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Transitioning to Remote Work

3/18/2020

 
4 MIN READ
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In light of the disruptions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), many are finding themselves working remotely, getting laid off, having their hours reduced, and more.

This article is focused on those who are able to continue working from home. For those of you who are looking for advice and resources because you cannot work from home, please Contact Me and let's take it from there. 
​

A recording of the Transitioning to Remote Work webinar on March 18 is available here (54:26).

How should I tackle working from home?

For whatever reason, we're working from home now. All hundreds of thousands of us. And we're all coming at this new reality from VERY different perspectives. Here are just a few of the perspectives I talk about on my webinar that goes with this Blog article. I'm sure there are many more where this came from.
  • ​The Solo entrepreneur
  • The Manager
  • The Professional
  • The Virtual Professional
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Once we have reflected on who we are and where we're coming from, we should take a deep breath because we understand 1) our own level of comfort and acumen working remotely, 2) my company's level of comfort and acumen working remotely, and 3) my ecosystem's level of comfort and acumen working remotely. It's important to know these three things because then you will know the #1 thing:

It is NOT 100% your responsibility to figure this out. It's only 1/3 of your responsibility. 

Now that you believe that, you can focus on where you have control, and the first place you have control is how you tackle remote work.

For this I offer you: Mer's Top 3 Tips for Remote Work.

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For Tip #1 for Remote Work, I discuss Mindfulness. Here is what you need to know:

  • Practice regular mindful, diaphragmatic breathing --> Breathe past your FIXED mindset into a GROWTH mindset.
  • Develop routines to practice mindfulness throughout the day. For example, you can:
    • Meditate silently for ~ 5 min
    • Mindfully walk for ~ 10 min
    • Listen to music sitting/dancing for ~ 15 min
  • Schedule (yes, in your calendar if you have to!) a practice in the morning for mindfulness:
    • Say a mantra to set your tone for the day
    • For example, What should I be but just what I am? (Thanks Edna St. Vincent Millay!)

For Tip #2 for Remote Work, I share Mer's Tips for Over-Communicating. Some of these include:
  • Use video when you can, otherwise show your photo. When your camera is on, show where you are (home office) or use a fun backdrop.
  • Set new normals and boundaries for how we “show up” at work. No make up? Why not!
  • Save the first 5 minutes at the beginning and the end for human interaction.
  • Agendize in advance and collaborate on notes.

For Tip #3 for Remote Work, I discuss Organization. A few ways to get even more organized than ever include:
  • Be transparent about your work schedule on your calendar. Block time in 1- to 2- hour chunks to plow through projects without distraction.
  • Develop routines in the morning before you start work, mid-day to give yourself a break, and in the afternoon/evening to give yourself a true “end” to the work day.

Next, I offer: Mer's Top 3 Tips for Managing.
​
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For Tip #1 for Managing, I discuss Staying Connected. You will need to take advantage of tools like Salesforce, Quip, Slack, and more to make connection possible. You'll also need to be more strategic with your meetings, which could include:
  • ​Use agendas that guide what will be discussed and who needs to be ready to discuss it. 
  • Let people see that agenda before meetings and type notes into it during meetings. 

For Tip #2 for Managing, I share how to Be Visible. You will need to develop and/or refine routines like:
  • Updating your calendar on a regular basis with your work meetings, personal appointments, and project time.
  • Updating your calendar so it is up-to-date with what your team needs to see.
  • Using our team’s tools to make it clear when I’m available and when I’m not.

For Tip #3 for Managing, I share how to Be Transparent with Mer's Tips for Over-Documenting.  Some of these include:
  • Learn to code switch on paper because everyone takes in information differently.
  • Practice mindful documentation. Be aware when you are documenting too much or too little. Don’t spend so much of your time documenting you’re not getting real work done!
  • Make your team’s tasks visible so that everyone knows what everyone is up to.
  • Give your teams a way to track 1) Ownership, 2) Effort, and 3) Priority.
  • Identify the early tech adopters and empower them to create How-To’s for others.
  • Create a way to submit issues (e.g. cases or tickets) so that they can be triaged.

Lastly, I would like to share: Mer's Top 10 Favorite Apps.

Rather than go through them in detail in this article, you'll find their logos below. You can learn more about them in the AdvancED Toolbox and in my handout Transitioning to Remote Work: Resources. You can also Contact Me with any questions or to ask for recommendations.​
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The first Transitioning to Remote Work webinar was hosted on Wednesday, March 18 at 6:00 pm PDT. Click here for the recording (54:26)!
​
The next webinar is on Thursday, March 26 from 11:30 am to 1:30 PDT. Register on Eventbrite and join us, you can learn while you have your lunch!

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Holiday Last-Minute Gifts for Self & Others

12/16/2019

 
5 MIN READ
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The holidays are here and gift-giving activities are fast approaching. You may be ahead of the game as I’ve tried to be in past years, or you could be way behind on your gift-getting as I happen to be this year. Wherever you are on your holiday shopping, one thing is almost always certain - you didn’t include the most important person on your list, YOURSELF. So in the spirit of last-minute holiday shopping, here are some tips and suggestions as you hastily make room in your bank account and your tree for presents for the loved ones in your life, which includes you.

