Leadership and Life Archives

Get Ahead of the Curve – How to stand out at work during times of crisis

March 7, 2022January 3, 2022 by Angela Dodd

It’s no secret. The world, as we know it, is undergoing a time of crisis. No country or continent is a stranger to change, but perhaps we’re not used to such a unified sense of confusion.

However, rather than feeling helpless or like a sense of impending doom is hanging over you, we encourage you to take this time to work on yourself, continue to flourish and endeavor to find new ways to stand out in the crowd. For many of us, our jobs are in a state of flux. Whether you were working towards a promotion before now, or you were actively hunting down that next role, here are a few things that you can start doing to keep pushing your career forward.

… Because we will come out of the other side of this – and you can come out stronger than you might have thought possible…

Networking in isolation

It sounds kind of counter-intuitive/impossible… but it really isn’t.

Just as you jump on Houseparty or Facebook to call your family, you could be sipping a virtual (or real) latte over a chat with your colleagues. You could be organizing catch-ups with your seniors, showing initiative and going out of your way to ‘see what you can do to help’. Those that reach out are remembered! Get yourself on Zoom and start networking in isolation! (Hey, no one needs to know you’re only wearing a pantsuit on your top half…)

Stay present in your industry by catching up with others in the same field. For us, that’s our Females In Food community. Together, we discuss the challenges we’re facing in our relative roles, discuss where we’re going next, and mastermind the moves we need to make to keep on growing – all whilst supporting each other in our individual journeys.

Be a social butterfly

Sure, you can’t gossip over the water-cooler or grab an after-work cocktail with your colleagues, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have lighthearted, inspiring, or insightful conversations…

Use your social presence to boost your professional brand. On LinkedIn, reach out to people and start conversations. Keeping your network small does nothing for you – you might think that it keeps you safe or protects your professional presence, but it actually renders your profile ineffective. Don’t be afraid to comment on relevant threads, jump into debates (with an air of impartiality) and post your own thought-provoking insights.

As with networking, no one remembers the person who said nothing. Add something constructive to the conversations around you and get your name out there in a professional and targeted way. Think about what your future employer or promotion-deciding-seniors would want to see from you…

Be an initiative taker

There are so many ways in which you can take initiative in your role, especially if you’re currently working from home. Operate under the premise of doing things before they are asked of you… for example:

Send update emails or reports to your boss on a regular basis, before they ask for them.
If you’re customer-facing, do the same thing. Update customers and get in touch with them before they start asking you questions.
If you’re currently out of work, take the initiative within your own schedule. Work on your social profiles, spruce up your CV, take some classes or undertake industry research.
Don’t stop applying if you’re looking for a new position. Industries such as the food industry are still hiring – because these industries must remain stable, no matter the global or economic climate.

Within specific industries, the initiative might look different.

In supply chain, that might involve preparing for a shortage of drivers or forecasting demand ahead of time.
In foodservice, you might want to consider the rerouting of your product offering. If people can’t enter your premises, how can you go out to them? Have you created a re-opening plan? What strategies can you use to encourage people back through the door?
In marketing, how can you futureproof the image of your business? What pivots or initiatives could you introduce to protect the current business’ goals? How could you console and pacify your customers?
In food science, stay sensitive to the short term demands of this crisis, but don’t neglect your edge of innovation. Stay current and stay curious.

Future proof yourself

If you’re finding that you have a little more time on your hands than normal, excellent! Now is the perfect time to do all those ‘better-myself’ tasks that were on your pipedream list.

Whether you’d like to take on a secondary qualification or start a project on the side, use this time to bolster yourself in your industry. Like we’ve said before, the action takers, talkers, and do-ers are the ones that are remembered. How could you make yourself indispensable when this all blows over?

Overwhelmed with it all

Now, while there are a lot of tips in this article, it’s important to avoid analysis paralysis.

This is a stressful time. You’re entitled to feeling overwhelmed – in fact, you’re entitled to a few days under the covers, pretending it’s not happening. But don’t let that become the norm – don’t let overwhelm rob you of these opportunities.

