My Crazy Office | K Squared Enterprises

My Crazy Office

My Crazy Office is a weekly workplace podcast dedicated to helping listeners navigate their careers. Executive coach Kathi Elster and career therapist Katherine Crowley combine their expertise to solve both serious and silly situations at work. Join Kathi and Katherine as they answer real workplace questions with solid advice and a side of humor. Do you have someone or something at work that’s driving your crazy? Send your questions to info@mycrazyoffice.co. (All submissions kept confidential.)

What does it take to re-invent your career?

June 1, 2012

As an executive coach in today’s economy I find myself helping many clients re-invent their careers. I like to say “welcome to the age of opportunity disguised as loss.” As industries shrink and change, staying on top of your skills and seeing work in a slightly different way becomes the new survivor’s thinking.

Re-inventing your career usually requires a period of unknowing; of being a beginner again. You must be willing to learn new skills, investigate new industries and build new relationships.

During this kind of career transition, it’s possible to construct an interim, more general definition of your talents, skills and capabilities. This short-term identity is based on the skills that you’d like to continue to use as you enter your new career path.
Here are 5 tips to remember when re-inventing your career.

– Get help in defining the skills and talents that you’d like to apply to a new position.
– Build your credibility in this new area by volunteering, interning or getting trained or educated.
– Attend events where you can meet new people and forge new business relationships.
– Find others who have successfully re-invented their careers for support.
– Practice positive thinking while navigating your discomfort.

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Before You Offer Advice…

April 24, 2012

Before you offer advice, make sure that the person on the receiving end is open to hearing it.

Sometimes, we think we know what someone needs to do or say or even wear at work. We’re sure that we’re right, and if our colleague or client would just listen to us, a certain problem or situation would immediately improve.

But offering unsolicited advice to someone who’s not ready to receive it can create more problems going forward.

Before you offer advice, stop and take the recipient’s temperature.

Say, “I’ve got a few ideas about how to resolve _________. Let me know when you’re ready to hear it.”

If you’re itching to advise a colleague on a personal matter like health or weight or love life, you’re better off waiting until that person requests your input.

If you can’t hold it in, say, “I’m having a strong reaction to ________. Can we discuss it?” Or “I’m really concerned about ________ . “ and see how the listener responds.

It may be hard to zip your lip. You may feel anxious and frustrated. But learning when and how to offer advice is an important life skill. It takes practice to offer assistance in a way that can be received.

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Morning Routine

April 10, 2012

What’s your morning routine? Do you fall out of bed after hitting the snooze button a dozen times, jump in the shower, and rush off to work? Or do you take a few moments to wake up, drink tea or coffee, read or write, exercise, and prepare for your day?

I find that my morning routine really matters. If I start out rushed, frazzled, or running behind, so goes the day. If I give myself time to check in and get centered, then my day unfolds in a similar fashion.

In a world where we’re constantly asked to react and respond, where the work day can start any time and end whenever, giving yourself just a little time to wake up and re-enter the world could make a BIG difference.

Try giving yourself time to wake up, check in, and decide what matters today. Your mind and body will thank you later.

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A Breath of Fresh Air can go a long way

March 27, 2012

If there is one way to improve your mood immediately at work, it’s through the breath. This exercise comes from my yoga teacher, Charlotte Stone. Try it, you’ll like it:

Stressed? Tired? Having trouble adjusting to the change of season? Take a Breathing Break with Wave Breath, Viniyoga style.

What? Now? Yes, right now! Just do it!

Here we go.

Turn off your phone. Have a comfortable seat. Take a deep breath in, and sigh it away.

Now, inhale and expand at your collarbones … ribcage … and abdomen. Enjoy the brief pause at the top of the inhalation. Exhale and release the breath slowly from the abdomen … ribcage … collarbones. Enjoy the pause between exhale and inhale. Repeat a few more times, taking your time.

Don’t strain, and don’t try to hold your breath; just let the breath come and go easefully, in an oceanic, wavelike motion.

Try Wave Breath for one minute. Yes, just one minute can make such a difference! When you feel complete with the breath, return to your natural breathing rhythm. Notice how you feel …

Enjoy!

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The Best Revenge

March 19, 2012

There is a saying that living well is the best revenge. At work, enjoying what you do and taking pride in the results is the best revenge. If someone at work gets under your skin, do not let that person’s bad behavior overtake your mind. The more you focus on someone else’s bad behavior, the more he or she is “winning.”

Instead of obsessing about what he or she did, try focusing in on what you need to accomplish today. Try paying very close attention to the project you’re working on or the presentation you’re designing. If you interact with clients or colleagues, give them your full concentration.

Why is that important? For two reasons: First, by focusing on doing something constructive you gain a sense of power and accomplishment. Second, putting your energy into a creative endeavor will energize you. When you do have to deal with the irritating colleague or boss or customer again, you won’t feel totally drained and depleted.

It may take a while to come up with a winning strategy for handling a difficult workplace relationship. In the mean time, committing to creating results that you can be proud of is the best revenge.

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