Week four boardrooms, break-outs and Bon Jovis greatest hits

Week four boardrooms, break-outs and Bon Jovi’s greatest hits by Michael Cheary Week four: boardrooms, break-outs and Bon Jovi’s greatest hitsOur interns are now halfway through their eight week internship here at reed.co.uk. In their first month they’ve learned a lot about how the business operates. Unfortunately, they may not have learned anything about good music.Here’s how they  got on at the halfway point:AndrewWoaah, We’re Halfway There!If my aim was to use as many clichéd terms as possible within three to four hundred words, then yes, time has been flying by for us interns.  To think that we’ve been here for so long and have been able to accomplish so much this past month makes the 4 weeks we have left seem daunting, but also something to look forward to.While I was at university, I was always concerned that I would never be qualified enough to do any sort of professional internship it takes me ages to read a balance sheet, finance can be a foreign language, and ‘Business Analyst’ was a title that seemed much too esteemed for what I thought I was capable of.  Truth be told, however, the skills that we have ended up using the most as interns is more often than not just a natural curiosity and drive to get a project done.Come up with more ways reed.co.uk can create entry points for new candidates?  Well first we have to go discover what kind of demographics they already have and what they don’t have.  Map the touch points all of our customers’ experience using journey mapping?  Another process and technique we have to acquaint ourselves with and figure out.  Want to see how reed.co.uk should be marketing to the next group of adults entering the workforce?  Then we first have to read up on studies done about Generation Z before making a recommendation.Being a new starter in a company is scary you think of how it’s going to work out and whether or not you’re going to meet expectations.  However, it’s been reassuring to figure out that one doesn’t always need to have the best technical background to be the best intern â€" putting the hours in often pays the biggest dividends.Now excuse me, I need to go get some Bon Jovi out of my head.StephanieAgile. Scrum. CX. Sprints. Daily stand ups. Break-outs. Scrum Master. So many foreign words from the reed.co.uk dictionary are being introduced to me on this internship. I’ve gone from awkwardly nodding my head and smiling in meetings to actually understanding the office terminology. I must say, understanding the practical implementations of these words does make you feel like you’ve unlocked a secret safe of knowledge here at reed.co.uk.Understanding the language was stage one, and now I’ve reached the next level: applying these various terminologies to our projects. Shadowing Sprint meetings and analysing the effectiveness of customer experience has given me new insight on how so many projects are tackled at once!Who would’ve thought, everything from stand ups to project demos actually do increase effici ency and productivity within the company. Okay, I know I’m showing off with the use of all of this jargon but believe me, I have earned my badge to do so! Excuse me as I’m off to a Sprint meeting, and don’t want to keep the Scrum Master waiting.Until next week world.AllyIt was cold in the boardroom last Wednesday. Whether it was the nerves or the air conditioning I don’t know, but it was cold and my fellow interns and I were sweating, despite the chill. We were presenting to a select handful of our colleagues at reed.co.uk, and the subject was jobseekers. The content of our presentation could have revolutionised the company or fluttered away meaninglessly like playing cards in the wind. It was game on.Fortunately we did our research. We unveiled our findings, spoke of our insights, and had conversation for dessert. It was a good hour.The presentation is where all the hard work here at Reed Online pays off. Like a lot of upstanding citizens we, the interns, value positive fee dback as one of the main benchmarks of success. An engaged audience and a sincere expression of gratitude are all we need to gauge the merit of collective hours spent tapping at our netbooks. So either we’re doing well or the staff at Reed Online are inordinately polite.Next week Wednesday, same time, same place, the stakes get bigger and the audience larger: we’re presenting a heftier project that took us more time to stitch together. All we can hope on is the enduring deference of our audience.ConnorAfter last week’s escapades, as you can imagine, I have become a bit more frugal â€" which means lunches have now been limited to the Sainsbury’s salad bar.On the subject of my work here at reed.co.uk, considering last week’s blog failed to have any relevance to it, I believe I have some catching up to do. These past two weeks have undoubtedly picked up pace. I’m not quite sure if this is because I have developed a routine, or just an addiction to caffeine let’s go with r outine.It is unquestionable that I have developed my computer/technical skills during my work over the past couple of weeks.And I am happy to say that I actually look forward to completing the various daily tasks that have been moulded into my routine, mainly because there’s a real sense of purpose and relevance to my particular interests and skillset.Yes, some tasks are repetitive (transferring customer contacts between databases anyone?), but I find myself completing the repetitive tasks as fast as possible and following up with the perennial intern favourite: ‘is there anything else you want me to do?’