Create a plan of the things that you want to achieve and just hit one thing at a time. Lists that are as long as your arm, that never get ticked off, are just going make you feel like an instant failure. Pace yourself, prioritize, and take the breaks you need.

How to Network Virtually

September 23, 2021September 6, 2021 by Danielle Doolen

Networking is an essential business skill. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying it’s important. Amid the current Coronavirus pandemic, you’ve likely traded in your high heels for slippers and may have even breathed a sigh of relief thinking you’re off the hook from networking. But, not so fast.

What if we told you that you could network from home. Yes, even in your sweatpants, if you want to. Forging valuable connections and having honest conversations aren’t canceled just because you’re working remotely. Here are five ways you can connect with the outside world, even when you’re stuck at home.

Reach out to Existing Connections

If networking gives you the cold sweats, this is the most comfortable place to start. Whether you’ve worked hard to grow your network or you can count your connections on one hand, everyone has someone they can reach out to. Think of a person you haven’t caught up within a while, like an old coworker or mentor. Shoot them an email, send them a text, or even pick up the phone and give them a call. Video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Facetime, make virtual networking a breeze. Use this time at home to nurture the relationships you have so they’ll be even stronger the next time you can meet up in person.

Grab a Virtual Coffee

Is there someone you’ve been meaning to reach out to? Maybe you met at a previous event and never followed up, or you’re a part of the same organization and haven’t had a chance to chat yet. Reach out and offer to grab a coffee, at home that is. Schedule a time for a virtual coffee date to finally get that touch base on the calendar.

Connect on Social Media

We all have those people that we admire from afar on social media. Whether they’re the top in their field, they share great advice, or they’re a fun account to follow, reach out! If the thought of contacting your social media idol sounds intimidating, think again. While the internet can be full of trolls, most people on social media are nicer than you think. Comment on a post, slide into their DMs, reply to a tweet, or if you can find an email address, send them a quick note. Tell them how much you admire their work and their social presence. Even if the exchange is brief, it’ll feel good to put yourself out there, and they’re sure to appreciate your kind words. And who knows, maybe you’ll spark up a conversation that can lead to a great friendship.

Send a Cold Email

Brainstorm thought leaders in your organization and potential mentors that you haven’t had a chance to connect with face to face. Send them an email from your work address, asking if they want to connect. More often than not, people are open and willing to help others, especially those they work with. Set up a time for a phone or video call to chat. If you work at the same company, chances are you’ll have more to talk about than you think. Want to think bigger? Send an email to someone in your community or industry that inspires you. Tell them how much you admire their work and ask if they’d be willing to virtually meet for a 15-minute call.

Online Communities

Even before the time of COVID-19, the internet was full of online communities. From Facebook groups to webinars to organization forums, find a community related to your industry or line of work, and get connecting! These conversations should come easily because you already have a common interest. Post in a group or send an email to a speaker or panelist of a recent webinar you attended. Having a jumping-off point makes networking seem a lot less scary.

Imposter Syndrome – How to Quiet Your Inner Critic

August 30, 2021 by Angela Dodd

Do you ever hear a little voice in your head saying, “You’re not ready. It’s already been done. I just got lucky. What will everyone think? Do I know enough to be here?” If you’re nodding your head right now, then you have been impacted by imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome has been everywhere in the last few years. Michelle Obama talked about it in her book, Becoming. There are articles on imposter syndrome in every kind of publication, from Harvard Business Review to Elle magazine. You can find quote after quote from successful people that have suffered from imposter syndrome. But what is it, exactly? And more importantly – what can you do about it? That’s where we’re headed now!

To a certain degree imposter syndrome is self-explanatory. It’s feeling like an imposter or a fraud or questioning if you really belong – even though you are successful. The crux of imposter syndrome is thinking of your skills, qualifications, and experiences as lower or worse than they actually are. We all know people who overinflate their skills and abilities. Imposter syndrome is the opposite.

Imposter syndrome is also something you experience, not something you have. Even though it’s called a “syndrome,” it’s not an actual diagnosis. You will also hear it referred to as the imposter complex or imposter phenomenon, which are probably more accurate terms, but imposter syndrome just rolls off the tongue more easily, doesn’t it?

