Is Your Boss a Great Leader?

Difficult to earn and easily lost, trust and respect are two of the most important characteristics of great leadership. Workers look to their leaders for guidance and behavioral cues that influence the way they react to a given situation. So, the trust a workforce has for the people in charge greatly impacts productivity.

In fact, according to the 2017 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement Report, 61% of employees said trust in senior management is very important to their job satisfaction. Even more striking, only 33% said they were “very satisfied” with the level of trust in their organization overall.

So, what does it take to earn trust and respect from employees? Check out these five important qualities, and let us know if your boss (or past boss) has what it takes.

They leave the door open
Free and open communication is essential for building trust and respect. Open door policies take many shapes, but fostering an environment where employees feel safe coming to the boss with workplace concerns, new ideas, or even constructive criticism, show that a leader is receptive to and genuinely interested in understanding the situation on the frontlines of the business.

They believe consistency is key
From how a leader reacts to project challenges to how he or she reprimands individual employees, consistency in words and actions is a major part of building trust. Inconsistent messages and unpredictable behavior will cause employees to feel that they can’t depend on a leader to make fair and honest choices of action in difficult situations.

They get their hands dirty
There are few better ways for a leader to build trust and respect than rolling up their sleeves and jumping down into the trenches with the employees. Showing that they aren’t afraid to step out on the front line and get their hands dirty creates a bond through shared experience and reminds workers that they’ve been there and have personally walked a few miles in their shoes.

Confidence in their decisions
Mental fortitude and resoluteness create confidence among employees. Wishy-washy decision making and uncertainty when the going gets tough causes doubt, and when the team isn’t fully behind their leader, a breakdown in communication and productivity is sure to follow.

They share their wisdom
As iron sharpens iron, one person sharpens another—leaders who give willingly of their time and expertise to build up the next generation earn trust and respect from the people they lead. Not only do they set the standard for future leadership, they also leave behind a legacy worth celebrating.

Workforce productivity and success hinges largely on examples set by the people at the top. Building trust doesn’t happen overnight, but the leaders who invest the time to foster a positive working environment based on mutual respect will be rewarded with employees who are more engaged and loyal to their company.

Does your  boss (or past boss) have any of these qualities? If not, how does that affect your productivity ? Let us know in the comments below!

How to Survive Your First Day on the Job

Your first day at a new job can be one of the most stressful. Sure, a new job is exciting, but it can also be incredibly nerve-wracking when you don’t know anyone and aren’t sure what the office culture is like, or what your job will entail. All of that combined with a shiny new workload.

So what can you do?

Ask Questions

Most problems that pop up early in a job are due to lack of communication. Maybe you assumed something worked the way it did at your last job, or your boss forgot to add you to an email list and you missed an important deadline.

Avoid these problems by asking questions. Don’t pester your co-workers needlessly, but do politely ask for help when needed. If they seem busy, send them an email asking if you can schedule a time to ask questions. The company is new to you—nobody expects you to know where everything is and how the company systems work on day one.

Prepare

It’s much easier to handle the stress of a new job when you’re ready for it. So start preparing the night before. Pack a lunch and pick out an outfit (make sure you know the dress code) before you hit the hay. If your job requires equipment or safety gear, prepare that ahead of time as well. That way you won’t be in a rush looking for a favorite pair of socks minutes before the workday begins. Think about packing a healthy snack too—you don’t want a growling stomach to annoy your coworkers.

Go to bed early. A healthy eight hours of sleep ensures that you’ll be bright and eager to work on day one. A good night’s sleep also makes it easier to get to work a few minutes before you’re scheduled to arrive. That can give you a bit of time to mentally prepare for the coming day.

Plan

You should already have a good idea of what the company is like after your initial research and interviews, but take a few hours before that first day to research even further. Make sure to at least know the basics of the products or services the company is selling. Bonus points if you can obtain an organizational chart for the department so that you know who the players are. If the chart has pictures, get started on memorizing those faces.

Make Friends

Imagine you’re back in first grade. What did Mom say when she handed you your lunchbox outside the classroom? “Make friends!” Or maybe “play nice!” That advice applies to your working life too.

After you’ve been given the tour and filled out any needed forms, seek out your coworkers. Introduce yourself, and get to know them. A new job can be much more manageable when there are work friends to support you when the workload gets tough.

Feeling proactive? You can also try to coordinate a pre-first day lunch or coffee meeting with the boss and the team. That can make breaking the ice on your first day much easier.

Ever had an anxious first day? How did you overcome your jitters? Let us know in the comments below!

 

Why Do People Give Up Looking for a Job?

Looking for a job isn’t easy—especially when you’ve been laid off from a recent position, or haven’t been in the workforce for a while (because of injury, children, etc).

Some folks can go weeks or even months searching for work to no avail. Others aren’t even able to get an interview. It’s understandable that those fed up with the struggle might be tempted to give up.

