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<keyword id="1738128" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soledad-OBrien">Soledad O'Brien</keyword> knows how to speak to an audience.
As an award-winning journalist, she's drilled <a href="http://gawker.com/5953849" target="_blank">political leaders</a> and covered hard-hitting subjects like racism in her CNN series "Black in America". 
On Thursday, O'Brien gave advice to young professionals during an "Office Hours" session with <a href="http://www.levoleague.com/">Levo League</a>, a networking and career advice site.
Here's what she said about <keyword id="92504" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Public-Speaking">public speaking</keyword>:
<h2>1. Look fabulous</h2>
“Dress in something fabulous that you know you look great in. You’re not going to be good if you don’t feel like a million dollars.”
If you look good, you'll feel good. That confidence will reflect in your speaking and will create a more natural flow to your presentation.
<h2>2. Speak from the heart</h2>
O'Brien emphasized believing in what you say, otherwise your script will be a "clunker."
"Learn to speak from the heart and write it down, " she said.
<h2>3. Practice, practice, practice</h2>
O'Brien lives by the old adage "practice makes perfect" and said she reads through her notes at least three times before giving a speech.
"So many people do a bad job public speaking because they haven’t walked through their notes. Once you’ve really read it, then you’ll be able to ad-lib and be comfortable, laugh, and pause for the joke.”
<h2>4. Keep it brief</h2>
"Brother, be brief." No one wants to listen to a speech that drags, so keep things tight, and bow out.

Soledad O'Brien's 4 Tips On Being A Great Public Speaker

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:479px"><div class="image">REUTERS/Carlo Allegri</div></div>Award-winning journalist <a href="http://www.levoleague.com/officehours/soledad-o-brien">Soledad O'Brien served as a mentor to young professionals</a> Thursday during an "Office Hours" session with <keyword id="1738127" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Levo-League">Levo League</keyword>, a networking and career advice site.
During the live stream video chat, O'Brien discussed the importance of having a <keyword id="6355605" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="mentor">mentor</keyword> and a mentee during your career.
"Find a job that you love, work with people that you like, do the work that you want to do, and surround yourself with people you want to share with," she said.
“Create the ecosystem of an office that you want to be in.”
O'Brien said that a good mentor will tell you your strengths and weaknesses so you need to find someone you can trust completely. 
Furthermore, you don't have to personally know your mentor to learn from them.
"I’m a big stealer of people so I steal ideas in terms of watching someone who is an incredibly inspiring, like Maya Angelou," she said. "You don't have to know your mentor personally to learn from them."
At the end of her live stream, O'Brien encouraged young people to find newcomers they could mentor and teach. This will allow them to build their own leadership skills and see things from a fresh perspective.

Soledad O'Brien Says Young People Need A Mentor And A Mentee

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="Referral Candy/Brian Honigman" title_caption="Caroline Ghosn is the CEO of Levo League, a community of professional women." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/544a7373eab8ea8c12608ac9-960/slideshow-river.jpg"></a>Referral Candy/Brian HonigmanCaroline Ghosn is the CEO of Levo League, a community of professional women.</div></div>There's certainly value to studying <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/inspirational-ceo-quotes-apple-steve-jobs-2014-9">the insight of some of the world's greatest CEOs</a> like Elon Musk and the late Steve Jobs, but sometimes their massive success seems far out of reach for the entrepreneur who's just starting out.
That's why marketing consultant, writer, and speaker <a href="http://www.brianhonigman.com/">Brian Honigman</a> gathered advice from entrepreneurs like <a href="https://www.levo.com/">Levo League</a>'s Caroline Ghosn and <a href="https://bufferapp.com/">Buffer</a>'s Leo Widrich. They're still involved in the nitty-gritty of building successful companies, and they have plenty of wisdom to offer from persevering through hard times.
<a href="https://twitter.com/BrianHonigman">Honigman</a> first published these lessons on the Huffington Post as "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-honigman/35-tech-entrepreneurs-failure_b_5529254.html">33 Entrepreneurs Share Their Biggest Lessons Learned from Failure</a>." Marketing software company <a href="http://www.referralcandy.com/">Referral Candy</a> took the lessons and packed them into a presentation with additional context.
We've published the presentation, illustrated by Jon Tan, here with both Referral Candy's and Honigman's permission.

