4 things to do when a colleague works with your boss behind your back

4 things to do when a colleague works with your boss behind your back4 things to do when a colleague works with your boss behind your backAfter finding out that your coworker has deliberately left you out of a decision-making process and worked with your boss without your knowledge,a loomingfeeling sets in.Well beyond themillennial social media concept of FOMO(Fear Of Missing Out), this makes you feel like you are no longer a valued member of your team at work - and maybe even like your days there might be numbered.This could be especially hard if its happened to you on multiple occasions.Heres how to manage the situation.Remember all of your big contributions to the teamDont forget what youve already done. When someone completely removes you from a crucial process or decision, it can be easy to doubt yourself. You might even wallow in self doubt, thinking that it was only a matter of time until people at your job found out that youre not as talented or knowledgeable as you appear.W hen you begin to question your value, write down the work accomplishments youre most proud of for a confidence boost.Gather informationAmy Gallo,author of the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict at Workand Harvard geschftsleben Review contributing editor, shared advice from author Caroline Webb in the publicationIf you dont know all the facts of the situation perhaps you just heard about the conversation through the office rumor mill try to find out what really happened. You might go to your boss and ask in a neutral way about what transpired Hey, I heard you and Carlos were talking about his new idea. Take care to maintain a casual, non-accusatory tone so that your boss doesnt think youre trying to abflug a feud.Try using this line on the colleague leaving you out of the loopAlison Green, author of the Ask a Manager blog, offers advise in QuickBaseWith a coworker who keeps going over your head, you might say Im the person managing X and Id appreciate you bringing concerns about it to me to resolve. If were not able to reach a resolution and you feel the issue is important enough to escalate, you of course can do that. But Id like you to start with me first so that I have a chance to hear your concern. Can you do that? Let your boss step inSara McCord, a former staff writer for The Muse, wrote in the publication that your final option when someone does something like demand totalk to your supervisor instead of you is to be a tattletale.She says that if addressing the person about it directly on your own doesnt solve the situation, you should tell your supervisor whats going on, and that they can have a conversation with the personIf its an external stakeholder, your boss may have a variety of ways she can smooth things over. She can chime in that shed love to take over, but as she is terribly busy, she wont be able to get to this persons urgent requests for several weeks. She can say that youve only said the most wonderful things about this other person and s hes so glad to hear that things are moving along as swimmingly as she had hoped. Or, she can say that shed love to help, but as you are the expert, shell be consulting with you prior to each and every conversation because yours is the most valuable feedback of all.

