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The 10 tips of the profile of a good leader


Leaders must have specific characteristics that contribute to a better teamwork, achievement of results and professional development for all employees 
Every organization has leaders. There are leaders that have this position because that were identified by their teams and there are leaders who had the job but did not obtain acceptance of their followers. Are more "heads" rather than leaders.
Leaders must have specific characteristics that contribute to a better teamwork, achievement of results and professional development for all employees.
Here are some tips to identify if you have the profile of a good leader. An exemplary leader must:

1. Respect and trust your team: A good leader must always maintain respect, ethics and recognition among your team. Your team is your "face."

2. Knowing how to listen and guide, should listen carefully to the suggestions and questions of his team to analyze and transmit information in a transparent way the best guidance in search of desired results leaving no doubt about the goals.


3. Empathize: to understand your team, your personal values, strengths and difficulties exist and contribute to the growth of all.


4. Being motivated, must be resistant to frustration, know persists in the goals and ideals set.


5. Giving and receiving feedback: A good leader must have discretion to give feed back to contribute to the development of your team and also be tolerant and humble to listen to the feedback which may contain comments which are not always pleasant, but necessary for career growth.


6. Self motivation to achieve results: A good manager should be aware that the goals are often very challenging and thus must have the gift of communication to motivate your team and lead by example in search of goals.


7. Be innovative: it must constantly seek new ways of performing existing tasks to remain attractive and provide greater satisfaction at work of all involved.


8. Be flexible: A good manager must know when to "push" and "drop" the "node". Must be respected and not feared. Must know how to deal with the authority which has, however, maintaining their respect with the team. Should persist in their opinions and strategies, but when you realize that obtained yield positive contributions of their followers.


9. Being a good planner and strategist, to plan the actions of the day, week and month. Identify difficulties encountered by his team, and alternative actions taken to achieve greater results in a shorter time and with greater quality.


10. Learn to delegate: A good leader needs to deliver the tasks consistently and safely. Must know how to delegate and trust your team and those who assumed the responsibilities which he has delegated.



After resume, don't blow the interview

It's vital to back up the good impression on paper with a strong performance in person

After resume, don't blow the interview
BY JESSICA GLAZER, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Once a company wants to meet you, it means your résumé has been viewed, and the company you applied for, likes what you have presented on paper. So now, it's your time to shine. Chances are if you don't make it past the first interview, then something you said or did within the interview setting was not right. The match they thought they saw through your résumé was not present when they met you. During the interview, you must always remain professional, bring three copies of your résumé and dress in a suit. You can always dress down, once you get hired but you can never call or email your potential employer and address the issue that you should have dressed up for the occasion.

If you are late, don't apologize for being late; don't be late. However, in life, things happen. You can get stuck in traffic, your boss may make you stay later then expected or your kids have you behind schedule but there's no reason why you can't call before actually arriving late. It's better to call and let them think you will be late than try to make it by the skin of your teeth and then not arrive on time.

While in the interview, do not chew gum; hiding it to the side of your mouth won't help.

So ask the reception where you can find a garbage or worse comes to worst swallow it and if you smoke do not smoke outside the office. You are not hired and the people outside are not your co-workers.

In fact it's the opposite, until you get hired, they wonder who you are and can see you as a threat and if they see someone they don't know, like a pack of wolves they are territorial and will question your every move.

Everything you do until the moment you are hired, you are judged so think accordingly.

When you are asked a question, be clear and concise with your answers. Don't just answer yes or no, even if you are asked a close ended question. Elaborate on your answer with concrete examples about what you have done in the past that match what the company needs you do. Engage in a conversation. The more they know about you the better.

When asked about your past or current employer, as bad as it may have been, do not knock your boss or your co-workers. There was a time when you did get along with them; as a reminder, this was when you were hired, so don't say anything negative. Turn every experience you had into a positive experience. No one wants to hire Negative Nancy for their office, or someone who can't get along with others.

