Speak up when your boss pigeonholes you in a role | Sales presentations with no surprises are winners | Why you need some "Debbie Downers" to rein in optimists
Speak up when your boss pigeonholes you in a role We all change and grow over time, but often our colleagues may have us pigeonholed in old paradigms that can hold us back in our careers, write executive coaches Darcy Eikenberg and Sarah Mann, who recommend talking openly with coworkers and managers about new skills you've acquired and asking for different responsibilities. "Holding on to long-held work assignments may help you feel productive, but it also means your colleagues are more likely to associate you with your previous role or responsibilities," they write. Full Story: Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (4/17)
Sales presentations with no surprises are winners Sometimes closing the deal relies on no surprises popping up during sales presentations, writes Trey Morris, vice president and senior consultant for the Center for Sales Strategy. Morris writes that presentations should address business needs and client pain points, as well as focus on the return on investment for the price. Full Story: The Center for Sales Strategy (4/18)
Making the Connection
Why you need some "Debbie Downers" to rein in optimists Too much positivity in business in the form of "Usula Upbeat" type employees who engage in wishful thinking can make leaders miss emerging dangers, writes Adam Hanft, CEO of Hanft Ideas, who recommends balancing optimists with some "Debbie Downers." "We must widen our definition of diversity so those who are genetically wired to fight rose-colored cognition have a visible and honored place in the enterprise," Hanft asserts. Full Story: Inc. (tiered subscription model) (4/17)
A new study has revealed that musicians often bring exemplary skills to the workplace ... even when they're working jobs that aren't related to music. Experience collaborating with others, working independently, paying attention to detail and managing time wisely are among the many skills that transfer from music education to an employment setting. Full Story: The Conversation (4/14)
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Initial jobless claims remain at 212K The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims was flat at 212,000 last week, pointing to job market strength despite higher interest rates. This stability, coupled with ongoing economic resilience and inflation concerns, has led financial markets to anticipate a delay in interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Economist Rubeela Farooqi says she expects a slowdown in hiring to be the primary labor market adjustment, rather than a significant rise in layoffs. Full Story: Reuters (4/18)
How Crunchbase helps the parents who work there Crunchbase supports its working parents by offering up to 14 weeks of paid time off, allowing employees to customize their work schedules, providing child care and fertility benefits and encouraging parents to share their experiences on workplace communications software. "I don't have to choose between being a mom and being an executive," says Kelly Mendez-Scheib, chief people officer. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (4/17)
Is it weird that a film studio would release a trailer that features a well-known actress and then cut all the scenes featuring the actress from the final version of the movie? Yes. But if you rented the movie hoping to see said actress and were disappointed when she didn't appear, would you actually file a lawsuit? When two fans of Ana de Armas spotted the actress in the trailer for "Yesterday" but didn't see her in the movie, they decided to sue for false advertising. A rental fee that cost each fan $3.99 ballooned to hundreds of thousands of dollars in court costs when the case didn't go their way. The pair eventually settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum. Full Story: Variety (4/16)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Victoria Beckham was The Spice Girls' Posh Spice. Who was Sporty Spice?
