Archive for category: First Sun Blog

You are here: / / First Sun Blog

#Leadership : Hate #Meetings? 5 Ways to Stop Them From Being a Waste of Time…The Time you Actually Spend in Meetings Might Depend on How Much your #Boss (or you) Actually Likes Them.

/in /by

Meetings are infamously the bane of work life. As far as workplace drudgery goes, they’re right up there withchecking emails and mandatory fire drills. But no matter whether you work for a Fortune 500 company or one that’s just getting started, meetings are a necessary evil in order to run smoothly and have employees on the same page. If Google and Apple are still holding meetings, chances are your company will need to as well.

The time you actually spend in meetings might depend on how much your boss (or you) actually likes them. The Harvard Business Review found that one large company’s executive meeting led to 300,000 hours per year spent supporting it with smaller meetings (the higher-ups met with their divisional employees in order to be preparedfor their weekly executive get-together.) Overall, about 15% of a company’s collective time in spent in a meeting room somewhere. The Wall Street Journal reported that in a sample of 65 CEOs, about 32% of their logged hours were spent in meetings. It’s a small sample, but based on conventional wisdom doesn’t seem far-fetched.

Software creator Atlassian estimates that most employees will have an average of 62 meetings to attend per month, and many people consider at least half of that time to be wasted. While that might seem like a lot, meeting regularly can be a good thing. That’s because if employees are given enough time to have a back-and-forth discussion with the decision-makers, they have the chance to express their opinions on goals or new strategies for the company. “The plan often changes because of the team’s input. And consensus is neither assumed nor achieved with any regularity. In the end, though, everyone feels like they’ve said their bit, and they’re able to back up the decision because of this,” writes Kristine Kern, a consultant for workplace adviser The Table Group.

Whether you’re the executive who’s normally hosting the meetings or if you’re expected to be in charge of one once in a while, there are a few ways to make sure they go off without a hitch, and are actually productive at the same time. Here are five things to keep in mind.

 

1. Start on time

 

Yes, your mother’s wisdom about the importance of punctuality really does have a huge impact on setting the right tone for a meeting, right away. If they enter the meeting thinking about the other things they have to get done, and then you wait an extra 10 minutes until you begin, you’re signaling that their other projects aren’t as important as shooting the breeze waiting for the straggler or two to show up. Starting on time — and letting the latecomers realize they’ve inconvenienced the group — will encourage prompt attendance from everyone, writes BFG Communications founder Kevin Meany.

Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

If meetings are known to start on time, at every level of the company, you have fewer chances to derail other productivity throughout the day. “If you can start on time with the first meeting of the day (and respect the end time) you set a culture where the importance of people’s time is highly valued,” writes Entrepreneur contributorCraig Cincotta.

 Being punctual also helps you to end on time, as long as you’ve been careful to avoid tangents. This is crucial, because once the time slot for the meeting is over, employees will start to mentally check out whether or not you’ve made it through the agenda. “Their mind isn’t on the meeting at the end, so it’s not productive,” Peter Handal, former CEO and chairman of Dale Carnegie Training, told U.S. News & World Report.

 

2. Have a concise agenda

 

You need an agenda if you want a productive meeting, so everyone knows what’s about to be discussed. But how you handle the agenda-setting will likely depend on team dynamics and what you think will work best for that particular atmosphere.

 Another tactic is to enter the meeting without a pre-set agenda, but have the meeting members develop one based on what’s most important to them. Kern, from The Table Group, wrote in an article for Inc. that the agenda does need to be tightly focused around the general goals for the meeting — this isn’t the time to put tangents on an agenda. But the results can be empowering for the people who attend the meetings. “The meeting scriptdoesn’t result from a circulated email and it’s not based solely on the meeting leaders’ strategic priorities, and that is important. This is a powerful change, because it means that team members are discussing things that are important to them,” Kern explains.

3. Take good notes

 

Nothing can be more frustrating than spending 30 minutes in a decent meeting, only to realize a day later that no one recorded the details of what was actually discussed. Alexandra Samuel, author of Work Smarter with Social Media, suggests using a collaborative tool like Google Docs. That way, when one person is talking and sharing ideas, another person can be recording what’s said. This is also a way to draw more people into the meeting, as they can share ideas and get them down on paper immediately. Applications like Evernote also allow for searchable functions and provides an easy way to keep track of archived meeting minutes, Samuel writes.

While you’re taking those notes, it’s wise to also keep track of who is taking responsibility for which tasks. Steve Jobs became famous for this, including a “directly responsible individual,” or DRI, next to every task or agenda item. That way, people can be working on a project but know exactly who is responsible for seeing it through to completion. It’s a quick way to streamline questions, follow-ups, and also who will likely update their superiors on progress that’s made.

4. Use technology as an asset

 

We’re now squarely in the digital age, so technology should begin to be used to our advantage in meetings, not ignored in favor of another Powerpoint presentation. If you’re conducting meetings remotely or have clients who aren’t coming in to your office, Samuel suggests using a screen-sharing app to quickly show drafts or brainstorm topics. Of the several platforms she’s used, Samuel recommends Join.me for quick and reliable sharing.

Also, have an extra screen like a spare iPad or other device ready to display reference material. That way, you won’t have to divert your main screen from taking notes or your prepared presentation, but everyone can still see multiple sets of information relevant to the conversation. If you’re on a conference call, Samuel suggests setting up a backchannel before the call in-house, so that you as a team can stay on the same page during the meeting.

In addition to these things, start basing decisions and conversations around data when possible, not personal preferences. Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, approaches design pitches from a scientific viewpoint whenever possible. Carmine Gallo wrote in a piece for Bloomberg Businessweek that Mayer discourages “I like” statements and instead looks for statements backed up by performance measures and metrics. Instead of “I like the way the screen looks,” Mayer expects statements like, “The experimentation on the site shows that his design performed 10% better.” Mayer was still working for Google when the Businessweek article was written, but it’s pretty safe to assume the same logic is happening in Yahoo!’s meetings.

5. Leave with action steps

 

If employees leave knowing where everyone is going to lunch but not what’s happening for your marketing strategy, your meeting has failed. Figure out who is responsible for heading up certain tasks, and come up with measurable ways to track progress. “The worst thing that can happen is nobody follows up and then you have another meeting to talk about what you already discussed,” Cincotta writes.

For the steps that will need to be carried out with other employees, establish a framework for how it will be explained to colleagues or direct reports. “It’s important that everyone is on the same page about what you will and what you won’t say outside the meeting. Not everything will be ready for prime time, and that’s OK, so long as everyone finds out information within the same time frame,” Kern at The Table Group writes.

One last word about wrapping up a meeting: don’t let people get away with stewing in the corner, just waiting to leave the meeting to tell everyone else about the bad brainstorm ideas. “Nothing is more deadly than silent disagreement that quickly results in a totally dysfunctional meeting after the meeting in which ‘real’ opinions are shared behind closed doors,” Kern explains. If you’re leading the meeting and believe someone strongly disagrees but isn’t speaking up, encourage them to do so or follow up with them immediately after. Disagreements are natural, but should be resolved before it feels like the entire meeting was undermined by a complaint afterward.
CheatSheet.com | October 27, 2015 | 

#Leadership : 3 Types of #Employees you Should Fire Immediately…You May Not Even Realize It, but These “Time-Suckers” Hurt your Business by Drawing your Attention Away From the Tasks you Need to Do Each Day.

/in /by

As a Manager/Business Owner, your Time is Limited; you Hired a Team of Capable Professionals Because there’s No Way you Can Do it All.  Even if your organization runs like a well-oiled machine, there’s usually at least one team member who causes you more stress than the others.

 

You may not even realize it, but these “time-suckers” hurt your business by drawing your attention away from the tasks you need to do each day. While many types of productivity-zappers exist in an office environment, none are as disruptive as those who directly affect strategic decision-makers.

These three types of people should be removed from your staff as soon as possible.

 

Juliana Dacoregio

Never hire the “Drama Queen” job applicant.

1. The Drama Queen

If your office doesn’t have a drama queen, consider yourself lucky. Found in almost every group of people, these individuals live life as though it’s a reality show. They enjoy stirring things up, then sitting back to watch the fireworks.

You’ll likely find yourself frequently breaking up arguments between employees, only to find the resident drama queen at the heart of it. Whether it’s exposing what someone said about someone else or accusing someone of neglecting his work, these individuals will constantly require your attention as referee.

