Spicing up your hustle if your passion has grown cold
[bctt tweet=”A lot us have moments in our career/business where there just seems to be no inspiration” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Let’s be honest, you have probably hit a moment in your hustle where you think; If only I could just live in my bed for the rest of my life. Well, rest assured you are in good company, because of a lot us have a moment in our career, business or social project where there just seems to be no inspiration. Well, if you happen to be going through that, here are some tips that might help 1. Take a break Its most likely that the work you are currently doing has either become so routine or overwhelming that you have not had a moment to step back and evaluate or just break from your labour. It is absolutely necessary to take some time off. If you can manage it, email and phone less to refocus on the priorities of the work you do and gain well needed energy to do it better. When constantly engaged in the small details of how you work, you miss the opportunity to step back and have a bird’s eye approach to give you a sense of clarity and purpose to what you do. If you can’t manage a vacation, try to allocate some time to doing less engaging activities “after hustle hours” to re-energize and recuperate so you can apply yourself better tomorrow. [bctt tweet=”If you can’t manage a vacation, try to find time for less engaging activities after hustle hours” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 2. Get some online inspiration Other than watching Solange’s videos on repeat, there are amazing videos that can help bring some passion into your life. There are avenues like TED talks from amazing African people doing incredible work. Since you might not be able to attend an expensive conference or have the time for it, the internet offers many lit resources too when looking for exceptional people to learn from. 3. Hang with the squad Having a solid established friendship circle on dial can really help when you are having a rough time. You do not need to talk about the issues you might be having, however it helps to be in a more relaxed environment and focus of the lack of passion you might be feeling. Meeting people who might be passionate about other activities around you could ignite it in you and leave you feeling inspired. Even if you don’t leave feeling woke, you had an awesome time out and a good laugh which always helps. [bctt tweet=”Meeting people who might be passionate about other activities around you could ignite” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 4. Volunteer No, its not about your CV. Looking for causes that you truly care about help you remove attention from the grind. These causes are always passion initiators. Humans do well when we feel we are contributing to our community. It might not be necessarily anything monumental, however causes related to your area of expertise or interest can push you to think outside of yourself and needs and focus on others. This will bring a new found purpose to anything you do —even the mundane job. Volunteering can also help you gain new skills to break the routine of your daily work. 5. Talk about your passion Focusing on the things that excite versus the things that don’t, helps you move attention from the negative vibes. Falling into the trap of constant complaints won’t help break the wall you might be facing. Try to think about the things that thrill you. Doing this may inspire you to find ways to do those things; like reaching a new income target or getting new clients. You’ll likely to see the silver lining more than everything else that makes you feel uninterested. [bctt tweet=”Constantly complaining won’t bring inspiration your way but these 6 steps will” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 6. Take up a class Most of the time we look for hardcore courses, however that probably don’t bring the motivation you might be looking for it. It will also look a lot like your current job. I challenge you to do something that might not benefit you in terms of the work you are involved in, like a dance/zumba or a language class. If you really can’t help it because you are a boss lady, go for a leadership course or communications class, something that will open up your mind and bring some diversity into your routine. These will help get you into the right kind of mindset for the work you are doing plus you get to meet new people and learn a new thing. Challenge yourself to do new things. So next time, don’t let the lack of passion get you down, you have many great avenues to start it going again. Keep on SLAying!
Would you move abroad in pursuit of the career of your dreams?