Tip #1 Gift Yourself

This time of year can be filled with stress, grief, anxiety, and busy work. Consider giving yourself a self-care gift of time, rest, and relaxation. On my Self-Care page, you’ll find gifts like:

  • A pain relieving roll on by Sombra which I’ve bought for myself and given as gifts to colleagues and friends. We all swear by it! It’s warm and soothing like you’d expect from Salonpas or Icy Hot but the roll on makes it easy and mess-free to apply.
  • A meditation app by Calm which I’ve used for three years and recommend to loved ones, colleagues, and clients. You can try it for free before committing!
  • Online yoga and meditation videos by The Yoga Collective. A friend of mine gave me a gift of an annual pass and I continue to renew it because it fits my schedule and lifestyle. You can take online classes to Move, Connect, and Refresh, based on your level, with time increments of 5 to 60 minutes.
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Tip #2 Buy a Book

With so much to learn and so many stories told, why don’t we take a break from binge-watching our favorite shows and pick up a book instead! Whether you prefer audio books, reading from your Kindle, or holding a bound copy in your hand, a good book can be the needed respite from a busy life and stressful activities.
​

In my Bookcase, you’ll find gifts like:

  • A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. "Joy is the dynamic aspect of Being. When the creative power of the universe becomes conscious of itself, it manifests as joy. You don't have to wait for something 'meaningful' to come into your life so that you can finally enjoy what you do. There is more meaning in joy that you will ever need. The 'waiting to start living' syndrome is one of the most common delusions of the unconscious state." 
  • Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang. "We now know that our resting brains and wandering minds are actually quite active. We know that the areas recruited during spontaneous cognition aren't hard-wired and fixed but evolve and grow and strengthen over time...And we're beginning to see how we can tap into and improve the resting brain's ability to help us generate insights, see novel connections, and make breakthroughs." 
  • Present Over Perfect: ​Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist. "We all have these complicated tangles of belief and identity and narrative, and one of the early stories I told about myself is that my ability to get-it-done is what kept me around. I wasn't beautiful. I didn't have a special or delicate skill. But I could get stuff done, and it seemed to me that ability was my entrance into the rooms into which I wanted to be invited. I couldn't imagine a world of unconditional love or grace, where people simply enter into rooms because the door is open to everyone."

Books for the wonderful kids in your life include:
  • The Secret to Clara's Calm by Tamara Levitt
  • We are Inspiring: the stories of 32 Inspirational Asian American Women by Angel Trazo

Tip #3 Make Something From the Heart
​

Gone are the days when we could put our hands in some paint, stamp it on a card, write our name and “I love you!” next to it, and give that to a loved one as a gift. Or is it?

We underestimate the value of a thing or work made with our hands and minds, but it continues to be one of the most thoughtful, personal gifts that we can give to someone. Here are just a few examples of gifts that I’ve seen people give as gifts, consider what makes sense for you and try something out of your comfort zone!
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  • Succulents. My partner Michael and my best friend’s mom Amvir are incredible at this!

  • They will find cool things like pots, decorations, or ceramics from local thrift stores like Goodwill or Savers, and then they’ll plant one or more succulents a week before.

  • As a special touch, consider including a short note on how to take care of it, like “Spray once weekly.”

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Poetry, short story, or other writing. I’ve done this for my partner, my Mom, and friends over time.

​This can be a poem typed and framed, or a printed book of short writings. You don't have to write something new if you have pieces folks have never seen before, bring something out of your treasure chest and make it shine with pretty font on fresh paper!
​

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Arts and crafts of any kind. When was the last time you’ve gone inside Michael’s or Joann’s?

My bestie Gina is a fantastic scrapbooker and she also makes dreamy ribbons and bows.

​My long-time friend Amparo (aka Apple) makes incredible gifts from the heart through crochet. If you check out
Apple’s Instagram you’ll get some great ideas for crocheting, or you can reach out to the queen yourself for a special order!

Tip #4 There is No Perfect Gift, Just Thoughtful Ones

At the end of the day, let’s try to remember that it isn’t about how much money you spend, or if you even expect a gift from this person in return. It’s about what makes you grateful for having this person in your life, and the most natural, cost-effective way for you to show her or him that gratitude.


To my Mother, my partner Michael, my grandma Trining, my cousins Janella, Melinda, Justin (may you rest in peace), Evita, Cristine & Mikey (and my second cousins Nate, Jon, and Lizzie), Cassandra & Matt, Dalton, Anna, my aunts and uncles Hedy & Ben, Hanny & Howard, Joel (aka Manoy), Elenore & Bernie, and family spread throughout the Philippines, US, Australia, and elsewhere, I’m thankful everyday to have you in my life and to be part of this beautiful, multi-cultural family! 

