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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Advice from a Life Coach

November 23, 2011 5 Major Don’ts (and Some Major Do’s) of the Modern Job Interview

By Margaret Smith
SPEAKER | CAREER COACH | CERTIFIED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER
In one of my many back issues of Oprah Magazine I stumbled upon an article that had some tips for the job interview that I think will be very helpful for today’s job hunters.

Most of us are amateurs at making snap judgments; HR professionals do it for a living, and they’re tough! Susan Sommers explains that “a skirt suit is a good bet” and reminds readers that “navy is a softer neutral than black.”

However, corporate clones need not apply. “Be genuine—don’t dress like someone you’re not,” warns Susan Kim, Marketing Manager for a skincare company.

Another great way to boost your confidence and image is to make sure your grooming day-of is meticulous. To compliment this grooming, wear the best accessories you can afford.

5 Major Don’ts:

  1. Don’t wait until the last minute: Anxiety breeds mistakes.
  2. Don’t get a radical haircut or color job: Instead, opt for a trim or salon blow dry.
  3. Forget painful shoes: No matter how cute they are, don’t wear them if they bind, squeeze, droop, or bunch. You want to be as comfortable as possible.
  4. Avoid all black: Color has a persuasive, emotional power that should not be wasted.
  5. Don’t starve yourself beforehand: If the occasion does not include food, you may get lightheaded and really be embarrassed.

As for the men, I always tell my coachees to wear a suit and tie. You can always take the tie off, but it’s difficult to discreetly put a tie on at the last minute! Shoes should be comfortable for men as well, but keep them professional (black sneakers don’t count), and they should be polished.

Many times it’s the little things that make a big difference in those first 3 seconds when perceptions are critical. Invest the time in giving your look a little something that will set you apart in just the right, memorable way.

For more useful tips concerning the job hunt, cover letters, and your career, contact UXL today!

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November 21, 2011 Have You Stopped Learning?

By Margaret Smith, Speaker, Career Coach, and Certified Insights Discovery Practitioner

In a recent newsletter a friend of mine posed the following question:
How often are you consciously and intentionally being a learner?

His subject prompted me to think about all of the different places in my life where I learn, and I wondered at whether or not I was learning intentionally and consciously, instead of just out of necessity.

I have always encouraged those I work with to be lifelong learners, and I strive to be one myself. Because of this, I’ve decided to revisit this amazing habit.

Why YOU Should Be a Lifelong Learner:

  • Learning boosts your self-esteem
  • Learning keeps your mind fresh
  • Learning gives you a personal and inner source of fulfillment
  • Learning can make you money because you may advance your professional skills and learn new skills
  • Learning makes you more valuable at home, work, and in your community
  • Learning makes you a more interesting person because you can converse with a variety of people about a variety of topics

Tips for Keeping up the Habit of Learning:

  • Read books: No matter your pace of reading, keep a book with you to fill your unanticipated open time.
  • Engage others interested in learning: Spending time with other learners benefits you because you share knowledge and encourage one another.
  • Look for opportunities to apply your knowledge: Have you studied a second language, but haven’t used it in years? Join a conversation group or sign up for community education!
  • Be more open-minded: try things that you may have previously eschewed. After all, how do you know until you’ve tried it?!
  • Finally begin that project: You know the one, the project you’ve been meaning to get to for the last year that requires you to try something new and possibly develop a new skill.
  • Accept feedback from others: Listen to the advice and observations of those you trust and be willing to change.

Do you have a story about your own lifelong learning? What are some habits you’ve formed to make learning a part of your life today?

Interested in learning more about listening or working one-on-one with a professional career coach to gain a competitive edge? CONTACT MARGARET TODAY to learn about career coaching and UXL’s public workshops!

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November 14, 2011 Get a Life

By Margaret Smith
Speaker | Career Coach | Certified Insights Discovery Practitioner

Making your voice heard, being noticed, overcoming your inner saboteur, improving interactions with others: These are many of the topics I discuss with my coaching clients. These are also many of the topics that the writer Julie Morgenstern addresses in her article, “Five Ways to Get a Life” published in O Magazine. Read on for a bunch of useful and fun advice about taking back your life!

Morgenstern’s Advice:

  1. Shorten your work day by 30 minutes: This may seem counter-intuitive, but I promise that you’ll get more work done because committing to leave earlier gives you a deadline and forces you to eliminate the little time wasters (silly interruptions, procrastination, perfectionism) that typically eat up your day.
  2. Avoid multi-tasking: Recent studies show that it can take the brain twice as long to process each task when you switch back and forth between activities. By learning to focus your full attention on one project at a time, you can regain the extra hour or two you crave.
  3. Break the habit of total self-reliance: Insisting on doing everything yourself burdens you and prevents others from feeling valuable and needed. Delegate more at home and free up your time for things you love and excel at doing.
  4. Capture all your to do’s in one place: People who haphazardly write lists on stray notepads, post-it notes, and backs of envelopes waste time wondering what to do next and worrying that they’re forgetting something. Choose only one tool to track everything you need to do and prioritize from the top down.
  5. Schedule one purely joyful activity each week: Think of an activity (dancing, reading, playing an instrument) that you haven’t done for a long time that brings you instant happiness. Put it in your datebook as nonnegotiable and watch the quality of your life improve.

Also try to start each morning with the most important item, not the many small and easy tasks. Remember that you can always squeeze the little things into the gaps.

Your Challenge: Give one of these life-improving ideas a try, and let me know how it transforms your day!

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