Tag Archives: career coach Margaret Smith
February 28, 2018 Fighting Office Gossip
It’s ugly and hurtful, but it happens in almost every workplace. Gossip. It’s those little hurricanes that start as whispers. Someone spreads a rumor about another person and then it grow and grows, damaging reputations or pitting people against each other.
Even if gossip stays small, it’s still harmful. Feelings may get hurt or reputations ruined…and whoever is spreading the gossip becomes a little more untrustworthy in others’ eyes.
It’s better to stay out or, better yet, actively fight gossip. How?
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Defend the gossip subject.
Next time someone tells you Kathy is stealing office supplies or Mike is on the verge of getting fired, respond with a shrug and say, “Hmm, that doesn’t sound like her/him. I’d rather not speculate.”
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Change the subject
It’s not a cop-out to change the subject when others are gossiping. It can actually be quite difficult and takes a lot of guts. Effectively change the subject by saying something like, “I’d rather not talk about [NAME]. Can you tell me if we’re meeting in room A or B for our meeting today? I have to set up some audio equipment…”
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Focus on others’ good qualities
When you talk about other people, make sure it’s always in a positive light. Don’t assign blame, chastise, or spread rumors. Instead, make an effort to look for the positive in each person and point it out to others. “Did you see Mark’s client report? It’s so detailed this time around! He must have put a lot of effort into it.”
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Be an example
Demonstrate to others that you are trustworthy AND a leader by not stooping to the level of petty office gossip.
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Confront gossip about YOU
There’s no better way to stop gossip in its tracks than to confront it…especially if it’s about you. When you’re approaching someone whom you know has spread a rumor about you, try your best to be level-headed and even-toned. Talk to the offender as if you were clearing up a simple fact. “Hey Lindsey. I heard you were saying X about me. It makes me disappointed and a little angry that you think that.” OR “Hey Graham, I wanted to clear up a misunderstanding. I did not do XYZ. Instead, I did ABC. I hope that clears things up.”
No matter how you slice it, it isn’t easy to fight office gossip. Be a shining example, talk about others in a positive light, and avoid spreading rumors, and you’ll find that other positive people will gravitate toward you. Your unwillingness to wade into office gossip proves that you are worthy of others’ trust and respect.
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS®DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
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Tags: avoid work gossip, career coach Margaret Smith, fight office gossip, gossip in workplace, improve communication, improve team dynamics, optimism at work, Saint Paul career coach
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- Posted under Advice from a Life Coach, Communication, Personal Branding
January 17, 2018 Your COURAGE Workbook, Part 3: RECOVERING FROM SETBACKS
This is Part Three of my four-part courage series. Last week’s discussion was on EVERYDAY COURAGE.
It will happen. Things won’t go quite the way you planned. You’ll face unexpected delays, difficult coworkers or bosses, health issues, uncooperative customers, or any number of other setbacks that could derail your forward momentum and your confidence. What do you do when the train careens off the tracks?
Develop a plan to get back on.
If you’re able to anticipate a possible setback (i.e. Customer ABC has been hinting that they’re thinking about going with a different company), plan ahead. Come up with some “worst case scenario options” and write them down.
If the setback sneaks up on you (as in most cases), practice being adaptable and resilient. One of the ways to do that is by having a Growth Mindset. When you have a growth mindset, you don’t think of obstacles as hopeless problems, but as opportunities to improve and develop a new solution. You are aware that every challenge you face only makes you stronger and more nimble.
What are some practical ways to recover from setbacks?
- Picture your future success (visualization is powerful!)
- Practice a growth mindset
- Hold a brainstorming or mind mapping session (by yourself or with your team) to come up with innovative new solutions
- Be kind to yourself (being hard on yourself will only lead to more stress and burnout)
OKAY, your turn. Jot down a few answers to these workbook questions:
1. When you face a challenge, which resources could you tap into to help? Which people?
2. What are some ways you can rebuild your confidence and enthusiasm to overcome obstacles?
3. How will you be kind to yourself if you face a failure or setback? List five ways you could treat yourself well during a challenging period.
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS®DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
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Tags: be courageous, career coach Margaret Smith, courage at work, courage to recover from setbacks, Margaret Smith business coach, Margaret Smith professional speaker, overcoming obstacles
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- Posted under Advice from a Life Coach, Changing Your Life, Transitions
January 3, 2018 Your COURAGE Workbook, Part 1: COURAGEOUS GOALS
As you move forward into the New Year, it’s a good idea to pause, reflect, and think about how you would like your year to go. What are your goals and stretch goals? How do you picture your ideal year? What changes do you have to make to get there?
No matter what you resolve to do this year, you’re going to need a little (or a lot!) of help from one key tool: Courage.
Courage is the root of all bold action. It is what drives us to speak up, go to the gym, ask for the raise, seek a new job, or dare to dream big.
This month, we’re going to work on your courage. In a series of four blog posts, I’ll dive into different aspects of courage and give you activities to help boost and focus your courage.
This week, let’s think about courage in relation to goal-setting:
- What are your big goals for the year?
- What major changes will you have to make to reach those goals?
- What are some potential setbacks or roadblocks you might encounter?
- When those roadblocks occur, what will you do? How will you act? Create a “courage plan” to map out how you’ll overcome your roadblocks and move forward with your goals.
COURAGE NOTE: Remember that stumbling blocks are actually good for your development. They help you become a more nimble problem-solver, resilient, and adaptable. When you figure out how to overcome a problem, it will be easier to face a similar kind of issue down the road. SO: face your obstacles head-on!
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS®DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
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Tags: career coach Margaret Smith, Courage, courage at work, courage workbook, courageous goals, leadership coach Margaret Smith, Margaret Smith UXL, workplace courage
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- Posted under Advice from a Life Coach, Better Business, Changing Your Life, Goals
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