Michael Sterling
Office Etiquette: Responding vs. Reacting

Life throws curve balls. What do you do? Respond or react? Responding vs. reacting can make or break a career.   On the surface responding and reacting may appear to be one and the same. They’re not.   Responding vs. Reacting   Reacting is: knee-jerk; without thought to the situation and is often aggressive. Responding […]


Michael Sterling
Office Outcast? 7 Reasons You’re Not Likable.

  You may be the smartest person in the room, but your likeability has a huge impact on your value in the workplace. If you’re the office outcast, your chances for success are diminished. Career ladders are climbed by those who have experience and knowledge as well as a high likeability factor.   Many believe […]


Michael Sterling
One Surefire Sign of a High-Performer

  When you think about highly successful people, what comes to mind? Their intelligence, experience and leadership skills are likely on the list. There’s another surefire sign of a high-performer which research has shown is a key quality of achievers – the ability to control emotions.   Staying cool, calm and collected under intense pressure […]


Michael Sterling
5 Ways to Tackle a Tough Conversation

  It doesn’t matter where you are in an organization – head honcho or entry level – everyone finds themselves face-to-face with sharing troubling news or asking difficult questions. Whether you need to tell your client a project is delayed; update your boss regarding a problem; ask for a pay raise or coach an underperforming […]


Michael Sterling
The Secret-Sauce of Successful Job Interviews

  Your killer resume just got you a job interview. Great! You prepare a professional outfit, thoroughly research the firm, craft powerful responses to every potential question and create a list of your own quality questions for the interviewer. What could go wrong? Well, if you’re lacking this single thing – skip the job interview, […]


Michael Sterling
The Real Reason You’re Not Getting the Job

  I don’t know how else to say it, but the real reason you’re not getting the job could be – you’re not likable. My intention is not to offend, but to educate.   I’m awe-stuck when a professional on a job hunt contacts me regarding a position and goes out of their way to […]


Michael Sterling
Why You Need a Catchphrase To Boost Your Career

Mastering a TED-like Talk   At some point in your career, you’ll likely be called upon to make a presentation to potential customers, superiors and/or colleagues. Your ability to be dynamic and persuade others could hinge on a catchphrase.   I’ve been viewing some fascinating videos on TED.com, scanning them for tips on how to […]


Michael Sterling
When You Speak, Are You Being Heard?

  Our daily conversations have a remarkable impact on our careers. When you speak, are you being heard? Maybe not. I’m learning more about the fine art of leadership conversations in Judith E. Glaser’s book, Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust & Get Extraordinary Results.   As leaders, the more we become aware of […]


Michael Sterling
What’s Your Conversational IQ?

Is there such a thing as conversational intelligence? And how important is conversational IQ? It could be that some leaders are naturally more adept at the art of conversation. It’s certainly true that we all could improve our ability to engage and influence others through conversations.   “Human beings are the most highly social species […]


Michael Sterling
Six Soft Skills Every Public Accountant Needs

  The Hard Facts about Soft Skills   In today’s workplace, your soft skills are as important, maybe more important, than your technical skills.   What are soft skills? They’re a cluster of personal qualities that make a person a good employee and co-worker. Solid soft skills are in demand.   Technical skills are often […]

© 2024 Sterling Freeman   |  Privacy Policy