To my best friends Lara, Gina, Erin, Meo, Serei, SJ, Roy, Alerie & Rod, and friends all over the world, I’m grateful for you!

To my mentors Dwayne, Sr. Susan, Kevin, Elroy, and so many more that have touched my life, thank you for your wisdom, your well-intentioned feedback, your selfless coaching, and your positive vibes.

To you readers out there, I’m so thankful that you read whatever you read on my website, and I hope you have a blessed and joyful holiday season with your loved ones!

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry​

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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A Review of GDPR and CCPA

12/9/2019

 
5 MIN READ
This article is the 2nd in a series. Read the introduction article:
​"Why Data Privacy Matters."

So you know what your data looks like. You know what it is used for. You have a sense of who touches it and who uses it. Now what? Now, you educate yourself on data privacy.
​

If you have data, you need to protect it. I had the opportunity to speak to this on a webinar hosted by FormAssembly on August 21, 2019. I joined Maggie Tharp at FormAssembly to talk about the data privacy landscape in 2019, and evolving regulations and best practices. Check out the Webinar Recap: California Privacy and How It Affects You. On the webinar, Maggie and I discussed The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) which will go into effect on January 1, 2020. As FormAssembly’s guest presenter, I spoke to the implications for nonprofit and educational organizations who may not have people or processes in place to specifically track data privacy and how it impacts organizations. In my Webinar Recap, I share some key insights that I shared on the webinar.
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​As a follow up to their
Data Privacy Deep Dive Webinar Series, FormAssembly recently published their white paper, State of Data Privacy in 2019. In this guide, they talk about the data privacy landscape in the United States, the new data privacy laws in other U.S. states, where businesses stand, and tips on better data stewardship.
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Share State of Data Privacy 2019 with Your Operations Leadership

​“Of organizations that the CCPA applied to (55 out of 143), 42% were very prepared, 33% were somewhat prepared, and 25% were not prepared.”
​A realistic next step to prepare for CCPA is to have a discussion with the relevant leaders of your organization and determine your level of preparedness. Review FormAssembly’s white paper, State of Data Privacy in 2019 and give your organization a rating of Very Prepared, Prepared, Somewhat Prepared, or Not Prepared.

Depending on what your team decides, make a plan to move your team to Prepared or Very Prepared.

I’d like to share some highlights from the guide, and weave in some of my own best practices. These tips come from working with small to large, local to virtual organizations across California in developing and implementing data privacy business processes and protocols.
​The CCPA is similar to Europe’s GDPR in many ways, but in contrast, the CCPA allows individuals to opt out of their personal information being sold by businesses. The focus of the CCPA is more narrow than the GDPR because it applies only to businesses in the state of California whose revenue is above $25 million, or to businesses that primarily sell consumers’ personal information.
Because the CCPA allows users to opt out, businesses will need to have systems in place for users to

  1. know what data is stored on their behalf, 
  2. request a copy of said data, and
  3. request the update or deletion of that data.

Talk to your teams and use a data dictionary to document what data is available, what can be requested, and what can be updated and/or deleted.

Determine who is responsible for managing each data element.

​Design a process to send data to users and to delete data if requested.

43% of businesses have one or more people dedicated to privacy-focused roles.
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With less than half of businesses having a dedicated person to track and manage data privacy, it is important that your organization ensure someone on the team is responsible for this effort.

​In my
Webinar Recap, I suggest that the best way to get started is to identify a data governance champion or lead. This person may be involved in data governance already, involved in tracking legislation and writing contracts, and/or responsible for reporting or analyzing data. Once identified, the role, authority, responsibilities, expectations, and timeline should be communicated internally. Charge her/him with defining a way forward, and be clear on how that plan sets the foundation for January 1, 2020 and beyond.

49% of respondents have a documented process in place for allowing customers to access, delete, or rectify their information and 54.5% have received requests for this in the past year.
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Your organization may not need to follow these requirements because you do not meet the eligibility (e.g. your revenue is below $25M). However, your constituents may still desire to understand how their data is used by your organization, so you should be prepared.

​Have at least one process documented that stipulates who is responsible for reviewing requests, and what are the possible options in responding to inquiries. For example:


  • You can use FormAssembly to build a short form (check out the 19 Web Forms by the FormAssembly Team) that requests contact information, gives a short description of data available, and gives a list of possible next steps (e.g. request a copy, delete my data). 
  • You can also use Salesforce to set up a web-to-case form to request similar information, and embed that into an appropriate page on your organization’s website.

​Read my next article “How You Can Protect Your Data” (under construction) for more tips and tricks to manage and protect your data.

Want support developing a data governance strategy?
Data governance helps organizations manage their stakeholder data and protect it from being abused, stolen, or lost. AdvancED can help you design an effective data governance strategy that will describe the steps to analyze, secure, store, and manage your organization’s stakeholder data. Schedule your free 20-min consultation now.
​

Related articles
  • Article 1: Why Data Privacy Matters
  • Article 2: A Review of GDPR and CCPA
  • Article 3: How You Can Protect Your Data (stay tuned!)
​

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Why Data Privacy Matters

12/5/2019

 
4 MIN READ
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This article is the 1st in a series on 
​ "Why Data Privacy Matters."

