go out into the job market equipped and confident.

A recent study called “Women in the Workplace” that was conducted by a partnership between LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company has revealed that in Corporate America…

“Women are less likely to receive the first critical promotion to manager—so far fewer end up on the path to leadership—and are less likely to be hired into more senior positions. Women also get less access to the people, input, and opportunities that accelerate careers. As a result, the higher you look in companies, the fewer women you see.

This disparity is especially pronounced for women of color, who face the most barriers to advancement and experience the steepest drop-offs with seniority.”

It is not very different in Corporate Australia.

I ponder this reality and it makes me ask…how might we break those barriers for ambitious, clever, and highly deserving working women of colour?

And what about the generations of brilliant young girls, with big dreams, coming through high school and university? How do we pave the way so that their ambitions can be realised?

What are your thoughts? Drop me a line at nancy@thriveatwork.com.au

And you can find the study here:

https://womenintheworkplace.com/#key-findings

Prepare, prepare, prepare.

That’s what any communications expert will say if you ask them the one tip they have to help you ace a presentation.

As you read this you may be a novice at delivering presentations. Or you may have delivered a number of presentations such that it has become second nature to you. If you fall into the first category then read on and make sure you implement most, if not all, of the steps below when preparing for your next presentation.

And if you are the seasoned presenter, check out the steps listed below and let me know what I can add to them for benefit those still learning to master the skill of Presenting.

Before I get to the steps, I want to make sure that you are on the same page with me. I am focusing not on HOW to deliver an outstanding presentation. Instead my focus here is on all the key things you should do BEFORE going into the presentation. It’s the preparation part. The hard work that makes delivering the presentation become the easy bit.

Step 1: Decide on what your primary reason for the presentation is. Be very clear on why you are delivering the presentation. What is your intention? Is it to inform, to persuade, to teach or some other reason?

Step 2: Be crystal clear on what it is that you want your audience to be able to Do, Know or Feel as a result of spending the time with you. Do you want them to feel empowered or do you want them to have the facts?

Step 3: Plan your beginning. Determine how you are going to open the presentation. Remember that it is critical to develop rapport with your audience in the first minute to ensure they listen to your message. Will this be via a story, a quote or a fact?

Step 4: Be clear on how you are going to build credibility. This is when you tell your audience a bit about yourself and why you are qualified or well suited to be presenting to them on that particular topic

Step 5: Build the body of your presentation. Decide how you are going to structure and ensure easy flow of the presentation to keep the audience engaged and to deliver maximum value.

Step 6: Plan the Question and Answer segment of your presentation. How many questions or for how long will you be open to questions? Are there some questions that you would defer to another session or take offline? Prepare some common questions that you can use just incase you get none from the audience. Also remember to prepare for those uncomfortable questions designed to make you look bad. Think through how will you deal with those.

Step 7: Design your final words so that you close with impact. Will you share a final thought, a quote or an image?

If you complete these seven steps before going into any presentation, the hard work will be done and you can go into your presentation knowing that you have done your best preparation and that all you have to do next is manage any nerves and deliver an outstanding presentation.

Go forth, prepare and present then let me know what worked for you and if you have any additional tips or questions.