May 1Interview Preparation: “How Would You Describe Yourself?”Since job interviews require you to talk about yourself it makes sense to be prepared. Potential employers will look at your education, training, experience, and hard skills but know that they are particularly interested in your soft skills. Your character and behavioral traits will be viewed as indicators of…Interviewing3 min read
Published in Breakthrough Leadership & Organizational Health·Apr 21As a Leader Do You Want to be Liked or Respected?A mistake some newly minted managers make is wanting to be liked by all their reports. Another is wanting them to all be happy, which of course isn’t their job but also impossible to achieve. But back to the first mistake; wanting them to like you. I recall hearing a…Leadership Development1 min read
Published in Breakthrough Career Coaching·Apr 20Finding Meaning in Your WorkYesterday I was watching a movie titled About Schmidt starring Jack Nicholson. He plays Warren Schmidt who is retiring from his position as an actuary with a life insurance company. After his retirement dinner, Schmidt finds it hard to adjust to his new life, feeling useless with no sense of…Career Advice2 min read
Published in Breakthrough Career Coaching·Apr 16Do You Have Career Plan?In the book Alice in Wonderland, Alice reaches a crossroads where the Cheshire Cat is sitting. Alice asks the cat: “Which road should I take?” In reply, the cat says: “Where are you going?” To that, Alice says: “I don’t know.” “Then it doesn’t matter which road you take,” the…Career Advice2 min read
Published in Breakthrough Career Coaching·Apr 11Quitting a Job You Just StartedThe Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/) reports that the average employment term is 4.2 years but there are times when a person quits a new job shortly after starting or accepting it. In my experience as a career coach it’s been fairly rare, but it does occur. While not ideal…Resignation2 min read
Mar 31The Art of DelegationThose of us that have worked in a managerial position and after being promoted had to hire, onboard, train, and manage our replacement know the stress it can cause. You have to do the things required in the new role…Leadership Development3 min read
Feb 23Do You Really Want to be a Sales Manager?I have worked as a career coach with successful sales professionals that expressed a desire to move into a leadership role. While there is nothing wrong with aspiring to be a leader — it can be quite rewarding — some have learned that they preferred being an individual contributor. Here…Sales2 min read
Feb 14Is “Job Hopping” a Bad Thing?For many years the conventional wisdom was that leaving a job after two or three years was a bad idea. Hiring managers frowned upon it and derisively referred to it as “job hopping”. When companies provided a life-long career path for their employees (today they’re “stakeholders”) and had great pensions…Career Advice2 min read
Feb 7You’re FiredMany of us have been fired from a job. At times it might have been called a “right sizing”, which is corporate speak for “downsizing”; it’s supposed to make us feel better. Other euphemisms include “separated”, “let go”, and “relieved of duty”. The only problem is that doesn’t feel “right”…Job Hunting2 min read
Jan 30I Hate SalesFor about 80% of my career, I worked in marketing and sales. Either as a rep, manager, or VP in several industries in the U.S. Even when I began working as an independent business consultant and leadership coach, I was continually seeking to land the next engagement, i.e., “selling”. I…Sales3 min read