Unfortunately, drama queens do more than simply waste worker productivity. Their behind-the-scenes conversations are often negative in tone, and the attitude can be contagious.

This is especially true if the drama queen directs attention to the company’s leadership, causing a general distaste for management that leads to greater problems within the organization.

Managing drama queens can be a delicate situation, because much of what they do is social. Some businesses have implemented no-gossip policies, but these policies are usually impossible to legally enforce.

They can also lead employees to feel that their personal conversations are being monitored and judged. Instead, employers should document the behaviors that have led to incidents in the office and address them directly with the individual.

William Brawley/Flickr

Like this Article ?…Share It !    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 300K+ Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network: (Over 8K+ Members & Growing!)  www.linkedin.com/in/frankfsc/en

  • Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

educate/collaborate/network….Look forward to your Participation !

continue of article:

2. The Victim

One of the toughest challenges of managing people is knowing how to handle the ones who like to play the victim. These people avoid accountability for their own actions, preferring to blame others for bad situations.

They’ll always have an excuse, and their constant complaints aren’t missed by their coworkers, who can even begin to develop their own victim mentality as a result of seeing others do it.

Even stickier is the employee who seems to always have some ailment. While every employer wants his staff to be as healthy as possible, there are occasionally people who take advantage of the employer’s generosity by claiming an array of medical conditions that, over time, turn out to be unfounded.

Too often, the employer is left not knowing for certain if the person is truly ill or is simply trying to take advantage of the system.

The overriding issue in the workplace is how the person’s actions are affecting the business as a whole. One person’s chronic absences and refusal to participate will eventually be noticed by other employees, who are likely to feel resentful about having to cover.

To avoid issues, have a set policy in place regarding absenteeism, making it clear that after a certain number of days within a cycle, a doctor’s notice will be required. When an assignment affects a vast majority of the staff, make it clear that everyone is required to participate.

Keep careful documentation of each incident and, if issues persist, have a talk with the employee about his or her issues. Make it clear that if the person continues to miss work or decline to participate in work assignments, action will be taken that may include termination.

It’s important to review the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), because you’ll be required to provide accommodations if the condition falls into an area that would be classified as a “major impairment.”

 

Flickr/Lenore Edman

3. The Nonconformist

These rebels without a cause are determined to break the rules, from the simplest to the most complex. If you have a dress code that prohibits T-shirts with slogans, this person will wear one every Friday.

If you have a set procedure for how tasks should be completed, they’ll go off script every time. While some businesses are less restrictive than others, every business usually finds it must enact some rules to avoid problems and remain productive. These employees seem to see “rules” as “control” and want to battle you each step of the way.

Instead of engaging in a power struggle with these renegades, determine if there are ways you can work with rebels rather than against them. Often a rebel is nothing more than an independent thinker who wants to make a difference in the world, rather than just following along with what others tell them. If you can put these qualities to work for your organization, you may find you have an employee who can help your organization grow.

Sometimes, however, the rebel mentality comes from someone who takes it a step further and tries to take over. This person tends to come across as a know-it-all, refusing to listen to instruction and instead choosing to do things his or her own way.

Worst of all, this type of person may have appoint him- or herself as a leader within the organization, ordering other employees around. If given enough time, this type of toxic behavior could drive some of your best employees away.

Whether an employee’s independent attitude is a benefit to your organization or not, it can definitely take a toll on employee morale. As others see that someone is violating company policies, they may begin to wonder why they have to follow the rules when everyone else doesn’t.

For that reason, you’ll have to enforce your company policies in a uniform manner, whether it’s corporate dress code, office hours and attendance, meeting project deadlines, or some other clearly outlined rule.

 

 Conclusion

Employee management is one of the toughest challenges for manager/business owners.

By identifying employees who drain productivity and slow your business growth, you’ll be able to remove them and bring in professionals who will help you meet your long-term goals.

 

Businessinsider.com |  October 27, 2015  | Jayson Demers, Inc.com

#Leadership : 9 Things #Employees Hate Most about their #Bosses …. According to a Recent Poll, 91% say Communication Issues Can Hurt their Relationship With their #Boss.

/in /by

If you’re getting the sense thatyour employees secretly hate youand you’re wondering why, it could be your communication style.  If you’re getting the sense thatyour employees secretly hate youand you’re wondering why, it could be your communication style.

 

According to a recent poll of about 1,000 US workers by Harris and Interact, a communications consultancy, 91% say communication issues can hurt their relationship with their boss.

The employees surveyed voted on the top nine communication issues that bug them about their managers. We spoke with Lou Solomon, CEO of Interact, about why these behaviors are so irksome and how managers can tweak their leadership style to be more effective.

Here’s the list of troublesome leadership behaviors, in reverse order.

View As: One PageSlides

 

9. Not asking about employees’ lives outside of work

Twenty-three percent of employees surveyed said this was a problem for them.

To illustrate how problematic this issue can be, Solomon referred to one of her clients, whose boss suggested he attend a certain professional conference. What the boss didn’t realize was that his employee was in fact one of the conference organizers. That experience is an example of leaders who only make half-hearted attempts to connect with their employees, Solomon said.

Of course, managers don’t have to know absolutely everything about their employees’ lives outside of work — but key points like the birth of children, the loss of loved ones, and certainly professional roles like being a conference organizer are important to note.

Solomon said employees might think about the situation this way: “The fact that you [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][the boss] only care about my contribution at work and are oblivious to the other parts of my life — that stands out to me as a workplace that I don’t want to be a part of.”

Francois Mori/AP

8. Refusing to talk to people on the phone or in person.

Thirty-four percent of employees surveyed said this was a problem for them.

With the advent of digital technologies from email to Slack, it’s becoming increasingly possible to avoid in-person interaction entirely.

Yet Solomon strongly advised against this practice. “Face-to-face communication is still the most persuasive, influential medium that there is,” she said.

Leaders can make themselves visible by periodically showing up at meetings or on phone calls — or even by making the rounds at company-wide social functions. That way, they’ll appear more approachable and trustworthy.

“You can communicate electronically to exchange information and sustain a dialogue,” Solomon said, “but you cannot build trust electronically.”

of about 1,000 US workers by Harris and Interact, a communications consultancy, 91% say communication issues can hurt their relationship with their boss.

The employees surveyed voted on the top nine communication issues that bug them about their managers. We spoke with Lou Solomon, CEO of Interact, about why these behaviors are so irksome and how managers can tweak their leadership style to be more effective.

Here’s the list of troublesome leadership behaviors, in reverse order.

Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/flickr

7. Not knowing employees’ names

Thirty-six percent of employees surveyed said this was a problem for them.

Employees today “want a meaningful exchange with the people who are leading the company,” Solomon said. “And when they are not greeted as an individual, then it stands out as missing.”

Solomon cited instances she’s heard about, in which a CEO rides the elevator with an employee and greets him by name. “The impact of that is extraordinary,” she said.

The bottom line is that leaders need to stop pleading, “I’m not good with names,” and make it a priority to know them. “As a leader,” Solomon said, “the standard is higher.”

University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment/flickr

6. Not offering constructive criticism

Thirty-nine percent of employees surveyed said this was a problem for them.

“Great leaders let people know how they’re doing,” Solomon said, “and give them ways to constantly do better and to get themselves in position to reach their goals.”

Yet Solomon said constructive feedback is often the “missing piece” in today’s leadership, for two key reasons. One, many leaders feel they’re too busy to slow down and invest their time and energy in giving an impromptu performance review.

And two, some leaders fear offending employees or hurting their feelings if they give feedback after a negative incident.

The key to delivering helpful criticism, Solomon said, is to assess the employee’s performancewithout emotions like anger or frustration.

Francisco Osorio/Flickr

5. Taking credit for others’ ideas

Forty-seven percent of employees surveyed said this was a problem for them.

Few leaders actually assert that they came up with an idea when in fact one of their employees submitted it.

Instead, Solomon said, what often happens is that, in the rush to get things done, managers neglect to give credit where it’s due.

But to employees, it can feel as though someone has just stolen credit for their contributions — and that experience can be extremely demotivating.

VFS Digital Design/Flickr

4. Refusing to talk to subordinates

Fifty-one percent of employees surveyed said this was a problem for them.

Managers who won’t associate with their reports are communicating a lack of concern for them — even if, again, it’s just a result of being distracted.