. Hey, sometimes pro-activity counts…Until next week. YaseenTo My Beloved Audience,I must dismally report that this fourth week blog marks the halfway point of my internship and, more importantly, my world famous blog. I am sure you desk-dwellers will find new avenues and mediums of entertainment in my absence, but I take solace in the fact that you will never find a more en tertaining array of Intern emotions so freely displayed.   I am writing this blog fresh off of my office drug of choice, Board Room Presentation Adrenaline, or rather BPA. I’m not sure why the R is not included in this acronym, nonetheless; it does not affect the chest pounding effects and its ability to instil superiority complexes within its abusers.Highs aside, I am beginning to dread the day when I must say bye to this office, and its lovely inhabitants. In the hopes that you will keep an open mind and ignore my naïveté, I can no longer restrain my emotions and must yell through my keyboard that my intern life at reed.co.uk is in fact better than 95% of all other internships.  I had to leave five percent for the select few and undeniably superior position of interning at Victoria’s Secret…I cannot tell you the satisfaction that comes with giving board room presentations every week, or having a work environment where we are surrounded by the technological superfluous wh ich only the likes of Google so often brag about.  Excuse the Disney channel theme propagation, but, I must say it is so truly rewarding to know that our work in analyzing various facets of the company are actually being used to adjust company procedures/products.  Unless of course it has been somehow possible that the ENTIRE reed.co.uk team is in on some plot to make us feel important, in which case, I would still commend them for such a unified and unwavering effort.I promise to unearth the truth behind reed.co.uk and in true detective fashion I will insist on taking my coffees shaken, not stirred.  You can be rest assured, as always, that I will keep my lovely audience up to speed on the latest.The interns have finished week four. Stay tuned to see how they get on in the coming weeks.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and condi tions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Career Development Features

Life Experiences Seperate Successful Leaders From Followers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Life Experiences Seperate Successful Leaders From Followers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When I was growing up, I was always intrigued by how successful people got to where they were. I desperately asked some business colleagues, but did not receive the answers I requested. In this search, my thirst for knowledge was never quenched, until I stumbled upon a book called From the Sandbox to the Corner Office that relieved me. With insights and honesty from business legends, this book explores the experiences of those who learned by making mistakes and by grasping opportunities. About the Author Eve Tahmincioglu is the Your Career columnist for MSNBC.com, the author of the book Im holding in that picture, as well as a blogger. She understands the importance and demand for blogging as a supplement to traditional journalism and even offers a mailing list, so people can keep up with her hectic life. She’s a regular contributor to the New York Times and BusinessWeek’s SmallBiz magazine. Eve has also bought her domain name or shall I say personal brand website. With 20 years of experience writing about workplace issues and hosting daily newspapers from New York to Florida, Eve has seen it all and shares her experience daily. You Think You Know Them But You Have No Idea! In the book, 50 executives are profiled, but Im going to stick with the biggest and most reputable personal brands for this review. Richard Parsons, CEO of Time Warner: His dream job is to be a piano bar player. Pernille Spiers-Lopez, President of IKEA North America: Her first job as an adult was a tour guide. Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way: He is afraid of failure more than anything else. Ralph de la Vega, COO of Cingular Wireless: The person he respects more than anyone is Martin Luther King Jr. Christie Hefner, CEO of Playboy Enterprises: Her bad habit is rushing and her good one is trying to always be kind. Now for lessons learned Parsons: A great leader doesnt need people revering him or her. A leader needs to develop a trust with subordinates so they can readily disclose bad news. Pernille: You have to accept that working your way up the ladder is American way of doing business. Its not always about connections. Brian: Focus on the job at hand, not advancement, if you truly want to be successful. Ralph: If you dont take a chance and leave your comfort zone you will not be able to advance in your career and your life. Christie: Keep your smart, on-the-ball rivals close so you can have the best team around you and learn from their expertise. There is way more where that came from, but I dont want to ruin the book for you. If you have an appetite for success, you must read this book.