5 Signs Your Insecurities Are Showing at Work - The Muse

5 Signs Your Insecurities Are Showing at Work - The Muse5 Signs Your Insecurities Are Showing at WorkYouve probably had times at work when youve had to suck it up, project a happy face (even though your mood was anything but), and get on with it. A little faking it to get through the work week is normal, but if youre constantly putting on an act with the intention of appearing confident, thats a problem that needs fixing.Feigning it on a regular basis can really just make things worse by highlighting the fact that you dont feel confident in the first place, forcing you to over-compensate to mask insecurities, and struggling to keep up the act. Odds are that if youre doing this, you know it- and so do your colleagues and your boss. Unsure if this is you? Here are five signs that youre bedrngnis fooling anyone at the office. 1. You Love Being Right a Little Too MuchWanting to always be right is something a lot of us are guilty of- but its notlage a great way to be at the office. You tr y to get your own way in a meeting, work to prove things how things would be better if an earlier decision had gone your way, and aim to be the one in the room to come out shining.Youre probably doing these things for two reasons First, because you have a desire to be seen as right (since that means youre doing great) and secondly, because the drive to avoid being seen as wrong (which would mean you dont have all the answers) is strong. This urge to be correct all the time is a response to the insecurity inherent in not knowing whats going to happen. Beyond that, its driven by the fear of being judged.Whats particularly unfortunate is that this need to be correct- or just perceived as correct by your peers- often comes at the cost of being happy. In other words, you spend more time and energy on proving a point than you do in pursuing what really matters. Thats not only not smart, but its also a clear indicator that youre putting your confidence in the wrong place.So, always be read y to ask yourself, Would I rather be right or happy?2. You Suffer From Bull-in-a-China-Shop SyndromeYou stride into your office, insert yourself into your team, or onto your project, and then proceed to crash around and smash all the good china.You attempt to commandeer meetings and steamroll your way through others presentations. You often try to dominate the conversation and find a way to make it all about you and your projects. Behavior like this is noisy and clamoring, a blustering front designed to fool everyone into thinking you know what youre doing. Its arrogance masking insecurity, and the attention you get from it feels validating.And yet, a person who possesses real confidence doesnt need validation, and doesnt create noise to disguise discomfort. If you have the courage to listen to others, accept feedback and own up to your mistakes, rather than pretending you never make any, your value in the eyes of your colleagues and clients will soar. 3. Youre Happy All the TimeIm kind of an upbeat, smiley guy, and I bring a smile with me most places I go. But pretending that you dont sometimes have crappy days is like looking at the soggy grey clouds rolling overhead and thinking, damn, this sunshine is gorgeous.I know youve woken up on a Monday morning feeling anything but joy and youve forced yourself to schlep into work with a huge grin, chirping Morning to anyone whose path you cross. And while its useful to sometimes suck it up and pretend that things are fine, if youre truly not feeling good because youre overly stressed or a certain project has you on edge, adopting a happy-go-lucky persona is eventually going to reveal itself as an unproductive avoidance strategy. The truth is, we all feel down, burnt out, or overly stressed sometimes, and theres nothing wrong with that. You dont have to throw yourself a pity party or whine over every little thing, but if your go-to is avoidance, eventually the confidence you do have is going to take a hit. So, squar e up to the reality of the business youre in rather than sticking your head in the sand and grinning when you feel like groaning. Be open and honest with your team when the going gets tough theyll respect you more for being up front. 4. Your Self-Deprecation Goes a Little Too FarMy hairline resembles a retreating ice-shelf. My tendencies toward being a control freak stop just shy of attempting to dominate others in an authoritative manner. And despite still feeling like a 20-something, I shudder at the thought that my middle age makes me old enough to be a parent of those bright-eyed world-changers joining the workplace.I like to think that my self-deprecating humor is equal parts charming and endearing, but Ive seen people who take it a little too far. Are you someone whos guilty of this? You routinely mention that you dont have the soft skills your position requires. You put yourself down at the drop of a hat, saying that your phone behavior is hopeless or that you could never giv e a good presentation. You say things about how youll never get promoted, your hard work will never be recognized- even when you dont really believe that. Nobody cares for someone who doesnt know how to act with confidence or authority when the situation calls for it. And repeatedly putting yourself down when you might actually excel at your job and everyone knows it will only be like shouting, Hey, everyone Lack of confidence right hereSo if you regularly use self-deprecating humor to diffuse, entertain, or connect, its worth checking in from time to time on whether theres something deeper in there that you need a little confidence to deal with.5. Youre Extrinsically MotivatedShow me someone whos motivated by getting a Senior or a VP in front of their job title, and Ill show you someone who wont be happy when they get it. Show me someone whos chasing a corner office, and Ill show you someone who wont be content with an entire floor. And show me someone whos motivated by respect fro m their peers, and Ill show you someone who will prioritize that over doing work that matters.Extrinsic motivators like job titles, salaries, awards, or reputation are pretty compelling, and the pay-offs can feel oh-so-good. But those things can also be a diversion from asking the big questions, like, what kind of work matters to me? Or how can I make a difference through my work? Or even, what kind of person am I becoming?If you want to stop faking it and embrace your confident side, youve got to change how youre motivated. Since extrinsic success will only ever build a hollow and temporary confidence, theres little point in just checking off the boxes you think will lead you to the top of the ladder. Instead, invest in your professional self enough to explore why youre doing what youre doing and figure out how you can continue to be an asset to your organization without being disingenuous.Chasing status and the appearance of success alone wont help you go from faking it to making it, not by a long shot. Natural confidence is, in many ways, intrinsic- though it can be strengthened and honed if you work to make it happen. And thats the key here. You dont have to fake confidence because it is somewhere within you already. Now its just up to you to find it.

