Dealing with Stress
5/20/19
Dealing with stress can be a challenge. Sometime it can take over your mind and cause you to get off track. Some things that I have taken into consideration when trying to lower my stress is that I can’t control everything. There are times when I want to have the solution to everything and when I don’t, it frustrates me. I had to learn to let things take its course. I’ve learned to be patient. When I felt myself getting stressed, I have to remind myself that everything is going to work out. I’ve learned to also breathe. When dealing with stress, breathing is a great technique to calm me down. It reassures me that I can keep going no matter the circumstances. Dealing with my stress has also helped me deal with the stresses of work. Sometimes I find myself stressing out over a deadline at work, but I just pause, take a deep breath, and continue to do the work I need to do. Dealing with stress over the years has taught me to never give up and keep pushing towards success. At times, it is challenging but I have to think about the bright future I have ahead.
Professionalism in the Workplace
5/22/19
So I just recently started my professional career in accounting. It’s been a ride for sure but I’ve learned so much over this past year that has helped me tremendously. Coming straight from college to a professional job setting was very different for me because I’ve always worked in retail-like establishments. I will say that the environment is very different and something I had to get use to. At my old job, music was playing all day, every day. Now, the job setting I’m in is very quiet. There’s no yelling, talking to customers, etc. just quiet. At times I like it because I can concentrate and get my work done. On the other hand, I would like to hear a shout or two. However, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be working in my field doing something I’m very passionate about. There are times when I have to remind myself that this is not retail and I can’t randomly start singing out loud(as I use to at my other job). It is challenging because the type of environment I’ve worked in previously. However, working in a new environment has taught me proper etiquette of my firm and I do know what should and should not go on in a corporate environment. There are times when I think back to where I use to be and I all I can say is I’m very grateful for the change and I can’t wait for my career to blossom.
Can Women Be Leaders Too?
5/24/19
Remember back in grade school we did whatever it took to become the line leader? The line leader was the first person to be seen when walking around school amongst other students. It felt like a honor to be able to lead the classroom around the whole school; sometimes it was for a whole week! Well, working in the corporate world, being the line leader can be a good and a bad thing. However, if we play our cards right and follow the rules, we can be the best leader for our respective organizations. Over the years whether it was at work or in school, I’ve been graced with many opportunities to lead others. At first, it was terrifying. I wasn’t sure if I was cut out for the job, or if I could even fulfill my boss’s orders. But, after being in the positions for a while, getting accommodated to how things work, I was able to be the efficient leader I needed to be. It got so good that my managers were asking me to fulfill duties I had no permission to do. However, being a leader taught me some very valuable lessons. One lesson is particular is to NEVER FOLD UNDER PRESSURE. Even though there may be times where you are tested, or you may not have a solution to a problem, whatever the case may be. Always make sure that you remain humble with your head held high because no matter color, race, or gender, we are all capable of being the best line leader we can be!
Recap of the Week
5/25/19
Wow, journal writing is so therapeutic. Just reflecting over this week, I must say that I’ve taught myself some valuable lessons. I was able to find different ways to deal with my stress without getting frustrated which really made my week go by very smooth. I also was able to take on different projects at my place of employment where I served as a lead. Now, I as I stated this week, there are times when placed into leader positions I tend to get scared because in reality, I don’t want to lead people in the wrong direction. However, I was able to take on a lead role in which I did an amazing job with (never doubt yourself). With taking on the leadership role, I was able to practice professionalism on another level. I had to sit down with top managers and go over different aspects of work. This taught me how be in a room amongst higher individuals but also get my feet wet as an accountant in the corporate world. It gave me hope that one day I will be on the other side of the table in a higher position. Lastly, I answered my own question, “Can women be leaders too?”. Yes! There’s no doubt in my mind that there will be more women in leadership positions making major moves for their companies. Although it may be challenging, and there will be some bumps on the road, we have to remain dedicated and hungry for success.
“If at first you don’t succeed, pick yourself up and try again”. -Aaliyah
Saving or Spending?