Flickr / Alan Levine

3. Not having time to meet with employees

Fifty-two percent of employees surveyed said this was a problem for them.

The reason managers might not have time to meet with their employees isn’t necessarily that they don’t care about their subordinates. Instead, it’s usually a function of distraction and having multiple responsibilities to juggle.

Still, “if you don’t have time to be easygoing and open and accessible to employees, you could be a liability” in your organization, Solomon said.

That’s because people trust and engage with leaders they genuinely like — and it’s hard to like a manager who clearly doesn’t make her relationship with you a priority.

Vancouver Film School/Flickr

2. Not giving clear directions

Fifty-seven percent of employees said this was a problem for them.

“This is such a rift that comes up more than we’d like to imagine between leaders and folks who report to them,” Solomon said. The leaders “weren’t specific on exactly what constituted a success or what the deliverable looks like in their mind.”

What typically ends up happening is that the leader gets frustrated with the employee for not producing the desired result, when in fact, “it was really the leader’s responsibility to make crystal clear exactly what they’re looking for.”

Solomon said managers should keep in mind that, while it might be easier to provide a few key points about a project and leave employees alone, it will ultimately be much more effective to outline the specific directions and exactly what they’re looking for. That way, employees won’t have to redo their work and there will be less aggravation all around.

velkr0/Flickr

1. Not recognizing employee achievements

Sixty-three percent of employees surveyed said this was a problem for them.

According to Solomon, “the human side of business is what drives the bottom line as much as the numbers.” In other words, if employees feel unappreciated, they won’t be motivated to produce their best work and the organization will suffer as a result.

The key to giving motivational feedback, Solomon said, is to make it specific andinstantaneous.

“If you tell me that you especially liked the way I was able to get collaboration from another department on a particular project I was in charge of, then I sense that you really understand my giftedness and what I bring to the table.

“However, if you just tell me that, ‘Hey, you did a good job on that project,’ then it’s less satisfying to me. Even though you said something, it was general. Anybody could say that.”

Businessinsider.com | October 27, 2015 | 

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Your #Career : 5 Things You Should Do If You Get Fired or Laid Off…Be Alert & Know the Signs. You Should be Especially Leery If you Start Getting Terrible Assignments or your Co-Workers Act Differently Around you or Stop Talking to you Altogether.

/in /by

Getting fired or laid off can be an unpleasant experience. You feel a range of emotions including shock, sadness, disbelief, intense anger, and sometimes even hopelessness. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth that never seems to go away.

 

“For most of us, termination is shocking. For some, it is even debilitating. For others, it ruins their careers, if not their health. A termination, and the loss of income that accompanies its aftermath, can divide families and destroy the soul…and cause a loss of self-esteem that takes years to rebuild. A termination always has the potential to be a life-altering event,” said Richard Busse in Fired, Laid Off or Forced Out: A Complete Guide to Severance, Benefits and Your Rights When You’re Starting Over.

However, it will be important to work toward bouncing back so that you can start looking for your next job. Once you’ve wiped away your tears and licked your wounds, it’s time to get off the couch and get back out there. You may discover your next job is a better fit or that you have a talent you were unaware of. Know that all is not lost. Here are the steps you should take after you lose your job.

1. Apply for unemployment

Don’t delay this first step, as it could take several weeks before you receive your first check. Generally, you’ll have a waiting period of about one week before you can become eligible to collect benefits. Know that even if you were fired, you might still be able to collect unemployment. However, this depends on the reason you were fired and the specific laws for your state.

“Generally speaking, an employee who is fired for serious misconduct is ineligible for benefits, either entirely or for a certain period of time (often called a “disqualification period”). But the definition of misconduct varies from state to state,” says legal site Nolo.

 

Like this Article ?…Share It !    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 300K+ Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network: (Over 8K+ Members & Growing !)   www.linkedin.com/in/frankfsc/en

  • Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

educate/collaborate/network….Look forward to your Participation !

continue of article:

2. Assess your savings

 

Make the time to review your emergency savings. Take stock of how much you have and how long it will last. While you’re looking for jobs, you may also want to take on a side job so you can bring in extra cash to help you stay afloat and reduce the chances that you’ll blow through your savings too quickly. Also try your best to avoid cleaning out your retirement account. Even if your former employer allows hardship withdrawals, this may not be the best choice. If you are under age 59 1/2 you’ll face fees and penalties.

3. Contact your network

The next thing you’ll want to do is get in touch with your professional network. Someone in your circle (or in a colleague’s circle) may be able to introduce you to a hiring manager who is looking for an employee with your skill set. Remember to keep your message light. Briefly explain that you are no longer with your former company. It is not necessary to get into details. Also, if you were fired, don’t give in to the urge to bash your former employer.

4. Look for a job

It’s OK to give yourself time to grieve, but you should keep it at a minimum. You may feel terrible right now, but it’s not wise to put your job search on hold for too long. Keep yourself busy by conducting a search as soon as possible. This will help take your mind off of being depressed about losing your job and may increase your chances of becoming employed sooner. You may also want to take some time to speak to a career counselor.

“Now may not seem like the time to spend money, but there are some investments worth considering. Before you start applying for any job that comes along, take time to make sure you are headed in the right direction. A good career counselor can help you choose your path. If money is really tight, consider asking family members to forgo their usual holiday gifts to you. The money might be better spent on helping you find your calling in life. You have an opportunity to do something different with your life. You just might need some help figuring out how to transition your skills. ” said Monster contributor Roberta Chinsky Matuson.

5. Hire a lawyer

It’s likely you were given separation paperwork outlining what you can and cannot do after the separation. Two items to watch out for are the non-disparagement and non-disclosure clauses. You’ll also want to know if you will still be required to adhere to any non-compete agreements (if you had previously signed one). Hire a lawyer to thoroughly review your paperwork before you sign anything.

A word of caution

If you haven’t been fired or laid off, but you think it may be coming, take the time now to dust off your résumé and start looking for a new job. Be alert and know the signs. You should be especially leery if you start getting terrible assignments or your co-workers act differently around you or stop talking to you altogether.

 

CheatSheet.com | October 12, 2015 | 

 

 

#Strategy : 5 Setbacks that Will Help you #Succeed Later in Life…Here, 3 #Millennials Share their In-The-Moment Nightmares that Eventually Helped Them Overcome

/in /by

Among the good times, your college years are also filled with moments of hair-pulling and the occasional screaming in frustration at the top of your lungs. Back then, you probably asked yourself, “Why is this happening to me?!” but with the passing of time, your mindset shifts.  The stress, sadness, or anger that you once felt was replaced with understanding — and even a lesson learned.

Here, three Millennials share their in-the-moment nightmares that eventually helped them overcome:

 

1. Difficult coworkers

I was assigned to a group for a project and the other students were just plain awful. It was impossible to get everyone to show up to the meetings, and several deadlines were missed.

I had to work extra hard to crank out the project by being on top of everyone, but it prepared me for working with coworkers who I might not necessarily click with.

We ended up getting a good grade on the project, by the way!

— Shannon, 22, Philadelphia, Pa.

Related: How to Deal with Difficult Coworkers

 

2. Untimely illnesses

I got food poisoning the day before a final and couldn’t study for it because I was so sick.

It taught me that sometimes things happen that you can’t prepare for ahead of time. You just have to keep plugging away and deal with problems as they come.

— Lindsey, 22, Manalapan, N.J. 

Related: How to Win Your Sick Day

 

 

3. Failure

Right when I started college, I knew I wanted to work in magazines. I was crazy-passionate about editing, so I thought my first editing-specific class would be a breeze. I soon realized I wasn’t as good as a thought — I got a D on my first assignment and a few Cs thereafter.

My professor scheduled a time to meet with me to talk about my grades, and I think we talked for nearly an hour about how I could improve. I took on extra work, not even for extra credit, but so I could practice and get better.

Then I started to get Bs and then As, and ended the class with a B+. Now I work as an editor in New York City, living my dream. If I gave up after the first challenge that came my way, I never would have gotten to where I am today.”

— Erica, 24, New York, NY

Related: How to Deal With a Terrifying Boss

 

 

4. A super-demanding boss

I had a nursing instructor in college who was very strict during my clinical rotations in the hospital. It seemed like she cared so much about little things, like being a few minutes late, and would have a harsh penalty if anything like that happened.

