We all have our ideal working conditions. We might love working from home, enjoy a couple of sociable days in the office each week, or crave the daily ritual of a peaceful commute. Whatever your personal preference, the recent trend in many sectors to force a return to the office has raised a lot of concerns.

In this episode, I dig into the statistics and history of the WFH-to-RTO saga and its weighty impact on employees—in particular, how the move away from flexible work options may have a disproportionate effect on working mothers.

We’ll break down the latest data and explain how we got here:

• Why the “she-cession” was followed by an influx of moms re-entering the workforce;
• The stats that back up the nation’s feelings on flexible work;
• How changing mandates are affecting job seekers;
• The systemic causes that got us to where we are today.

Related Links:

• Wall Street Journal essay - https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/return-to-the-office-mandates-are-a-disaster-for-working-mothers-bf57a071
• Time magazine article - https://time.com/6251465/return-to-office-working-moms-pandemic/
• University of Chicago research - https://bfi.uchicago.edu/working-paper/time-savings-when-working-from-home/
• Bankrate article on the effects of return-to-office mandates - https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/return-to-office-mandates-effects-on-working-mothers/
• Take Action with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeaction
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Community, connection, and collaboration: these are the keys to our survival as a species if you ask Baily Hancock, a community architect and strategist with more than three decades of experience. Prioritizing these concepts within both her own career trajectory and her client work has positioned Baily as an expert and thought leader who helps organizations conceptualize, launch, and grow successful communities.

In this episode, she shares what she’s learned about leveraging community, leaning on connections when navigating major career pivots, and fostering collaboration every step of the way. We even dig into thought leadership and the question of job security as either an employee or entrepreneur.

Prepare to expand your professional persona and unleash the thought leader within as we uncover:

• The persistent reality of reinvention throughout our careers
• The game-changing benefits of nurturing community and reaching out
• What’s actually more secure—being an employee or entrepreneur?
• How to put yourself out there as a thought leader and expert

Related Links:

• Connect with Baily on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bailyhancock/
• Visit Baily’s website - https://bailyhancock.com/
• Snag the Podcast Guest Playbook - https://bailyhancock.com/podcastguest
• Join The Collaboration Coalition - https://collaborationcoalition.mn.co/
• The Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Speak Up: our live assertive communication course - http://www.bossedup.org/speakup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Writing cover letters is stressful. If I surveyed a thousand job seekers about their least favorite parts of the job search, I bet most of them would put this task near the top of their list. But as awful as they can be, they’re still important and can help set you apart. A good cover letter lets you highlight the most important details of your application right away. 

Here’s my straightforward, bullet point-based cover letter strategy that will help you curb the overwhelm and get right to the point. Keeping the reader engaged through the first page of your application goes a long way to getting your foot in the interview room door. 

Discover my go-to template for creating an impactful cover letter every time:

• Why white space and brevity will land your cover letter on the top of the stack;
• How to harness the awesome power of the rule of three;
• Step-by-step instructions for creating your own low-stress, speedy cover letter writing strategy.

Related Links:

• Hired: my Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
• Episode 365, How To Write A Meaningful Cover Letter For Today’s Competitive Job Market - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode365
• Episode 415, How To Use AI To Write Cover Letters Faster - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode415
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Resiliency is an important trait for any leader, but the systemic barriers that underrepresented professionals face, on top of persisting gender and racial gaps, make this skill even more vital. My guest, Jacqueline Twillie, quite literally wrote the book on resiliency for these leaders, drawing on her experience working to reduce worldwide inequity. 

In this episode, we discuss her book and her approach to strategic sustainability for leaders facing these challenging dynamics. From the cyclical process of refilling your resilience well to a fresh take on failure, Jacqueline’s approach to empowering women from underrepresented backgrounds who are navigating the pitfalls and potentials of leadership offers real-world advice for all leaders seeking a stronger foothold in their futures.

Reset your mindset with Jacqueline’s expert insights into:

• The ways risk, resilience, rest, and reward work together to foster growth;
• How cultivating resilience is like navigating a traffic jam;
• What neurotransmitters and nutrition have to do with resilient leadership.