I learned the importance of data starting in high school working at a local CPA firm in downtown San José during my summers.

Making my way through rows of filing cabinets, building up a tolerance to papercuts, and sneezing my way through dusty file folders, I took numbers off pieces of paper and turned them into financial statements. Sometimes it was straightforward data entry. Other times I double-checked the math after translating illegible debits and credits into typed balance sheets and income statements. Today I am so adept at ten-key I can type rows of numbers without looking at the keypad. I am also so grateful now for Excel formulas, pivot tables, and tools like Salesforce and FormAssembly that can bring clarity, transparency, and automation to once complex and highly manual (and thus, fraught with human error) processes.
​

In my over 10 years of being a certified Salesforce Administrator and over 20 years of championing Excel, I am a firm believer that the more data you can have at your fingertips, the more questions you can develop to find intelligent answers to. But in my years of working with corporations, startups, and nonprofits, I’ve seen varying levels of success making use of the data that is available.

Often, the challenge isn’t just what to do with the data you do have, but how to get the data you really need for the scale and impact you want. This might mean taking a step back and asking yourself, “What data do I have now, what am I using it for, and how has that been helpful?” It might then lead you to ask more questions like, “What data should I continue to track, what questions will they answer, and how will that be helpful in the long-term?”
SMART Goal-Setting Around Your Data
Understanding your organization’s data is important, let’s create a SMART Goal to investigate what your data looks like and what it is used for.

​Read about SMART Goals in my article “Growth Mindset and SMART Goals for Professionals.” 
​
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  • Consider the specific goal you want to make around your data. 
    • S = I will create a table that tells me what data I have, where it comes from, and what it is used for. 
  • Next, consider how you will measure success towards this goal. 
    • M = I will start with a blank table and each week try to fill a portion of it. 
  • Next, decide what you will do to make this goal achievable.
    • A = I will create a Google Doc with a blank table, and it will always be one of the tabs that open when I launch my browser. I will always be reminded to work on it. 
  • Next, consider how this goal is relevant to your work or organization.
    • R = Understanding my data will help me protect it for my clients and keep my team from wasting time collecting or reviewing data that isn’t useful. 
  • Lastly, decide when you will accomplish this goal so that you can really make it actionable.
    • T = I will complete the table within 30 days and I will set a deadline on my calendar.
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If as a professional, manager, or executive, you are not asking yourself these questions at regular intervals (I recommend quarterly if not annually), then I highly recommend that you start now.

​Once you go through this fact-finding mission of understanding what data you have and what it is used for, the next important question is, “How am I protecting it?”

I’d like to give you the use-cases, best practices, and tools to develop an intentional action plan around data privacy to ensure you are protecting the data you have and the data you intend to collect. Read my next article “A Review of GDPR and CCPA” to learn about the most important regulations and legislations that inform the policies and practices you may need to develop around data privacy.

Want support developing a data dictionary?
A data dictionary is a document (Word, Excel, whatever suits your fancy) that describes the types of data collected, the sources, the intended uses, and how the data is stored, archived, and scrubbed/deleted over time. Let’s talk about how our advisors can help you customize a data dictionary for you that tracks all of your data elements from all of your sources (e.g. Google Analytics, Salesforce, Google Sheets, Excel). Schedule your free 20-min consultation now.​
​

Related articles
  • Article 1: Why Data Privacy Matters
  • Article 2: A Review of GDPR and CCPA
  • Article 3: How You Can Protect Your Data (stay tuned!)

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #2 Defining Your Emotional Intelligence Strengths

11/4/2019

 
3 MIN READ
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I found a recommendation for “Emotional Intelligence 2” by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves. With the book came a new and enhanced online edition of “the world’s most popular emotional intelligence test,” The Emotional Intelligence Appraisal®.

The Emotional Intelligence Appraisal® provides you with a complete picture of your emotional intelligence. This includes an understanding of:

  • What emotional intelligence is
  • Your overall emotional intelligence score
  • Your current skill levels in the four areas that make up emotional intelligence
  • Specific recommendations for action you can take to improve your emotional intelligence
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This appraisal will ask you specific questions about your behavior. How you answer these questions is for your eyes only. A true reflection of your emotional intelligence skills depends on your willingness to accurately rate yourself. This requires a lot of thought into how you are in many situations, not just the ones you handle well. When you read each question, create a clear picture in your mind of how you are in different situations, then answer honestly how often you demonstrate the behavior in each question.
Define Your Emotional Intelligence Strengths Activity
Read about the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal - Me Edition. Consider if you would like to take this assessment (it costs less for the hardcover book than the online assessment!). If you decide to take it, put it on your calendar by blocking 2 hours and set a reminder for a few days before so that you do not reschedule it.

