Author: CB Bowman, MBA, CMC, MCEC

CB Bowman is a Certified Master Coach and the founder of the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches. She specializes in executive coaching, human capital management, and career management. Bowman’s hallmark is her “ability to creatively cut through clutter quickly and help you reach your goals.” She is certified in 360-degree leadership assessment, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Campbell and other career and personality assessment tools. Bowman is uniquely qualified to provide counseling management in bereavement issues related to professional crisis, workplace trauma, downsizing, and mergers and acquisitions. In academe, Ms. Bowman is an instructor at Rutgers University’s Center for Management Development, where she teaches The Challenge of Leadership and Implementing Organizational Change, et. al. She has also delivered programs on Leadership for Rutgers in its Advanced Academy for Minority Business Enterprises. Formerly adjunct professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management at Mercy College, she has also served as adjunct professor of Marketing at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business. Ms. Bowman has been quoted on the Internet and in the media, including television interviews on Good Day, New York and in The Wall Street Journal and Female Executive. Her articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Black Enterprise and The Stamford Advocate/Greenwich Times. Certified to serve on public and advisory boards, CB has sat on the Board of Directors for the Society of Insurance Trainers and Educators (SITE), and also served as its North East Regional Vice President; and the Center for Preventive Psychological Care. In 2002, she was appointed by the Mayor of North Plainfield, New Jersey to serve on the town’s Historic Commission, which she chaired for four years. Bowman holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and fine arts from the New School for Social Research in New York, and Parsons School of Design. She earned the Master of Business Administration degree, with a concentration in marketing, from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, and was also a member of its Board of Directors. She has also earned a Certificate in Human Resource Management from New York University.

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Hating the boss is practically a national pastime. About 50 percent of people have trouble with their bosses, so you can expect that about half the time (and maybe right now) you’ll have a boss you don’t like. There’s no shortage of examples in the bad boss hall of shame:

Two-Faced Tony, who promises you the promotion is “in the bag,” but when he calls a staff meeting, you’re cutting the “congratulations” cake for a co-worker who landed “your” new gig.

Insincere Irene, who in the five years you’ve worked together has never asked about your family. At this year’s holiday party, she called your spouse by the wrong name, even though they’ve met several times.

Colin the Clueless, who asks, “How was your weekend?” and keeps walking as you sadly explain that you put down your beloved dog last night. Colin’s reply: “So when is this meeting—10 or 11?”

Do-As-I-Say Donna, who demands face time in the office of everyone, five days a week, but works from home starting on Thursdays to beat the weekend traffic.

Ron the Reliable, who has been promising your annual performance review will be “next week”—for the last three years.

Snake-in-the-Grass Stanley, who to your face says, “Don’t sweat it, you’re golden here.” Then as word of layoffs filters through the office, you overhear him on a call saying your name and the words “he’s toast.” Spending one more day with a boss like one of these is about as welcome as a lump of coal in your holiday stocking. So what do you do? If you’re like most people, you’ll quit! The fact is people don’t leave jobs—they leave bosses. But not so fast. If you make a hasty career move, the grass may not be much greener in the next place (and it’s better to take control of your job search).

Here are 5 things to think about:

Your “bad boss” is a good teacher: Your experiences at work—the good, the bad, and the I’d-rather-not-talk-about-it—account for about 70% of your professional development. Another 20% comes from people you interact with, and that includes your bad boss. Only 10% is from formal training. Enduring a bad boss is a crash course in how not to act and how not to treat people (Lesson No. 1: Don’t be a jerk). You’ll learn more about the importance of compassion and integrity from enduring a bad boss than you will from being around a good boss every day.

You can only change yourself: Whether your boss is only bumbling or outright miserable, you can find a way to rise above. Since you are the only one you can change, you need to address your own attitudes and behaviors. You need to dissect the problem, not to assign blame or seek vindication for how unfairly you’re being treated. Pinpoint the problem and its cause so you can find a solution. And here’s the good news: no matter what the problem turns out to be, you hold that solution.

You aren’t the center of your boss’s universe: Your boss has a lot more to think about than just you. There are too many people, projects, and priorities that need to be managed. As a result, if your boss is busy with his or her own projects, or feeling frustrated about something else, you could be encountering that moody trickle ­down effect that has nothing to do with you.

It could be you. As much as you believe, “It’s not me; it’s the boss!” objectivity is your friend—especially if your boss relationship has changed recently. Maybe you’re perceived as a threat to your manager’s authority or position. Or, perhaps you took a little too much credit for the last big team win. Maybe the boss’s boss is paying a little too much attention to you, and your boss feels that you’re playing politics.