There is a huge spectrum of how people experience imposter syndrome. It’s a daily companion for many. I’ve had multiple individuals tell me that every day they feel like today’s going to be the day their company finally realizes they have no idea what they’re doing and someone is going to come tap them on the shoulder and escort them out of the building.

For most people imposter syndrome is more situational. You might feel completely confident most of the time and then you have to present to a group of senior leaders and you suddenly feel like you have no business even being in the room, let alone presenting. Or you’re great in your current role, but the moment you start to think about a job change, you wonder if your success is just because of the company, team, or boss and not because of YOU. Or you go after a big new client and after they sign on the dotted line you feel like you won’t be able to pull it off, that you’ve just gotten lucky and have been fooling them.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. At least 70% of people experience imposter syndrome. It shows up in all the places you don’t want it – around executives, negotiating your salary, sharing ideas, speaking up in a meeting, applying for new jobs, thinking about starting a business, going after bigger clients, sharing on social media, public speaking – the list goes on and on. Imposter syndrome is more likely to make an appearance anytime you’re outside of your comfort zone.

The good news is you can do something about it! While you can’t make imposter syndrome go away entirely, you can learn to quiet the inner critic and take action even when imposter syndrome is raging. Here are two simple actions you can start using today to combat imposter syndrome the next time it makes an unwanted appearance.

Call Out Your Inner Critic:

When you hear that negative, ruminating voice in your head saying that you’re not good enough, don’t know enough, and just WHO ARE YOU to think you can go do that big thing, stop and take a breath. Hear the inner critic talking and notice that it’s not you. It’s just a voice in your head. And you don’t have to pay attention to it.

For example, my imposter syndrome pops up most often when I’m called an expert (on imposter syndrome, of all things. Is there anything more ironic than getting imposter syndrome about being called an expert on imposter syndrome?) and when I’m sharing in public, particularly if I’m giving advice. My inner critic jumps right in telling me I don’t have a PhD in Psychology, I’m not really an expert, who are you to put yourself out there and think people will listen? Isn’t that arrogant and conceited of you!

I hear the inner critic. I feel the anxiety start to rumble up in my belly. And then I stop. I tell myself that I’m just taking up a bigger space than I’m used to and that’s why imposter syndrome has shown up. It’s different and weird and uncomfortable – and also completely fine. Naming the inner critic doesn’t make it go away immediately, but it does make the inner critic lose power. It’s kryptonite for imposter syndrome.

Recover Fast When Doubt Strikes:

Imposter syndrome is going to happen. That’s inevitable. The goal is to shorten the time you spend circling in doubt and get back to a place where you can take action quickly. To do that, create a personalized doubt recovery toolkit. This isn’t anything fancy – just 3-5 activities that make you feel good and confident and grounded and ready to take on whatever is coming at you, no matter how much imposter syndrome wants to drag you down.

Hiking, cross-country skiing, listening to any podcast with Brené Brown, dancing and painting are all in my doubt recovery toolkit. They work wonders for me. If I’m feeling nervous before a big client call, all I have to do is turn on Lizzo’s Good As Hell and three minutes later I’m good to go. The imposter syndrome is gone.

Try these steps. Call out your inner critic. Know what’s in your doubt recovery toolkit and pull out one of the actions the next time imposter syndrome shows up. Most importantly, however, is giving yourself grace. Imposter syndrome is normal. Don’t beat yourself up if you call out your inner critic and it’s back again two minutes later. Call it out again. And again. As many times as it takes. This is all a practice. Be kind to yourself.

Heather Whelpley is a speaker, coach, and writer that works with overachievers, perfectionists, and people pleasers to let go of expectations and create their own rules for life. You can dig deeper into imposter syndrome through her online course, The Five Steps To Overcome Imposter Syndrome.

