Monday Morning Coffee

Imposter syndrome is the persistent, nagging thought that tells us that we are undeserving of our achievements. If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone. So, how can you channel feelings of self-doubt into something more constructive and productive? Here are some tips. Reframe self-doubt. Instead of shying away from experiences that trigger your doubt, deliberately embrace them. Remember that challenges are opportunities to learn. Think of your nerves…

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It’s tempting to think that if you’re tough on yourself, you’ll perform better. But self-criticism can ruin your mood, focus, and productivity if you let it. Try to take a more balanced approach to evaluating your own performance with these strategies. Avoid generalization. Resist the urge to zero in on a single negative event and instead consider your performance on aggregate. Think of a bell curve: Some days will be…

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Do your employees come to you with every little question they have during the workday? These interruptions make it hard to do focused work, and are a sign that people don’t feel empowered to make decisions on their own. Here’s how to address the issue. Model focus. Make clear that an “open-door policy” doesn’t mean that anyone is allowed to interrupt you at any time for any reason. Designate do-not-disturb…

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We’ve all got regrets about missed career opportunities or things we wished we’d done or said. That’s normal. Rather than trying to quash the feeling, you’ve got to make peace with it. Start by recognizing your emotions and expressing them — even if only to yourself. What past action or inaction is causing you to feel this way? You may even consider grabbing a pen and paper and writing out…

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Most people know that how you frame a problem will influence how you solve it. This means that you have to carefully choose the words to describe your issue. If you’re struggling to generate effective solutions, you might change the way you’ve phrased the problem. Specifically, ask yourself two questions. First, what’s the subject? For example, let’s say you want to change an element of your organization’s culture. A problem…

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Do you hold back in meetings? Are you unsure how to jump in and make yourself heard? It’s easy to go unnoticed when everyone is excited about a topic. But editing yourself only robs yourself (and your team) of your ideas. To make sure your voice is in the mix, try claiming space by announcing your contribution before launching into your point. For example, you might ask, “Can we pause…

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So much of our success depends on building relationships with our colleagues. But how can you build rapport in an authentic way? Especially if not everyone is in the office together. Here are four strategies. Find ways to make yourself well rounded. You need something to talk about with your colleagues so it’s important to have interests and hobbies.  Having experience and knowledge in a variety of topics can give…

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A certain level of self-doubt can keep you humble and push you to work harder. But when self-doubt manifests as imposter syndrome, it can prevent you from growing. Here are a few ways to fight back against that nagging voice in your head: Acknowledge that it’s normal to second-guess yourself — especially when you’re new to an organization or if your team members look, behave, or have very different experiences…

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Today’s workforce includes members of five different generations, and for managers, that presents both opportunities and challenges. There are several ways to reap the benefits of generational diversity. First, challenge stereotypes. It’s easy to make over-generalizations about one generation or another but those characterizations can be harmful and foster dissent. Debunk them, and encourage mutual respect. Ask your team to be open about their preferences, particularly around communication. Different generations…

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We all feel guilty at times. Why didn’t I start that project earlier? Why did I make that comment in the meeting? Why didn’t I apply for that job? Pervasive, second guessing yourself like this can waste valuable energy. Here are three ways to stop the guilt cycle. Take care of yourself before assisting others. You can’t help anyone (whether it’s your boss, friend, or family member) if you’re a…

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If you work in a place where pandemic restrictions are easing up, and you’re headed back to the office, it may be tempting to get back to “business as usual.” But this is the perfect opportunity to reflect on how you want your team to operate differently going forward. Which new practices do you want to keep? Which ones do you want to let go? Start by identifying which new…

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Do you ever wonder when the first Labor Day was celebrated or who decided that we should even celebrate Labor Day, or do you just know that you get a long weekend the first Monday of every September and that’s really all that matters to you?  Well, stop for just a minute this morning for a quick history lesson. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5,…

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