Non-Sucky Team Building Events? Yes, Please!

Jan 9, 2013 Guest Author Blog No Comments

Uh-oh. It’s that time of year again.

When the boss sends out a chirpy email informing you about an upcoming team building event. You fear it could take some illegal stimulants to keep you from nodding off during yet another whiteboard problem solving exercise.

Yes, traditionally, team building exercises have consisted of little more than a dreary (or irritatingly perky) corporate coach drilling participants on what they would do if their colleagues were drowning. Hardly inspirational stuff.

But there’s a new breed of team building specialists in the mix. They take a different approach.

And you might be surprised to learn that team building can actually be fun – and of genuine benefit to you and your work mates.

How? Let’s look at some of the new wave of team building activities to give you an idea of what to expect.

Anyone Seen The Boss?

Kidnapping games are probably not the first thing that spring to mind when you think “positive team building exercise.”

But “Corporate Kidnap” is both fun and valuable in helping to promote good communication, problem solving, strategic thinking, leadership, and negotiation. This exercise involves team members working together to find and interpret clues while getting through a series of challenges to locate their kidnapped colleague.

It’s not a race or a competition. Groups work at their own pace and are each assigned roles to help solve the mystery. Every group has their own important role to play in finding the kidnapped director, boss or manager.

And who hasn’t fantasized about their boss disappearing at some stage in their working life?

Working or Working Out?

Another popular way of conducting team building exercises is through sport.

Here in Melbourne, kayaking adventures can be held right in the heart of the city.

This event includes an introduction to paddling techniques, lunch ‘on deck’ and a guided tour of the city by water. This activity provides a great forum in which to get to know your workmates better, while promoting fitness, fun, and inspiration.

Also in this new breed of team building exercises you can find Paparazzi Games, “Amazing Race” style events, rally driving, clay shooting, and corporate olympics.

Way more interesting than just having lunch together, isn’t it?

What’s In It for Me?

These kind of team building activities are a way to provide high-impact learning while increasing team skills and communications.

They can help break down barriers between individuals, and often, people who are not used to working together get a chance to participate and work as a team.

Additionally, they improve morale, productivity, and profitability. Which is why your managers plan them in the first place.

But individual team members get something out of it, too.

You gain a sense of accomplishment from working as part of the group to complete a challenging task. And you get to do it in an entirely different environment than your day-to-day activities. Maybe even see some sunshine while you do it.

And even when you really don’t expect it to, team building experiences send you back to the office reinvigorated, with a new set of problem-solving skills. We’ve seen some of the most skeptical participants learn, benefit, and even smile by the end of the day.

Sounds considerably more enticing than sitting on a plastic chair for an eight hour lecture, doesn’t it?

About the author:  Belinda Darling is a copywriter and blogger for Uplift Events. She has studied at the University of Melbourne for 4 years and has worked with various Team Building agencies in her journey. When Belinda’s not blogging she still loves to write fabulous restaurant reviews, and regularly updating her Facebook is a must.

Image courtesy of ktylerconk. 

How to Survive the Office Holiday Party With Your Job (and Dignity) Intact

Dec 6, 2012 Guest Author Blog No Comments

The office Christmas party can be a uniquely dangerous event for the office worker.

A recent survey by The Creative Group has highlighted just how extreme some employees’ behavior can be.

In the survey of 750 phone interviews, advertising and marketing executives were asked to recall the most outrageous thing they have heard of an employee doing at a company event.

Here are a few lessons learned from their findings that might help you navigate these festive minefields without too negative an impact on your career prospects, or bringing abject humiliation upon yourself.

Don’t Leave With More Than You Brought

People have been known to bring Tupperware boxes to office parties in order to cheekily smuggle away spare food. Yes, we’re serious.

And while sneaking out leftovers is one thing, taking the opportunity to pillage the office of its supplies (this does also happen) is a great way to land yourself in a spot of trouble.

The opposite rule is also valid. It’s probably best if you don’t leave with fewer items than you came with – particularly with regards to items of clothing. Our advice would be to ensure that you leave with exactly the items you brought.

If you’re still worried, perhaps consider a checklist and/or some sort of inventory system?

It’s Not an Opportunity to Offer Feedback

The Christmas party is not an acceptable time to suggest how your company could be better run.