[bctt tweet=”Adulting is a journey of OMG laced with moments of YAAAAAAS and degrees of ‘I can do the thing’” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I’m pretty sure many of us reach a point in our lives where we reevaluate some of our life choices. We finish high school and get accepted into tertiary institutions and study what we think we would like to be for the rest of our lives. But who knows what they really want to become when they’re a teen choosing their core subjects whilst dealing with puberty, boy drama and growing pains? Adulting and its woes Adulting and traversing the world of work is a journey of OMG laced with moments of YAAAAAAS and varying degrees of ‘I can do the thing’. So when the going gets tough and mind starts racing, one does consider that the grass may be greener on the other side. Releasing guilt and embracing our efforts as enough, and mistakes as lessons is often our biggest challenge and triumph. If I was granted the opportunity to go abroad in pursuit of a career that I want, well… Bye Felicia We have all at some point felt like everything is working against us and not with us. A lot of us align ourselves to the internalized propaganda that exists in order make us doubt our intuition and the choices which we dare to make. We can no longer silence the need for new and greater possibilities that exist outside of our paradigm. Presented with the opportunity to go abroad I would defs jump onto that bandwagon. [bctt tweet=”Presented with the opportunity to go abroad I would defs jump onto that bandwagon.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Don’t need no hateration, holleration There is absolutely no place for nursing prolonged feelings of doubt in this vocation dancery. For the longest time, women have continuously denied themselves the opportunity to flourish because they can. There has almost always been a reason why one should think things through and why one ought not to go ahead and flex on that new portfolio. We need to block out the negativity and the trolls that continue with the ‘pull her down’ syndrome. For this reason, we also ought to take time for small consistent acts of self-care and self-kindness which will grant us the daily ability to can. When one has opened oneself to the endless growth opportunities at their disposal there are a few things one needs to look into. These include what is more pivotal between a remuneration structure and job satisfaction? What are you willing to do regarding the roles and responsibilities which may come with the position? Will you be able to handle the responsibilities which come with the chosen career path? [bctt tweet=”We need to block out the negativity and the trolls” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] We are reminded over and over again, the importance of setting boundaries and respecting our limits. But sometimes we ought to push just a little harder, for a bit longer. Sometimes we must just be strong and pull ourselves towards ourselves until we conquer the proverbial Mount Frustration-Doubt-Anxiety. ‘J’ is for job; but also for jet setter So if I were offered the opportunity to go work abroad and pursue an accolade-worthy career, I would not think it through twice! Even if there may lie challenges ahead and irrespective of the adjustments I would have to make and despite any reservations; I am sure of one thing. It. Gets. Better. This doesn’t even warrant an explanation. Then the only thing left to do would be to… WERQ! [bctt tweet=”I am sure of one thing. It. Gets. Better. Then the only thing left to do would be to… WERQ! ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Conscious growth and dedication to a cause may require all of the patience, trusting the process and effort 100%, all the damn time! The understanding that sometimes we may not feel like doing the work, but we will anyway and the effort will be worth it —tenfold! At the end of it all; we will feel more enriched and empowered than we ever thought we might be. So, if you have a chance to move abroad don’t even think twice. Go get that career of your dreams!
Vinolia Singh: What you should do before you drop the mic and resign
[bctt tweet=”Both negative and positive feedback play an important role in anyone’s career ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] A few weeks ago I was chatting with a friend who had recently left her job. When she left, her boss told her that he wished she had clearly expressed the extent of her unhappiness before she resigned. That sounded familiar. I had heard the same thing a few days prior when I ended a business relationship I was in. This bothered me because I realized that if I was being honest with myself, I probably didn’t know how to navigate some uncomfortable conversations. So I sat down with Human Resources executive Vinolia Singh, who is the group head of HR technology at Imperial. She has been involved in HR for over 15 years. Having worked with companies like Multi-Choice and Discovery (South Africa), there was no-one better to get advice from. Firstly, what does being a ‘woman in the workplace’ mean to you? Personally I don’t ‘see’ gender. I see women as being team members, and equal value adding contributors like their male counterparts. So in meetings and core discussions women should strip the gender out of the conversation and view themselves as credible experts on the subject matter and voice their opinions, ideas and thoughts. Be factual, show the evidence and where possible, quantify your arguments. If your argument is challenged, remain emotionally in control and debate again with the facts. However, women do bring a different set of skills in the workplace. This is often one that is more nurturing and approachable. In today’s world of work I see a focus on developing and enhancing employee’s capabilities to drive innovation and creativity. With this in mind, I think women are naturally designed to be leaders. [bctt tweet=”I think women are naturally designed to be leaders” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I shared the story of why I decided to do this article with you. For many people, voicing discontent is uncomfortable. No one wants to look like they are a ‘whiner’. Can you speak to this fear of being seen as ‘high maintenance’? It is import to realize that both negative and positive feedback play an important role in anyone’s career. The difference in both aspects of feedback is the level of EQ with which one approaches the feedback. With feedback that is seen as negative, be extremely mature and professional as to how you give and receive such feedback. If you are unhappy