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Author Archives: Maria Cordi
How coaching can help you
I wish coaching as I know it had another name. There would be so much less to explain when people ask “And what do you do?” There are many forms of coaching, but most commonly the word is used in relation to training a sporting team or tutoring children in academic remedial or extension work. However, in my coaching I do none of those things. Coaching is quite new compared to other modalities and can appear wishy washy to those that haven’t experienced the benefits of being coached. Part of the problem is that coaching as a discipline draws from … Continue reading
How to turn your J.O.B. into a calling
There is an astounding example of how a “job” can be seen as a “calling” in the book Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman. Seligman had been watching an orderly moving pictures around a hospital room, exchanging them with others from his bag and so forth. He asked the orderly what he was doing. In a nutshell, he was bringing in new prints to beautify the environment for patients. He saw his work as more than emptying bedpans. He was “protecting the health of his patients” by filling their lives with objects of beauty. Seligman discusses how work can be viewed … Continue reading
Catch 22! How to find joy when you’re stuck in your job
Catch 22 was the first book I read that showed the insanity and bureaucracy of war. The anti-hero John Yossarian flew combat missions over WWII Germany, which he believed only an insane person would do voluntarily because of the danger involved. His dilemma was that seeking a release from his duties would prove him sane, thus confirming his suitability for the role. And that’s the catch! He was well and truly stuck. Have you ever been stuck in your job? Yossarian was in a life or death situation, fighting for a cause he didn’t believe in. You may never have … Continue reading
How to turn around a toxic work environment
I had a very surprising conversation this week with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. She has had a tough year in a new job where she has been subjected to bullying and clique behaviour between groups. She does work in a pressure environment, which doesn’t help matters. What I found interesting was that through her efforts she felt she has managed to turn things around, and was now being treated better by both her colleagues and boss. She said she actually enjoyed her job now. So what actions did my friend take to change the way she … Continue reading
The biggest mistake you can make when looking for a job
Do you remember the fable of the hare and tortoise? It is told to children to illustrate the value of persistence. “Slow and steady” wins the race, and by extrapolation, can help you improve any skill or achieve any goal. The thing is, slow and steady isn’t sexy! The hard slog never is. People dream of success falling in their lap. They imagine that successful people are lucky or that their success somehow is magical or effortless. The truth is that success very often looks like failure until the effort expended is rewarded. Successful people just don’t let small setbacks … Continue reading
Why social media is a good idea
Here in Australia we have just been through the frenzy of the reality show “The Voice”. It was quite fun to watch and it is remarkable that the reality genre can still pull in the rating numbers. Another really interesting phenomenon was reported on just as the show was approaching the final, where 4 contestants were vying for votes from the public to pick a winner. The four judges, Seal, Joel Madden, Delta Goodrem and Keith Urban were using social media to garner votes for their own contestant. Each of the judges have substantial Twitter followings, but it was predicted … Continue reading
Is your new job going to be a good fit for you?
One of the most frustrating situations you can have in your working life is realising you have made a big mistake in choosing your new job. You just don’t fit in. Had you known, you would never have accepted the job. You have two options: (1) stick it out so that you don’t blot your work record; or (2) get out quick before work becomes unbearable. But could you have done more beforehand to have avoided this issue? Perhaps you were deliberating between two job offers, or debating whether it would be worth leaving your current job for a new … Continue reading
How to deal with introversion at your job interview
This week I read a book review by Chris Petersen, the eminent positive psychologist. The book was written by Susan Cain, and was titled “Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can’t Stop Talking”. It pondered the question: does introversion preclude being happy? Psychology Today reports that extroversion is idealised in school and business, and I would add in any social situation. Susan Cain’s book calls for a shift in thinking to include a broader view of the “good life” and “happiness”. One that is not limited to noisy boisterous extroverted interactions in group situations, but also acknowledges … Continue reading
Is what you’re wearing ok for a job interview?
In the morning paper recently there was an article about a leading corporate firm that had run a training session to advise their staff in professional presentation. What drew ire and created enough fodder for a newspaper article to be written was that the seminar was aimed specifically at women and contained sexist content. That is, among its suggestions were the wearing of high heels, lipstick, and skirts instead of trousers. Interestingly, outside consultants were brought in to conduct the seminar so that any backlash could be directed at them rather than the company, which of course wanted to sidestep … Continue reading
Do you have blocks about re-entering the workforce?
Do you wholeheartedly believe in your “mission”? Belief is crucial to achieving any goal. It determines your level of confidence and commitment, which in turn influences the outcomes you yield. Therefore, if you are a stay-at-home mother wanting to re-enter the workforce, it may be worthwhile to spend some time first examining your beliefs around what you’re aiming to achieve. Are you ambivalent about the idea, or do you see challenges ahead that you fear you cannot overcome? Identifying and tackling your fears up-front will help you feel totally committed to your goal. So what are the common sorts of … Continue reading