The roles of mentors and sponsors, although closely aligned, are also different. While a mentor supports your development, a sponsor connects you to actual job opportunities. Sponsors are people in positions with enough clout to recommend you for promotions they learn about. It’s also not uncommon for one person to be both mentor and sponsor. […]

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Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”  While her words can be interpreted in a number of ways, here’s one take… If we go through life only tending to that which is handed to us, […]

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Although no one listening is likely to be on the 2024 moon mission, we can all learn a lot from the astronauts NASA has chosen.  In a recent Inc.com article Psychologist James Picano shared the three qualities — besides the technical skills and abilities — that made these women and men ideal for the job.  They […]

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If your meetings are rambling and unfocused, it may be time to learn or relearn what makes a meeting effective and meaningful.  Start by identifying the meeting’s objective.  Are you looking for updates, ideas, or decisions?  Are you communicating changes or educating about plans?   Often times meetings have more than one objective. In that case, clearly identify what […]

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Have you ever asked for feedback? Your request signals a desire to learn about the impact of your actions and make improvements.  While it is absolutely true that you have the right to act on the feedback you receive or ignore it completely, you also should be aware that those who muster up the courage to […]

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Lifelong learning is an important way to stay relevant, marketable and innovative.  Success.com asked members of its Young Entrepreneur Council what they do to engage in lifelong learning outside the traditional classroom setting.  Here’s are answers from three of them. Travel.  There’s no better way to embrace new ideas and educate yourself than by exploring new places, meeting […]

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In a recent Mind Tools Twitter poll, forty-four percent of respondents said they need to learn how to better manage their expectations about career progression.  For thirty-three percent it was managing expectations about how they’ll be rewarded.   Sometimes our expectations can lead us astray, causing us to become easily frustrated or act in ways that aren’t […]

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Whether you’re focused on how to enhance your self-awareness, solve a problem, take the next step in your ever-evolving quest for personal transformation, professional development, looking for inspiration, or just need to stir your creative juices, you need to get in the flow to generate the right ideas.  Jeffrey Davis says he’s in the business […]

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As a leader, you may often feel alone and isolated, especially when making critical decisions.  But you don’t have to go it alone.  Make it a practice to discuss concerns with colleagues inside and outside your organization.  Position the conversation as an opportunity to connect with a peer and share. To get the most out of your time, […]

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One of the biggest challenges in achieving success is learning to be uncomfortable.  Whenever we try anything new, we push up against our comfort zone and growing edge.  That’s where our comfort level ends, and where the new and different await. To discover the new, you have to push past your existing mental and emotional boundaries and […]

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Sometimes, we spend a great deal of time dwelling on why results fell below expectations.  That’s a good practice if your plan is to use what you learn to do better next time.  Now, here’s my question:  do you invest the same amount of time dwelling on your successes?  There’s also a lot to learn when things go well.   […]

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Having the right people in the right roles is critical for optimal business results.  Today’s fast-moving business environment leaves no room for employee stagnation.  High performing leaders actively assess their teams to ensure they’re positioned to maximize their contribution.  Here are three easy questions to ask yourself as you assess your staff.   Who delivers at or above expectation?  What […]

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“How was your first week in the new job?”  I was eager to hear how Carl’s week went. “Pretty good.  I actually did more than I thought I’d do,” he said.  I heard a sense of pride and satisfaction in his voice. “I expected to observe during my first week, and then slowly work up to interacting with […]

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In a recent Inc.com interview, Dr. Hossein Rahnama, a CEO and associate professor, says there are things he has learned while teaching that have informed his approach to leadership.  Here are three of the lessons he believes leaders can learn from professors. Ditch the “sit and listen” lecture model.  It’s not effective and employees would be better […]

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If you’re losing your most valuable players, talent hoarding could be why. According to a recent Gallup article, when good employees believe that the only way up is out, they’ll look for and probably find new jobs.   Managers who are behind this dilemma, are only doing what comes naturally to them. They’re likely experiencing one of two […]

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When managers hoard talent, they may think they’re protecting their turf. But according to Gallup, they’re actually driving the best people away.  When great employees realize they won’t be given opportunities to move up, they’ll look for work outside the company. Gallup recommends these approaches to those responsible for managing human capital.   Realize you may already have […]

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Some leaders say they want to set stretch goals, but they stop short because they want certainty that their goals will be achieved.  They want plans that account for all possible outcomes and consequences. If this sounds like you, consider the following.   Knowing for sure that you will attain your goal probably means you have not set […]

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According to New York Times contributor Jessica Bennett, research shows that it’s hard for women to say no at work, which in turn, takes time away from tasks that increase their visibility.  But two groups of women are addressing this problem. “The No Club” was founded by a professor at NYU who noticed that women would […]

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If you’ve become the ear for an office complainer, you might want to turn the volume up for this advice from CNN’s Kathryn Vasel.  Here are four tips she offers that may help you manage this type of co-worker.   Look for a pattern. Why are they complaining?  Do they complain at the same time every day, about […]

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Do you struggle with asking for help?  Sometimes we believe — incorrectly — that we should have all the answers. Or that asking for help is a sign that we are weak or ineffective.  In both cases, just the opposite is true.  Asking for help is natural, normal and, often times, just what your situation warrants. The next time […]

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