Digitally Upskilling Your Way to a Promotion

November 9, 2021August 16, 2021 by Angela Dodd

Online and in the personal development world, ‘upskilling’ seems to be the word of the moment. The dictionary defines it as the “process of learning new skills or teaching workers new skills”. Key to what we’ll be delving into in this post is the word ‘skills’ – not qualifications, not certificates but skills. Upskilling isn’t going back to college or even attending evening classes, necessarily. The thing about upskilling is that it’s a flexible way to learn and is usually undertaken digitally, in your own time. High potential employees who are stagnated, bored, clamoring for a promotion or itching to career-jump are the ideal poster kids for upskilling their way up the ladder.

But what else can you do to help increase your chances of promotion?

1. Work out what it is you really want

Before you start looking to 2020 with big aspirations and goals, take some time to work out what those are in detail. Do you want an entirely new role? Are you looking for new challenges in your current role? Or are you aiming high and setting your sights on a promotion?

Once you’ve nailed down exactly what it is you’re aiming for, you can start to examine the gap between your goal and your current position.

2. Work out why you’re not getting it

Examine your resume: where could you bolster your skills-base or previous experience to put you on the right track? Perhaps your experience and previous job roles have perfectly prepared you for the next step, but you’re lacking in confidence. Maybe your interview skills need some brushing up on, or you haven’t been getting the right training from your current company. Don’t be too critical of yourself, but do some industry research to help focus your efforts.

3. Start by positioning yourself better

A lot of the promotion game is about confidence and executive presence. From how you hold yourself and how you dress, to how effectively you communicate and deliver presentations. Your educational background isn’t the be all and end all – progression often comes down to negotiation, tenacity and grit! Develop a ‘don’t ask, don’t get’ attitude – could it be possible that no one even knows you’re on the hunt for a promotion?

4. Show initiative

One of the most underrated personality traits is that old resume cliche: the ‘self-starter’. But, it’s still a surefire way to stand out. The World Economic Forum estimates that more than half of all employees will require significant reskilling by 2022 – so what if you were appropriately reskilled by the end of 2020? What’s more, what if you did it on your own time. Companies value employees that focus on what they can offer their job role – not what the company can offer them. If you’re not relying on company time to upskill yourself, that personal development will not go to waste. Like a gift that keeps on giving, improving your executive skills is for life – skills take you from job role to job role, and even permeate your personal life. I mean, who doesn’t want to be better at communicating what they want?

5. Package yourself up!

Now you know what you want, why you don’t have it and where you need to improve, it’s time to build the final product – YOU! You can’t change your life overnight, but you can start making strides towards the future you desire… right now. Start searching for digital courses you can take from home, specifically targeted to your focus areas.

How to Build Your Confidence at Work

July 20, 2021 by Angela Dodd

At its core, confidence is a feeling that you are sure of yourself. It’s that quiet inner knowledge that you’re capable of your abilities. It means you have the courage to show up, without doubt, even in the presence of discomfort. Believing in yourself and knowing your worth is crucial to professional growth and success.

When you lack confidence, you set the bar too low, therefore resulting in weak goals and mediocre results. When you exude confidence, you’re going to have higher expectations, achieve more success, and feel happier at work. But how does one build confidence in the workplace when it feels like there are people in every political corner trying to pull you down? Here are seven tips to get you started.

Fake It ‘til You Make It

You’ve probably heard this before, but that’s because it works. When you act confident, even when you don’t feel like it, your confidence becomes reinforcing. For example, if you walk into a job interview with negative thoughts and low expectations that you’ll get the job, you’ll likely be right. The interviewer will sense your lack of self-worth and may pass on hiring you. But if you walk into an interview with a positive attitude, trusting your abilities, and knowing you’re the best fit for the role, even if you feel a bit like an imposter, your positive thinking translates into positive behaviors and actions that the interviewer is sure to notice.

Always Be Learning

Sometimes lack of confidence comes from simply not knowing. When you think about it, this is the easiest thing to fix because if you don’t know something, you can learn it. Gaining new skills is a sure way to boost your confidence. You can’t let what you don’t know stop you from progressing in your career. With online resources, training, and the wealth of knowledge that lies within the people at your company, there’s no reason that you can’t find the answer you’re looking for. Identify any knowledge gaps, ask a lot of questions, and work on expanding your area of expertise. Keep an open mind and always be willing to learn something new.

