Career Empowerment Techniques

Every opportunity that changed my life came from a relationship (not a resume). 6 tips to build a network that actually works for you: 1/ Check In Without Needing Anything ↳ Send "how are you?" texts more often than "can you help me?" emails. ↳ People forget what you said, but they remember that you stayed in touch. 2/ Give Before You Get ↳ The best networkers give help more often than they ask for it. ↳ Share opportunities, make introductions, send useful articles. 3/ Start Building Today ↳ The worst time to build relationships is when you desperately need them. ↳ Your next job won't come from a blind job app. It'll come from someone you know. 4/ Make It Personal ↳ Remember birthdays, kids' names, their big wins. ↳ One genuine conversation beats 100 business cards. 5/ Stay Consistent ↳ Set reminders to reach out quarterly. ↳ Small efforts compound into strong connections. 6/ Be The Connector ↳ Introduce people who should know each other. ↳ Become known as someone who helps others win. The net worth of your network compounds faster than your 401(k). Every promotion, every opportunity, every breakthrough... They all started with a relationship. Your dream job is one conversation away. But that conversation only happens if you've been nurturing relationships all along. Start today. Text someone you haven't talked to in months. Not because you need something. Just because relationships are your most valuable career asset. What's your favorite way to network? Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.

The most successful career professionals don't "network" by going to conferences and events. They instead cultivate powerful networks of work colleagues. Just think of the famous tech mafias coming out of PayPal, Google, Uber, and more. I use a technique I call Draft Pick for networking like these pros. Here's my step-by-step guide for doing so: 1️⃣ As you work in your role, you'll inevitably come across a select set of colleagues that far exceed your expectations, have the ability to move mountains, and inspire us to do our best work. This could be someone in your exact role, it could be someone in cross-functional roles you work with, or it could be inspiring executives within the broader organization. Whenever I come across these people, I immediately add them to a note I call Draft Pick. 2️⃣ While I'm in my role at that company, I try to find opportunities to interact with members of my Draft Pick. It might be as light-weight as trying to grab lunch with them or ultimately trying to work on a project with them or even trying to move orgs to work under them. 3️⃣ When I ultimately leave a company, I try to find ways to stay in touch with my Draft Pick on a regular basis. It could be reaching out to them with relevant industry news, inviting them and other colleagues to lunches, or interacting with them regularly across social media. 4️⃣ And ultimately I try to find ways to leverage my Draft Pick: maybe reaching out to get their perspective on a work issue, maybe trying to hire them to join my team, or maybe trying to join them in their next play. I find the Draft Pick approach to be a far better use of my time than traditional networking approaches for building a powerful network of professional colleagues.

I know I say this often but technology is no longer a separate sphere that sits alongside our lives, it has become the backbone of how we live, how we learn, how we work and how we connect with one another. Every career path, every opportunity for growth and every interaction with society is now touched by a digital layer that cannot be ignored (or if you attempt to ignore it, it will find you eventually). Yet millions of people remain excluded from this reality because they lack digital literacy. This absence is not just a matter of missing skills, it is a fundamental rights issue. When individuals cannot navigate the digital world with confidence, they are shut out of opportunities to progress, unable to properly protect their own data and left with little or no voice in shaping the very technologies that increasingly govern their futures. The future of work will only amplify this divide. Artificial intelligence, automation and global collaboration are already transforming entire industries at a pace that few of us can fully grasp. Those who have digital fluency will be able to adapt, retrain and thrive but those who do not will find themselves excluded from the jobs, the networks and the influence that will define the decades ahead. If we are serious about preparing for the future of work, we must start treating digital literacy as we once treated reading and writing. It should not be viewed as an optional advantage but something that everyone deserves access to. It is the foundation upon which lifelong learning, career resilience and meaningful participation in society must be built. However this cannot be the responsibility of a single sector; schools cannot do it alone, businesses cannot simply outsource it and governments cannot legislate it into existence without collaboration. Building digital confidence for all requires a collective commitment, where every organisation, every leader and every community recognises the role they play in creating inclusive and accessible spaces for digital learning. The future of work cannot be designed for a select few who happen to be digitally fluent, it must be accessible to the many, grounded in the principle that opportunity in the digital age is not a privilege but a right.

