Best Way to Improve Issues in the Workplace

A Few Ways to deal with a difficult coworker.

Start out by examining yourself. Always start with self-examination, make sure you are not the instigator.

Discuss your experience with a friend or colleague. Brainstorm ways to address the situation.

Ask the difficult coworker for a private discussion. Pleasantly explain how the issue is impacting you. Try to agree on positive actions going forward.

Follow up after the initial discussion. Become a peacemaker.

You may choose to confront the difficult coworker’s behavior publicly. Deal with the person with gentle humor or slight sarcasm. This method is best used with humor.

Marketing and Promoting You

Four stages to marketing and promotion

1. Sign up, observe, and educate yourself ~ soaking up good information.
2. Participate ~ Make yourself known by making status updates, posting photos or sample writing.
3. Share something and grow relationships ~ Focus on what you give or share that's of value.
4. Ask for help ~ Put your connections to work as a means of soft or hard marketing.

People who know you and trust you will be more likely to help you. That's why it's important to establish relationships far before you market and promote a product/service.

Making things happen for you

Don’t allow obstacles to stand in your way. Remain focused on what will keep you moving forward. As you give effort and attention to the things you value, the better you will feel about the goals you achieve.

How Stressed are you

While office stress is common, it can also have dangerous consequences. Are you experiencing the warning signs of workplace stress? Take this quiz to find out. Select all that apply: Here are the score indicators.

0-5 -- Low Stress:  No work environment is entirely stress-free, but you appear to be managing your tension well.

6-10 -- Low-to-Moderate Stress:  The stress is beginning to catch up with you, but there is still hope. Try relieving some of your tension by taking a relaxing vacation, talking to friends & family or taking some time to yourself each day.

11-15 -- Moderate-to-High Stress:  You're experiencing significant stress levels, and it might be time for a change.

16-20 -- High Stress:  High stress levels are harmful both physically and psychologically, so it's important for you to take steps to reduce your workplace tension: vacations, lifestyle changes or seek a new position.

Your job no longer challenges you.
You have little or no autonomy in your day-to-day tasks.
Apathy has replaced enthusiasm.
You feel overwhelmed by deadline pressure, workload or other expectations.
You frequently arrive late to work and leave early as often as possible.
You consistently put off projects until the last minute.
You're unhappy with your work/life balance.
You have a toxic relationship with your boss.
You're worried about your job security and/or performance.
Your co-workers are walking on eggshells around you.
Your work schedule is interfering with your marriage or other personal relationships.
You're beginning to withdraw from friends and family members.
You're having trouble sleeping.
You're smoking, drinking or relying on caffeine more than ever before.
You're feeling paranoid.
You've been overreacting to minor problems.
You're getting headaches or colds more often.
You're physically exhausted most of the time.
You've developed an ulcer.
You've been diagnosed with a heart condition

Develop Your Personal Brand

      Personal branding is an ongoing process it should continue throughout your job search process and entire career.

• Increase Your Visibility. Get your name out there by attending industry meetings and conferences, participating in panel discussions or volunteering for committees.
• Stay Connected. It is important to stay in touch with old contacts as well as continue to build new ones.
• Create an Online Presence. Join online social networking sites. Consider starting a blog on your area of expertise or creating a website that showcases samples of your work.
• Establish Key Differentiators. Identify what makes you distinctive from other candidates and make sure to communicate it to potential employers.
• Be Consistent. Ensure that you have a consistent message when speaking with potential employers, colleagues and other professionals.
• Seek Feedback and Evaluate Progress. Continue to gauge how others perceive you.    Market Yourself. Promote you.

3 Things every worker should know if they’re thinking of a career move

If you're thinking of making a career move, now is the time. Many of today's workers, especially those with in-demand skills, have an advantage when seeking new jobs or promotions. If you are planning to take advantage of the positive market today or at some point down the road, keep these three things in mind:
1. Your interests.
Give careful consideration to what you love most about your job before you pursue any changes. Also reflect on what you do in your free time. If you find fulfillment serving in leadership roles in community and charity groups, for instance, why not seek a promotion to a management-level position with your current employer?

