The Surprising Twist on the Trek to the Top
Research clearly shows that successful leaders tend to share a common list of attributes or behaviors: the ability to communicate, collaborate, and project a powerful presence; but here’s what the science doesn’t explain. Once a leader rises through an organization to a certain level, simply exhibiting those attributes isn’t enough.
Virtually The Same: How to Take Your Brand Online
Whether you’ve gone eagerly and willingly, or been dragged kicking and screaming, the unavoidable world of online marketing and social media has you in its grasp. Now what? How do you take your valuable personal brand online? How do you convey all of that charisma and
personality without losing yourself in translation?
Is Your Cyber-Slip Showing? by Sara Canaday
Social media enables you to expand your personal and professional reach. On the downside, it comes with the risk of muddying your hard-won professional image and reputation.
Avoid these common pitfalls so you don’t unintentionally air your dirty laundry or form unsavory alliances.
"New Year's Resolution Not Required to Jump-Start a Stagnant Career"
by Walter Brewer
march.april 08
“Clothes the Deal”
by Christine Van Dusen
“The biggest mistake for the ambitious woman, in fact, is ‘to completely underestimate the power of image,’ says Sara Canaday […] ‘They spend countless hours on their education, networking, writing papers, getting credentials, taking workshops and classes – anything to stay competitive and get ahead, but they overlook their own visual resume as part of the package.’ Making the effort to present your best self shows respect for your employer, your job and the career strata you aspire to, Canaday says. ‘Otherwise the message you’re at risk of sending is that your comfort and the way you like to dress are more important than your potential audience’”
"Improve 'EQ' to Master the Workplace"
San Antonio Express-News
by Dave Beck
"Sara Canaday, an Austin-based communication and image consultant who earned her MBA at the University of the Incarnate Word, is another proponent of EQ as the leading gauge of a person's business success.
'Emotional intelligence in the workplace is critical in dealing with co-workers and engaging in high-performance teamwork," Canaday says. "It is essential for effective leadership and management.'" full article
Is Your Cyber-Slip Showing?
Common Pitfalls of Social Media That Could Damage Your Professional Image
outfront magazine
by Sara Canaday
"Anyone with a computer and a job has felt the powerful pull of today’s brave new world of “social media” including online networking sites that allow you to expand upon personal and professional connections. But, just as you would with any powerful medium, social media users should proceed with caution.
The myriad of social media programs is growing every day. From blogging to linking to connecting, they all allow you the opportunity to grow your personal and professional life. But with those opportunities come risks: namely, the possibility of muddying your hard-won professional image and reputation.
While many of us are careful about projecting a polished, credible, and professional image, social media activities – as their name implies – can blur the line between the personal and the professional, creating opportunities to misrepresent ourselves to potential clients, employers, or colleagues." full article
"What You're Saying Before Speaking A Word"
Business District
by Sara Canaday
"Studies show that first impressions are made and set within the first 30 seconds of an encounter. On top of that, more than 70 percent of communication is non-verbal, meaning the tone of your voice, your gestures, and the image you project is saying more about you than the words you’re carefully choosing.
That’s why it’s important to think about your professional image. Though not always a comfortable topic, the fact is we judge and are being judged by others based on appearances and other non-verbal cues. It’s human nature! Here are a few basic tips on how to make this work for you." full article
People who find themselves going through the motions at work or, conversely, who feel overwhelmed at work are most in need of career re-evaluation, according to Sara Canaday, an Austin leadership consultant who helps people achieve their professional goals.
Other signs you should give your career some good, hard thought: "You don't admire or respect the people you're working for, work's not challenging or you're sensing that you may not be one of the ones chosen to stay if the company starts to shrink," Canaday said. "If you feel vulnerable, that's a sign it's time to take stock of your career."
