Category: Work

Labor Day Special Pricing On The November 2nd Multicultural Conference

9/4/2017

By Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP, CITM

You Are Cordially Invited To Register And Attend
The November 2nd Multicultural Conference
"Women, Work & Celebrating Self Worth"

Special Conference Labor Day Pricing Ends On September 5th More details at: http://bit.ly/2gx2EPD

Bring your managers, supervisors, staff, and colleagues to the premiere diversity conference of the region. This is the 11th conference since 2008 and will deliver the resources, toolkits, and answers you've been looking for. In addition, the networking opportunities will connect you to some of the movers and shakers who are committed to the advancement of multiculturalism throughout the marketplace.

Our theme is "Women Work & Celebrating Self Worth." It's an opportunity for BOTH women AND men to attend an exciting day long exchange of keynote addresses, roundtable discussions and panel presentations all focused on the value and opportunities of women in the workplace.

The Multicultural Symposium Series is the only African American led conference series in New England. Founded by African American social entrepreneur Carole Copeland Thomas, the initiative will deliver value, substance and new insights for you and your team.

Register during Labor Day Weekend and SAVE.

We'll See You On November 2nd!

-Carole Copeland Thomas
Complete Information at www.mssconnect.com.

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How To Keep Your Life Balance

11/1/2016

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By Debra W. Gould, MS

Balancing work and personal demands is more challenging today than ever. Organizations are constantly focusing on how to improve production, profits and performance, while at the same time working to maintain a high level of morale. With no definitive parameters for measuring balance, perhaps the real goal should be personal and professional separation-as we explain in this blog.

Why separation is so important:
As technology has revolutionized the business landscape, many professionals no longer just leave their work at the office. This causes many people to feel they spend all their time working or on call, regardless of location. At the same time, many parents are prioritizing attendance at their kids' events and family dinners using the same technology within the time frames of "normal business hours." As a result, many people are doing two things at once-and doing neither very well. How many times have you been at a restaurant with your family and all attention is devoted to your smartphone? When your personal and professional lives overlap in this manner, both of them suffer.

The Facts:
At the office: Jobs frequently require people to work late, to put in extra hours and spend days on the road away from the family. This is because the job needs to get done, and a true professional understands they may have to miss a child's event or be away from home at inopportune times. To be great in business a person must make sacrifices.

At home: Most professionals today work to provide for their family, and feel their family or personal life is the most important thing to them. Moms want to be moms, dads want to be dads, and people want to be who they are other than what their business card states.

So how do you do both?
Be present at work: When a person is at work they need to be at work, no matter their family dynamics or problems-they must learn to leave them at home. The one thing that can make any family problem even more difficult is for that person to lose their job because their personal issues are affecting their performance.
Be present at home: When a person is home with their family they need to be present there. They should leave their phone and suit jacket at the door. Just like the company that pays that employee deserves the employee's very best, their families deserve their very best too.

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Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success.
Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576
email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and
website: www:gouldassoc.com

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Happy Day. Happy Work.

12/16/2015

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By Debra W. Gould, MS

Do you ever lose sight of work? Do you get tired, unmotivated, burned out? At times like this, it’s important to look at the reasons why we enjoy our work. We will share three reasons why we enjoy work—not including the pay, of course. Here are three more.
Sense Of Team
Some people enjoy a special sense of completeness and wholeness by experiencing teamwork. In the workplace, many employers work hard to encourage this shared identity by conducting internal PR and messaging campaigns. For quieter teammates, a sense of camaraderie might provide an extremely important opportunity to connect and feel as though they belong.
Physical Exertion
For some, a special sense of joy comes from physical exertion, and the absence of it makes any job less appealing. It just doesn’t feel like work to some people if they aren’t breaking a sweat or doing battle with the weather. This is partly a product of socialization and might be related to what “work” means to them. Modern day psychology re-affirms the benefits from physical labor. We all know how endorphins can give us a slight high and everyone knows about the stress-management benefits created when we work out.
Mental Challenges
Finally, a great many of us enjoy the special mental satisfaction that comes from exercising our creativity or satisfying our curiosity. For some, the small euphoria that comes from developing something new or conquering a complex problem can be a big part of enjoying work.
So, what can be done to help others enjoy their work? The answer is simple: treat the cause, not the symptoms. Ask an employee if she feels connected to the team or if she is challenged. Stepping back and reflecting on each of these motivators can guide any manager or employee toward creating a more enjoyable workplace.

Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576,
email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and
website: www:gouldassoc.com

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Leadership Essentials

10/18/2015

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by Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, SHRM-CP, RCC

In the world of work today, it is essential that managers learn the art of leadership skills. You may have the title of manager, but that does not make you a leader. Leadership is about people following you whether you have a title or not and a key factor for this is how you make people feel.

The following leadership essentials can help you navigate in the changing and diverse world of work.

1) Spend time getting to know the people that support you. It is important to walk around and talk to them on a regular basis, not just when you are assigning them a task or going over their performance development plan. It is important to recognize that for employees to be more engaged in the workplace that you value them and get to know them as a person who has a life beyond the workplace. I am not asking that you get to know everything about them or vice versa, but find a happy medium where you know some general things about the people who support you. Remember people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

2) Communicate with those who support you. In an age where we have so many forms of communication, it is vital to know which method is most effective with your work group and use that when you can. Nothing replaces human interaction where you communicate face-to-face. The important thing is to leverage the different ways we communicate and make sure we keep our employees in the loop of organizational and departmental changes.

3) Address behaviors and attitudes that don't line up with your organizational culture immediately. It does not serve you well to ignore dysfunctional behavior or attitudes that you think will go away. They will not and will grow and create more challenges for you with your team and lead to a toxic environment. It is vital that you approach these concerns with tact and diplomacy sharing specific actions where you have observed these behaviors taking place. Be willing to take the necessary actions required in addressing these concerns.

These are three practical strategies that can help you as you move forward in leading your employees. Happy Leading!!

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Motivators To A Happy Work Week

9/6/2015

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By Debra W. Gould, MS

Instead of thinking of a dreary, needed-one-more-day Monday, do you ever welcome a “glorious, productive Monday?” My guess is probably not. We are sharing three reasons (that don’t include money) of why we enjoy our work.

Inner Accomplishment
The remarkable time and energy some people put into their work can only be understood as an “inner drive” —they simply want to achieve that goal. Seeking a personal sense of accomplishment is natural and can be harnessed every day by millions of workers and employers. It can be described as “taking pride in one’s work” or a sense that “this is what I was meant to do.” Whether the objectives are short-term or long-term, making progress toward a goal makes all of us feel good.

The Greater Good
Many of us are also motivated by a sense of community. It’s a feeling that we are part of something larger and that life isn’t just about our own individual needs and wants. This particular joy and peace is experienced by millions as they volunteer for church or service club tasks, but it can also be encouraged in the workplace.

Personal Relationships
Many get enjoyment from the individual relationships they experience at work and it helps them look forward to each day. The laughter, the camaraderie, the forgiveness and even the occasional stress are all something they enjoy and know they wouldn’t want to live without. But not everyone is the same, and certainly we’re not all our best selves every day. Enlightened managers respect this basic human need to connect with others and allow it, if not encourage it, in their workplace.

So, what can be done more generally to help employees enjoy their work? The answer is simple: Treat the cause, not the symptoms. Instead of worrying about symptoms such as aggressive behavior or poor attitude, employees and employers can create a more enjoyable work environment by directly addressing one or more of these common denominators.

Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576,
email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and
website: www:gouldassoc.com

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Lessons From Vacation In Italy: Unplugging

11/1/2014

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By Michelle Porchia

I have an annual day called “Innergize Day.” It encourages people to take one day a year for themselves to do something they enjoy or rarely take time to do. The goal is that you will take a day a year, a day a month, and a few hours a week for yourself.

A few years ago, I attended a panel discussion comprised of women at the level of CEO. They talked about the importance of learning to unplug; they were reminded of this when their children started commenting about them conducting business on the phone while on vacation.

Lastly, there was an AT&T commercial where the child asked the mother when they could become a meeting. The commercial, of course, was about being able to work from anywhere when you have your phone. The message I took away was the child was asking for more time with the mother.

I recently spent 11 days in Italy. It was beautiful. The food and drink were amazing. I love Italy and would live there if I could. What I learned from this trip is that people really do have trouble unplugging. There were 13 of us as a group on this trip. I only used my phone to take pictures, and I didn’t take that many. I took magazines to read and my journal to write and reflect. Several people had their phones and tablets. They were taking pictures nonstop, and at dinner they would be on their phones and tablets uploading pictures to Facebook and sending pictures to family and friends. Some even took calls at the dinner table. I believe they missed experiencing the beauty of the moment. They missed out on truly tasting the savor of the many courses of authentic Italian food. And they missed out on interacting and getting to know others. Now, I’m an introvert but at dinner I had conversation with the people sitting around me.