Israel for the Solo Woman Traveler - Things to Know

Israel for the Solo Woman Traveler - Things to Know If you want the short answer â€" solo female Israel travel is completely safe. Israel is a cosmopolitan and liberal country, but (and there is a but) in some areas you need to behave with caution because of the political situation and presence of ultra-religious Jews and Muslims. You will be able to move around freely and safely in almost all parts of the country. Israel is the most Westernized and only democratic country in the Middle East. If you’re planning to travel further in the Middle East then Israel is a great introduction to the region’s ethnic peculiarities. Most likely your trip to Israel will be fun, sun and amazing experiences in exotic and ancient cities. But just to be on the safe side it is important to look at the potential dangers and be aware of how to avoid getting into trouble. Life in Israel is probably a lot safer than in Europe or America simply because there is such a lot of security in Israel. There are security checks at supermarkets, malls, schools, museums etc. The general risk of danger from typical crimes is low in Israel. The country is relatively safe in terms of muggings, drunken violence etc. You just need to use the same common sense as you would when traveling to any western country. Don’t totally trust strangers, don’t drink too much, behave respectfully and don’t go down any dark alleys by yourself in the middle of the night! The Israeli Personality 101 You can forget about the image of the submissive, male-controlled women of the Middle East. In Israel the women are on a par with men, they are proud, educated, strong, vocal and independent. Israelis tend to be more outgoing, louder and forthcoming than travelers from the west are used to. Israelis have no problem staring at you and striking up a conversation; it is a matter of different social norms. It is also a great opportunity to get to know the locals. If you are not interested in getting the unwanted attention then ignore any over-friendly approaches, don’t make eye contact and keep walking. If you want to avoid unsolicited attention on the beach then stick to the more popular beaches and don’t go wandering along non-central empty beaches where you could be isolated alone with an unwanted stranger making romantic overtures. Israeli men are notorious flirts; if you’re not interested let them know up front. Israeli men may seem overbearing and project a macho image. The language barrier can make their flirting seem blunt and even rude but for the most part the soft heart of the Israeli may be just lost in the translation. In fact their direct approach to asking girls out and telling them what they think can be quiet refreshing.  Knowing Where You’ll Be Safe It is wise to check out your country’s government website for foreign travel advice about safety in Israel before you leave home. The advice is usually very general like “keep vigilant and follow advice of the security forces.” Israel is a country with a unique political and geographical situation where danger tends to be in specific areas of the country. Don’t let this put you off as it does tend to sound like all doom and gloom which it really isn’t. Most government websites recommend not traveling to Gaza; within 500 meters of the Lebanese border (the Blue Line) and east of route 98 along the Syrian border. The US government strongly warns against travel to the Gaza Strip. If traveling to the West Bank you need to take special precautions. There have been attacks on vehicles traveling along route 60 which connects Jerusalem to Hebron and Nablus within the West Bank. The Qlaandiya checkpoint between East Jerusalem and Ramallah, Jenin and areas close to refugee camps should be avoided. Other areas to think twice about visiting are Ramallah, Jericho (unless with a guided tour) and areas close to the Gaza strip. Avoid the Old City of Jerusalem at night if you are alone. During the day you should be able to travel in the Old City on your own without any problem. Friday afternoons in the West Bank, Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem and Muslim religious sites are particularly sensitive times when unrest could occur at short not ice. If you want to go to an area where you are nervous to go alone then use one of the Israeli tourism services like Bein Harim Tours which take tours to many destinations across the country including the West Bank, Bethlehem, Nazareth and across the border to Petra in Jordan. If your travel in Israel is limited to the tourist destinations â€" Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Acre, Nazareth, Bethlehem or Eilat you need only concern yourself with common sense safety precautions for a solo female traveler. However if you plan on venturing into the occupied territories, West Bank or the areas mentioned above then you need to take further precautions because of the unique character of the Middle East. A Few More Tips for Solo Israel Travel Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance and always make sure that someone knows where you are at all times especially if you are making a trip into the West Bank. When visiting religious sites (whether they are Jewish or Muslim) like Mea Shearim, Temple Mount, Western Wall etc dress modestly. This means your shoulders should be covered and pants or skirts below the knee. For some sites you may need a head covering. If you are not going to any religious areas then you can wear whatever you want â€" tank tops, shorts etc. and no one will look twice. People do hitchhike in Israel but it is not recommended for solo female travelers.  Respect local customs â€" stay in the women’s section of the prayer area by the Western Wall; dress appropriately; don’t take photos at Jewish religious sites on Shabbat or religious holidays; don’t blatantly eat non-kosher food in front of religious Jews and ask before you take someone’s photo.