  1. On the day of, give yourself 30 minutes to unwind before taking the assessment (consider meditating!).
  2. It should take 30 minutes or less to complete once you start it.
  3. Give yourself 30 minutes after the assessment to do something energizing or relaxing.
  4. After your break, take 30 minutes to review the results and set a goal in the next 30 days to take action related to your results.

What if you decide not to take it? Reflect on a colleague or loved one in your life who could benefit from the activity and tell them about it!

The accompanying report recommends that I begin practicing on one specific area, Social Awareness, and offers three strategies to nurture my skills in this area:

  • Greet people by name. To tackle my tendency to withdraw in social situations.
  • Catch the mood of the room. To tackle my tendency to fail to spot the mood in the room.
  • Practice the art of listening. To tackle my tendency to miss out on other people’s non-verbal cues.
​
​My Take-aways on the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal
  1. The test by itself starts at $39.95 to take it online, or you can pay $34.99 for the hardcover book which includes a code to take the test. The test took less than 30 minutes to complete and has multiple sections.
  2. I agree with the results. Namely, that Self-Management is my top skill to capitalize on, and I’m aware that it is in large part because of my mindfulness practice and other routines. 
  3. Understanding that Social Awareness is a skill that could be a strength with a little improvement, I chose this for my first EQ Goal. In my own words, my EQ Goal is to remember people better by name, their intentions, their needs, and their mood when I meet them. I’ve set this as a goal to complete by April 2020, and the strategies I will practice are: Greet people by name, Don’t take notes at meetings, and Catch the mood of the room.
​
Now that you’ve reviewed one assessment, take a look at Assessment #3 the StrengthsFinder by Gallup (stay tuned!).
​


Related articles
  • Article 1: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series
  • Article 2: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #1 Defining Your Strengths with DiSC
  • Article 3: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #2 Defining Your Emotional Intelligence Strengths
  • Article 4: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #3 Ranking Your Strengths with Gallup StrengthsFinder (stay tuned!)
  • Article 5: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #2 Defining Your Personality Style with Myers-Briggs (stay tuned!)
​

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry​

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #1 Defining Your Strengths with DiSC

11/1/2019

 
4 MIN READ
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This article is the 2nd in a series. Read the introduction article
"Defining Your Strengths as a Leader."

I took DiSC through the Tony Robbins website thanks to social justice comrade and career coach Anthony Le’s recommendation. I’ve participated in a Tony Robbins seminar as a teenager, so to take something as an adult almost 20 years later was exciting!

DiSC is an observable “needs-motivated” instrument based on the idea that emotions and behaviors are neither “good” nor “bad.” Rather, behaviors reveal the needs that motivate that behavior. Therefore, once we can accurately observe one’s actions, it is easier to “read” and anticipate their likely motivators and needs.

DiSC provides your ADAPTED style and NATURAL style, represented as graphs and word sketches. As an example, for People, the words that indicate my needs, fears, and what’s observable are:


  • Needs = Social relationships, friendly environment
  • Observable = Optimistic, trust others
  • Fears = ...being left out, loss of social approval

Define Your Strengths with DiSC Activity

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Read about the DiSC assessment on the Tony Robbins website.

Consider if you would like to take this assessment (it’s free!). 
If you decide to take it, put it on your calendar by blocking 2 hours and set a reminder for a few days before so that you do not reschedule it. 
​
  1. On the day of, give yourself 30 minutes to unwind before taking the assessment (consider meditating!).
  2. It should take 30 minutes or less to complete once you start it.
  3. Give yourself 30 minutes after the assessment to do something energizing or relaxing.
  4. After your break, take 30 minutes to review the results and set a goal in the next 30 days to take action related to your results.
What if you decide not to take it? Reflect on a colleague or loved one in your life who could benefit from the activity and tell them about it!

My Behavior Style is Assessor. Key behavioral insights that stand out to me that I will need to keep in mind to strengthen my relationships are:

  • Emotional characteristic = Strong desire to look good to others.
  • How others are valued = By their ability to trigger action and activities.
  • Cations = Can overstep bounds of authority and be overly clever.
  • Fears = Looking bad in the eyes of other people and/or not being viewed as a winner.

The insights I get to take home with me and contemplate as I move forward are lists of “Help Them Tos” adapted for different situations such as At Work, In Social Settings, and In Learning Environments.
Lastly, you get a summary of your motivation which tags seven (7) Motivators as Very Low to Very High. My breakdown was:

  • Very High = Altruistic
  • High = Individualistic, Power, Theoretical
  • Very Low = Aesthetic, Economic, Regulatory

Knowing that Altruistic motivation is my highest, key universal assets that stand out to me that I will need to keep in mind are:

