4 Ways to Make Yourself Indispensable to Your Boss
Managers look for professionals who not only produce exceptional results but also have a “can-do” attitude…
By Sharon E. Jones—Training Magazine
@theBar: The Mastering the Game Edition: Career Tips from Diversity Expert Sharon Jones
In this edition, lawyer, diversity expert and author, Sharon Jones, provides an update on the current state of gender diversity in the legal profession and chats with co-hosts Jonathan Amarilio and Chastidy Burns about strategies to master the unwritten rules for getting ahead in a profession that remains, in many ways, dominated by the “old boys’ club” culture…
Podcast hosted by Jonathan Amarilio and Chastidy Burns / Legal Talk Network
Do These Things to Become a Model Employee
One of the best ways to remain employed and climb the professional ladder is to become an indispensable employee. Becoming the go-to problem solver or the person who can be relied on to execute any task successfully is a sure-fire way to get your boss to notice you and fight hard to keep you happy…
By Amy Elisa Jackson—Glassdoor / Fast Company
3 Things You Need to Stop Doing if You Want Others to Take You Seriously
By Christina DesMarais / Inc.com
Building Your Brand and Effective Self-Promotion
These days it is essential to create your own brand so that you can effectively self-promote consistent with that brand. Your brand is what you want people to say about you when you are not in the room. It should guide how you talk about yourself to others and everything you do…
By Sharon E. Jones and Sudheer R. Poluru / HR.com
The value of diversity in leadership roles
McKinsey & Company, Scientific American, the Catalyst Information Center, and the International Monetary Fund have all conducted research quantifying the value of diversity in the workplace. In study after study, the research consistently shows that there is a substantial positive correlation between diverse leadership teams and financial performance.
By Sharon E. Jones / Ladders
3 Unwritten Rules of the Corporate World That Women Need to Know
Do you know what you need to do to succeed at your company? One major challenge is that beyond your defined job responsibilities there are unwritten rules of U.S. corporate culture that aren’t covered in any orientation or employee handbook. These unwritten rules were formed decades ago when the workplace was predominantly male.
By Sharon E. Jones / entrepreneur.com
5 Strategies for Mastering the Psychological Game: Dealing With Unconscious Bias
Too often, women, people of color, and other diverse professionals are taught to dim their own light in order not to make others feel bad. By remaining in the box that others put you in, however, you do yourself a disservice. You can challenge the assumptions that people make and the expectations they have about your abilities and performance through the way you carry yourself and behave. Here are five strategies you can use to deal with the conscious and unconscious biases of the people around you…
By Sharon E. Jones and Sudheer R. Poluru / recruiter.com
Structural Equity – Key Components for a Successful Inclusion Initiative
Although much progress has been achieved, we still have miles to go before we can say we have created truly diverse and inclusive organizations. What is often missing is a focus on structural change. Organizations don’t become diverse and inclusive without attention to structural changes within the organization and the intention to make structural changes sustainable in the long term. Structural equity is a focus on leveling the playing field for diverse individuals. This focus is on intentionally providing equitable opportunities for all…
By Sharon E. Jones / The Diversity Agenda
Boards Are ‘Absolutely Accountable’ When a CEO Faces Sexual Harassment Claim
“Companies are responsible for creating an inclusive culture,” said Sharon Jones, CEO of Jones Diversity. “If [disrespectful behavior toward women] is allowed and no one is correcting that behavior that gives men an example of what is expected and shows women that they are not valued.”
By Anders Keitz / TheStreet
Google Memo Prompts Reactions From Diversity Leaders
Underrepresented groups in the workplace are the ones with the least access to essential components to success, thus these groups provide targeted training and support for recruiting more people like those in the group. Common affinity groups include ones for women, LGBTQ workers, older workers and parents, among others. “Every one of them is designed to create a more inclusive culture and one where everyone feels valued and can be engaged,” Jones said…
By Lauren Dixon / Talent Economy
Why Midsize Firms Run The Gamut On Diversity
Attorney and diversity consultant Sharon Jones said she has heard the suggestion that some larger firms pad their diversity statistics by hiring less qualified candidates and assigning them low-level work. But the reality is there are plenty of quality diverse attorneys looking for work at any given time. “Nobody’s hiring like that,” she said. “Nobody wants the worst work. If you want to hire a minority and give them the worst work, don’t. That’s the worst thing, the most insulting thing you can do.”
By Brandon Lowrey / Law 360
Is there bias in your hiring process? Removing it takes diligence, self-awareness
After a phone interview, a hiring manager invited me to meet with her for a face-to-face interview. When I arrived and introduced myself, she looked perplexed as she scanned my face and hesitated a bit while shaking my hand. She then said in a surprised tone, ‘Wow, I’m sorry. It’s nice to meet you. You’re just so articulate.’
By Marilyn Cavicchia / American Bar Association
How to fight implicit bias? With conscious thought, diversity expert tells NABE
Do you think you’re “colorblind?” Gender neutral in your thinking? Unbiased toward sexual orientation, disability, and other differences? If so, then Sharon E. Jones would like you to think again, and to think more often—that is, to deliberately and consciously focus on differences and on your biases. Why? Because if you don’t, she told attendees…
By Marilyn Cavicchia / American Bar Association
Creating Positive Change in the Legal Profession: Successful Mentoring Strategies for Women Lawyers
If you are reading this article, probably you already know that mentoring is important to your success in the legal profession. Also, you may recognize that you do not have the kinds of meaningful mentoring relationships required…
By Sharon E. Jones
Success Strategies For Minority Partners And Associates
Minority lawyers engaged in a legal career in a large law firm need to employ a number of different strategies in order to be successful. The purpose of this article is to explicitly articulate the strategies necessary for your success and to encourage you to implement most, if not all, of the strategies discussed herein to maximize the likelihood of success…
By Sharon E. Jones
Women in law: advocating for change
Breaking down barriers in the courtroom, workplace, and community the women’s law association at HLS hosted “Women for Women: Advocating for Change,” on Feb. 19, a conference showcasing the contributions of women in the courtroom, workplace and community…
Harvard Law Today
Achieving diversity goals requires commitment
Law firm managers, who wish to diversify their ranks and keep them that way, must exercise strong and creative leadership…
By Jane Pribek / Wisconsin Law Journal
Diversity Initiative Adopted By Chicago Bar Association
…the pursuit of justice requires the legal profession to fully reflect all members of society, the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) passed the 2006 Diversity Initiative on March 21, 2006. The document requires signatories, who are law firms, corporate and public interest law departments, and government agencies, to…
The Chicago Bar Association