with something, don’t complain without a reason. Raise it as a concern and clearly state the impact the issue has on your role, and business delivery. In addition, when you a raise a concern or unhappiness, have a proposed solution to fix the situation. The solution may be accepted or rejected by your manager. The goal is for them to see you are trying to find a way forward. Always understand and have the ability to read your manager. Determine the best times to raise negative issues. Don’t try to do so when they are not in a good mood as it can result in an undesirable outcome. Don’t also expect to have all the answers. If something is bothering you, raise it at an appropriate time. Admit: “I don’t have the answer, but I’m hoping we can navigate through this together!” Practically, what does a good way to voice discontent look like? Prepare adequately for the discussion Be deliberate with your discontent; don’t assume they should know you are unhappy Be realistic with your expectation to resolve your discontent Once again, the timing of when you raise this is critical. Don’t leave the discontent unaddressed, or until you have emotionally checked out. Once raised give your manager time to respond, be patient. Pay attention to your tone when raising your discontent and the intent thereof. What’s a common mistake people make when they want to resign? Often employees play around with resignation, or use it as a substitute and tool to negotiate their salaries. Be very cautious as it can back fire if this is your intent. I’ll use two scenario’s to illustrate this: Scenario one: Employees threaten to resign and hope that their manager will convince them to stay. The employer meets their demands, which are often related to financial increase. A few months later they try the same thing. There comes a point when the manager can predict such behaviour and the employee is seen as a nuisance. Scenario two: Employee resigns with the hope to expect a counter offer. The manager accepts the resignation. The employee has overestimated their value, or not taken the time to state it. This didn’t work out according to the employees plan and then a few days later the employee retracts the resignation. In a nut shell, the way one chooses to resign or uses resignation as a power tool has a direct impact on their reputation. Stay clear of using resignation as a weapon for ulterior motives. Be serious and take all considerations into account when you decide to resign. [bctt tweet=”Stay clear of using resignation as a weapon for ulterior motives.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Some people who are reading this are managing people themselves. What advice do you give them to avoid being blind-sided by resignations from discontent team members? As a manager you are leader. Part of being a leader is the ability to have the foresight to predict an employee’s happiness or discontent in their role. The only way to get such foresight is to invest time in your people. Get to know what gets them ticking or holds them back from doing their very best. Play to the strengths of your team. If you understand your team at a personal level, you will easily be able to pick up when they are unhappy. Then approach them and discuss your observations. [bctt tweet=”Be very cautious about using resignation as a tool to negotiate salaries” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Be brave and have that courageous conversation. More often than not employees appreciate such leaders. It is
Nomfanelo Magwentshu: How to shape #MotherlandMoguls into leaders #SheHiveJoburg
[bctt tweet=”To be a leader, take a leap of faith, follow your dreams and add value to other people’s lives” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Nomfanelo Magwentshu is a partner at McKinsey and was the lead organiser for the SA Fifa World Cup. She was previously the GM for South Africa’s national carrier, South African Airways. Nomfanelo provided some tips on how to be leaders at #SheHiveJoburg. She also opened up about her upbringing and her reasons for leaving certain roles in her career that did not fulfil her. With that said, one saying we took from Nomfanelo and her journey and that can resonate with Motherland Moguls is this, Take a leap of faith and follow your dreams and add value to other people’s lives even in the smallest ways. Nomfanelo shared what has shaped the leader that she is today: Show up and take risks Always show up and take risks when you are given opportunities in your career or in business. Show up and be counted. People must know you, and acknowledge you. Ensure that you’re not just a number to an organisation, you need to make sure you leave your mark. [bctt tweet=”Nomfanelo Magwentshu advises leaders to find sponsors and mentors that will challenge them” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Find sponsors and mentors According to Nomfanelo, find sponsors and mentors that will challenge you. Someone that will challenge some of your deepest issues and fears. One of her deepest fears is the fear of failure, especially the fear of not being good enough in a new environment. She pointed out that mentors will not make the decisions for you. It’s important to make yourself accountable for everyday decision, even if you have a mentor to help you navigate through your life. #MotherlandMogul tip: Find people to coach you —different people who can coach you on different aspects of your life and find those people that will challenge to get the best out of you. Think about the bigger picture When Nomfanelo joined the SA Fifa World Cup organising committee, it was not about being the best in football. She shied away from the media but her biggest goal was to think of the bigger picture, and that was to ensure that South Africa delivers the best World Cup. [bctt tweet=”Always listen to your head and your heart to become the leader you’ve always wanted to be” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Listen, follow your head but don’t neglect your heart At times where she lasted 5 months in an organisation, in her head Nomfanelo knew this MIGHT be the right place for her but her heart told her otherwise. Ensure that you listen to both to make the right decisions for yourself. Failure is a step towards success You need to learn from your failures as they are a step to your next success. When you go to your next step, learn from your failures and you are guaranteed to be successful. If you make another mistake, always get up and keep moving. #MotherlandMogul tip: Ensure that you reflect and you learn from the failures and make sure that you do not repeat them.
