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"Urgent things shout, important things whisper. Listen to the whispers." -- Ken Groen
What can you accomplish in 30 days?
This week I’d like to discuss a skill that has become more critical than ever as we pivot to working remotely, traveling less, and having fewer face to face interactions:
Executive Presence.
COVID-19 Response Resources
We have launched a resources page to help individuals and organizations manage the changing professional environment. Click here for the COVID-19 Response Resource Page.
ApochroMinute 6: Executive Presence
Executive presence is critical to your professional success, and it’s more than feeling confident giving presentations.
On this week’s ApochroMinute, a simple step you can take to improve your executive presence today, and a brand new, free tool to help you assess and improve your presence: our exclusive Executive Presence Profile Quiz.
Apochromatik Book Bundle 6: Be Your Own Valentine
Today we are releasing Apochromatik’s sixth book bundle, and it is a special edition.
On February 13, Amy M. Gardner was thrilled to speak to one of her favorite gatherings of the year: the Be Your Own Valentine event hosted by Chicago Certified Financial Planner Jen Dawson of Hemington.
In honor of this the seventh year of this special event, we’re sharing a book bundle that ties into Amy’s presentation to the female lawyers, accountants, consultants, and executives in attendance.
Apochromatik's Holiday Guide
The holidays are here! With the combination of work parties, family activities, an expanded to do list, and all the end of the year craziness, you may not have been sitting at your desk, hitting refresh on the Apochromatik blog. We’ve rounded up some of our resources on the holidays, both articles that have quoted us as experts, and our own blog posts that can help you end December with deepened work relationships, having advanced your career, and with time and energy left for your most important relationships.
Apochromatik Book Bundle 5: Negotiation
Today we are releasing Apochromatik’s fifth book bundle, and it is on the topic of negotiation.
First, the disclaimers: These are books we’ve read recently; this isn’t a “best of negotiation” book list.
Apochromatik Book Bundle 4: Career Planning
Today we discuss Career Planning.
You receive so much advice and so many directives from multiple sources on the proper way to plan your career. It is easy to wonder if it is even possible to plan your career. That is where many people push the things you need to do to the back burner, or worse yet give up on planning altogether.
Leslie Knope Likes Masterminds*
*OK, so maybe I’ve never had a direct conversation with TV character Leslie Knope of “Parks and Recreation." Or with Amy Poehler. But I’m pretty sure if I could, they’d both be in favor of masterminds. And, as we know, waffles.
You are More than a Worm
Have you ever heard the expression, “to a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish”?
If you haven’t, it may take a minute to process. (My first reaction was “why would a worm be in horseradish? Is it like having a worm in tequila?”) Another way to think about it is that when you’re in the thick of a situation – whether temporary or long-term – it can be impossible to see more than what is immediately in front of you. That can be a reasonable perspective; if a bear is charging you, it’s a huge asset to be able to focus on getting out of the way without being distracted by thoughts of a long-term crisis. But putting your head down and focusing on the things right around you it is not a good long-term strategy.
6 Tips to Keep Clients Happy
Landing clients is one thing. Keeping them happy is another. Last week we addressed what to do when you’ve disappointed a client. This week, we’re sharing six tips to help you keep clients happy in the first place.Here are seven tips to turn around a disappointed client, and to make sure even those who leave say good things about you.
7 Tips to Turn Around a Disappointed Client
Whether you’re an accountant, attorney, bus driver, business owner, or teacher, you have clients. Next week we’ll focus on how to keep those clients happy. At some point, though, no matter how hard you try, you will inevitably disappoint and even lose clients, whether for a reason you can agree with (maybe they need a service you can’t provide) or one you can’t (they aren’t happy with the services you’ve provided). How you treat disappointed clients not only reflects on you and your business, but also can impact whether they come back and what they say about you to others.
Here are seven tips to turn around a disappointed client, and to make sure even those who leave say good things about you.
Apochromatik Book Bundle 3: Feedback
Today we continue our discussion on feedback. We are releasing Apochromatik’s third book bundle. This book bundle will focus on feedback.
First, the disclaimers: These are books we’ve read recently; this isn’t a “best of feedback” book list.
Avoid Mistakes During Stress | VOTW 080619
Have you ever walked out of a job interview, contentious meeting, or other stressful situation and realized you’d made a big mistake?
In this week’s Video of the Week, neuroscientist Daniel Levitin shares how his “pre-mortem” technique can help you to avoid making critical mistakes in stressful situations.
Developing Your Leadership Skills as a New Professional | VOTW 072319
Are you a new professional? Do you supervise new professionals?
Developing leadership skills can seem presumptuous as a new professional, but if you don't make the effort early, you can find yourself behind the curve when you are considered for positions that utilize or require leadership skills to be successful. The best time to work on these skills is before you need them.
Executive Presence: A key element of leadership
When you think of leadership skills, executive presence may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
Enhancing Leadership Skills | VOTW 071619
For the next two weeks, we’re addressing leadership skills and how you can enhance yours.
This week’s Video of the Week focuses on empathy, an important part of the emotional intelligence leaders need. Dr. Brené Brown explains the difference between sympathy and empathy and how to respond when someone else is struggling. This three minute RSA Short will stay with you long after the week is over.