Egos are fragile. The wisest person is the one without a glaring ego. How does one keep it in check? Be aware of the trigger or triggers, such as speaking without letting another person have a voice. Surround yourself with individuals who bring talent to the table. Don’t hire individuals who agree too much with you. Seek honest feedback, even when it hurts. Remember not to act like the smartest person in the room.

Recently, Seth Godin presented a webinar about how an entrepreneur can manage life and business being at a standstill due to the current coronavirus pandemic. Seth talked about his many ventures, successes, and failures. The important take away for me was how to present and view my consulting and coaching business as adding value to one’s target market (in my case, the client). It is key to be able to describe, in simple language, the value that is being added. It is important to know what to say to a potential new client. Godin also stressed having “smart persistence”. This means not giving up when an idea doesn’t work but doing what is needed to make it work—whether that means adding or taking something away. Marketing is understanding what the target market needs and providing it. Being the provider who adds value is what makes us tick.

Clothing choices can become a symbol and an identity. We are currently in a stay-at-home situation. It is very easy to become relaxed in our clothing choices (the apparel industry is having challenges). So why do we have to change outfits daily? After all, no one sees us. There are important reasons. Changing outfits, tops, pants, etc. every day gives us a sense of purpose. It can impact how we feel and give a sense of identity. When we don’t care how we look and what we wear, we can lose a sense of personal pride. This feeling can begin to erode our sense of identity and impact other choices we make.

When putting a team together, it is wise to create a communication guideline questionnaire. The questionnaire should indicate expectations, timelines, and communication vehicle preferences (ex. email, phone, or text). Each team member should put their expectations down on paper. These guidelines would be discussed at the first team meeting. Together, the team decides what works best in order for the team to be an effective group. The majority should rule, with personal exceptions. When working from home, it is best to have determined hours.

A cover letter for a resume is a hook that captures the reader’s interest. The letter should encourage the reader to want to review your resume, to go through the information about you, and to add your name to the top of the list for an interview. A cover letter should consolidate your background, highlight key strengths, offer career goals and value-added propositions, and illustrate your positive personal qualities. A cover letter helps orient the reader before looking at your resume. It is the reader’s first impression of you—and you want that impression to be a good one.

For individuals in transition between jobs, this is the time to practice your virtual interview skills. Here are some helpful tips for a successful virtual interview. First, prepare an introduction (approximately one minute long). Next, prepare yourself to answer the following questions:

• Why are you the right fit for the organization? What about your attributes and experiences makes you the best candidate for the role?
• What is a succinct example that illustrates you have the qualities needed to make a difference and contribute towards the organization’s success?

Record yourself three times. Then watch your recordings and pick the best one to send to colleagues for review. Pinterest and Instagram are wonderful resources to find information as to what to wear and what to say.

These guidelines will help prepare you for a virtual interview or a phone interview. Just like preparing for an in-person interview, you need to think ahead. In these times, you also need to consider your virtual presence

Using social media tools can help individuals feel engaged with the outside world. Posting items can open the door to your world and that of others – helping to make and to keep connections. Posting personal pictures of pets, flowers, and food items are fun ways for individuals to enjoy a connection with another person, even if only virtually. Many people also find that asking for help or posting questions for reactions is useful.

As a consultant and a coach with a home office, I have found keeping work separate from non-office life to be important. With 24 hours in a day, work at home can easily spill over to personal time at home. Keeping a schedule with defined hours of work and non-work time can be helpful. Additionally helpful is having a separate office space (even if it’s small) in order to keep papers and work items in one area. Scheduling client calls and returning calls during your “office hours” keeps boundaries in place and prevents burnout.

Below are 7 rules to use that will help ensure a successful conference call:

1. Schedule the call with a minimum of one week of notice unless it is an emergency meeting (24 hours or less can be scheduled by telephone or by text depending upon the participants).
2. Send a clear agenda and ask for approval or change requests to be submitted within 24 hours of the scheduled meeting date.
3. Provide instructions as to the login and the code needed for login.
4. Set up clear instructions at the beginning of the call regarding using the mute button.
5. Set up guidelines for using the speaker phone setting on the call.
6. Confirm all parties are present at the opening of the call. Also confirm the time allotted for the meeting.
7. Have a wrap up of the meeting approximately 3-5 minutes before the close of the meeting.

How does one get better at a skill? Is it meeting new people? Discovering how best to feel good about oneself? Or simply learning? Doing something new that brings a fresh element in view is the impetus for growth and change. I will always remember Wayne Dwyer’s talk about growing and expanding our circle. This can mean going to a new restaurant, trying something new at a favorite restaurant, or going to an event where no one knows you. This brings me to my first effort as a new golfer. At first, golfing with new people, especially good golfers, terrified me. Being brand new to golf, I dreaded playing in front of other people and I lacked confidence. For one year, I played at different golf courses where golfers didn’t know me. When I didn’t have the time to play on the course, the driving range became my best friend. Whether trying something new or strengthening a skill, finding a way to practice in a space where no one knows you can be helpful.