Bossed Up

When you need a reference, what’s the first thing you do? Almost everyone looking for a new job will need a reference or two, and a former employer is the most common choice. However customary this exchange might be, though, no one appreciates having a reference call sprung on them without warning.

I recently received just such an out-of-the-blue reference check. The uncomfortable experience prompted me to pull together four tips for putting your best foot forward when you come to this point in your job search. Spoiler alert: it all starts with giving your reference a heads-up. 

In today’s episode, I unpack some steps to make the most of your ask:

• Why a friendly reconnection is key
• Which job search details you’ll want to include
• How to check the temperature of your contact
• A bonus query for the bravest among us

Related Links:

• My LinkedIn Learning course, How To Leverage References, Recommendations, and Referrals to Advance Your Career - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/how-to-leverage-references-recommendations-and-referrals-to-advance-your-career/advance-your-career
• Bossed Up’s Job Search Resource Hub - https://www.bossedup.org/free-resources/job-search
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Most of us have or will experience the classic post-promotion “freakout.” This crushing crisis of confidence leaves us wondering how we got here and whether we can handle our new responsibilities. Jodi Flynn, a leadership development expert with more than a decade of experience helping organizations with attracting, developing, and successfully promoting more women into senior levels of leadership, often helps clients through this transitional time and remembers well the feeling of navigating it herself.

In this episode, we sit down to explore the reasons behind this inevitable anxiety. We lay out a host of tips to help you navigate and manage these feelings, so you can embrace the boss you’re meant to be.

Feel empowered with Jodi’s practical and insightful ideas for navigating this new terrain:

• How to deal with the tedious intersection of gratitude and anxiety;
• How to shift your perspective by cultivating an inner boss identity;
• Why you owe it to your team and yourself to delegate;
• Why keeping up on self-care as a leader is more than just a nice-to-have.

Related Links:

• Follow Jodi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodiflynn/
• Jodi’s podcast Women Taking the Lead - https://womentakingthelead.com/podcast/
• Jodi’s organization - https://womentakingthelead.com/
• Jodi’s book Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing - https://bookshop.org/p/books/accomplished-how-to-go-from-dreaming-to-doing-jodi-flynn/11327872?ean=9780692806975
• Jodi’s Leadership Operating System Inventory - https://womentakingthelead.com/leadership-abilities-inventory/
• Maine’s Women’s Conference - https://www.themainewomensconference.org/
• Massachusetts Conference of Women - https://www.maconferenceforwomen.org/
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear - https://bookshop.org/p/books/atomic-habits-an-easy-proven-way-to-build-good-habits-break-bad-ones-james-clear/12117739?ean=9780735211292
• McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace Study - https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/featured%20insights/diversity%20and%20inclusion/women%20in%20the%20workplace%202022/women-in-the-workplace-2022.pdf
• Academy of Management Journal Article - https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amj.2016.0662
• Bossed Up Episode 426, Women of Color in Leadership and Trauma at Work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode426
• Bossed Up Episode 437, The Succession Gap and the Growing Value of Your Leadership Aspirations - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode437
• Bossed Up Episode 407, How to Delegate Without Feeling so Bad About It - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode407
• My LinkedIn Learning Course, Coping With Your Impostor Syndrome To Build Your Career Confidence - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/coping-with-impostor-syndrome-to-build-career-confidence/feeling-like-a-fraud
• Level Up Leadership Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Recently, a member of my HIRED Job Search Accelerator community asked a very important and relevant question: how do I get back into the job search after years away?

If you or someone you know is preparing to take the plunge back into the working world, the four tips in this episode will familiarize you with how the job hunt landscape has changed and leave you feeling more confident in the career skills you still possess. 

Prepare for this big transition by understanding:

• The importance of starting to send out resumes right now
• The key step for that very first cover letter
• Why reaching out to everyone in your network is a supportive strategy
• How to address that “gap in your resume”

Related Links:

• LinkedIn Learning course “Career Strategies for Women Re-Entering the Workforce” - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/career-strategies-for-women-re-entering-the-workforce/resilience-for-the-road-ahead
• Randstad Survey - https://swnsdigital.com/us/2018/10/it-takes-5-months-of-searching-to-land-a-job-study-finds/
• Prepare to Launch U - https://www.preparetolaunchu.com/
• Listen to the episode “Dealing With Low-Ball Job Offers” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode439
• Listen to the episode “Grow Your Professional Network in the New Year” -  https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode435
• Listen to the episode “Marketing Yourself in the Job Search After a Career Break” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode202
• HIRED: my Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired

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What’s the last self-help book you read? These days, whatever life change you’re hoping for, there’s a self-help guru and their associated memoir eager to explain how they did it and you can too. The problem is that most of these books are written by the people for whom our capitalist society was built.

