Valerie B. Nixon Vice President for Administration and Enrollment Alfred State College

 To learn how to avoid unconscious mistakes that can affect your career  To learn how to recognize and make the right choices for your career and life  To learn how to build your reputation and credentials  To recognize your strengths and play to them  To provide resources for use throughout your career

 B.S. in Business Administration  M.P.S. in Community Services Administration  23 years of supervisory experience including 6 years as vice president  Membership, including leadership roles in many professional and personal organizations (including SUNYFAP!)  Received many awards and honors  Presented on a variety of topics to various groups

Avoiding Unconscious Mistakes Be a grown-up! –Appearance –Demeanor –Overdo it! (to a point) –Don’t put being liked over doing your job When your employer hosts a social gathering don’t forget you are still at work.

 Don’t wait to be taught. ◦ Learn everything you can about your job and industry. ◦ Be invaluable to your supervisor. ◦ Volunteer for things outside your area. ◦ Don’t downplay your ability.

 Rely on the experts ◦ Find a mentor, preferably more than one.  Don’t rely only on spell check and grammar check. ◦ Proofread your . ◦ Don’t write anything you don’t want shared!

 Understand office politics and use it to your advantage. ◦ Never underestimate a person’s connections. ◦ Always get back to people. ◦ Use your intuition. ◦ Don’t take things personally and don’t assume you understand a person’s motivation. ◦ Bend the rules where appropriate.

 Office Politics….. ◦ Know your own ethical standards.  Don’t confuse ethics with preferences. ◦ Always weigh the consequences.  Is the job more important than the issue?

 Make sure you are noticed. ◦ Don’t wait to be recognized. ◦ Don’t be afraid to sing your own praises. ◦ Don’t do the work of others. ◦ Don’t skip breaks or vacations and work late hours as a rule.

 DON’T ACT LIKE A MAN! ◦ “Acting” is the key word. ◦ Be yourself; you bring a lot to the table!

 Don’t act like a girl!  You want folks to see you as a capable leader. Therefore, don’t: ◦ Decorate your office like a living room ◦ Feed people ◦ Cry! ◦ Worry too much about offending people ◦ Use a nickname

 Pick something you love doing. ◦ You don’t have to graduate in two/four years. ◦ Always assess whether the job or field is right for you. ◦ What you love may change. ◦ Always have an “escape plan”.

 Have a written plan. ◦ A written plan will keep you focused. ◦ Be willing/ready to adjust. ◦ Weigh major decisions against the plan to avoid impulsive choices.

 ALWAYS KNOW THE PRICE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR YOUR CAREER! ◦ You can’t “have it all”. To have some things, you have to give up others. ◦ Go back to your written plan. Does it clearly reflect your personal AND professional goals? ◦ Be clear on your priorities.

 Have interests outside of work. ◦ Volunteer ◦ Join a club ◦ Read, walk, play golf; whatever you enjoy ◦ Make time for yourself  If work is your only interest, you can’t be your best at your job!

 You always have choices!!! ◦ How many and how reasonable depends on how YOU have planned.  Have you: ◦ Put yourself in a financial bind? ◦ Limited yourself by location, willingness to travel, type of work you can (and will) do? ◦ Failed to build contacts within and outside the industry?

 Or worse! Have you…. ◦ Damaged your reputation with those who can support you? ◦ Stayed “one-dimensional” so that you are viewed as being skilled in only one area?

 The Gender Card: ◦ Are you SURE it’s the reason? ◦ Is it the organization’s culture or the individual? ◦ Is it worth waiting it out?  The bad guys (usually) go away eventually ◦ Can you wait it out? ◦ Don’t make it about YOU!

 Act like you’ve been there! ◦ Be prepared! ◦ Plan ◦ Find out what works for you to calm your nerves.  Deep breathing  Cut out the caffeine  Start small and work up

 Speak with authority – but know what you’re talking about.  Practice, practice, practice!  Don’t back down to bullies. ◦ Be professional but be firm.

 Envision your success. ◦ Don’t underestimate your experience. ◦ Don’t minimize your contributions. ◦ Don’t always believe others know more than you. ◦ Don’t always do the grunt work.

 Know what you are good at.  Understand your limitations. ◦ If you can build a skill do it! ◦ If it’s not within your ability, skip it! ◦ If you have to take on a task that you aren’t ready or able to do, find a partner.  Stay true to yourself.

 Build a network of friends, colleagues, and business associates. ◦ Be there when they need you. ◦ Show them your capabilities. ◦ Ask for help when you need it.  Find someone you admire and listen to their advice.

 Attend conferences and workshops that help you to build skills. ◦ Don’t try to learn it all at once.  Try to learn something from even the worst situation.

 “Nice Girls Don’t Get The Corner Office” ◦ By Lois P. Frankel, PhD.  “If My Career’s on the Fast Track, Where Do I Get a Road Map?” ◦ By Anne Fisher  “The Female Brain” ◦ By Louann Brizendine, M.D.  Valerie Nixon, Vice President for Administration and Enrollment Management, Alfred State College ◦ ◦

Questions???