How to Write a Two Weeks Notice Letter (with Example)

How to Write a Two Weeks Notice Letter (with Example) How to Write a Two Weeks Notice Letter (with Example) When you get a new job offer it can be one of the most exciting feelings in the world! However, once you have come back down to earth, you soon realize the reality of the situation and what you need to do next â€" write your resignation letter!Although you may be itching to start your new job and leave your old employer behind, it will pay you to show your appreciation for the opportunity they gave you by writing them a considerate two weeks notice letter. What are Two Weeks Notice Letters for?When you plan to leave most jobs of your own accord, you will need to give some sort of notice to your employer. The actual length of notice you need to give may vary from company to company, but the most common notice period is usually two weeks.Your two weeks notice letter is a formal announcement to your current employer of your plans to leave their employment. Two weeks is usually a long enough period to allow them to make the proper arrangements for your leaving.Your current employer ma y use this notice time to advertise your position and interview your replacement. You may be asked to introduce your replacement to the role to show them the ropes and answer any questions they may have about the tasks and day to day duties they need to perform.This two-week period will allow your employer to fill the gap created by your leaving and will prevent them from struggling to complete your tasks after you leave.When should I hand in my two-week notice letter?As the name suggests, your two-week notice letter should be handed into your employer a full two weeks before you plan to leave your job.Handing in your letter is your confirmation to your current employer that you intend to continue to work for them for the next two weeks from the date you hand in your letter.Although you could request to leave earlier should you need some time to prepare yourself for your new job, in most cases, you will be expected to remain in your current position for the whole two-week notice per iod.Being loyal to your word and committing yourself to honor your two-week notice period will show your new employer that you are treating your current employer with great respect. It will also help your case should you need to draw a positive reference from him/her in future should you decide to change jobs again.So, how do you write a good one?Writing your resignation letter needs just as much careful consideration as you applied to create your cover letter that went with your resume when you applied for your new job.Here are our top tips for crafting the perfect two-week notice letter:Make sure your letter is kind, informative and polite (see example letter below)Address your letter to your direct line manager or your immediate bossInclude the date that will be your last day of employment with the companyLeave space for your signature and type your name underneath the spacePrint out and sign your letterFold your letter business style â€" with two folds dividing the letter into t hree equal partsPlace your letter into an envelope and seal itAddress the envelope to your immediate supervisorHanding in your two-week notice letterTake your sealed resignation letter in person to hand into your direct supervisor. You should verbally tell them that you wish to leave and are handing in your notice. Hand over your letter and thank your boss for their considerate supervision during your time with the company.Your boss may be quite taken aback by your news, so he/she may want to discuss your reasons for wanting to leave. Be prepared for this by rehearsing what you wish to say, but make sure that your discussion with your boss is calm and reasonable.Discussing your reasons for leavingAlthough you may have been seeing the signs that you need to change your job, dont make any negative digs about the company or make any personal remarks about a co-worker or manager that you dont particularly like or get along with.This is a time to make a clean break with the company and l eave on a positive note that could help you further in the future. You dont want to let any bitter feelings you have to influence the final impression you leave behind you.The same day as you hand in your resignation, confirm your letter with an email to your supervisor reiterating your intention to leave and attach a copy of the letter to your email.Dont forget to sign off the confirmation email with a positive note thanking them for their guidance and support during your time working with them.The dos and dont of writing a two weeks notice letterNow we come to the part where you write out your letter. There are three big mistakes to avoid when writing and delivering your letter:1: Dont hand in your letter and run. We all know that leaving a job can feel a bit awkward. You may be tempted to leave your letter on your bosss desk or leave it with their assistant to hand over.This can give off the wrong impression and leave your boss wondering if they have done anything to make you wan t to leave.2: Do put your letter in writing. Although sending an email is an appropriate form of notification, it will come across as much more professional and thoughtful in writing.You can follow up your printed letter with a confirmation email and attach the letter with your message. This will help your paper trail should you need to chase up the details of your resignation.You can tell your direct supervision verbally about your intention to leave, but you