Irene Charnley: We women will lead fundamental change on our continent #SheHiveJoburg
[bctt tweet=”Have the conviction & fortitude to put forth your ideas – Irene Charnley #SheHiveJoburg” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Irene Charnley is an ex-MTN exec who led the company’s expansion into Nigeria and Iran. She’s also now a telecoms founder whose company, Pan-African, reigns supreme in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Congo. At #SheHiveJoburg Irene Charnley dazzled the crowd by sharing the key principles she has followed throughout her career to get to where she is today. With a net worth of around $150 million, it was clear to all in the room that Irene knows a thing or two about being a Motherland Mogul. Irene’s key principles to follow if you want to be successful Have some core values and let them guide you The most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself. According to Irene, when it comes to succeeding in business and in life, you have to realize that there is no magic out there, the magic is within you. You must cultivate some core values rooted in integrity, as these will help guide and sustain you on whatever path you choose to follow. Irene shared that her core value is this: everything is possible. There is always a way, it is up to you to find it. She talked about the difficulties she and her partner faced when trying to secure a building for their business. They faced challenges in getting landlords to rent to them. But having this “everything is possible” attitude, they were persistent in knocking on doors till someone finally let them in the building. “What are the core value that drove you to action everyday?”, Irene opened this question to the audience and the awesome ladies of #SheHiveJoburg shared some of the following responses: “I have the power to make everything I want come true”, “Be truthful to yourself and to others”, “Always follow through on your promises”, “Be present in everything that you do, both physically and psychologically”. Irene encouraged everyone in the audience to be true to their values every single day, to forget everyone else and please themselves first, to simply, “Be you!” [bctt tweet=”Irene Charnley’s core value is simple, everything is possible! #SheHiveJoburg” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Always aim to be a subject matter expert Irene talked about the importance of working twice as hard as everyone else in the room to become the expert, the one that people turn to when they want an explanation of how things work. This is the only way to stay ahead of the competition and to become comfortable being in a position of power and influence. When you prepare diligently, you’ll begin to see things outside the box and are able to come up with solutions that no one else has thought of yet. At the end of every day, you ought to ask yourself, “What did I learn today that was worth it for me?” My key takeaway from Irene’s wisdom was, “Know that it’s about you, know what your core values are and always be prepared”. [bctt tweet=”The only way to stand ahead of competition is to work twice as hard – Irene Charnley” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Business is logic. Business sense is common sense Sometimes what trips most people up on the way to success, especially when it comes to success in business, is that they waste too much time overthinking things. Women especially have the tendency to dwell too long on things. We are afraid to speak up and share our ideas because we feel like someone in the room must have a better one. Irene shared a very important lesson on this topic. After having spent a lot of time in several boardrooms, one thing that became clear was that no one in the room has all the answers. Have the conviction and the fortitude to put forth your ideas, even if they will be shot down or criticized. Use every opportunity as a learning point: ask questions, share your ideas, learn from others. That’s the only way to keep growing. Find voices you trust. Keep them around you Again, as women we have this tendency to want to shoulder all our burdens ourselves and fight and toil to get the answers we need. But Irene, as successful as she is, shared a key insight, “You can’t go through this journey alone. You need to find your angels and let them help you out along the way”. Irene talked about the importance of having mentors to guide you by offering advice and a fresh perspective. Also of importance is being a role model yourself to someone else who is a bit behind you on the same path. And as a sign of putting your money where your mouth is, Irene offered to share her email and phone number with all the ladies in the room. She promised to be available to mentor anyone who felt they could benefit from talking to her. [bctt tweet=”At #SheHiveJoburg Irene Charnley offered to be a mentor. See what else you missed out on” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Be a value-add. To everyone. All the time For a minute, stop and think about you. What is it that you bring to the table, to your business, to your community that no one else does? What is it that you do differently that makes you so special? Irene reminded us that we all have gifts that we should be nurturing. It is up to us to bring these gifts with us to every relationship or partnership. We should start to view entrepreneurship as a way to add value to what is already out there. Build sensible relationships, sensitively Last but not least, Irene talked about the important of relationships. Of cultivating the right relationships, with the right people at the right time. On the journey to success, we must strive to do our best to listen and learn, and to truly understand where others are coming from so that we might know how to best serve them. Irene ended her talk on