What 33 Successful Entrepreneurs Learned From Failure

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Career expert and <a href="http://www.levo.com/">Levo League</a> consultant <a href="https://maxiemccoy.com/about/">Maxie McCoy</a> believes that young people should stop trying to blend in on their résumés.McCoy told Business Insider:"Quit trying to fit in. Quit trying to be a version of someone else. Really look inward to identify what drives you and what makes you unique - and amplify that. We don't need another carbon copy of someone else. We need you. The world really, really needs that right now. And when you can be that highest expression of yourself and deeply believe in all that makes you great - the right opportunities, people, and experiences will be drawn onto your path in a way that feels like magic. Follow that, match it with tools that allow you to showcase it, and you will find yourself in the job of your dreams."McCoy collaborated with <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/">Microsoft</a> and <a href="https://www.moo.com/us/">MOO</a> on to establish <a href="https://products.office.com/en-us/dreamjob?ms.officeurl=dreamjob">Land Your Dream Job</a>, a site that provides résumé templates and career advice geared toward young professionals competing in a tough job market. She says that the project has been a "dream job," explaining that she created her first résumé in Word on her dad's computer and got her first set of business cards from MOO.Instead of coming across as stiff and predictable in job applications, McCoy recommends that young people stand out by writing blog posts on industry trends and creating digital portfolios.She says that when you're just starting out, it's crucial to consider what you really want out of your career and how you're going to communicate your story in the most effective way. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tricky-job-interview-questions-2016-6">Here's how to answer 5 job interview questions that are designed to trick you</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="o3YjY4djrjetEJN4PgVqwrblOccffLly" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

A career expert says this is one of the biggest resume mistakes young people make

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div>Career expert and <a href="http://www.levo.com/">Levo League</a> consultant <a href="https://maxiemccoy.com/about/">Maxie McCoy</a> has read quite a few résumés over the years - and she has some opinions about what works and what doesn't.She recently worked with <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/">Microsoft</a> and <a href="https://www.moo.com/us/">MOO</a> on a <a href="https://products.office.com/en-us/dreamjob?ms.officeurl=dreamjob">project called Land Your Dream Job</a>. McCoy helped to design résumé templates and provided career advice geared toward young professionals.McCoy talked to Business Insider about her two major pieces of advice for young people seeking to boost their résumé game. She said:1. Include more numbers2. Write something you'd actually want to readWhen it comes to including statistics and data, it's all about providing hiring managers with evidence that you're right for the job."It's one thing to tell recruiters and hiring managers what you've done," McCoy says. "It's another to prove it to them with specifics. Providing hard numbers, growth percentages and scale will go a long way. For example, if you've managed a university newspaper, don't just say that. Say, I've managed my university newspaper of 20 writers which was circulated to a student body of 100,000."Making your résumé truly readable may be tougher for some people. Job applications are a chore - nerve-wracking and boring at the same time. Still, you've got to put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager. They don't want to have to pore over résumés brimming with incoherent babble; win them over with clear, strong language. "Cut the fluff," McCoy says."And get rid of the jargon. Hiring managers can see right through it. I'm always amazed at how many resumes cross my desk that actually make zero sense. Use words that sounds like you and that are specific and straightforward," she concludes. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-luxe-travelers-is-redefining-full-time-travel-2016-5">A couple quit their corporate jobs to travel the world, and started a luxury travel site along the way</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="p5bmFjMzE6Nftt9OE72Q2S-aW8CtV_kI" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

A career expert reveals 2 quick fixes that will instantly boost your resume 

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:405px"><div class="image"></div><a href="http://www.ask4more2day.com/">The Levo League</a></div>In order to be in your ideal <keyword id="10876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="salary">salary</keyword> bracket at a certain age, you need to know how much to ask for as you climb the professional ladder. 
The <a href="http://www.levoleague.com/">Levo League</a> — an online community for young women to find <keyword id="6359968" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="career">career</keyword> advice, mentors, and networking opportunities — created <a href="http://www.ask4more2day.com/">an app that breaks this number down for you</a>.
All you have to do is plug in your current salary, your desired salary and the number of years you're willing to spend before reaching that number, and the app will approximate what percentage of your salary you should ask for in a raise every year.
For example, according to the app, if you currently make $30,000 annually and you want to reach $150,000 in 20 years, you'll have to ask for a 8.38 percent raise each year — or $1.26 more per hour.
The app has not been adjusted for inflation, and calculations are based on a 40-hour work week and 50 weeks worked annually.