Survey of the Unemployed

In a Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals, we found Illinois has the highest percentage of respondents who have “completely given up,” at 44%, while 33% of total respondents have given up nationally. Ohio, on the other hand, has the lowest percentage at 25%.

However, these same respondents were still hopeful. When asked if they agree with the statement, “I’m hopeful that I will find a job I really want in the next six months,” Oklahoma respondents were the most hopeful, with 95% agreeing with the statement to some degree. Florida ranked last with 74% expressing hopefulness.

Unemployment is still a huge problem, even though the national average is relatively low. The average duration of unemployment varies from state to state. The unemployed in Oklahoma report being out of work for an average of 19.8 months, while the unemployed in Florida report 33.1 months. The national average is 23.5 months.

Why?

People give up looking for work for a variety of reasons. In the Harris Poll, we asked “Why have you given up looking for a job?”

We received many responses to this question, including:

  • I decided to stay home and take care of the kids.
  • Ageism in the application process prevents me from getting a job even when I do get an interview.
  • Employers want experienced candidates, but I can’t get experience without a job.
  • I’m unable to perform heavy labor, and that’s all that’s available in my area.
  • I’ve been out of the workforce for too long and nobody wants to employ me.
  • I don’t have the education level required by employers.
  • I’m tired of getting rejected over and over again.
  • Because there aren’t any jobs available in my area.
  • I have a disability or injury that doesn’t allow me to perform most jobs.
  • I have a criminal record.
  • I’m taking care of a sick relative.

How to Stick With It

How can you keep looking for a job, even in the face of such adversity?

If you can, try to form a support group. Find friends or relatives who are going through similar job search issues as you, and vent. Knowing you’re not alone can make the job search much easier.

If that doesn’t work? Consider a recruiting service. Even if you can’t find anything out there for your specific situation (whether it’s your age, experience, or a disability), recruiting services can. Because of their connections to local businesses, recruiters know about jobs you might never hear about or jobs that were never publicly posted.

Express Employment Professionals is a leading staffing provider in the U.S. and Canada and can help out with these kinds of problems. After all, we employed a record 510,000 people in 2016!

If you have any questions about your job search, contact your local Express office or fill out our online contact form.

Have you ever quit the job search? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below!

Poll: What’s the Worst Food Your Co-Workers Bring for Lunch?

From fish and old takeout to stinky lasagna and more.

Burnt popcorn. Ancient tuna. Some strange-smelling dish you can’t even guess the name of. We’ve all been there. Sometimes co-workers bring powerful smelling foods that assault the senses and make it hard to concentrate.

Is it us? Are we too sensitive to smells? Or should co-workers leave some dishes at home?

What food have your co-workers brought in to work that made you feel sick? Let us know by taking part in our poll!

Pros and Cons of Technology’s Impact on Work-life Balance

There are very few parts of life that remain untouched by technology in one way or another. From medicine to autonomous cars, we’re advancing at breakneck speed, and in many ways, our lives are greatly improved because of it.

In the workplace, advances in technology allow us to work in new ways that weren’t possible in the past. Constraints, like location, have become more of a non-issue, and we are more connected to the office than ever before. However, when it comes to balancing those capabilities with our personal lives, it presents several pros and cons for work-life balance.

We’re always accessible
With an entire suite of communication tools found on a single, pocket-sized device, it’s easier than ever to get in touch with just about anyone these days, no matter where in the world they may be. And that includes your boss or employees. According to a Workplace Trends study, “65% of employees say that their managers expect them to be reachable outside of the office.” However, such easy accessibility, when taken advantage of, often comes at the expense of work-life balance.

The key is to set boundaries and expectations to find a happy medium. Easier accessibility isn’t always a bad thing. Smartphones have become a communications hub, and research from Accenture found that 77% of professionals believe such technology enables them to have more flexibility in their schedules.

It’s easier to work remotely
Technology that helps make us more accessible has also made it easier for many employees to work remotely—an organizational structure that has only increased in popularity in recent years. Working from home, a coffee shop, or on the road is commonplace for many companies, and according to the Workplace Trends study, such arrangements are being more openly embraced by employers because of benefits including improved employee satisfaction, greater productivity, and increased retention.

Of course, the ability to do many jobs from anywhere there’s an internet connection or phone signal also makes it easier for work to intrude upon personal lives. Research from Accenture found that 75% of professionals report they work “frequently” or “occasionally” during paid time off, which can significantly affect work-life balance.

So, despite mounting deadlines and work commitments that show little mercy, it’s important to learn how to draw a line between where the office ends and personal life begins.

We’re becoming more efficient
Advances in technology are also making the workplace more efficient. From time-saving apps to digital storage options that help reduce clutter, workplaces are adapting in ways that let employees make better use of their time. Many everyday tasks are being automated, leading to increased efficiency that allows us to work smarter and focus attention on the most important aspects of work while getting rid of redundancies and wasted effort. And with better efficiency comes more time to devote to passion projects, take a vacation, or spend time with friends and family.

