#SheLeads Blog Post - “Your Coworkers Have Shoes Older Than Your Career as a Manager”

"I have shoes older than you!" 

Girl, if I had a nickel for every time I heard a coworker say this very statement to me I wouldn't be rich but I'd be cruising around in a 2016 BMW fully loaded right now. At work, I'm constantly reminded that I'm a member of the millennial gang. I get it, I'm young; but myself, and other millennials are much more than a group of people defined by their age. 

It can be particularly hard for millennials in a management position to be taken seriously. Older coworkers may think you haven't been around the block long enough to know how to do your job let alone manage a team or project. We not only can perform well in our roles but we offer other things such as fresh ideas and new perspectives, which could ultimately help to grow the company. Truth is, we got this!

There is no way around being judged for your age because you can't control the judgment of others but what you can do is change the perception your coworkers may have about you. No need to yell across the office, "Hey everyone, stop thinking I don't know what I'm doing because I'm young!"  Actions speak louder than words and I’ve found a couple tactics to help your coworkers see past your age.

1.    Be Confident

The worst thing you can do is hang out in the background and not speak up when it’s your turn. Take your seat in the boardroom with your young professional mug in hand and share those great ideas, give suggestions and say it like you mean it. You have to make sure you are not only seen but also heard.

2.    It’s Not About You

If you are in a position where you manage other employees remember that it is not about you.  Employee management is not about the fame and glory of your position.  Being a manager means doing everything in your power to make sure your team performs well.  Remove their barriers, earn their trust and show you appreciate them.  If you manage employees older than you they will respect the fact that you are on their side.  A happy team that achieves their goals looks good for you and looks good for the growth of the company.

3.    Give 100%

Show everyone at the workplace that you are an excellent asset to the team by giving it your all.  Cross your, ‘T’s,” and dot your, ‘I’s.’  When you give 100% success will follow.  You’ll prove to others you’ve earned your spot on the team and deserve to be there with the rest of the best. 

Once the office sees your quality of work, your awesome personality and the goals you continue to hit every month, your age will be one of your biggest assets.  Soon you’ll hear, “I cannot believe she’s achieved so much at such a young age.”  That right there ladies is the moment you’ve proved them wrong and literally made your place as a girl boss! 

See you at the top,

Antoinette

Antointte Minor is the founder of The Young Professionalist. This blog is part of the #SheLead2016 virtual conference.

#SheLeads2016 virtual conference also includes workshops facilitated by amazing millennial women. Our facilitators shared tips on networking, taking on leadership roles at work, self-care and more! Sign-up here and get access to some of these fantastic workshops!

Confidence at Work: 8 things NOT to say

As bold and fierce as we are, we sometimes have the tendency to unwittingly undermine our own confidence. This comes out in the way we speak - little subtle phrases that we use unwittingly signal to our audience that we lack confidence. Here are 8 things NOT to say if you want to sound more confident and assertive at work: 

1. DON'T: end a sentence with "...if that makes sense"

WHY NOT? Underlying this statement is a hint to your audience that you don't really know what you are talking about. The implication is "I know I'm being unclear so you probably don't understand what I am saying."

INSTEAD:  Be very purposeful and clear in your statements. If someone needs clarification, let them be the one to ask. Or you can say, "let me know if you need further clarification?" 

2. DON'T: use the word "JUST"

...as in "I just wanted to know if you reviewed that document yet" or "just wondering if you could meet with me today" 

WHY NOT? The word "just" is a permission word. Using it makes you sound apologetic (and weak) when you don't have a reason to be. 

INSTEAD: Eliminate the "J word" altogether. "Please let me know if you are able to meet with me today" makes you look way more confident and assertive. 

3.  DON'T: say "I'm not good at..." or "I suck at that"

WHY NOT? As women, there are already so many messages out there about why we are not as good. Don't feed into that. 

INSTEAD: Draw attention to your strengths. If you actually do suck at something, say "I don't have experience in that," and then highlight your ability to learn it or desire to improve. 

4. DON'T: say "This may be wrong , but..."

WHY NOT? You already lost credibility for anything that comes out of your mouth after this phrase. Again, you are highlighting your lack of confidence.

INSTEAD: Of course, it would be best to fact-check before engaging in conversations. But sometimes you're in a situation where that isn't possible. Try to only speak on things you are confident about. If you have a hint of uncertainty, you can say "I'll make sure to double check this, but..."

