Lu 🍋 Castello’s Post

𝐓𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 : Read Carefully! 📌 Communication: Whether it’s writing emails or presenting ideas, clear communication is crucial. Practice often! 📌 Teamwork: Ability to work well with others leads to better results. Collaborate, share ideas, and support your peers. 📌 Adaptability: The only constant is change. Be ready to learn new things and adjust to new situations quickly. 📌 Emotional Intelligence: Understand and manage your emotions, and read others’ emotions too. It helps in building strong relationships at work. 📌 Tech Savvy: No matter your major, understanding technology is key. Get comfortable with digital tools and platforms. 📌 Critical Thinking: Solve #problems creatively. Employers value those who can think on their feet and tackle challenges effectively. 📌 Digital Creativity: Blend technology with creativity. Whether it’s designing graphics, editing videos, or developing apps, creative tech skills are in high demand. 📌 Cross-Cultural Competency: Work well with people from different cultures. This skill is crucial as businesses go global. 📌 Project Management: Learn to organize tasks, manage time, and lead projects. It’s all about getting things done efficiently. 📌 Sustainability Awareness: Be #knowledgeable about sustainable practices. Companies are looking for people who can help them be more eco-friendly. 📌 Personal Branding: Know how to market yourself online. A strong personal brand can set you apart in the job market. AND Find a GOOD MENTOR! #skills #mentor #knowledge #criticalthinking #problemsolving #teamwork

In the spirit of professional growth and collaboration, I'm thrilled to share this testimonial from an aspiring virtual assistant. It's a privilege to mentor and guide individuals who are keen to make their mark in the virtual assistance field. If you're looking to start or grow your career in virtual assistance, I'm here to offer insights and support! Let's connect and explore how we can achieve your goals together. #Testimonial #ProfessionalMentoring #JoinesAdministration

𝟲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁!👇 1️⃣"Never ask that question to someone for which you can find the answer on the internet." 2️⃣"The best tag you can get at work is not "Hard Worker", It's "Problem Solver" 3️⃣"A hiring manager living on the same street cannot see the RESUME on your desktop but a hiring manager living in New York can see your talent on LINKEDIN and hire you remotely. Build your online credibility." 4️⃣ "Spend more time with people who discuss ideas and less time with people who discuss PEOPLE" 5️⃣ "Do not be a specific tool expert, be a Solution Expert." 6️⃣ "If you want to learn something, Spend 15 mins to research and 45 mins to learn. Not the opposite." Thank you Hem sir for this trasformative advices!😇 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗴 Hemanand 𝘀𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗵𝗶𝗺! #Mentor #Mentorship #Advice #LifeChangingAdvices #Mindset P.S: It was the first time when I met him👇

Feeling overlooked for promotions and leadership positions? This could be the problem. 👇 Many attribute this to their technical skills, but the root cause often lies in communication. It's not about your ability to code but how you convey your ideas, lead a team, and articulate your vision that sets you apart. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: ✅ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: Leadership is more than expertise; it's about guiding and inspiring. Without strong communication, even the brightest can miss the mark. ✅ 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: Clear communication is key in tech. It connects dots across teams and makes sure everyone's on the same page. ✅ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆: Great communication fosters innovation. It brings diverse thoughts together for out-of-the-box solutions. ✅ 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱: Stand out in your organization by articulating your achievements and ideas clearly. Visibility is crucial for growth. 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗜𝘁? 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀: ❌ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Lack of communication can close doors to leadership opportunities, no matter how skilled you are. ❌ 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀: Misunderstandings can slow down projects and affect team dynamics. ❌ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘀: Poor communication can stifle innovation, keeping the best ideas unheard. ❌ 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Your hard work might go unnoticed if you can't communicate its value. 🔥 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: As you move up in tech your ability to communicate can be as critical as your ability to code. It's about making an impact, leading with confidence, and showing the world what you're capable of. Don’t just code;  communicate, connect, and climb. 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽? If you are software engineer who wants to become a more impactful communicator in 10 weeks, DM me 'CONNECT', and let’s chat. —---------------------------- Follow 🔔 #RyanWiens.    #Communication #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareDevelopment #EffectiveCommunication

