by Christine Perkett
Source: Forbes

There’s a lot of industry research, information, guesstimates and opinions about whether or not women and men act and are treated differently in the workplace. My inclination is to say that of course, it depends on so many factors – what industry you’re in, who you work with and for, what their experience and personal opinions are, what your personality type is, etc. But at the end of the day, at work as in life, you will be treated the way you demand – and your role is what you will allow. Knowing what you will allow for yourself is crucial, especially for women working in male-dominated industries such as tech.

As part of an expanded services offering of my day job in tech marketing, I’ve been spending a good amount of time in-house with various clients, performing as their Chief Marketing Officer – helping to kickstart or reboot their overall marketing initiatives and create a quality, focused marketing department and strategy. My role focuses on the overall organization of the marketing department, including interdepartmental relationships, recruitment of employees, website development, sales and lead gen, tech vendor recruitment and management, PR, social, digital and much more. And I like to do more when asked, because I learn more, and am usually up to whatever task is asked of me. However, most of the time those tasks are on par with my years of experience and expertise. Until recently when one client asked me to decorate and furnish the office and order supplies, because “As the only woman on board, who else will do it?”

Wait, what?

Yes, really, this was the reason I was given from the CEO.

It wasn’t so much the task at hand that was bothersome, but rather the reason that I was given for having been asked to do it. So what do you do when you’re asked at work to do things “because you’re a woman”?

It’s a fine line that needs to be watched – of course, you want to be a team player, and you want to pitch in – especially if you’re working for a startup with limited resources (often times no HR manager or admin to be seen). But be sure that you’re not sacrificing your daily responsibilities to fill in gaps that will either take you away from the high value, career-advancing responsibilities that you signed up for, or minimize your value in the eyes of others (i.e., suddenly everyone comes to you to decorate their office or order their supplies). Once you are viewed as “the errand girl,” you can easily lose any strategic game you had, no matter how experienced you are.

As women, we have a natural predisposition to take care of others (nurture) and to be polite and gracious. Men, on the other hand, are taught from an early age to be aggressive and not necessarily to worry about everyone else’s feelings first. I’m not saying men don’t care about others, but I am saying that history and research have proven that even at work, men approach relationships differently, take things less personally than women do, and are not as emotionally invested in the interpersonal aspects of work relationships.

As a woman in the workplace, you almost have to be more diligent about balancing that “team player” (read: polite while sometimes boat-rocking) attitude with self-preservation. Here are some tips for doing so:

1)  Share and Speak Up – it’s okay to take on a task or two outside of your normal work responsibilities, but share the wealth. Next time your startup needs a supply order, and you are asked to place it again, suggest that another member of the team take it on, and that everyone takes a turn until such time that you have an administrative executive to manage the process.

2)  Set Boundaries – don’t be such a “yes” woman. Saying yes to everything not only puts you in a less strategic light, but overburdens you, which could result in poor performance (and because you said yes to everything, your colleagues only see you failing at what you said you could do). Saying no doesn’t have to equate to being a lesser player – rather, it can be a powerful tool in your professional arsenal.

3)  Always Do Good Work – no matter what you are asked to do and take on, make sure you are good at it. Don’t take on something that you really have no idea how to do just because you didn’t want to turn someone down. And if you take on a task that you deem less than important, still treat it as crucial and be thorough – after all, if it seems you can’t handle the most simple of tasks well, it could affect how others view your more strategic capabilities.

4)  Ask for Help – this is another attribute that many women too often relate to weakness. But the truth is that asking for help takes insight and gusto – or is sometimes just an obvious need. For example, trying to run payroll when the only thing you know about ADP is that it’s where your checks come from, could put you, the company and your colleagues at serious risk for turmoil.

5)  Keep your Mind Open – sometimes you’ll be surprised at the things you can learn about – and, from – others when you take on a task that you’ve never tried before. And better understanding colleagues in the workplace can only help you to be a stronger team player in the end – one with champions in every corner because you’re always the one happy to help at least once, but also not afraid to say no when it doesn’t make sense. And that’s a crucial leadership quality combination.

Have you ever been asked to do something at work simply because of your gender? How did you handle it?

by Nicole Varvitsiotes
Source: The Daily Muse

It’s Thursday morning, you’re in the elevator, and the CEO skates between closing doors to join you for a 30-floor ride.