This App Shows You How Much Of A Raise You Need Every Year  

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Craig Barritt / Stringer / Getty Images" title_caption="Cosmopolitan's editor-in-chief Joanna Coles at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life conference in New York City." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/546638a7eab8eae60d424102-960/joanna-coles.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/joanna-coles-editor-in-chief-of-cosmopolitan-speaks-onstage-news-photo/458705116">Craig Barritt / Stringer / Getty Images</a>Cosmopolitan's editor-in-chief Joanna Coles at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life conference in New York City.</div></div>Earlier this month Cosmopolitan magazine hosted its first-ever <a href="http://www.funfearlesslife.com/">Fun Fearless Life</a> weekend. Nearly 2,000 people - mostly women in their 20s and 30s - gathered in New York City's Lincoln Center for a two-day "crash course in living fun and fearlessly."
The sold-out conference, sponsored by <a href="http://www.maybelline.com/">Maybelline</a> and <a href="http://www.express.com/">Express</a>, was packed with inspiring speakers, including Spanx founder Sara Blakely and social psychologist Amy Cuddy, and panels on topics like "making your mark" and "finding your power." 
Joanna Coles, <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/">Cosmo</a>'s editor-in-chief who MC'd the event, shared her own advice with the audience.
"At lunchtime yesterday, people asked me what my best piece of advice is, how they can shine in an interview, and what I look for when hiring," Coles said. "And truthfully, it's hard to say because it's never just one thing."
She explained that she "obviously looks for someone who can do the job," but also wants to hire people with great energy.
"It's really important to be surrounded by people who are going to lift you up," she said. "I don't want someone who will come in to work in the morning and be a downer, being like, 'Ugh, I had a terrible night last night.' I want someone who can at least put a spin on it, and say, 'Ugh, I had a really s----- night last night! Next time I'm going to do better!" 
When hiring, Coles said she asks herself, "Do I like this person? Is this person going to be fun?"
"So in terms of career advice: Find something that's going to be fun," she said. Because if you're passionate about what you do and you're having a good time, it will come through in your interview, and you'll be a much stronger, more energetic and likable candidate. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_left click-to-enlarge"><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Craig Barritt / Stringer / Getty Images" title_caption="Caroline Ghosn, CEO of Levo, and Joanna Coles speak onstage during Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life conference in New York City. " class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5466393d6bb3f7111f2a9af8-960/caroline-ghosn-joanna-coles.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/caroline-ghosn-co-founder-ceo-of-levo-and-joanna-coles-news-photo/458702354">Craig Barritt / Stringer / Getty Images</a>Caroline Ghosn, CEO of Levo, and Joanna Coles speak onstage during Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life conference in New York City. </div></div>
During a Q&amp;A with Caroline Ghosn, cofounder of <a href="https://www.levo.com/">Levo League</a>, an online community for professional women, Coles shared another piece of advice for young professionals: Cultivate your brand using social media. 
"Unlike myself, who grew up in the Jurassic age, you are able to create a voice and a following using social media," she told the audience. "And that becomes invaluable."
And finally, she said, as a job seeker, you need to remember that all companies are looking for people who can solve problems. If you walk into the room and talk about your needs, and fail to address theirs, you'll never get the job. 
"I interviewed one woman who leaned into the table and said, 'I can do this job for you,' and the way she said it was so confident. And I just went, 'Oh thank God!'" Coles said. "So I think reinforcing to someone out loud that you can do 'this' for them is all they want to hear."

Cosmo Editor-In-Chief Shares Her Best Career Advice For Millennials

Whether you <keyword id="6355058" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Work">work</keyword> from home or your boss works <keyword id="52833" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Remote">remote</keyword>ly, the workplace today is much different from the centralized offices of the past. For many organizations, remote employees spread across the country are now the norm. Here's how you can effectively work with your boss, even if you aren't in the same place.

	This post originally appeared on <a href="http://www.levo.com/articles/career-advice/working-with-remote-managers" target="_blank">Levo League</a>.
 Between video conferencing, email, and instant messaging, physical proximity to the office is no longer a requirement. Companies are hiring based on talent and fit, not if someone can be in their chair 24/7. This change has led to entire teams being spread across time zones, states, and even countries. While it can be tricky to report to a remote <keyword id="6362609" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manager">manager</keyword>, I'm here to tell you it's possible.
 I work for a non-profit in Washington, D.C., but my <keyword id="2541536" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="manager-works">manager works</keyword> from her home in southern California. I've been working with her remotely for over a year, and in that time have expanded the responsibilities of my role and received a salary increase. Here are the tips that have helped me succeed:
<h3> Establish Regular <keyword id="24346" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="communication">Communication</keyword></h3>

	

	If you don't have a scheduled weekly call or Skype session with your boss, set one up right away. My boss and I talk every Monday morning for about 45 minutes about my priorities for the week. I discuss what I finished from last week, what I have planned for the upcoming week, and also ask her if she has any projects or tasks that she would like me to work on.