5/28/19
It’s the day after a long three day weekend and I must say, it’s been a ride. I’ve been on this journey to saving money and I will say it’s been going pretty well. Yes, there are times when I wanted to stop at my favorite sandwich shop, but I had to remind myself the amount of money I could save if I just went home. With Memorial Day Weekend, I knew that I would attending some celebrations, so that was a perfect opportunity for me to save money; plus I love grilled food. I can say over this past weekend, I may have spent $15 on food, which in my opinion is good. I usually spend $50-$60 a weekend just on food, so saving the enormous amount of money I did, felt really good. Also, I knew that this work week would be short, yet busy at work, so there would be no time for me to leave for lunch. What I did to resolve the issue was to go grocery shopping. I really despise grocery shopping. It’s the hassle of driving to the store, finding a parking space, walking around to find what you need, and then the worst, taking them in the house. I know this sounds a bit lazy, but I really don’t like going the through the hassle.
The responsibility of saving money is not as hard as it seems, but there are times when it gets challenging. It’s going to take some work towards making sure that I’m saving as much money as I can, but I know it’s possible. Another thing I’ve done to push me towards saving money is writing down the different places I would like to travel. Although I’ve been places, I want to travel the world and see more. With doing that it reminds me of the money I have to spend to get to those places. This motivates me to save more money and fulfill my dreams of traveling.
Work-Life Balance
5/29/19
Working in the corporate world can be a challenging at times. There are times when you may get to go home on time, make dinner for your family, and enjoy your favorite T.V. show. On the other hand, there are times when you only have time to come home and go to sleep. Sounds crazy right? Well, I personally have been struggling with taking the time out to go home and just relax. Ever been so passionate about something or just can’t seem to finish the race until you run all of the laps? Well, that’s me. I enjoy the work that I do and I like to make sure that every day I leave my job, I’m at a good stopping point, or I’m completely finished. However, that’s not the way we should live our lives as young professionals. It’s very important that we must take the time out to relax and enjoy life outside of work. If we continue to constantly work, when will we have time to breathe? Have time to go on vacation? Or even take a walk at the park? We have to be mindful of those things when we take on different tasks.
Some things that I’ve been doing is actually leaving work on time. Sounds crazy right? I do have a hard time taking my eyes off the computer screen and before I know it, I’ve spent almost two extra hours at work (don’t judge me). But, over these past few weeks, I’ve taken it upon myself to leave at a decent time every day. This allows me to have time to get off work, go home, cook dinner, and relax; I must say, I enjoy it. Being able to leave work at a decent time actually gives me the opportunity to pick up extracurricular activities in the afternoon. I’ve now been able to go workout in the afternoon. It is important to do things like this because it helps with reducing stress also (I spoke about this in Dealing with Stress). I’m very satisfied with the changes that I have made towards maintaining a work-life balance. It does get rough at times, but I have to remember I can’t drain myself.
My word of advice for individuals who are in leadership roles, or even just work in a business environment, please take the necessary time for yourself! What’s the use of working all the time and never being able to enjoy the money you make? Stressful right? It honestly makes you reconsider the major you chose in college. However, when there is a plan set in place, it must be fulfilled. That’s why I enjoy coming to work knowing that I will complete my work for the day, able to leave at a decent time, and enjoy the rest of my day off.
“Don’t confuse having a career with having a life.” –Hilary Clinton
Declutter Your Mind
5/30/19
Being in a leadership role can become at a lot at times. You are in charge of a lot of things, and basically everything depends on you. This can be a lot. What I’ve learned as being a leader is you have to take a second a clear your mind. Take a trip, take a day off work, simply, just do something. It can be overwhelming at times when you constantly have things going on. You may begin to feel like the world may be crashing down on you. Personally, I have a hard time leaving time for myself. I’ll get so overwhelmed with work that I really don’t have time to even read a book or watch my favorite T.V. show. However, I have learned to declutter my mind. Little do we know, every day a tremendous amount of information is flowing in and out if our brains. We may have multiple tasks that we must complete and there just isn’t enough time in the day. However, just taking a 10 minute breather can really change things drastically. Ever think about times when you feel like things aren’t just going right? That’s the perfect time for you to just stop and take some time to breathe.