We’re getting more done than ever before, but it’s getting done in a way that also helps enhance work-life balance.

But, only time will tell what the workplace of the future will look like as technology continues to advance and our work and personal lives become even more entwined. Regardless, it’s a pretty safe bet the ongoing struggle of finding work-life balance will always be a priority.

 

Do Millennials Spend Too Much Time on Screens?

Being a Team PlayerTV screens, computer screens, phone screens, and more. It’s practically impossible to escape them. Technology is everywhere, including the office. Which isn’t a problem, until it’s abused.

Millennials are often seen as the worst offenders. They’re constantly on their phone scrolling through Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram. This isn’t a problem with older generations!

Or is it?

As noted by Forbes, Ralph Jacobson, a global retail industry marketing analyst at IBM, said in an online discussion that “people of all ages are constantly distracted by phone alerts for social media, texting, promotional emails, etc. Ensuring that employees have daily work assignments with short-term, tangible goals that have deadlines, is a way to keep people focused on their work. If there is too much uncertainty in project deadlines without defined daily milestones, peoples’ attention will wander.”

So if it’s a problem we all suffer from, what can we do to fix it? Not all employees know what proper screen etiquette in the office looks like. Although it varies depending on your manager and place of business, below are a few tips to keep in mind.

Life is a Series of First Impressions

“You only get one first impression.” Odds are you’ve heard that, or some variation of it, more than a few times. And it’s true. Especially in the workplace, where, depending on your position, you might have multiple first impressions with new clients or customers every day. When talking to someone, talk to them. Actively participate in the conversation.

You don’t want to ruin those impressions because of something as silly as your phone. So don’t keep your eyes glued to it! It was rude in school and it’s rude now. Especially during a meeting or presentation. And steer clear of attempting to hide your phone under the desk—the boss knows what that blue screen glow means.

Of course, depending on the position, it’s possible you might need to check your phone during meetings. Maybe there’s a client that won’t stop calling, or a minor emergency that needs to be taken care of. In those cases, discreetly access your phone and take care of the matter quickly. If the issue requires all of your attention, ask to step out to take care of it.

Keep Off of Social Media

This next one will vary depending on where you work and what the position entails, but it’s usually a good idea to stay off social media until you get a better idea of what the workplace culture looks like.

If you’re liking Aunt Gertrude’s garden pics, you aren’t being productive. Although it might just be a quick break for you, others could think it represents some sort of trend. You don’t want to be seen as the office slacker, so avoid it.

It’s important to note that there are plenty of valid reasons to be on social media—checking the company’s social media page, connecting with potential clients, etc. You’ll need to make some of your own judgment calls on what is and is not acceptable for your workplace.

Get Your Work Done

In the end, what really matters is that you’re doing what you’re paid to do.

As mentioned by Professor Gene Detroyer in the same online discussion referenced earlier, “How about instead of looking at the hours, we look at the accomplishment? I am all for, ‘If you get the job done, take the rest of the day off.’”

Obviously, not all employers are going to be as lax as Professor Detroyer, but you know if you’re getting the work done and meeting deadlines. Don’t do anything, on screens or otherwise, that jeopardizes your work ethic.

But does your job end at deadlines? Nope. So instead of spending time on screens, brainstorm new projects ideas or create new responsibilities that go above and beyond your job description.

Are there any issues with technology useage in your office? Let us know in the comments below!

 

 

Poll Results: What’s Your Favorite Way to Volunteer?

Volunteering is a great way to network. You’re helping the community and your career, all while meeting people from various walks of life.

What are the best ways to volunteer? We asked our Movin’ On Up readers to share their favorite ways to volunteer last month to find out.

Results

 

Twenty-two percent of respondents chose “Other,” while 19% selected “With Your church or Faith Group.” “With a Service Group” and “Donating” came in at 12.5% each, with “Canned Food Drive” and “With a Professional Group” just behind them at 11% and 9%, respectively.  “Charity Walk/Marathon” followed at 8%, while “With Your Business” only got 3% of the vote. “Building Homes” and “Volunteering Abroad” came in last, with just under 2% each.

Analysis

As you can see, our data was fairly spread out. “Other” was the top choice, and our top five answers all received over 10% of the vote.

When respondents chose “Other,” their responses varied from animal shelters and knitting for charity to prison outreach and helping the homeless. There are so many volunteer paths available. Go out there and find yours!

So what does it all mean? There’s no “right” way to volunteer. Some prefer to work with their church. Other’s choose to donate. It doesn’t matter how you volunteer—just go where you feel called. The type of volunteering you find interesting will vary depending on your own interests and personality.

Anything else you want to tell us about how you volunteer? Let us know in the comments below!