  • You will appreciate kind and good-hearted people and may avoid the self-interested.
  • You are always cognizant of the underdog and will go to great lengths to meet their needs.
  • You will feel compelled to assist the unfortunate.
  • Your high service ethic allows you to put others first and yourself last.​
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​My Take-aways on DiSC
  1. It is free and took less than 30 minutes to complete. It has 2 sections of questions and one optional section for demographics. 
  2. I agree with the results. Namely, that I “have the ability to take the seed of an idea and make it develop into a successful solution.” In fact, that is a strength and passion that needs to be front and center in my position. When this level of creativity and entrepreneurism was not central to my role, I felt out of my element, uninspired, and I didn’t trust myself as much to do a great job the first time. Now with my consulting firm and the projects I choose to work on, I get to spend all of my time discussing ideas and solutions to awaken the strengths in organizations and in people (and myself!). 
  3. I was surprised by some results. The DiSC word sketches indicated that two fears I have are “being taken advantage of/lack of control” and “sudden change/loss of stability and security.” I never thought of lack of control as similar to being taken advantage of, but in an office setting, or any collaborative project with other people, I should be more aware of this. The loss of stability and security surprised me as a fear worth naming but if it comes through in my dealings with people, I need to be sure that I am clear on what is within my control and what is not. 

Now that you’ve reviewed one assessment, take a look at Assessment #2 on Emotional Intelligence.
​

Related articles
  • Article 1: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series
  • Article 2: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #1 Defining Your Strengths with DiSC
  • Article 3: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #2 Defining Your Emotional Intelligence Strengths
  • Article 4: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #3 Ranking Your Strengths with Gallup StrengthsFinder (stay tuned!)
  • Article 5: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #2 Defining Your Personality Style with Myers-Briggs (stay tuned!)
​

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry

​Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Defining Your Strengths as a Leader

10/28/2019

 
4 MIN READ
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This article is the 1st in a series on "Breaking Knowledge Barriers".

This article is the 1st in a series on "Defining Your Strengths as a Leader"

​I have read my fair share of what some might term “self-help” books. I like to think of them as “self-awaken” books. The “help” part in “self-help” alludes to something being broken that needs fixing. What I appreciate about the books I’ve read since I was little, as well as today, is that self-awaken books point to the strengths, potential, and inner wisdom deep inside of us, already alive and ready, yet often untapped and tucked away hidden from sight. This wisdom manifests as skills and intuition, and I’m keen on developing my ability to tap this wisdom. Self-evaluation is critical for me as a leader, as a manager of teams and projects, and as a woman of color.

The Center for Creative Leadership reminds us in their report 7 Emerging Trends for Transformative Leaders that some managers may struggle with interpersonal relationships, affecting their ability to build and lead teams or adapt to change, which can lead to career derailment. To avoid this, “organizations must design programs that develop [managers’] self-awareness, political savviness, communication skills, and ability to influence others...skills that are essential to effectively heading a team.” 
In addition to reading self-awaken books (see my Bookcase for recommendations!) I’ve taken many different personal, career, and intelligence tests and assessments. Examples of assessments that executives and leaders should take are:


  • The Clifton StrengthsFinder
  • Emotional intelligence assessments
  • DiSC
  • ​Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
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As a professional, whether you are an employee of a company or an entrepreneur, understanding your strengths and skill sets is key to building the confidence, resourcefulness, and grit to adapt to any situation. As human beings who have way more going on than just our jobs, you can bet that your personal, educational, emotional, societal, cultural, economical, and religious identities are often at play when you negotiate professional situations.

​Most of us do not know how these identities manifest themselves in our decisions, risk tolerance, and self-reliance. Most of us have comrades and loved ones we can turn to for advice and feedback, but our hearing is often screening and interpreting with the bias of that relationship and all of its power dynamics. So why take a personality assessment? Because we often don’t know the questions to ask. And even if we did, would we really answer honestly, free of unconscious bias, shame, guilt, regret, or fear?
Define Your Strengths as a Leader Activity
Take out a pad of post-its, ideally in two different colors (e.g. green and yellow). Find a blank wall or space where you can lay out two sets of post-its and set aside a total of one hour.
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  1. Consider your Strengths and select one color of post-its, for example yellow. Take 5 minutes to write one strength on each yellow post-it, for example: detail-oriented, no ego, organized, I enjoy working people and they enjoy working with me.
  2. Consider your Challenges and use the other color of post-its, for example green. Take 5 minutes to write one challenge on each green post-it, for example: perfectionism, over-thinking, always looking at the clock, second-guessing myself, judgmental.
  3. After the 10 minutes of writing, take a 30-minute break like go for a walk or watch a show or listen to several songs of your favorite music.
  4. Then come back to your two lists, review them, and give yourself 10 minutes to reflect and write down ONE goal for the next 7 days on either a Strength that you would like to deepen or a Challenge that you want to work on.