I only realized after college, when I got my first nursing job, that she was only trying to be a good educator. She was hard on us for the right reasons; she wanted us to understand that we were dealing with patients’ lives and that our job was serious.

—Christina McCourt, 24, Hoboken, NJ

Related: What 9 Successful People Learned From Failing Forward

 

 

5. Rejection

I got injured right before my first college track season. I always imagined I would be on the cross country and track team because it’s what I had done in high school. I expected that to be my ‘thing’ and for that to be where I made my friend group.

As soon as I got injured, I knew I wouldn’t be able to just get right back into the swing of things as if nothing happened. I made the decision to join a sorority instead. It ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made in college.

Now, I remind myself to always be open to new things, even if it means straying from my original plan. If one door closes in your face, you can’t be afraid to look for another way out.

—Tara, Long Branch, 22, NJ

 

Businessinsider.com | October 24. 2015 | Kristen Lauletti, Levo League

#Leadership : How To Let Go & Become The #Manager #Millennials Want…Like most Millennials, I Bristle at Command & Control. My Generation Expects a More Personal Interaction with #Management

/in /by

As a manager, I’ve Struggled to Double as a Mentor to my Employees. I’ve felt, at times, confined in my formal role by unseen pressures that pervade any organization.

 

Robert Pirsig’s famous motorcycle treatise contains a lesson for managers who aspire to be better mentors (Credit: Public Domain)

Like most  Millennials, I bristle at command and control. My generation expects a more personal interaction with management. We want to confide in them our goals — whether we want to be promoted, transfer departments, enroll in graduate school, or leave to backpack Europe.

As a manager, I’ve struggled to double as a mentor to my employees. I’ve felt, at times, confined in my formal role by unseen pressures that pervade any organization.

Harvard psychologist Harry Levinson called this phenomenon the Great Jackass fallacy. The carrot-and-stick metaphor suggests employees are stubborn mules that need to be controlled.

I’ve asked myself how I can effortlessly shift between being a manager and being a mentor.

For me, the answer lies in a consistent mindfulness practice.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is an open awareness of the present moment in which you observe whatever thoughts come to mind in a detached, nonjudgmental way. But it’s so much more than that.

Robert Pirsig captures its essence in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance:

In a car, you’re always in a compartment, and because you’re used to it you don’t realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You’re a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame.

On a cycle the frame is gone. You’re completely in contact with it all. You’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.

Millennials crave this collapse in distance, emphasizing people and their development more than today’s leaders who, at least to us, are focused exclusively on profit and personal reward.

Mindfulness has the power to tear down the walls that separate supervisors from their staff.

 

Like this Article ?…Share It !    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 300K+ Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network: (Over 8K+ Members & Growing !)   www.linkedin.com/in/frankfsc/en

  • Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

educate/collaborate/network….Look forward to your Participation !

continue of article:

What creates these walls in the first place?

The Arbinger Institute argues that self-deception is the underlying cause of all people problems.

Self-deception is not knowing you’re the cause of the problem.

When we feel the need to do something for someone else and choose not to, we betray ourselves and enter what Arbinger calls “the box.”

From inside the box, our view of others is distorted. We see people as objects available to advance our agendas. Their needs aren’t as legitimate as our own.

We also inflate our view of ourselves. We begin to justify our actions to protect the image we’re projecting to the world.

A manager, for example, might pride himself on always getting results. An underperforming employee, therefore, jeopardizes the outcome and is seen as a threat to his self-image.

Rather than consider his contribution to the problem, he uses a bevy of tactics to temporarily steer the employee back on track. But he fails to create any lasting change in the relationship.

How do we get out of the box?

We can’t “do” anything to get out of the box. Tweaking behavior isn’t enough.

Instead, a shift in mindset is required.

Meditation is a fantastic method for training the mind. A daily sitting practice cultivates the quality of mindfulness that Pirsig describes in his book.

 Researchers have found that mindfulness increases the capacity for perspective-taking.  This means that mindful managers are able to suspend their own thoughts and feelings while remaining fully present to those of their employees.

But certain managers are simply not able to shift perspectives.

“Millennials are used to much more fluidity in terms of role. There are moments of hierarchy and moments of parallelism,” explains Diane Musho Hamilton, author of Everything is Workable: A Zen Approach to Conflict Resolution. “It may be that other generations don’t have that flexibility.”

For those who want to increase their agility, Hamilton offers three suggestions:

    1. Identify the role shift when it’s happening
    2. Practice excellent listening skills
    3. Resolve all your issues related to power

The last one is a doozy. Hamilton says that it’s difficult for people in power to relinquish it, even momentarily. When they do, they’re put into a freefall. They don’t know what’s going to happen.

Yet, as a mentor, you have to be willing to be changed by interactions with your employees.

Cordelia Jensen sums it up well: “I think the most important quality of a mentor is that they are open to following students where they want to go, not always pushing their own agenda.”

 

Forbes.com | October 26, 2015 | Drew Hansen

 

Your #Career : 8 Steal-Worthy Secrets of Power #Networkers …Since There are So Many Different Platforms for People to Market Themselves these Days, You Have to Find Ways to Cut Through the White Noise & Get Noticed

/in /by

You’ve no doubt heard it a million times: Career advancement is as much about who you know as what you know—and that’s exactly why being a powerful networker is so important. But mastering this crucial skill requires more than just schmoozing over cheese platters and exchanging business cards. There’s actually an art to it.

 

“Since there are so many different platforms for people to market themselves these days, you have to find ways to cut through the white noise and get noticed,” says Ivan Misner, Ph.D., author of “Networking Like a Pro.”

When done skillfully, networking can not only open the door to plum job opportunities but it can also help land new clients and tap talent for future hiring. And what better way to learn the ins and outs of such skillful networking than to go straight to power networking pros for their tips on how to land on someone’s radar—and stay there.

Power Tip #1: Give Before You Receive

One of the biggest networking mistakes people make is jumping the gun when asking for a favor. One cardinal key of successful networking: Give before you can get.

“I can’t emphasize this enough—if you want to form a relationship with another person, you first need to show them how they’ll benefit,” says professional relationship development expert Keith Ferrazzi, author of “Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time.” “You usually bring a small gift to a dinner party, so why wouldn’t you offer a potential ally a token of generosity when you meet?”

And according to Ferrazzi, it needn’t be elaborate either. The gesture can be as simple as forwarding a relevant article or providing an introduction to someone who can further the person’s own interests.

So when can you comfortably turn the tables and ask for help? It’s a judgment call. But seeking favors too early can turn your contacts off—and risk damaging any positive collateral you’ve stored up. “People often say, ‘Hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask, right?’ ” Misner says. “But if you ask before you’ve established a relationship, then you are destroying the opportunity to cultivate one.”

So think of networking like a bank account—you have to make deposits and shore up social capital before making a withdrawal. Case in point: One of Misner’s contacts called him up every month or two to ask how his latest project was going and whether he could pitch in. After reaching out several times over a year, he told Misner he had a favor to ask. “I replied, ‘Yes!’ ” Misner says. “He hadn’t even told me what he needed, but he’d invested so much in our relationship that I was happy to do it.”

 

Like this Article ?…Share It !    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 300K+ Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network: (Over 8K+ Members & Growing !)   www.linkedin.com/in/frankfsc/en

  • Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

educate/collaborate/network….Look forward to your Participation !

continue of article:

Power Tip #2: Ask for a Strategic Introduction

If there’s a specific person you’re hoping to connect with, do some Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn sleuthing to see if you have a contact who knows that individual directly, or at least knows someone who works for the same organization.

Explain your game plan to your contact—you’re a huge fan of the company and would love to build a strategic relationship with such-and-such key player—and then ask if the person might be able to introduce you at an upcoming networking event.

“If you can find it, a third-party endorsement will give you a powerful edge,” Misner says. “It makes you stand out, and lends you credibility.” And the more credibility you have, the more likely that person will trust that you’re worth his time.

 

“People are always chasing bright, shiny objects, but I’m a firm believer in doing six things a thousand times, not a thousand things six times.”

Power Tip #3: Don’t Just Collect Cards

In the game of networking, you’re going for quality, not quantity—so simply focusing on beefing up your Rolodex will backfire.

Misner recalls meeting a young woman who claimed to be a pro networker. Her “brilliant” technique? She and her business partner would split the room in half, amassing as many business cards as possible. They’d then enter all the info into a database and email their new contacts. “Essentially, they’d spam people,” Misner says. “Using networking like a face-to-face cold-calling opportunity is a huge error.”

