strengths | Journey

Fostering Teamwork in the Workplace

By Job Journey on Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Working on a team is not a rare event in the working world. Even if your work is very individualized, rarely is the case that you won’t work on a team in some form or fashion. Knowing how to foster effective teamwork in the workplace has many benefits, and is an effort to which you can easily contribute.

Trust and Communication
Teamwork is always more effective when the members maintain good relationships with one another, which begins with trust and clear communication.

When it comes to communication, team meetings provide everyone an opportunity to collaborate and share ideas. Because of this, teammates feel informed and involved on the details of an assignment. In the same respect, it will help your teammates have a sense of belonging. Nurturing these relationships through trust and communication is a great way to foster teamwork.

Job Satisfaction
When you have a team that works well together, job satisfaction usually increases. Conversely, when you don’t have good teamwork in the workplace, it could have the opposite effect. A team that supports each other is able to focus on the bigger picture of reaching a goal or accomplishing a project on time, leaving everyone involved more satisfied with their work.

Developing Strengths
While you help foster teamwork in the workplace, you’ll likely see a correlation between a strong team and individual strengths. On a well-managed team, each person is able to bring something different to the table, complementing one another in the process. As you work as part of a team, look for ways to encourage other members and learn from their strengths to grow professionally.

How do you encourage teamwork in the workplace? Why do you think it’s important? Let us know in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Job Interviews The Job Search

Interviewing for the Shy and Introverted

By Jared Cole on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Throughout the year, we’ve covered different aspects of the job search through the eyes of job seekers who are introverted and shy. From networking to searching, there are strategies and methods to help bring out the talents and strengths introverts have.

One aspect of the job search that can be the most dreaded for shy job seekers and the most draining for the introverted seeker is the interview. Taking 30 minutes or more to be asked questions, talking about yourself, and trying to promote how much better your skills and accomplishments are than the competition can be enough to make anyone shudder in terror. But, take confidence in knowing that introverted and shy job seekers can shine their brightest during the interview.

Embrace Your Inner Strengths
Outgoing and assertive job seekers may seem like they’re the total package, but the more internal and quiet job seekers have talents that are just as appealing to employers, especially in an interview. Introverts often give deeper and better answers to interview questions because they tend to be better listeners and observers. Instead of rattling off the first thing that comes to mind, you can internalize the answer and insight into situations and people that the extroverts don’t catch, which boosts your presentation.

Make a List and Check it Twice
It’s important to make a checklist of everything you need to have and do when interviewing. Having it written down will keep you focused without wasting time and energy storing it all in your head.

Make sure you have your clothes, résumé, company fact sheet, route to the interview, parking spot, and traffic and travel time ready. You’ll want to leave nothing to chance so you don’t have to rush. Feeling rushed can make an introverted person lose valuable energy quickly, or cause a shy person to stumble on their confidence.

Keep Expectations Reasonable
Shy people tend to put too much pressure on themselves when doing activities or actions most consider routine or normal. When it comes to an interview, especially for a highly desirable job, it’s easy for someone who’s introverted or shy to have a “do or die” mentality. Introverts can stop listening and focus more on trying to guess what the interviewer wants to hear instead of the honest answer. You’re trying to see if the employer is a good match for you, not get an instant job offer after every interview.

Two Heads Are Better Than One
Extroverts are generally more confident when they are out of their comfort zones. Confidence is a huge issue with shy job seekers and the insecurity can make your body language appear standoffish and cold. Next time, take a good friend out to breakfast or lunch before the interview and then hang out after. Having someone providing encouragement can go a long way in helping you keep your nerves from fraying.

Out-Prepare Your Competition
A shy job seeker’s self-consciousness is often their downfall. One of the best ways to build confidence is to practice interview questions. There are several resources full of different questions that can help you prepare. Figure out answers that fit your goals, in your voice, and put them on note cards to help you remember and practice. It may feel silly, but knowing the material helps calm introverted and shy job seekers and helps you sound better than anyone else who could be winging it.

There is interview success for shy and introverted job seekers. What are some ways you have built your confidence or displayed your strengths as an introvert when interviewing?