	While I personally think phone calls are the best if you can't meet face to face, even a weekly update email could get the job done. The adage "out of sight, out of mind" rings true here: You don't want to forget about each other just because you don't see each other in the office every day. Another communication tip-send an email to your boss at the end of each week listing what you've completed. This is especially helpful if your relationship with your manager is new and you want to show them that you're effective. Be sure to ask your manager their preferred methods of communication-you certainly don't want to annoy them!
<h3>
	Build Trust to Avoid Micromanagement</h3>

	

	My relationship with my manager succeeds because she trusts me, having already demonstrated my effectiveness. My boss isn't a micromanager at all. This isn't to say that she doesn't communicate with me during the week,but she doesn't constantly send emails asking for status updates.

	Once a project is assigned she gives me the space to complete it. Building trust can take time, which is why communication is so important. In the beginning you'll probably want to err on the side of more frequent communication and taper off as you see trust being built. Also, just because you manager isn't in-office, or you <a href="http://lifehacker.com/the-beginners-guide-to-working-from-home-733412770" x-inset="1">work from home</a><inset id="733412770"></inset>, with you doesn't mean that you can't come to them with problems or questions. Picking up the phone every five minutes is probably over the top, but go to your manager when you have issues with project prioritization or need help with a task. Showing your manager that you depend on them and view them as more than a person to take directions from will help build mutual trust. And being proactive when you have a problem or are stuck will show your manager that you tackle problems as they come-and aren't too proud to ask for help.
<h3>
	Be Respectful to Each Other's Roles</h3>

	It's easy to feel like you don't have a boss if your boss isn't in your office every day, but this <a href="http://lifehacker.com/five-things-i-wish-i-had-known-when-i-started-working-f-1497900668" x-inset="1">doesn't give you free reign</a><inset id="1497900668"></inset> to shirk responsibilities. I still ask my manager for permission on days I work from home, or if I plan to go meet a donor for lunch. It's important to share your schedule and have transparency. Respecting your manager's authority, even when they aren't physically there, will help them respect you as an employee and ultimately lead to increased responsibilities and freedom.

	<a href="http://www.levo.com/articles/career-advice/working-with-remote-managers" target="_blank">Working With Remote Managers</a> | Levo League


	<keyword id="2541535" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Cynthia-Bell">Cynthia Bell</keyword> is a Development Coordinator at Reason Foundation, a non-profit think tank that advances a free, open and prosperous society. From planning events to meeting with donors, she helps Reason's development team with its day-to-day fundraising duties. She blogs at <a href="http://www.cynthiacbell.com./" target="_blank">CynthiaCBell.com.</a>

	Image adapted from <a href="http://lifehacker.com/wong salam">wong salam</a> (Shutterstock). Photos by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/brendanadkins/488202739/" target="_blank">Brendan Adkins</a>, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/powerbooktrance/466709245/" target="_blank">Terry Johnston</a>, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/95213174@N08/10329928973" target="_blank">blu-news.org</a> (<keyword id="49500" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="flickr">Flickr</keyword>).

	Want to see your work on Lifehacker? Email <a href="mailtandy@lifehacker.com">Andy</a>.

How to Effectively Work for a Manager You Never See

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Evernote" title_caption="Using social media at work could help you create job security." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5464f19069bedd08478e6048-960/girl-typing-on-computer-18.png"></a>EvernoteUsing social media at work could help you create job security.</div></div>Worried about keeping your job? Spend more time G-chatting with your coworkers. 
No, seriously. 
Though it might seem counterintuitive, using social media during work hours can actually help you keep your job - as long as you're still producing good work, of course.
According to <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2169476">new research</a> from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, "Employees who message colleagues about idle subjects like sports or meals were significantly more likely to keep their jobs during firm layoffs," <a href="http://www.levo.com/articles/news/the-brief-schmoozing-at-work-could-save-your-job">Levo League reports</a>. 
Lynn Wu, the <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2169476">study</a>'s author, peeked into the internal communications - email, calendar events, and instant messages - between consultants at a large IT firm, analyzing more than 8,000 messages sent over a two year span. From this, Wu found a positive correlation between social communication and job retention. 
Simply put, coworkers who frequently chatted about non-work topics were more likely to keep their jobs during a round of layoffs.
Similarly, Wu also discovered a positive correlation between the generation of billable revenue and diversity of information. In other words, employees who discussed a wider variety of topics were more productive. 
Though Wu wasn't able to identify why these correlations exist, one thing was clear: social media has the power to improve both productivity and job security. So go ahead and chat about that new Thai restaurant or last night's episode of Scandal - as long as you're getting some work done, too. 
Want your business advice featured in Instant MBA? Submit your tips to tipoftheday@businessinsider.com. Be sure to include your name, your job title, and a photo of yourself in your email.

