Tag: business

Recognize The Sacrifice

Today is Remembrance Day
in my part of the world,
a day in which
we commemorate
the warriors who fought
for our country.

I didn’t agree
with all the battles
fought
but I recognize
and honor
the sacrifices made.

I also don’t agree
with all the businesses
being built
but I recognize
the hard work
and the ingenuity
people are putting
into those businesses.

(I’m NOT equating
building a business
and fighting in a war.

We, business builders,
aren’t AT ALL
making that level
of sacrifice.
Thankfully.)

You don’t have to
agree with an action
to respect
the spirit
behind that action.

Send A Thank You Today

With a down economy
comes downsizing.
Downsizing means more work for remaining employees.
How to ensure some of their precious time
is spent on your projects?

Send thank you’s.

I’m working on an implementation right now.
After each milestone is reached,
I send out thank you emails.
I make them personal.
I place them in an isolated email
(nothing other than the thank you).
I cc the person’s boss.

Thank you’s in this company are rare.
The receipients appreciate them
(especially with lay offs looming).
Their bosses appreciate them
(everyone wants to manage superstars).
My project has suddenly become a priority.

Send a thank you today
(they are even better sent on a Sunday).

Working With Stereotypes

We are all in danger of
being stereotyped in our career.
It can harmless or even beneficial
(the always punctual German)
but sometimes it can derail a career.

How to fight a harmful stereotype?

Be aware of it
and don’t give anyone an excuse to apply it.

A Jamaica born buddy
is often viewed as ‘easy going.’
Great for personal,
damaging for a project manager.
She makes it a point to
always be on time,
always have agendas for meetings,
always follow up on assignments.
Her tabbed binders are a visual reminder
that she is not a person to flub off.

As a woman,
I am very aware of the irrationally emotional label.
I scrap all negative emotions.
I vent in private to buddies
but on the job, I have a quiet anger
(as effective as the noisy kind).

I do show positive emotions though.
That helps counter the cold hearted bitch label
many businesswomen earn.

It sounds challenging
but remember, we are building personal brands.
Any brand should be managed carefully.

The V-P Of Human Resources

An executive announced proudly
that his company has a female Vice President.
“Let me guess,” I replied,
“she’s in human resources.”

I was right.

How did I know?
Unless the company has staffing as its product,
the V-P of Human Resources
is overlooked as a candidate
for the President or CEO position.

By placing their only female exec in that position,
the company is sending a message
‘Women can only advance so far.’
She’s a token.

Now, if the company has a female V-P
in critical areas
like sales, operations, even finance,
then I know that company is
walking the talk.