Fashion Statement - Dress to Impress?

The release of Sex in the City, the movie, opens a new chapter in the history of fashion. The movie promotes provocative and extravagant clothes and almost introduces a new dress code for a working girl.

I personally like a unique style that is appropriate for every occasion. Different industries allow or require different dress codes, and a skirt, suitable for an MTV host, will not work in the consulting world. Unless, of course, you have a different motive. Some refer to it as a liberation of the feminine powers. However, over the years in the corporate world, I have not seen a single man wearing a dramatic suit to work or a flashy top that reveals too much cleavage. Yet, I have seen plenty of women that succeeded to rise above their opposite sex in this area.

I find it extremely distractive during a meeting to listen to a woman in her late 50's dressed in a pair of white see-through pants and a bright orange T-Shirt that exposes more of her features that I would like to see. I cannot help but wonder whether she forgot to change her beach outfit before coming to work. I also tend to ignore her project related comments and consult with a more conventional fashionista.

After all, your outfit not only makes a fashion statement, but also speaks for who you are and represents your believes, professionalism, and a company you work for in front of your clients. Most successful women who reached the C levels on the corporate ladder favor a conservative style in their work clothes selection. Their corporate wardrobe is filled with black and white, dark blue, gray colors and pastel shades, occasionally sparking with a red scarf from Hermes.

Even Miranda Priestly, the queen of the fashion industry, played by Meryl Streep in the Devil Wears Prada is portrayed as an elegant fiend in her fashionable yet conservative office attire. It is definitely easier to boss around or engage in unpleasant arguments dressed as a professional without noisy jewelry or flip-flops and a too-tight blouse.

Where to shop: ZARA, Banana Republic, MEXX, KennethCole are moderately priced stores that offer classic collections for an every day working gal. For those in the "first class" - boutiques and various designer stores (Armani suits fit great).

What to wear: suits, pants, shirts that are not too tight, too small or see-through. Shoes, preferably polished. No flip-flops or snickers unless your company allows casual Fridays and you are not at a client site.

Makeup: moderate; no smoky eyes, red lipstick that screams bite me.

Speaker's Block

In consulting, we often avoid the unpleasant situations with the "let me research your question in depth and get back to you" statement. I use this well-known trick when I absolutely have no answers.

However, what do you do in cases when you must respond immediately?

Don't be afraid, - suggested my manager on the way to a big meeting with CEOs and VPs of one of the largest mutual funds companies. - You will never be prepared enough to know all the answers in the world. Instead, you should gain mastery in presenting irrelevant information as a legitimate response to the question you are being asked.

I've been following his advice for quite some time during my consulting career. I usually have a few standard answers in my possession that I alter according to the circumstances.

This morning I learned yet another valuable lesson about how to react to the unknowns. I found myself almost in a drunken stupor with a twist of a shocked face when I was asked about American Idol in front of the entire Toastmasters group.

I don't watch all these shows, I don't know who's winning, what should I say - such thoughts were running through my head with the speed of 100 miles per second. The truth was - I was not prepared. In the midst of my panic, I forgot every single advice I had been given. I forgot how to fake it and make it sound convincing or completely change the subject in such a way that my audience will forget what the original question was.

As I was standing in the middle of the room desperately trying to find some words, I realized that speaker's block is not an excuse and to succeed in a consulting world, or any career for that matter, you must be well equipped at all times.

On a Dance Floor

I am not a person who enjoys an easy ride. Easy means boring and not creative. Challenging work inspires my core, sending my brain on a roller coaster ride on the Maui's Road to Hana - I enjoy its beauty and yet must carefully plan the route in order to not fall off a cliff.

Perhaps, this attitude was a catalyst to choose a consulting path as I was seduced by its dynamism. Those who see consulting through the glamorous prism are fools. It is hard, yet rewarding work with a twist of all nighters.

Throughout my consulting career in the energy field, I've learned the most while working on the exigent projects. I've learned not only the business specifics, but also the corporate tricks that help achieving better results.

Doing homework prior to the meetings always benefited me at the end. When I enter a boardroom, I take a minute to evaluate my environment and sketch a quick strategy on how to approach each person present. For example, I joined my last engagement when a project team had already been formed, the roles had been established, and the team has been working together for a few months. I was in a rather interesting position - I had to prove myself and at the same time gain respect of my fellow teammates.

During our initial meeting, I let others speak while evaluating the audience. If you carefully listen and watch the body language, in most cases you can determine general characteristics of those present - leaders stand out, pretenders tend to spin, and those who you really should try to impress assertively analyze you.

As the project evolved, the longer I worked with the team, the more I realized how accurate my first impressions were.

Areas to focus on while on a client-facing assignment:

1. Interaction with a client. Make friends. Establish a relationship. Make sure your client/users are on your side.

2. Your own team. Learn from the strongest team members. Do not be intimidated by those who are smarter than you. Take advantage of their knowledge. Identify the leaders and the followers. Develop a plan how to get the most out of each resource.

