When people think of starting a second career, they often associate it with entering retirement age. However, there are a variety of situations you can encounter during your working life that can spur a career change such as facing a layoff, feeling unfulfilled in your current role, or simply craving a change. While it may seem scary to leave a position where you likely feel comfortable, a second career can be a prime opportunity for you to try something different, discover a new passion, and learn additional skills along the way!

When exploring options for a second career, following a systematic approach can help ensure you find a position that aligns with your unique interests and existing skill set. These six tips can help you streamline your search and give you the confidence you need to take control of your career.

Continue Reading  →

Whether you are dealing with departmental growth or succession planning, it's always important to be developing the next wave of leaders in your organization. While there are several strategies to train employees with the knowledge and experience needed to successfully spearhead a team, one of the most effective and rewarding ways to address this situation is through a leadership development mentoring program. Specifically, preparing and training high-potentials in your organization to grow into a leadership position by pairing them with an experienced employee.

Besides harnessing the people you already have in your organization, an in-house leadership development program helps:

• Increase employee engagement and satisfaction
• Boost retention and recruiting efforts
• Provide the attention and training high-potentials need to excel
• Develop meaningful relationships between experienced leaders and those looking to develop new skills
• Allow seasoned employees to give back

Here are five steps to keep in mind when designing a leadership development program to equip your employees with the skills to make an impact on your organization.

Continue Reading  →

Whether you tend to be less assertive in communication or your preference is to work alone, it can be challenging to share your thoughts in meetings with extroverted, vocal team members. However, contributing in meetings is an important part in making your voice heard and gaining respect in an organization. 

That being said, there are situations where it is beneficial to step up and share your thoughts with your group, and other times when you may want to hold off on sharing. The next time you're in a meeting, use this graphic to analyze if you should be speaking up. Share with any introverts you know!

 

Continue Reading  →