Employee Whisperer Magazine MAY 2022

Employee Whisperer Magazine May, 2022

THE CHALLENGE OF "ENLIGHTENED" EMPLOYEES How to travel with a small budget

DON'T TAKE RESIGNATIONS PERSONALLY

MY MOTHER'S DAY TRIBUTE

MANAGING IN NEW ENVIRONMENTS Make travels much easier for you

Contents Page 3

Page 6

Hot Topics

Executive Coaching Topic: Managing in "New" Environments

What I'm hearing from my clients and my professional associates, and what I'm reading in the business media

Tips for managing different work environments for results and engagement

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Page 7

The Challenge of "Enlightened" Employees

My Mother's Day Tribute

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Pages 8, 9, and 10

Executive Coaching Wisdom

April Recap in Photos

What does it mean to have "enlightened" employees and how to respond

This month's Wisdom for Leaders

Honoring my late mom and the strong women who came before her

What's Happening in May

How to Connect

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Hot Topics Here are some of the hot topics among my professional associates and what I'm reading in the business media.

1. "WHAT SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNERS DO IN THEIR SPARE TIME" - According to some articles about how very successful business owners use their spare time they aren't watching TV! One article cited their habit of reading instead - at least 2 books a month. They read not only as lifelong learners, but to gain and understand different perspectives.

2. "HOW WOULD YOU BE JUDGED AS A LEADER?" - According to a recent McKinsey survey, when gathering employees' opinions about good leadership, soft skills rise to the top of the list. Technical skills and deep expertise are often rated below the softer skills necessary for today's most effective leaders. Communicating effectively and motivating others are two of the top mentions. However, empathy and compassion are also highly desirable. Employees often cite leaving a job BECAUSE of their manager!

3. "RECRUITING AND RETENTION ARE MORE CHALLENGING THAN EVER" Employees are more aware of the options that are available to them than ever before. It's an employee market extremely competitive - and one that is not simply about compensation and benefits. Company culture, work design, use of technology, and employee flexibility are top considerations as well.

How does your company compare?

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The Challenge of

"Enlightened Employees" Many of us have experienced the discontent dealing with what we experienced as “entitled” employees. I believe we are in a new era of what I term “enlightened” employees. These are employees who have had an awakening.

They have had time to experience a variety of work scenarios, the expanded functionality of new technology, and a new sense of self.

This has affected a mix of the generations, surprising managers and leaders and catching them off guard. The pandemic provided a unique opportunity for self-reflection and selfdiscovery. I am often surprised when I think of all the implications associated with the pandemic. Many have suffered immeasurable losses and long-term effects from the virus itself. Others have seen their world turn upside down for economic or cultural reasons. But there is another segment of our population that has embraced what the pandemic offered, a chance for reevaluation.

Many of our younger employees have experienced an extremely online world, one in which they stay connected and learn online.

They have become comfortable where their own cycle of energy and feel ready to take on challenges - whether we think they're ready or not.

For someone who's in the middle of their career, they too have seen changes and have adapted surprisingly well. They know more about what they want and what is possible.

Their experience and skills are in high demand.

What may have been viewed as entitled before has been earned. The Enlightenment comes from knowing that there are competitive opportunities out there that offer more of what they are looking for. They also have a clear sense of what they need to be content in their career.

Let's not forget to consider more established older professionals. They are stuck between the paradigm of knowing what it takes to get ahead, yet seeing younger counterparts getting ahead more quickly. They are also enlightened about what is possible for themselves. Their needs may be different, but no less important than those of younger generations. These seasoned leaders, professionals, and tacticians are an integral part of the framework of business success.

How do you manage a multi-generational “enlightened” workforce? It is not easy, and it is more challenging than it's ever been. Here are some ideas to help you approach your employees with a fresh point of view and with a desire for sincere curiosity: 1. Set up ways to ask people what's important. Adjust schedule, assignments, end meeting formats based on what you learn.

2. Stop being married to YOUR framework for a schedule for work. Find schedules that work with the appropriate levels of accountability in place.

3. Find ways for employees to feel seen and heard rather than isolated and unappreciated - and provide direction regularly.

4. Establish core hours, during which everyone remains available and ready to respond.

5. Be clear with all employees about what it takes to get ahead and give them regular feedback on how they are doing.

6. Remain open-minded and transparent in your communication and check-in to be sure your communication is understood.

Want to explore this topic with me in more depth?

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY CALL OR SCAN THE CODE PAGE 4

h c a o C e v Executi WISDOM

DON'T TAKE RESIGNATIONS PERSONALLY FOCUS INSTEAD ON YOUR "LEADERSHIP LEGACY" THESE ARE THE LONGLASTING CONTRIBUTIONS YOU MADE TO THAT PERSON'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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Executive Coaching Topic MANAGING IN NEW WORK ENVIRONMENTS Having employees working from home, partially in the office, or working in remote cities continues to be a challenge for leaders. For those used to interacting with employees in person, it is truly difficult to make the adjustments necessary to achieve the desired results, levels of employee engagement, and with the necessary structure and accountability. As work routines continue to evolve, this topic remains a high priority.

During periods in my small- to medium-sized company career, my corporate career, and now having my own company, I have a great deal of experience in effectively managing at a distance. It takes a LOT more effort and planning from leaders, who are already over-scheduled and over-stressed.

Here are some practical tips to integrate into your leadership and management practices. They will help ensure you get the results you want and need: 1. Frame your work outcomes as "projects" and manage them as such. Define and understand the scope of the work and the milestones that will keep the work on track. Identify the critical path items and decide on the required deadlines.

