Crina and Kirsten Get to Work

Build a Women's Network!

On this episode of Crina and Kirsten Get To Work, our hosts Crina and Kirsten consider different aspects of networking. Specifically, the challenges that women face when it comes to networking. Crina and Kirsten offer ways that listeners can address engage those challenges. Our hosts begin the episode by sharing their own experience with one form of networking, social media usage, or lack thereof. They discuss how social media can be a tool for networking depending on where you are at in your career.
Crina and Kirsten discuss the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind networking. Shocking to both hosts, 70% of people in 2016 were hired at a company where they already had a connection there. They report additional statistics found that 80% of professionals consider networking to be one of the core components of their success; whilst 35% of folks say that a casual conversation with another person has led to a significant opportunity. Networking seems to be the “magic ingredient” to success. Crina talks about the networking challenges she faced while working for a non-profit and how she’s changed her strategy now that she’s a consultant. Now, as a consultant, her entire business is based on networking; including utilizing the personal connections she’s made over the course of her career.  Kirsten tells a story about one of her networking failures.
Going to events does not necessarily equate to making personal connections with people in the community. 
Now, as a consultant, her entire business is based on networking; including utilizing the personal connections she’s made over the course of her career.
Kirsten and Crina discuss the challenges women specifically face in networking. These challenges include a woman being concerned that a networking opportunity with a man may be perceived as some sort of advance. Another would be a competition mindset that says there can only be so many women “at the top”. They suggest women-only networking circles as a solution to some of those challenges. And as always, they end with positive steps working women can take to create a robust network of  support and connection.Women should be more intentional about networking with other women. Kirsten tells a story about one of her networking failures, and our hosts finish by talking about the benefits of keeping a written list of people in your network.
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Are You Engaged (at Work)?

In this episode of Crina and Kirsten Get To Work, your hosts sit down to discuss disengagement in the workplace, how it contributes to dissatisfaction in the workplace and how we can become more engaged. Before delving into this subject, we take a little detour to consider ‘Marie Kondo-ing our heads’ and the value of trimming out activities and other time thieves from our lives to focus on what’s most important. By reevaluating your time and how you use it, Kirsten points out how we can maintain ease, joy, and meaning – in addition to our well-being, connections, curiosity, productivity, creativity, and generally, living a wholesome life. This revaluation helps put quality over quantity.
And on to disengagement . . . .
Gallup’s 2018 poll regarding the state of the American workplace shows that 70% of U.S. workforce is disengaged while at work. This is a staggering number. And 13% are actively disengaged – meaning they are actually sabotaging or getting in the way of work. Lots of these folks are actively looking for new jobs. Wow – that is a lot of unhappy people and gloomy findings! When employees are disengaged with their work, they start exhibiting questionable and unacceptable behavior. This includes sleeping, napping, sexual acts, browsing, watching movies and series, online shopping, new workplace shopping, and basically everything that is not your job. Disengagement is a symptom of a bigger problem and an indication that we need to do something else to become more engaged. We cannot have joy, meaning, fun and productivity in the workplace when we are disengaged. As Kirsten says, when sex, drugs and rock and roll are part of your workday – good to check in!
Crina and Kirsten offer a few helpful ways to assess our own engagement or disengagement.  We can ask ourselves some questions, such as: ‘do I feel committed to the mission?’; ‘do I feel like part of the team?’; ‘do I have access to the things I need to do my job?’; ‘is there something new for me to learn?’; ‘do I feel valued and recognized?’. The answers to these questions can give you valuable insight into your disengagement or engagement with your workplace, and help you change things for the better. The fact is – you can improve matters. You can approach your manager and ask for help about doing your job and getting what you want out of it. Don’t let yourself be disengaged further when you can change the situation for the better.
Links:
Harper, Jim. “Employee Engagement on the Rise in the U.S.” Gallop, 26 Aug. 2018
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Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
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The Real Deal: Authenticity in the Workplace

In this episode of Get To Work, Crina and Kirsten discuss authenticity in the workplace and whether it’s important and appropriate to bring your whole self to work. Sometimes it may feel like being who we truly are at work is very challenging. We may feel like we have to separate ourselves, dividing our personalities into our ‘work-self’ and our ‘everything-else-self’. This is a very common phenomenon – so we are not alone there.
The two hosts share how studies have shown that people who are able to be more authentic at work are more satisfied and more productive. Bosses, managers, and other employees actually value authenticity in the workplace. However, there is a need for a line between what’s relevant or irrelevant for your work. 
An additional advantage to being more authentic at work is that people will likely trust you more. People are drawn to people who are authentic, because they can trust them. Just assume the best when being more authentic – and watch how it develops into something beautiful.
Crina and Kirsten advise to trust the process. Bring your whole self, but don’t bring your whole drama. Be focused, genuine, and open your soul to vulnerability and establishing relations with your environment at work. What awaits you at the end of the whole process is an outcome that you will not even believe was possible – and one that will increase your happiness, satisfaction and joy in the workplace.
We love to hear and share your stories, so write us at the email address included below!
Links:
Tune in and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
yougettowork@gmail.com

Do You Want to Be My Friend?

In this episode of Get To Work, Crina and Kirsten discuss the benefits and challenges of developing friendships in the workplace. They start by posing the question, “What does it mean for someone to be a ‘friend’?” and our hosts get real with each other when discussing the vulnerability it takes to get to such a place in a relationship. Crina and Kirsten about how different age groups and different types of people approach workplace friendships differently. Some want to be friends with all their coworkers, and some view it as unprofessional. 
According to Aristotle, there are three types of friendship -- Utility, Pleasure, and of the Mutual Good (based on mutual appreciation). The hosts describe these types of friendships in depth, allowing some observation into others’ experiences and relationships within these categories. The three types involve different levels of trust and intimacy. Using examples from their own experience, Kirsten and Crina discuss how they’ve seen these types play out in the workplace. Crina and Kirsten have different perspectives on depth and quantity of friendships. 
Our hosts discuss how one of the biggest predictors of your satisfaction in the workplace is whether or not you have a friend. Having someone you feel connected to in the workplace, influences happiness while working, but can also come with problems. One such issue is feeling left out when others have exhibited interconnectedness. Crina and Kirsten share instances in which they felt left out. Also shared are different ways they’ve seen others take initiative in developing workplace friendships, as well as the ways they’ve observed people set up boundaries.
We love to hear and share your stories, so write us at the email address included below!
Links:
Tune in and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
yougettowork@gmail.com

Trailer

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