How to Write an Enticing Job Description (Hint Get Emotional)

How to Write an Enticing Job Description (Hint Get Emotional) This article is written and sponsored by Breezy HR â€" an intuitive, flexible and affordable ATS that thinks everyone on your team can get emotionally invested in your recruiting and hiring. Breezy â€" A Breath  of Fresh HR. I’m begging you: if you want to write an ah-mazing job description, stay far, far away from the Google search bar. I love Google and all, but I’m pretty sure the last thing a candidate-driven market needs is more job descriptions that “include an objective statement” and “include a list of duties and tasks. You can do better, and if you’re looking for great applicants, you need to do better.  Instead of starting with the template you’ve been rocking since ’08 , try starting with our old buddy Maslow and his hierarchy of needs. For the uninitiated, Abraham Maslow was a 1940s psychologist who spent the majority of his life trying to explain why people do what they do. He concluded that humans were motivated by hierarchy of needs, as outlined by his fairly-famous pyramid.  Maslow’s theory states that we humans’ motivations move up the pyramid as each level of our needs are met. Got the warmth and rest covered? Now you’ll want safety. Got safety? Now you’ll want friends…and so on.  I wouldn’t suggest attempting to trigger the most basic needs in your job descriptions (“Ready for a job that will provide your food and water? We’ve got the perfect role!”), but levelling up provides us an opportunity to leverage some pretty sophisticated emotional triggers. Below are 3 emotional triggers inspired by Maslow’s Pyramid, and some actionable ways to put them to work in your job descriptions. Emotional trigger 1: the need to belong Think about the last time you pumped some effort into a social post.  Maybe it was a photo of the cake you made for your son’s birthday, or the electric-blue car you decided to buy after months of debate. Maybe it was snaps from a concert that you knew everyone would drool over.  You remember how gratified you felt when the likes came rolling in? That’s the need to belong at work. It’s the primary logic behind social media (yes, there is logic behind social media). How to use the need to belong in your job descriptions Your candidates will be joining a team, right? Then let’s talk about the team! This is why group photos, talking about group outings, or pointing out your company’s internal kudos system can be so effective in job descriptions (not just on a career page). Go over your language for inclusiveness. Sentences like “You’ll be joining us to plant trees on Earth Day!” push a candidate’s emotional buttons, while the bullet point “Annual tree planting day” pushes them toward the back button. Leverage some social proof in your description. This can come from something like an Instagram feed that a candidate can browse (holiday party!), or â€" better yet â€" in the form of ‘proof’ they can succeed with your company, like noting the last person in the role was promoted. Emotional trigger 2: the desire for esteem Let’s go back to the social media example. While you were raking in the likes and hearts and smileys on your post, was there one person whose reaction you were waiting to see? Maybe an ex-boss, or ex-significant other whose singular “Wow” would have made your entire week. That’s the power of esteem giving the added emotional boost to the power of belonging.  When you’re trying to motivate candidates in your job description, consider how you can not only make them feel welcome and part of the team, but also how you can make them fell respected, liked, and â€" yes â€" needed by your company. How to use the desire for esteem in your job descriptions If the position reports to the C-Suite, expound on why. Here’s a pretty typical example, with an emotionally kicky redo: “As the Sales Manager, you’ll report earnings to the CMO” versus “Sales is an integral part of X Company Int’l, and as the leader for an exceptional team of sales professionals, your direct communication to the Chief Marketing Officer will be essential to business decisions.” Can you feel the difference? Instead of beginning your job description with “Responsibilities” try “YOUR IMPACT.” Outline just how critical the candidate’s success will be to your organization. Think about what a candidate could do to stand out to you for the open role. Now relay it to them, framing a job application as their opportunity to be seen as one in a million. Phrasing might look like this: “Show us that you’re the Growth Partner we need by defining a prioritization framework for us, or by including an example case from a previous position in your application. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!” Emotional trigger 3: the desire to grow as a person Raise your hand if you remember the movie As Good As It Gets (okay, I’ll settle for a slight head nod). At one point, over a cozy dinner, a romantically inclined yet ornery Jack Nicholson tells the hesitant Helen Hunt “You make me want to be a better man.” Ms. Hunt, overwhelmed, sighs “That’s maybe the best compliment of my entire life.” Everyone wants to be a better person.  They want to be inspired, they want to grow, they want to be inspired to grow. Every applicant wants to be reassured that they’re not a faceless cog in a giant machine. The need is right there at the very top of Maslow’s pyramid â€" it’s the pinnacle of self-actualization. When you meet this need for job candidates, everyone wins. How to use the desire to grow as a person in your job descriptions Include the candidates’ opportunities for on-the-job learning at your company in the description, not just as part of a career page. Tailor it to their position, so that the new HR Manager knows he could be attending HR Tech next fall, or leading the team’s implementation of a new applicant tracking system. Tell the candidate what they can expect to accomplish in their first six months, and after their first year. Will they be in a position to hit unprecedented goals, to join a hiring team for another role, to onboard others? What tangible achievements will they be able to look forward to as a successful employee? Ask for candidates who want to grow! This can come off cheesy, (“Do you want to work and learn at the same time?”) but it gets easier to nail if you include a kind of “About You” section in the description. “About You: A curious sort, you relish the opportunity to learn by doing in a fast-paced and demanding environment.” Bottom line: Sprinkling emotional triggers into your job descriptions can give today’s picky candidates the extra motivation they need to hit apply. And when your company makes good on its emotional triggers over time? You’ll have yourselves a dedicated, motivated employee for life. So go on â€" get trigger happy! This is the one time it’s completely appropriate. About the author:  This article is written and sponsored by Breezy HR â€" an intuitive, flexible, and affordable ATS that thinks everyone on your team can be a part of recruiting and hiring … and that you should love your job descriptions! Breezy â€" A Breath  of Fresh HR.