You consider commenting on the unseasonably balmy weather, but inquire about her watch instead. You then exchange a series of jokes and, in perfect unison, toss your heads back in laughter. At the 25th floor, she insists that you join her in the company lounge for a bite to eat—she’d like to get to know you better. You take style points from Sandberg and lean in. Instant promotion.

Real life: Silence. You exit the elevator with pit stains and wonder if she heard you swallow that burp.

Sound familiar? You’re in good company—being trapped in a confined space with upper management is sure to send anyone into a tailspin. But, with some simple tactics on hand, you can navigate a terrifying situation with grace. Try on these life vests to avoid drowning like a conversation klutz.

The Trader Joe

Casual and approachable, Trader Joe’s employees are known for their infectious positivity. Whether it’s in the context of goat cheese or lentil breeds, they set a comfortable precedent because they don’t overthink simple human interactions. They wear contagious smiles above relaxed Hawaiian shirts, and they offer genuine inquiries that don’t overstay their word-exchange welcome. They just connect.

And by channeling their easygoing grocer ‘tude, you can do the same.

You: “Hi! How’s your Wednesday going?”

CEO: Good, and yours?

You: “It’s going well, thanks. Just working on [whatever you’re working on] and getting some air. I don’t think we’ve met—I’m [first name, last name]. I work in [this department] with [your boss’ name].”

Throwing out a few details might spark further shop talk—and that’s great. Just go with it. Either way, make sure to flash a winning smile and repeat your counterpart’s name on the way out of the conversation. “[Name], it was nice to meet you.”

The Tactful Admirer

Senior executives are very accomplished people. Accomplished people love to talk about themselves. Therefore, by the power of syllogistic transitive property, senior executives love to talk about themselves. Namely, about their accomplishments.

Put that in your elevator-talk treasure chest.

You: “Hi [Name], I just watched the video from your keynote speech at the annual conference—I really enjoyed it.”

Important person: “Glad you liked it, thanks for watching.”

You: “Absolutely. I really admire your work and had a question about one of the things you touched on during your presentation.”

Take this as your opportunity to show your admiration and your interest in this person’s work. Don’t worry that you sound like you’re brown-nosing. So long as you don’t go overboard, you’ll portray a dialed-in sense of curiosity and community.

The Travel Talker

The following three statements about top executives are all true: They sleep on Egyptian cotton that quintuples the thread count of your jersey-knit blend. Spigots in their autos are more valuable than your entire sedan. And they travel more often than The Biebs on tour.

For the dual purpose of maintaining self-worth and combating awkward small talk, lets focus on that third point. After all, assuming you’re not a translucent losing your days to meme generators and The Sims, you’ve likely been on a plane at least once. Use that common ground to pose any of the following questions:

“Hi [Name], welcome back! How was your visit to London?”

“Hi [Name], it’s great to see you in the office. Where was your last business trip?”

“Hi [Name], I hear you’re heading to Tokyo. Will you get a chance to break away from the office and explore the sushi scene?”

Allow the travel talk to run its natural course, and try not to focus on the differences that separate you and your co-navigator. So what if she fights jet lag in a plush Mandarin Oriental robe while you consider anything other than couch surfing an upgrade? Just be confident and conversational. You’ll prove to this satin-pajama-sleeping, Maserati-driving upper echelon that you deserve a first class seat at the table.

Now, it’s important to note that not even the most non-awkward opening line guarantees conversation. Sure, you can offer your full name with a smile, glorify your talk-mate’s most shining accomplishment, or chat about exchange rates, but even despite your best effort, it may not go anywhere.

That’s entirely okay. So long as you’re not a too-cool-for-school observational humorist, an excessive life-sharer, or a lingering bore, you’re well on your way to a working relationship. Or at least a “Hi there!” and mutual smile next time you cross paths in the hallway.

by Melinda Price
Source: The Daily Muse

As a new grad, it can be easy to think that the years of lectures and classrooms are behind you—but not so fast! Even though you’re out of your structured schooling years, it’s important to keep learning. Attending relevant conferences, webinars, lectures, and seminars will not only keep you on top of your professional game, but it will also help you broaden your horizons, make new connections, and be seen as an expert in your field.

Many workplaces will provide you with a budget to attend these types of events, but even if yours doesn’t, make it a priority to attend a handful each year. Here are just a few of the ways that continuing your education through workshops and trainings can be helpful.

