Career Advancement Teamwork Workplace Relationships

What to do When You’ve Got Big Shoes to Fill

By on Monday, October 10, 2011

Bigshoestofill_october2011_web Everybody has to start somewhere. No matter what you do in your career, there will always be at least one first day at work. You could have several first days depending on what opportunities you choose. One thing that can make those first days in the workplace difficult is when you find out that the person you replaced was a highly popular company legend.

It’s not always easy filling in the shoes of the company favorite. With so many professionals spending more of their time at work, strong relationships are being built with co-workers and a new employee can sometimes be seen as an intrusion, or an outsider. You’ll need time to develop relationships and become a valued member of the team.

Here are some things to remember and put into practice so you can demonstrate to your peers and managers that you are worthy of the job, no matter who came before you.

Patience is a Virtue.

It can take time to fit in. You won’t be able to shake the “new guy” stigma overnight. Everybody was the new kid on the block at some point in their career. Be patient with your fellow co-workers and their loyalty to the former employee. It would be easy to vent frustrations about the cluttered and backwards filing system the previous favorite left you, but being respectful of the former employee will earn respect from your peers. 

Take the time to ask questions. Ask why things are done the way they were, and request feedback from those around you. With a little hard work and dedication, you can be a valuable asset to your team.

Be Yourself.

The former colleague left a special place in the minds of those at the workplace that only he or she can fill. It’s impossible for you to fit into that role, so don’t even try. This is your opportunity to create your own memories and circle of influence so your team members will remember you for your unique contributions to the company. 

You have your own personality, qualifications, and skill sets, and you need to demonstrate these to your co-workers. Figure out what needs you can meet with your various talents, and develop your own goals and objectives. Write a list of things you can offer that no one else can, then figure out how to focus within your new role.

Ease Into the New.

Changes can be met with resistance and hesitation, especially if they differ from the way they’ve been done before. Consider taking your new ideas one chunk at a time and ease your colleagues into them. Don’t push all of your new and brilliant ideas into practice all at the beginning. That will cause more friction among your team no matter how good the ideas may be.

You can also earn team approval by recognizing other’s ideas. When getting to know your fellow workers, find out what kind of changes they would like to see. Maybe some of them never spoke up because they were getting in the way of the former company legend.

Coming to a new job when your co-workers have a preconceived expectation can be frightening. But, if you just be yourself instead of trying to be someone you’re not, you can become a valuable asset to your company and earn respect from your co-workers based on your own merits.

Have you replaced an office favorite? What have you done to make your own contributions to your job?

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Benefits Work/Life Balance Workplace Relationships

Ghastly Tricks to Make the Office Halloween a Treat

By on Friday, October 7, 2011

Halloweenoffice_oct2011_web Halloween may not be a federal holiday, but it’s still a highly popular and widely celebrated occasion. Americans spend more than $5 billion on Halloween merchandise every year, second only to Christmas in dollars spent, and Halloween celebrations continue to grow in the United States. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, more than one-third of American employers provide some sort of festivity in conjunction with Halloween.

For many, Halloween is what kicks off the holiday season and can greatly boost morale and interaction among co-workers. If you want to join the fun and spirit of this holiday while at the office, here are a few things you can do to make work a little more spooktacular.

Rules and Regulations

Before you turn your workspace into Halloween central, consider checking with your employer’s handbook, supervisors, or HR managers to learn company policies on Halloween celebrations. While there may not be any Halloween-specific guidelines for your company, there may be strict policies on attire and hair color you need to keep in mind when celebrating.

Dress for the Occasion

Be respectful of your managers and colleagues and keep in mind what you should and shouldn’t wear for Halloween. There is plenty of time after work and on weekends to wear your super scary costume, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to don some festive additions while working. Look for ways to put Halloween colors into your work attire. Find fun and easy ways to add a little flavor to your office look for Halloween like wearing an orange and black striped tie or blouse. 

Desk Decor

Decorating your work area can be another great way to show your Halloween spirit. Spread some fake spider webs in a corner of your desk and scatter plastic spiders over it. Place a small Halloween-themed bowl or dish filled with candy next to the web for everyone to enjoy. There are several inexpensive paper Halloween decorations found at retail stores you can tape around your desk. Be mindful of those around you, keep the decorations festive, and shy away from anything too scary or gruesome.