2. Your strengths and weaknesses.
Conduct an honest assessment of your professional assets and liabilities. Past performance reviews and ongoing comments from supervisors and others in the workplace can give you valuable clues. Also ask colleagues and mentors for their candid feedback.

     3. Your options.
     Before handing in your resignation, be sure you have considered all of your options. For instance, you  
     may be in line for a promotion, or a position under development could be an ideal match for your  
     interests. It's worth talking to your supervisor about your professional goals and how your company  
     might be able to support them.

Five Steps to Shaping Your Resume

It requires initiative, energy and dedication.  Engage in an exercise routine that will improve your career prospects: Here’s a five-step résumé-writing that may work for you.

1. Step 1: Establish an objective. It should spell out your career goals and it should be tailored to the job opening.
2. Step 2: Work Experience. Starting with your most recent job: use action words to describe your accomplishments.
3. Step 3: Eliminate extraneous activities. Weed out information that does not relate to the job at hand.
4. Step 4: Don't forget the final stretch. Review the resume for grammar & punctuation errors, misspelled words and typos. Format the document so it's easy to read and appealing to the eye.
5. Step 5: Request a quick once-over. Before submitting your résumé: show it to a few friends or professionals in the field.

Coming Out on Top in Salary Negotiations

Some employment opportunities state in black and white what wage an applicant can expect if hired, other positions are grayer in terms of salary. Below, experts offer suggestions on how to prepare for salary negotiations.

Timing the Dreaded Question

You may not want to ask upfront at the first interview. For experienced candidates, it's perfectly appropriate to bring up the topic, especially if you want to ensure that you are at least close in range.

If the employer doesn't bring up salary, a tasteful approach is to ask for a salary range.

The last thing the applicant wants is to sell himself short, but he also might fear pricing himself out of the running.

Many times you can turn the tables by asking, "What salary range are you willing to pay for this position?" Once the employer provides a range, the candidate can simply respond, "That's suitable" if the numbers are in line with his needs.

Proving worth

Candidates who land offers at the higher end of a salary range are ones who can demonstrate to an employer that they are worth the price. Some ways to do that include:

• Quantifying experience. ("You increased sales by 8%")
•  Researching the company beforehand so that you can tailor information to its needs. ("I see the company is interested in becoming 'greener.' Here are some ways I might be of help.")  
• Pointing out any extras that set you apart (advanced training, special certifications, knowledge of a second language, etc.).  

Reaching an agreement

Here’s a diplomatic approach to dealing with an unfavorable offer: Call back the next day (do not use e-mail) provide reasons you'd like to work with the company but after consideration there seems to be a misalignment with their needs and the value you bring to the organization. Ask if there is a way to bring the two into better alignment. If there seems to be interest, make a counteroffer.

Most employers will leave room for negotiation -- if not on salary then benefits. Ask if a car or cell phone allowance or extra vacation days are available to compensate for a lower salary. 

Finally, try to view negotiations as seeking a win-win situation for all involved. The company may be just as eager as you to make things work.

If you don't want to put your career on the line, avoid these office attires

Plunging Necklines
Low-rise Pants
Mini and Micro-Mini Skirts

Belly Shirts

Men's Chest Hair
See-Through Shirts
Shorts

Open-Back Tops and Dresses
Flip-flops

       Skimpy-Strappy Camisole Tops

Five Keys to Self-Enhancement

ü  Determine your goal

ü  Assess your skills

ü  Understand the current market needs

ü  Analyze your best strategies

Transition when markets change

Qualities of successful entrepreneurs

You must have a vision.                                                                                          

Great communication skills.                                                                                         

Keep and make deadline.                                                                                

Understands that there are no little people.                                                         

Be rigorous, not ruthless.                                                                                            

Be well-rounded.                                                                                                            

See through the noise.                                                                                             

Great connectors via network. 