These ideas are best left for a controlled situation when you can prepare some helpful suggestions as to what the company could improve and articulate them clearly and effectively.

Leave feedback for when you haven’t been drinking tequila…everybody will benefit this way.

Don’t Go Overboard with Your Plus-Ones

Some employees have taken the ‘you may bring a guest’ rule a little too far.

Believe it or not, their survey revealed a list of unconventional guests, including whole families, cocker spaniels and even a python.

You don’t want to take advantage of your boss’ generosity. So it’s advisable you keep your plus-ones down to a single loved one, and try to make sure they’re human. That’s just more acceptable.

If All Else Fails, Remember it Could Be Worse

If you do wake up the day after with a terrible hangover, a red face, and deep regrets, you could still consider yourself lucky.

After all, you probably didn’t drive a golf cart into a river. Or ride a Ferris wheel in the nude. Both of which were reported to have happened at office Christmas parties before!

However, if your actions rivalled these, then I’m afraid you may be beyond help. Career change, anyone?

Avoid Propositioning Anyone

The survey did reveal that it’s not all chaos and destruction, however.

One worker reported that two of his colleagues got engaged at a Christmas party.

A word of caution though; unless you are involved in a long-term committed relationship with a colleague, please don’t propose to them. It won’t go down well.

About the Author: Peter Ames wishes you happy holidays on behalf of Office Genie, a UK marketplace for desk and office space.

Image courtesy of Aussiegall. 

5 Mobile Apps to Help Balance Work and Family

Dec 5, 2012 Guest Author Blog No Comments

For most of us, balancing the competing needs of career and family is a constant struggle.

It’s hard to be productive in either sphere if you can’t leave work at work, and home at home.

Smartphones and tablets often cause the two to become even more enmeshed—but you can also make your smartphone an ally in your effort to maintain a healthy separation and balance.

Here are a few of my favorite apps to stay productive when it’s time to work, and then be fully present at home.

1. Chore Hero (iOS)

It can be exhausting to spend all day organizing and motivating employees, and then come home and have to wrangle your kids into doing their chores as well.

Chore Hero actually manages to turn chores into a game, with a list you create to ensure each task gets completed by the person you want—or you can set up a weekly or monthly rotation. Rewards and “achievements” are a fun way to insert a little game psychology into your kids’ daily chores. (Cost: $2.99)

2. CrunchTime (iOS)

CrunchTime gets top billing because it can really help you figure out where you are putting your time and if you’re focusing too much on one thing.

Use it to keep track of jobs and projects, and how long they are really taking you. Keep track of overtime, friend and family work schedules, and send and even record information on your mood, weight, and even vacation goals.

The price tag is pretty hefty, as apps go, but it’s a great first step in beginning to take control of your family and work life. (Cost: $19.99)

3. Google Drive (Android, iOS)

Google Drive is a favorite around the office when it comes to free cloud services. Use it to store documents and files for each aspect of your life.

Create folders and give access and permissions to work colleagues or family members to allow you to work on presentations or grocery lists. Keeping things organized helps you get your mind onto more important and immediate challenges, so use the cloud to help you keep things sorted.

This app was first designed for Android, and Apple users reported a few more interface bugs. We tested the app on T-Mobile HTC phones without any trouble, but you might have a different experience on an iPhone or iPad. (Cost: free)

4. Epicurious (Android, iOS)

It’s been long argued that one of the greatest ways to solidify a family is around the dinner table. However for many of us in the workforce, the thought of spending an hour or more preparing a meal for our family seems daunting.

Let Epicurious help out. This app can help you easily and quickly plan meals, create grocery lists based on those meals, and provide step by step instructions to master dinner-time. Creating a home-made meal is also often a healthier choice, and healthy living helps you to reduce stress and enjoy the free time you have with your family more. (Cost: free)

5. Cozi Family Calendar (Android, iOS)

We’re a big fan of Google Calendar at work and in our family, but the Cozi Family Calendar takes the cake when it comes to managing appointments, creating shopping lists, and managing house-hold tasks.

Create and share events and errands, phone numbers and other important family information all from one convenient and well laid-out application. Create multiple users to give everyone in your family access to relevant information, and let them take some of the work load from you. (Cost: free)

Shawna Davies has a talent for organization and putting new technology to work. She reviews small business tech for Going Cellular, with a focus on cloud computing. She’s a confessed gadget freak, but when she gets out of the house, she loves spending time at the lake with her husband and teenage son. They live in Beaumont, Texas.