will need to submit an official written notice letter to confirm your plans. This can help to clarify the exact date of your leaving should your supervisor forget the finer details of your conversation.3: Dont be nasty or bitter. It may be difficult to reign in your frustrations if your employment hasnt been the most enjoyable of experiences. However, there is nothing to be gained by leaving under a storm cloud.Think of your future. You will want to be able to list some positive work history references on your resume, so leavi ng in such a negative way can harm your chances of landing your perfect job in the future.Look at this time as just another chapter in your life. By leaving with grace and positivity you will only help to enhance your working reputation.Two weeks notice letter exampleHere is an example of a short and sweet two weeks notice letter that will give you an idea of the tone you should set for your resignation letter: [Insert the current date]Dear Mrs Jones,I would like to thank you for the opportunity of working as part of your team. The last three years with Smith Co. have been very rewarding and I have gained a lot of valuable knowledge and experience under your guidance.This is my official notification that I will be leaving the company and thus confirming my two weeks notice. My final day will be [insert the date of your last day].Sincerely,William PorterOne final noteOnce you have left your current employer for your new job, dont forget to update your resume with your details while they are still fresh in your mind.Include your leaving date and details of your job description that you can draw on in the future should you decide to change jobs again further down the line.Keeping a professional resume template on file is a handy thing to do. This will allow you to keep an updated record of your employment plus important dates and contacts for job references.Good luck in your new position â€" we hope you enjoy your new role! previous article The Classic Pro A Professional Resume Template next article The Freelancers Resume Creative Resume Template for Independent Workers you might also like6 Online Gigs You Can Do During Coronavirus Outbreak (To Offset Your Lost Income)

Use These 7 Tips to Improve Your Team Productivity Today - CareerMetis.com

Use These 7 Tips to Improve Your Team Productivity Today Even though the ultimate goal of each business is to increase sales and make more money, I think we all agree that our most valuable resource is not money but time.Productivity is precisely where money and time meet ? to achieve more and be more productive; you shouldn’t work harder. Instead, you should work smarter. The whole point is to use your time better and increase your efficiency and effectiveness.evalSome managers struggle when it comes to making their teams more productive. Low morale, sloppy and unorganized processes, confused and unmotivated workers â€" all these are sure signs that your team is not productive enough. Even if your team is admirably productive, you can always motivate them to get better.But this is not an easy thing to do. For this to happen, you need to take some obvious steps, but also do things that you would never think could lead to better productivity. A happy team is a productive team, so apart from having a clear agenda, you should also strive to treat your team amicably.In this article, we will list the best ways to make your employees more productive. But before that, let us take a look at the most common productivity killers in modern offices.What Are the Major Productivity Killers?Source: pixabay.comWe all know that creating a positive office environment is the key to enjoying the time you spend at your workplace.But do we know what hinders productivity in offices around the world? Lets’ find out.1) Open Office Floor PlansevalThe main idea behind open floor plans is increasing transparency and egalitarianism in the workplace. And to a certain degree, this is effective.But on the other hand, open floor plans are among the biggest productivity killers. They provide some distractions, so workers are unable to focus correctly.evalAlso, there is no privacy in such offices, which makes everybody feel like being under constant surveillance.There are a couple of solutions, however. One of them is to install cubicles.However, even though cubicles do reduce distractions, they make employees unhappy.Another solution is to have a smaller office for each of your teams, allowing them to get to know each other better and eventually improve their productivity.2) Too Many RulesevalIf you have imposed a long list of regulations and guidelines, you can expect your staff to get easily confused. Instead of increasing productivity, the overuse of rules leads to your employees getting lost in navigating complex processes and protocols.Now you will say that some rules are necessary, such as those about safety in the workplace. And indeed, they are. So, instead of ditching your rules altogether, determine which ones are essential for the workplace and which ones border on micromanagement.Don’t underestimate your workers. They don’t need rules to behave. The more rules you have, the more you make them feel like five-year-olds. When you abandon stringent regulations and focus on employee wellness instead, you will see the productivity increase automatically.3) SmartphonesPersonal technology has enabled us to do things that we would never be able to do without them. In the office, this means that workers can embrace more mobility and flexibility.Still, if managed improperly, tech