Tino Michelle Mavimba: Idle minds and hands fuel doubt
[bctt tweet=”@Kudzi_Siphiwe talks with Tino Michelle Mavimba, audio engineer and #MotherlandMogul” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] As a #MotherlandMogul, you know that comfort is the ultimate enemy of progress. Moving beyond the familiar is essential for growth. Tino Michelle Mavimba’s story illustrates this principle perfectly. She’s an Audio Engineer who is blazing a trail in South Africa’s audio production industry, which still has very few women. She has worked with the likes of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and South Africa’s AKA. But before she set out on her mission of world domination, the ambitious Zimbabwean was a banqueting operative. I sat down with her to find out more about her journey. A few years ago, you had a nice job in hospitality, with a decent career trajectory. Then you decided it wasn’t for you and left. No smooth transition, you just ‘disrupted’ yourself! How did you convince yourself to pack up your bags in the UK, move to another continent, and start over in a totally new field? It was a very hard decision to make. I was someone who had a VIP parking spot in life’s comfort zone. I loved being comfortable, not taking risks and being in control of outcomes. But I reached a stage where I couldn’t ignore how divorced my job was from my talent and passion. For the first time in my life, I had to take ownership of my life, and that was scary. What was also scary was how isolated I felt. It persisted no matter how many people I consulted with, or how much encouragement I got. I accepted that at the end of the day I, and I alone, would bear the consequences of my decision. As a Zimbabwean, I’m aware that people still have traditional mind-sets about careers. I knew I could not expect a round of applause from many people for the choice I was about to make. ‘The dream’ is working out now, but in the challenging moments when you were starting out, you didn’t know it would. How did you push through moments when it seemed like you may have made the wrong choice? I think people who have the courage to ‘chase their dreams’ have a really tough emotional process to work through. For me, the question that always popped into my head was; “Is this realistic?” Over time, I resolved that my response to that should be: “It doesn’t matter”. I became so invested in what I was doing that I was willing to fail a couple of times until I achieved what I set out to achieve. I also found that idle minds and hands fuel doubt and that action is the best antidote to negativity; just keep going. [bctt tweet=”Tino Michelle Mavimba’s 4 pieces of advice to women looking to start over” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What advice would you give someone who is looking to start over? Do your research: Even though it may look like I just dropped the mic and left, a lot of research went into my move from the UK to South Africa. Connect with the right people, and get all the information you need together before you make any huge life changes. Don’t expect comfort: No matter how well you plan, you will be doing something you have never done before, and it will not be easy! You will need all the support you can get: Resist the urge to act like you have it all together. My parents, like-minded friends and SAE Institute were a huge asset to me in the transition. Get ready to create new measures of success: Traditional career path’s come with a level of prestige and ‘certainty’ that we use to measure success. It’s crucial to be very clear about what you want to do, and clearly define what success looks like to you. So fast forward to a few years, you have worked with some really great artists. We spoke briefly about the ‘imposter syndrome’, and how it makes it hard to fully own moments of success. How do you process your ‘big’ moments? The first call I got to work on a big project, I can honestly say I almost fainted! I have played small and just gone with the flow for a huge part of my life. The result of this is I felt undeserving, and the big moments were hard to fully own. I have had to be intentional about shifting my mind-set. By reflecting on the hard work, time and dedication that I put into sharpening my skills, I’m more able to own and celebrate my success. You told me a funny story —when you started out in the industry you wore a fake engagement ring. I notice you don’t wear the ring any more; what lessons have you drawn from being in such a male dominated space? When I started out, I was alarmed at how disproportionate the ratio of male to female was. It