We know from the Council of National Psychological Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests “Test bias is a primary issue of selecting and using testing and assessment instruments with racial/ethnic minority groups. Past research has shown that tests can produce misleading results with culturally different groups in terms of slope and intercept (or unfairness) bias.” Thus, if you are a person of color, you will need an assessment that will address and consider this intersection of your identity, as well as many others, if you are to feel good about doing anything at all with the results.
​

I’d like to give you a review of a few assessments because, 1) I have taken them in more than one sitting or format, and 2) I have heard from and worked with others who have taken one or a combination of assessments as part of developing themselves professionally at work. I have written a separate blog post for each assessment in this "Defining Your Strengths as a Leader" series. Click here to go to Assessment #1 on DiSC.

Related articles
  • Article 1: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series
  • Article 2: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #1 Defining Your Strengths with DiSC
  • Article 3: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #2 Defining Your Emotional Intelligence Strengths
  • Article 4: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #3 Ranking Your Strengths with Gallup StrengthsFinder (stay tuned!)
  • Article 5: Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #2 Defining Your Personality Style with Myers-Briggs (stay tuned!)

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #4 Finish Strong. Start Fresh.

10/7/2019

 
4 MIN READ
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This article is the 5th and final one in a series. Read the introduction article:
​ "Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color ​in the Workplace."

​If you Acknowledge who you are, Accept the strengths and challenges in front of you, and develop a risk tolerance to Adapt to situations as they come, you’re in a pretty good place. But let’s go back to the first question that I had to ask myself - What Can I Give Up? This is why I say, Finish Strong. Finish whatever is holding you back with strength. This might be just what you need to move forward on something else. Be intentional about finishing whatever it is, and focus on ending it with a lesson to validate the effort. ​
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And then, Start Fresh. Whatever it is you do next, let it be unencumbered by prior failures, even if they are now Strong Finishes. Start with fresh eyes. Start with fresh enthusiasm. Start with a fresh you. Start the next adventure fresh without any shame holding you back. Two goals as you Start Fresh are to learn your pace and method to Break Things Down and develop the inner strength, self-reliance, and community to Back Yourself Up.​

Break Things Down like a developer by figuring out the Owner, Size, and Priority of the work, question, or goal. If you want to let go of excel
spreadsheets and trade them in for Quickbooks Self-Employed or something: 
  • Who is the right person to lead that work (it may not have to be you!)? 
  • How much work is that really going to take (size small or medium or large)? 
  • How priority is this over everything else that’s on the plate of the person that will own this (due this week or next quarter)?

​Once you know the owner, size, and the priority of this project you want to START, you can rumble with vulnerability as the great Brené Brown advises in Dare to Lead. You can let go of the need for this project to look and feel a certain way if you’re going to delegate it. You can let go of the anxiety of thinking about it right now if you know it’s not going to come up again for several weeks. I bet you will also realize that you have mad delegation and prioritization skills as well!
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​Lastly, Back Yourself Up by building a strong bench of people that you can rely on to support you. If you can set up a formal advisory or committee, awesome. If you can find a mentor, wonderful. If you can join a community like a local commission or network like the Women’s Networking Alliance or the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute, way to step it up! The most important part is getting positive reinforcement and honest guidance from outside of yourself, while also building your inner monologue of positive vibes and affirmations. And whenever possible, build a diverse bench. It should have people that look like you and people that don’t look like you. It should have people that will agree with you on some things and people who will disagree with you on some things. Stack your bench with people who will look out for your best interest, which is not the same as Yes-people.
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AdvancED Activity
Here are just a few of my favorite affirmations I’ve been sharing lately. Want some more? Contact me, I’ve got dozens!! Find the two or three quotes you like most and either 1) put them on your wall near your work space, 2) put them in your email signature so you can share with the world, 3) share the quote with someone else, or 4) any combination of these options.
  • "Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it." ~ Brené Brown
  • "Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish, and what your potential is." ~ Anne Frank
  • "I say if I'm beautiful. I say if I'm strong. You will not determine my story--I will." ~ Amy Schumer
  • "The question isn't who's going to let me; it's who's going to stop me." ~ Ayn Rand
  • "You can't be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute." ~ Tina Fey
  • "Great people do things before they're ready. They do things before they know they can do it." ~ Amy Poehler
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You now have all of the strategies you need to begin to tackle any knowledge barriers or general challenges you may have face as a woman in business, education, law, medicine, etc. You already have the will and the grit to move forward; you only need to take the first step. Know that I believe in you and that I am taking those steps with you.

Sincerely,

Mer


​Related articles
  • Article 1: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color in the Workplace.
  • Article 2: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #1 Practice Mindfulness.
  • Article 3: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #2 Roll Call! Identify Yourself.
  • Article 4: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #3 Acknowledge. Accept. Adapt.
  • Article 5: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #4 Finish Strong. Start Fresh.

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #3 Acknowledge. Accept. Adapt.

10/3/2019

 
3 MIN 30 SEC READ
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This article is the 4th in a series. Read the introduction article:
​ "Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color ​in the Workplace."

​How many of us are still making decisions today because of something that happened a month ago? A failure a year ago? A mistake or misjudgment a relationship ago? 

