The Art of Embracing No - Your Career Intel

The Art of Embracing No - Your Career IntelNo.As an executive recruiter with two decades of experience, Im used to hearing no. No, Im bedrngnis interested in this opportunity. No, that salary is not enough. No, we dont like this candidate. Just recently, I had three offer turndowns in three days thats a lot of no in a very short period of timeEarly in my career, I realized I could let this consistent rejection sidetrack my day (sometimes my entire week) or get radically comfortable with hearing no. In doing so, I cultivated a strong sense of perseverance thats served me well no matter what professional challenges Ive faced.Perseverance is a commitment to going after long-term goals despite the obstacles life throws your way. Closely linked to resilience, its the trait that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever, rising like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes.Heres how to cultivate perseverance in your own career and embrace no.Depersonaliz e no. Taking every no as a personal rejection is emotionally exhausting and can paralyze your ability to assess a situation objectively and move forward constructively. Blindsided by an announcement? Feeling slighted that you werent included on an email? Take a step back and consider the bigger picture. Chances are this action is not a personal affront.Refocus your energy. You cant control how people act, but you can control how you respond. Whether your supervisor said no to a promotion or your client said no to a project proposal, its natural to be disappointed with these outcomes. Acknowledge these emotions, assess what lessons you can learn, and then re-focus on your next project.Know when to pivot. Perseverance is easy to confuse with persistence, but these traits are not the same. For example, if a candidate turns down a great job offer with an emphatic no, I need to respect this decision and move forward with alternate candidates. Continuing to pester this candidate to change her mind wont alter the outcome. My client and I are better served when I consider alternate, constructive pathways. Dont bang your head on a closed door pivot directions and find another way forward.Ask the right questions. What if you could platzset yourself up for success and minimize the likelihood of hearing no in the first place? Before jumping into a new project or pitching a client, take a moment to consider what information you need to be successful. The right questions can either expand possibilities or limit future optionswhich pathway are you creating?Cultivating perseverance at work is not easy, but doing so can be the difference between being merely satisfied with your job and achieving your biggest goals. Getting comfortable hearing no can help you take the big risks that lead to career growth and professional success and ultimately to hearing yes.

How to Announce Your Pregnancy at Work

How to Announce Your Pregnancy at Work Telling your coworkers youre pregnant can be nerve-wracking, even when you love, love, love your job. When I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter, I worked on one of the most unbelievably supportive teams, and I was shaking in my boots.It made no sense.I knew all of the smart, driven, ambitious women I worked with would be happy and excited for me and be filled with congratulations, and yet, I just couldnt get rid of this overarching sense of dread. Seriously, I think I feltmore nauseous due to my pregnancy announcementthan Ieverdid when dealing with morning sickness.So, in the hopes of stopping some future (soon-to-be) working mamas from falling into this saatkorn trap, Ive cataloged my biggest mental roadblocks and what you can do to turn it around when youre anxiety-ridden about making your pregnancy announcement.Why do we fear telling coworkers about pregnancies?My worry I thought I was letting everyone down. Being a pregnant woma n comes with its physical ailments but this psychological moment can be equally as tough.After I shared my news, met people with hugs and high fives, I realized I was my own worst enemy.The fix eliminate the negative self-talk.Most of myanxietywas rooted in negative self-talk that kept cycling through my thoughtstheyll think youre giving up, they wont take you seriously anymore, theyll think you dont appreciate the career advancement youve been given. Instead, reaffirm yourself, reminding yourself that this a normal step and that you will still be the professional you were before your pregnancy. If your colleagues know you, they will know this as well.What are your worries?I found out I was pregnant shortly after being awarded a higher position and a great big project. YikesIf youre in the saatkorn boat, you might be feeling guilty that you wont be around to see your pet project to fruition, or that youre letting down the team that promoted you by leaving them in a lurch. Would they have still promoted me if they knew Id be taking mat leave in six months? Will they feel like Ive dumped this giant workload on a now smaller team?The fix remind yourself of why you got to where you are now.That job? That project? You earned it So lets not dwell on the past. Instead, start thinking about your future at the company, and how you will continue to excel leading up to your leave and after your return to work. Mimic this thinking in your language with colleagues, When I get back, I cant wait to jump on that project, Interesting If you have time, Id like to share some initial ideas before going off on leave. If you see and project yourself as a person thats committed to the long-term success of your team, your colleagues will see that, too.Whom should you tell first?Having an incredible working mother or two on your team whos already been in your shoes should be a huge asset to you, not a source of anxiety. However, it can be easy to hold yourself up against your public p erception of this mama mentor.When youve been modeling yourself after a working mom who seems to be able to do it all (How is she always in before me? How is she always so put together? I dont even have kids yet), the working mama hustle can seem next to impossible. Youre telling yourself that theres no way you can handle motherhood as well as she does.The fix unpair your experiences.Just because youve professionally modeled yourself after this rockstar working mom, doesnt mean that there needs to be equivalence in all aspects of your lives.Remind yourself that youre just seeing the work version of her and that you have no idea what goes into making that happen when you have a new member of a soon-to-be-larger family. Chances are, shell be your biggest champion when it comes to taking your maternity leave and ramping back into work. Shes been there.How and when should you prepare to tell your coworkers?Before announcing your pregnancy at work (typically sometime after the first trim ester and the risk of miscarriage recedes) to your manager and co-workers, youve probably already consulted your contract and the local legislation to see what youre entitled to for your maternity leave.But theres a problem. In the years that youve been working for this company, youve noticed a completely different approach. Mamas are returning to the office sooner than theyre obligated to, and youre worried that the same will be expected of you.Find out your company maternity leave policy and then try to get a sense of whether its culturally respected. It will probably be easier to do this after you make the big announcement and not immediately after you get a positive reading on your pregnancy test.The fix get readingAnd Im not just talking about your HR manual and company policy. Im talking about reading the room and reading the mood of your fellow working mamas and co-workers when they return to work. It might not be the case that theyve had pressure put on them to return sooner . To the contrary, mat leave isnt for everyone and some may be choosing to come back earlier than plannedI know I didSo, strike up a conversation to better understand their maternity leave plans. This way when you approach your supervisor about planning for maternity leave, you can present a plan that brings together your entitlements and what you hope for your maternity leave.Should you disclose pregnancy during an bewerbungsgesprch?By law, you dont have to disclose your pregnancy in an interview. However, it may be in your best interest to do so, because its information your manager and team will need to have if you do get hired. After all, it could put them in a difficult spot if youre hired and they find out they immediately need coverage later on.Also, bear in mind that its illegal to discriminate against an employee or prospective for being pregnant which is not to say it doesnt happen. But legally, theyre not allowed to deny you the job for this reason.Announcing your pregna ncy at work the bottom line.It may not be easy to share your baby news at work, but I hope that Ive helped to remove some of the obstacles that may be in your way mentally when it comes to sharing the good news.All workplaces and colleagues are different, so keep what you know about your work environment in mind and tailor how you announce your pregnancy at work accordingly.I know these examples dont even begin to cover it, so feel free to tell me what your biggest mental roadblocks are as you lead up to the announcement--Lisa Durante is a Toronto-based working mama who believes in the power of AND. She offers real life insights and practical solutions that you can use to prepare for babys arrival as well as your life as a working mama.