This Simple Action Could Help You Keep Your Job

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div>AP</div><keyword id="6358963" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Warren-Buffett">Warren Buffett</keyword> is a big fan of Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's book, "Lean In."
It inspired his <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/02/leadership/warren-buffett-women.pr.fortune/index.html">recent column in Fortune</a>, where he wrote, "we've seen what can be accomplished when we use 50% of our human capacity. If you visualize what 100% can do, you'll join me as an unbridled optimist about America's future."
He spoke on gender issues again, this time during a live interview, "<a href="http://www.levoleague.com/officehours">Office Hours With Warren Buffett</a>," with career site <a href="http://www.levoleague.com/">Levo League</a>, where he shared some great career advice for young women. Here are some of the best quotes from his talk:
Stop holding yourself back
"I've seen very, very bright women. I use the example of Katherine Graham. ... While she was CEO of The Washington Post, the stock went up [by a lot]. She won a Pulitzer Prize. But she'd been told by her mother, she'd been told by her husband, she'd been told by lots of people that women weren't as good as men in business. It was nonsense. "And I kept telling her, you know, 'Quit looking at that fun house mirror. You know, here's a real mirror. You're something.' And as smart as she was, as high grade as she was, you know, as famous as she became, right to her dying day, you know, she had that little voice inside her that kept repeating what her mother had told her a long time ago. So everybody should get a chance to live up to their potential. And women should not hold themselves back. And nobody should hold them back. And that's my message."
Demand <keyword id="1656926" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="equal-pay">equal pay</keyword>
"I do very little negotiation with people. And they do little with me, in terms of it ... if I was a woman and I thought I was getting paid considerably less than somebody else that was equal coming in, that would bother me a lot. I probably wouldn't even want to work there. I mean, [if] somebody's gonna be unfair with you, in salary, they're probably being unfair with you in a hundred other ways. I mean who should you spend your time with?" 
Make yourself known 
"[One woman] told me that she went to Harvard Business School. The women just didn't raise their hand as often as the men. I raise my hand all the time. When I didn't even deserve to. So you wanna get over the idea, as I wrote in the [Fortune] article [that] males — there's a lot of Wizard of Oz in us. I mean, you get behind the curtain and you'll find out that it wasn't quite that imposing." 
Know the power of your potential 
"Look what's happened since 1776, most of the time, using half our talent. I mean just imagine what's gonna happen when we, you know — go full blast with 100%. And you know, it's incumbent on everybody to try and help people — particularly if you're in a boss's type position, to help the people achieve their potential. And women have every bit the potential men do."

WARREN BUFFETT TO WOMEN: Stop Holding Yourself Back

Question: How do you foster <keyword id="94495" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Innovation">innovation</keyword> in your startup, especially when team members are overburdened?
Question by: Ashley
1. Stop Doing That!
"Refocus your startup on the essential projects needed to reach your immediate goals and stop doing everything else for now. By pushing your team to do too much too soon, you'll lose the excitement that comes with innovating in a new business."
— <a href="http://theyec.org/author/kelly-azevedo" target="_blank">Kelly Azevedo</a> | Founder, <a href="http://www.shesgotsystems.com" target="_blank">She's Got Systems</a>
2. Make Innovation a KPI
"Innovation can be a Key Performance Indicator, just like revenue or expenses. If you prioritize innovation as an extra metric that you track, it will incentivize creativity among team members. You could track contributions by team members during brainstorm meetings, new ideas added to an internal company list, or dollars saved by implementing innovative processes."
— <a href="http://theyec.org/author/doreen-bloch" target="_blank">Doreen Bloch</a> | CEO / Founder, <a href="http://www.Poshly.com" target="_blank">Poshly Inc.</a>
3. Mentor, Consultant or Coach
"Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees, you're too close to your own business and processes. That's where getting a mentor, consultant, or coach really comes in handy. Someone with an outside perspective— who isn't overburdened—can think more clearly and come up with innovate solutions."
—<a href="http://theyec.org/author/nathalie-lussier" target="_blank">Nathalie Lussier</a> | Creator, <a href="http://websiteguide.nathalielussier.com" target="_blank">The Website Checkup Tool</a>
4. Set a Lofty Goal
"We pick a lofty goal that we want to shoot to hit that month, and hold an all-team brainstorm on how to make it happen. By pulling us out of our usual to-do lists, we end up coming up with a ton of creative new ideas and initiatives that end up extending beyond whatever that current goal is."
—<a href="http://theyec.org/author/stephanie-kaplan" target="_blank">Stephanie Kaplan</a> | Co-Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, <a href="http://www.hercampus.com" target="_blank">Her Campus Media</a> 
5. Schedule It In
"One of the best ways you can foster innovation is to make space for it in the company schedule. This could look like monthly brainstorming meetings, a company retreat, or simply making it a discussion point during your one-on-ones. By designating time for it, you make it a priority."
— <a href="http://theyec.org/author/elizabeth-saunders" target="_blank">Elizabeth Saunders</a> | Founder &amp; CEO, <a href="http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com" target="_blank">Real Life E®</a> 
6. Ramble Freely!
"Ramble Meetings are freeform brainstorming at its best. Put away the computers, phones and distractions and throw out crazy ideas. It can be one hour a day, or once a week -- it's your choice, but you need to do it, or else the very engine of growth that propels your company forward will slow down."
— <a href="http://theyec.org/author/caroline-ghosn" target="_blank">Caroline Ghosn</a> | Co-Founder and CEO, <a href="http://www.levoleague.com" target="_blank">The Levo League</a>
7. Blogs and Webinars
"I always encourage my team members to read blog posts about content marketing and attend webinars in order to learn more and foster ideas. I also have a large list of blogs in my RSS feeder that I read on a regular basis."
—<a href="http://theyec.org/author/heather-huhman" target="_blank">Heather Huhman</a> | Founder &amp; President, <a href="http://www.comerecommended.com" target="_blank">Come Recommended</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/heatherhuhman" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @heatherhuhman</a>
8. Set Aside Play Time
"I think it's really important to set aside play time where team members can simply focus on things that they enjoy doing and that give them the ability to be completely creative without confinement. When allowing your team members to play and explore, they will then often come up with other ideas and innovations that will help push the business forward."
— <a href="http://theyec.org/author/erin-blaskie" target="_blank">Erin Blaskie</a> | CEO, <a href="http://www.erinblaskieinc.com" target="_blank">BSETC</a>
The <a href="http://theyec.org/">Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC)</a> is an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched<a href="http://mystartuplab.com/"> #StartupLab</a>, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.
Read more posts on <a href="http://theyec.org/">Young Entrepreneur Council »</a>

