A   D I G I T A L   N E W S L E T T E R   F R O M

A Message From Dr. Helen Most years, when September rolls around, I find myself ramping up on several levels: back-to-school for my son, starting new projects, signing new clients, etc. On the surface, all of that is still happening. But this year, I am definitely trying to be more intentional about trying to pace myself and remain flexible while so many things continue to evolve. For example, back-to-school protocols, ongoing pandemic limbo, concerns of a second wave, financial concerns once government benefits wind down, etc.

My focus on trying not to overdo things stems from what I learned while preparing a workshop this summer on Avoiding Burnout – an especially timely topic during the double pandemic of Covid-19 and systemic discrimination. I commented on and highlighted the silver linings of our circumstances in the July 2020 newsletter message. While that’s still valid, it’s also worth reminding ourselves that many of us have people who are taking their cues from us – children, colleagues, clients, employees, etc. It’s important to take appropriate actions to make sure that we can sustain these key relationships and also avoid triggering a negative/downward spiral fuelled by focusing only on the challenges and risks.

RECENT ARTICLES

Feeling Like an Impostor? Maybe You’re Just an Outlier…

Impostor Syndrome is a feeling of being undeserving of one’s achievements, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of incompetence, even when praised. It’s a widely recognized problem that affects 60 to 70 percent of us at some point. Here are some of my top tips for dealing with imposter syndrome.  READ MORE

Pandemic Staffing: Why Some Employers are Struggling to Re-Hire

Now that most businesses have resumed operations, some employers are finding it a challenge to get everyone back into the physical workplace. Here are some of the best ways to attract and retain staff. READ MORE

Buttering Up the Boss – From Home 

Anyone who has been working for a while has probably seen someone get ahead by buttering up the boss. There’s no doubt that there are tons of advantages to building workplace relationships and networking. It’s also easy to see how buttering up the boss is more effective when it’s done in person. In fact, I’m not even sure how practical buttering up someone is via group Zoom or Google Meet interactions. So, how can you impress the boss, from home? READ MORE

WHAT’S NEW?

Making a Change: Diversity & Inclusion Is your workplace trying to move beyond starting a Diversity and Inclusion Committee? Is there interest in implementing something concrete like adjusting the recruitment, hiring, and promotion practices? Starting a mentorship program? I spent much of the summer on initiatives to help employers who were interested in taking a concrete next step to launch something quickly and effectively. I’ve put together the essentials for a much more comprehensive mentorship program that will help Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) employees improve their career progression despite various systemic factors that have been obstacles. As part of the mentorship program development, I’ve also prepared the content for workshops for allies and mentors. These programs have received great feedback so far, and I continue to work on improving these initiatives so they can be customized based on organizations’ individual needs. If this sounds like something your workplace would benefit from, I’d love to chat!   REACH OUT

DR. HELEN’S PICKS

Call Your Girlfriend: ‘The Trapdoor’ This is a fascinating discussion about navigating interracial friendships and professional relationships. I’d recommend having a listen!

Authenticity is a Double-Edged Sword  “Just be yourself” is popular work advice these days, with more and more companies encouraging people to “be authentic” and bring their whole selves to work. But when we get real at the wrong time or in the wrong way, it can backfire. What does effective authenticity look like, and how can we learn to strike the right balance?

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