Communicate, communicate, communicate! The breakdown in almost any relationship has to do with communication. With any boss, the bulk of communication should center on what needs to be done and how you can make that happen. Above all, make sure you’re performing! If you’re unhappy with your boss, it’s easy to become passive-aggressive and decide that whatever the boss wants can wait. Bad move! Stay focused on the team’s priorities, especially in the very short term. So be of good cheer: these situations don’t last forever, and you’ll move on wiser for having had this experience. In the meantime, for some holiday fun, play “Bad Boss Bingo.” How many of these characters do you recognize? Can you get five across? Cover the board? Need an extra playing card?

Check out Gary’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Advance-How-Guide-Your-Career/dp/1119641772/?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWTJOa09HUXhaREpsTWpjMyIsInQiOiJuT2tMbkwrYVNleFVxUEE0YUpjYWFFWllGNTBpSTgwRXdtZFBuVlljMjhJTEJWdkpWb3NnR3cyTmdkSEJpazVIYXByU2tsTm9kaGEyS0Y2NGRZd1R5QVowR2FVSnBQVHVDcWJ2VnZhZkJMNTNqa1BQV1ZPQitRWGhJRXFCQllhciJ9  
 
                        
 
 
(click to download)

PS: Want more advice about your boss? See Korn Ferry Advance and these stories on what to do when your boss is bored, ways to deal with a toxic boss, and handling a situation in which your boss lies to you.  And, check out our new book:  
 

Networking for Introverts

1.  Be the keeper of information.

One solution to fear of networking involves positioning yourself so people approach you for information, not the other way around. If you serve on a committee and your knowledge is important to its members, people will seek you out. Then it is easier for you to lead the conversation toward your career goals.

2.  Join associations.

Join associations and serve on a committee so you have something in common with its members. That will make it easier for you to start a conversation with another member since you will have goals in common. Some of the best committees to serve on are program, membership, and public relations committees. You may also want to select a committee that will encourage you to move beyond your comfort zone and into a new skill set.

The best source for lists of associations in your area of interest is The Encyclopedia of Associations, a comprehensive source of detailed information on over 162,000 nonprofit membership organizations worldwide. The Encyclopedia of Associations database provides addresses and descriptions of professional societies, trade associations, labor unions, cultural and religious organizations, fan clubs, and other groups of all types. (Use the database and forget trying to buy it. Amazon sells the four-volume series for $2,040! If you want to use the physical books, use your public library.)

3.  Become a regular.

Once you join an association, go to meetings regularly. It might take six months for people to start recognizing you and saying hello, so you may be uncomfortable when you first start attending, but just concentrate on what you are learning. It’s okay to be quiet in your first few meetings and, if you keep showing up, month after month, eventually you’re going to recognize other “regulars,” and you’ll feel generally more comfortable. You’ll soon be communicating without focusing on it.

4.  Use your natural style.

Learn to use your natural style when you’re attending events so you don’t come off as fake. However, here is an important trick: try to attend events with an extroverted colleague who will involve you in conversations. You might even plan a strategy with your colleague before you go. For example, discuss whom you want to meet and how long you think you’ll feel comfortable holding a conversation. Your colleague can “professionally” interrupt you to introduce you to someone else when time’s up or you give a signal.

5.  An introduction, plus!

Another strategy to use at events is to ask people you know not only to introduce you to others, but also to join the conversation until it gets rolling!

6.  How to get the conversation started.

A major concern for introverts is how to keep the conversation going. If the person you are talking to is an extrovert, this will not be a problem. However, when talking to introverts, ask them about themselves. For example, ask them how they landed their current position, which may provide an important tip for your own search. You can also ask them about their careers—what projects they are currently working on, the pros and cons of the job, and so on. Ask about their families, what professional associations they belong to and why. Listen carefully for opportunities to help them—perhaps you can help them with something that will add to your skills or be an opportunity to network with others!

7.  Turn networking into research or a puzzle to solve.

Think of gathering information as research, not networking!

Introverts tend to love solving puzzles, so we recommend that they look at networking events as a puzzle they are trying to solve—which pieces fit into their job search puzzle and how they fit together.

8.  Use technology.

If you are uncomfortable using our suggestions for face-to-face networking, try social networks like LinkedIn or Twitter, which are also great for networking. The “people search” feature on LinkedIn can be used to reconnect with people you haven’t heard from in years. Another great aspect of Linkedin is its list of professional user groups that you can join to increase your networking contacts significantly. Twitter is also very helpful. You can do a Twitter search for a topic you’re interested in and start “following” people whose tweets you find interesting. Then you can visit their blogs, leave comments, and start conversations. If you get to know them well, you can then ask them to join your LinkedIn network. There are also live chats, podcast, and webinars available; although less interactive than the social networks, they provide an opportunity to gain professional knowledge, which will help you when you’re trying to start a conversation at face-to-face events.