When was the last time you asked yourself: ‘What’s really working and what isn’t?’ Most professionals don’t. They keep moving from one task to the next, mistaking busyness for progress. But here’s the truth I’ve seen in 10+ years of coaching: 👉 Your career doesn’t stall because of lack of effort. 👉 It stalls because of lack of reflection. That’s why I use a structured self-reflection framework every week and I teach my clients to do the same. 🟢 My Reflection Framework 1. Core Purpose Questions (Weekly) ✔ Am I still excited about my end goal? ✔ What did I do this week that moved me closer? ✔ Which activities pulled me away? 2. Growth & Learning Check (Bi-weekly) ✔ What new skills am I building? ✔ Have I challenged my assumptions lately? ✔ Who can I learn from right now? 3. Action & Adjustment (Monthly) ✔ Are my daily habits supporting my vision? ✔ What’s working well that I should double down on? ✔ What’s one thing I need to stop doing? 4. Impact & Connection (Quarterly) ✔ How am I helping others while pursuing my goals? ✔ Who are the key people supporting me? ✔ Which relationships need more attention? 5. Vision Alignment (Every 6 Months) ✔ Does my current path still excite me? ✔ Have my priorities changed? ✔ Do I need to adjust my timeline? I keep these questions in my phone’s notes app. Every week, I revisit them. Every month, I review patterns. Every quarter, I reset my focus. And over the last 3 years, this single habit has helped me: ✨ Stay aligned with my vision ✨ Catch blind spots early ✨ Celebrate progress (even the small wins) ✨ Avoid drifting when things got busy 👉 So, when was the last time you asked yourself the hard questions? P.S. If you want more updated insights, practical strategies, and frameworks like this to stay aligned and accelerate your career. 👉 Join my Career Spotlight Group (link in comments). #Goal #PersonalGrowth #Clarity

My journey has been filled with decisions, big and small, and each one has taught me something valuable. From my time at LinkedIn and Prezi to my current role as a solopreneur, I've realized that swiftly analyzing the outcomes of our decisions is just as crucial as making those decisions quickly. Think about it: When we make decisions, we often feel a sense of urgency, a need to act fast and keep the momentum going. But what happens after that decision is made? Do we take the time to reflect on the outcomes and learn from them? I've found that real growth happens in the aftermath of a decision. It's in those moments of reflection that we gain insights, understand our strengths and weaknesses, and prepare ourselves for future challenges. If you’re in a position where you need to make a decision, here are my reminders for you: ✅ Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. Make decisions with the best information you have. ✅ Immediately after executing a decision, assess what worked and what didn’t. ✅ Use the insights gained to refine your approach and inform future decisions. Embrace the learning process that comes with every decision. Don’t rush to the next task without understanding the impact of your last action. This habit of swift analysis and adjustment will not only enhance your decision-making skills but also lead to more thoughtful and informed choices in the future. 💬 How do you approach decision-making and outcome analysis in your career? PS: Want to become a faster and better decision-maker? Check out my LinkedIn Learning Course “Nano Tips for Quick Decision-Making”: https://lnkd.in/gVrU94rT

I made a tough decision to reject a job in Portugal recently. (And it was paying me almost twice my then salary) Frankly, It was a tempting offer, and i almost signed the contract. But as you would do with any big decision, sleep on it for a while !!. After careful re-consideration, I choose what others might think a stupid decision - I rejected the offer. In hindsight, 3 principles that guide my decision-making process. 1. Aligns with My Values I realised that taking the job would mean relocating far away from my family. I knew that I couldn't prioritise my career over my loved ones. My values are rooted in family and happiness, and this job would have compromised that. 2. Will My Loved Ones Be Proud? I asked myself if my children and grandchildren would be proud of my decision. Would they understand why I made this choice? The answer was clear - they would want me to prioritise our relationship and happiness over any job. 3. Respect Your Choices Once I made the decision to reject the offer, I knew I had to own it. No regrets, no what-ifs. I had to trust that I made the right choice for me and my family. Rejecting that job offer was one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm not saying it was easy, but it was worth it. Remember: - Align your choices with your values - Consider the impact on your loved ones - Respect your decisions Don't compromise on what matters most to you. Trust your instincts and prioritize your happiness. You got this!

