Cocktails and Connections

Tonight I had the great opportunity to enjoy CEW Network’s Cocktails and Connections Career Coaching event. The event featured three career coaches who presented their insights and suggestions for effective communication, emotional intelligence and succeeding in the work place. In addition to the sponsor, Marie Claire, who just launched their new Marie Claire@Work issue, these three women were the main attraction.

Kira Copperman

Julie Jansen

Claire Steichen

Even though I am currently very happy in my role and position at Procter&Gamble, it was a great opportunity to brush up on skills and refresh my memory, especially in the area of working with others. It also helped that the crowd of 200 or so were primarily women in their 20’s and 30’s so the topic was very relevant and everyone was engaged. Each woman brought a very different, but helpful, vantage point to the evening and I can’t thank them enough for donating their time and passion to the group this evening.  Here are a few of the key takeaways which I believe are helpful for all of us, regardless your career.

Success is being somewhere you’re doing what you’re good at and enjoying what you do.

• Throughout life there are three types of people in the work place:

Eager beaver: working hard, waiting for the big break

Rumpelstiltskin: unhappy, confused, annoyed

Fish in Water: Dory in Nemo, in the right place but doesn’t realize it yet

• Many people are an eager beaver when they are in their 20’s, doing as they are told in order to reach the next level,  but by the time people reach their 30’s they start thinking more about purpose and whether they are on the right path. When you reach this point in your career, look inside yourself. Understanding and being able to articulate what you enjoy and are good at will help you land the role that will bring you happiness.
• Hiring managers respond best to people who know what they want and the impact they can have.
• Everything begins with looking inside yourself.

Managing and Working with Others

• People are generally bad at managing as they are scared to give feedback.
• Employees crave feedback and have a need to understand expectations.
• Without effective feedback, people can’t change or improve their performance issues.
• Deliver the message by sharing a positive followed by the areas of improvements. Do your best to provide behavioral feedback and remember that people can’t change their personality.
• Delegating is a very important skill.
• When delegating, don’t give them pieces. Instead, delegate an entire project so they can develop more ownership.
• If you delegate a project that takes 15 minutes per day, you well get back 11 full 8 hours days per year.

Emotional Intelligence

• 75% of managers are more likely to promote high emotional intelligence employees. A high IQ gets the job, but high emotional intelligence gets the promotion.
• Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, assess, and control your emotions.
  • Self Awareness
  • Self Management
  • Social Awareness
  • Organizational Awareness
  • Relationship Management

They also recommended the book, Expect to Win, an inspirational book from one of the most well respected women in business.

Do you agree with these tips? What is your best tip for the workplace?