Festive Foods

Many employees love to celebrate, especially when food is involved. There are several treats you can provide your co-workers that are cost effective and can bring you closer to those you work with. Bake a cake, put candy bugs or gummy worms in it, and place it in the office kitchen for everyone to eat. Goody bags full of assorted candies and novelty gifts like fake vampire teeth can also be used as festive Halloween treats. If you or your company is very health conscious, put fresh fruit in a plastic caldron and put it in a high-traffic area.

Despite your opinion of this holiday, respect those who do or don’t want to celebrate Halloween. You could be working with people with an array of different personal preferences, cultures, and beliefs. Starting conflicts over Halloween is missing the point of this occasion.

What interesting or different ideas have you done to celebrate Halloween at work?

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At Work Leadership The Daily Grind

Keeping Your Head When the Office is in Chaos

By on Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Chaozinoffice_october2011_web If you work, you’ve likely felt work related stress. Studies have shown that more than three-fourths of the U.S. workforce is stressed out by at least one thing at their jobs, with it hitting home within the youngest of American workers. Even with the higher levels of pressure, something can happen at work that is even scarier than the known stresses or piled-up paper, and it can happen at any time.

It’s when order and structure fly out the window, and chaos and confusion reign supreme. It can be something as little as an influx of business to something as big as a full-blown crisis and, while it may not always take a crisis, several things can happen to make it feel like pandemonium at work.

Whether you’re in an office or in the field, chaos can rear its ugly head. But, as long as you keep your composure and a level head, you can work through any situation and learn how to avoid it next time. Here are three tips to help you keep your cool when there’s chaos in the office.

When You Want to React, Don’t.

When you receive an email or hear something that makes you want to respond, don’t. Write down what is making you stressed. If you have to, use word processing software, but avoid email or something transmittable. Then write down potential solutions to those items. Do you have control over any of those solutions? If so, work on them; if not, let it go. Then evaluate what your response will be. Processing your thoughts before engaging in confrontation will help you avert any escalation and keep the situation under control.

Stick With Strategy.

Most companies have strategies developed to achieve their goals, but nobody can plan for everything. Nineteenth century military strategist Helmuth von Moltke is best known for his quote, “No plan survives first contact with the enemy.” When chaos hits the office, it’s important to change and adapt your plans to the unexpected situation. The important thing is to have a plan. The storm will be much worse and last longer if you drop your strategy and become reactive to whatever is going on.

Find Some Personal Time.

When work gets crazy, especially during a crisis, it may require a lot of on the spot decision making. Sometimes, the best thing to do when things get too intense at work is to escape for a little bit and recharge. You don’t have to go as far as to take a whole day off from work, but there are little things you can do throughout the day to collect yourself. Take a few deep breaths. It's amazing how many people hold their breath when they’re upset. Fresh air in your lungs sends oxygen to your heart and brain and acts as a calming agent.

Believe it or not, counting to 10 actually works. Just slowly count and, with each number, remind yourself that by getting upset you're only hurting yourself.  If possible, take a 10-minute break and go outside once or twice to enjoy the little things in life. Sun exposure provides vitamins and can help your positive attitude.

No matter how much pressure, tension, and urgency comes crashing into the work place, keeping your cool, remaining focused, and staying calm will always give you an advantage. President Thomas Jefferson once said, "Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain cool and unruffled under all circumstances."

If you have experienced chaos in the workplace, what did you do to cope with the stress and keep your cool?

 

By Jared Cole

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Resumes and Cover Letters The Job Search

Heavyweight Debate: PDF vs. Word Résumés

By on Friday, September 30, 2011

Pdfvsword_Sept_2011_web You’ve decided what style of résumé you need, you’ve got it written, and you’ve taken it through a résumé boot camp. You’re ready to start applying. With more companies requesting digital copies of your résumé, you may be wrestling with what format to choose.

The great format debate has been raging for more than six years, and job seekers and HR professionals are still split down the middle. In this corner, applicants are sold on the stability and security of having an Adobe PDF résumé. And, in this corner, Employers and HR professionals are standing firm on the ease and efficiency of the Microsoft Word résumé.