was a first for me, and honestly I felt out of place. I felt I had to prove that I was just as good as my male counterparts. In addition, some men see ‘female’ before they see ‘audio engineer’. This means that, not only are you not taken seriously, but you also have to deal with unwanted advances. For me, wearing that ring was a symbolic way of levelling the playing field. Looking back, I don’t know if it really was a deterrent! The reason I no longer wear it is because somewhere along the line, I internalized that symbol. I began to see myself as an audio engineer rather than a fish out of water. I am less annoyed now by men who have less than professional intentions. I am also far less apologetic about demanding that I be treated with respect. In short, I learned I couldn’t control my environment, so I took charge of how I processed it. [bctt tweet=”Tino Michelle Mavimba wore a fake engagement ring when she started out in the industry ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I’ve
How to deal with career FOMO
[bctt tweet=”The best way to deal with career FOMO is to create your own opportunities” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] “Cissy just got that job offer with the international company and will soon be moving to start!” “Kathy just got this prestigious scholarship!” “Lena moved to a new company and is now making five times your current salary!” Everyone’s life has turned out perfectly. Well, everyone except you. You feel that you have stayed too long in an underpaid position. If you could turn back the hands of time, you would have taken that internship. You keep thinking that things would have turned out differently if you had pursued other career options. Your days are filled with concern. My dear friend, you are dealing with career FOMO, the fear that you are missing out on great career opportunities. Career FOMO materializes when we feel that our careers are not good enough because of the decisions we have made. Here are some of the ways you can deal with career FOMO that do not involve job hopping. [bctt tweet=”Career FOMO materializes when we feel that our careers are not good enough ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Pursue a passion project A passion project is something you do on your own terms and for nobody else’s satisfaction but your own. It stems from your desire to create. Most of us are in jobs where our creative juices are stifled. If you feel you could use a more creative job, why not put in some time to pursue creative efforts? Whether you choose to paint, sculpt, or write a novel is up to you. Your passion project could be what you need to figure out what you want to do in life. Start a side hustle Your career FOMO could be stemming from not pursuing your entrepreneurial ambitions. Deal with this by starting a side hustle. The advantage of a side hustle is that there is little risk involved. You don’t have to quit your job to start. Extra money anyone? Your side hustle could develop into a full time job with time. [bctt tweet=”Your career FOMO could be stemming from not pursuing your entrepreneurial ambitions” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Volunteer If you have passion for giving back to the community but you are not able to do that at your day job, volunteering is a way to fill this void. Consider participating in your employer’s programs if any. If this is not an option, look into creating your own valuable volunteering experiences. Free courses There are lots of free courses you can take up to learn about a field you are interested in. Valuable resources include MOOCS, conferences, podcasts, and webinars. You might find that a field you were so attracted to in the beginning does not seem appealing as you dig deeper. Network Build professional relationships with people who are working in the field you are interested in. Conduct informational interviews and ask as many questions as you can. You will find that people are willing to open up about their fields. The information gained will help you make a decision on whether to pursue your career aspirations in that field. Create your own opportunities The best way to deal with career FOMO is to create your own opportunities. You need to understand that if you want to achieve something in life you will have to work hard to achieve it. Stalking more seemingly successful people on social media will not get you what you want. Regrets about career decisions made in the past will sap your energy. Ask for that job rotation, request to be transferred to another department, volunteer for a work project you might be interested in, have a candid talk with your boss about your career development plans. Do not be passive about your career aspirations. All careers come with their own challenges. Like they say, the grass is not always greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you water it. Shut the world out, choose one thing and relentlessly go after it. So long as you have set reasonable career goals for yourself and you are taking action everyday to improve your personal profile, what everyone else is doing with their lives will not matter any more. Are you experiencing any career FOMO? How are you dealing with it?