offerings can eat away employee morale, security and, of course, productivity. When your employee starts using their phone for business purposes, they will probably get distracted by calls, messages, alerts, and emails before too long.You could solve this by examining your current protocols for personal technology in the office and then see if you have the financial means to get a work-only device for each of your workers. This will remove distractions and significantly improve their focus.4) Messaging AppsTools like Slack or Trello are fantastic for improving team productivity and managing projects. With them, you can source quick answers and participate in different forms of rapid communication.However, there is a thin line between the cases when such apps help and when they merely inhibit productivity.Take HipChat and Google Chat, for example. They can be great distractors, and they can lead to employee anxiety very quickly. When using these apps, you always have to monitor them, which shifts your focus from the task at hand. This leads to more errors, increased anxiety and much more time spent completing the tasks.evalInstead of having the messenger apps open all the time, your team could use them only for real-time and deadline-focused projects that need an immediate response. For other forms of communication, they can always use email.eval5) MeetingsElon Musk walks out of all large meetings if he thinks they are not providing value to everyone present. And even if they do, he keeps them short.There is something valuable to be learned from this man. After all, he is probably the greatest entrepreneur on the planet at this moment.Although meetings can be useful for sharing work goals, creating plans and analyzing results, they often turn into time-sucking monsters that devour everyone’s life energy.To prevent this, try standing in the meetings and keeping them short. Also, make sure that everybody comes to the meeting prepared and that you establish a clear action plan before closing the meeting.evalHow to Improve Employee ProductivityNow that you know what the biggest productivity killers are, and how you can get around them, it is time to take your team’s productivity to the next level.We are going to list the best seven ways to make your team as productive as possible.1) First, Set Your GoalsSource: Pexels.comSetting clear goals is the initial step in your journey toward maximizing workplace productivity. Define critical goals and think about whether your team can execute them effectively.You, as a team leader, need to come up with clear and concise goals as early as possible. This will help each of your team members better understand their role in achieving the co mmon goal.But you should also let your entire team participate in the goal-setting process. When your team has a frequent target and identifies with the goal early on, they will see it as much more critical, and they will be motivated.If there is a large project waiting for your team, it can be intimidating to start it even if it has a reasonable deadline. When you have a gigantic project, try breaking it down into smaller goals. This will help you keep track of progress and support your team to stay motivated throughout the entire project.Also, it is crucial that you provide clear instructions and objectives before starting a project and throughout its entire duration. When you are proactive, your team will follow. Discuss the common goal as well as individual objectives and responsibilities â€" What do you want your team members to do? How? When?When you and your team have the answers to all these questions, it will be much easier to stay on track even when things are not working out as planned.Make sure you focus on the goals which are vital to your business and acknowledge your team’s achievements when they reach a goal. Praising and rewarding is always an excellent way to keep people motivated.2) Prioritize Your Goals and ActivitiesTo prioritize means to make choices that are sometimes tricky. With so many different ideas, goals and resources, we can quickly get side-tracked. That is why prioritization is one of the key elements of every productive team.Once you have set a clear goal, it is much easier to prioritize and organize your activities in a way that allows you to perform effectively. It is all about choosing what to focus on at the given moment.Also, when you prioritize, you connect your daily actions to your goals. Start each day with a clear set of high-priority activities and take small steps toward your goals. It is not about how many things you have done but about doing them right.To become a master of prioritization, try taking the follow ing steps:Plan each day.Set intentions and proactively visualize all daily activities.Choose a couple of smaller and a couple of bigger goals to achieve each day.Start your day with one smaller goal as this will motivate you for the rest of your day.3) Build TrustSource: Pexels.comNow that you are clear about your goals and the steps necessary to achieve them, you should think about your relationships with your team members.As a manager of a small business or a smaller team within a large organization, you need to build trust in your immediate working surroundings. If you encourage confidence right from the start, not only will your team be more productive but you will extend trust to the entire organization.These are some of the best ways to build trust in your team:Communicate with your team members as much as possible. Listen with respect and full attention.Hire and promote the people who