8 Ways To Make Your Team More Innovative

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/strelka/14794903723/in/photolist-oxnKqX-oxnKrP-otzYSu-oe8dbV-ovBXdR-ovA8yG-oxnKrD-oxnKmZ-oe984g-otzYHw-oe7Z9U-oe8iUN-ovkFAX-ovkFU2-oe8d9v-oe8dcg-ovA8r7-otzYJJ-otzYPo-ovkFzp-eRW6UJ-ovA8Eo-ovA8Aq-oe97Z8-oe8ddZ-ovkFwi-ovA8sj-ovkFCF-ovA8rY-oe97Va-ovBXbX-f3yM9m-f3yLRw-HUTQds-eRW7WW-H3aaxH-H3a4ge-eRJEqr-eRW6ZA-eRW83w-f3jy7p-eRW7pC-npAmbB-eRJEE2-f3jxWz-f3yLZL-eRW7j3-npAqyz-f3yLTG-eRJEi2">Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/flickr</a>Don't run the risk of being the least interesting or original person at the party.</div></div></div>Parties where you know virtually no one can be awkward, especially if you're not sure how to start a conversation.You could rely on the classic "So what do you do for a living?" But then you run the risk of coming off as the least interesting or original person at the party.Maybe you're interested in making a new professional contact, or perhaps you simply want to make a good impression on a friend of a friend.Whatever the reason, busting out the clichés upon the first introduction is never a good idea.To mix the conversation up a bit, try using one of these 17 icebreakers. They should help ease you into an engaging conversation with people you've never met before.<h2>'Hello'</h2>A smile, a name, and a confident handshake can sometimes go a long way, <a href="http://www.careerealism.com/conversation-starters-networking-events/#dM4Y98HxZwBgZGei.99">writes Ariella Coombs</a>, a content manager for Careerealism.com."Sometimes the easiest way to meet someone is to offer a handshake and say 'hi,'" she writes.<h2>'What do you do for fun when you're not working?'</h2>Asking personal questions about people's activities outside of work can help solidify a connection, Shan White, owner of Women's Peak Performance Coaching, tells <a href="http://www.refinery29.com/networking-icebreakers#slide">Refinery29</a>.Asking about someone's after-work hobbies is "semi-personal, yet still professionally acceptable to ask," White says. "This can bring some levity and humor into the conversation while also letting you see what lights them up - what brings them real joy."<h2>'Hey guys, do you mind if I join you just to eavesdrop?'</h2>As Tim Ferriss, author of "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-4-Hour-Workweek-Anywhere-Expanded/dp/0307465357?tag=bisafetynet-20">The 4-Hour Workweek</a>," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/common-networking-mistakes-2015-11">previously told Business Insider</a>, his policy is: If two people are conversing at a networking event, then it's rude to interrupt them - but if it's a group of three or more, then you can politely ask to join the conversation using this approach.Once you've been granted permission to listen in, standby until someone says something you don't understand. At that point, Ferris says you should ask: "Could you clarify that for me?" Someone will hopefully ask who you are, giving you a window to make your introduction, he explains.<h2>'I'll be honest, the only person I know here is the bartender, and I just met him two minutes ago. Mind if I introduce myself?'</h2>Humor is a good method to put another attendee at ease and jump-start a lighthearted conversation.<h2>'Hmmm, I'm not quite sure what that dish is. Do you know?'</h2>Rather than silently stand in line for food, take the opportunity to start a conversation about the topic on everyone's mind: food.Ask about the dish they think looks good, or the mystery dish, <a href="http://www.careerealism.com/conversation-starters-networking-events/#dM4Y98HxZwBgZGei.99">Coombs writes</a>. "Who knows, you might leave the buffet with a better plate of food AND a new contact."<h2>'Hey, aren't you friends with ...?'</h2>Even if you don't really think you know this person, you can walk up to anyone and ask if they are friends with someone else who is at the event, writes Jessica Gordon of <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/10-networking-conversation-starters-youll-actually-use">The Daily Muse</a>.If they say no, feign a mild surprised reaction and conversation will commence.<h2>'Have any fun trips planned?'</h2>The holidays are a popular time for people to travel, and talking about plans is almost guaranteed to get the conversation going because most people have some idea of where they'd like to go, even if it's in the distant future, and love to talk about it. And if the details haven't been hashed out yet, it's easy for your conversation partner to say "No, but I'd love to go to ..."<h2>'Are you from around here?'</h2>Asking a location-based question will help you jump-start an engaging conversation with ease because "it doesn't feel like you are asking for a stiff elevator speech," Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and owner of The Protocol School of Texas, tells <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/11/26/6-networking-icebreakers-that-arent-what-do-you-do">US News and World Report</a>.The conversation will allow both parties to talk about themselves, which is the ultimate goal when starting a conversation.