Image courtesy of Nimbuzz. 

10 Over-the-Top Creative Ways To Land a New Job

Nov 30, 2012 Guest Author Blog No Comments

Job hunting usually isn’t much fun. Sending out hundreds of applications makes the jobs all begin to run together.

And for the hiring managers? All the applicants can begin to seem the same, too.

But there are some creative individuals out there who didn’t stop at simply sending out copies of their resumes and waiting for the best. They went a bit over-the-top, and many of them  got exactly what they were hoping for.

Here are ten people who successfully landed jobs, and who have a creative, entertaining, story to boot.

1. Pay Attention – Jim Kukral

When Jim Kukral sat down for an interview at an advertising agency, he found himself in an office wallpapered with post-it notes.

His interviewer, the company president, explained that that was how he did his work and remembered things, be it a client’s name or an item to purchase after work.

After the interview, Kukral knew that he had a winning idea for a follow-up note.  He bought several packs of post-it notes and a piece of posterboard, and spent the evening “wallpapering” the posterboard with post-its listing his good qualities. The idea paid off and he was offered the job, though he did turn it down in favor of another opportunity.

2. Use Your Social Media Contacts – Mark Edwards

When a popular blogger decided to interview some job seekers on her blog, many people applied, hoping the exposure would land them a job.

Mark Edwards tweeted at the blogger in hopes of being featured, and it paid off! He landed a job at a media company. How’s that for return on a 140 character limit?

3. Targeted Advertising – Marian Schembari

Dreaming of a job at a publishing house, Marian Schembari turned to the ultra-targeted medium of Facebook ads.

She narrowed the ads to target only employees at several specific publishing houses – HarperCollins, Random House, Penguin, etc. – and after spending only about $100 she landed some freelance work, made contact with representatives from each company, and gained notoriety that will continue to follow her in her career endeavors.

4. Your Name in Adwords – Alec Brownstein

Going off a similar concept, but using a different medium, Alec Brownstein learned the names of NYC’s top advertising directors.

Then, he spent a grand total of $6 to buy Google Ads that would show at the top of any “vanity searches” by those directors – that is, when they Googled their own name, his ad was the first thing that appeared. He landed a job with one of those advertising companies, who were surely praising his creativity!

5. Outdoor Advertising – Pasha Stocking

After being laid off from a job in marketing, Pasha Stocking did what any marketing-savvy and somewhat desperate job seeker would do – she launched a campaign:  HirePasha.com.

She bought advertising on a billboard in a highly-trafficked area of I-95 in Connecticut, and was surprised with the results. As the job offers kept rolling in, she decided to found her own company, PR/Bar.

6. Threaten Emigration – Féilim Mac An Iomaire

Faced with the prospect of having to leave his home country of Ireland in order to find work, Féilim Mac An Iomaire decided to throw up a huge advertisement, like Pasha Stocking did above.

His billboard, however, touched a chord that Stocking’s did not.

Reading “Save Me From Emigration,” the advertisement spoke to a growing problem in Ireland, faced by thousands of other young Irish graduates who will have to leave to find employment. The so-called “Jobless Paddy” managed to escape this fate, however, landing a job with Paddy Power.

7. Win The Game – Tim Schafer

Surprisingly, the widely-acclaimed video game designer Tim Schafer initially had a hard time getting a job in the industry.

After bombing a phone interview with Lucasfilm Games (during which he inadvertently revealed he had pirated a game of theirs), Tim was told to send in his resume.

Figuring he had nothing to lose, Schafer crafted a cover letter in the form of a LucasArts adventure game, with storyboards that showed him getting the job. They responded by sending him a letter stating that they were pleased that he had accepted the position!

8. Do It Backwards – Andrew Horner

Sick of sending in applications that seemed to go nowhere, Andrew Horner decided to turn the whole process on its head. So he created the Reverse Job Application.

Instead of sending out resumes to companies, he asked the companies to apply for him. While it might sound somewhat narcissistic on the surface, the stunt succeeded and landed him a job after two interview-packed weeks.

9. Bring Out the Fake Moustache – Matthew Epstein

Armed with a creative campaign idea and a fake moustache, Matthew Epstein set out to land a job in Google’s marketing department by creating the website GooglePleaseHire.Me.