Decluttering your mind doesn’t always have to mean that you have to step away from everyone; it can simply be throwing out old clothes that you don’t wear, or getting rid of that old car that was giving you trouble. Things as such can cause you to be stressed if you don’t get rid of them. For example, I bought a car that I had only had for a few months. I thought the car was perfect for me and it got me from point a to point b. However, the car started to give me the worst trouble in the world. I had to eventually get rid of it because it was really stressing me out. I didn’t know what I’d do without a car or anything. Long story short, I had to get rid of the car and get me another one that has been working in my favor ever since I purchased it. My heart feels good that I don’t have to stress about my car and I won’t have to let that stress spill over into my work.
Not only do you have to declutter your mind, but also your heart also. When entering a leadership role, there are going to be people who are going to test you, but you have to have an open heart. When you start to have an open heart and open mind, it helps you work with others better and even make wiser decisions in your everyday life. Of course, everyone won’t agree on the same things and everyone is entitled to their own opinions. However, when in a leadership role, you have to look at everyone’s perspective and come to a common consensus on the decisions that will be made. I have learned over the years that being able to look a different perspectives of life from the eyes of someone else really shows you different ways to solve issues or make decisions.
Recap of the Week
5/31/19
This week has definitely been a learning experience for me. Not only did I learn about different strategies that can help me in the corporate world, but also lessons and strategies that can help me in life. Ever been so busy that you don’t notice all of the accomplishments and hard word you’ve done thus far? Well I have. I’ve been so busy with work and school that I didn’t take the time out to look at all of the work I’ve done. I’m not just talking about the work I’ve accomplished at work, but in my life. Earlier this week I shared my struggles with saving money. There were times when I wanted to buy certain things, however I thought about the money that I needed to be saving and the trips I wanted to go on this year. I also did more grocery shopping (I know that sounds bad, but I’m in a single household). It felt good to buy groceries because I was able to buy food that I can bring for lunch instead of going out every day. This has also forced me to eat much healthier than I have in the past.
Another thing that I learned this week was how to deal with stress in the corporate world. I must say this week has been very busy for me and I’ve had a lot of assignments and deadlines that were approaching. I felt myself getting overwhelmed because I had work and then homework on top of that (I felt like I was going crazy.) But, I put myself on a schedule this week. I catered 2-3 hours after every work shift to my homework. I knew that there wouldn’t be time for me to just relax this week so I compromised my time to myself to get things done. I know I spoke earlier this week about having a work-life balance, but at times like this, you have to do what you have to do. Isn’t that how life works anyway? Get it done or don’t do it at all? Yeah I chose to get the job done.
I’m really proud of myself and the changes I have made thus far. Building this website and the content that I’ve added has taught me a lot about myself. I can take on different challenges being presented to me and make a masterpiece out of it. No, I’m not expert, but just taking simple instructions and producing a product as such shows me that I have the ability to take on anything. I’ve also learned life lessons of saving money, dealing with stress, and maintaining a work-life balance. It was challenging this week to make those changes, but I noticed without these changes, I will not be the successful leader I inspire to be. I’ve seen that there are bumps in the road and life may steer you in a different direction. However, it’s up to you to stay motivated, dedicated, and committed to being the best leader you can be; in the business world, and in everyday life.
Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent. –Billy Graham
Leadership in Everyday Life
6/3/19
A new month for new beginnings, new opportunities, and new ways to incorporate leadership into our everyday lives. Doesn’t it feel good? Being a leader doesn’t mean it has to only be a role at work. Leadership can be viewed in every aspect of life. As we continue to grow as professionals, it is important to display leadership outside of work. Remember that saying “Do right even when no one is watching”, well in this case, being a leader in and outside of work helps yourself as well as those around you see your efforts towards displaying leadership. Yes, there is never going to be a time where we are always leaders. Sometimes a good leader knows how to follow also. However, being able to maintain those leadership characteristics will take an individual a long way in life, whether professionally or personally.
As the weeks go by, I have seen the changes within myself to be a leader even though it has not been 100% in my work environment. Being a leader is not passing out orders, it’s not being the “boss”, and it’s not letting everyone around you do work while you don’t. Leadership is being honest, committed, dedicated, motivated, etc. These characteristics are and can be displayed on an everyday basis. For example, I have a lot of nieces and nephews that are at the age where they are starting to make decisions of their own and taking what they’ve learned from life and applying it. I, being the only adult around their age in family, is considered a leader for the younger ones. I graduated high school, went to college twice, and is now working in my career. This may not mean a lot, but to those who are looking up to me, see this as a major accomplishment. I can’t hold their hand the whole way through life but, displaying those characteristics of a leader motivates them to be the best that they can be no matter what adversity comes their way. I find it heart-warming to be able to be an example to those young teens because one day they will be in my shoes. One day they will have to step up to the plate as a leader and lead others behind them.