Word Documents: The Current Heavyweight Champion

Most HR professionals who go through résumés prefer receiving them in a Word document. The vast majority of businesses have Word on their computers and employees are accustomed to the program. They like being able to easily copy and paste the information and send résumés, with the personal information excluded, to their employers. The drawback is that what your résumé looks like on your screen, may not be what it looks like on another computer. There are several versions of Word, and some older versions may not be able to read files saved in newer formats. Sending Word files with the .doc file extension instead of the newer .docx are less safe and have been known to pass viruses.

The People’s Champion: PDF

Having a résumé as a PDF will keep the formatting of your résumé the same on anyone’s computer, whether it’s a Mac, Linux, or PC. PDFs are also more secure than Word files, which means they can’t easily be doctored or changed. Unlike Word documents, it’s very hard to put a virus or dangerous software on a PDF file. Adobe, the company that created the PDF format, has free software that enables computers to read them, and most computers already have the software installed. Microsoft Word has the option to save files in PDF format as well. For these reasons, many prefer to have their résumés in PDF format.

The Lightning Round

Opinion on the debate seems like an even tie, but there is one factor you should consider before deciding which format to choose. Economic times still aren’t the best, and companies are still seeing a huge influx of résumés every day. More companies are using software called applicant tracking systems that systematize and choose résumés based on key words the company dictates. According to a Bersin and Associates Talent Acquisition Systems report, about 61% of North American companies have some sort of applicant tracking software.

There are about 55 different applicant tracking systems being used. Even to this day, very few can read PDF files. While these systems are getting better, it’s still a long shot before the majority of systems start reading PDFs. Your résumés may be safe, secure, and structured, but it won’t matter if your content can’t be read.

And The Winner is…

If you’ve networked with someone and they would like to see your résumé, you may want to go ahead and send the PDF. A professional who has taken interest in hiring you will appreciate the sleek format and structure of your résumé that you spent so long perfecting. If you are applying to a big company with an automated online application site, try using the Word file to ensure the automated system reads your accomplishments. You may want to paste your résumé into Notepad or WordPad and save it as a .txt file. That way, you are guaranteed the programs will pick up on your keywords.

Where do you stand on the debate? Do you agree with this strategy? What would you do to improve the situation? Sound off in our comments. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

 

By Jared Cole

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At Work The Daily Grind Workplace Safety

The Dangers of Sitting

By on Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Dangersitting_Sept_2011_web For thousands of years, we’ve worked for a living with the sweat on our brow and using the arms and legs we were given. But, in modern times with the advent of technology, many have traded their elbow grease for electronic gadgets, worn out chisels for office chairs, and muscle strength for mobile service. The British Medical Journal Group reports adults spend an average of 9.3 hours sitting down a day, not including 7.7 hours the average adult sleeps every night. The BMJ’s findings about the effects of increased sedentary behavior are quite alarming. We’re hoping you’ll stand for this.

Getting Down With the Sickness

Research indicates that extended stretches of sitting and lack of whole body muscular movement is being strongly associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and an overall higher risk of death. For years, physicians have recommended 30-60 minutes of exercise every day to counteract the effects of a sedentary lifestyle. But, with the popularity of big screen TVs and the Internet causing adults to be inactive after work, the recommended workout routine isn’t helping battle diseases linked to idleness.

Rise to the Occasion

There are many things you can do at work to improve your health, but getting active is the most important factor to consider. For many, working in an office and sitting at a desk for eight hours a day can make it difficult to find opportunities to get moving. Here are some simple tasks for you to do at work to help get your body going and the blood flowing.

Talk to Your Co-Workers.

Instead of typing an email or picking up the phone, walk to your co-workers’ desk when you need to speak to them. This face-to-face communication style has been shown to improve office relationships, and it will help get you moving.

Use the stairs. Do you really need to use the elevator to go up two or three stories? You might save time and get a spark of energy taking the stairs to your office. If you work in a large skyscraper, stop on a floor a few stories below and take the stairs the rest of the way.

