Faith Based Programs

I know this can be a sensitive issue, some people feel faith should never be discussed in the workplace. How if at all, are faith based issues handled in your workplace?

Affinity Groups

One of my favorite professors in graduate school did not like the idea of affinity groups in the workplace. He felt that affinity groups could potentially make people feel isolated; rather than bringing people together. Right now at my company we have began to formally create these groups; of which I am a part of. Has anyone seen affinity groups NOT work?

Holding Management Accountable

I think more people need to hold their management accountable for effectively leading their teams. Ask questions, raise your hand and make requests. If you don't ask you will never get or know the answers to your questions. Lets stop complaining to our friends and co-workers and speak to those in charge of making changes. If you don't bring issues to their attention they may not even know anything is wrong, many senior managers are removed from the day to day of the workforce and are blind to serious issues or concerns; therefore, speak up!

A few minutes of fame :)

Last week I visited one of our local radio stations to promote the blog. It was so much fun, here is the link if you haven't heard it.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS

Your Own Business

In recent years Small Businesses are being launched with overwhelming frequency. The Census Bureau reports that "Women owned 6.5 million non-farm U.S. businesses in 2002, employing 7.1 million persons and generating $939.5 billion in business revenues", those are impressive figures--and some say women can't run businesses!

I think with downsizing and the constant struggle against the glass ceiling (or concrete ceiling for some minorities), its no surprise that women are choosing to venture out on their own. They have gotten tired of waiting for the next big break and have experienced their dream jobs being given to their male counterparts. I think we have made progress with this issue over the years, but the reality is that women still earn less than man for doing the same job.

Census Bureau statistics are as follows:
".....pay disparities are greatest in the fields of accounting, insurance, finance and marketing. In the survey, male accountants made an average of $49,000 per year compared to around $33,000 for women. The average male financial manager earned almost $60,000 compared to less than $40,000 for female financial managers. Even among highly trained, highly educated physicians, men made an average of $94,000 while female doctors earned $69,000. "

Need I say more?

Cliques at Work

It seems like everywhere you go, people form cliques. I try as much as I can to make sure I interact with people outside of my department and comfort zone. Cliques have a way of making others feel excluded and not part of the team. I think that its fine to spend time with people you like and have a lot in common with, however, I don't think there should be a perception of exclusivity in these relationships. I was talking with a friend recently and we were thinking, Why do clicks exist? and are they important?

Take charge of your career destiny

Many people blame others for career stagnation and lack of advancement. However, in my opinion, we should take charge of our own careers and stop expecting human resources or management to promote us or help us find that dream job. Many people waste countless years complaining about their careers without taking action and moving forward. If you find your career is stagnant, you owe it to yourself to take action, such as, pursue additional education, apply for jobs in different departments within your company or start the process of finding a job with another company. The road to career advancement is not always a straight climb “up a ladder” but rather a journey which must be strategically and actively managed.

Doing More with Less?

There was a recent article published that stated employers in the United States eliminated approximately 80,000 jobs during the month of March.

I found this to be worrisome, as I know many people that are always complaining about their jobs and additional work their employers seem to continually put on their shoulders. But as I thought about this, I couldn't help but wonder, is it worse to be completely out of a job? Or to have so much additional work (above and beyond your area of responsibilities) that you feel overwhelmed all the time? Not having a job can be very stressful; however it could open up opportunities you would not otherwise have pursued. On the other hand, having too much work can be very stressful to your physical and mental health.

Has anyone experienced one extreme or the other? How about those that have a beautiful balance in their workload and how does your company accomplish this?

Managing Perceptions

I was recently talking with a friend about how important it is to manage how others perceive you in the workplace. Unfortunately, perception is reality, and many times people that are not great leaders/workers may be viewed as great management material for the sole reason that the decision makers have a certain view of that person.

In my experience I have seen evidence of how important it is to pay close attention to our actions and relationships in the workplace. Things such as: The ways you carry yourself (attire, speech, mannerism) are very important. You will be surprised how some of these things; if perceived the wrong way, can hinder your career growth.

I once heard a famous quote "a life unexamined is not worth living". I think it’s important to consistently evaluate ourselves and how others may perceive us.