Related Links:

• Jacqueline’s website - https://www.zerogap.co/
• Connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelinetwillie/
• Connect with Jacqueline on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jacquelinetwillie/?hl=en
• Connect with Jacqueline on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Jvtwillie/
• The Resilient Leaders Program - https://www.zerogap.co/resileintleadersprogram
• Jacqueline’s book, Dear Resilient Leader: A Guide for Underrepresented Leaders - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNRFYVZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_15FXH2FQXNWCNHPEZJKS?linkCode=ml1&tag=thepowbre-20
• The Seven Spirtual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-seven-spiritual-laws-of-success-a-pocketbook-guide-to-fulfilling-your-dreams-one-hour-of-wisdom-deepak-chopra/11605345?ean=9781878424716
• Mindet by Carol Dwek - https://bookshop.org/p/books/mindset-the-new-psychology-of-success-carol-s-dweck/7841782?ean=9780345472328
• Episode 386, How To Boost Your Energy With The Power Of Nutrition - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode386
• Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

How does your LinkedIn Skills section look these days? Whether or not you’re currently on the hunt for new employment opportunities, this is your friendly reminder to get your Skills section in order. LinkedIn places a huge focus on this section of your profile when it comes to recruiters looking for candidates.

In this episode, I walk you through how to amp up your Skills section. With everything we have to do, wouldn’t it be nice to let LinkedIn take some of the hard work of job searching (even if you’re just low-key looking right now) off your plate?

Listen along as we walk through this essential process and discover:

• Why fine-tuning your Skills section is so important to your job search;
• How to narrow the long list of skills you possess so it serves you best;
• How to navigate the finicky nuances of the skills list LinkedIn provides.

Related Links:

• Hired: my Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Whether an organization’s teams are centered in a single city or dispersed across the world, cultural differences inevitably emerge. For leaders accustomed to knowing the answers and acting on their singular understanding of situations, it can be difficult to recognize these differences, much less level up the listening skills needed to address them for the good of their organization.

For more than 10 years, Hawa Kombian has worked within and alongside companies in Canada, Ghana, and more, using her expertise in cross-cultural competency and communication to help her clients achieve operational sustainability and social vibrancy through customized results-driven cultures of connection. In this episode, Hawa and I delve into the compassionate approach she teaches to guide leaders and their teams in this important work. 

Explore the essential impact of cross-cultural competency on the future of work with:

• Why listening is the key to positive change in any organization;
• How to lead with cross-cultural compassion in today’s remote workplaces;
• The need for humility in leaders championing long-term change;
• How we can redefine the legacy of leadership.

Related Links:

• Hawa’s Linktree - https://linktr.ee/hawakoco
• Learn more about Hawa - https://hawakombianconsulting.com/
• Hawa’s LinkedIn article, Hey Founder... How To Collaborate With Your Team  - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hey-founder-how-collaborate-your-team-b-hawa-kombian
• Episode 2 of Hawa’s Compass Audiocast, Choose Friends With Care - https://youtu.be/LU-mWQSu8Z4
• Join Hawa’s Journey Alignment Mastermind - https://testhk.my.canva.site/hkc-media
• Hidden Brain Podcast Episode, US 2.0: What We Have In Common - https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/us-2-0-what-we-have-in-common/
• Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

How many meeting invites do you get each week? If your company is like many American organizations, it’s probably too many. Recent research shows that 70% of all company meetings are keeping teams from completing their tasks. On top of that, a Harvard Business Review article reports that “Ineffective meetings that waste our time can negatively impact psychological, physical, and mental well-being.” Yikes! 

In this episode, I share three steps that can help reduce meeting overwhelm. There’s no doubt that declining a meeting is easier said than done. Company culture and concern for professional relationships can make it anxiety-inducing to even consider clicking anything but that little “yes” box on a meeting invitation. But taking the plunge and beginning to question—and even turn down—unnecessary meetings can make a huge difference in your company as a whole.

Navigate the meeting acceptance minefield professionally by learning:

• What the research says about our inefficient attachment to meetings;
• Why it’s okay to ask for more information;
• How and when to decline delicately;
• How to put meeting reduction into practice with your team.

Related Links:

• Harvard Business Review article, “Dear Manager, You’re Holding Too Many Meetings” - https://hbr.org/2022/03/dear-manager-youre-holding-too-many-meetings
• The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-gathering-how-we-meet-and-why-it-matters-priya-parker/588739?ean=9781594634932
• My LinkedIn course, “Asserting Yourself: An Empowered Choice - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/asserting-yourself-an-empowered-choice/why-being-assertive-matters
• Bossed Up Accelerator - Level Up - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup  
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Pay transparency is one of our policy priorities at Bossed Up, and in this episode, I speak with a scholar who studies the subject: Zoë Cullen. An assistant professor of entrepreneurial management at Harvard Business School, Zoë has spent the last decade studying gender gaps within the workforce, and most recently has focused on the effects of pay transparency laws. 