I like that I’m able to take the concept of leadership and use it in my everyday life. Leadership does not need a title in order you to display the characteristics of a leader. Being motived, dedicated, honest, committed, etc. makes you the leader you are and can be one day. Leadership is not only for the workplace, it’s for life. One word for thought; never let the pressures of being a leader stand in the way of the leader you are within. As I said, it gets hard, but you must overcome those obstacles and be the best leader you can be.
Leaving Your Comfort Zone
6/4/19
Ok. Your boss sends you an email at 9:30am requesting to discuss some things with you in the office. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? “Wow, what did I do?” So, 9:30 approaches and you are sitting in front of your boss. He’s discussing your skill set and the contributions you bring to the company. He then follows by saying, “We want to offer you a manager position”. Stunned right? However, you’ve never been a boss before and you don’t know the first thing about being a leader of a group. Fast forward, you accept the position and now it is your first day as a manager. What’s next?
I know it can be hard to adjust to new changes, but without change how will you ever learn? Leaving your comfort zone can be a lot at times. Growing up, I was a reserved child. I pretty much stayed to myself and when it was time to be in charge, I kind of shied away. However, as I grew up I noticed that leaving out of your comfort zone opens the pathway to more opportunities. For example, I use to work in retail selling shoes (btw, I have a fetish for shoes lol). When I first started working this job I knew that I would have to walk up to people and talk to them, which was terrifying at first. After a few tries of attempting to raise my voice, I had the courage to make my first sale; I was so nervous. As time progressed, I got really good at this selling thing. I had no problem with approaching customers and making sure the needs of the customers were met. It actually felt good to be able to do such a thing because as I stated, I was very reserved. Back in the day, you couldn’t pay me to speak up, but now, I think I do a great job at it. The more experience I got with customers, my boss at the time noticed my dedication and motivation to sale. Before I knew it, I got promoted to a sales lead. Me? A leader? Nooooo. Well, could’ve fooled myself. I learned so much as being a sales lead. I learned more about the company, I became closer with my boss, and I began to learn the peers who I worked amongst. Yes, it was challenge, however, it prepared me for other jobs down the road.
Gaining the courage to come out of your comfort zone can really take you to new places in your life that you didn’t even imagine you could go. As professionals, it is ok sometimes to be “uncomfortable”. Everything it not going to go as planned and you have to be able to conform to any situation. No, things won’t always work out perfectly, but taking the initiative to do different things, or experience different things says a lot. You never know who may be watching or who is looking up to you so it’s important to set a positive example. So, back to the original scenario, your boss offered you a manager position and it’s now your job to be in charge. What’s next? Do you step out of your comfort zone and bring new ideas to the table, or will you hide behind others? It’s your choice, just remember stepping out of your comfort zone can take you many places in life.
Leading with a Purpose
6/5/19
What makes a good leader? Does a leader get to give out the rules and just sit back? Or does a leader look the bigger picture at hand and find solutions? A leader is someone who first thinks about others than themselves. A leader’s purpose is to guide those who are receiving instructions from them. A leader should be someone that can take and give criticism when necessary, and overall do their best to lead others to success. The question that I will propose is “What’s your purpose as a leader?”
Leading with a purpose not only consists of being a leader, but also telling your story. I’m not sure about others, but, have you ever felt like everyone comes to you for advice? Well, I do. I never knew why people would come to me for advice and guidance until I actually sat down and thought about it. Most people just want to be heard. They want someone who is going to sit down with them and just listen to their problems. As a leader, it is very important to listen to your employees and also peers. You never know what a sit-down could do or change for a person. I learned that by sitting down and talking with people could change the whole scenario they may be dealing with. In addition, I like to share my story also. You never know something you may have shared may help someone else. As leaders, we have all been through things. We’ve also experienced struggles, and at one point, we were ones asking for advice. It is important that we make sure we share any hardships, failures, and victories. Being able to share that not only shows your employees and peers that you care, but you can step outside your role as a leader and just be a listening ear.