<h2>'Did you hear about ...?'</h2>Be sure to scan the headlines the day of the party so you can ask for opinions about it, especially if it affects someone's line of work, <a href="http://www.levo.com/articles/career-advice/great-icebreakers-for-networking">writes Levo League's Meredith Lepore</a>. This topic will get a discussion going, and it will show that you keep up with current events. That's a win-win, she says.Of course, while misery may love company, there's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-you-should-never-say-when-you-meet-someone-new-2016-3">nothing worse for a first impression</a> than a negative attitude.Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, an <a href="http://rosalindarandall.com/">etiquette and civility expert</a> and the author of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Burp-Boardroom-Uncommonly-Workplace/dp/1939629357?tag=bisafetynet-20">Don't Burp in the Boardroom</a>," advises against controversial topics like politics or religion.<h2>'Have you started watching ...?'</h2>If it's the hottest new show on Netflix, odds are people have heard of it at the very least, and they may even be able to talk in detail with you about if they're also avid fans.If they haven't watched yet, you could follow up by asking what shows they've been into lately. You'll probably stumble upon something you have in common at some point.<h2>'Great shoes!'</h2>If you genuinely like something someone is wearing, compliment them, Michelle Tillis Lederman, CEO of the professional-development firm Executive Essentials, tells <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/11/26/6-networking-icebreakers-that-arent-what-do-you-do">US News and World Report</a>.Not only will they be flattered, but you can also ask a follow-up question about where they got the item, which could lead to a fun conversation. One caveat: Don't fake it, Lederman warns. People can easily sniff out disingenuousness.<h2>'Man, this party's getting crazy. Mind if I join you over here where it's a little quieter?'</h2>Find someone on the outskirts of the ongoing conversations and introduce yourself, says Coombs.Since they are alone and possibly looking miserable, they are probably uncomfortable with the social situation, Coombs says. By initiating the interaction, you can help to put them at ease and get them into the flow of a conversation.<h2>'What did you think of this ...?'</h2>Conversations flow around common experiences, so Lederman says to bring up the one thing you know you both have in common: What's going on around you.Asking about the party, the group discussion, or even the restaurants around the area will give you both a chance to contribute to the conversation.<h2>'Would you have any insight or advice on ...?'</h2>Letting people use their expertise to help you will make them feel good and be more open to connecting with you, Lederman tells <a href="http://www.careerbliss.com/advice/6-surprisingly-effective-networking-icebreakers/">CareerBliss</a>.You can ask about anything, from a work project to their opinion on which new car you should buy. Just be sure to genuinely listen and reflect on their advice, Lederman says. As the old saying goes we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.<h2>'What's your reality-TV guilty pleasure?'</h2>Almost everyone watches at least one show that they're at least a little embarrassed about, ZinePak cofounder Brittany Hodak tells <a href="http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/8-go-to-icebreaker-questions-for-your-next-networking-event.html">Inc.</a>, and she says that sharing those guilty pleasures with a stranger is fun."It's funny how quickly you can bond with someone who admits to sharing your secret obsession," Hodak says.<h2>'What's your favorite part about what you do?'</h2>If you still really want to find out what the person you're talking to does for a living, you could try spinning the question by asking what your conversation partner loves about their job or what's the most memorable thing that happened at their job.This also has the added benefit of keeping the conversation positive, which will leave people with a more positive impression of you.<h2>"Well, you guys are certainly having more fun than the last group I was talking to."</h2>If all else fails, try something totally random that just might work, write the editors at <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-brilliant-networking-conversation-starters">The Daily Muse</a>, like inserting yourself into an engaging conversation by commenting on how fun their group looks from the outside.Natalie Walters contributed to an earlier version of this article. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chipotle-weirdest-interview-questions-job-careers-prepare-2015-9">Unorthodox questions you may have to answer if you want to work at Chipotle</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="1oaXJ2dzqD8cnQUoyQjr5P8GqLpMookd" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