Take 10. If you have an office job that involves mostly computer work, schedule 10 minutes every hour to get up and stretch. If you’re pressed for time and have to keep working, carry out duties that can be done standing, like filing folders or making phone calls.

Take a hike. If you don’t use your whole lunch break to eat, spend half of it taking a leisurely walk outside.

Stand when answering the phone. If you can, walk around your desk or office during the call. 

Park it. Get some extra walking time by parking your car a longer distance away from work. Try parking the farthest space from the building. If you use public transportation, get off one or two spots before your destination and walk the rest of the way. 

There’s an app for that. If you have a smartphone, there are several applications and executables that help monitor and encourage activity. Morsel is a mobile program that gives you small, easily achievable actions you can do to avoid stillness. Activities from Morsel, like “Stretch your arms out to the side and move them in circles 10 times,” get you moving without disrupting your co-workers.

Adults who perform frequent physical activity, like going to the gym and playing sports, but work at desks and sit the rest of the day are now being labeled by physiologists as “active couch potatoes.” These active couch potatoes are still as likely to suffer the same health risks as those who do not exercise regularly. When working at your desk, consider taking a few minutes to get active.

If you have a desk job, what do you like to do to improve your health?

 

 

By Jared Cole

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New Job Tips The Daily Grind Work/Life Balance

Spice Up Your Commute With One Simple Thing

By on Friday, September 23, 2011

Spicecareer_sept2011_web For many, the commute to and from work isn’t always the most enjoyable experience. Sometimes it can be tedious, drawn-out, and create stress when trying to navigate through the heavy traffic when all you want to do is get home and relax after a hectic day at the office.

Commuting and Your Health

Gallup-Healthways released the 2010 Well-Being Index, an assessment of the health and well being of U.S. residents. Gallup-Healthways surveyed commuters on how they felt about their emotional and physical health, work environment, and life in general. The study showed that the longer the commute, the less happy and healthy commuters felt. 

If you have a fairly long drive to work, and want to decrease your stress and increase your happiness, you may be interested knowing that a little aromatherapy can help in big ways. One simple trick can help make you feel better by spicing up your commute, literally!

A History of Spices and Spice Stimulants

Humans have been utilizing spices for preservatives, flavoring, embalming, and medicinal purposes as far back as 2800 B.C. Specifically, peppermint and cinnamon have been used in folklore and medicine because they were seen as having magical properties to ward off evil spirits. At about 1 A.D., the value of cinnamon was worth 15 times its parallel weight in silver, according to Roman author Pliny the Elder. 

Scientists are still researching the effects of these spices today by studying how beneficial cinnamon may be to reducing blood sugar levels in diabetics. Researchers are also looking into the effects of how smelling spices can alter our attitudes and behaviors. Studies have shown that the presence of peppermint and cinnamon odors can enhance motivation, performance, and alertness, decrease fatigue, and serve as central nervous system stimulants in commuters.

So, if the stress and fatigue of your commute is becoming too much, grab a cinnamon or peppermint air freshener for your car and breathe it in. The aromas will help boost your mood and your attitude. Plus, as an additional bonus, it will keep your car smelling good when you have to give a coworker a ride, drive a carpool to work, or have sweaty children in the car after soccer practice.

Homemade Air Fresheners You Can Make on a Budget

Purchasing air fresheners for your car can get expensive, especially since some last longer than others. Budgets may be tight and you may not have the time to go out and grab some when you spend so much time commuting anyway. There are several recipes online that can help you make your own fresheners that may last longer than most found in common supermarkets.

To learn more about making your own cinnamon and peppermint scented car fresheners, you can follow some of these helpful links we’ve found to help you get started. These recipes are so easy, you don’t have to stick to just peppermint or cinnamon. You can use these for your house too. There’s nothing like coming home from a long and trying day at work to one of your favorite scents. If you are at your wits end and the drive to work is making your blood boil, go ahead and put a little spice in your life. You’d be amazed at how much better you feel.

Looking for more tips and tricks to add some pizzazz to your daily commute? Check out our Refresh Leadership blog to learn more. If you have a long commute, what other ideas have you come up with to help make it more bearable?

 

By Jared Cole

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