Liz Trocchio Smith
Certified Executive Business Coach
and Trusted Advisor
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Create a Spiderweb Approach Try a spiderweb approach to networking. The inner layer of your web consists of friends, colleagues and other direct connections. The second layer is made up of their direct contacts, and so on—provided you work with your inner circle properly, you can build yourself an ever-growing spiderweb of contacts. “Ask the people in your first layer to go out for coffee or a drink.” “Ask about…
If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and even depressed at work, you may be burned out. The first step to remedying the situation is to understand what’s causing it. Try tracking how you spend your time for a week, either on paper, in a spreadsheet, or in one of the many apps now available for tracking your time. For each block of time, write down what you’re doing, whom you’re with,…
The word “accountable” can mean different things to different people. This is why delegation often backfires: The person taking on the task doesn’t know how much authority she has. The next time you delegate something, be explicit about which of these three roles the accountable person should play: Issue owner. In this role, the person has complete control over the decision. A full team may be assigned to help, but…
You knew this way before you even entered high school. Surviving in a male-dominated industry is not for the faint of heart but it was something I did for many years as a female commercial real estate executive. I worked my way up the proverbial corporate ladder and let’s just say there was never a line for the executive ladies’ room. In fact, I was often the first or only…
Have you every wondered what the difference is between a mentor and a sponsor? I have had both mentors and sponsors throughout my career, and their guidance has had an immense impact on where I am today. Mentors and sponsors serve different purposes, but their end goal is the same: to support you in achieving your goals. You won’t always know who your sponsors are, but they are people who…
Many of us have a small group of people that we reach out to whenever we make a major decision. This typically includes family members, friends, relatives, etc. For example, imagine that you are considering moving your family to another country. Who are the people you would talk to before making this decision? Those people are on your personal board of directors. For most of us, we pick our board…
We have two ears and one mouth for a reason; being a good listener is more important to growing your career than talking when you don’t have anything important to say. Listen intently and then respond, if a response is needed!
Seek out someone that you respect and follow them. They don’t necessarily have to know that you consider them a mentor; you can quietly watch and learn!
Apologizing for unintentional, low profile errors erodes our self-confidence and, in turn, the confidence others have in us. It’s a conflict-reducing technique, but one that makes you look like you’re at fault when in fact you are not, so stop apologizing!
To get ahead, you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to take risks. If you take a risk and make a mistake, you will learn and grow from it! Bill Gates said, “I don’t care if a manager makes five serious mistakes. At least that person is making decisions and learning from them.” Yes, you can fail, but if you’re ready for the possibility, you have a…
Never, ever let them see you cry! Sometimes it is difficult to control our emotions, but do control them! Then go behind close doors and yell and scream and throw whatever you want, but do it alone (or with a girlfriend and a bottle of wine!).
Always dress for the job you aspire to have instead of the one you are in. Worry less about being overdressed than underdressed, but by all means, be dressed! The low cut blouses and too short skirts are not for the office, so be mindful of what you wear every day! People making decisions about your future will notice, and be impressed!