In this episode, I speak with Sharon Podobnik, a seasoned executive leadership coach and former self-help fiend whose questioning of the industry led her to write her new book, It’s Not (All) Your Fault: Self-Help and the Individualization of Oppression. Sharon is a font of knowledge on all things self-help and the perfect person to delve deep into this problematic field and begin envisioning a healthier, more equitable alternative.

Get insight into all the misleading and ineffective ways we try to help ourselves, including:

• The disconnect between who writes self-help and who reads it;
• The difference between oppressive and liberatory self-help;
• And how we start building a version of self-help that actually works.

Related Links:

• Find Sharon online - https://www.sharonpodobnikpeterson.com/ 
• Order Sharon’s new book - https://itsnotallyourfault.com/
• The Center for Conscious Leadership - https://www.thecenterforconsciousleadership.com/
• Bossed Up Episode 422 on gender equality at work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode422
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ 

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What do you do if a job offer comes in with a low-ball salary? In this episode, I dig into a topic inspired by a listener's email that echoes the experiences of many job seekers. The thrill of a job offer in your inbox can be quickly curtailed by a proposed salary that doesn’t even hit the bottom of your range. The let-down stems from a combination of systemic issues around hiring, genuine frustration and stress, and possibly some unrealistic expectations.

I explain what’s going on behind the scenes in these scenarios and what you can do to set yourself up for job search and salary negotiation success.

Press play to discover insights that cast job hunting in a new light, including:

• Why there’s an extended timeline on job searching today
• What’s happening behind the hiring curtain with supply and demand
• When in the process you’re at the peak of your negotiating power
• How you can be a part of the change to greater salary transparency

Related Links:

• Randstad Survey - https://swnsdigital.com/us/2018/10/it-takes-5-months-of-searching-to-land-a-job-study-finds/ 
• Bureau of Labor Statistics - https://www.bls.gov/
• Free Bossed Up Negotiation Guide - https://www.bossedup.org/negotiation
• Learn more about the fight for salary transparency - https://www.bossedup.org/takeaction
• Hired: my Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
• My job search resource hub - https://www.bossedup.org/free-resources/job-search
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Content warning: this blog post and podcast episode include mentions of pregnancy loss. 

Odds are, you either know someone or are someone who has experienced infertility or pregnancy loss firsthand. The visibility of this common but traumatic experience has been on the rise, but there’s still a lot to do before people feel as comfortable discussing a pregnancy loss as they do a migraine or knee surgery. 

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Alice Domar, a psychologist and the Chief Compassion Officer at Inception Fertility. Dr. Domar has investigated the link between stress and infertility for decades, and her research shines a fascinating light on this widespread problem. 

Tune in to discover the science behind this mind–body link, including:

• What the research has to say about the link between stress and infertility
• How to address stress reduction without resorting to victim-blaming
• What needs to change in the workforce to improve infertility support

Related Links:

• Dr. Alice Domar’s website - https://dralicedomar.com/
• Inception Fertility - https://inceptionfertility.com/
• Dr. Domar’s books, including Conquering Infertility - https://dralicedomar.com/products/
• Stress and infertility are connected—but 4 mindfulness strategies can help with both by L'Oreal Thompson Payton - https://fortune.com/well/article/stress-infertility-connection-mindfulness-strategies/?utm_source=pocket_saves
• L’Oreal Thompson Payton’s Bossed Up Episode 410 - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode410
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth - https://bookshop.org/p/books/ina-may-s-guide-to-childbirth-updated-with-new-material-ina-may-gaskin/11426722?ean=9780553381153
• Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/11/2023-17041/regulations-to-implement-the-pregnant-workers-fairness-act#:~:text=The%20PWFA%20requires%20a%20covered,business%20of%20the%20covered%20entity.
• Sarah Brafman’s Bossed Up Episode 414 - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode414
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Do you aspire to lead others? If yes, you’re in the minority. New research shows that fewer and fewer people are expressing the desire to take on leadership roles, with women and Gen Z workers being chief among those losing interest.

In this episode, I take a look at what’s behind this hesitance to pursue promotions to people management. Then, we’ll dive into what companies need to do to encourage and support their workforce to close this succession gap.

Tune in now to learn:

• How the succession gap exacerbates the gender leadership gap
• Why a solid succession strategy is essential for the development and retention of future leaders
• The very real value of your leadership ambition

Related Links:

• 2023 Visier study - https://www.visier.com/blog/new-research-individual-contributors-shun-management/
• 2022 meta-analysis -  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001879122000550
• Simon Sinek Quote - https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/conversation-why-do-some-teams-succeed-while-others-fail-its-the-environment-stupid/14850/
• Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Negotiation Guide: www.bossedup.org/negotiation
• Job Search Resource Hub: https://www.bossedup.org/free-resources/job-search
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Content warning: this episode includes mentions of pregnancy loss. Growing up, we’re often taught to deny or fight our fears. Fear is weakness, as you may have been told, and the only way to get ahead in the world is to become fearless. But since that’s all but impossible, we wind up spending precious energy we could be putting toward our goals erecting a stone wall around our fears when, in fact, acknowledging and respecting our fears could help us flourish!