After an intense month during which he received 80 interview offers, Epstein was turned down by Google, but signed on with the startup SigFig.

But he’s not disappointed – Epstein says on his website, “If Google extended an offer to me I honestly may have declined in order to take the job at SigFig.”

10. Hack Facebook – Chris Putnam

Chris Putnam set his sights high for a prank – he wanted to hack Facebook. And he succeeded.

With the help of two friends, he created a worm that spread through the site and restyled people’s profiles to make them look like ugly Myspace profiles.

He was contacted by someone at Facebook, who told him that the prank was funny, but it was deleting contact info, which wasn’t cool. They kept talking, and it led to an interview at Facebook, where Putnam now works.

Adrienne Erin is a writer and blogger for Pongra. She worked for four years at the career development office at Vista College, an accredited online college, and continues to evaluate resumes for a local charity. When she’s not blogging, you might find her practicing her French, whipping up some recipes she found on Pinterest, or obsessing over vintage postcards and stamps.

Image courtesy of Shawn Collins.

5 Ways to Increase Your Job Satisfaction

Nov 26, 2012 Guest Author Blog No Comments

How satisfied are you at work?

While many employees today are grateful to have a paycheck in a tight economy, that doesn’t mean job satisfaction is off the charts.

Management may have little time or inclination to bolster your satisfaction levels; it’s sometimes up to you.

So here are five ways to help move you in the right direction:

Improve Your Environment

A disorganized work environment makes every task more difficult.  And looking around at dull walls do nothing for anyone’s mood.

So start to improve your day-to-day enjoyment of your job by making your environment as pleasant as possible. If you have a cubicle or office, clean and organize the entire area. Get an attractive desk set as well as shelf organizers and baskets. Even if you work in a retail establishment or restaurant, you can organize your general area to make it a more efficient work space.

Become a Mentor

Recapture that excited feeling you had when you first started your job by becoming a mentor at work.

Find a new employee or trainee and volunteer to take him under your wing. Make it your project to turn this neophyte into a great team member.

Teach him all the little tricks you’ve taken years to learn, and clue him in on the corporate culture and ways to rise in the company. You’ll get a sense of pride for a job well done by watching your trainee improve on a weekly basis.

Practice Gratitude

It’s not always easy, but finding the little things about your job that make you happy can go a long way. There are good things all around you, if you work at noticing them.

Start every morning searching for gratitude and keep that feeling throughout the day.

Your job may be dull or stressful, but at least it’s paying the bills, allowing you to indulge in hobbies and down time and offering social occasions with fellow employees.

Whether it’s a fun group you eat lunch with every day, or a customer who always gives you a sunny smile, there is something good about every job that can make you feel a bit better about being there. You just have to find it.

New Challenges

If you feel that your job is dull and boring, it may be because you’re not challenged any more.

Few people are bored when they first start a new job. There is too much to learn, too many new skills to master.

But now, you may be feeling complacent because nothing new ever happens in your workplace. Give yourself a new challenge in your job. Volunteer to learn a new skill or job rating. Take on the task of organizing the company picnic or holiday party. Put together a company weight-loss competition. Get involved with something new and completely different from your daily tasks to perk up your interest in your everyday work.

Make It Less Important

Unless you’re working at your ultimate dream career, your job is sometimes just a means to an end. You might choose to spend your time working at a job you don’t enjoy because it’s just a stepping stone to something better.

If you feel this way, try to to focus on the good things that the job brings to your life outside the office. While you should always do the best job possible, it’s not necessary to make the job the most important part of your life.

Do a mental downgrade and start focusing on what you truly enjoy. Look at your daily tasks as a way to earn money for vacations, or the ticket to getting those flying lessons. Or even as a necessary stop before going on to crafts with your children. Take the importance out of your job and the stresses may seem less important.

The most important thing to remember is that you play a big role in your job satisfaction levels. You’ll be happier and healthier if you change your actions and attitudes, making your day run as smoothly as possible before getting on to the truly important parts of your life.

Dunya Carter is a marketing and recruitment specialist from Brisbane, Australia. She writes on topics related to business and career development for several websites and blogs. She is currently working for Ochre Medical Recruitment as a consultant.

Image courtesy of Glen Wright.