1. To Keep Learning

Obviously, the main reason you attend professional learning events is to increase your knowledge about your field. Whether you attend local professional group events, large annual conferences, or classes on specific subjects, you can learn everything from emerging trends in your industry to specific professional skills that can help you do your job better. Decide what to focus on by considering skills that would be most helpful for your job or department (public speaking, tech skills, social media?) or that you need to get ahead in your career (management training!).

That said, while you’re bound to take a lot from the official program or class, don’t forget to learn from those around you, too! The speakers always have great insight to share, but some of the best things I’ve learned have come from those sitting next to me. Hearing what others have done right, what they’ve learned, and what they’re currently working on not only makes for great stories, but also gives me advice I can apply to what I’m doing now.

2. To Get Ideas & Feedback

Another great thing about professional learning events is that you can share what you’re working on and get feedback from others who know the ins and outs of your field. The best moment for me in all the events I’ve attended in the past year was during a breakout session during a social media conference, where each participant got the chance to share how we use social media for our company. Not only was I able to get an outside perspective on what I was doing for my nonprofit, I also got other helpful ideas from hearing about what everyone else is doing. You can also use this opportunity to ask questions you wouldn’t be comfortable asking some of the higher-ups in your department or gauge how something new you’re implementing has worked for other professionals.

As an added benefit, sharing a little bit about what your company does and what you’re working on is a great marketing tool and can raise awareness about your brand or company as a thought leader in your industry. Now, I’m not talking about sharing company secrets—definitely keep in mind what’s shareable and what’s not. For example, you can (and should) share the common industry tactics you’re implementing, but you don’t have to divulge the stuff you’ve cooked up to set you apart from your closest competitors.

3. To Network Like Crazy

Networking is a big portion of professional events, and most will have time before, during, or after the event specifically for networking purposes. And as a new grad, the connections you make at conferences and seminars can benefit your career or brand in big ways. It’s an easy way to build your professional network—in fact, many of the people I’ve connected with have become business connections, mentors, and even donors for my organization.

So, go to the event with tons of business cards and be ready to meet people. The best piece of networking advice I’ve learned so far is to stand up. It can be easy to immediately stake out where you want to sit at a conference or seminar and then stay there, but resist this urge. You’ll have loads of time to sit later, but it’s much easier to approach people and be approached while you’re on your feet.

Attending industry-related conferences and seminars is a great way that you can demonstrate your commitment to your position and industry to your current employers—and get ahead in your career while you’re at it. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there, and get learning.

by Elisha Hartwig
Source: Mashable

At the beginning of your professional career, everything in front of you can appear daunting. During these formative years, you are deciding what you want to do, who you want to be and where you are going to start. Many of us change our minds about our future career before we hit the workforce, and then there are, of course, job changes throughout your career.

The overwhelming stress of this phase can be alleviated by finding a mentor to give you guidance and help you achieve your career goals. Learning from a successful mentor in your field of interest can elevate both your professional capabilities and confidence better than any Internet search results or well-intentioned parental advice.

Read on to learn more about the benefits of having a mentor in this competitive job market, as well as tips on how to find a mentor.

What a Mentor Offers

The most obvious benefit of having a mentor is learning from their real-life experiences in the field. You will be privy to their personal tips for overcoming professional challenges, making difficult business decisions or determining whether graduate school is a good investment. Because they know you, mentors and their wealth of knowledge will be far more useful than generic advice columns on the web.

For Fran Hauser, president of digital for Time Inc.‘s Style and Entertainment Group, being a mentor entails giving relevant and immediately actionable advice. “It can be as simple as suggesting people to follow on Twitter to stay ahead of digital trends, or being a mentor can mean walking someone step-by-step through negotiating an offer. What is most important is that I am accessible and honest in my guidance.”

In addition to gleaning insight from your mentor’s personal experiences, you could also benefit from their vast web of connections. If your mentor doesn’t have experience with a particular problem you’re facing, they’ll probably reach out to someone who can help. Also, you never know how certain connections will be beneficial in the future — anyone you meet could be a potential business partner or a job lead.

Kellee Khalil, CEO and founder of Lover.ly, told Mashable about the benefits of having a mentor who is widely connected.

