Leadership Lessons from a Dog Sled Team

Leadership Lessons from a Dog Sled Team Leadership Lessons from a Dog Sled Team Little did I know when I sat down to watch Disneys movie Eight Below (released in 2006) that I would learn about leadership and gruppework from a movie inspired by an expedition in which a kollektiv of sled dogs were left behind in Antarctica. These magnificent animals reminded me of some lessons that are equally valuable in the corporate world.1. Identify and follow one leader.We can learn a lesson from the sled dogs about how to create a culture where loyalty is transitioned to a new leader by the former leader. In the movie, a dog named Jack was the soon-to-be-retired leader of the team, and the human leader was grooming Maya to be the new top dog.Although this transition had not been finalized when crises occur, Jack not only gives up his leadership role, but stays behind so that there is no confusion as to whom the team will rely on. This leadership behavior seems less common in the corporate world, where many executives officially step down but remain dominant behind the scenes, confusing employees and setting up their successors for failure.2. Good leaders protect team members.When one of the dogs gets hurt falling off a snow bank, Maya places her body on top of the injured dog and covers him throughout the night. The remainder of the pack crowds around offering warmth and support. How many leaders in the corporate world are as willing as sled dogs to make personal sacrifices for their team members?3. Team members empower their leader.For the pack dogs in the film, support goes both ways between the leader and the team. When Maya, the lead dog, is hurt, Max fills in as the leader. He then saves Maya from being left behind and a certain frozen death.Make no mistake about ita great leader is the essential first ingredient of success, says John L. Mariotti, president and CEO of The Enterprise Group. However, I have yet to see an aspiring leader succeed without a group of devoted and competent followers, all pulling together.4. Great leaders need great followers.The role of the follower has been undervalued in popular culture. Not every dog, or every person, is genetically or socially programmed to be a leader. Sled dogs do not waste energy fighting for the lead. Great followers are instrumental in the success that is attributed to great leaders, says Mariotti.5. A goal or purpose keeps teams together.The Eight Below dogs were purpose driven they worked together to stay alive. The most basic definition of a team is a group of individuals that despite differences in education, compensation, or experience work together toward a common goal. Does your team have a purpose, does every member of the team know and understand that purpose, and is that purpose clear and motivating enough for individuals to put the teams goal ahead of their personal wishes?The Eight Below dogs were purpose driven they worked together to stay alive.

Free Professional Chemist Resume Template

Free Professional Chemist Resume TemplateFree Professional Chemist Resume TemplateIn order to advance your career to the next level, it is often necessary to show that you are capable of taking on new responsibilities. For individuals with a lot of experience in the field of chemistry, it can often be beneficial to craft a resume that tells a story, one in which the applicant steadily progresses to positions of increasing responsibility. The professional chemist resume template is fine-tuned to show a progression of work responsibilities and let the hiring manager know that this applicant is primed for the next stage of his or her career.Create ResumeCustomize ResumeWhat to Include in a Professional Chemist ResumeA professional chemist resume should show that the applicant is comfortable taking on an increasing amount of responsibility. This schrift of resume is ideal for applicants looking for a promotion or to advance to the next level of their career. The experience section of thi s type of resume is generally the centerpiece, and should show a progression in which each successive job has additional responsibilities.Common Resume Fails Mistakes to AvoidWhen writing your resume, make sure you avoid these common errors in order to look your best.Going over one page. In general, resumes should not be more than one full page, though you should come as close to completely filling that one page as possible.Using a non-standard format. PDF is usually the best format for submitting resumes to hiring managers, as this format can be opened on almost any computer running any operating system. However, pay attention to the job posting to which you are applying, as a preference for a format other than PDF may be expressed.Forgetting to edit. Check your resume very carefully for errors, and get someone else to check it as well whenever possible. Many resumes have been tossed on the reject pile due to the hiring manager finding a few easily avoidable mechanical errors.Resum e Content George Franklin 5555 E. Lincoln Ave., Austin, TX 99999 555-555-5555 g.franklinemail.com Summary Project manager with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of research chemistry and organic chemistry. Extensive background in overseeing experiments and projects from their conception all the way through their completion and marketing to business partners. Equally capable conducting experiments in the laboratory, supervising chemists as they complete a project and negotiating with representatives from outside the scientific fields. Highlights Writing and editing reports and project proposalsCapable of acting as a liaison to corporate clientsFamiliarity with the latest equipment and techniques in the field of chemistryCommitted to continuing education both for myself and my lab assistantsOversaw projects in the areas of environmental sampling and hazardous waste disposalExperience Lab Manager 3/1/2009 ? Present Mega Labs ? Houston, TX Oversee all aspects of production in the hazardous waste disposal laboratoryInstituted mandatory continuing education for all chemists that was later accepted by other company labsEvaluate the need for and negotiate the purchase of new equipmentManage as many as 30 chemists and lab assistantsEnsure projects are completed to the satisfaction of corporate clientsWrite and submit regular reports on laboratory operationsParticipate in hiring Chemist 9/1/2004 ? 1/1/2009 Lab Suppliers, Inc. ? San Antonio, TX Created chemical compounds for client useNegotiated contracts with clients and acted as business liaisonOversaw up to 10 lab assistantsEnsured orders were completed on time and met industry standards Lab Assistant 6/1/1999 ? 8/1/2004 XYZ Labs ? Austin, TX Conducted sampling and assisted with controlled experimentsKept inventoryOften looked to as a leader by my peersEducation PhD and masters degree in chemistryLonghorn University, Austin, TX