are capable of forming positive and trusting relationships with their coworkers.Work on deve loping your team members’ skills â€" both professional and personal.Make sure your staff members have all the information they need to excel in their roles.Protect the interests of all employees in the team.Confront hard issues on time and effectively.4) Allow Flexible Work HoursWhen you build enough trust in your team, you know that they will deliver the results that you need. However, to consistently achieve great results, they sometimes need to work flexible hours.The popularity of flexible working hours has been on the increase for some time. If you notice that your employees feel better and deliver better results when they are not expected to come to the office at 9 o’clock sharp, you should encourage flexible working hours whenever you can.Some of the benefits of flexible working hours include:Higher quality of products and servicesStaff satisfactionMore choice when it comes to hiringIncreased productivity5) Allow Remote WorkingSource: Pexels.comThis is an even more radica l approach than allowing only flexible working hours. When you allow your workers to telecommute, you trust them enough (remember trust?) to let them work away from the office.Even though some people advocate against remote working, it all boils down to this: If you have hired the right people and built trust with them, they will work as efficiently from home as they would in the office. They will probably be even more productive.And don’t worry about being unable to communicate with your remote team members. With project management tools like Trello and Slack, or even if you use CollabPress with WordPress, you will be able to communicate with them as if they were sitting right next to you in the office.Remote working is beneficial both for your business and your employees.This is how your team members will benefit:First, they will be able to set their schedules (if you allow them to do so).There is no need for them to dress up.They can work and travel at the same time.Your employ ees will have more time to spend with their family and friends.Also, they will not have to waste time commuting.Lastly, they will be far less stressed.When it comes to the benefits for your business, we will list only the two most important ones:Remote workers are engaged and productive.Remote working reduces office expenses.As you can see, when you encourage remote working, not only will you spend less money but you will also get better performance from your workers.6) Consider Reducing Work HoursYou probably see this tip like a stab in the heart. But wait for a second to hear why shorter working hours can be great for your team.Although you think that working more hours leads to better productivity, think again.What would motivate you to put in all your energy and focus on your tasks entirely?An eight-hour workdayA six-hour workdayIt is a fact that extended working hours lead to being less productive. Over the years, businesses have come to the following conclusions:Working too mu ch leads to health issues.Long working hours do not result in increased efficiency.Working more extended hours leads to errors.You don’t need to reduce your team’s working hours right away. Instead, measure employee output and see if your workers are indeed more efficient when they work fewer hours.Also, you can reward the behavior you would like to encourage.For example, if someone has finished all tasks today and they are not due until next Friday, let them leave the office and not show up until the next review meeting.Not only will this motivate that person but other employees as well. Then, you will get what you wanted in the first place â€" better productivity.By the way, when you reduce working hours, your employees won’t mind working overtime when that is necessary.7) Always Ask for FeedbackThe last tip for improving the productivity of your team is asking your employees for feedback. It is essential that you know how they feel about the working atmosphere, their role a nd the goals they need to achieve.You can ask for feedback in two ways: talk to employees or ask them to fill out a survey.Both methods have their benefits and drawbacks. It is more personal to ask your team members to tell you how they feel about everything. But the thing is that they will never tell you everything. Instead, they will probably hide the key factors that could help you solve some of the challenges in the workplace.On the other hand, if you opt for a survey, you will find that the answers are less personal. However, a good employee satisfaction survey can give you some crucial insights, especially if it is anonymous.Both methods are useful, but if you genuinely want to find out where your employees’ morale stands at, we recommend that you do a survey.ConclusionWho would say that some of the steps to improving employee productivity are so counterintuitive?Once you are done setting clear goals and prioritizing them, the best thing you can do is to take care of your te am members. This includes building trust with them, allowing flexible working hours and even remote working if there is a need for it. If you can, consider reducing the working hours as well.Also, make sure you always regularly communicate with your workers and ask for feedback. When you follow all these steps, you will motivate them to perform better and be more productive.After all, time is money. When you maximize your team’s productivity, you will need less time to achieve better results and eventually increase your company’s revenue.