Know Your Rights: Social Media & Prospective Employers

Nov 13, 2012 Guest Author Blog No Comments

Technology is a huge factor in the social change occurring today.

And it’s hard to think of  what’s made a bigger impact on the world that social media.

We’re more connected to each other than we’ve ever been in the past. Many of our actions, lived out as part of our public online lives, are recorded in the archives of the sites we use.

As a result, issues are arising in the workplace as employers try to figure out just what sort of stance they should take. Is social media something to be banned from the office? Is it a useful tool for screening potential candidates?

How It’s Being Used

Recent reports show that employers have indeed been using these social networking sites to screen potential employees. They have seen these resources as a real and honest appraisal of what they could expect if they were to employ a candidate.

This is all very well, considering social networking sites are a public domain and you have the option to increase your privacy levels. However, some potential employers have been going so far as to ask interviewees for the passwords to their personal accounts.

Understandably, this has been met with surprise, anger and frustration by job seekers.

The law is not exactly clear cut in this situation. It seems the employers are not breaking any laws, per se.

But, many job seekers feel that prospective employers are morally out of order. And that the job seeker is placed in a no-win position.

So what do you do if you want the job, but you don’t want to hand over private information?

Legal Resources

So, if you refuse to share your password or provide access to your accounts, you are most likely to ruin your chances of getting the job. And the fact that even Facebook sides with job seekers on this issue is a small comfort.

If you find yourself in this situation, the critical thing is to know your rights.

Some US states have outlawed the practice, while others are toying with amendments; you can get detailed info on the law in your state here. UK citizens, meanwhile, should be aware of the ICO’s statement on the matter, which makes pretty clear that such an intrusion would violate the Data Protection Act and leave employers open to prosecution.

Unfortunately, given how widespread the practice is, there are very few legal precedents to fall back on if you decide to make a complaint.

Robert Collins famously complained after the Maryland Department of Corrections sifted through his Facebook profile in an interview, leading to a change of law. However, Maryland still allows the practice of ‘shoulder surfing’ – asking you to log on during an interview and flick through your photos while the interviewer watches – so the practice essentially continues.

Choose Wisely

At the end of the day, your best bet may be to simply spin the situation into something positive.

A potential employer wants you to hand over private information? Politely decline, saying you treat your own private information as seriously as you would your future employer’s and ask them to respect that.

Ultimately, it may come down to how badly you need the job. Some of us don’t have the option to look elsewhere, but those of us who do might like to take a moment to reflect on what is more important: a job, or privacy?

About the author: After spending four years studying for a master’s degree in history, Liam is now a blogger on finance and employment issues with IronFX, covering all manner of money matters.

Image courtesy of Cory Doctorow.

5 Useful Tips for Getting Your Job Application Past Resume Robots

Nov 6, 2012 Guest Author Blog No Comments

Worried about getting caught up in the ever-more-sophisticated resume robot systems when you apply for a new job? It’s a legitimate concern.

Today’s automatic resume checking systems – Applicant Tracking Systems or Automated Resume Screeners – are becoming better and better at screening out irrelevant candidates to help streamline the hiring process, especially for large companies.

But any time you submit a resume online, even if you’re applying for a job at a smaller company, your resume is likely to be run through a robot.

So how do you beat the robots so that your resume ends up in the inbox or on the desk of an actual human hiring manager?

It’s not too difficult, actually. Here are five tips to help you get there:

1. Use contextualized keywords

Yes, when it comes to resume robots, using the right keywords is important.

But just peppering certain job-related keywords into your resume is no longer enough. The Applicant Tracking Systems of today are especially adept at checking for keywords in context to really get at your qualifications.

Here are a few specific ways you can use the right keywords in the right way to get past the resume robots:

• Prioritize the keywords from the company’s actual job description, but also use related keywords (the names of other companies or brands in the industry, longer keyword phrases, etc.)
• Use keywords that go with the main job keywords. Think about keywords that relate to the actual job you’re applying for and the skills that job requires, and work those into your resume, as well.
• Put keywords throughout your resume, rather than just concentrating in one area. If the keywords appear in multiple places in your resume, the robot will be more likely to pass you through because it will show that you have a greater depth of experience in your field.

2. Check for spelling and grammar

Resume robots are ever more adept at checking and flagging improper grammar and spelling, so follow the rules here.