Her research reveals a lot of interesting information about what pay transparency means for individual workers, career motivation, and hiring practices. Zoë’s practical explanations of the data help put this groundbreaking policy into perspective. 

Find out what the numbers say about how pay transparency is playing out in the real world:

• Which information frictions and taboos stand in the way;
• The surprising effect of learning what your boss makes;
• How pay transparency affects powerhouse negotiators in the workplace;
• And even the potential downsides to pay transparency for worker’s wages.

Related Links:

• Connect with Zoë - https://zcullen.github.io/
• Read Zoë’s article, “Is Pay Transparency Good?” - https://zcullen.github.io/assets/docs/JEP%20Is%20Pay%20Transparency%20Good.pdf
• Read Zoë’s article, “Equilibrium Effects Of Pay Transparency” - https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28903/w28903.pdf
• Equal Pay for Equal Work Act - https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-085
• Episode 319, “How To Talk Money With Your Friends and Family and Why It’s Critically Important That You Do” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode319
• Episode 146 “Step-By-Step Negotiation Prep” https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode146
• Salary Insights Guide - https://www.bossedup.org/negotiation#salaryinsights
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

When you need a reference, what’s the first thing you do? Almost everyone looking for a new job will need a reference or two, and a former employer is the most common choice. However customary this exchange might be, though, no one appreciates having a reference call sprung on them without warning.

I recently received just such an out-of-the-blue reference check. The uncomfortable experience prompted me to pull together four tips for putting your best foot forward when you come to this point in your job search. Spoiler alert: it all starts with giving your reference a heads-up. 

In today’s episode, I unpack some steps to make the most of your ask:

• Why a friendly reconnection is key
• Which job search details you’ll want to include
• How to check the temperature of your contact
• A bonus query for the bravest among us

Related Links:

• My LinkedIn Learning course, How To Leverage References, Recommendations, and Referrals to Advance Your Career - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/how-to-leverage-references-recommendations-and-referrals-to-advance-your-career/advance-your-career
• Bossed Up’s Job Search Resource Hub - https://www.bossedup.org/free-resources/job-search
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Most of us have or will experience the classic post-promotion “freakout.” This crushing crisis of confidence leaves us wondering how we got here and whether we can handle our new responsibilities. Jodi Flynn, a leadership development expert with more than a decade of experience helping organizations with attracting, developing, and successfully promoting more women into senior levels of leadership, often helps clients through this transitional time and remembers well the feeling of navigating it herself.

In this episode, we sit down to explore the reasons behind this inevitable anxiety. We lay out a host of tips to help you navigate and manage these feelings, so you can embrace the boss you’re meant to be.

Feel empowered with Jodi’s practical and insightful ideas for navigating this new terrain:

• How to deal with the tedious intersection of gratitude and anxiety;
• How to shift your perspective by cultivating an inner boss identity;
• Why you owe it to your team and yourself to delegate;
• Why keeping up on self-care as a leader is more than just a nice-to-have.

Related Links:

• Follow Jodi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodiflynn/
• Jodi’s podcast Women Taking the Lead - https://womentakingthelead.com/podcast/
• Jodi’s organization - https://womentakingthelead.com/
• Jodi’s book Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing - https://bookshop.org/p/books/accomplished-how-to-go-from-dreaming-to-doing-jodi-flynn/11327872?ean=9780692806975
• Jodi’s Leadership Operating System Inventory - https://womentakingthelead.com/leadership-abilities-inventory/
• Maine’s Women’s Conference - https://www.themainewomensconference.org/
• Massachusetts Conference of Women - https://www.maconferenceforwomen.org/
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear - https://bookshop.org/p/books/atomic-habits-an-easy-proven-way-to-build-good-habits-break-bad-ones-james-clear/12117739?ean=9780735211292
• McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace Study - in-the-workplace-2022.pdf">https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/featured%20insights/diversity%20and%20inclusion/women%20in%20the%20workplace%202022/women-in-the-workplace-2022.pdf
• Academy of Management Journal Article - https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amj.2016.0662
• Bossed Up Episode 426, Women of Color in Leadership and Trauma at Work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode426
• Bossed Up Episode 437, The Succession Gap and the Growing Value of Your Leadership Aspirations - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode437
• Bossed Up Episode 407, How to Delegate Without Feeling so Bad About It - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode407
• My LinkedIn Learning Course, Coping With Your Impostor Syndrome To Build Your Career Confidence - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/coping-with-impostor-syndrome-to-build-career-confidence/feeling-like-a-fraud
• Level Up Leadership Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/