Leading with a purpose can result to positive change in those around you. When your peers and those who may be under you see you coming to work with a positive attitude, giving advice, sending encouraging vibes, etc. this will motivate them to be leaders one day. You never know the impact you may have on someone just by leading by example. I believe that everyone has the ability to be a leader, but what’s your purpose? Do you do it for the money? Do you do it for power? Do you do it to give orders? No, you do it to help your organization. You do it to help further your career and those who are amongst you. Yes, anyone can get the leader title behind their name or on a sheet of paper, but being able to display those characteristics tells a lot. Having a purpose sets you up for success because you’re able to take what you’ve learned, failed at, and succeeded at, and end up being the BEST leader you can be. So back to my question, “What’s your purpose as a leader?” If you can share your vision, tell your story, and encourage those around you, then you are off to a good start. Remember, attitude reflects leadership, so be mindful at all times.
Recap of the Week
6/7/19
Do you ever just sit back and learn about yourself? Your capabilities, your strengths, your weaknesses, etc. has allowed you to see your potential as a future leader. This week we discussed how to incorporate leadership in your everyday life, gaining the ability to leave your comfort zone, and leading others with a purpose. These are all different, yet beneficial ways that we can improve or build ourselves as leaders.
I want to take you back to the “line leader” scenario from week 3. Remember when I stated “We would do whatever it took to be the line leader?” Well, in reality, we have to do positive things in order to become the leader we want to be. We have to incorporate leadership in our everyday lives. You can’t lead people if you only display leadership in the workplace. Having the ability to inspire and touch the hearts of those you are around you, really shows others that you can lead and they will feel very comfortable following behind you, as long as it’s positive. You have to also be comfortable with leaving your comfort zone. Who likes doing the same thing over and over again? Stepping out of our comfort zone shows that you are not objective to change and you can roll with the punches. Personally, I use to be scared of change. I didn’t want anyone or anything coming in the way of what was already established. However, I noticed that without change, there is a possibility that I would never know my full potential in life. I would never be able to have the chance to be a line leader or anything. Having the confidence to change routine displays characteristics of leadership.
Honestly, this week has been the most beneficial to me. I was able to take the topics discussed this week and use it in my everyday life. Being a leader in not only at work, but all around you. You can leave that shell you’ve been hiding in, and you can lead with a purpose. No, these changes won’t happen overnight but just by taking the initiative to makes the changes happen, shows your commitment towards change. One thing that my boss told me was “never sit back and wonder what you can do to make a change”. You don’t have to sit around and wonder if you can make that step towards change or if you can do what it takes to be a leader. Doubting yourself only hinders you from your full potential. Just think about it, if you don’t do what it takes to be a leader or show those around you what it takes to be a leader, you’ve not only let down yourself, but to those you are rooting for you or want to take the same steps as you. This week, if you don’t take anything away from any of my posts, I want you to know that change is good. No it won’t be easy, you may scrap your knee, but we’ll get a Band-Aid, and keep on pushing towards success.
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” –Michael Jordan
Building Your Strengths
6/11/19
We can’t always get it right the first time, maybe not even the second time, but after many attempts, we’ll eventually get it. Ever sit and wonder how you can build your strengths? Yes, there are things that we can do very well, but have you ever thought of ways you can improve them? As a leader it is very important to have strengths in different aspects of life. Our strengths are what makes us who we are and our ability to do excel. However, there is always more work to be done.
Throughout my journey, I have taken the time out to see what there is that I do well. Not only to point out the positives, but to help make my negatives positive also. For example, I believe I have the strength of creativity. This may be a strength you all aren’t used to hearing, but I believe this is an area that I’m strong in. I like to take different things I’ve heard, seen, and experienced, and use to that to create things. I’ve always been told I’ve had the “creative eye”, but I just thought that I was able to bring things together nicely. But, I had to see it for myself. I had to see my potential and the things I could do with it. My creativity has not only helped me in a classroom setting, but also in my workplace. Sometimes you have to step out the box and do things you’ve never done before. Not saying that you can’t use your craft, but just imagine the things you can do with the strengths you already have. My creativity has landed me in positions that I never knew could exist for me. It felt good knowing that I could take what I love to do and share that with others around me. I stated before in a journal post, never feel bad or uncomfortable about stepping out of your comfort zone; that goes for strengths also. Never be afraid to improve your strengths. Never be afraid to share your strengths also. You never know what yourself and another peer or colleague may have in common. Just imagine sharing the same strengths as someone else and use them to produce something big.
