Someone once told me that that there are 3 main elements to adult life, and you can never have them all simultaneously, at least not for any sustained period of time:
Truth be told, many office workers merely want credit for their concepts and hard work, but the reality is, pats on the back are on the verge of extinction.
Far too often I have seen employees' talents get underutilized in the workplace. Sometimes it's the fault of a modest worker; other times it's an uninformed boss. Since we are all experts at something, I believe it's important to tap into the skills of workers at all levels. Hidden talent benefits no one. The first step is to understand what each person is capable of. On the audio file below I talk about a possible solution to bring workers skills to the forefront.
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There's something I've hated since the third grade, yet I've found it trailing me like a bloodhound over the past two decades. It's when a teacher hands out a syllabus or assignment and then preceeds to read the entire thing around. This is not teaching. This is not lecturing. It is laziness.
Unless you earn a living as an emergency responder or snow-plow operator, there's no reason to report to work amidst a winter storm. Or, at least that's what logic and humanity seem to dictate. But who said cooler heads prevail at work?! Unfortunately for middle-of-the-ladder employees, we rarely get to see our bosses' "softer side." In the northeast, we have experienced some the worst snow conditions in 114 years--and even that didn't make employers change their rigid tune.
There are so many job issues facing us these days - threats of layoffs, no merit increases, toxic work environments or a bad job fit. But who is the best resource to consult for help when it’s more than you can handle? In Part I, I discussed using your personal support system (friends, family, parents and co-worker/friends). Today, I’m looking at the pros and cons of using a professional network, including your boss.]]>
I can only recall one job that had no inherent stress: I worked in a small card shop while in grad school. I read funny cards, rang up a few sales and had plenty of time to study. The majority of people experience some level of stress or difficult issue at work and it helps to have a supportive, sympathetic ear when you need to talk it through. But sometimes it’s hard to know who would be the best fit when discussing major career issues. Do you talk to your co-workers, boss, a psychotherapist, friends, family or parents, etc.? When does it make more sense to consult a career coach?
People are so wrapped up in finding job opportunities, that they often forget the importance of how to quit a job. If you’re not using the final weeks, months, days and hours at a job to reinforce your passion and expertise, you are missing out on a golden personal branding opportunity. The people you work with today, from the newly minted intern to the curmudgeon in clerical, could be the lead to a new job tomorrow.
Work hard until the very last second
The reality is that people WILL talk about you after you leave a job. They’ll likely blame you for things that you had nothing to do with. Imagine how nice it would be for someone to come to your aid, defending your honor, even after you’re gone. It is possible! Give people very little reason to bad mouth you. Not only do you need to work hard and tie up all loose ends when you come to the end of the road at a gig, but you need to be your own cheerleader too. Make it known that you’re giving the job your all until the very end. You’ll be amazed at how impressed people will be to find you still there at 5pm on your very last day. Or how thrilled they’ll be when you leave them instructions on how to do something that only you handled. Not only will it help you brand yourself in a positive light, but it’s also good career karma.
Do not bad mouth the employer you are leaving behind
It’s no secret that people like to be surrounded by positive and upbeat people. Upon quitting a job people will instantly expect you to bite the hand that is no longer feeding you. It’s an easy trap to fall into, but an important one to avoid.
Read more of my post at PersonalBrandingBlog.com.
Remember that cool car Michael J. Fox drove in the movie, ‘Back to the Future’, that ultra-suave time machine that allowed him to not only look cool on screen, but also impact events in past and future? On Sunday, March 14 at 2 a.m., we’ll be wishing we looked that dapper. Daylight Saving Time has more of a bewildering effect on our organism than anything else. It is mini jet-lag at its best.