Creating and Pitching Your Creative Portfolio

Creating and Pitching Your Creative PortfolioCreating and Pitching Your Creative PortfolioPaving the path to a job offer often starts with creating - and presenting - a killer creative portfolio.Developing a creative portfolio can be pretty intimidating. Whether putting together a first portfolio or updating an existing one, many creative professionals dont know where to start or find themselves paralyzed by indecision. Thats a problem because a strong portfolio is the single most important career tool for creatives today.And while its fine to have a printed portfolio, you absolutely need a digital one. In fact, many job seekers and freelancers land offers exclusively with online portfolios, never assembling a physical book at all. A TCG recruiter in Denver told me that hiring managers often ask to see a persons work before a resume. And by work, they mean a link to an online portfolio.When not meeting with clients and candidates, TCG teams spend a big chunk of their time reviewing digital portfolios. If they find themselves struggling with a sites navigation or overall entwurf, theyre going to quickly move to the next one. You likely have about 30 seconds to capture the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager and draw them in closer. (Thats probably less time than you spend writing a social media post.)TCG recruiters always say good design grabs them first, but it takes amazing creative work to keep them looking. That doesnt mean you need a super-fancy website, especially if youre not a web designer.Focus on creating a digital portfolio thats clean, intuitive and reflective of your personal brand. Your overall goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to see your very best work and get a sense of your style, range and who you are as a creative professional.Putting the right pieces in placeBe a tough and strategic editor. Take a hard look at your samples and put your most impressive pieces first. If youre struggling to make a decision, ask a collea gue, designer friend or mentor for a second opinion. They can help give you a gut check on which creative pieces and projects are truly your best.Skip the design bells and whistles. Take a cue from spare, white box art galleries. White space gives your work plenty of room to breathe and a place for the viewers eyes to rest. Mimicking this feel online keeps the emphasis on your samples.Include captions. Written descriptions add context and value (assuming theyre free of spelling and grammatical errors, of course). When writing captions, think about unterstellung questionsWhat did I contribute?Did the piece generate sales or boost the bottom line? How much?Did I receive positive feedback from a boss, client or the target audience? (Metrics matter, but compelling qualitative information can also be helpful.)Did I overcome major creative, budgetary or timeline constraints?Did the project win any industry awards or get mentioned in the media?Focus on quality over quantity. Personally, Id rather see eight great pieces in a creative portfolio than 20 mediocre ones. Its tempting to pack in as much work as possible, but showing you know how to spot the best concepts and tailor your portfolio to the job opening is even more important. One bad sample can call your skills and judgment into question.Make sure your website is responsive. Always think of functionality and the end user. Put your portfolio to the test by checking image load times and making sure your portfolio functions properly on every version of every browser on every platform.Be consistent with your branding. If you create a visual theme, carry the design through. The theme should also be evident in your resume, cover letter or other application materials.Use a portfolio site if necessary. Not an expert designer? Sites such as Behance, Coroflot or Carbonmade can get you up and running quickly thanks to a template. The Creative Group also offers a free portfolio tool to registered candidates and we showcas e exceptional talent, tooTake the time to customize. Tailor your samples to the needs of the company. Think about whether youre applying to a buttoned-up Fortune 500 firm, a scrappy start-up or something in between. Its easy for employers to spot whos done their research and who hasnt.SEARCH CREATIVE JOB OPENINGSPitching your creative portfolioAs the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Dont head out to present your portfolio to a potential employer or client until youve created a compelling and cohesive overall pitch.Think of it like this Youre auditioning for the job, and how you present yourself (and your work) gives clues as to how youd perform in a meeting with internal or external clients. While your creative work will be the focus, your interpersonal abilities will also be evaluated. Show some personality. Its your job to engage, persuade and enlighten your audience.Hiring managers often tell us theres nothing more disappointing than someone with a great creative portfolio wh o doesnt have the ability to connect in person. Employers need to know youll be able to successfully fit in as part of a larger creative team, collaborate with other departments and sell your ideas. With all this in mind, use technology as a presentation tool and not a crutch.Organize your samples and customize them for each interview or meeting. For each individual sample you feature, think about your caption content and then use this simple formula problem, solution, results.The problem the client faced was To solve this challenge, I As a result, there was Be as specific as you can, especially about results. Dont be afraid to brag about a bump in conversions or sales. Offering specific numbers when you have them can help bolster your case and show that you think strategically.Take the time to practice talking aloud about each sample and be prepared to answer tricky questions. An interviewer might ask you about a typography selection or how you approached the discovery process. Mak e sure youre ready to answer.Ideally, youll be able to walk the interviewer through the bulk of your work. But often, hiring managers are pressed for time. To be on the safe side, develop a top five pitch. Choose the five best samples in your portfolio the ones that show off your skills and most closely match the companys creative needs. Then spend 30 seconds talking about each one. Youll want to develop a condensed version of the problem, solution, results formula I mentioned above. This will enable you to showcase both your work and your ability to communicate quickly a skill all busy managers, executives or potential clients prize.Diane Domeyer is executive director of The Creative Group. For more tips on landing a new job or freelance work, subscribe to the blog now.