Career Management

In addition to attending the right school and working at the right company, one’s career success can be greatly boosted by securing the right mentor. As with those other decisions, choosing the right mentor for you can be a tricky proposition. The best mentor for your isn’t always the one who has had the most success in life, but the one who matches your personality, value system and spiritual compass.

There are times when work stresses us out beyond belief and we don’t conduct ourselves in very flattering ways. We get angry, petty or confrontational—in other words, unprofessional. The key to keeping your cool is being prepared. Mentally preparing yourself for workplace stress can be a boon for your career.

We all have bad days. Yet some of us seem to have more bad days than others. Employees who continuously have bad days are not the victims of bad luck but the victims of a bad attitude. We’re taught from a very young age the importance of having a healthy, positive attitude. Your attitude is your choice, so choose wisely.

You’re going to have good days and bad days at the office (and in life). The trick is to have more good ones than bad ones, and this begins with having the right attitude. When you’re having a bad day at the office, remember that life is all about the big picture and to give yourself a break when you feel frustrated or lost. Effective leaders know this is true for themselves and everyone else.

You know life is difficult. It just is. So we all have days when we think we’re not good enough, not talented enough and not worthy enough for praise. However, don’t let human nature get in your way. Don’t allow your self-doubt to undermine your professional aspirations.

Office professionals know the value of a good education. We studied hard in school and know how much being a diligent student can improve our lives and the qualities of the opportunities that come our way. However, one’s education never stops. Once we’re out of school and in the workforce, we must continue to learn and grow within our chosen industries.

Networking is a funny thing. People hate it, so they avoid it. But these are the same people that will spend a fortune on education and the same people that will work 60 hours a week to please their bosses and colleagues. Wouldn’t you think someone as motivated as that wouldn’t avoid setting up coffee meetings and informational interviews to further their careers? Sadly, they won’t take that extra step. And they are selling themselves short.

The woman in the cubicle to your right is quiet. The man in the cubicle to your left won’t shut up. They have different personalities; in fact, they’re complete opposites. Nevertheless, they both landed a job in the same company, in the same department, on the same floor in the same corner of the building. How does this happen? Different people can be qualified for the same job even though they have completely different personalities and ways of seeing the world and the people around them.

Office professionals are human beings and therefore they are likely—no, destined—to make mistakes. Eventually, you are going to upset a client. Eventually, you are going to disappoint your boss. Eventually, you are going to botch a project or presentation. And when mistakes happen it is important to keep your cool.