The Corporate Couch - November/December 2009

Dear Dr. Mimi,
My boss doesn’t hide his contempt for me. He constantly criticizes me and he gives me the assignments that no one else will do. I don’t know what I did to deserve his rude behavior but I’m starting to lose my cool with him. Any advice?-
Scorned Staffer

Dear Scorned,
The term commonly used to describe your supervisor is “toxic.” Here are the four tips I commonly offer clients who work with a toxic boss:
1. Don’t take it personally. You’re a person first and an employee second. If your supervisor starts screaming at you or acts in some other way that is inappropriate be polite but make a choice not to buy into it.
2. Don’t compromise your ethics. If you are asked to do something you know is wrong, speak up, ask questions and politely decline.
3. Don’t seek revenge. Remember, success is the best revenge. Do not stoop to the level of your supervisor; it’s only likely to make the problem worse.
4. Don’t play the victim. Victims lose control and get dumped on more. Choose to have the personal power and toughness needed to succeed.

Are these things easier said than done? Oh course, but they sure beat crawling into a hole and sucking your thumb!
-Dr.Mimi

What’s in it for a Mentor?
If you’ve ever had a co-worker or colleague consistently go the extra mile to help you achieve success, then you have probably been mentored. But have you ever thought about the benefits of being a mentor to someone else?

When we mentor, we are a career coach and advocate. We give advice, teach others about our field, and, at times, are a friend and a sounding board. Here are a few reasons to reach out and mentor someone:

• 
  You’ll be fulfilled knowing you’ve helped someone prosper.
• 
  Mentoring develops your own leadership skills of recognizing and nurturing abilities.
• 
  You may learn new information, technology, or gain insight from protégés, who often are new to the organization and have fresh perspectives to share.
  
• You will be seen as a “go to” person.
  

How do you get started?
Be a mentor to everyone! This doesn’t mean taking everybody under your wing. Just make one of your goals promoting everyone’s success . Be a good role model of your organization’s values.
Support your co-workers on projects or by giving positive feedback, and suggesting resources.
Be available for questions and keep confidentiality.
Not only are mentoring, teamwork and altruistic behavior great for your organization’s bottom line but you‘ll also learn more while developing your pool of resources and a professional network. You might even find one of these interactions evolves into a mentoring relationship that satisfies and rewards both you and your protégé in the long term. It is amazing how much you get when you give!
(From Lakeesha Flowers, HR Specialist)

Do you need a Leadership Coach?

You may be a brilliant negotiator, a financial whiz or a technical genius. But do you have what it takes to manage other high-level employees?

If your communication skills have been a sore spot during your annual reviews, a coach might be able to help. Coaches aren't just for executives who are struggling to get the job done. Middle-managers, in fact, might be prime candidates. Leadership coaches often work with managers who have been highly successful, and now need to get to the next level.

Dr. Mimi Hull can get you where you want to go! Contact us today for a free consultation: DrMimi@Hullonline.com - 407-628-0669