Resume Writing Business Tools - How to Use Resume Writing Business Tools to Maximize Your Business Opportunities

Resume Writing Business Tools - How to Use Resume Writing Business Tools to Maximize Your Business OpportunitiesIn this article, we are going to discuss resume writing business tools and how you can utilize them in order to maximize your business opportunities. We are going to show you how you can use professional resume writing business tools that will help to make sure your resume gets read by the employer.The first of these resume writing business tools is what I like to call a professional resume template. This is a template you can use for most, if not all, of your job related to resume writing. You simply download the template to your computer and type in all of the information in the format it was originally written in.With a professional resume template, you should have no problem when it comes to getting your resume seen by an employer. Your professional resume template should be formatted for a computer, and the formatting of the template should be in the same format as the job posting or ad you want to put your resume on. If you don't have the job posting, you will be able to access this format in a simple format by doing a search with 'Resume Templates' as the search string.The second of the resume writing business tools you can use is a portfolio. A portfolio is simply a collection of sample resumes for other people that may be interested in looking at them. These are great for showing other potential employers exactly what you can do for them if they need a job.The key to using a portfolio is to create one that represents you as a person. You should be very careful about the information you include in the portfolio and try to make it as positive as possible. If you have any bad information in the portfolio you may seem too negative and end up being rejected.It's important that you create a resume that tells the hiring manager exactly what you can do for them. Make sure your resume has an employer contact information at the top of the page, prefera bly right underneath your name.Make sure that your resume has your contact information at the top and any relevant education information such as school experience under that section. You should also list the job title, location and contact information on the bottom of the resume.As you can see, there are several different resume writing business tools you can use to help you in your job search. As always, when it comes to your resume, you want to create a resume that attracts an employer and is filled with your positive qualities.

