If you’ve ever struggled with perfectionism, you’re not alone. I’ve talked to countless women, through my coaching and travels, who’ve set the bar so high, in terms of their goals and aspirations, that they’re afraid to make any move at all. Author, Elizabeth Gilbert, calls perfectionism “…fear in really good shoes”.This fear that is perfectionism can often be traced back to early childhood messages – being valued purely fo...

In my coaching practice as well as in my travels for speaking engagements, I regularly meet women who are terrified of change. They’re afraid to change careers, jobs, or even pursue a promotion for fear of making the wrong move or not measuring up. Many women are standing in the way of their own success, and the roots of these self-inflicted roadblocks can often be traced to perfectionism.In their book, The Confidence Code,...

According to The Conference Board Job Satisfaction survey less than half of US workers are satisfied with their jobs. Now is a great time to ramp up your career reinvention efforts and reflect upon what would gratify you in a career. If this is not the career you ordered, it’s time to jumpstart your professional reinvention so you can regain control and thrive.Sunday Night Blues – If you suffer from the Sunday Night Blues...

In a perfect world, we’d be able to do our jobs without personal issues ever causing a ripple. Our work life would stay neatly in the work compartment, our personal life would stay perfectly in the personal compartment, and each area would behave itself and not cross the other’s boundaries…Of course that’s not the way things usually work. “Life happens”, as the saying goes, and the scales balancing work and personal life ar...

Jude Bijou, MA, MFT, is a respected psychotherapist, professional educator, and workshop leader who appeared on my show: Your Working Life this season. Her award-winning book is Attitude Reconstruction: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life.I love Jude’s tips about improving your mood at work since we all can relate to needing an attitude adjustment every now and again. Our job is where we spend the majority of our waking...

Over the years, a number of my coaching clients have expressed a desire to improve their public speaking abilities – especially if they’re being called upon to make presentations at work.For many, speaking in front of a live audience is a daunting proposition. Some clients have admitted to feeling like “a deer in the headlights” when speaking to groups.As someone who gives presentations regularly, I can say, from experience...

I always appreciate a well-run meeting, and, these days, many of the meetings I attend are not only well run, but well-walked too.I’ve recently become a devotee of walking meetings, and I join an ever-growing contingent dedicated to getting up and out of the office to meet on-the-move.Feet First, a website that promotes walkable communities, traces the walking meeting back to Ancient Greece and Aristotle’s peripatetic teach...

Changing jobs can be a welcome and exciting transition, but it can be a stressful time as well. A year ago, I had the opportunity to step into a newly created position – becoming Director of Professional Enrichment for the Indiana University Alumni Association – experiencing, once again, what it’s like to be “the new girl” in the office. While I was thrilled to be starting this job, I will admit that I was feeling butterfli...

The way we feel about our job at any given time can vary depending on a wide array of factors: how a particular project is going; technical issues; how well staff is performing; etc. However, when you have a chronic case of the Sunday Night Blues – dreading the return to work each Monday – that’s a sign that it’s time to consider changing jobs or possibly even careers.In a recent LinkedIn post, Sallie Krawcheck, former bank...

Pitching a new idea to your boss does not have to be daunting or intimidating. Some practical tips from eHow magazine will help you on your way and give you the confidence and courage to share your ideas with conviction.Gather information that supports your idea. Find statistics that show the potential success of your proposal with relevant examples. Write your idea out on paper before you pitch your boss. What seems great...