⭐𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗽 ⭐ When helping my clients navigate a career transition, they often tell me that they feel "lost", "stuck" or "confused" 😕 and don't know what they want do next (sound familiar?). If you're feeling this way at the moment, here is an exercise I do with my clients that helps give them a lot of clarity 💡: 🔷𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭 - 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄” 𝗮𝗻𝗱 “𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁” 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 Take some time to reflect on your career so far. Write down the tasks that have energised and engaged you, sparked creativity, or made time fly? These are your flow tasks ❤️ Now consider the flip side. What tasks drain you, bore you, or feel uninspiring? These are your burnout tasks. 🔷𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮 - 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲” Once you have clarity on what tasks energise you (and what don't), you can design your ideal job description using AI tools like ChatGPT. Prompt ChatGPT with information such as: ✔ Flow tasks ✔ Ideal team and manager ✔ Work culture and values ✔ Preferred work arrangements (hybrid, remote, flexible etc.) ✔ The type of clients, causes, or industries you want to support This becomes your anchor document ⚓A guide that reflects what matters most to you. 🔷𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯 - 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 "𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹" 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 Now ask ChatGPT to search platforms like Seek, LinkedIn, or Indeed for roles that closely match your “ideal” job description. It doesn’t mean you’ll find a perfect fit straight away, but it helps sharpen your focus and gives you a starting point. This exercise consistently helps my clients shift from confused and stuck ➝ to clear and energised about their next step. 📢I'd like to also note that we do not solely rely on advertised roles, and my advice is to always be proactive with your job search. The hidden job market is powerful, so leverage your network, start conversations, and build new connections. ✨ If you’re feeling uncertain about your own path, give it a try and let me know what you think. Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can offer you any support or guidance in your career development. #careertransitions #careerchange #careercoach

Hey there, it’s me, your coach Nina, how are you today? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the exciting but vast possibilities in your career? Society, your parents, friends, strangers on social media, and even your own expectations have all been suggesting paths you “should” take professionally. If you're intellectually curious and enjoy learning, you likely have a strong drive to grow already. You might already have some ideas about where you want to go and how to get there. However, with endless possibilities and only 24 hours in a day, it's important to have a focused and sustainable approach to your career development, one that prevents overwhelm and burnout. Here are some strategies to consider: 1️⃣ List out your career goals: What do you really want in your career? Is it money, title, creative freedom, influence, fame, or making an impact? In my early career I wanted to get promoted because the society says so, but after a few years I started to optimize for learning new experiences (hence jumping from corporate to startup to stand up a new team.) 2️⃣ Figure out your why: understand why you want to achieve something adds meaning and boosts motivation. Are you aiming for FIRE (financial independence to retire early), seeking respect as a manager, or craving intellectual exploration? 3️⃣ Define success: know your destination helps you figure out what resources or skills you need to get there. For instance, aspiring to be a people manager might require learning how to inspire others. 4️⃣ Identify the resources you need: Just like planning a trip, you need to know what to pack for your career journey. Determine the skills or knowledge necessary for your dream role. 5️⃣ Choose how to learn: Different people prefer different learning methods—reading, visual cues, podcasts, or hands-on experience. Find what works best for you and experiment if you're unsure. 6️⃣ Practice: Apply your new skills whenever possible. Shadow others, volunteer for projects, and actively develop the competencies you need. 7️⃣ Reflect regularly: Set a monthly reminder to assess your progress and adjust your strategies if needed. 8️⃣ Seek accountability: Remember the saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Find a mentor, friend, or a coach friend to support and hold you accountable. What strategies have you used or would you recommend to feel less overwhelmed and more empowered in your career growth? #careerdevelopment #professionaldevelopment #midcareer

