Once in a while, we look back and find that advice we doled out years ago can feel even more relevant today; hence, the throwback blog post. Recently, upon witnessing some intense red flags in a management approach, I was reminded of this gem, which takes a reverse psychology approach to catalyzing insight for managers: What might you be doing wrong? And how can you take meaningful lessons from the absolute worst example of what a manager can be? Read on for five key ways to be an absolutely terrible, horrible, no good, very bad manager.

Are you gearing up to join a new team? 

At CFW Careers, we believe that fostering strong connections with your future colleagues is essential for success in any role. Whether you're preparing for an upcoming interview or planning to integrate into a new team, asking the right questions can help you gain valuable insights into team dynamics, company culture, and role expectations.

My grandfather was a jack-of-all-trades — a farmer, woodworker, horse breeder/trainer, and an all-around hobbyist. His career didn't fit neatly into any one category because he was always learning something new. I remember doing my high school geometry homework at his kitchen table when he peeked over my shoulder and asked, "How are you calculating those angles?" After I showed him, he said, "Follow me." Seeing an opportunity, he brought me into his woodworking shop to look at a partially built horse-drawn snow sleigh.

Through the years, James O’Donnell, co-founder of Integrev, a technology consulting firm, has been our candidate, our client and an advisor to our firm. We’ve not only represented and served him, we’ve learned from him, most of all because he not only knew a lot (about business, about management, about leadership), but, perhaps most importantly, he knew what he didn’t know and shared that growth mindset with us. Here, his lessons learned about the importance of (the right kind of) feedback.

In the fast-paced startup world of B2B SaaS, success hinges on collaboration. When marketing and sales work together seamlessly, growth follows. But when the teams aren’t aligned? The sales team misses its targets, revenue goals become unattainable, and the blame game of finger-pointing begins.

Life and work go together. Sometimes life takes your work in an unexpected direction. Or vice versa. And with this, every individual has a unique career story. And yet, we’ve often had hiring managers say things like: 

When it comes to building a strong team, assessing candidates' soft skills is just as important as evaluating their technical abilities. Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving, are critical for success in today's dynamic workplace.

Navigating the complexities of leadership can sometimes feel like a daunting task. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a rising star in your organization, there may come a time when you find yourself in need of some extra support to reach your full potential. In our leadership coaching practice, there are a handful of challenges that come up over and over again in our intro calls with leaders.

Whether you’re fresh out of college or you’ve been in the workforce for 20 years, determining your next career move can be intimidating. At CFW Careers, we are in touch with individuals at every stage of their career, and we understand your plight. Cynnie King, President of CFW Careers, weighed in with a five-step process.

If you were thinking of going to that new, expensive restaurant in town and knew of someone who had just been there, would you ask for their review or rely solely on the content in their web page? The chef calls it his finest culinary project to date!... The professional food photography looks amaaazing!... You’d probably ask that acquaintance for their take, right? Why not apply that same logic to reference checks?

What lies ahead in 2024?  In this blog post, our team shares the top trends that we see set to redefine the pathways for talent development, and we offer insights into navigating the evolving landscape of career growth in the coming year.

In our coaching, we often work through all the potential eventualities of leadership actions, including the negative ones. The negative consequences tend to be the most memorable. So today, in our onboarding coaching tip sheet for managers, we’re going to tell you what NOT to do, so the mistakes of others can forever stop you from making them yourself. So here goes!

Cover letters! Do they even matter? Does anyone read them? Can you write an effective cover letter quickly? Why are they such a miserable part of the job application process? In our career coaching work, we hear some version of each of these questions ALL THE TIME.

Career growth within an organization is often akin to a winding road, lacking the clarity that both employees and managers desire. As we delve deeper into the realm of career pathing, we recognize the need for a prescriptive approach—one that goes beyond the traditional career ladders and places the power of intentional career advancement firmly in the hands of individuals, managers, and organizations.

As the year 2023 draws to a close, we’re looking back at some of the trends that shaped the professional landscape this year. At CFW Careers, we have witnessed these shifts and have been integral in helping our clients navigate and thrive in the face of change. Have you experienced any of these in your organization?

The world of work is constantly undergoing transformation.

The challenges we face today from building diverse, inclusive, equitable work environments (while not new, ever more pressing) to navigating rapid changes in technology require innovative solutions.

When you look at these challenges in the context of how polarized our workplaces and our world have become, the call for change becomes even more urgent.

From a leadership standpoint, this means innovation in our thinking, the frameworks that guide us and ultimately how we show up as people.

As quickly as we need to be adapting to and incorporating new technologies like generative AI, we need to be even more intentional and deliberate about reconnecting with our humanity.

That’s where The Ripple Effect comes in and why I’m so grateful to be sharing this message and experience with leaders and organizations from all over the globe.