Instead of casting a wide net, direct it toward cultivating deep personal connections. “People are always chasing bright, shiny objects, but I’m a firm believer in doing six things a thousand times, not a thousand things six times,” Misner says.

To do this, Ferrazzi recommends creating a relationship action plan for every professional goal that you have—be it landing a new job or building up your client base. Make a list of people who can be instrumental in helping you achieve that success: friends, co-workers, people you’re hoping to meet, and even individuals you admire and just follow online.

“Write down why each person is important, and how you would categorize the strength of your relationship on a scale of zero to five,” he says. This will help you develop a strategy to pursue your goals—and home in on getting help from the right people.

 

Power Tip #4: Follow Up—and Then Follow Up Again

After clicking with a powerful new connection, too many people drop the ball—failing to check in post-meeting and never leveraging the new relationship.

So try this strategy from Kim Marie Branch-Pettid, C.E.O. and president of LeTip International, a business networking and referral organization. Immediately following a conversation with a person of interest, Branch jots down a number from 1 to 10 on the back of their business card, indicating their potential to help her advance in her career. For anyone who scores a seven or above, she adds a brief note about them, such as “trip to London, 3-year-old son, starting a new job.”

The next day, Branch sends an email to the person, saying that she enjoyed the conversation, and references one of her notes, like “Have a great time in London!” Finally, she assists in some way, by sending a link to an interesting London travel article or offering to introduce the person to a friend who works at the same company they just joined.

And don’t forget to maintain the connection. “In order for your relationships to become more robust, you need to ‘ping’ your network on a regular basis,” Ferrazzi says. “Create a schedule for keeping in touch, whether you set aside X amount of time each day to networking, or reach out to X number of people each week.”

 

Misner used the technique to land a coveted interview with mogul Richard Branson. After learning that Branson had launched a nonprofit called the B-Team, Misner used the nugget as his “in.”

 

The frequency and depth of your interactions depends on the strength of the relationship. For casual connections, the occasional retweet or Facebook comment might suffice. For deeper ones, think along the lines of a thoughtful email or meetup.

Power Tip #5: Suss Out Your Contact’s Passions

Before meeting someone you’d like to develop a relationship with, do an online search to uncover what they’re truly interested in, from charities they support to any awards they’ve received.

“Doing your homework shows a sincere interest in the other person as an individual, and not just as a business contact,” Ferrazzi says. “It also helps you understand how you can be of service—if you can offer something specifically geared to what’s important to them, they’ll be more open to connecting with you.”

Misner used this technique to land a coveted interview with Virgin mogul Richard Branson. After learning that Branson had recently launched a nonprofit called the B-Team, Misner used the nugget as his “in.” During a run-in with Branson, whom he’d met once before, he said, “I understand you’re doing something called the B-Team. Tell me about it.”

“He lit up,” Misner remembers. “I asked him how I could be of help with the project, and suggested interviewing him for my blog.” It was a win-win networking move: Branson’s charity got some extra airplay, while Misner landed his interview.

Power Tip #6: Deepen Your Network Pool

The more similar someone is to you, the more comfortable it feels to connect, which is why networks are, by nature, homogenous. “We tend to hang out with people like ourselves—the same gender, ethnicity and academic background,” Misner says. “But diversity is key to growing a strong personal network.”

So seek relationships with totally different people who can introduce you to brand-new social clusters. Not only will you gain access to potentially influential individuals whom you’d otherwise might never meet, but you’ll stand out from the pack.

For example, Misner is a member of an organization of women business owners. They allow men to join, so he asked a female friend to sponsor him at a meeting. “Everyone remembered me because I was one of two or three guys there,” Misner says. “I ended up getting a lot of business out of it.”

One important way to diversify is to “network down.” Most people concentrate on networking up—building a rapport with someone higher than yourself on the ladder. But it’s also smart to connect with savvy junior people in your industry because they might end up being portals of intel that can boost your career down the line.

 

Just like you wouldn’t give any Joe Schmo a job reference, you also shouldn’t add LinkedIn requests from strangers.

 

Power Tip #7: Don’t Overly Pimp Your Profile

If your LinkedIn page is open like a 7-Eleven, and you’re accepting invites from everyone and their mother, you could be putting your reputation on the line.

Your LinkedIn contacts are a reflection on you, and it’s implied that you’re vouching for someone’s skills by connecting. So just like you wouldn’t give any Joe Schmo a job reference, you also shouldn’t add contact requests from complete strangers.

Likewise, “You should only reach out to someone via LinkedIn if you have a connection in common,” Branch says, adding that you should write a message when asking to connect, rather than using LinkedIn’s form letter. And if you don’t have any shared connections, it’s better to get in touch via a more personal email or letter.

Power Tip #8: Seek Common Ground

There is a shortcut to fostering a new relationship with real roots: Figure out what you and the other person have in common—whether you went to the same school or both love to snowboard.

“Focusing on the similarities between you is a quick way to develop a rapport,” Branch says. “So don’t be afraid to ask personal questions that let the individual speak about him or herself: Where are you from? Do you have kids?”

Then it’s your turn to open up. One of Branch’s associates made several powerful connections after mentioning that she had been jumping out of airplanes since she was 14. People who have skydived (or are interested in trying) are instantly drawn to her—it’s like a built-in launching pad for cultivating a strong relationship.

 

Learnvest.com | July 22, 2014 | Molly Triffin

#Leadership : A Retired Navy SEAL Commander Explains 12 Traits Effective #Leaders Must Have…Just as Discipline & Freedom are Opposing Forces that Must be Balanced, Leadership Requires Finding the Equilibrium in the Dichotomy of Many Seemingly Contradictory Qualities Between One Extreme & Another.

/in /by

Jocko Willink is the retired commander of the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War: US Navy SEAL Team Three Task Unit Bruiser, which served in the 2006 Battle of Ramadi.

 

Retired Navy SEAL Task Unit Bruiser commander Jocko Willink.

In his new book “Extreme Ownership: How US Navy SEALs Lead and Win,” co-written with his former platoon commander Leif Babin, he and Babin explain the lessons learned in combat that they’ve taught to corporate clients for the past four years in their leadership consultancy firm Echelon Front.

During his 20 years as a SEAL, Willink writes that he realized that, “Just as discipline and freedom are opposing forces that must be balanced, leadership requires finding the equilibrium in the dichotomy of many seemingly contradictory qualities between one extreme and another.” By being aware of these seeming contradictions, a leader can “more easily balance the opposing forces and lead with maximum effectiveness.”

Here are the 12 main dichotomies of leadership Willink identifies as traits every effective leader should have.

‘A leader must lead but also be ready to follow.’

Willink says a common misconception the public has about the military is that subordinates mindlessly follow every order they’re given. In certain situations, subordinates may have access to information their superiors don’t, or have an insight that would result in a more effective plan than the one their boss proposed.

“Good leaders must welcome this, putting aside ego and personal agendas to ensure that the team has the greatest chance of accomplishing its strategic goals,” Willink writes.

‘A leader must be aggressive but not overbearing.’

'A leader must be aggressive but not overbearing.'

Echelon Front

Leif Babin and Willink when they were deployed in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006.

As a SEAL officer, Willink needed to be aggressive (“Some may even accuse me of hyperagression,” he says) but he differentiated being a powerful presence to his SEAL team from being an intimidating figure.

He writes that, “I did my utmost to ensure that everyone below me in the chain of command felt comfortable approaching me with concerns, ideas, thoughts, and even disagreements.”

“That being said,” he adds, “my subordinates also knew that if they wanted to complain about the hard work and relentless push to accomplish the mission I expected of them, they best take those thoughts elsewhere.”

‘A leader must be calm but not robotic.’

Willink says that while leaders who lose their tempers lose respect, they also can’t establish a relationship with their team if they never expression anger, sadness, or frustration.

“People do not follow robots,” he writes.

‘A leader must be confident but never cocky.’

Leaders should behave with confidence and instill it in their team members.

“But when it goes too far, overconfidence causes complacency and arrogance, which ultimately set the team up for failure,” Willink writes.

‘A leader must be brave but not foolhardy.’

'A leader must be brave but not foolhardy.'

Courtesy of Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Task Unit Bruiser SEALs look up at an Apache flying overhead Ramadi in 2006.