Most of us start our careers without clear ideas or strategy on how to make sure it supports what we want to get out of our careers, and out of life. Just so eager to prove ourselves and navigate the complexities of professional and personal life. However, as we gain experience, it's essential to pause and reflect on our career paths, and our life, much like organizations regularly reassess their strategies. If you want to design, or redesign your career, here are some things to think about: 🧭 Purpose Alignment: Are you working to live, or living to work? Identify what you want to get out of your career - be it financial gain, joy, freedom, continuous learning, or societal impact. 🧭 Mid-Career Reflection: There's no set definition for "mid-career," but it's a pivotal time to evaluate how satisfied you are with your career and life, and if you need to adjust your compass. Are you content in your role, or is it time to seek new challenges or responsibilities? 🧭 Implementing Changes: If you feel that adjustments are needed, consider various options before making a big decision or making a big change - can you negotiate on new projects within your current role, negotiate on a different work arrangement, change workplaces, transition to a different industry, pursue self-employment, or some kind of a combination of these things. Before making big changes, please ask yourself: ❓ Will this change bring me closer to my ideal career, and ideal life? ❓ Does this change align with my personal values and purpose? ❓ Do I possess the necessary skills for this new direction? ❓ What kind of support do I need to make these changes? ❓ How can I use my skills and capabilities in a different way? ❓ Have I taken responsibility to maintain my employability? ❓ How will this impact my personal life and well-being? 🌟 For leaders, fostering open and honest conversations with your team about their career aspirations can build trust and potentially reduce turnover. Understanding that not everyone shares the same vision allows for tailored support, benefiting both the individual and the organization. Having an active internal "labor market" is worth looking into, as well as redesigning jobs and work arrangements, rather than losing good talent. 🌟 Reflecting on and designing your career is an ongoing process. It's never too late to align your professional journey with your personal goals and values. Is it possible that you can have "a better job" without changing jobs - or is it time for bigger changes? #SelfLeadership #Leadership #Career #DesignMyCareer

🌍 Being a Global Professional in Today's World 🌍 In today's interconnected world, the concept of a "global professional" has become increasingly important. A global professional need to possesses the skills, knowledge, and adaptability to thrive in an international and culturally diverse environment. I am fortunate to have worked at top institutions in different parts of the world, including the US, France, Canada, and India. Currently, I am preparing to embark on another adventure into a geography that is completely unfamiliar to me. In this context, I thought of sharing a few tips to thrive in an international work environment: 1.        Cultural Competence: Understand and respect cultural differences to bridge gaps and collaborate effectively. 2.        English Language Skills: Proficiency in global language English facilitates better communication and fosters deeper connections. 3.        Adaptability & Flexibility: Quickly adjust to new environments and embrace different ways of thinking and working. 4.        Global Mindset: Think beyond local boundaries, understanding global markets and geopolitical factors. 5.        Technological Proficiency: Master digital tools for remote collaboration and communication. 6.        Networking & Relationship Building: Build a global network for insights, support, and collaboration. 7.        Continuous Learning: Stay informed about global trends and emerging markets through ongoing education and professional development. 8.        Ethical & Sustainable Practices: Commit to ethical conduct and sustainability, promoting fair trade and environmental conservation. 9.        Effective Communication: Convey ideas clearly, managing language barriers and cultural nuances. 10.     Leadership & Teamwork: Inspire and manage diverse teams, and be an effective team player in international projects. Being a global professional involves a combination of skills, knowledge, and attitudes that enable individuals to succeed in an international and multicultural environment. By cultivating cultural competence, adaptability, and a global mindset, professionals can effectively navigate the complexities of the global marketplace and make meaningful contributions to their organizations and communities. #GlobalProfessional #CulturalCompetence #ContinuousLearning #Adaptability #GlobalMindset Photo description: This photo was taken during our visit to the Palace of Versailles (château de Versailles). At the time, I was working as a researcher with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives) at the CEA Paris-Saclay Centre.