Debra Benton 
It’s time to put on some real pants. Yes, your sweatpants are cozy, but in-person work and work events are happening again and unless you work in a very specific industry, you’re going to need to “up your game,” so to speak. But it’s more than just your clothes that may need changing. You have … Read more
The following is a brief excerpt from my new book, Executive Presence For The Modern Leader, available from Amazon and wherever books are sold. Emotional Intelligence Intellectual intelligence will always be important; that’s how you do your work and it’s certainly a prerequisite for leadership. But executive presence requires something more rare and more valuable: … Read more
A reputation for integrity and trustworthiness is worth whatever it may cost to build it. Integrity can make or break your career. Building trust at work makes you more likely to be promoted, motivates your peers and subordinates to follow you, and helps you stand out from the crowd. Conversely, break trust (even once) by … Read more
If you want to improve effectiveness at work, start by slowing down instead of speeding up. I was in a meeting with two executives discussing group training for some of their managers and department heads. Suddenly, a woman burst in to inform one of the executives about a change in appointments. With rapid-fire words, she … Read more
I wore a yellow dress to my mother’s funeral. It caused the wags of the relatives to whisper in disapproval but my mother had instructed me to wear it before she died. She knew I’d be sad and she wanted to remind me to be untroubled and lead a cheerful life like she had taught … Read more
Just as you owe it to people to praise them, you owe it to them to offer constructive feedback. When you have individuals directly assigned to you, it is essential to be a teacher, mentor, positive critic, and advocate for their personal and career growth. You can’t do this if you aren’t giving constructive feedback. … Read more
Whether it’s “your fault” or not, being let go can be a traumatic experience. It invariably produces emotions ranging from disbelief and rage to guilt, shame, and depression. It can create financial stress, which often leads to serious anxiety and conflicts within families. And the sense of uncertainty and loss of control that goes with … Read more
A business friend of mine named Garret once played a mischievous trick on his employees. He pulled out their resumes from his file and made a few changes to them. He altered the employees’ names, the names of the companies they’d worked for, and other details that would identify each employee. At the next staff … Read more
Change sometimes needs a little push. If you’re feeling the need for something different, you shouldn’t count on your situation to change on its own. Instead, consider what you can do to take responsibility for your career and life. Sometimes this will mean making a drastic move like looking for a new job. A new … Read more
It’s exciting to once again be entering a new year and a fresh start (although I’m a little concerned about a year that sounds like “2020 Won”). A new year always feels like a chance for positive change. I’m not talking about grandiose New Year’s resolutions (although those are all well and good). Instead, I’m … Read more