4 ways to overcome your fear of public speaking
[bctt tweet=”Feel the world is crumbling around you when you speak in public? It’s time to overcome your fear” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When it comes to public speaking, we’re all different. For some people, it can come easily, and for others, it can feel as if the world is crumbling down. Especially when you’re trying to speak without sounding like you don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s frustrating. But keeping quiet and not practising will not make it better. This can be in the workplace, in school, even in social settings. Is the right time to get exposed to it? A good starting point would be these observations I’ve made over the past few years: 1. Set a target for networking events and conferences It’s very easy to go to networking events and decide to only speak to one person before the event starts. One lesson I learnt was to go to an event with the intention of having spoken to three other people. Speaking to more than one person helps you deal with different kinds of people. It also helps you learn how people react to you speaking, and in learning how to interpret people’s body language. [bctt tweet=”Speaking to more than one person helps you deal with different kinds of people” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Learning someone’s body language will help in determining in whether or not they’re interested in what you’re saying. People become disinterested during conversations therefore the more networking events you attend or more people outside your circle you interact with, the more you learn to be able to turn the conversation around. Even though this isn’t public speaking, learning to read people’s body language in a smaller setting can feed into how you interpret people’s interests and attention span in larger crowds. 2. Join Toastmasters One of the best pieces of advice received a few months ago was to join Toastmasters to help overcome my fear of public speaking. This was, and still is a daunting idea. Firstly, it requires that you actually speak in front of people you wouldn’t initially know. But this is a great way to learn, and also a good step towards overcoming your fear. You could also bypass attending the networking events, because joining a Toastmaster’s club helps you get right into speaking in front of people. But it’s important to take baby steps and move at your own pace. It becomes second nature to you the more you are acquainted with people and the art of public speaking. 3. Volunteer to facilitate meetings and workshops If you’re in corporate and can get the chance and experience to facilitate a meeting or workshop, then volunteer to do so. One of the best, and most challenging aspect about this is that you’ll find that you’ll be speaking to different people at different meetings or workshops. This is where studying the body language and possibly joining a Toastmaster’s club will come in handy. [bctt tweet=”It’s important to keep calm and take a few pauses to get over your fear of public speaking” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 4. Prepare yourself and keep calm Prepare yourself and keep calm before any public speaking that you do. Especially when you’re still in the beginning stages of trying to overcome your fear of speaking in public. Write a few notes to keep yourself on track and keep these with you during public speaking. But it’s also important to keep calm, take a few pauses in between. Taking those few pauses will help you process whether or not you have been speaking too fast. The audience will also receive your message clearly when you speak calmly.
