September/October, 2020  

Alert: COVID-19 Could Derail Your Career Permanently, Unless…

Kay Fittes, October, 2020

COVID-19 may be the worst experience of your lifetime!  That is not lost on me, my business has been turned upside down and we are shattered to be unable to interact with our family as we normally would.  I am grateful that my husband and I have each other in our home, we haven’t driven each other crazy – yet!  In my business I have talked with women who live alone who have found it to be painful beyond words.  We look at our own adult children trying to work, cope with fears of the disease, economics, and now homeschooling their children, it’ so overwhelming.  My clients are struggling, too, with the same issues.

As you know, my mission in life is to enable women to reach their potential in the workplace and unlearn gender behaviors that put them at a disadvantage in the workplace.  Though equity in the workplace is an ongoing challenge, women have been making strides, then COVID hit.  Hit like a Tsunami!

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Kay’s Consulting Corner

Each month in this section, Kay offers actionable career consulting tips.

Revise Assumptions, Expectations, and Possibilities During the Pandemic

1. Think openly.  Stereotypical gender roles may have a huge impact on your load, especially during the pandemic.  Perhaps it is time to negotiate with your spouse or others on how to divide the responsibilities that COVID has increased.  Don’t assume the way you did things pre-pandemic will work now.  Imagine you are doing a video recording of your household, what would an outside observer notice about the division of labor at your house?  Let that be a starting point for a new conversation.
   
   
2. Shift self-expectations.  This is the time to revise how you are tackling responsibilities.  Use the ESD system: eliminate; simplify; and delegate.  Are there some things (for now) you can stop doing all together?  Just stop dusting some areas and let the dust bunnies roll.  Simplify everything possible!  Let disposable items be your friend.  Promise to double down on recycling when things ease up.  Delegate at home and at work.  Remember, even 3-year-old children can have responsibilities.
   
   
3. Identify and communicate needs.  Ask for what you need at home and at work.  Don’t assume you won’t get cooperation and fail to ask.  Ask often, ask forcefully, ask creatively.  When you do get agreement, let go of your way of doing it.  Don’t undermine the load sharing with rigid standards.  Even if you must hum Let It Go from Frozen throughout the day as a reminder, focus on getting needs met versus style issues.

Could having someone guide you in your career during these tumultuous times keep you from opting out?  That is just one benefit of working with a career maximizing coach.  Call Kay at (513) 561-4288 or email me at kay@highheeledsuccess.com.

Experiences with Kay

Billien McCowan

Kay is remarkable!  Kay has a way of asking questions to push you to places you never thought imaginable.  She provides strategic, educational coaching; then she gives you the encouragement and respectful challenge (nudge) you need to go after it!  As a corporate professional, I had faced some exceptional challenges that included workplace bullying.  Kay helped me emotionally and strategically navigate through it.  What a learning experience!!

Linnie Kern

Kay is knowledgeable, creative and fun!  I wanted a broader sense of developing improved communication and structure to my presentations.  I now have it!  Thank you Kay!

Lisa Desatnik

I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to get to know, learn from and be inspired by Kay.  She is a powerful speaker and coach.  Her ability to help me grow professionally and personally has been such a gift.  I highly recommend Kay.  To Kay, thanks for all you do to bring out the best in people!

High-Heeled Success^® supports Dress for Success through donations of clothing, time and money.  We offer complimentary seats at every workshop for women participating in the Dress for Success program.

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Website:  https://www.highheeledsuccess.com

Email:  kay@highheeledsuccess.com

Phone:  (513) 561-4288

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