Hey 👋 I recently published a blog post on a principle close to my heart called "Start with Heart." 🚀 Unfortunately, it exceeded the character limit for a LinkedIn post, but I couldn't wait to share some key takeaways with you here. “Start with Heart encapsulates the idea of approaching conversations with authenticity, empathy, and a genuine desire for understanding by recognizing the emotional undercurrents that shape our interactions and leveraging them to foster meaningful connections and positive outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of active listening, and emotional intelligence in navigating crucial conversations, especially when the stakes are high. Ask yourself, what do I really want? What do I want for others? and answer with your heart.” I'd love to hear your thoughts on the full post! Drop a comment below and let's start a conversation. 💬 And feel free to share your own insights on starting with heart in whatever you do. Read the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/dQ76pGiv Thanks for your support! 🙌 #StartWithHeart #Leadership #BlogPost #Engagement #SoftSkills #TeamBuilding #BookNuggets #Communication

Active listening is a critical skill in leadership and project management, one that’s often undervalued in fast-paced corporate environments. But as a mother, I’ve learned that it’s more than just hearing words—it’s about understanding the emotions, needs, and context behind them. Parenthood teaches you patience, empathy, and the ability to truly focus on what’s being communicated, often when words aren’t even spoken. In the corporate world, this means analysing tone when reading emails, body language in meetings and 1-2-1 conversations. Examples to show active listening include but not limited to: taking notes, asking questions, eye contact with the speaker and turning your head to look at each speaker in a meeting. Active listening helps you solve problems more effectively, create stronger relationships, and make informed decisions. Finally your team will feel you take their concerns seriously. Whether you’re leading a team or managing a project, mastering the art of active listening can be the key to unlocking better outcomes and a more engaged, motivated workforce. 💡 #ActiveListening #Leadership #ProjectManagement #CorporateSkills #EmpathyInLeadership #WorkingMoms

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟗𝟗.𝟗% 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞? Be synthetic. It’s so rare to meet someone who can communicate their ideas simply and succinctly. Most conversations - especially if you start them with “What’s the update?” or “Tell me about you” - get bogged down with too many details, causing people to lose focus or get lost. For managers, it’s a game changer... Imagine giving project updates, or introducing yourself to someone new. Being synthetic means being effective. Not only does it save time for everyone (thanks!), but it is essential to: 🐕 Speeds up decision making 🏂 Enhances understanding across the board 📣 and, Is generally more convincing Here are a few tips: 𝟏. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬. Decide what’s most important before you speak or write, and stick to those key elements. 𝟐. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝-𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. Present your main idea followed by two examples to reinforce it, then repeat as necessary. This keeps information organized and digestible. 𝟑. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 '𝐒𝐨 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭' 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝. For everything you plan to say, ask, "So what does this mean for my audience?" If it doesn't directly contribute, omit it.