A Few Core Values for Job Success

HARD WORK
Have a “Can Do” attitude, leading by example Display integrity and commitment to company’s vision Act with a sense of urgency
TEAMWORK
Focus on winning, not on individual scoring Share in the responsibility of upholding the highest standards
HARMONY
Treat people with dignity and respect Remember diversity is the key to success
LISTENING
Keep an open mind Assess all the facts and then make a decision Encourage everyone to share their ideas
BE HAPPY
Approach each day with a positive mental attitude Find balance in our lives and in our work Take time to celebrate success

Never Give Up

We fail to understand that if life is work, the better we do it, the better it will pay us.  When we perform our tasks to the very best of our ability we receive just rewards for what we do.  When we are thorough in our work and put our best into it, we become better at it. When we become too good for where we are, we will be advanced to our rightful place

Advice for dealing with gossip, favoritism and the office saboteur

Office politics exist in every workplace. Whether you work at a small design agency or a major financial corporation, internal power struggles arise. But you don't need to be a master manipulator to get ahead; you simply must learn how to navigate murky waters.

Water cooler chatter can be both helpful and harmful. The trick is recognizing when to listen and when to cut and run.

Make sure you communicate to your supervisor your interest in taking on additional responsibility. Your manager might simply be waiting for you to step up and show initiative.

If someone's purposely undermining your efforts, you can respond in several ways. Be matter-of-fact but non-accusatory. Focus on the facts and don't let your emotions get the best of you. Offering a co-worker an opportunity to explain her side of the story might help clear the air.

If you feel confronting your co-worker is futile, document their behavior, collect concrete evidence supporting your claims and make note of how your performance was adversely affected. Then, bring the matter to your manager's attention in an objective, professional manner. Your goal is not to complain or vent but to apprise your manager of the situation, emphasizing how your co-worker's actions are impeding productivity.

The most appropriate tack to take will depend on your unique situation, as well as the communication styles and personalities of the other players involved. No matter what course of action you choose, you can rise above the fray if you remain professional, respectful and diplomatic.

Rules to a Perfect Cover Letter
Bad Cover Letter	Good Cover Letter
Too long with too much formality	It should tell a story
No substance & Empty Buzzword	It should be short, concise & passionate
Re-write your resume	It should be personal & intriguing (give examples)
	It should tell why you are interested
	It should be your elevator pitch (interesting hook)

Best way to impress your team

Whether you're vying for a promotion or just want to make a good impression, here are 20 ways to show you are dream team material. 

• Know your misssion
• Understand how people see you
• Be dependable
• Project positive energy
• Make your team look good
• Own any downfall
• Be organized
• Be punctual
• Be resourceful
• Broaden your horizons
• Stay informed
• Be trendy
• Be courteous
• Be flexible
• Take care of your health
• Leave your personal life at the door
• Go beyond the call of duty
• Be a team player
• Take a break now and then
• Look and act like the leader

Personal Branding

Personal branding is an ongoing process that should exist throughout your entire career. The goal of establishing a strong personal brand is to differentiate yourself among other professionals by demonstrating your unique value. Here are a few steps you need to take to successfully build your brand:

1. Increase Your Visibility.
2. Stay Connected.
3. Create an Online Presence.
4. Establish Key Differentiators.
5. Be Consistent.
6. Seek Feedback and Evaluate Progress.
7. Market Yourself

Developing your personal brand is one of the first steps towards effectively marketing yourself to potential employers and elevating your career.

Key to winning any campaign

In this political year with debates that help define candidates. Many people are analyzing each word. The key to winning any campaign will fall on these seven principles that power extraordinary results:

1. Money
2. Define their Issues
3. Leadership
4. Team Development
5. Ability to explain plan
6. Strong Volunteer Group
7. Ability to Tap Strategic Resources
8. Solid Technology

Best way to Achieve Goals

ü  Research

ü  Understand  / Focus

ü  Seek guidance/ advise

ü  Create a plan

ü  Promote

ü  Participate

ü  Learn and tweak the plan as needed

ü  Accomplish

Managers vs Leaders

Manager Focus On	Leaders Focus On
Things	People
Structure	Spontaneity, serendipity
Control	Release, Empowerment
Efficiency	Effectiveness
Program	Programmer
Expense	Investment
Techniques	Principles
Transaction	Transformation
Utility	Principled-centered Power
Measurement	Discernment
Doing things Right	Doing the right thing
Speed	Direction
Bottom Line	Top Line
Methods	Purposes
Practices	Principles
In the Systems	On the Systems
Climbing the Ladder Faster	“Is the ladder against the right wall?”