5 tips to make the most of a slow day at work
When the big conference is over or the quarterly sales report is in, then comes the slow day. Everyone in today’s workplace has moments of downtime every now and then —as you probably do if you’re reading this. But forget #NetflixAndChill, it’s time to #HustleAndChill. Even if you’re excelling at your job, now isn’t the time to rest on your laurels. Use these slow days as opportunities for self-improvement by checking in on your goals rather than your Facebook or Instagram. Here are a few tips for what to do when you find yourself with a few extra hours on your hands: Plan ahead You know how your boss lovingly exclaims, “What would I do without you?” Make sure he or she is prepared for the unexpected sick day or your departure for a new position by drafting a detailed list of your daily, weekly, and monthly activities to ensure that your successor will be well equipped to follow in your footsteps. It’ll also help you avoid forgetting the little things like sending a check for a vendor or drafting invitations to an annual event. It’s never too early to start on hand-over notes —it’s easier to remember what you’re doing while you’re doing it rather than racking your brain as you’re headed out the door. (You’ll also earn brownie points from your boss that will help you maintain a good relationship even after you’re gone). Learn As the saying goes, “good things come to those who hustle.” Got your eye on a raise or promotion? Take this slow period as an opportunity to learn a new skill or hone a weak one. If you increase your value to your company, your employer will be more likely to reward your efforts. Sign up for a webinar, listen to a podcast, or take an online class from sites like Coursera, Skillshare, or edX. Interested in shifting to another role? Visit other departments and learn about their work. Even if your colleagues only need help with menial tasks, they’ll appreciate the favor (and be more likely to return it when you’re in a crunch). Organize To maximize your time when things are busy, set yourself up for success by organizing your paperwork. Organize your online and offline space by saving those client emails that you took hours to draft, filing feedback on projects that you can reference during your next feedback session, and making sure your work space is tidy. A clear space leads to a clear mind. Connect Having a good reputation in your field is part performance, part visibility. According to the Harvard Business Review, “workers are happiest in their jobs when they have friendships with co-workers.” Take advantage of your free time, and follow up with other industry professionals as well as current and former colleagues. It’s an opportunity to build trust and camaraderie at work, but also learn more about what’s going on at your company and in your industry. Grab lunch or coffee or simply spend time acknowledging the contributions of those around you with a handwritten note —old-fashioned gestures are always appreciated. Daydream In today’s competitive global economy, people are being paid more to think than to manufacture. So along with your A-game, it’s time to bring your imagination to work if you’re gunning for that promotion. After all, Archimedes had his “eureka” moment in the bathtub, Newton developed the theory of gravity while lounging in his mother’s garden, and J.K. Rowling came up with Harry Potter while staring out a train window. Now, imagine if those people had been new deep in the drudgery of paperwork or catching up on email. Studies show that daydreaming indicates an active mind more open to creative breakthroughs. Creativity is about thinking outside the box, so put away the phone, turn off the monitor, and let your mind wander. You might just come up with the next game changer.
3 things to consider before changing jobs
So, maybe your current employer is not bae or you have another suitor knocking at your door. Whichever the case, there are key elements you need to look at before jumping ship or looking for greener pastures. These elements might be in your best interests in the long run. 1. Is it in line with your future goals? Compensation and monetary benefits are always, most likely, our first motivating factor when looking for a job. However, once you do get a career that pays you more than peanuts, you might slowly realize you are not really cut out for it. Especially if you are not meant to be in that field. You will be comfortable for a few months but that itch to leave will come back sooner than you can say rands and nairas. When looking to changing jobs, you might want to look at what you really want to do with your career path. Think beyond your current needs. 5, 10 even 15 years from now is that better-paying job something you would still want to be doing then? Is it in line with your values and vision for your career? Have you even thought about your career beyond your current situation? Evaluate your career choice and what you want to do before putting cheddar first. 2. Is it flexible? Sure, it’s cool to occasionally spend an extra few hours at a job, finishing off a project. But you may never realize the time constraints of a new environment and new responsibilities. If you have aspirations of starting other side hustles, you have to give it a lot of thought. Will a new job allow you to be able to push the passion projects you have on the side? Beyond the obvious benefits of a new job and the fringe benefits, you need to consider your own development and growth. Will you have time to pursue a short course, start a business, read SLA articles or listen to a webinar? Your time is an asset that is more valuable than you think. Consider your current projects and if your new job would allow you to still fully commit to them and their success. You have to know what you value as important before making the big leap. 3. Will you grow? Yeah, you want a new job cause you get to work in a company your mom has actually heard about and will be able to tell her friends about without embarrassing you. However, some employers will not necessarily give you the growth opportunity you are looking for. You might not be able to flex your creative, innovative or strategic muscle if you are a small cog in a big machine, even if the machine isn’t that big. You want to be able to move to a career that will allow you experiment, learn and grow and hopefully apply your expertise. This is not always ideal or realistic. However, you do not want to end up feeling stunted and unappreciated which is bad for both you and your employer. Consider asking people who already work for that employer about their experience. Ask about the opportunities available for growth and if they consider employees an important asset. Thinking about it first and laying your options beforehand will definitely help you. You’d be able to make a more informed and prepared decision than if you had not. Happy job hunting.