You may have heard that once you master the rules of grammar, you’re allowed to break them. This might be true when you’re trying for a Pulitzer or writing a novel, but not when you’re creating a resume (even if you’re a writer prone to wordplay).

Because resume robots (much like your word processor’s spelling and grammar checker) are set up to detect deviations from standard grammar, you need to stick as closely as possible to the rules you learned in college. Sentence fragments, sentences beginning with “but” or “and,” and other rules that you might break when writing your blog should be avoided here. (Of course, you can use sentence fragments for bulleted lists, but that’s a pretty established convention.)

3. Make connections before you turn in your resume

Not sure exactly what keywords and experience the hiring company is looking for?

Make a connection with a hiring manager or an HR rep at the company you’re applying to. You may not even need to check with an employer or manager at that actual company, if you can find one in your field who will give you good advice.

Ask the contact to look over the job description and your resume, and see how they match up. If the person has hired people in the field recently, they’ll know what types of experience (and which keywords) you should highlight in your resume.

4. Revamp your resume format

The traditional resume is listed in chronological order, but this isn’t always the best option for breaking through resume robot screenings.

Instead, consider creating your resume with category headings. If you’re applying for a job that requires design experience and management experience, make both of those things headings for new categories. Then, list the specific job experience you have in each area underneath.

Here’s another hint: a categorized resume, rather than a chronological one, is also a great way to highlight your best features as a job candidate and to disguise gaps in your job history – for example, if you’ve been unemployed for a while or have taken time off to raise your family. Just be sure that you do list your previous jobs and companies in chronological order near the bottom of your resume.

5. Create a clean look and feel

It’s tempting to try to make your resume stand out with fancy graphics and a slick, interesting design. Sometimes this is the best approach for those in creative and design fields, but when it comes to resume robots, this is not a great option.

Robots actually break down your resume text to feed it through the system, and graphics, pictures, and crazy layouts can cause a complete breakdown. Your resume may not even make it into the system, let alone get past the robots.

So if you’re applying for creative jobs that can call for a stand-out resume design, try this. Create two versions of your resume. One should be a sleek, slimmed-down, mostly-text version for the robots. Use it when you apply for a job online. The other can be as funky and fun as you think it needs to be. They should contain mainly the same information, but you can use the second resume as part of your portfolio, load it up on your website, or hand it out in person at interviews.

Do you have any experience getting past the resume robots? If so, please share a story or tip with us in the comments.

About the Author: Daniela Baker, social media advocate at the credit card comparison blog CreditDonkey.com, says that even though it can take a bit of time up front, effectively navigating around the resume robots is worth the effort.

5 Conflict Resolution Tips for the Workplace

Oct 23, 2012 Guest Author Blog 3 Comments

Your work environment can get stressful sometimes, right?

Deadlines, unwieldy projects, and conflict. Ah yes, conflict.

When conflict erupts, tension will rise. But there are a number of effective techniques you can employ to help prevent these situations from occurring in the first place. Or to minimize the fallout when things do flare up.

1. Take a time out & calm down

Of course prevention is always best, but when a problem has gotten out of hand it is better to give it some time before you try to put a solution on place.

This point is underlined by the head of the American Psychological Association’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program, David W. Ballard, who says, “Address the issue early, before it turns into a bigger problem, but be sure to wait until things have cooled down,” adding. “It’s difficult to have a productive discussion if you and your co-worker are angry or upset. Wait until you are both clear-headed.”

2. Ensure a positive outlook

There are many reasons why conflict occurs, but it’s often due to small incremental issues that build up over time.

As a result, it can be difficult for people involved in the conflict to make balanced and reasonable decisions. Try to ensure that colleagues, involved in a conflict can meet in a neutral place, are able to speak calmly to one another, and that everyone is treated with respect. If you approach a problem with negative expectations, it is likely that is what you will find as a result.

3. Practice active listening

If you are aggrieved about an issue in the workplace, it is easy to become emotional. This can prevent you from being able to clearly hear a message that’s integral to achieving a solution. The process of active listening will help to arrive at an effective resolution more quickly and with less pain. This involves paying attention to what is being said, asking questions for clarity, and trying to see the problem from the other person’s viewpoint.

Active listening is a powerful tool, and can be practiced in your daily work environment. No conflict required.