5. DON'T: Use Excuses

WHY NOT? Excuses are the tools of the incompetent. And you are not incompetent.

INSTEAD: Try to avoid having to come up with an excuse altogether. If you find yourself needing to explain something, be firm and offer alternative solutions.

6. DON'T: Be Silent

WHY NOT? This is passive communication. Even though you said nothing, your audience might perceive that you don't have an opinion or you are not confident that your voice matters.

INSTEAD: Speak up! One caveat here: sometimes less is more. But you definitely don't want to be silent. Your thoughts and input are important. 

7. DON'T: use "umm", "uh" or "like"

WHY NOT? This is a tough one. We are all, uhh, guilty of, like, using these words. It makes your speech less smooth and less clear.

INSTEAD: Practice not using these words, even in casual conversations. Speak more slowly. It's OKAY to take a minute to think before you respond, so take your time and make sure your statements flow well.

8. DON'T: Avoid eye contact (I know this isn't a phrase but it is nonverbal communication)

WHY NOT: Eye contact is one of the most important, yet underestimated, communication tools. 

INSTEAD: Hold your head up and look your audience in the eye. But don't be weird about it. One trick I've learned is to look at the middle of their forehead.



By Christyl Wilson
Guest Contributor


Christyl is a currently pursuing a PhD in developmental psychology at Georgia State University. She is also a program manager at www.cinnamongirl.org.

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CMB Item of the Week: $15 Old Navy Pencil Skirts!

Happy Monday everyone!!

Thank you so much for all of your positive back over the last week! My article, "What's a Hustlapreneur? 5 Tips for Succeeding in the Workplace as a Millennial Woman," was published in Bustle magazine last week, and I've received soooo many messages of kind words. It feels great and I'm elated that the article is helping millennial women navigate work life.

Over the weekend, I came across this steal at Old Navy. Check out these super cute and versatile pencil skirts! They are only $15 each! I also got 35% off! 

Old Navy is having a Labor Day sale this weekend too which means it's a GREAT time to find some work fashion pieces at a really affordable cost! Will you check it out?

I'll post a picture of the outfit I wear this week, with the skirt on our instagram. You can find us at @TheColorMeB and on our website!

UPDATE - I wore this skirt to our first networking event! I posted pics on our facebook and instagram and got soooooooo many compliments! 

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xoxo,

Courtney

Founder/CEO 

@TheColorMeB

Old Navy - Women's Patterned Pencil Skirts!

LOVE!

CMB How To: Job Offer

Hey everyone!
"CMB How-To's" are email templates to help you communicate specific work situations. Here's the newest template - "CMB How-To: Job Offer."

Obviously, there is a lot to consider when accepting a job offer. You can also reference the CMB How-To on salary negotiation (below). I suggest scheduling a time so you can review your entire compensation package and, if necessary, review expectations and responsibilities. I think that's best to do in person or over the phone, so start with this very brief email. Also, you'll notice I use "thank you" as a salutation. You can use what you deem appropriate.

We've given all the templates a new look. Check them out and tweet us topics at @thecolormeb!

Informational Interview

Resigning

Salary Negotiation

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A few of our CMB Mentors shared their wisdom and experiences during the #SheLeads2016 virtual conference. Our facilitators shared tips on networking, taking on leadership roles at work, self-care and more! Sign-up here and get access to some of these fantastic workshops! 

CMB How-To, Email Templates!

Sometimes I struggle with finding the right words to say in a professional email. Whether I'm delivering serious news or crafting a brief unbiased summary of a situation, at times, I struggle to find the right words to use. If the subject matter is going to impact my job/job performance in a major way, I will run the email by a couple friends and mentors first. It would be awesome to have a resource to write the emails for me!

I decided to start "CMB How-To's" to help other young professionals find the right words. I've started with these three common occurences. Resigning, asking for an informational interview, and negotiating your starting salary are three topics we all encounter as young professionals. These slides provide a template for you to start and summarize the conversation. 

Do you struggle with any other topics? Tell me in the comments and look out for your suggestion on our website!

CMB How-To's: Resigning email

CMB How-To's: Informational interview email

CMB How-To's: Salary negotiation email

Join our mailing list for updates on our blog , programs and services,+ exclusive access to my periscope tutorials !

xoxo,

Courtney

Founder/CEO 

@TheColorMeB