The Top 5 Interview Questions to Practice

The Top 5 Interview Questions to Practice Not every job interview will be the same or follow a set format, although there are some frequent questions that pop up time and time again. Here are our top five most asked interview questions and some tips to help you answer them appropriately. 1) Why do you want this job? This question is bound to come up in your interview. A common misconception that most candidates have is to tell the interviewer why they have applied for the job such as: salary, location, training, benefits and personal development. Candidates should really utilise this question and see it as an opportunity not only to explain why they want the job but to clarify why they have the appropriate attributes and skills required to do the job. Four examples of ways to answer the question: What is it that you like about the company? (Culture, Beliefs, Values, Mission):  I think NRL is a great company; I admire how their values revolve around nurturing success and I was impressed to learn about the culture-fit policy they have in place when recruiting candidates. That’s the sort of recruitment company I’d like to be in, one that not only focuses on the client but also cares about the candidates they place. Describe the challenges of the role to emphasize that you’re aware of them:  I recognise that the recruitment industry has always suffered from high staff turnover and I know you’re looking for someone who wants to progress and develop their career long term within the company Tell them what makes you tick, highlights of your recent career and what challenges in particular you have enjoyed overcoming:  I am a people person and in my previous job working at a retail shop I really enjoyed talking to customers, helping them find things and offering advice when needed. Think about reasons why the company might not want to hire you and counter their arguments:  I know I haven’t had a career in recruitment before but I do have transferable skills from my experience of working in retail which I think would be beneficial for and applicable to this role. READ MORE: How to Answer ‘Why Do You Want This Job?’ in an Interview 2) Where do you see yourself in five/ten years? This question is often asked as a way to find out more about your career goals and ambitions. It is always important to remember that you are being interviewed for a specific role. The reason why interviewers care and want to know about your career goals is because they want to hire someone who is motivated, proactive and likely to stick around and work hard if hired. As such it is important that you highlight that you do have a solid career plan and know what you want to do. In your response you should think about making it clear that you understand what the position you’re applying for entails and outline how you’d define success as an employee. A few tips to bear in mind when answering this question: Be ambitious but remain realistic  It’s good to be ambitious when it comes to your career but be careful not to be too eager when talking about your career progression in an interview scenario. Responding to this question in a humorous manner by saying something like ‘in your chair’ may seem like a good tongue-in-cheek answer but to some interviewers this may come across as arrogant. Focus on your professional development  Unless the interviewer specifically asks you to comment on your personal ambitions don’t bring them up. Focus on your professional development and try to remain realistic in terms of how quickly you plan to progress through the ranks. After all, some interviewers could be intimidated by the fact that your career ambitions may negatively impact on their own. Be specific but flexible  Try to steer clear from making your answer sound too vague. The interviewer wants to know how you see their role fitting in with your overall career plan and your response should encompass how the position is important to you as part of your long-term strategy. Emphasise your value  Although this question may seem like it is probing your career goals and ambitions it is also a good opportunity to emphasise what you can bring to the role. Your potential employer will want to hear how you can make a marked difference to their company, help to secure and add to its reputation as a leader within its industry and contribute to the company’s overall growth and success. 3) What are your strengths? This question is often asked at interview to determine what assets you as the candidate have that will help you to succeed in the role you’re applying for. Even if the interviewer doesn’t directly ask you this question you must be able to answer it in order to be considered for the job. The key when answering questions about your strengths as an employee is to describe the skills and experience that you have gained using examples that directly correlate with the position you are interviewing for. Utilise the following points to help you prepare your answer: Know your strengths  Most jobseekers don’t know what their strengths are because they don’t take the time to properly evaluate them. Start by writing a list of your key strengths and then narrow the list down by focusing on those that you’re comfortable talking about. Think about what will set you apart from other candidates and be sure to prepare some examples that are relative to the position that will illustrate each of your strengths. Believe in yourself  In most cases candidates don’t feel comfortable talking about themselves and articulating what it is that their good at. Preparation is the key to overcoming this problem. Ask a trusted friend or colleague what they think your greatest strengths are as this will help you to build your confidence and will reassert where your strengths are. It can be hard to sell your skills in an interview especially if you’re introverted. Practice in advance by recording yourself and playing it back, standing in front of a mirror or talking in front of your family and friends. These tips will help you to get over any hesitations you may have and will make you feel more comfortable when it comes to talking about your skills and abilities. Be unique  One of the main points of a job interview from an employer’s point of view is to understand more about what you could do for their organisation and to determine why they should hire you instead of someone else. Most of the time jobseekers will choose to talk about strengths that don’t make them stand out, aren’t relative or important for the job at hand or they don’t back up their claims with specific examples. This will raise a red flag for the interviewer as although ‘the ability to show up on time’ may be seen as a strength almost anyone can say this because it should be a given. Not being able to back up your strengths with examples will also raise concern as if you can’t talk about how you’ve utilised your strengths in a working environment. It raises the question are your strengths accurate and are they appropriate? 4) What are your weaknesses? This question is one of the most aggravating interview questions you can get because you can guarantee that it will come up at interview and it goes without saying that candidates aren’t going to reveal their biggest flaws in the middle of a job interview! So why does it come up so often? Well interviewers like to ask the question because it can be tricky to respond to and candidate’s answers can often be very telling when they are put on the spot. Some mistakes that you should try and avoid are: Trying to make a positive sound like a negative  When do working too hard, caring too much about your work or being a perfectionist class as weaknesses? They don’t and if you try to turn a positive trait into a weakness the interviewer will see right through your tactics and are likely to follow the question by asking you to go into more detail about how the weakness has negatively affected you. The key is to be sincere, don’t select a weakness that sounds good. Instead choose a weakness that is minor and can be fixed through work and motivation i.e. speaking in front of large groups Avoiding the question by not providing an answer  Some jobseekers are completely thrown by this question and many cannot list a weakness when they are put on the spot. It is important to always bear in mind the requirements for the role and not to cite a weakness that will impede your ability to do the job. Never reveal a debilitating weakness  Another mistake is to be too forthright and confess to a weakness that would hinder your ability to perform in the role you’re applying for. Don’t let your honesty become your weakness! 5) What sort of salary are you looking for? This is a question that often throws people off-guard when it’s asked in an interview scenario because most people don’t feel comfortable talking about money. It’s often felt that if you state a figure that is too low you may miss out financially whereas if you disclose a figure that is too high you may miss out on the offer of a job. The good news is that you don’t actually have to state a specific figure if you don’t feel confident in doing so instead you can deflect the question onto the interviewer or provide a broad salary range. Four top tips to bear in mind when answering this question are: Do some research and be prepared  If you know that this question is likely to come up at interview make sure you are prepared by researching the average salary rates for the role and rehearsing your answer before the interview. Then if you feel comfortable doing so you can acknowledge your awareness of the industry standard to influence the salary brackets by putting forward an average range. Think about deflecting the question  Don’t feel pressured to give too much away. If a salary range wasn’t included in the job description you are entitled to ask the interviewer what salary range they are considering for the role. As well as telling the interviewer you are open to their thoughts on salary you may want to emphasise that you’re sure they will be consistent with the average market rate. Be comfortable in your answer  However you decide to respond to this question the key is to do so in a respectful, diplomatic and confident manner. Bear in mind that your biggest tool for negotiating your salary will be in your ability to show your potential employer that you’ve got the skills and abilities needed to do the job. Don’t be too specific or rigid  When you are being asked about your salary expectations the best way to respond is to be broad and to remain realistic with your expectations. Never describe your salary demands as what you actually need but rather as what the job is worth. Use your current salary as a guideline (including any bonuses, annual raises) and research the average market rates for the role. Author:  Jennifer Young works with www.assignmenthelpuk.com as an academic writer and a blogger. She loves writing on subjects related to psychology, management, and education. READ MORE:  How to Answer ‘Why Do You Want This Job?’ in an Interview