After the first day, I didn’t miss being on Facebook or texting. I enjoyed being in the moment. We stayed at a bed and breakfast on the second leg of our trip. The hotel had a room that had a fireplace in it. When we returned from our day’s excursion, I would sit in the room and just enjoy the fireplace. Sometimes I would read a magazine or journal, but most of the time I was still and just looked at the fire.

Europeans take vacation every year and they do not work during their vacation. They enjoy their vacation, family and friends. We, as Americans, can learn from this. I remember on one of my corporate jobs my message said I was on vacation and would not be checking for messages. People left me a message saying a novel idea and then they left me the business message. They actually thought I was still going to check my messages even though I said I was on vacation and would not check for messages. Why? Because in that corporate culture people worked during their vacation. At another panel I attended, a male CEO said he was in Italy and his daughter looked at him when he took a call and said, “Really, Dad? You are going to take a call while we are here in Italy?” She shook her head and walked away. He didn’t take any more calls the rest of the trip.

Whether you have family or not, you need to unplug. You need to enjoy vacation, time at home, lunch (without working). If a business cannot run without you for 30 minutes, two days or a week, what does that say about the people you have chosen to be part of your business or what does it say about your leadership style?

I encourage you and challenge you to try to unplug. Start small. Take lunch and do not have your phone. See what happens.

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5 Steps To Positive Work Relationships

10/12/2014

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By Debra W. Gould, MS

Building positive workplace relationships is vital for career success. Relationships can positively or negatively affect your satisfaction with the job, your ability to advance and to gain recognition for your achievements. When you build positive relationships, you feel more comfortable with your interactions and less intimidated by others. You feel a closer bond to the people with whom you spend the majority of your time working. We are sharing these tips that will help you lay the foundation for positive work relationships. The good news is they are easy to implement--so start today.

1. Share more of yourself at meetings. One of the best ways to build relationships is to let others know who you are. This can come by sharing your expertise, knowledge and personality at meetings. Other people will either get to know you, like you or want to hear more from you. They will find you more approachable and thus the chance of building relationships begins to occur. If you are fearful to share at meetings, think ahead of time what you want to say so that you are more prepared.

2. Speak positively about the people you work with, especially to your boss. Get in the habit of speaking positively to others and providing quality feedback about the people you work with; don't fall into the trap of bonding over misery. Many times the information that gets shared (whether positive or negative) comes back to the person who is being discussed. People will enjoy hearing that you have said supportive things about them and will know that you are on their side. That will build trust.

3. Be supportive of other people's work. Ask how you can get involved. This will form a closer connection because you are working directly with them to help them meet their goals. They will appreciate your support and get to know you better, which is vital to creating a more connected working relationship.

4. Ask others to become involved in your projects or activities. Don't be afraid to ask others for help and bring them onto your projects. The more they can participate in the activities you are working on, the better you get to know each other. You'll enjoy working with others in getting more things done.

5. Write thank-you notes. Write notes of appreciation to the people who are doing exemplary work, making positive contributions and going above the call of duty. These notes can be handwritten, sent via email or left on voicemail. Send them to people above you, below you or at the peer level. Colleagues like to be appreciated and will feel closer to you by having been noticed and thanked for their contributions.
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Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576,
email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and
website: www:gouldassoc.com
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Your Comments Are Welcome!

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Labor Day Special Pricing On The November 2nd Multicultural Conference

You Are Cordially Invited To Register And Attend
The November 2nd Multicultural Conference
"Women, Work & Celebrating Self Worth"

How To Keep Your Life Balance

Happy Day. Happy Work.

Leadership Essentials

Motivators To A Happy Work Week

Lessons From Vacation In Italy: Unplugging

5 Steps To Positive Work Relationships

Book Debra, Michelle, Nancy or Carole for your next speaking engagement or training event.
Click Here
For Details

=======

New Post Each Week

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Categories

Labor Day Special Pricing On The November 2nd Multicultural Conference

You Are Cordially Invited To Register And Attend The November 2nd Multicultural Conference ​"Women, Work & Celebrating Self Worth"

How To Keep Your Life Balance

Happy Day. Happy Work.

Leadership Essentials

Motivators To A Happy Work Week

Lessons From Vacation In Italy: Unplugging

5 Steps To Positive Work Relationships

Book Debra, Michelle, Nancy or Carole for your next speaking engagement or training event.Click Here For Details=======New Post Each Week

Archives

Categories

You Are Cordially Invited To Register And Attend
The November 2nd Multicultural Conference
"Women, Work & Celebrating Self Worth"

Book Debra, Michelle, Nancy or Carole for your next speaking engagement or training event.
Click Here
For Details

=======

New Post Each Week