Career Confessions

If you're looking to demonstrate your leadership potential at work, it's important for your supervisor to see you in the best possible light.

But what if you're inadvertently doing things that drive your boss crazy?

No matter how good your technical skills may be, if your manager thinks you communicate poorly or have a negative influence on your peers, you're unlikely to be at the top of their list for promotion.

Lauren Lustig is the Founder and President of Lauren Lustig Advisors, a career coaching firm based in New York City. With 20 years of experience as a human resources professional and former head of HR, Lauren is passionate about helping professionals build a successful career strategy and providing small businesses with HR support.

On this episode of Career Confessions, Lauren joins me to discuss the 6 things you might be doing at work that your boss hates, explaining why you shouldn't wait to bring a problem to your manager until it's already erupting.

We weigh in on how to handle yourself during a reorganization at work, challenging you to market yourself as indispensable and stay calm and focused through difficult times.

Listen in for insight on asking for clarification when you don't understand a direct request and learn to adapt to your manager's working style and exhibit a strong sense of professionalism to succeed at work!

Key Takeaways

The 6 things you might be doing at work that your boss hates

Why you shouldn't wait to bring your manager a problem until right before or as it's erupting

How your boss is a resource there to help you

The best way to communicate with your peers in the midst of a reorganization

How to market yourself as indispensable and stay calm and focused in difficult times

How to ask for clarification when you don't understand a direct request (and why you should always ask for a deadline)

The value in emulating your manager's working style

How her strong understanding of basic professionalism contributes to Lauren's success

Why you should seek mentorship from others in the organization if your direct boss isn't great

How Lauren serves clients through career coaching, HR advising and corporate training

Connect with Lauren

Lauren Lustig Advisors

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Lauren on LinkedIn

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

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Resources

How to Give Your Boss Bad News on Career Confessions EP007

If you have aspirations of making it to the C-suite, you need a career plan.

But what if you don't really know what you want to do next? Or maybe you have a general goal, but you don't know what steps to take right now?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I share 5 simple steps to creating a career plan, challenging you to consider your options first and accept that your journey won't be linear.

I explain why it's crucial to reflect on your career path quarterly and make changes as needed, evaluating what DIDN'T go as planned to figure out exactly what you DO want.

Listen in for insight on identifying your strengths and disarming your weaknesses—and learn to set actionable goals that get you to the next level!

Key Takeaways

How to consider your career options, i.e.: path to promotion or transition to new industry

Why your career path won't be linear and how you can grow through the ups and downs

The value in understanding what you're qualified to do and what skills you can leverage

How to identify your strengths as well as the skill sets you can improve on

Why you can't wait for an engaged boss to map out your career plan for you

Why every weakness doesn't have to be worked on (but does need to be disarmed)

How to reflect on your career path regularly and make changes as needed

How determining WHY you didn't reach a particular goal can reveal what you really want

How to set an actionable goal and decide what tasks you'll do every day to make it happen

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Corner Office Accelerator Course

Leadership, Boundaries & Work-Life Balance on Career Confessions EP013

When you have financial independence, no one owns you. And no matter what happens, you can take care of yourself and your family.

But how do you find the time to build an additional stream of income while you're working a full-time corporate job? What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur without leaving your 9-to-5?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain why I'm passionate about my role as a career coach, challenging you to choose a coach who has receipts and sharing the results my clients have achieved.

I describe how I bring what I've learned from entrepreneurship into my corporate job, including showing up on the days I don't feel like it and giving my ALL—no matter what.

Listen in for insight on how I run a 6-figure business in 5 hours per week and learn how to be intentional with your time and start a successful side business of your own!

Key Takeaways

How I found a way to be visible and network in a way that feels good to me

Why I'm passionate about helping more women and minorities get to the C-suite

What to look for in a career coach

The results my clients have achieved from working with a coach

How I bring what I've learned from entrepreneurship into my corporate job

Why you've got to be passionate about your mission as an entrepreneur

The value in creating another stream of income (and how financial independence saved my life)

How to build the habit of consistency and show up on the days you don't feel like it

How to determine the financial status that will give you the life you want

How I run a 6-figure business in 5 hours per week

Why it's crucial to consider the source when you seek out advice

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Unhappy at Work? Ask WHY Before You Make a Change on Career Confessions EP012

Secrets to a Successful Marriage on Career Confessions EP010

Join the Success Blueprint Vault Mastermind

PLANOLY

Hootsuite

It's my birthday!

And as I celebrate getting older and wiser, I want to share the top lessons I've learned in becoming a corporate leader.