Tax Time Tips Organize Now, Thank Yourself Later

Tax Time Tips Organize Now, Thank Yourself Later Sponsored by Office Depot When tax season comes around, you can avoid many of the pain points by making an effort to improve in one area: organization. In order to get an idea of the best ways to do this, we sought the advice of Holly Bohn, organizational expert and founder of See Jane Work. Holly shared her top three tips. Tip #1 â€" Select the right tax software Each year, more Americans are choosing to file their own taxes. As an independent career woman, if you fall into this category, make sure to choose the best possible software that will guide you through the filing process. While filing on your own can be daunting, if done correctly, it can save you money and time. Plus, with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, you may feel more empowered by completing the task from start to finish on your own! I recommend using TurboTax software, available at Office Depot ® and OfficeMax ® retail locations and OfficeDepot.com. Check out one of the four versions available for home, office or both. Product: Turbo Tax Deluxe Premier: Intuit Turbo Tax Software Tip #2 â€" Organize your files Tax season comes with an abundance of paperwork and digital documents, so it can be nearly impossible to keep track of everything if you don’t have the right tools and a solid system in place. If you make an effort to stay organized throughout the year, it will be much easier to find the information you need during tax time. Everyone takes a different approach when it comes to organization and storage, but there are some tools that everyone can use, regardless of personal organization style, such as Bankers Box ® corrugated storage boxes with file folders, receipt holders and a USB drive. Products: Bankers Box ® Stor/Fileâ„¢ Basic Strength 65% Recycled Storage Box, 10H x 12W x 15D, White/Blue, Pack Of 10 Office Depot ® Brand Economy File Folders, 1/3 Cut, Letter Size, Manila, Pack Of 150 Office Depot ® Brand Polypropylene Accordion Expanding File, 13-Pocket, 6” Expansion, Coupon Size SanDisk ® Cruzer ® 16GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive  Tip #3 â€" Eliminate unnecessary documents When it comes to organization, one of the most common pitfalls I come across is that people refuse to dispose of paperwork they no longer need. The same is definitely true when it comes to taxes. While it’s safe to err on the side of caution for the purposes of a potential audit, according to IRS guidelines for single filers, it’s unnecessary to hold onto certain documents you’ve been saving for more than three years. After that time elapses, and you feel comfortable, do yourself a favor and shred them. This will reduce clutter and may help protect against identity theft. I recommend using a microcut shredder, which cuts four times smaller than traditional cross-cut shredders â€" providing an extra layer of security. Purchase your own or take advantage of great tax-time offers for shredding services available at Office Depot ® and OfficeMax ® stores, including five pounds of free bulk bin shredding available through April 23. Visit Office Depot’s 2015 taxes guide for this and other coupons for all you need during tax season. Product: Ativa ® 8-Sheet Microcut Shredder By staying organized, using good software and cleaning out unnecessary documents, you’ll enjoy a smoother tax prep season! Image Source