Your strengths and weaknesses help you find yourself as a person. It helps you recognize that some areas you may be an expert in, may need more work. That work may not be changing anything, but as they say “perfecting your craft”. As I said before, you won’t get it right the first time, you probably won’t get it right the second or third time, but once you eventually get it, there will be no stopping you. A good leader is always eager to learn more and work on the things they may be struggling with. Organizations are moving at different paces in appreciating the value women offer, so it is important for us to keep doing great work, be appropriately vocal, amplify one another when we speak and focus on doing a great job.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Spotlight
6/12/19
Ok, I get it. Everyone doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. Everyone doesn’t want to be recognized. However, being in the spotlight can help encourage yourself as well as other around you. In the workplace, we are all given roles that we fulfill every day. When appointed to be a leader in the workplace, there are going to be several times when you have to be front and center. It may be uncomfortable at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be a pro. Being in the spotlight does bring along fear in a way. We don’t want to be seen as much, especially if something goes wrong. But how can we learn from our mistakes if we don’t fail at least once? On the other hand, being in the spotlight brings forth our best selves. We gain that sense of self-empowerment that can encourage others to be leaders within an organization. Not only does being in the spotlight bring out our true colors, but it also liberates the space around the office. Who wants to have a leader who is not encouraging, honest, motivated, etc.? This will not only push people away, but it will discourage them from being a part of the team and maybe the chance to be a leader.
My experience with being the spotlight has been challenging, yet beneficial. As I mentioned in Building Your Strengths, I was so shocked when my manager offered me the position of a shift leader. I was excited, but at the same time, I knew that everything would be left in my hands and I would have to solve solutions. I remember my first day as shift leader, I was so scared. My boss had stayed an hour extra after her shift to make sure I would be fine with handling the store by myself. I was comfortable while she was there, but when she crossed the gate, I knew it would be all up to me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I knew I was capable of handling the store by myself, I was just so scared that something would go wrong and I had to be the one to fix the problem. Yes, I had competent team members with me that night so it wasn’t as hard until I got my first rude customer. Although everyone knew how to handle these types of customers, I had to step in as a manager and deescalate the situation; this was my time to be in the spotlight. No, I didn’t want to be seen as the person in charge, but the person in charge who knows how to be a manager, but a sympathetic one at that. After the situation was handled, we went back to how things were. Fast forward a few weeks later, my boss pulls me into the office and makes me aware of the secret shopper we had in the store last week. It so happen to be on the shift I was working my first night as a shift lead; my heart sank. She began to tell me that the secret shopper was the rude customer that I deal with. Instantly I started to get scared and I knew then that I failed. However, my boss told me that the customer passed me with flying colors. The customer expressed how they liked the way I handled the situation and they could tell I had got the proper training to be a manager. I was so ecstatic to hear the news because I just knew that I did something wrong. This was just all to say that as a leader, you have to step up and be in the spotlight. Whether it’s handling an angry customer, dealing with conflict, or even proposing new ideas to the team, there are positives that come along with shining bright.
Being the spotlight can bring forth a lot of emotions that can either make you or break you. However, it’s up to the leader to take charge and be the best they can be. Yes, being in the spotlight is scary. But there are many other things in life to be scared of. You have to set the example for others who may be trying to get in the positon you are in as a leader. You can show them that it’s alright to be in the spotlight just as long as they are doing it for the right reasons and giving their respective organizations a good reputation. Like Rihanna said “Shine bright like a diamond.”
Executive Presence
6/13/19
First impressions are everything. Let’s take a second to reflect back on the first job you’ve ever had. When you first started working, I’m pretty sure you are introduced to the team and asked to introduce yourself. What’s the first thing you say? Hello, my name is ___________________. By that one sentence along, you have already made your first impression on your boss and the team members. This impression is one that will stick with others from the time you start, until the time that you depart. Now, let’s take it a bit further. When you introduced yourself, were you loud enough for everyone to hear? Did you have a presence about yourself that lit up the room? I know you’re wondering why I’m asking these questions, but think about how your presence is or has been in a work environment? Was it memorable? Or do you wish you can change it? Having an executive presence as a leader is not a trait you are born with, but over time it can be cultivated and developed.
