Be a Thought Leader
You know the guy or gal everyone seeks out for feedback or to brainstorm with because he/she knows their stuff? Their thoughts, strategies, ideas are cutting-edge, intuitive, assertive, even gutsy but not in a give-caution-to-the-wind sort of way. Sure you know him/her. You want to be him/her. But how? How does a person achieve that status? Your ambition to be a thought leader is spot on and here’s why. Being known as an individual who drives innovation and new ideas is a valuable tool in the career growth arsenal, no matter what the profession. Being well connected and respected in…
Uncommon Strategy for Productivity
Think you’ve exhausted the potential out of the common list of productivity tips? A lot of repeats pop-up on these frequent compilations meant to spur you on to greater productivity. Chances are you skim the list, muttering, “Uh huh . . . yep . . . nothing new here.” And then move on. You’re aware of at least the gist of most of the productivity advice out there, but how many have you tried with a focused amount of effort? Being aware of and actually applying a productivity strategy are not one in the same. So let’s define “uncommon” by…
Be a Winning Team Player part II
Ok – so last week we discussed what a team player “looks like.” Let’s carry that a step further and dig into what active team participation means. Would a relay team be successful with one “bum leg”? Doubtful. Every runner must do his/her part for the team to have a chance at winning. The same goes for “bum” team members. If it’s not all hands on deck, this “ship” is likely to go down. Being an effective team player means more than simply playing well with others. To be a truly integral, impactful part of the crew calls for the…
Be a Winning Team Player part I
Remember the days of choosing up teams at recess and how you longed to be one of the first “chosen” for kickball? While your playground days may be long gone, hopefully, the drive to be a desirable team member is still there. Only now it’s shifted from the playground to the workplace. And if you’re lucky, that drive is stronger now than ever. Why? Because being the guy or gal that every committee, department, and HR manager wants on his/her team is sure to boost your career. So what does a team player look like in the adult world? According…
Avoiding Employee Vacation Pitfalls
It happens every year. With the advent of summer, comes employee vacations; and employee vacations can bring conflict, schedule disruption, loss of productivity, etc. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to prevent the mess and ensure a smooth running company. Have a Clear Consistent Vacation Policy Include a discussion of said policy during the interviewing and hiring process. Review it during orientation. Keep it simple and highlight it in the Employee Establish Reasonable Guidelines Be sure to indicate if there are any holidays or peak work periods where necessity places restrictions on vacations. For example, you may…
“Be Yourself; Everyone Else Is Already Taken.”
This sage advice attributed to Oscar Wilde sounds simple enough. As does the modern day version, “Just be yourself.” But with the mega amount of pressure many people feel to succeed, to meet the expectations of family, friend, co-workers, and bosses, to “go with the flow,” to not make waves, being true to one’s self is harder than those statements make it sound. One pitfall to authenticity is that we’ve gotten used to things being fake or false – the exact opposite of authentic. This inauthenticity, if that’s even a word, has skewed our perception to the point that we’re…