Whoever’s in charge can’t waste time excessively contemplating a scenario without making a decision. But when it’s time to make that decision, all risk must be as mitigated as possible.

Willink and Babin both write about situations in Ramadi in which delaying an attack until every detail about a target was clarified, even when it frustrated other units they were working with, resulted in avoiding tragic friendly fire.

‘A leader must have a competitive spirit but also be a gracious loser.’

“They must drive competition and push themselves and their teams to perform at the highest level,” Willink writes. “But they must never put their own drive for personal success ahead of overall mission success for the greater team.”

This means that when something does not go according to plan, leaders must set aside their egos and take ownership of the failure before moving forward.

‘A leader must be attentive to details but not obsessed with them.’

The most effective leaders learn how to quickly determine which of their team’s tasks need to be monitored in order for them to progress smoothly, “but cannot get sucked into the details and lose track of the bigger picture,” Willink writes.

‘A leader must be strong but likewise have endurance, not only physically but mentally.’

'A leader must be strong but likewise have endurance, not only physically but mentally.'

Courtesy of Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Navy SEALs on a roof overlook in Ramadi in 2006. (Faces have been blurred to protect identities.)

Leaders need to push themselves and their teams while also recognizing their limits, in order to achieve a suitable pace and avoid burnout.

‘A leader must be humble but not passive; quiet but not silent.’

The best leaders keep their egos in check and their minds open to others, and admit when they’re wrong.

“But a leader must be able to speak up when it matters,” Willink writes. “They must be able to stand up for the team and respectfully push back against a decision, order, or direction that could negatively impact overall mission success.”

‘A leader must be close with subordinates but not too close.’

“The best leaders understand the motivations of their team members and know their people — their lives and their families,” Willink writes. “But a leader must never grow so close to subordinates that one member of the team becomes more important than another, or more important than the mission itself.”

“Leaders must never get so close that the team forgets who is in charge.”

‘A leader must exercise Extreme Ownership. Simultaneously, that leader must employ Decentralized Command.’

“Extreme Ownership” is the fundamental concept of Willink and Babin’s leadership philosophy. It means that for any team or organization, “all responsibility for success and failure rests with the leader,” Willink writes. Even when leaders are not directly responsible for all outcomes, it was their method of communication and guidance, or lack thereof, that led to the results.

That doesn’t mean, however, that leaders should micromanage. It’s why the concept of decentralized command that Willink and Babin used in the battlefield, in which they trusted that their junior officers were able to handle certain tasks without being monitored, translates so well to the business world.

‘A leader has nothing to prove but everything to prove.’

“Since the team understands that the leader is de facto in charge, in that respect, a leader has nothing to prove,” Willink writes. “But in another respect, a leader has everything to prove: Every member of the team must develop the trust and confidence that their leader will exercise good judgment, remain calm, and make the right decisions when it matters most.”

And the only way that can be achieved is through leading by example every day.

Businessinsider.com | October 22, 2015  |  

#Strategy : 24 Life Skills every Functioning Adult Should Master…We’ve Put Together our Own Handbook of Sorts, Which Lists Many of the Skills you’ll Need to Survive as an Adult in the Modern World.

/in /by

Life is funny.  No one gets a handbook upon turning 18, complete with all the rules they’ll need to memorize and competencies they’ll need to acquire.  Somehow you’re just supposed to know that you should have more money coming in than going out and you shouldn’t wear a fuzzy orange sweater to a job interview.

Fortunately, we’ve put together our own handbook of sorts, which lists many of the skills you’ll need to survive as an adult in the modern world.

It’s based on the Quora thread, “What are some of the most useful skills to know?” as well as scientific research and expert opinion.

We can’t promise we’ve outlined every skill, but if you’ve mastered these, you’re off to a good start.

VFS Digital Design/Flickr

1. Accepting feedback gracefully

“For most of us it is hard to hear how we made a mistake or could have done something better,” writes Quora user Pedram Keyani. “An amazing skill (which you can learn through practice) is to set aside your emotional response in the moment and focus on the information presented to you. Some of it will be valid and some of it invalid but let your brain decide that, not your ego.”

Depending on what kind of feedback you’re receiving, there are different strategies for responding with a cool head. For example, if your boss points out what she thinks is an error and you’re not sure she’s correct, you can say, “I hadn’t thought of that, and I’m going to look into it right away.”

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

2. Apologizing sincerely

To err is human — but to craft a believable apology isn’t a universal skill.

The apology “needs to be sincere, not qualified, not quantified, and also needs [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][to] outline how X will not happen again,” Keyani says.

According to one CEO, there’s a six-step strategy for successfully saying you’re sorry:

1. Act quickly.

2. Apologize in person. 

3. Explain what happened. 

4. Show how you are going to avoid the problem in the future. 

5. Apologize.

6. Make restitution.

Keyani gives an example of what you might say if you were tardy for an appointment:

“I’m sorry I was late for the meeting. It must have been frustrating because you spent a lot of time preparing and got up early. I did a poor job accounting for traffic and didn’t give myself enough buffer. That is my bad and I’m going to give myself an extra 10 minutes instead of five moving forward.”

Like this Article ?…Share It !    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 300K+ Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network: (Over 8K+ Members & Growing !)   www.linkedin.com/in/frankfsc/en

  • Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

educate/collaborate/network….Look forward to your Participation !

continue of article:

Flickr/DncnH

3. Managing your time wisely

There will probably never be a time in your life when you aren’t juggling multiple personal and professional priorities. Time-management skills are a must, unless you want to feel constantly frazzled.

Perhaps the most important time-management lesson is that you should stick with one task at a time. Research suggests that multitasking is generally counterproductive, because the brain expends energy as it readjusts its focus from one activity to another.

You’d be wise, too, to limit the hours you spend working. Decades ago, Henry Ford discovered that productivity started to decline after employees logged more than 40 hours per week. Other research suggests that, after three weeks, 60-hour workweeks become less productive.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

4. Using keyboard shortcuts

“Since most of the work we do nowadays involves computers,” says Arpit Jain, “using keyboard shortcuts definitely gives you an edge and saves you a lot of time.”

Jain posted a list of some of the handiest shortcuts in her Quora answer. For example, simultaneously pressing the “Alt” and “F4” keys when using Microsoft windows lets you close a selected item or program. Keep the list somewhere close to your computer at work to supercharge your productivity.

Flickr/frankieleon

5. Saying ‘no’ respectfully

Many of us fear the word “no” because we don’t want to let other people down. But when you’re already swamped and your coworker asks you to take an hour to help him with his project report, “yes, of course” might not be the best answer.

“It might sound a cliché, but saying NO when needed can save you lot of time, confusion, guilt, attachment, commitments, stress and other social evils,” writes Yogi Raj.

There’s another Quora thread dedicated to learning how to say “no,” where Eva Glasrud writes, “we routinely overestimate the cost of saying ‘no.'”

According to Glasrud, the best way to muster up the confidence to turn down a request is to recognize that “[t]here are some things you can never have back. Your time, your health, your virtue, your life. Don’t mess around with those things. It’s fine for people to ask — most likely, in their mind, they’re trying to help introduce you to a great person or opportunity or meaningful cause. And it’s just as fine for you to say ‘no.'”

pedrosimoes7 via flickr

6. Empathizing with others

A number of Quora users mentioned the importance of learning to empathize with other people — to listen to them and try to see things from their perspective.

Psychologists say empathy is a fundamental part of human interaction. In fact, people who lack the ability to empathize and take an interest in other people are often narcissists.

Business Insider

7. Communicating through body language

“Sometimes your body language tells people everything they need to know before you ever open your mouth,” writes Dean Bokhari.

Experts have highlighted specific body language techniques that can make you more likable. For example, don’t break eye contact with your conversation partner, even after they’ve finished speaking. And make sure not to fidget or touch your face too much, which can give the impression that you’re lying or anxious.

You can also read other people’s body language to help figure out what they’re thinking and feeling. For example, if they mirror your body language, the conversation is probably going well. If they smile but there are no crinkles around their eyes, they might be faking it.

NBC

8. Making friends in any environment

Mayeesha Tahsin says she thinks of forming relationships as a skill, as opposed to leaving things to chance.

That skill is especially important to develop during young adulthood, once you’re off the college campus, where it’s generally easy to forge close friends.