On this episode of Career Confessions, I discuss how my desire to fit in as an immigrant kid translated to my 9-to-5 and why people pleasing is detrimental to your career growth.

I explain why I frame my goals as if I'm training to win the Olympics, challenging you to achieve your vision without leaving behind the people you love in the process.

Listen in for insight on my struggle with mom guilt and learn how to set clear boundaries around what you will and will not accept at work—and get support when those non-negotiables are violated.

Key Takeaways

How my desire to fit in as an immigrant translated to the corporate world

Why people pleasing is detrimental to your career growth (and what to do about it)

How I made peace with making unpopular decisions as a leader

Why I frame my goals as if I'm training to win the Olympics

How reaching your goals WITH the people you love is such a powerful way of connecting

How the term 'power couple' creates unrealistic expectations

Why you have to let go of the need to be everything to everyone

How I struggled with the idea that my daughter would not know who I was

Why it's crucial to set clear boundaries around what you will and will not accept

How to get support when your non-negotiables are violated at work

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

You're not going to like your job every single day. And a stressful week or two doesn't mean you need to quit and move on.

There may be things you can do to improve your current situation. That's why it's so important to look internally before you change your external situation.

So, how do you know when it's time to make a change?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain why a bad month at work doesn't necessarily mean you're on the wrong path, challenging you to analyze why you're frustrated before you make a change.

I describe how to identify whether you're unhappy with the actual work you do as opposed to the environment you're in and discuss the danger in attaching your identity to the glamour of working for a well-known corporation.

Listen in for insight on addressing conflicts with coworkers and learn how to change what you can about your current role before you make an informed decision to leave altogether.

Key Takeaways

Why a bad month doesn't necessarily mean you're on the wrong career path

The first question to ask yourself before you decide to make a career change

How to analyze your workload and decide whether you genuinely like what you do (even if it's difficult or frustrating sometimes)

The danger in attaching your self-worth to the glamour of a big company

How to identify whether you're unhappy with the actual work you do vs. the environment you're in

Why some of us intentionally shy away from opportunities for growth (and how to change that)

Why you should squeeze as much value as possible out of your current role before you make a change

My challenge to reserve some of the energy you usually give your job to fuel your job search strategy

Why you should address conflicts with coworkers rather than leave your job

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler

Audible

Access the Corner Office Accelerator Course [Promo Code PODCAST]

Join the Success Blueprint Vault Mastermind

Do you hesitate to share your thoughts at work?

Here's the thing: No one has a bigger stake in any given meeting than YOU do. No one has paid for VIP seats, and no one's opinion matters more than yours!

So, what can you do to practice speaking up until it feels natural?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explore how to make your voice heard at work, explaining why it's a disservice to your team when you DON'T share your perspective.

I discuss how to handle it when someone speaks over you in a meeting, challenging you to be selfish and let yourself go first every once in a while.

Listen in to understand why you don't need an invitation to speak your mind and learn how to ask your boss for opportunities to step up and lead!

Key Takeaways

My practice of doing a quarterly audit to reflect, adjust and celebrate

Why I'm not a fan of the term imposter syndrome

Why no one has a bigger stake in a given meeting than YOU

How it's a disservice to your team when you don't share your thoughts and opinions

How to handle it when someone speaks over you

Why it's okay to be selfish and allow yourself to go first every once in a while

Why you don't need an invitation to share your perspective and how speaking your mind demonstrates that you're a self-starter

How making your voice heard becomes more natural with practice

How to ask your boss for opportunities to step up and lead

What to do if you need time to think through what you want to say

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Access the Corner Office Accelerator Course [Promo Code PODCAST]

Join the Success Blueprint Vault Mastermind

Schedule a 1:1 Coaching Intensive

So, your career is very important to you. Does your partner understand that?

I happen to have a husband who admires my drive. And his support makes it possible for me to take on more responsibilities at work and have a fulfilling marriage and family life at the same time.

Cory Martin is my husband and COO in everything I do. We've been together for six years and have two wonderful (and crazy!) kiddos.

On this episode of Career Confessions, Cory joins me to describe how we created a long-term vision for our family and explain how a foundation in personal development made the transition from friendship to relationship easy for us.

We weigh in on why it's crucial for driven women to find a partner who supports our ambition, and Cory describes why he became a stay-at-home dad and what that shift was like for him.

Listen in for insight on getting buy-in from your partner by explaining WHY you want to do something new and get our top secrets to building a successful, supportive marriage!