Struggling with Your Value Proposition

Struggling with Your Value Proposition Your value proposition (aka elevator pitch) is one of the most important tools in your job search toolbox. But you want to see examples, right? Here you go! I keep reading articles and posts on value propositions and how critical they are in delivering a product or service to market.   True, but, please, can someone provide good examples! What Ive done in this post is provide more information on how to create one and at the end, I am going to show examples, promise! The value proposition was developed for businesses and has been morphed over into the job seeker world.   All of these questions still apply to a job seeker and should be answered. In an earlier post, I cited that your value proposition needs to answer these questions: 1) Exactly how will your employer benefit financially from hiring you? This means what problems have you solved, what success have you had, what processes or procedures have you developed or streamlined? Go back an look through the STAR stories you developed and look for re-occurring patterns. 2)   What special experience or credentials do you bring to the table? Are you a Six Sigma Black Belt? Have you mastered some cutting edge technology? Think about the experiences that are unique to you that a future employer would be impressed by. 3)   What additional talents and expertise do you have? Are you a subject matter expert in something? Have you held a role in a professional organization?   Do you have a related side interest you practice? If you were to put these 3 answers together, it may sound like: I have a passion for  developing new and improved products which have added millions of dollars to the profits of manufacturing companies. I have over 10 years of experience in operations and management. Im recognized for building teams that exceed expectations.   I bring experience implementing innovative new best practices within manufacturing environments to continuously improve the quality and breadth of products.   I am known as a Lean manufacturing go to person and advise others in creative solutions. Quantify Whenever Possible Your value proposition should also be able  to quantify one of these: Jill Konrath wrote an article about  strong value proposition for a business In it, she points out that strong value propositions deliver tangible results like: Increased revenues Faster time to market Decreased costs Improved operational efficiency Increased market share Decreased employee turnover Improved customer retention levels Examples of Weak Value Proposition Statements We have the best technology in the industry Use our service and you will save more money We provide the highest quality product available People have repeatedly heard or read these types of generic marketing claims that dont speak to their real needs. When potential customers arrive on your business website, you only have a brief amount of time to get their attention and make a good first impression. Examples of Better Value Proposition Statements: Our technology increases your output by 15% more than the leading brand Save $28 dollars on every service purchased as a premium member The quality of xyz product is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee As promised, here are some examples: “Territory Sales Manager with consistent success increasing new sales by systematically identifying and targeting the right potential clients.” Susan Guarneri is a career coach and she wrote about using her personal brand to develop this pitch: “Through my passion for career assessments and dig-deep questions, as well as my natural enthusiasm, intelligence, strategic insights, genuine empathy, and creativity, I challenge, inspire, and support stressed-out and struggling professionals and executives to reach higher than they ever dared in their careers â€" and to land their Dream Jobs!”

Maukri Resume Writing Sample

Maukri Resume Writing SampleMaukri Resume Writing Sample is a great resource for people looking to write a resume or an eBook. This is also a perfect place to get information about doing the same yourself. You can also get free advice as well as connect with others with whom you may be able to exchange ideas and concepts.If you are interested in using the Maukri resume writing samples then there are some steps that you will need to take in order to do so. Here is some information about the sample and how it works to help you when you are trying to write your own resume.First of all, the first step is to select the Maukri resume writing samples that you are interested in using. There are two basic types of pages that you can use to write your resume. You can choose the standard page, which is filled with standard resume information and other places to fill in your personal information, such as education, volunteer work, etc. Or you can choose the Advanced page, which is filled with ad ditional sections.The first section on the Advanced page is called a transition. This is where you would place information that would be important to you for your future career. This could be information about what you studied in school or about a volunteer project that you did. Another place to put this information is a part of your professional history.The second section is called a capsule and this is a certain place to add up all of your accomplishments as well as educational information. With this information you will want to list any specific technical skills you have, as well as other skills such as leadership abilities. These are all things that are considered relevant to the position you are applying for.One thing that you should definitely look for when using the Maukri resume writing samples is a series of exercises that you can use to learn how to properly use the material. Using the exercises will help you understand the formatting as well as the information that you ar e going to put on your resume. You will also learn how to properly format each section of your resume. Remember that the information you are putting on your resume should be as clear and professional looking as possible.The third section of the Maukri resume writing samples is where you will get advice on how to go about writing your own resume. This can include several different topics, but many of them revolve around how to make your resume flow correctly and to have a professional presentation. This is a very important aspect of having a professional resume.Maukri is an excellent resource for people looking to learn how to write a resume. This site is filled with free lessons and tips as well as the resumes that you can use to create a professional looking one.