“Your mentor’s network is your most valuable group of contacts. As someone who is personally invested in your success, your mentor will open up their network to you. Just be cognizant of everyone’s time — make sure you ask for specific advice or introductions. Don’t let them do the work.”

How to Find a Mentor

It’s a lot easier to find a mentor than you would think. Before you start your search though, it’s good to do some preparation.

Write down your expectations. What do you want to learn? How often would you like to meet with your mentor and what will their time commitment look like? How long do you anticipate this mentorship lasting? Outlining these expectations from the beginning will ensure that you and your mentor are on the same page.

Find someone you can learn from. The ideal mentor is someone you respect professionally, with a career you’d like to emulate. Search for someone who is successful in your field or a similar one. Another important factor to keep in mind is personality — find someone you like on a personal level. If you actually enjoy communicating with your mentor, the experience will be more fulfilling.

Once you’ve decided what you want out of your mentor relationship, there are a variety of sources you can consult.

Levo League is a startup focused on young women’s professional development, providing career resources needed to help them achieve both personal and professional success. Through Levo League’s online platform, young women can search for a specific mentor in their industry, or “follow” the career of various thought leaders featured on the site. Levo League boasts industry-leading mentors including the aforementioned Fran Hauser, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, and former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine Kate White.

Mentoring is a topic that hits close to home for Sandberg, whose recent book Lean In includes an entire chapter on the subject and its importance. She writes that “asking for input is not a sign of weakness, it’s the first step to finding a path forward.” Her mentor status on Levo League’s site creates a one-to-many dynamic, whereby she can mentor a large group of individuals with a single dose of advice. Anyone on the site can ask mentors a question, and most of these responses are shared publicly, so you can pose your own questions or search the site for existing conversations on the topic at hand.

Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to meet mentors in real life, too. But where?

A good first step is to check your city for local networks. Most cities have meetups for just about every industry or interest you could imagine. Be sure to also check out panels and summits nearby that are relevant to your field. Peruse available networking opportunities, seek out people who’ve had interesting careers and go introduce yourself.

Another great place to find a mentor offline is to tap the wealth of knowledge available around university campuses. Seek out a particularly charismatic professor or doctoral candidate, and ask them if they would grab coffee with you. Take advantage of the people with vastly different life experiences at your fingertips, be curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions. After all, you’re not expected to know all the answers yourself.

How has a mentor helped you in your career? Or, how have you found a mentor? Let us know in the comments.

by Kerry Winfrey
Source: The Daily Muse

It’s not always fun to be the lowest person on the office totem pole, especially when you’re ready to take on a whole lot more. As a receptionist, office assistant, or intern, you’re the one stuck doing the busy work, answering phones, sorting mail, and getting coffee—all the while daydreaming of the job you’d rather be doing.

But while this gig may just be a pit stop on the way to your dream job, you can still turn it into a learning experience. Take it from me—before my time as a writer, I once toiled away in office assistant obscurity. And while the work itself wasn’t necessarily invigorating, the lessons I learned were invaluable. Here are three things you’ll pick up as an assistant that will be useful for the rest of your career.

Nothing is Beneath You

As an assistant, you’ll no doubt get stuck doing a lot of things that no one else wants to do. Whether it’s because these tasks are boring, hard, or gross, one fact remains: You’re the one who gets to handle them. Sealing 500 envelopes? You’ll do it! Vacuuming the conference room when the cleaning guy cancels before a big meeting? No problem! Doing literally almost anything your boss asks (within reason)? Well, you kind of have to do it if you want to keep your job.

This whatever-it-takes mentality comes in handy later on in your career. For example, I’ve often had to re-do pieces multiple times because an editor changed her mind or because we decided we had to add in new information. Is this boring or frustrating? Of course. But I suck it up and do the work—because it’s part of the job.

Bonus: After being an assistant, you’ll be a lot less likely to be the co-worker that pawns all of your difficult, mind-numbing, or menial tasks off on others just because they’re “beneath you,” which will win you lots of points.

How to Deal With Anyone, Ever

I dealt with a lot of nasty people in my assistant days. There was the caller who dubbed me an idiot when I wouldn’t put his calls through. The man who yelled at me ad nauseam about our website (which I didn’t maintain). And the plenty of perverts who flirted with me and made me uncomfortable. But when you’re faced with unsavory characters like these, you don’t have the option of crying, running away, or hanging up on them—you just have to deal. (Okay, so I totally hung up on that guy who called me an idiot—I’m not perfect!)