Instead, I recommend, “Be open to learning new lessons, even if they contradict the lessons you learned yesterday.” Our intersections, our identities, are chock full of lessons we learned yesterday that we are still holding onto. They might be holding us back and we may mistakenly think they’re pushing us forward.

​​ACKNOWLEDGE who you are, how your identities intersect and play out in your everyday. How your heritage/history, education, geography, and income all impact the access you have to the knowledge you seek today. You acknowledge that the path behind you and in front of you is rife with challenges and misjudgment and misunderstanding. So who are YOU today, and what strengths and skills do you have in your toolbox to move forward from this moment?
​ACCEPT who you are, as opposed to constantly undermine yourself, tell yourself you’re undeserving, or convince yourself you have to just because someone else said so. Remember that it took the whole universe to get you to this place, for you to be who you are, living a life only you can live. You are wonderful. You are perfect just as you are. And even so, you will make mistakes and you will experience failure. It is human and it allows us to grow. Authenticity matters and it counts a lot these days. By accepting your strengths and weaknesses and separating what is history from what is right now, you are more likely to give your most authentic self in your work and personal life. So how do we truly get to know our strengths, in a way that isn’t clouded by our biases and self-judgments?

​I like to recommend either the 
StrengthsFinder by Gallup or the DiSC Assessment. Regardless what assessment you take, the recommendation I have for you is to ask yourself the types of questions you’re likely not asking yourself. 
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That is to ask yourself what are you GOOD at, what are your strengths, and how does that play out in your life. Conversely, what does it look like when you are not applying those strengths in your life, and how do they manifest as fears or you getting in your own way or your unhappiness?
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​AdvancED Activity
Pick one of these assessments, or another assessment that you have access to (check your local library!). Take it in one sitting and ask yourself, do any of the results surprise me? Which results do I agree with the most? Which strengths am I actively using in my current role?
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ADAPT by starting from a place of strength in the knowledge of who you are and gratitude for all that you have ACHIEVED to get to this moment, rather than shame or regret. There’s a TED Talk on the 5 Top Indicators for Startup Success by Bill Gross with Idealab, and chief of them is Timing, followed by Team, Idea, Business Model, and Funding. What this tells us is that Timing is the largest factor in the success of any business, so it behooves you to always be present, open-minded, and have a fresh perspective and confidence to tackle whatever comes, when it decides to come, because we have very little control over timing. RECALL YOUR STRENGTHS and let them nourish and remind you that you can do it, whatever IT is, when the time comes.

Now it's time for you to finish strong and start fresh, and we teach you how to do this with our final strategy. Click here to go to Strategy #4.

Related articles
  • Article 1: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color in the Workplace.
  • Article 2: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #1 Practice Mindfulness.
  • Article 3: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #2 Roll Call! Identify Yourself.
  • Article 4: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #3 Acknowledge. Accept. Adapt.
  • Article 5: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #4 Finish Strong. Start Fresh.

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #2 Roll Call! Identify Yourself.

9/27/2019

 
2 MIN READ
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This article is the 3rd in a series. Read the introduction article:
​ "Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color ​in the Workplace."

​No matter how old we are, how successful we are, how much we’ve achieved, who loves us and who is loved by us, there are challenges that we still face as individuals. I believe that our experiences and identities can tell us a lot about WHY.
Identity Intersections explore how issues of race, sexual orientation, and mental health intersect with one another (Psychology Today). We are unique in how we identify with our identities, and how those intersect to create our experience, value systems, and personalities. 


It is healthy and critical to acknowledge and accept your intersections as contributing factors to your success as well as challenges. It is valuable and worth your energy to assess how these play out in your decision making, management, and principles. Often, we don’t even realize that our intersections bias our perceptions not just of others, but ourselves and what we are capable of or deserving of. The two images below offer a few combinations of identities that you can reflect on
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​AdvancED Activity
Step 1: Pick one or two of the identities in the images below.
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Step 2: Ask yourself, how do you identify, and how does that manifest in your personal and professional life? 

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​For example, consider how your Education, Ability, Age, Language, Occupation, Religion, Family Status, or Geographic Location impact how you perceive your challenges, search for and ask for help, and reach or stretch beyond what you know and are willing to do every day.
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Photo Credits:
Image 1 - https://www.clydefitchreport.com/2015/02/tulpa-and-anneme-to-encanta-shawn-harris/
Image 2 - https://jaxsonglobalhealth.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/intersectionality-perspective/
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Please understand that the outcomes of this strategy will vary depending on the person as we are all different. It is important to take what you need and let go of what you do not. Throughout your life journey, your Identities Map may look a little different given that you will change. You may have to re-identify yourself and that is just fine because change is inevitable. This next strategy in this series will help you embrace it.

Related articles
  • Article 1: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color in the Workplace.
  • Article 2: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #1 Practice Mindfulness.
  • Article 3: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #2 Roll Call! Identify Yourself.
  • Article 4: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #3 Acknowledge. Accept. Adapt.
  • Article 5: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #4 Finish Strong. Start Fresh.

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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