What Can a Federal Resume Workshop Do For You?

What Can a Federal Resume Workshop Do For You?Federal resume workshops, also known as information session or personal and career development seminars, are very popular right now. If you are looking for a chance to get in touch with your own network, join this great opportunity. In this article we will talk about the benefits of federal resume workshops.As mentioned above, this is a great opportunity for people who want to upgrade their skills. But how can this help you? Well, you have many choices, the workshops can be held in your town or they can be held in a different country. Whatever country you choose, you will find that you will have many opportunities.The most important part is that you will be able to meet and work with others with the same problem. So, it will help you by the amount of support you receive. Sometimes there are also specialized workshops that have specialized topics. For example, one can learn how to create a Federal resume. You can find out how to prepare yo ur letters and cover letters for various situations.These special workshops will also give you a chance to know what is the current trends in the employment field. There are quite a few things that are happening that could benefit you. So, you can be sure that you will learn everything that you need to know.What is important here is that you will get answers to all of your questions. It will give you information that you want to hear. And, it will also give you the information that you need to do something with. So, don't hesitate because if you do sign up you will be able to get all of the information that you need and more.If you need help with a new career, you have the chance to go to the workshops. It is not required but it is certainly recommended to you that you do attend at least one of them. It will help you understand the current job market and where you should go.Then, what should you do after you get the information? Well, if you have completed your federal resume worksh op you can create your own Federal resume. It is your responsibility to find your own information and to go on with the process.It is quite important that you seek out the best materials available so that you can be prepared when applying for government positions. These workshops are available for everyone, whether you need help with a current job or a new career, there is a Federal resume workshop for you.

Taking the Next Step Managing Your Way to Success - CareerMetis.com

Taking the Next Step Managing Your Way to Success Management is the most important piece in a well ran business. Success begins at the top and the person or persons in charge influence the entirety of the work staff.Good management and poor management is the difference between having motivated, confident, and diligent workers versus lethargic, lazy, and bitter people dissatisfied.evalAs Glenn Llopis, of Forbes Magazine, put it, “They It’s not your job to be upset about this though, it’s your job to put your best foot forward and show people how things are going to be.Your job as the manager is not to please every single employee in the company. Your job is to make the company run smoothly and profitably. It is to your, and the company’s benefit if the work force is happy, however there will virtually never be a situation in which every single employee is happy.That’s what turnover is for though. Your employee pool will constantly be changing, losing weak links and gaining stronger cogs in the process if you’ve done your hiring correctly. Things will balance. All that you can do is be consistent, be fair, and lead by example.When you walk in on the first day, don’t walk with an air about you. Do your best to seem humble, yet confident. It’s a fine line between Hubertus and confidence, but to succeed you will need to learn how to cross it. Say hello to everyone you see on the first day and ask how they’re doing.evalThis reminds them that you’re still the same person they’ve always liked in the past. Your humanity was not lost with your new title.We all know that there are a few places in the workplace where rules tend to be bent. Before today, you would look the other way. Now you can’t. You’re in charge and you’re responsible for what happens beneath you, on your watch.Putting a stop to such behaviors when you witness them is a fantastic opportunity to establish the new power-dynamics between you and your now subordinates on a personal conversational level, rather than sending out a memo or making an announcement.Effective Management Skills TechniquesThe same skill sets and techniques which produce effective management tends to apply towards almost all industries. This is great because it allows a person to gain value from the experiences of another manager in a completely different field.This means that every person ever to hold a management position probably has learned a trick or two which could potentially help you in your position.Create an employee incentive program. This doesn’t even need to be overt. However, it’s important to have infrastructure in place to help guarantee that quality work is rewarded. Nobody should be aiming for just par.According to an article by CNN Money, honesty is the most important skillset to have to be an effective manager. They are completely right on the topic.A manager needs to convey to their subordinates a feeling of sincerity. They should believe whatever you tell them to be accurate. An untrusting work force will a lmost never be a truly happy work force and people can see through the average liar. Be honest. Be fair. Be respected.Communication is an incredibly powerful and necessary tool in management. A manager with an ability to communicate effectively has the power to motivate on a level that the manager without such a skillset will never.evalLindsay Maynard, of Colorado Christian Universityemphasizes that communication is a two way street, meaning that effective communication is not only being able to explain your perspective and the company’s perspective, but rather, “listening to your team and working with them to produce results within their position.”Humans have two ears and one mouth and yet seem to think talking is more important than listening and an effective manager has learned the opposite to be the case.To lead effectively, you’ll also need to really understand task management and proper delegation. You need to do an excellent job of assigning tasks that utilize the sta ff’s skillsets and time beneficially.A worker stuck doing a task they are poor at because their management doesn’t listen is not someone whose providing their true value.You Can Do ThisToday you walk out into the room. You look at everyone else, smile, say hello and begin your day. Today you do your job to the best of your abilities. You lead with honest communication and guide your company into the height of its effectiveness.eval