“When leaders with executive presence speak, people listen—because their words project conviction and authenticity.” (Professional Women’s Magazine). I know I talk about my position as a previous manager a lot, however, being in that position has taught and molded me into the young professional I am today. Well, as a manager there was more to the job than giving out orders. Periodically, our district manager would visit the store to discuss things with managers and take an overall look at the performance of the store. I specifically remember one instance where my store manager was out on vacation which happened to be the same week our district manager was visiting. Can you say nervous? I knew that I would have to take charge and talk with my district manager just as my manager would do. Mind you, our district manager was a woman and boy was she strict. Not strict in a way you couldn’t talk to her, but in a way of business-minded. She knew ordered and demanded her respect as a manager. I remember when she first came in she was looking for my store manager. My response was “My name is Kadeidra. My store manager is on vacation and the store is left to me; I am the shift leader.” Just by those words alone, I got her attention. I used strategies such as looking her into her eyes so she would know I was confident in what I was presenting. I also asked questions. A good leader knows that there are always questions that can be answered. Lastly, I conveyed my passion for being a manager to her. Just by doing those things I proved to her that I had what it took to be a strong leader, manager, and maybe one day a great executive. Remember in a previous post I said it’s alright to leave your comfort zone? Well it is.
Too many times in life we are afraid to take the steps towards being a leader. We don’t want to do the wrong things, say the wrong things, or even fail. However, when you adopt an executive presence, you are prepared for anything that may come your way. You will be able to leave a good impression on someone or your organization. I always knew that first impressions were everything, but they can leave a heavy mark on you in the present and in the future. As I state in every journal, it won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible.
Final Recap
6/14/19
Wow, do you feel like a leader yet? Do you feel you have what it takes to be great leader? Have you adopted the traits of professionalism? Well I hope so. Over these past few weeks I’ve had to reflect on myself as an individual, as a student, and as a young professional. With this being my last class of master’s program, I knew that it would take a lot of hard work and dedication to endure this class. Not only was I taking this class, but I’m also maintaining a full time job while also working in my community. I must say it has been a joy to see the changes within myself and also the change towards living a simple life. When I first took this class I didn’t know that you could go into depth about living a simple life. Most people think living a simple life can be boring, but in actuality, there are ways to live a fun, happy, yet simple life. Living a simple life consists of making a change. Without change how can we succeed?
I remember starting off these journal entries my first step towards living a simple life was to save money. Yes, it was hard but over the past few weeks I can say I’ve really seen a change in myself. I no longer spend outrageous amounts of money on food. Now, I’m comfortable with going to the store and buying groceries to cook at home. I must say it felt good to have money saved up for a rainy day. I also developed and grew myself as a young professional. I’ve established myself at my job and now I’m cultivating the leader within myself. I’m taking the initiative to be a leader. Not to be noticed by people at my job, but to continue to develop myself as a young professional. I have taken on different leadership roles that has tested myself as a person. But without a little push, how will we get to the finish line. I must say I’m proud of the way I’ve stepped up to the plate as a leader.
Simple living is not just for young people and it’s not for older people; it’s for everyone. Living a simple life will change your perspective on a lot of things in this world. These perspectives could be positive or negative, however, just being able to witness the different ways to live a simple life is amazing. I hope that I can continue to push myself towards a simple life because I’ve already seen the outcome of it so far and I’m amazed. I appreciate you all taking the time out to read my journal entries. I hope they weren’t too personal, but I hope you all took something from them. I will say this again and if you ever see me in person I will say this too: “It won’t be easy, but it won’t be impossible.” Be the best leader you can be. Whether it’s in the classroom, at your workplace, or even in the community. Be that listening ear, give encouragement, don’t be afraid of the spotlight, declutter your mind, save money, maintain a work-life balance, and most importantly stay stress-free. All of these strategies can be taken into consideration when attempting to be a leader. Just remember that it is a learning process and no matter the circumstance, keep your head up high.
Best of luck to those who are pursuing leadership, and I hope the best for everyone. Thank you.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – President John Quincy Adams, former U.S. President
Professionalism 101 