Later on in your career, you’ll still have to deal with plenty of clients or co-workers who are mean, rude, or just total weirdos. Whether I’m e-mailing editors or getting feedback from readers, I regularly converse with people who don’t always make niceness a priority. But thanks to my assistant days, I’m always able to answer them calmly and professionally. Trust me—when you’ve handled the abuse that comes with being on the front lines of an office, you can handle pretty much anything.

How Not to be Right

The assistant is the scapegoat for every office problem. Those clients didn’t get their invoices because you forgot to send the mail out. Your boss was late to her meeting because you forgot to put it on the schedule. The copier isn’t working because you jammed it. It doesn’t matter that your boss didn’t give you those invoices to send out until this morning, or that you put that meeting on her schedule a month ago, or that you know for a fact that Brad from marketing broke the copier. As an assistant, you just have to accept the blame and move forward to find a solution.

This skill is incredibly valuable later on when you actually mess up (as you inevitably will) at your dream job. Recently, I caught an error in an article I wrote right before it went to publication. While it wasn’t a major disaster, it was definitely inconvenient to fix, and it caused more work for everyone. But still, I ’fessed up, accepted the blame, and did what I could to help fix my mistake. No one likes a person who points fingers—but everyone’s impressed by someone who works quickly to find solutions.

While you may feel like you’re whittling away your time working as an assistant, try to remember that the skills you’re learning will come in handy—not just when you finally snag that dream job, but in your everyday life, too.

by Alden Wicker
Source: LearnVest

Does it ever seem like finding a good open position on a job board is like finding a unicorn? Maybe because it is.

Duncan Mathison, an outplacement executive and co-author of the 2009 book Unlock the Hidden Job Market, told The Wall Street Journal he calculates that about 50% of positions are filled without a formal process.

It’s not illegal to forgo publicly posting an open position, though many HR departments require positions to be posted, even if the hiring manager already has a candidate in mind. This may protect companies from discrimination lawsuits. That doesn’t mean they’ll actually consider people who apply through that public listing.

Hiring managers don’t want to sift through a big pile of résumés, or they’re vaguely thinking about creating a new position and when they hear about a great candidate, get it created right away for the person. Or they just hire internally by promoting someone or pulling them from another department.

That’s not totally misguided. A study published in 2012 showed that external hires get higher salaries, but perform worse than internal hires and have higher exit rates.

In a booming economy, companies have more trouble filling positions and are more likely to post on job boards. But in a job market like today’s, which has a few openings and many applicants, more positions are filled by word of mouth.

All the more reason to use all the networking skills available at your disposal so you hear about these word-of-mouth positions. Keep in touch with former co-workers, attend industry events, ask your friends for possible entry points and connect with influencers via social media.

by Lisa Quast
Source: Forbes Woman

I was once coaching a woman who was having a difficult time at work because she felt like upper management just wasn’t taking her seriously.  She hadn’t been promoted in the last five years and was feeling incredibly frustrated.  We evaluated every aspect of her career and began making changes, including updating her hairstyle and make-up, improving her wardrobe, and improving her public speaking and presentation skills.

One day during a coaching session I asked her to show me the picture she was using on her internal company directory.  That’s when we realized something was very, very wrong!

The picture on her company directory was actually the same picture that had been taken for her security badge – back when she joined the company 11 years ago!  Needless to say, it looked like a bad police mug shot.  Her hairstyle was incredibly outdated (and her hair was stuck to her head since she’d been caught in the pouring down Seattle rain without an umbrella that morning) and the picture was overexposed, making her look like a ghost.

As my “coachee” expressed, “Oh my gosh, I look horrible!  It’s even worse than the picture on my passport!  What must people think of me when they see this picture?  I never bothered to think about my picture on the company directory.  And every time someone looks me up on our directory, they’re seeing this picture!  Eek!!”

She also hadn’t bothered to think about the pictures she was using for her profile on other social networking sites outside of her work environment, such as LinkedIn and FaceBook.  Big mistake!  Unfortunately, perception is often reality, as the old saying goes.  How you look in a picture with your professional business profile and contact information is sometimes the first time a person will actually see you.  And when they look at your picture, what will their perception be about you?