Stay Informed

Maybe what you don’t know isn’t a skill that you can easily learn, maybe it’s the information you need to do your job. Do you feel left out from important conversations that are vital for you to perform your best? Do you lack confidence because you don’t know what’s going on at your company? Speak up. Talk to your manager about your concerns. Let them know you’re finding it hard to do your job because you’re left out of the loop. Being aware of your surroundings and company happenings is essential to your success. If your company wants you, and therefore them, to thrive, they’ll make sure you’re a part of the right meetings and email threads.

Think and Talk Positively

Throw that negative self-talk right out the door. It’s all about positivity. Positive self-talk, essentially your internal dialogue, can reduce stress and anxiety and provide encouragement and optimism. When you utilize positive self-talk, you can solve problems and think differently, enabling you to cope more efficiently with challenges. How we speak to ourselves and about ourselves can make all the difference between feeling confident in our abilities and lacking the self-worth to get the job done.

Focus on Your Strengths

Everyone has strengths. You’ve gotten this far in your life and career because you’re good at something. Even if some days you doubt yourself, there is something that you can do better than anyone else. Focus on those strengths and achievements. What are you great at? What compliments have you received in your professional career? What have you done really well? Focusing on the good will give you the courage and confidence to tackle whatever is in front of you. Additionally, practicing gratitude is a powerful tool to promote positive thinking and appreciate what you have to help you get where you’re going.

Build Strong Relationships

Having people in your corner throughout life that can help pick you up when you’re feeling down or provide that tough love when you need it can be just the thing to build your confidence. It can be hard to see our strengths and accomplishments when we’re too close to them. When someone else can provide you with perspective and insight, it can be a game-changer. Find friends, coworkers, mentors, or sponsors and build and nurture relationships with them throughout your professional career for the times when you feel like you can’t do it alone.

Change Your Body Language

When all else fails or when you can’t seem to get your mind right, change your body. Not the way you look (you’re perfect just the way you are), but your stance. Physically change your body language to change your mindset. If you haven’t seen American Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk, stop what you’re doing and go watch it. In it, she suggests that power posing changes our body chemistry and that those people who adopt high-power poses demonstrate an increase in testosterone and a decrease in cortisol. These hormonal effects, therefore, increase our feelings of power. The next time you need a little confidence boost, put your hands on your hips like Wonder Woman and get ready to conquer your day.

How Females In Food is Working to Close the Gender Gap in the Food and Beverage Industry

June 30, 2021 by Angela Dodd

From 2015 to 2020, representation of women in senior-vice-president positions grew from 23 to 28 percent, according to McKinsey & Company’s 2020 Women in the Workplace report. While the numbers are trending in the right direction, women are still dramatically underrepresented in leadership positions, and that’s not taking into account the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in the workplace. The most important action we can take to begin to close this gender gap is to acknowledge it. That’s where Females in Food comes in.

Females In Food is helping both women and women-forward companies connect and accelerate careers. We’re working to close the gender gap in the food and beverage industry by helping companies attract, engage, convert, and retain female talent and by providing exclusive member-only content and resources to female professionals. Here’s how.

Curated Content

Every month, we share original articles and sourced articles to help you become your best self. These articles are based on our monthly topic of choice to help you dig deeper into critical areas of professional and self-development. We’re here to help you boost your career, gain industry insights, and learn how women in the food and beverage industry are breaking the glass ceiling.

Job Board

Our job board with prevetted careers at female-forward companies is an exclusive benefit to the Females In Food community members. It’s our goal to help women and companies achieve their greatest potential, and we seek to accomplish this by connecting job seekers with exceptional opportunities in the food and beverage industry.

Job Search Accelerator

We recently released our Job Search Accelerator program to help you launch a successful job search that will help you find a fulfilling career. If you are tired of the constant stress around job searching and are ready to take a completely new and strategic approach to the process, then this course is for you. As a member of the Females In Food community, you’ll gain exclusive access to this course.