Here are 7 Essential Professional Development Skills to help you grow and succeed in your career: 1. Communication Skills Why it matters: Effective communication is key in almost every job. Being able to express ideas clearly, listen actively, and adapt your communication style to different audiences is crucial. How to develop: Engage in active listening, participate in public speaking or presentations, and practice clear, concise writing. 2. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Why it matters: EQ helps you navigate workplace relationships, manage stress, and lead with empathy. It involves being aware of your own emotions and understanding those of others. How to develop: Improve self-awareness, practice empathy, and manage emotions under pressure by engaging in mindfulness practices or feedback sessions. 3. Leadership and Teamwork Why it matters: Whether you lead a team or work as part of one, leadership and collaboration are key for driving projects to success. How to develop: Take on leadership roles, even in small capacities, mentor colleagues, and participate in team projects to improve coordination and motivation. 4. Time Management Why it matters: The ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and work efficiently is critical to maintaining productivity. How to develop: Use tools like to-do lists or digital apps (e.g., Trello, Asana), break tasks into smaller steps, and set realistic time limits for each. 5. Adaptability and Flexibility Why it matters: In a rapidly changing work environment, being able to adjust to new conditions or responsibilities is invaluable. How to develop: Take on new challenges outside of your comfort zone, stay open to feedback, and learn new technologies or methods to stay relevant. 6. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Why it matters: Employers value individuals who can think critically and solve problems creatively and efficiently. Being able to assess a situation and come up with solutions is a major asset. How to develop: Engage in brainstorming sessions, practice scenario-based problem-solving, and take courses that encourage analytical thinking. 7. Networking Skills Why it matters: Building a professional network can open doors to new opportunities, industry knowledge, and collaborations. How to develop: Attend industry events, participate in online forums, and reach out to professionals in your field on LinkedIn to expand your network. #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #SkillsForSuccess #LeadershipSkills #FutureReady #ContinuousLearning #CareerSuccess #aczglobal

Find a mentor using these methods: It's often said that having the right mentors is crucial for your career progression. They help to understand your development blind spots, identify the right growth opportunities, and accelerate your learning. By engaging with them, you can also gain champions who will speak up on your behalf in talent planning sessions, at your current company or at the one you aspire to work for. But how to find a great mentor? Here is how you can start: 1. Reach out to people you’ve worked with. They know you by name and have seen what you can do. Ask for some time to get their thoughts on a project you’re working on. Continue by proposing a regular monthly connect to keep in touch. 2. Find leaders who inspire you. Let them know you appreciated their presentation, stage presence, or business impact. Ask for tips on how to improve your skill that they are an expert in, and try turning it into a recurring coaching session. 3. Use your current network to find new connections. Have your boss request time with their boss on your behalf. Ask around who is known as an expert in a certain skill, and use that fact as your opening line to reach out. 4. Pro tip: call someone you connected with during a job interview, even if you didn't get the role! Someone in my network told me they did this, and I think it’s a great way to gain a mentor (plus, you can skip the awkward ‘tell me about yourself’ part). Throughout the relationship with your mentor, aim to give more than you get: feedback, gratitude, insights, praise, your own perspective, and even office or industry rumors are valuable to those at a higher level. And don’t give up! In my experience, for every mentor I've found, there were four who didn’t work out because we didn’t click, our schedules didn’t match or what they could give was not what I needed. » What’s the boldest way you found a mentor? « #Mentorship #PersonalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #Networking PS. Did this make you think? Reach out to me! I'm happy to have a conversation, share my experiences, and pass on the tools I've found to deal with different situations working as an introvert in merchandising and product management. Follow me here on LinkedIn for more content and have a look at unique professional for my past articles.

Today, we are talking about mentors. Or the lack thereof. As someone who started working remotely very early in my 20s, I always thought myself lucky. While I'm not a fast learner, I do work very well in independent environments (probably also why I find it a little difficult to work in teams as an adult, but we will unpack that on a later day, haha). I also learned a lot by myself. I adapted where necessary and became what would be known as a Generalist (my TikTok corporate lingo speaking) while continuing on my own little path of writing and comms. And for a long time, I was really proud of myself. Until I started getting older and realised that while my skill set had broadened, I hadn't progressed much in my career and hadn't developed a certain amount of managerial skills, whether it was people or time. When I think of career progression now, to be honest, I don't have a lot of ambition driving me. And the more I think about it and speak to people closer to my age with a similar background, the more I realise that this also comes from not having that guide or mentor you can use if needed as a shadow. I think it also comes from me not naturally being inclined to ask for help—we are working on that—and wanting to figure things out on my own. I'm not sure where we close with this post, but if you had a mentor or have been a mentee, tell me your stories—I'm always happy to learn from them. PS: No suitable picture today, haha. #Freelancing #HustlersAreTired #Mentors