Laura Hunter, professional photographer, states, “If you don’t have a professional photo, people will often come to the conclusion that you don’t take your career seriously and you may not be very professional yourself.”  And Laura should know.  She earned a Master’s Degree in Photography and is a nationally recognized photographer whose work has won numerous national competitions and been featured in many magazines.  Laura specializes in headshots and works with many corporations to ensure their management teams have the best possible professional photos for use on websites and in company marketing materials.

I asked Laura to share with us her best tips for headshots.  Here are Laura’s “Six Do’s and Don’ts for Professional Photos that get Noticed – for the right reasons”:

Do dress conservatively for the picture and wear clothes that would be appropriate for your work place.  Do not wear sexy, form fitting, or revealing clothing for your business portrait.

Do dress in solid colors.  Don’t wear patterns as they can be distracting and become dated quickly.  Red and yellow can cast an unflattering light on your face so don’t wear them near the face.  If you are light skinned do not wear white near your face as it will make you look pale.

Do use a professional photographer with an established reputation.  Avoid having a family member or friend take your photos, no matter how “well meaning” they might be.

Do make sure your photographer does at least basic re-touching.  It’s important to project a polished image by removing things like stray hairs and blemishes.  Don’t go overboard with the re-touching and end up making your photo look like a plastic Barbie doll.

Do have the photo taken in a place you’ll feel comfortable.  You do not have to take a studio portrait.  You can have your picture taken in your work environment, home, or outdoors, if you prefer.  Just make sure it’s taken by an experienced location photographer so it won’t end up looking like a snapshot.  Regardless of where the picture is taken, don’t use elaborate sets or props – keep it simple.

Do smile!  It’s very important to smile in your professional portrait.  A smiling image has been proven time and time again to make people feel more at ease.  It’s also a widely held belief that a person who smiles is more trustworthy.  Do not try to look stern in your photo – people will not take you more seriously if you look mean.

Once you’ve had your professional portrait pictures taken, obtain the photographs electronically and switch out all the previous pictures of yourself for the new ones as quickly as possible!  If it’s true that perception is reality, then you can immediately start changing (for the better) the perception people have of you…starting with your picture.

by Lisa Curtis
Source: Forbes

We “like” posts on Facebook and “favorite” tweets on Twitter without a second thought. But when it comes to expressing that appreciation in our offline lives, many of us born in the age of instant gratification can’t find the right button.

As a millennial recently given a management position, I had to learn the art of gratitude the hard way.

I thought I knew how to do it. For the past seven years I’ve recorded my favorite part of the day into a small wall calendar above my bed. A growing body of research has reinforced my belief in this habit, showing that by focusing your attention on the positive parts of your life you’re statistically more likely to live a happier and healthier life.

It isn’t always easy. On days of intense sadness or struggles I have to force myself to find something positive, even if its as simple as the way the sunlight looks in the window. Giving gratitude for what the day has brought has helped me turn into a more positive person, and the habit has caught on with many of my friends.

But then I had my first major conflict at work.

As someone accustomed to getting along with almost everyone, I found myself shocked when a young woman who I was managing told my boss that I was mean and difficult to work with. Even more surprising was that the woman was someone with whom I had hoped to play a mentorship role.

Then, as the allegations came in, I realized what had been happening. I’d forgotten to show gratitude.

As the Communications Director at Mosaic, an online marketplace for investing in high-quality solar projects, I am always moving quickly. A startup with ambitions to change the two biggest industries in the world, energy and finance, Mosaic has an action-oriented culture that often leaves little time for anything other than work.

Though a focus on productivity is important, when we forget to express appreciation for the people around us, relationships deteriorate and productivity suffers as a result.

Now I have a new trick: along with recording the best moments of my day, I’ve made a point of also noting when one of my colleagues has done something worth appreciation. Instead of just keeping that information to myself, I set a goal of expressing my gratitude to at least two people every week.

At the same time that I started making an effort to express gratitude at work the task management system that we use, Asana, released a new feature called “asana hearts” that allows co-workers to express appreciation for each other’s work.

Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who felt liked I needed a “like” button for my colleagues. While having a button certainly helps, I’ve also found that appreciative emails, handwritten notes or just a thoughtful comment can go a long way.

Many of colleagues at Mosaic have also begun making a concerted effort to express more gratitude. While behavioral change doesn’t happen overnight, we’re becoming happier, more united and even more productive as a result.