3. Look for opportunities in those places where others don't see them. Don't take No for an answer. Always try to find an alternative approach that benefits your project while making your clients happy.

I equate a project to a dance - someone leads, someone follows. One step forward, one step backward. And to the side. The point is to always advance instead of stumbling in circles.

Bossing Around

"Be sure you understand what your boss has ordered before you act on his command. What if you whack the wrong guy, or bomb the wrong joint."

~ The Mafia Manager

I have read many books on team management. The advice they all give sounds easy and great on paper. However, their methods are not always applicable in the dynamics of a ruthless corporate reality. I tried to use some strategies, but did not notice any significant improvements or the expected success. I then developed my own plan and utilized it while managing a team.

Here is what I have discovered:

Change the tactics if things are not working out the way you want. Leave the black box and think of alternatives to get your way. My friend, a typical Casanova, once said - there is no woman who would not want to dance, there is a man who doesn’t know how to ask.

Create a competition among your resources (even if you have to hire additional help) to let them know they are no longer irreplaceable. Such stimulation technique is not described in the resource management books; yet, it has an amazing effect.

Of course, it is well known that the resources should be rewarded when they deserve it. Work hard and play even harder. Everyone likes appreciation and a feeling of being an important contributor.

Try not to reject vacation requests, even if it means you have to work extra hours yourself. People have a right to take their time off when they need to (unless they are married to their jobs). Rejection might cause aggressive behavior of your employee towards you.

Proper vocabulary is always a must. First, do not give orders in a direct way. Nobody owes you anything, even though you make some significant contributions to your employees’ bank accounts. Send them to hell in such a way that they will start looking forward to the trip - states the unofficial definition of diplomacy. Second, proper language is a protection mechanism - there is no proof of discrimination, misbehavior, etc. on your behalf. Third, your composure will take you further than frustration and spite.

Do not expect your resources to love you. Do not worry about being hated. Make sure, however, to gain their respect. And that’s all what you need to get the job done.

I, personally, try to keep relations with my employees on a professional level. Even if we share a meal during lunch or dinner, I prefer to keep some distance. Typically, there is no such thing as true friendship between a boss and a subordinate, unless they have known each other for decades.

Delegate. Do not volunteer to do a task if you know it can be completed by someone else. You are the boss after all.

There is no set method in resource management. Each team has its character and soul. A good project manager should be able to sense the mood of the team and shepherd it in the necessary direction.

How to Survive in a Suitcase

“We have reached the altitude of 10 000 miles. You may now turn on your approved electronic devices”

My week starts at 5 am on Monday morning with a cup of coffee and a free doughnut at the Love Field airport. I often joke that I commute to the office by plane.

Consulting. I remember my naive imagination trying to seduce my logic by creating glamorous images of NYC skyline, an office right in the middle of Moscow, business trips to Dubai. Little did I know, and yet I do not regret a minute of working as a consultant. The job has been the best teacher I could ever have.

Of course, consulting is not for everyone. To succeed in this industry, one must have the ability to work under high pressure and stress. Work long hours, think fast and express yourself in a very diplomatic manner. Consulting is not for those who enjoy routine. Within only a week I could fly to several cities to work on different assignments. And if the absence of your favorite NPR station in the middle of Oklahoma can ruin your day, then I would suggest getting a regular 9 to 5 job.

Since I work for a boutique consulting firm, my assignments vary in type (functional or technical) and length. I might be engaged in an internal project one day and in a fully billable, client facing task two weeks later. Homework and documentation are two keys to a victorious ending. It is very important to be prepared and think at least a step ahead, if not outside the box. That way chances to end up in a silly position while trying to explain to the client’s VP why the project is very over budget decrease.

I also used to think that documentation is not necessary. And yet with time I began to see it as a fence built around my house; a strong protection during the windy lightning moments in the conference rooms. Documentation (including emails) becomes even more important when you are leading a team of non-collaborative resources.

Being a leader is not only about assigning tasks, bossing people around, and taking endless lunch breaks to shop at a favorite store. “With great power comes great responsibility”. Every morning while opening a door to the office I keep repeating to myself - remain calm. So far it has been the most difficult goal to achieve as I just cannot tolerate laziness in others.

Since business is business and consulting becomes a highly competitive environment at times, therefore, one has to be very careful when complaining about certain aspects of the demanding and unrewarding project. In such situations I try to remember that my naïve self might ruin my reputation and eventually shut the doors to many opportunities. I might not succeed in all fights, but my goal is to win the entire war. If I miss a few battles, I will only learn from my mistakes.

After getting everything you wanted out of consulting, it’s time to pack your skills and knowledge into a suitcase and move on to a position that provides an opportunity to have a life outside of work