6 Time Thieves That Are Holding You Back At Work - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

6 Time Thieves That Are Holding You Back At Work Do you regularly leave work with a sense of niggling dissatisfaction that you haven’t got everything done that you’d hoped to do? You’re not alone. Social media, your phone, even colleagues chatting to you over the water cooler these are all ‘time thieves’ that steal the working day from us. Try this free time management test to see how much time you waste on these distractions! If you want to stay on schedule and ensure that deadlines are met, you need to eliminate those time thieves from your life â€" but don’t worry, you don’t need to throw your phone out, ban yourself from Twitter, and work in complete silence! You simply need to learn how to manage distractions. With some effort and commitment, you can maintain focus on work and get things done at a steady pace. The first step is to understand what these time thieves are, how they can impact productivity and compromise your career. Here’s a list of time thieves and how to cope with them: Disorganisation Being organised comes naturally to some people â€" but not at all to others! When you’re organised, it’s easier to determine which task needs to be focused on next, how it needs to be done and how much time it will take. If you don’t plan things well, it will lead to uncertainty, and most of your time and energy will be spent making task and schedule-related decisions. How to deal with it: Create a schedule and work from to-do lists. You could use a planning app like Workflowy or even a good old planner book to organise your day. Take a look at the amount of work that you need to complete each day and schedule the most complex and time-consuming tasks for the morning (or whenever you are most productive) and the easy ones for the end of the day when you’re tired. That should help you stay on top of your work.   Lack of clear goals You need goals to keep you on track and ensure you’re getting your work done. Lack of goals will lead to conflicts, lack of focus, mistakes, and delays. In contrast, when you have a clear goal in mind, it’s easier to create a path leading to it. That reduces the amount of time and effort needed to get the job done and helps you remain productive. How to deal with it: Make note of everything you want to achieve with your work or project and identify the end goals. Divide them into three clear categories: short-term goals, medium-term goals, and long-term goals, before creating a plan for them. Review these goals regularly and revise them if needed.   Hesitance to delegate With so much competition in the workplace, and the fear of redundancy ever-present, some people become stared of delegating tasks assigned to them. In an attempt to go the extra mile in order to prove their worth in the office, they end up adding to their workload and stress. Not only can this cause problems in your schedule, but it can also compromise the quality of your work. How to deal with it: Identify what can be delegated and delegate it! Your superiors will actually see it as a waste of your time if you’re doing work that could be delegated to a junior colleague instead of working to your own full potential. This will free you up to work on more important jobs that will further your career. Lack of focus and concentration If you’re working late and not getting enough sleep, or perhaps not sleeping because you’re stressed about work, you’re stuck in a negative cycle that will see you struggling more at work as a consequence of being over-tired. Personal and professional stress can have a big impact on productivity and focus, which is why it’s necessary to address stress-related issues as soon as you notice them instead of trying to work your way through it. How to deal with it: If you’re unable to focus consistently, take a step back from work and identify the root cause of the problem. Ask yourself why you’re unable to focus and look at the different kinds of stresses that surface in your daily life. Once you’ve identified the problem, you can tackle it using whatever method seems most suitable, from seeing a counsellor to exercising more to reducing your hours at work. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling. Try Mind in the UK or Mental Health America.   Procrastination If you’ve got a lengthy, difficult, or boring task ahead of you, and find yourself doing the dishes or browsing Twitter instead of doing it, you’ve fallen victim to this most common of time thieves! The more challenging you find the thought of working on a particular project, the more you’re more likely to put it off as much as possible.   How to deal with it: Dealing with procrastination requires commitment and effort. You need to organise the day’s schedule, identify habits that result in procrastination and work towards eliminating them. Schedule tasks you’re most likely to procrastinate over first and the more interesting projects for later. That will motivate you to work on the tedious task first and get it done quickly so you can get to the good stuff! The Internet/communications technology The internet can be an incredibly useful professional tool but it’s also the biggest cause of distractions in the modern world! Social media, phone calls, emails, messages, etc are all part-and-parcel of everyday life, but you have to be incredibly strict not to let them mess with your work schedule â€" and millions of workers are failing at this! How to deal with it: The best way to deal with the problem is to place your phone on silent, disable all social media alerts, and ask friends and family not to call or send messages during work hours unless absolutely necessary. Schedule small intervals in your daily plans where you check your messages and catch up with the news. That will help you focus better. Eliminating these time thieves from your life won’t be easy â€" you’ll have to work at it! But making a conscious effort to keep distractions at bay will improve your productivity and quality of work so much that you’ll reap the rewards in no time. Praise from your boss, less stress, better sleep, maybe even a pay rise or promotion â€" all this could be yours! So don’t delay â€" start attacking those time thieves now! Ashley Andrews is an Inbound Marketing Strategist at Activia Training, a UK-based training provider specialising in improving delegates workplace performance in business skills, management development and IT applications. Ashley is passionate about sales and management issues, and regularly blogs about these and many other topics on the Activia blog.