The 6 clothing items every professional woman should own

The 6 clothing items every professional woman should ownThe 6 clothing items every professional woman should ownFiguring out what makes a wardrobe professional doesnt come easily these days.Different industries use different standards, and in this age of frequent telecommuting and not-so-business casual dress codes, older rules for proper workplace attire dont necessarily apply anymore. But if youre trying to build a versatile work wardrobe, appropriate for a wide sortiment of positions and environments, certain garments and accessories will give you both flexibility and polish.Fairygodboss asked a team of stylists to weigh in on the items that every professional woman should have in her closet, and were sharing their top recommendations.1. Seamless underwearBefore you start thinking about tops, bottoms, and outerwear, you need to get your underwear situation sorted out. To eliminate constant and self-conscious clothing adjustments throughout the day, opt for seamless undergarments i n neutral tones. You need some seamless underwear for pencil skirts, and you need to make sure it stays in place, advises Christina Arenas, the DC-based CEO of Duchess of Dupont.The name of the game here is VPL (visible panty line) reduction. If youre wearing a fitted dress, skirt or pair of trousers, seamless underwear will stay put and wont bunch up underneath your outfit. Arenas recommends the seamless styles from Barcelona-based Janira, but if you need something more easily-accessed, shapewear shorts like Spanx will reduce the seams.2. A black sheath dressDresses can be crucial to a minimalistic yet highly-professional starter wardrobe. If you stick to neutral tones and classic silhouettes, these one-piece wonders will become reliable workhorses in your closet. Dallas bild consultant Christian Ohonba particularly recommends black sheath dresses for this task.One item that is a true and timeless staple for every professional woman is a black sheath dress. Its important to invest in this item according to your budget and to ensure that its well-fitted you may need to invest in tailoring to make that happen. The dress can be dressed up with a variety of items, like ornate blazers, colorful cardigans or nice jewelry. I recommend this item to anyone as it can take you from the boardroom to drinks with clients effortlessly, Ohonba explained to Fairygodboss.Stylist Christine Vartanian of Newport Beach, CA agrees that a black dress can work wonders for your job-related outfits, praising them for their ability to flex in so many ways. A black dress can be dressed up and dressed down. It can be paired with a black blazer or a colorful blazer. It can be accessorized with just a statement necklace or a simple hanging necklace. Additionally, whether you are a classic dresser or an edgy dresser, you can style it to suit your own personal style.3. A structured blazerWhile many modern workplaces dont require employees to wear suits, anyone working in a white-collar profes sion will still get plenty of mileage out of a well-fitted and structured blazer.Philadelphia-based personal stylist Susan Padron considers the blazer a must-have for working women at all phases of their careers, because adding a blazer to an outfit offers structure, defines your waist, and elevates an outfit immediately. A blazer is a staple piece in any wardrobe, as it can be added to complete a suit, worn over a dress, or casually with a graphic tee and jeans.4. A multiway shawlIf youve ever worked in an office, you probably know the constant summertime struggle of dressing for your buildings Arctic AC temperatures. An easy solution? A lightweight and multi-purpose shawl like the ones offered by Sseko Designs.Sseko stylist Shanda Spink explains the shawls appeal like this Our shawls are amazing and versatile pieces. You can wear it as a casual shawl, tie it up as a scarf, slip it off the shoulder, tie the corners together to make a wrap top, you can fold up the sleeves for a vest effect let your creativity take over There are over 15 ways to style. It is the perfect piece to take you from work to a night on the town in two seconds flat.5. A timeless and understated piece of jewelryAs far as accessories go, jewelry offers an easy and adaptable way to express your personality and sense of style. But depending on your industry and office culture, a bold statement necklace or an on-trend facial piercing may feel out-of-step with office norms. On the flip side, a simple and classic piece of jewelry, like a chic watch, a monogram necklace, or a strand of pearls can really elevate your look.Miami stylist Dionne Dean especially favors the latter, stating that a young professional should always have a string of pearls handy. They will up-level a suit and a polyester blend suit look like it came straight off of the runway.6. A high-quality handbagThe ideal handbags for the workplace involve a combination of good looks and high functionality. For best results, you wa nt to seek out a bag featuring premium materials and strong construction, so you dont end up with snapped straps or worn corners after toting your files and laptop from place to place.Stylist Gath dSilva of The Jacket Maker encourages young professionals to consider the needs of their job before selecting the right bag Its best to choose a handbag that is not only big on design, but also serves a functional purpose. The size of bag you choose should also match the type of job and work environment youre in.Jennifer Rosson of Style Your Life agrees with this assessment and believes that a high-quality handbag is worth an investment. A nice handbag is a must. It elevates any look and it makes you seem you like you have your stuff together (even if you dont). You could have on the most amazing suit, but if you are carrying an old and worn-out handbag, it ruins the entire look. Because you use your handbag every day, you can spend more on it and still get great cost-per-wear value, Rosso n told Fairygodboss.Whether youre working with a Prada budget or seeking out a more economical option, its worth setting aside a few bucks for a well-made tote that can last you for years.A version of this post previously appeared on Fairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards, and career advice.