The 17 best icebreakers to use at a holiday party where you don't know anyone

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:401px"><div class="image"></div>REUTERS/Mike Segar</div><keyword id="6358963" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Warren-Buffett">Warren Buffett</keyword> served as a <keyword id="6355605" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="mentor">mentor</keyword> to young professionals yesterday during an "Office Hours" session with <a href="http://www.levoleague.com/">Levo League</a>, a networking and career advice site. 
During the live stream video chat, the Berkshire Hathaway CEO told women to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffetts-advice-to-women-2013-5">"stop holding yourself back"</a> and shared personal stories — including how he overcame his fear of public speaking — to highlight universal career lessons. 
We've included a few key takeaways from Buffett's interview below: 
1. Find your passion.
"Never give up searching for the job that you’re passionate about," he says. "Try to find the job you’d have if you were independently rich. ... Forget about the pay. When you’re associating with the people that you love, doing what you love, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
2. Be careful who you look up to.
"If you tell me who your heroes are, I'll tell you how you're gonna turn out. It's really important in life to have the right heroes. I've been very lucky in that I've probably had a dozen or so major heroes. And none of them have ever let me down. You want to hang around with people that are better than you are. You will move in the direction of the crowd that you associate with."
3. Learn how to communicate effectively.
While he was getting his MBA from Columbia University, Buffett said that he was "terrified of public speaking," and signed up for a Dale Carnegie class, but changed his mind at the last minute. After graduating, Buffett saw the ad for the course again and decided to give it a second chance.
"I became associated with the 30 other people in the class. We couldn't stand up in front of a group and say our own name. I mean it was — we were — it was pathetic. But that class changed my life in a big way." 
4. Develop healthy habits by studying people.
"Pick the person that has the right habits, that is cheerful, generous, gives other people credit for what they do. Look at all of the qualities that you admire in other people ... and say to yourself, 'Which of those qualities can't I have myself?' Because you determine whether you have them. And the truth is you can have all of them."
5. Learn how to say "no."
"You won't keep control of your time, unless you can say 'no.' You can't let other people set your agenda in life."
6. Don't work for someone who won't pay you fairly.
"I do very little negotiation with people. And they do little with me, in terms of it ... if I was a woman and I thought I was getting paid considerably less than somebody else that was equal coming in, that would bother me a lot. I probably wouldn't even want to work there. I mean, [if] somebody's gonna be unfair with you, in salary, they're probably being unfair with you in a hundred other ways."
7. Become involved with growing businesses. 
"I mean, you want to get on a train that's going to go 90 miles an hour and not one that's gonna go 30 miles an hour and you're gonna try to figure out how to, you know, push it along a little faster. So it really does make a huge difference. And there are some businesses that inherently [have] far more opportunities than others."
8. Learn everything you can about your industry.
Buffett says he reads six hours every day because he believes that growing your intellectual prospective will also help you critically solve future problems that may arise.
"I knew a lot about what I did when I was 20. I had read a lot, and I aspired to learn everything I could about the subject. "
9. Young women should seek male mentors.
Buffett says it's important for women to have male mentors, because the majority of today's leaders in the workplace are still men. 
“These [mentoring] relationships all just evolve. I never set out to become a mentor ... It’s amazing ... how the person that really wants to do a terrific job just jumps out. There aren’t that many. You will be perceived as exceptional and as a worthy person for a superior to spend some extra time with if you just do something extra all the time. It seems elementary, but it’s true.”
At the end of his office hour, Buffett told everyone that even if they fail along the way, "the world isn't over," because "you are healthy, and bright and have decades ahead of you."
Watch the full video below:

We've slightly edited Buffett's quotes for length and clarity.

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