Client Case Study Lisa Chartrand - When I Grow Up

Client Case Study Lisa Chartrand - When I Grow Up Um, do you know that Ive coached hundreds of women since I started offering dream career guidance in 2008? And that these women are freakin rock stars, leaving soul-sucking jobs and traveling the world and launching creative, grown-up businesses and simply doing work that fits their lifestyle goals? Well ya do now and youll hear their stories firsthand in my  Client Case Studies series! Lisa Chartrand completed  90 Day Business Launch just over a year ago, and its been thrilling to see her business, She Lives Red, take flight! She works with introverted and highly sensitive women to bring excitement and fulfillment back into their life on their own terms, and is also part of the 2019 Leadership Team for her alma matter, Courageous Living Coach Certification. I cant wait for you to meet her and learn more about her heart career! Why did you decide to work with me? I decided to work with you because I had all of these ideas living in my head around the coaching business I wanted to start and how I wanted to support people but I couldnt quite figure out how to put it all together into a clear picture. You helped me put the pieces together! What were you doing work-wise when we started working together and what are you doing now? I had been working in the health insurance industry and since we started working together, I am still working in that industry but in a job that is less stressful and more flexible so that I can build my heart career as a life coach! What was your biggest takeaway from our work together? My biggest takeaway from working together is that you dont have to have everything completely perfect and figured out to get started in creating your own business. GET STARTED! You will keep learning along the way and tweak things as you go, it is YOUR business after all! As you grow and change, your business will too! Think of someone who is currently in the shoes you wore when we first started working together. What advice do you have for her? My advice for anyone starting on this journey is to trust and believe. You CAN do this! If you can keep that with you along the way, it will help get you through on the hard days, because they will come. You CAN do work that you love. I would also add to stay open to possibilities you havent even thought of yet or have previously written off. When you stay open to really seeing all possibilities, you may be surprised with what you find! Whats on the horizon for your business? Wed love to hear about any upcoming offerings or goals!   I am on a mission to help introverted women bring excitement and fulfillment back into their life on their own terms. No loud crazy antics required! Right now in my business I am offering the Live Red Sessions! During the Live Red Sessions, I work with clients to create their Live Red Strategy so that they can move from feeling like life is stuck in a dull grey rut to a life filled with connection, passion and excitement- what I call Living Red! Where can we find you and your work? Website: www.shelivesred.com, @shelivesred on Instagram and Facebook