One way to make friends as a grown-up is to trade confidences. Research suggests that “self disclosure” predicts liking, closeness, and relationship building. Another, surprisingly simple, tactic is to simply spend more time with the people you’d like to befriend. According to the “mere exposure effect,” we tend to like things and people we’re familiar with.

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

9. Mending your clothes

Button popped off your shirt at work? There’s no need to panic if you’re handy with a needle — which you should be.

“Learn how to stitch that button to your shirt collar or sew back the tear on your sleeve from the edge of the table,” writes Zehra Alvi. “You will save a lot of money by just knowing how to handle that two-centimeter sword.”

Flickr/Nacho

10. Speaking a second language

Learning a second language “opens up the mind to an entirely new way of thinking,” says Noe Villela. You’ll notice and appreciate parts of the world you never before experienced.

It’s also possible that learning a new language can make you smarter — though the jury is still out on this issue. Some studies have found that being bilingual can improve cognitive skills, butmore recent research disputes these findings.

One of the best ways to learn a new language is through immersion. Get started with this free online tool that replicates the immersion experience.

Flickr / Kate Hiscock

11. Sticking to a budget

“It’s amazing how many people can’t do the simplest of things — like balance a checkbook, fill out a tax form, make sure that there’s more coming in than going out, [set] aside reserves for contingencies,” writes Miles Fidelman.

Let’s start with “mak[ing] sure that there’s more coming in than going out,” which is essentially about adhering to a budget. We recently rounded up the best budgeting tips from readers who have shared their budgets with Business Insider.

For example, you’ll want to anticipate any major costs in the near future – like if you’re planning to have a kid or go back to school. It’s also wise to set aside an emergency fund with several months’ worth of expenses in case the unexpected occurs.

Adactio/Flickr

12. Using basic Photoshop

There’s no need to call in a professional to touch up the headshot you’re posting to your personal website — you can do that yourself, using a few basic Photoshop tools.

“In the professional world few things have helped me more than knowing Photoshop,” says Brad Sanzenbacher.

You can sign up for a free 30-day trial here, or download the free app for iOS that lets you retouch photos.

Flickr / Giuseppe Milo

13. Spending time alone

As an adult, you should be able to spend a full day alone without going crazy for want of social interaction.

Take a tip from Quora user Sanzenbacher, whose partner travels often for grad school:

“I approach being alone with a very specific list of things that only I want to do. I go to weird museums, see movies that only I want to see, take mini-road trips, or see bands that only I like.”

If you’re planning to live alone, which many Americans do today, you should accept that you will occasionally feel lonely. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or upset by, but it might be a signal that you should incorporate some more socializing into your daily schedule.

Jon Gosier/Flickr

14. Public speaking

You may not ever be required to perform in a Superbowl halftime show, but you’ll almost certainly be tasked with making presentations at work. For that reason, it’s important to hone your public speaking skills.

“[T]he ability to speak confidently to a large mass of people is a skill to be learnt,” writes Ramachandra Bhakta. “It makes a lasting impression and brings you to the notice of several people at once.”

If the mere prospect of walking your coworkers through a Powerpoint gives you nightmares, there are strategies to quell your fear. One research-backed tactic is to reframe your anxiety as excitement, which can make you seem more competent and persuasive. You can also strike a “power pose” before the presentation — one example is to stand with your legs wide and your hands on your hips, to make you feel more like a leader.

Reynermedia/Flickr

15. Negotiating

Several Quora users cited negotiation skills as important for any professional.

If you’re negotiating your salary (which you should do), the best strategy both for getting what you want and still coming off as friendly is to ask for a range including and above your target number. For example, if you’re aiming for a $100,000 salary, you’d suggest a $100,000 to $120,000 salary.

Another trick is to frame your proposal in terms of what you’re giving the other person as opposed to what they’re losing. So instead of saying, “I want $10,000 for my car,” you’d say, “I’ll give you my car for $10,000.”

Flickr / Rainer Stropek

16. Cooking basic meals

You don’t need to be Julia Child to sustain yourself, or to impress fellow guests at a potluck.

“Know how to cook at least five dishes,” writes Erin Nakano O’Quinn. “These are likely to be dependent upon the culture you live in, but be able to cook at least one vegetarian dish, a breakfast dish, a dish that you can serve to a group of people, a dessert, and a starch. Try to be able to do these without a cookbook, and you can look like a rockstar wherever you go.”

Flickr / University of Exeter

17. Making small talk

Conversation skills always come in handy, whether you’re chatting up cuties at your local bar or networking at a professional conference.

One of the most important rules of making small talk is to demonstrate interest in your conversation partner and let him share information about himself. Another tactic is to flatter your partner, so that she feels better about herself after having spoken to you.

Getty Images / Omar Havana

18. Backing up your electronics

Having your phone die or your computer stolen is nerve-wracking enough. Saying goodbye to all your important information with those gadgets is even worse.

Be responsible and back up your data.

PCWorld has a comprehensive guide to backing up pretty much everything, including what exactly to back up and how often to do it. And we’ve rounded up all the tools you’ll need.

University of Exeter/Flickr

19. Asking for help

There’s nothing shameful about asking for a little advice or assistance, especially at work.

In fact, research suggests that soliciting advice can make you look more competent. That’s likely because people feel flattered that you turned to them in the first place.

If you’re looking for general career advice, entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss told Inc., it’s best to ask someone who became successful quickly and against the odds, instead of someone with a more conventional story.

Shutterstock

20. Picking up a date

Approaching an attractive stranger and starting a conversation is a terrifying prospect for pretty much every normal person.

But there are ways to reduce both your anxiety and the chance that you’ll come across as a bumbling fool.

One study found that men tend to prefer direct approaches, like “You’re cute — can I buy you a drink?” Women, on the other hand, generally prefer more open-ended questions, like “What do you think of this band?”

Very few people in the study said they preferred standard pick-up lines — so it’s best to avoid those, no matter how clever you think you are.

Shutterstock

21. Dressing appropriately for a job interview

We’re not supposed to judge books by their covers, but it’s no secret that hiring managers judge job candidates by their appearance.

So avoid wearing too much makeup and definitely don’t show up wearing a hat. Instead, you’ll want to dress relatively conservatively. Even your shoes should be clean and tidy.

The color of your clothes matters, too: According to a CareerBuilder survey, blue and black are the best colors to wear to a job interview, while orange is the worst.

Phalinn Ooi/flickr

22. Waking up on time

In college, rolling out of bed five minutes before class starts and showing up late because you stopped to get a latte is (sort of) understandable.

In the professional world? Not so much. Pull it together and figure out a personal strategy for getting up and out the door on time.

It really starts with your nighttime routine — so try doing something relaxing like taking a hot shower or meditating before bed.

In the morning, experts generally advise against hitting “snooze” and going back to sleep. Instead, hit the snooze button once and use the time until your alarm goes off again to turn on a lamp and do some light stretching.

WPA Pool/Getty Images)

23. Giving a good handshake

One poll found that 70% of people don’t feel confident in their ability to give a proper handshake.

But when you meet your company’s CEO for the first time, you don’t want to present her with a limp noodle — especially since a weak handshake suggests that you’re insecure.

The best shaking strategy is to get a good grip, with your elbow nearing a right angle. Be sure to smile and make eye contact as well.

REUTERS/Enrique Castro-Mendivil

24. Power napping

You’ve heard it a thousand times: Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

But pressing work deadlines, family obligations, and the siren call of your Facebook newsfeed mean that you probably don’t get as much sleep as you need.

Enter the power nap. It’s just 10 minutes long and you sit slightly upright, so that you don’t wake up groggy from a deep sleep. This brief rest period can leave you feeling refreshed and alert.

Hopefully you work at an office with nap rooms — if not, you can always head to your car or a vacant conference room.

Businessinsider.com | October 21, 2015 | 

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

#Strategy : 12 Tiny Transformations That Will Improve your Life…The Biggest Reminder of All, Is that Live in a Society Driven by Notions of Scarcity Where we’re Taught that There is Never Enough of Anything: Money, #Jobs, Natural Resources, Time, or #Success.

/in /by

Have you also realized that we often spend all day thinking about what we’ll do when we get home and then when we get home we spend all evening thinking about the next day?  The scary thing is, if we spend our lives this way, we never truly live. If we keep projecting ourselves into future scenarios that will never transpire the way we envision, we lose out on the only real opportunity to get closer to the life we dream about: the right now.

