Blog
Debra Wheatman, President of Careers Done Write, provides expert insight to the job search process that puts your career in gear with tips for interviewing, networking, job search strategies and how to create a winning resume and cover letter.
A Little Empathy Goes a Long Way
Inherent to the human condition is the desire to know that we are understood and valued. That is why the most essential management characteristic is empathy. The ability to connect with people to inspire performance is far more important than being an expert in your field or clearly articulating your expectations. An empathetic leader or manager can create an enjoyable work environment for employees, encouraging growth and productivity….
Leadership & Vulnerability
Being vulnerable and empathetic does not mean you have to share your deepest, most personal secrets and let them all hang out. It means letting your guard down, putting pretenses aside, admitting mistakes, and being yourself. People can tell when you are being disingenuous. The stench of disingenuity and duplicity lingers in the atmosphere. By being open and honest, vulnerable leaders are better able to engage with staff, which inevitably leads to increased productivity, improved morale, faster conflict resolution, and improved recruiting and retention outcomes….
Managing your incompetent boss
Last week, I talked about the reasons why your incompetent boss is allowed to continue to hold a management position, and by extension, authority over you. So many people responded to me saying “Yeah, my boss is incompetent. What do I do about it?” So that’s what I’m going to school you on this week. The first thing you need to remember is that you can only change yourself and control how you react in various situations, and that is what we will focus on….
Do you suffer from Impostor Syndrome?
You have years of experience – accolades from peers and colleagues. Yet, you suffer from chronic self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. Are you unable to recognize your accomplishments, regardless of your success? If so, you may be suffering from Impostor Syndrome, an insidious disease …
Coping with grief in the workplace
The workplace is, above all, a social construct, and with it comes all of the nuances of the human experience. We rejoice with our coworkers, we celebrate their successes, and we also grieve with and for them. Grief is a continuum, not a finite process, and it cannot be “managed.” It is personal, unique, and disruptive. And every single person …
Know Your Audience
Your high school English teacher taught you several valuable things: how to write a five-paragraph essay, how to discern meaning from complex texts, and the importance of knowing your audience. This last part—the part about knowing your audience – is critical when you’re writing a resume, giving a presentation, developing a marketing strategy, or…
Corporate Bro, yo!
Corporate Bro culture has been getting a lot of press, especially with the ensuing #MeToo movement. One of the best illustrations of corporate Bro culture this blog post, which is a female engineer’s reflections on a long, strange year she spent at ride-sharing company Uber. This blistering missive describes antics you would expect (but…
My Boss Won't Stop Micromanaging Me!
Dear Deb: I was recently recruited to a new company. I was so excited to be sought out by this company, which is a leader in the industry and I knew that this move would be a boon to my career. My excitement has tempered a bit over the last few months on the new…
Put Away the Fire Hose
We’ve all been fire-hosed. Maybe by an instructor, a sales rep, a colleague, or an ad. The presenter gives so much information and detail that you can’t focus, and you tune out. Think about the last time you were in a room with a speaker who had so much material prepared that it was almost…
Ten Keys to Successful Communications
Everything in life is about communication and messaging. How are you going to present your new idea? How are you going to position your background so that it is relatable to the role for which you’re interviewing? How will you articulate your differing perspective to a potential client? We all want the communication “magic bullet.”…