Career Advancement Career Options The Job Search

How to Discover What You’re Really Good at

By Jared Cole on Wednesday, February 22, 2012

“Where do I start?” seems to be one of the biggest and hardest questions to answer when stepping out into the job market. For some, they know what they want to do for a career at for as long as they can remember. But for many, it’s hard to know what kind of job is right while still in college or as an adult.

For most, finding your strengths and talents, and then applying them to the job market is a harder process. Choosing a career path that fits your strengths can take time and research to figure out. To help point you in the right direction, here are some helpful hints to get your brain thinking about discovering your passions.

Do What You’re Doing

In your spare time, what do you usually find yourself doing? Grab a notepad and write down what your favorite activities and duties are throughout the week and see if any of them have practical application to a potential career.

You should also consider your interests. What are you most enthusiastic about? Make a list of what grabs your attention. What are your favorite books, TV shows, or movies? See what aspects of your favorite entertainment catches your eye.

Also, pay attention to what you struggle with or try to avoid. This can give you a clearer picture of what not to look for in a job. When looking for work, find the employers and industries that are void of these unpleasant experiences.

The Company You Keep

It can be beneficial to get advice from friends and family who have a different perspective on who you are and how you interact with the world. They will also notice how your body language reacts to different topics and situations. Ask your friends and loved ones what they notice about you, think you’re good at, and think you have a passion for. If more than one person has the same advice, you might be onto a real lead.

There are also several online quizzes and assessments that can help you get feedback on your personality, work ethic, and skill type. It’s important to understand yourself from not only your own perspective, but from others’ as well.

Playing, Practicing, and Professionalizing

Once you start finding your top passions or talents, play around with them. Find a safe environment to explore the possibilities that your talents can share. Find careers that focus on using your skills or interests, and investigate a day in the life of that job. The more comfortable you get with it, the better you’ll be able to work with it.

Once you get beyond just playing, work to improve your techniques and refine your skills. By practicing, you can learn the depths of your talent. You’ll soon learn whether it’s a true passion or more of a passing phase. Also, if it’s an area you’re interested in pursuing further, seek out a mentor for advice and direction. Even if the interest turns out to be temporary, you may notice what interested you about a particular characteristic of the activity.

Go out and use your talent. Find out what is required to have a job with your passion and work to achieve those requirements. You might have to take classes, get a certification, or take an internship to get beyond the passing hobby stage and become a true professional at your skill, but it’s worth it.

What are some methods you have used to discover your hidden strengths?

At Work Career Advancement Cube Life The Daily Grind Workplace Relationships

Think Positive About Your Current Work Situation

By Miranda Wilson on Wednesday, September 9, 2009

In the aftermath of a company layoff or cutback, your attitude about your current job might not be as positive as it once was. However, if you’re experiencing negative feelings about your work situation, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment – a.k.a. hurting your career or reputation. Negative attitudes reflect in all you do, and others can pick up on your negative feelings as well. For instance, do you dread getting up and going to work each day? When it’s Monday, are you only looking forward to Friday afternoon? If you answered yes to either of these, it’s time to change your way of thinking. Think about the positive aspects of your job – you owe it to yourself. Here are three steps to help re-focus your attitude.

1. Be grateful for the job you have. Even though you might be working someplace that you don’t like, keep in mind that at least you have a job. That is something to be grateful for today. You still have a source of income to pay bills and purchase the things you need.

2. Develop friendships at work. When you make connections with others in the workplace, the day tends to go by faster and your work performance to increase. Make it a point to say hello to your co-workers and maybe even go out to eat lunch. By doing so, you will not only be allowing some joy to come into your life, but you will also be adding joy to someone else’s life.

3. Focus on your strengths. There are things at work you excel at. You’re the expert at those things and they are a reflection of your strengths. Don’t lose sight of these stand-out qualities. Focus on using these skills throughout your workday so you feel a sense of accomplishment when it’s time to go home.

It can be easy to let your current work situation get you down, if you let it. Fight the urge to give in to a negative attitude. Try implementing these three tips into your life, and see if your days improve. Also, remember that attitude is contagious – would you want someone to catch yours?

Tag Archives: strengths