#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!

Color Me Brave: Leandra Cartagena #servantleader #stjudes #womenpower

Color Me Brave is a blog series that celebrates amazing women that are both successful in their careers and supportive towards other women trying to make it. This series was created especially for millennial women of color because I want them to see other women of color that have been in their place, walked in their shoes and persevered. Color Me Brave is full of fabulous women leaders with dynamic stories. Enjoy and join me in applauding these industry leaders. To contact our Color Me Brave leaders, please email hello@thecolormeb.com.

Leandra Cartagena

Color Me Brave: Where did you attend college? 

Leandra Cartagena: University of San Francisco. Graduated in 2010 with a degree in International Business and Finance.

Color Me Brave: What do you do for a living? Where do you work? 

Lea: I work for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® as a Bilingual Regional Development Representative II- That means I do events that fundraise money for the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.

I have been in my job for 2 years and I love it. I see myself growing within the company and staying here forever.

I get to do what I love. I plan amazing events that bring joy to the attendees and lots of money to find a cure for pediatric cancer. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. I work hard to make sure that no family ever has to worry about medical bills while being treated at St. Jude. All a family should worry about is helping their child live.

Color Me Brave: Why did you decide to take on this position? Is it part of a larger plan for you? 

Lea: It was a great opportunity for me to utilize my planning skills and support an organization I blindly believe in.

Color Me Brave: Are you a member of any professional organizations? If so which ones? 

Lea: I am a sister of Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc.  My job requires a lot of travelling and that limits my involvement.

Color Me Brave: What are the biggest challenges you face in your job? In your industry?

Lea: In the nonprofit industry, the biggest struggle is that there are too many nonprofits. Millennials are obsess with starting their own nonprofit instead of supporting a well-established one.

One thing I have learned in my job is that you can’t control everything. No matter how well you planned there are certain factors that you can’t control. It is okay to accept that uncertainty is going to happen.

Color Me Brave: How do you overcome obstacles in the workplace?

Lea: Being organized and research are two key factors. If you do these two things, it is much easier to work through the obstacles and find solutions that emerge out of the problem.

Color Me Brave: What’s something you wish you could tell your college freshman self? 

Lea: Listen to Dad’s advice about life and money. Save half of your financial aid refund and enjoy college to the fullest since it will be some of your best years.

He has always been right.

Color Me Brave: How can women show their support for other women in the workplace?

Lea: As women, we need to learn to up lift each other instead of seeing each other as competition. Understand that we need each other to grow. It is important for us to find a woman mentor someone who understands us and is able to push us to greatness.

Color Me Brave: What do you do to relax with your girlfriends?

Lea: My girlfriends and I love and cherish our dinner/wine dates. Dates where we vent and support each other. Where we laugh or cry depending on the mood.

We also enjoy going Latin Dancing. Dancing is the cure to any heartbreak or any problem. Gotta dance it out.  

Color Me Brave: Anything else you want our millennial hustlapreneurs to know about you?

Lea: I’m 29 years old with a long life ahead of me. The things I have learned so far is that you need to make time for the people you love. It does not matter how busy you think you are. Make time for those who matter. Relationships are a two way street and they take work.

For more information Color Me Brave and other CMB services, check out our website www.thecolormeb.com ! Click here to join our mailing list!

Thank you for reading the first edition of Color Me Brave blog series! Learn more about our services and #SheLeads: Leadership + Empowerment Conference on our website!

A couple of our CMBrave honorees 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 interactive + fantastic workshops!

Super FLY CMB Item of the Week!

Hellooooooo!

Happy 2016, everyone! 

In 2016, we're switching things up at @TheColorMeB! In 2016, a big goal for me is to be more present. I want to learn how to seize the day and every beautiful moment within it - the good, the bad and the ratchet. (I like a little ratch in my life from time to time.) I also want to learn more about myself and express it to the world. 

Let's start with how I love regal things and will save my money to buy one FABULOUS fashion piece. I'm not ashamed to admit it either! More regularly, I'm looking for a good deal/bargain, but every once in a while, I will splurge. This first CMB Item of the Week is dedicated to my audacious alter ego (need to name her in 2016). 

Photo credit: Who What Wear

She is soooooo fly! So many hot items in this picture - sunglasses, her flawless natural hair, the super cute purse - I want everything!

Since it's finally feeling like winter in New York City, I'm going for the coat! You can get this coat at Nordstrom. It's really well-made and will keep you warm and stylish in the winter time. You could pair this coat with all types of scarves and boots for the perfect work fashion outfit!

Photo credit: Nordstrom.com

Details about the entire outfit are on WhoWhatWear.com. Do you like the coat? Tell us about it in the comments or on our IG @TheColorMeB!

Join our mailing list so we can keep in touch and talk more work fashion :)!

Hello December? OMG, 2015 is Over!?

Hello December!
Can you believe 2015 is almost over?! Me neither!!! It went by so fast. It's already the time of year when people reflect on all the ups and downs of the last 12 months and start thinking about what opportunities the new year will bring.

When I think of the year, especially the last three months, I think about the amazing strides we've made with CMB. We've raised our visibility tremendously this year. Since September, we've launched our mentor program, hosted two webinars, organized fabulous meet-ups and made strong connections with other lady boss millennials. **happy dance**

We had so much fun hosting this meet-up with
Marissa Germain's blog, "The Millennial Takeover!"

It has been amazing and if you follow us, you've seen my face all over these events. I love it all- our programs and services, our mission, networking- I'm always reppin CMB, hard! What some people don't know, is I also work just as diligently and passionately for my full-time position, in human resources.

While growing CMB, I've been grinding just as hard at my 9-5, implementing new processes and tightening up others. I expose myself to every learning opportunity because I want to both be better at my job, and use the knowledge to help my CMB community. It has been a wonderful learning experience but guess what?!

I was exhausted!

Don't get me wrong, I realized committing to this Hustlapreneur life would be a lot of work. Balancing a full-time corporate job, a part-time stylist position, and managing a nonprofit keeps me very busy honey. 

Photo cred: https://ronetheboxhouston.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/boss.jpg?w=300&h=225

What I didn't realize is my ambition and drive for excellence had taken priority over my personal life. In 2015, I can count on one hand how many times I've gone to brunch with my girlfriends. My calls home have decreased, and I feel that love and laughter missing from my everyday life. Shame on me. Family and friends are the cornerstone of my success. They are so important and instrumental in my life. I need to prioritize them as I do my professional life. 

In 2015, I focused on gratitude and being thankful for all the experiences God blessed me with - the good and bad. In 2016, I want to focus on being present. I want to be more present with my family, friends, future friends and colleagues. Seizing the day and appreciating life's moments will be the focus of my life next year. 

What are you looking forward to in 2016? Let's hold each other accountable and help each other achieve our goals. Join our mailing list so we can keep in touch. I want to be more engaged with millennial women in 2016 so expect opportunities to meet-up and talk about our work life, the struggle, millennial fashion and more!

<3

xoxo,
Courtney
www.thecolormeb.com

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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