Key Takeaways

The value in working with your partner to create a long-term vision for your family

When Cory and I started dating and what drew us to each other

How the ability to have REAL conversations early on made the transition from friendship to relationship easy for us

The benefit of sharing a foundation in personal development in your marriage

Why it's crucial for driven women to find a partner who admires and honors our ambition

What inspired the decision for Cory to become a stay-at-home dad and what that shift was like for him

How not wanting to let each other down drives Cory and I to do difficult things

Why we keep a shared calendar to stay organized

The importance of explaining WHY you want to do something new and how it will help you become a better partner

How Cory's buy-in and support allow me to take action toward my career goals

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Corner Office Accelerator Course [Discount Code PODCAST]

Success Blueprint Mastermind

Free eBook: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Subscribe to Career Confessions on Apple Podcasts

Feeling stuck in your current role?

We've all been there at some point in our career. But here's the thing: You are not a tree.

To get unstuck, you've got to get in motion.

On this episode of Career Confessions, I'm offering insight on how to get unstuck and make your next career move.

I explain how to audit what's making you feel stuck and find the root cause—and then focus your energy on the things you CAN control in your current situation as you prepare to make a change.

Listen in for advice on avoiding analysis paralysis as you explore new opportunities and take on my challenge to stop waiting for 'perfect' and apply for five jobs today!

Key Takeaways

How to audit what's making you feel stuck and find the root cause

Why you'll still feel stuck if you make a change without knowing the root cause

How to apply John Maxwell's Law of the Rubber Band

How my career development course can help you get unstuck

Why it's crucial to focus on what you CAN control in your current situation (and let go of what does not deserve your energy)

How to avoid analysis paralysis as you explore other opportunities

What to do if you don't necessarily feel stuck but you do feel like you're ready for more

My challenge to do some research and apply for 5 jobs NOW

Why you can't wait to make a change until everything is perfect

The value in writing down what's stopping you from moving forward

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Most of us have a much heavier workload than we did 18 months ago. Yes, we're grateful to have a job, and we don't want to let anyone down—so we're making it work.

But is this 'new normal' sustainable for the long term? Or is it putting us on the fast-track to bitterness and burnout?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I discuss the truth and the lies surrounding burnout, challenging you to be aware of where you're making sacrifices that used to be non-negotiable.

I share my hack for considering WHY you're working late or taking on extra responsibilities, explaining how to set boundaries to protect yourself and the things that matter most.

Listen in for insight on how burnout manifests when you're not aware of your feelings and get my top tips for reconnecting with your body, making time to recharge, and setting yourself up for long-term success!

Key Takeaways

How the majority of us have more responsibility than we did 18 months ago

Why it's crucial to be aware of where you're sacrificing things that used to be non-negotiable

How to think about the promotion or raise you are working toward in terms of who will be there to celebrate with you when you win

The value in considering WHY you're staying late or taking on extra work

How burnout manifests in other ways when we're not aware of our feelings

How to audit your current circumstances and set boundaries to protect yourself and the things that matter most

How to decide what sacrifices you're okay with vs. what sacrifices you'll regret

How to work with your team to take time off and still be mindful of each other

The power in giving yourself a short break to nap, take a walk or meditate

How to reconnect with your body and listen when it says you need a break

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Andrea's Success Blueprint Vault Mastermind

Are you afraid to give your boss bad news for fear they'll shoot the messenger?

No, it doesn't feel good to let a supervisor know when something's gone wrong. But waiting until it's too late is much, much worse.

So, what is the best way to approach the conversation? How do you show up with professionalism, perspective, and a potential path forward?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I discuss how to deliver bad news, explaining why you shouldn't wait to address serious issues with your boss—even if you haven't come up with a solution yet.

I weigh in on why you should schedule a time to talk rather than waiting for a one-on-one, describing how downplaying bad news impacts your credibility.

Listen in to understand why you should focus on facts (rather than assigning blame) and learn the four steps to delivering bad news in an intentional, solutions-focused way.

Key Takeaways

Why we shouldn't wait to bring up bad news (even if we don't have a solution yet)

Why it's crucial to consider your boss' communication style

My top 4 tips for delivering bad news to your supervisor in an intentional way

Why you should schedule a time to talk vs. waiting for a 1:1

How downplaying bad news impacts your credibility

The importance of focusing on facts, not what went wrong

How to bring your boss options and ask for input around solving the problem at hand

The value in taking on accountability when you didn't make the mistake

How to explain what went wrong and prevent the problem from happening again

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Andrea's Success Blueprint Vault Mastermind