2. Manage the work as if you were turning it over to an independent contractor for completion - but instead, name an internal project "owner". Communicate the scope clearly along with expectations of the expected pace of the work and deadlines.

Unlike turning the work over to an independent contractor, you must ensure you are still providing the appropriate guidance to your employees as they execute the work. (Be careful to follow all applicable labor laws, such as paying required overtime for non-exempt employees, etc.)

3. Schedule one-on-one meetings with your direct reports regularly and ensure you honor that schedule. Give employees the appropriate attention so you can get to the bottom of their concerns AND give them the professional development attention they require.

4. Actively connect team members who might benefit from working together - both from a professional development standpoint and a work quality perspective. This provides additional opportunities for connection and collaboration when the office environment is either not available or less than optimized for collaboration.

These strategies are working well for my Executive and Business Coaching clients. They are reporting great results as we systematically work together to redefine their engagement with their remote or hybrid workers. They also work well with employees who have different expectations about how their work is managed.

Want to chat about this topic?

You can book a complimentary call with me here!

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My Mother's Day Tribute THE WOMAN WHO MADE ME WHO I AM This is the last photo I took of my mom before her stroke in December, 2016. She survived the stroke at 82 and lived to be 84. I am forever grateful for the extra time we had together. She was also a three-time cancer survivor and a model of grace and courage.

She had a fabulous sense of humor and a terrific intellect. She and I giggled constantly and that is what I miss the most.

She was also my biggest fan and showed me what was possible as a modern woman. She illustrated what love was all about through her relationships with us.

Everyone who met her fell in love with her.

She challenged me but always provided me a safe place to fall - just in case I needed it - and I often did.

Thank you Mom. Happy Heavenly Mother's Day. I love you forever.

THE WOMEN WHO MADE MY MOM WHO SHE WAS My mom was part of a strong female household.

Her mother worked outside the home, so she and her two sisters were taken care of by her grandmother who lived with the family. All of these women were models of strength and courage and we couldn't help but learn from their example.

When they spoke about their own upbringing, they minimized the difficulties they experienced even though these were the source of their strength. We learned endurance, perseverance, and creativity from them. I only appreciated the lessons when I was older.

My mom, grandmother, and great grandmother provided the foundation for my love of people, life and traditions. Happy Heavenly Mother's Day to these beautiful women who paved the way for me.

Love to you all...

April Recap in Photos N.O. Chamber April Board Meeting hosted by The Four Seasons with a tour of Vue Orleans - this is a "must visit" AND their restaurants and Spa are fabulous!!!

Lunch with Sandra Lindquist, Pres & CEO, New Orleans Chamber

Local artist work at Vue Orleans - Fabulous!

Women's Professional Council event at the historic Lighthouse at Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans

The Party Barge is back in the water!

Some of our Women Presidents Organization chapter members at the Hispanic Chamber event

Wine at sunset PAGE 8

Here's What's Happening in May: Connect on Facebook here Connect on Instagram here Connect on Twitter here Connect on LinkedIn here

MAY WILL BE ANOTHER MONTH OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT AND A BIG OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK!

IF YOU ARE IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA: MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MAY 19TH AND REGISTER!!!

I've been participating on the planning committee for the inaugural Blossoming in Business women's conference in New Orleans from 9-3 on May 19th. It is designed for women who want to start a company or grow their business. It is the brainchild of Cynthia Pazos, founder and former owner of Diabetes Management & Supplies and now heading up one of her philanthrophic passions - the Pazos Educational Fund. I am also serving with Mag Bickford of the McGlinchey Stafford law firm, Katie LeGardeur of J.P. Morgan Chase, and Mike Eckert, founder of NOLA Angel Network. We have other talented volunteers who are also working tirelessly to put this together for our business community.

The conference will be featuring those I've mentioned above, along with several other top female business owners and success stories such as Caitlin Cain - VP, Local Initiatives Support Corp. I'LL BE MODERATING A LUNCHTIME PANEL FEATURING: Luz Lobos of Synergy Design Group, Allison Ward of Pet Krewe, and Christa Cotton of ElGuapo.

It is FREE for the first 100 to register AND you can sign up for a private consultation with an Attorney, Banker, or me - an Executive/Business Coach. You can learn more about the conference, the schedule, and the speakers HERE!

SCAN THE CODE OR REGISTER HERE - BUT HURRY!

Questions? Let's Connect

Email: Tina@designyoursuccess.com

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How to Connect My new glasses got me thinking about New Perspectives.

They are a metaphor for me to start seeing things more clearly.

What do you need to see more clearly?

Let's Connect Email: Tina@designyoursuccess.com

Are you looking for a New Perspective?

Connect on Facebook here Connect on Instagram here

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This is what I do: I'm known as "The Employee Whisperer" by my clients. Yes, that's really my thing! I could probably be called the "Leadership Whisperer" as well. I help women like you - Business Owners and Professionals - get the tools and techniques you need to smooth out conflict, help you show up confidently and powerfully, and bring your leadership to new heights - to get the results you want and need! You'll build new skills in communication and effective interactions with your peers, supervisor, executives, and team - becoming your own "Employee Whisperer". AND these skills will carry over into your personal relationships. That's a bonus from our work together!

I engage in customized Executive Coaching, team workshops, strategic planning, public speaking, and informative online training and webinars.

I'm a professionally trained coach with a CPA and an Executive MBA, serving my clients as their Executive and Business Coach.

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