When you finish the Job Search Accelerator program, you’ll have:

An actionable plan to successfully launch a job search
All of the tools you need to implement your plan
A head start among other job applicants
Clarity around your next career move

Career Coaches

The Females In Food community provides a network of career coaches to help you navigate your career. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re ready to take on a big promotion, our career coaches will help you get you where you want to be.

Resume Reviews

When you become a member of the Females In Food community, you’ll receive free resume reviews. Yes, free! Keeping your resume up to date is essential throughout your career, whether you’re currently seeking new opportunities or you’re only looking to refresh your resume with new skills and responsibilities. Since our community consists of members of the food and beverage industry, they know what job seekers are looking for and how to position you and your experience to make you the most marketable.

Community

Behind every successful woman is a community of women cheering her on. That’s exactly what the Females In Food community is here to give you: community. Through mentorship relationships, networking events, job search support, professional development opportunities, and a community of women who get it, we’re here to lift you up, support you, and be your biggest career advocate. Finding success in a male-dominated industry is hard enough, and just because you can do it alone doesn’t mean you have to.

As a woman in the food and beverage industry, joining Females In Food means you have access to exclusive resources that will help you take your career to the next level. Females in Food is your best career connection. Become a part of the community today!

45 Questions to Ask Before You Hire

April 5, 2021 by Angela Dodd

Hiring is a big decision. It impacts your team dynamic, effectiveness, and ability to achieve your goals. Make the wrong choice, and you’ve lost time and money. It can be daunting. So before you bring in a candidate or make a final decision, it’s helpful to reflect on what you want and need. Taking time to ask the important questions before you hire can be the difference between finding the right person vs. the right for now person you’ll second guess later.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Hire

Self-reflection before hiring a new teammate is a great place to start. Take five to ten minutes before posting a job description or interviewing a potential candidate to ask yourself what you’re really looking for in a new team member. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

What will make your life easier?

What are you looking for in an ideal candidate?

What problems keep you up at night, and how can this person alleviate them?

What do you value most: experience or education?

What would make you not hire someone?

What are your deal breakers?

What is a must-have skill that is non-negotiable?

What is your budget, and are you willing to be flexible for the right person?

What would make this person successful in their first 30, 60, 90 days on the job?

Is there anyone you know of that would be a good fit for the role?

Questions to Ask Your Team Before You Hire

Making a hiring decision impacts not only you but your team as well. Your team will benefit from thinking and talking through how a new hire will change how your team operates and socializes. Consider the following:

What are you looking for in a coworker?

What do you think is missing from our team?

How do you work best with others?

What skills and expertise will elevate our team?

Do you know anyone in your network that would be a good fit for this role?

Questions to Ask Your Network Before You Hire

Seeking input from others and how they’ve approached hiring can influence your decisions for the better. Ask for guidance from your network to know what mistakes to avoid and what helpful insight they can offer.

What’s the biggest hiring mistake you’ve made?

What do you look for in your ideal candidate?

What kind of talent do you think would benefit our company?

Where do you seek your talent?

What does your interview process look like?

Do you know anyone who would be interested in this opportunity?

Questions to Ask Your Candidate Before You Hire

Arguably the most important questions you ask in the hiring process are the ones you ask your candidate. In addition to the tried and true questions like what your strengths and what are your weaknesses, try a few of these.

What value can you add to our team?

What are you passionate about outside of work?

What’s something you can tell me about yourself that’s not on your resume?

What’s a project you’ve worked on that’s challenged you?

What’s a project you’ve worked on that you absolutely crushed?

Why do you want to work here?

What would your current manager say about you?

How would your colleagues describe you?

What are you looking for in a team?

How do you do your best work?

What skills can you bring to our team that are an immediate asset?

How do you respond under pressure?

What makes you an indispensable team member?

If you were given a task or project and you did not know what to do, how would you proceed?

What do you believe this position would offer that your current employer does not?

How do you define success?

What are you learning right now?

What are you excited about?

What are you looking for in a manager?

Do you have experience working remotely?

What’s something you’re learning right now?

What’s important to you in a company’s culture?

What’s the best job you’ve ever had?

What’s an achievement, personal or professional, that you’re most proud of?