I can’t say it happened overnight.  I’ve been on a journey to achieve greater mindfulness and calmness for some time now, especially because it’s not something most of us can switch on or off and suddenly stop being a part of the “next!” generation whose answer to most things is to just keep scrolling, clicking, and updating to discover what’s better (and driving ourselves insane in the process).

 

With this prevailing mentality rushing us onto the next thing, I found it was a huge challenge to suddenly start paying attention to a simple but daunting exercise: keeping my body and mind in the same place at the same time.

Have you also realized that we often spend all day thinking about what we’ll do when we get home and then when we get home we spend all evening thinking about the next day?

The scary thing is, if we spend our lives this way, we never truly live. If we keep projecting ourselves into future scenarios that will never transpire the way we envision, we lose out on the only real opportunity to get closer to the life we dream about: the right now.

Once we understand that in each moment we’re being given the opportunity to actively create the life we want, minute by minute, day by day, then and only then can we truly begin to live.

This is where I’m at — the beginning of this understanding — and these are the 12 simple and transformative practices that have made the greatest difference in achieving a new-found personal happiness and sense of peace. They’ve helped me turn down the noise, feel more centered, and reignite my capacity for kindness and empathy.

Flickr/momentcaptured1

Leaving early for things.

I really don’t like when other people are late, and I really don’t like myself when I run late. The easiest remedy for this is to take control of the single aspect of our ever-more-flaky society that I’m actually able to control: my own behavior.

Leaving with plenty of time to arrive at my destination puts me at ease, knowing I’m doing the right thing by not making someone else wait on me, and I also have time to enjoy the journey there.

I’ll walk a new route, stop in a shop, and resist the urge to run if I hear the subway coming. Life can move so much slower if you allow time for it to do so.

Like this Article ?…Share It !    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 300K+ Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network: (Over 8K+ Members & Growing !)   www.linkedin.com/in/frankfsc/en

  • Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

educate/collaborate/network….Look forward to your Participation !

continue of article:

Flickr/Marco Klapper

Non-resistance in crowds and traffic.

Just let the other guy go first. Instead of pushing your way onto the train first, step aside and let others disembark. Instead of trying to merge aggressively ahead of traffic, let a couple cars pass first.

Life is only a combat zone if you contribute to it, so reduce your stress, think of these as acts of kindness, and let the busy-bodies get out of your way.

Try it for a day and see if you feel a weight lifted off your shoulders when you stop putting up a fight in these relatively unimportant situations.

Flickr/John Ragai

Incorporating acts of kindness into your diet.

Along with taking deep breaths and letting the lady on your right merge during rush hour, make an overall effort to be more kind. Kindness to others contributes to a sense of accountability to one another, which in turn helps manifest and maintain calmness.

I started with smiling at the person next to me on the subway when I sat down or holding doors for others without expecting a thank you. Then I moved on from strangers to loved ones: picking up the dinner tab, surprising mom with a little something, you get the idea.

A lot of people emphasize doing random acts of kindness for strangers, but it’s equally as (or even more) important for the people you care about most.

Flickr/Magic Madzik

Eating at a table.

It may sound silly, but one of the best things I’ve started doing is being mindful when I eat my meals.

I don’t multi-task, I don’t use my cell phone, I don’t take calls, I don’t have lunch at my desk, I don’t do my make-up during breakfast, I just sit and eat — even if I’m alone.

I also try to schedule meals with other people as often as possible. In his How to Live to 100 speech, Dan Buettner shares the all-important principle that our health hinges on more than just what we eat, but how and with whom we eat.

By all means, eat organic, increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables, reduce sugar, meat, alcohol, and coffee, and eliminate processed foods, but also be conscious of food as a social and even meditative practice.

Matt/Flickr

Living well below my means and saving money.

Both of the greatest gurus of Western and Eastern civilization, Buddha and Aristotle, preached the principle of moderation as the key to happiness.

Andrew Carnegie, in “The Gospel of Wealth,” writes that the wealthy should view themselves as custodians of excess revenues and agents to act on behalf of their “poorer brethren.”

Ostentatious spending is wasteful, supports a contagious breed of consumerism, and offers no path to long-term happiness. A thoughtful savings regime promotes selective purchasing behavior that values money as a resource, not a quick-hit commodity.

Francisco Osorio/Flickr

Monitoring for self-defensive thoughts or actions.

Many people live life on the defense, which is a direct product of our ego, the part of the brain that houses the self-created concept of who we are and leads to feelings of scarcity and incompleteness.

It is always focused on the past or future and is perpetually seeking what it needs outside, creating a compelling future but not a compelling present.

It devotes its energy to proving who we (think we) are and defending ourselves against anyone who threatens that sense of self. It is based on separateness from everything else and everyone else. It creates “plans” for our happiness that come from money, fame, and success instead of what we already are.

We can be held hostage by our ego, driven often by fear, struggle, guilt, attachment, competition, and survival. Monitor for that kind of “ego thinking” and acknowledge and accept that areas of deep insecurity it usually reveals.

Flickr / Keirsten Marie

Eliminating TV watching and exposure to media advertisements.

Surveys show that heavy TV watchers are less happy on average than non-TV viewers and other studies have shown an inverse relationship between TV consumption and social trust, an important ingredient for a thriving society.

TV is addictive because, for the most part, it portrays a convincing mirage of reality where everyone is unrealistically better looking, funnier, more intelligent, and more successful. It’s harmful for our self-esteem and prevents us from engaging more deeply in our own imperfect, but present realities.

To the extent possible, I also try to limit my exposure to advertisements that promote purchasing things I don’t need or drawing false connections between material goods and values or outcomes.

Instead, I focus on my outlets for creation: writing, publishing, photography, and running a small business.

Flickr/Nicole April

Having an aggressive reading regimen.

Every day I read for a minimum of one hour before bed. When I’m traveling, this surges to 3 or 4 hours during the morning.

I stick to mostly non-fiction from reputable authors that educate me about something and prevent distraction by unimportant things: TV, social media (above maintaining my blog audience), fashion, many news headlines, and shopping.

A distracted society runs the risk of ignoring or underestimating the more powerful truths and challenges about our existence.

Flickr/Giuseppe Milo

Looking at problems differently.

The Buddha once said that everyone has 83 problems — and the 84th is our wish to have no problems.

Try this tactic the next time things don’t go your way, something one of my favorite authors, Nick Williams, advocates that instead of getting upset, ask yourself, “What am I being called to understand here? What would be the most loving and compassionate response in this situation?”

We can use challenges to either take us off track or to teach us love and forgiveness, so why not choose the latter?

Flickr/Minoru Nitta

Incorporating meditation into my daily life.

All the latest yoga and meditation rage is on to something: these practices work. I find meditation is kind of like going to the gym — you absolutely dread going at first, but you’re always glad you went and you even start craving it after awhile.

I read Thich Nhat Hanh’s book “The Miracle of Mindfulness,” which helped me get started, and now use the Headspace app to find a few minutes for quiet and observation every morning.

Flickr/ellyn.

Doing a daily gratitude exercise.

I’m not one of those people who keep a “gratitude diary” or anything quite so regimented, but taking a few moments to be thankful has gradually become an important part of my outlook and something I naturally remember to do when I’m feeling stressed, upset, or even when something wonderful is happening.

Thomson Reuters

Positively interpreting life’s gray areas.

This one’s my favorite, and we’re all guilty of failing here.

Think about the people laughing at the bar and vaguely looking in your direction — are they laughing at you? The guy you like who didn’t text all day — is he over you already? The lady who snapped at you for bumping into her on the train — what’s her problem?

All of these situations that offer no direct explanation are opportunities most people take to assume the worst, beat themselves up, and develop negative ideas about people around them.

Instead of being like most people, assume the best in people and interpret things positively: the bar-goers are just having a good time, your new crush is busy at work like everyone else, and the cranky lady might have a sick husband at home and deserves a dose of extra special kindness from you.

As Richard Bach says, teaching is simply reminding people of they already know.

And the biggest reminder of all, my friends, is that we live in a society driven by notions of scarcity where we’re taught that there is never enough of anything: money, jobs, natural resources, time, or success.

This is the opposite of what we need to do to be mindful, happy, and calm. Instead of looking around and seeing what’s lacking, we need to look at our lives and see the abundance of all that is already present. Once we do that, we can finally come alive.

Businessinsider.com | October 20, 2015 | Elaina Giolando, Life Before 30