9.  Analyze your results.

Introverts who are intuitive and analytical can use these skills to determine what is working and what isn’t. The results can also be used to help determine where introverts can get the most bang for their buck (or effort).

10.  Practice the art of networking.

Workingwith an executive coach or career counselor is very helpful. At Executive Leadership, LLC, we have seen a marked improvement with our clients as we coach them in the art of networking. Our networking practice is similar to the work we do in helping our clients to prepare for interviews.

11. Find someone who is alone.

You know there are many other people who hate to “work a room.” They are probably the ones standing alone, drink in hand, wishing the whole thing were over! Say hello. You may find a kindred spirit and maybe a new networking friend.

12. Dont dominate one person with your conversation.

Introverts typically enjoy deep conversations, not small talk. If you do have the opportunity to get involved in a conversation with someone, make sure that you are mindful of his or her time and body language to know when it is time to move on. Most people attend networking events to circulate and touch base with several people, so be sure you don’t hold someone hostage by monopolizing all their time. Instead, have a short, memorable conversation, and then exchange business cards. Then make a note on the back of the person’s business card to remind you what you spoke about so it is easier to reconnect.

13. Do cool things.

Introverts typically don’t like to talk about themselves; we (yes, I’m highly introverted!) prefer to talk about ideas. Force yourself to discuss some of the things you’ve done. Don’t brag, and make sure they are relevant to the conversation. Doing this helps the extroverts to remember you and, what is more important they can discuss your traits and or your personality while they are passing along information about your achievements. Yes, I realize you would rather be accepted for just being you and not have to be measured by someone else’s milestone however, the truth is that the business world measures you by what you accomplish along with other criteria.

14. Help others.

Send leads to the jobseekers you know. You don’t have to talk to them, but they’ll remember the favor and view you as a friend. Try maintaining a list of specialized job sites that you can use to obtain job leads for friends who have recently lost jobs. They will be grateful for his help and the time it saves them.

15. Dont spend too much time on networking.

If you wear yourself out, you won’t ever want to network. Accept your limitations and do just one or two events a month. It takes a long time to build these relationships, so it’s better to stick with a few groups over the long haul, versus wearing yourself out attending events for ten different groups in two months.

16. Find the gatekeepers in the network.

Don’t make it your goal to meet one person who can only introduce you to one other person or, worse yet, someone who doesn’t know anyone. Instead, network with a gatekeeper, someone who knows several people. If networking wears you out, you will be better off finding five gatekeepers, each of whom knows ten other people, than trying to find and maintain relationships with fifty people.

While this strategy may take a long time to unfold because it may be difficult to find these gatekeepers, the payoff is high. Two suggestions: look for introverts who are in jobs that force them to be well connected or extroverts who will share their connects with you.

 17. Host an event.

By hosting a meeting, business event, or party, you can focus on the comfort and ease of your guests, rather than focusing on yourself. Be sure to serve food and drinks that are plentiful but that are also no-brainers so you are not trapped alone in the kitchen struggling with the food. For example, try bow-tie pasta with several different sauces, to which guests can help themselves, along with a glass of wine. For a meeting, try a salad for which guests can choose their own toppings and dressing.

18.  Be sure to have a plan.

Be very clear about what you want to get from any interaction. Ask yourself: What is the ideal outcome for this interaction? How does it look? What are the specific things I want to happen?

19.  Arrive early to events and meetings.

Make it a habit to arrive very early to events when only a few people have arrived. It is much easier to meet people when you arrive early verses if you arrive after the majority of the guest have arrived and have already formed groups where conversations have started.

Another advantage to arriving early is that you’ll have an opportunity to meet the people who organized the event, who are likely to be movers and shakers and to be able to introduce you to some of the other guests. Another tactic is to introduce other people to one another; it will take the pressure off you, and you can use “active listening skills” to join in the conversation.

20.  Us your skills and knowledge

Focus on ways you can help others with your talents and skills. Being an introvert does not mean that you are not talented and skillful. On the contrary, you could be a valuable commodity to just the right person! The key here is to use those skills to help others while helping yourself. A great way to start is by writing down some questions that you can use in a conversation that would feature your skills. You can then use those very questions as you meet contacts to determine if there is a way you can assist them in reaching their goals. This will venture should benefit both of you.

21.  Smile!

Smiling not only makes you more approachable, but it’s also a psychological tool to make yourself feel better. You’ll feel more confident, and everyone will be able to see it!

