It is possible to be lonely even when you are not alone.
Unfortunately, new research shows that 80% of women in white collar jobs feel lonely because of their work. That shocking number is exacerbated for women of color, as loneliness is compounded by bias and discrimination in the workplace. Nearly a third of women of color say they do not feel respected at work—compounding their sense of isolation.
Read MoreThe truth is on both sides of the hiring process at many career levels, the recruiter often offers misleading information about the job and perhaps the company. Potential employees often pad their resumes.
Does the employer’s white lie and candidate’s CV padding cancel each other out? Maybe each party deserves what they get because they were less than 100% honest and transparent.
In the Australian TV series, “Fisk,” that debuted in 2021, the main character, Helen Tudor-Fisk, tells some big fibs about her experience as a trial lawyer after a divorce and career upheaval in order to get hired at a low-budget law firm. The show, many report, is very funny.
Read MoreRaise your hand if you have cried at work.
My hand is up. Once early in my career when a boss was cruel in her comments to me in front of the newsroom and later in my career when a boss viciously chastised me for calling attention to a problem in the organization. Both outbursts were confined to me standing alone at the sink in the ladies’ room.
While this has been a definitively banned reaction for what seems like forever especially for women, new research shows being emotionally vulnerable in the workplace is optimal not just for employees, but for leaders and management.
Read MoreThe new film, Shirley, with Regina King as U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in her 1972 run for the presidency as the Democratic Party nomination, is a vibrant reminder of the value of male allies and mentorship for younger women.
In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, these are key lessons women can take to heart in every field and into practice at every step of the ladder from college to early career to mid-career and even the highest office in the country.
Read MoreThe Oscar-winning film, “Oppenheimer,” that recently won Best Picture, has stirred national interest in the STEM career of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the nuclear physicist who is called the “father of the atomic bomb” as well as the field of physics.
With a predominantly male cast, in the film set in the 1940s, the closest a woman gets to sharing in scientific work and notoriety is his wife, Kitty, a traditional non-working spouse. Lisa Meitner, a prominent German nuclear Scientist, was asked to work on the project and she refused.
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It’s job application season for those who are graduating this winter and spring.
The good news is newly minted students graduating now with undergraduate and graduate degrees are finding high paying jobs in engineering, computer and IT, plus transportation, according to new data from QRFY.
But for many women and those identifying as women, the work cultures of engineering and tech jobs are steeped in gender and racial bias.
But where there is disruption, there is opportunity to change the culture.
Read MoreIt’s time to strategize.
Looking to pivot to a successful 2024, here is the latest research on trends in social media, ecommerce, AI, workplace culture, and customer concerns that can help you shape your plans this year.
Put effort into social media content. A new study from StoryChief.io evaluating 44 U.S. firms, all are in the top 10 companies for sales in their industries, shows a mix of high engagement and poor engagement rates on social media platforms. Accenture seems to do it right with more than 913,000 Facebook likes per post.
Read MoreColleagues, teams, clients, customers and mentees are looking to leaders now for direction in difficult global times. The words and phrasing all leaders and managers use in every discussion at work and in public statements are of crucial importance. Reactions can lead to firings, resignations—or support.
Care and fairness is critical. This is where leadership can shine or dissolve.
Read MoreIt’s holiday party time at work.
If you are spending your days in an office, or you are going in from your remote office for the special in-person occasion of a year’s end celebration, there will be an abundance of buffets, holiday treats and goodies.
That can be wonderful and it can also be dreadful, particularly if you are labelled as overweight, a person in a larger body and fatshaming, fatphobia and sizeism are prevalent in your workplace culture. Subtle or overt comments such as, “Thats a full plate!” or “Why not try the fruit instead of the cookies?” may make anyone want to opt out of any celebration.
Sizeism is defined as bias or discrimination against an individual based on their weight or size. Women and weight is a toxic workplace stew with millions affected.
Read MoreZ friend was recently agonizing to a handful of us at a party about her great job offer in the company where she has worked for seven years. The offer included a title promotion, raise, cost of living expenses, global travel and high visibility.
What was the problem?
She would have to move almost immediately to New York from Chicago, a city where she enjoyed her personal and professional life with a great apartment, positive workplace culture plus family and friends close by.
Read MoreWe can always use a new book, life approach, history lesson, toolkit or bible of strategies to improve ourselves and how we think and behave as leaders. Reading and learning is what great leaders do.
At a time when books and the prohibition of books makes news across the country, it is necessary to maintain reverence for books as a way to create, recreate and reimagine our lives.
Pink knows books are essential gifts to ourselves, our children and all others as she announced recently she is giving away thousands of banned books at her concerts, in cooperation with PEN America and poet laureate Amanda Gorman.
Read MoreSometimes it is impossible to keep calm and carry on.
With so many affected by catastrophes globally, nationally and locally that are top of mind, as well as additional personal considerations and tolerated toxic behaviors, learning how to effectively handle the impact on yourself, colleagues, clients and customers is a necessary skill.
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