4. Get all parties to suggest a solution

For every conflict, there are at least two sides to the story. Maybe even three or four.

That’s what makes the situation so sticky. It is often the case that each party has given little consideration to a solution which will be suitable to everyone involved. If you are mediating in a conflict it is good practice to get each party to recommend a solution that will be acceptable to their opponent. Solutions have a much higher likelihood of being successful if they have been suggested by those involved in the dispute.

5. Get each party to consider their part in the conflict

There’s always an explanation behind each conflict. In some cases, the instigator of a problem will not have considered the significance of their actions. They may have an attitude that suggests everything has been completely blown out of proportion. In finding a resolution to a problem it is important to get all of the people involved to clearly recognize the role they played in creating the problem and the impact that the conflict has had on others. This will allow them to devise a solution which is tenable to all involved.

Have you experienced conflict at work lately? How did it impact you? How did you resolve it?

About the author: this guest post was written by Richard Greenwood from Odyssey Training. His firm provides professional development training for managers and employees at all levels. Courses including conflict resolution training and sessions on dealing with difficult people at work.

Image courtesy of Jochen Frey. 

How To Stay Motivated When You’re Underemployed

Oct 9, 2012 Guest Author Blog 4 Comments

If you graduated from college in the past five years, chances are good that you may be underemployed.

Adopting a “bootstrap” mentality and expressing appreciation for your job because, “Well, it pays the bills,” can help in the short term. But after a while, it’s tough to acknowledge that your degree isn’t helping you, and that your current job isn’t utilizing your skills and abilities.

That realization can affect your confidence. And your motivation.

There are likely a few reasons you’re in this spot. Perhaps our new, increasingly globalized and simultaneously weak economy play a role. Maybe the major you chose isn’t as marketable as you’d hoped.

Regardless of how you got here, it’s important to keep yourself motivated. Here’s how I made it through years of post-college underemployment.

Don’t Blend Your Sense of Self With What You Do To Make a Living

This is the key to staying motivated in your current job.

Many young professionals, tend to derive their self-worth from what they do to make money. Remember that you are not your job… you are so much more than that! Consider all the other aspects of your life that make you who you are.

Even though you spend a considerable amount of your waking hours at work, you still have so much time to do and become something else—a more full and well-rounded human being.

Think of a friend you really, truly like. If that person was suddenly in a job that underutilized their skills…would you value them any less? Now extend that same kindness to yourself.

Work on Learning New Skills in Your Free Time

Constant learning is one of the best ways to motivate you to keep on trucking.

I’m convinced that so many recent grads suffer from mild or moderate depression because they aren’t actively participating in the learning process once they’ve left school.

The good news is that you don’t have to be in a classroom to learn something new. Whether you want to pick up new skills that will increase your employability for a better job in the future, or you’re just learning something new for the fun of it (like a new language, how to cook, how to play an instrument, etc.), it doesn’t really matter.

Humans are a naturally curious species, and learning makes us happy.

Develop a Vibrant Recreational and Social Life

The easiest way to understand point number one is to actually develop and encourage a broader understanding of yourself outside of work.

As noted in a recent New York Times editorial, ”What Work is Really For“:

“We can pass by for now the question of just what activities are truly enjoyable for their own sake — perhaps eating and drinking, sports, love, adventure, art, contemplation? The point is that engaging in such activities — and sharing them with others — is what makes a good life. Leisure, not work, should be our primary goal.”

Although it seems counterintuitive these days, consider that what you do with your leisure time is a more authentic way of developing a sense of self-worth.

Sometimes it’s most helpful to just set aside concerns regarding your boring job, go out there, and enjoy yourself. Read for fun. Do something creative. Pick up that old tennis racket and start playing again. Make and develop friendships. Laugh.

There’s more to life than your job – that’s what friends and experts will tell you when you express worry about your current situation.  But if you can adopt that attitude – ironically – you’ll find that you’ll actually do better at the job.

In the meantime, learn more, play more. And job hunt. Good luck!

About the author: Samantha Gray spent seven years teaching high school and college writing classes. Now, she is now a freelance writer by day, and she also moonlights as a tutor and zoo tour guide in her spare time. You can find more of her writing on Bachelors Degree Online. You can connect with her at samanthagray024 {at} gmail {dot} com.

Image courtesy of Kevin Dooley.