In this episode, I speak with Farnoosh Torabi, a personal finance advisor, journalist, and author who explores fear and its role in our pursuit of success in her latest book, A Healthy State of Panic. We discuss how to identify and unpack our fear and use it to bolster our aspirations.

Don’t be afraid to delve into your fears with us as Farnoosh explains:

• What you can learn from observing your fear,
• How naming fear can help you tame fear,
• Why reframing “success” could quell your fear of failure.

Related Links:

• Farnoosh Torabi on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/farnooshtorabi/
• Farnoosh’s website - https://farnoosh.tv/
• A Healthy State of Panic - https://ahealthystateofpanic.com/
• The So Money podcast - https://podcast.farnoosh.tv/
• Bossed Up episode with Marc Brackett - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode323
• Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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How have you been making time for building connections? This is not an easy thing to schedule in around work responsibilities, family events, and hard-earned relaxation time, but it is an important and uplifting part of establishing and growing your leadership community.

I dedicated myself to this pursuit wholeheartedly in 2023, and I came away from it with pride in what I accomplished and three takeaways to help you implement networking in your own 2024 strategic plan. Let this be the year you connect with fellow bosses in a new and authentic way.

Grab a pen and listen in—this episode will have you itching to get connecting:

• Discover practical ideas for how to make a habit out of discovering “your people”
• Find out how a scheduling tool can help you create meaningful relationships
• Unveil all the ways this project will benefit your professional and personal life

Related Links:

• HR Certification Institute - https://www.hrci.org/
• The CiviCo - https://www.livecivico.org/
• Leadership Denver - https://denverleadership.org/leadershipdenver/
• Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Leadership Foundation - https://denverleadership.org/
• Calendly - https://calendly.com/
• Asana - https://asana.com
• Emilie’s 2016 YouTube video on effective networking meetings - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnJD4l-tzBE
• Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Raise your hand if being a mom and working away from home has you STRESSED! Most parents would agree: one of the biggest challenges you face in the early years is figuring out how to patch together childcare you can actually afford! 

Most parents in the U.S. have felt the impact of our poor childcare economy. Stiff competition for daycare entry, care coverage that doesn’t reflect the average work schedule, and costs that make it almost impossible for parents of littles to return to work at all are just a handful of the impossible choices working parents face.

Meanwhile… businesses today are desperate for talent! So why aren’t we catering to an eager but largely untapped potential workforce: parents of young children? 

We need systemic change, and Nicole Riehl is making incredible strides in this arena. Her organization, EPIC, helps businesses address their teams’ childcare needs in a way that benefits their employees, companies, and the economy as a whole.

Explore Nicole’s insights and the innovative solutions that are reshaping how businesses support working parents:

• The major economic impacts of the country’s inadequate childcare infrastructure
• Why affordable, quality childcare is a business imperative
• How childcare improvements align with the future of modern communities

Related Links:

• EPIC’s website - https://www.coloradoepic.org/
• Nicole’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-riehl-ab46634/
• Nicole’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/theriehlnicole
• Nicole’s podcast, “The Dropoff” - https://www.coloradoepic.org/podcast
• GenXYZ 2023 - Top 25 Young Professionals - https://www.cobizmag.com/genxyz-2023-top-25-finalists/
• Denver Business Journal - Outstanding Women in Business Award -https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2022/08/19/dbj-2022-outstanding-women-in-business-awards.html
• US Chamber of Commerce Foundation - https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/
• Bipartisan Policy Center - https://bipartisanpolicy.org/
• Council for Strong America - https://www.strongnation.org/articles/2038-122-billion-the-growing-annual-cost-of-the-infant-toddler-child-care-crisis
• Roadmap with The ECE Employer Roadmap - US Chamber of Commerce Foundation - https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/education/ece-employer-roadmap
• Leadership Denver - https://denverleadership.org/leadershipdenver/
• Proposition EE - https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1290
• Employer-Based Childcare Design Lab - https://www.coloradoepic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/EPIC-Design-Labs-Flyer-4-28-22-FINAL.pdf
• Ai-Jen Poo’s Care Fest - https://www.carefest.com/event/6b40797d-1bb7-403c-97ca-3ae437a3c87f/summary
• Take Action - advocate for the policy reforms that drive gender equity at work, including access to affordable, quality care: www.bossedup.org/takeaction
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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