Work Relating: meeting etiquette – clicking your time away

Posted on October 17, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

 don’t

you might be annoying your co-workers when… 

during the meeting you’re constantly on your blackberry/iPhone/tablet: 

  • you message your bff to confirm after-work drinks – click, click, click 
  • tweet about the dirty looks you got when you arrived to the meeting a mere 15 minutes late – like who can start a meeting without a half-caff-decaf-mocha-frappuccino, right? – click, click, and then 
  • you purchase u2 tickets before they’re sold out. click! 

So what’s so wrong with that? you’re a multi-tasker! 

it’s seriously annoying not to mention rude, that’s what’s wrong with it. 

do 

checking emails, texting, or doing other work during meetings is disrespectful to everyone in attendance. 

put the gadgets away and pay attention.  

me

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closet redis: quick update

Posted on October 14, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

so for the past two weeks i’ve been playing dress up and trying on outfits as instructed in the style strategy (with music bumpin’ to boot).  

it has been (continues to be) exhausting but kinda fun so far. 

  • i put together a few new looks for work
  • set aside 2 shopping bags of clothing (+ shoes and accessories) to donate to an organization that outfits women for work
  • signed up to volunteer with the organization. 

 i’m still battling the urge to shop – and the urge for chocolate, apple pie, and potato chips. oh boy.

 but i started my ‘list’ and trying very hard to avoid buying any more pants…or shirts, or skirts, or…. 

me

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Work Relating: meeting etiquette – latte come lately

Posted on October 12, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

 

ever been in a meeting with a co-worker whose behaviour is disruptive but they’re clueless about it? or might you be one of those people?

 here is how your lack of meeting etiquette may be annoying your colleagues. 

don’t

you might be annoying your co-workers when… 

the meeting starts at 9:00 am and your morning coffee run begins at 8:55 am. 

it’s not like meetings ever start on time. you know people will spend at least 10 minutes talking about who got booted off idol or the latest episode of glee. no one will care if you’re late, right?  

wrong. people care – especially the ones who were subjected to reality tv chatter while waiting for your frappuccino-craving-don’t-care-if-i’m-late butt to get there.

do

check your calendar for the meeting time and then plan your coffee run well in advance of that time – you might wantto anticipate early-morning coffee line-ups.

me

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my shopping tale OR where i buy my work-wear

Posted on October 11, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

in my many office jobs I’d get asked by my fellow cube-dwellers where I shop. my ongoing closet inventory revealed the following tale:

once upon a time there was a thirty-something cube-dweller who spent her free time looking for work-wear.

she’d start at 9 and walk WEST to the REPUBLIC OF BANANA and then take a stroll by the BAY sometimes stopping along the way to mind the GAP. she’d carry a reusable bottle of water and have a MANGO as a light snack.

she found that she often took style advice from her buddy JACOB and the twins she called H&M for short because she kept forgetting their names. to inject some fun into her work wardrobe she’d visit ZARA who knew how to work color and she’d consult mr. JOE FRESH – he knew how to make her look stylish without breaking the bank.

her bffs MARIE CLAIRE and LOULOU would also provide her with inspiration on the what’s-what’s in the world of fashion. The cube-dweller paid close attention to their advice.

having all this access to great style advice the cube-dweller eventually learned to pick her own WINNERS.  she discovered her FLARE and was more INSTYLE than she’d ever been.

 me

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Work Relating: Lookin’ good – time well spent

Posted on October 10, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

what i’m learning from my closet inventory adventure is that looking put-to-together takes time and effort. no wonder people fall into the ‘uniform trap’ – you know, when you can tell the day of the week by what your co-worker is wearing? oh it must be tuesday ‘cause Morrie’s wearing his blue golf shirt and navy blue pants. 

who’s got time or even wants to think about putting together “outfits”? i get it. but here’s the thing, i like to think of looking put-together for work as just another way of taking care of myself (like exercising and eating right) and as a part of my career plan.  

It’s a win-win: when I look good i feel good and this will spill into how i’m perceived at the office.  and cube-dwellers who look professional (and have a killer work ethic) will likely get noticed at work in a good way than someone who doesn’t.

do

you know how people plan their meals for the week? well, do the same with your outfits for work.

set some time aside on, say, sundays preparing your outfits for the work week (at least 3 days). this will give you a chance to mix things up a little, and, more importantly, save you tons of time in the mornings.

 

 

 

me

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cube dwelling: want to be successful? look posh

Posted on October 9, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

i came across the quote “want to be successful? look posh” in the book a vision of loviness by louise levene. it reminded me of advice i was given many years ago when i was first starting in my career: “dress for where you want to be and not where you are now.”

at the time i was temping as a legal assistant and was looking for something permanent so i could move out on my own. this was advice that stuck. i started dressing like someone who was serious about her ‘career’ and wanting to move ahead.

eventually i was given the chance to work in various positions in the company – nothing permanent but it might as well have been. I stayed on as a ‘temp’ for almost 2 years.

Working in various departments meant more opportunities to develop new skills and network. with an excellent reference from that office i moved on to a full-time job elsewhere; a well paying postion that required “business” attire – i wasn’t worried though because i already looked the part!

last year a colleague said to me, “you know when i first met you i thought you were a manager. you look like a manager.” i smiled because who knows?, maybe, some day.

don’t

roll-up to work lookin’ like you just rolled outta bed.

do

make an effort to dress like the superstar go-getter you really are. you’ll be amazed at the impact it can have.

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Quote: want to be successful look posh

Posted on October 8, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

Want to be successful? Look posh.

A Vision of Loveliness – Louise Levene
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cube dwelling: dude..like…umm..whateves!

Posted on October 5, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

IMG_9971

don’t:

when recounting events with colleagues, please refrain from speaking like you hang out with wayne & garth:

“and i was like dude! and he was like yeah, and then i was like no waaay! and then he was like, way! and then…”

unless you’re starring in a remake of dumb and dumber just stop it.

do: use ‘adult’ words

speak in a professional manner.  people will be more inclined to take you seriously and listen to what you have to say. this is particularly important when you’re a young professional looking to make some serious strides in your career.

the statement you make in your style and presentation will give you office cred, so go ahead embrace the english language and save the urban dictionary references for when yu hang wit yo peeps in da ‘hood, ahh-rite?

me

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In defence of the pants…

Posted on October 3, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

so i started with reacquainting myself with my work wardrobe – seriously exhausting.  yes, i have a ridiculous amount of dress pants but in my defence they are of varying styles and for varying temps: cropped, bootcut, straight, wide-legged, light, dark, light-weight and wool.

 I live in Toronto and our canadian weather is unpredictable and our winters brutally cold so i have to be prepared right?

Me

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In the beginning there were…pants

Posted on October 2, 2011 by cassandra mcd.

i was going through my closet recently –  breaking out the fall gear – and i was taken aback by the amount of stuff i had. i counted 20 pairs of pants before i stopped, afraid to go any further.   

oh oh. i had become a victim of quantity over quality. my sincerest apologizes to stacy and clinton, i’ve been paying attention all these years…i swear i have! i was mortified.

how many times have i been caught standing in front of the closet saying, “i have nothing to wear” or “i hate everything!” or “i need a new….” i purge and donate my clothing from time-to-time so how was this possible? 

step one is to admit i have a problem: “i have a problem.” done. so now what? well, according to nina gracia’s the style strategy, it involves taking stock and rethinking my look. well alright then, here goes…everything. 

Me


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