22.  Remember to breathe.

Chances are that, at some point, nerves or anxiety will kick in, especially in places that can feel overwhelming because of noise and activity. If you feel your heart rate kick up, take a deep breath to collect yourself and, if you need to, retreat to a quiet area for a few minutes. Being in highly active spaces can definitely be stressful, so be sure to take time for yourself, even if only for five minutes, to reenergize.

23.  Make eye contact.

It can be a challenge to maintain eye contact. The natural human instinct is to avert your eyes when you feel uncomfortable. Keep reminding yourself to maintain focus on the person or group with whom you are interacting. While strong eye contact is definitely seen differently in some cultures, here in the United States not making eye contact can be interpreted as rudeness or boredom. (You can also use too much eye contact; try to stay on the sane side of Charles Manson.)

24.  Hold something in your hand.

If you notice that you fidget a lot, try holding a cup of water, your conference booklet, or a pad of paper in your hands. This will keep your hands occupied and allow you to stay focused on the conversation. I do not recommend holding any type of phone, Blackberry, Droid, or i-touch or any other electronic device that would indicate that you’re waiting for something that’s more important than the person with whom you’re talking.

25.  Forget your 30-second and 60-second elevator pitches.

You’ve probably been taught all about the elevator pitch, but that’s not how you introduce yourself! The reality is that you only have about six-seconds to introduce yourself! You need a good, short personal branding statement. Mine is: “Hi, I’m CB. My company, Executive Leadership, LLC, can help you become more successful.” If your personal branding statement is crisp and interesting, you will be invited to give your pitch.

26. Try public speaking!

Ironically, many introverts are great platform speakers and great performers. They tend to be more comfortable talking to a roomful of people than networking one-on-one. One of the key benefits of being a speaker is that people come to you for networking, so it’s easy to establish new relationships.

27. Dont assume the worst.

Don’t think that you’re bothering people. Most people will be glad to hear from you, especially if you have something interesting to say or if a mutual friend or colleague introduces you.

28. Where do you start?

Start by relying on your supporters. Network first with mentors, close colleagues, and friends.

29. Make the most of what you know.

Take the time to read an industry newsletter before attending a business or social event or in preparation for an informational interview with a contact so you will be comfortable sharing the tidbits you have learned.

30. Remember “life is a cabaret, my friends!”

Relax and enjoy the journey.

One final point to remember: its been estimated that 90 percent of the CEOs in America are introverts! However, they have learned how to approach the world as though it is a giant stageone where they can go on to act and get off to be themselves.

Copyright © 2011-2019 CB Bowman

May not be reproduced or quoted in part or in whole without written permission from the author. Contact CB Bowman @ cb@exec-leadershipllc.com for permission.

Visit us at www.exec-leadershipllc.com for additional career tips or visit us on Facebook at Executive Leadership, LLC.

The Kids Of 9/11 Are All Grown Up

PTSD and Ground Zero

Many of the outcomes on which my team and I focus involve mental health, such as post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic stress symptoms include feeling the event is happening again (e.g., flashbacks, nightmares), avoiding situations that remind individuals of the event (e.g., public places, movies about an event), negative feelings and beliefs (e.g., the world is dangerous) or feeling “keyed up” (e.g., difficulty sleeping or concentrating).”…

https://www.good.is/articles/processing-9-11-trauma-a-generation-later-ptsd-mental-health-illness

Executive Training For Government Leaders

Driving the current trend for government training is the business imperative that preserving top talent is a key strategic initiative for many knowledgeable businesses. With a continuous need to remain competitive, many firms value training as a way to assist valued leaders develop agility in a fast changing business environment.

An increasing number of businesses offer executive training to their top people. Businesses are finding that training is essential for creating change and developing individuals towards their highest productivity and possibility. Executive Training can be invaluable in helping leaders bring the lessons learned in leadership development programs back to the office and positively apply these lessons to solve real work associated issues. There appears to be little question that training is an extremely strong approach to creating change in leaders.

Companies that have used training programs with and/or designed by coaches agree overall, you’ll find efficiency improvements, sharpening the leadership abilities of high potential people, correcting management behavior problems, and developing rhetoric skills ensures the success of potential leaders and/or reduces the failure rate of newly promoted supervisors. Executive training can provide the essential direction and leadership abilities …developing better social intelligence, to workers evidence shows that there is a reduction of demeaning and/or arrogant behavior.

There are great benefits in the use of executive coaches as individual personal coaches for executives in developing leadership skills. The detachment an executive coach has for the organizational structure and culture can lead to a non-bias opportunities which can be useful to supervisors seeking to make hard modifications in perceptions, work habits, views and interpersonal relationships.