In regards to your experience, don't say "I don't have experience."Attitude and enthusiasm go a long way. What can you do? What have done that's related to what they are looking for? Never lie or exaggerate your experiences but think of what you have done that correlates to what they need. Often the potential employer isn't asking questions as much as the prospective employee is just rambling to the point of no return, because they are nervous or feel that companies want to hear everything. Just demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and show off the skills and experience you do have that will contribute to the career at hand.

In regards to salary, it's okay to intern, it's okay to volunteer but don't sell yourself short. Find out what industry standards are and go from there. Know what you are worth and expect others to appreciate you as well. If you are working never give an actually salary range regarding what you are looking for like 50-60k. The company will always think closer to 50k and the interviewee will always think closer to 60k.

We all have our weaknesses but saying you will never work overtime should not be one of them. At times you may be asked to work overtime. Everyone can work overtime one day a year if need be. If the job for which you are interviewing for requires more overtime then you are unwilling or unable to work extra hours due to other commitments, then say what those commitments are and worse comes to worse then this job may not be the job for you.

If you have a jumpy resume don't say "I don't like to stay in one place very long." or "I changed companies because I needed to be challenged" This makes you look very unstable. A company wants to hire people that will stay, not feel as though they are big used to gain some experience as they will change every year or two. Have solid reasons as to why you left and even if it was for more challenges explain exactly what those challenges were rather then just saying "more challenges were offered." Communication is key.

Don't give "we" sentences! Who is "we"? This is not an interview for a team it's an interview for YOU what did YOU do?

If you get nervous in an interview, then print out the job description in advance and write line for line what you have done that matches the job at hand this way when questions are asked, you don't have to think right then and there what you have done that matches the company and career at hand because at the end of the day, this is just a conversation between two people.

Jessica Glazer is recruitment director and founder of MindHR, a placement agency in Montreal.

Starting Over Again



When you stop chasing the wrong things you give
the right things a chance to catch you.
As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.


Here are some ideas to get you started:
  1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.  Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth.  And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
  2. Stop running from yourupset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall.  Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time.  This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
  3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself.  Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. 
  4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  Yes, help others; but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
  5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you likeeveryone else.  Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you.  Don’t change so people will like you.  Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
  6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
  7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.  Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success.  You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
  8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
  9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive.  But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
  10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either.  You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else.
  11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.  Evaluate situations and take decisive action.  You cannot change what you refuse to confront.  Making progress involves risk.  Period!  You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
  12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
  13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely.  It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.  There’s no need to rush.  If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
  14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet.  Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you.  But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
  15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others are doing better than you.  Concentrate on beating your own records every day.  Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
  16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.  Ask yourself this:  “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
  17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.  You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough.  But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past.  You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation.  So smile!  Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
  18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart.  You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.  Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.”  It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.”  Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself!  And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too.  If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
  19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
  20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway.  Just do what you know in your heart is right.
  21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.  Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
  22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.  The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
  23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.
  24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Don’t take the easy way out.  Do something extraordinary.
  25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while.  You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well.  You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears.  The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
  26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
  27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out.  But making one person smile CAN change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  So narrow your focus.
  28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy.  One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?  Three years?  Five years?”  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
  29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
  30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life.  Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.  Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.
  31. problems. – Face them head on.  No, it won’t be easy.  There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them.  We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems.  That’s not how we’re made.  In fact, we’re made to get 

How Being Unreachable Makes Me More Productive




Want to know a secret? I am not always reachable.
I don’t always answer my phone. Sometimes, I don’t check email all day. And I get a lot more done because of it.

Knock, Knock, …and Knock
One day I was in my office having a meeting on an important topic.
Meanwhile, a colleague emailed me. Then he texted.
Then he rang my desk phone, followed immediately by my cellphone. (I am not making this up.)
And finally, he came downstairs and knocked on my door.
At this point, I figured that something critical was going on, so I stepped out of the meeting to see what was so important.
It turns out he was simply looking for a reference document that he had misplaced.
It was not urgent.Yet, this individual did not see the issue in repeatedly pinging and interrupting me. In fact, he was frustrated that he could not immediately reach me.

Limiting the Interruptions

I am a big believer that our communication tools are there for our benefit. Not for the benefit of others to constantly interrupt our lives.
The answer to the question, “Why didn't you answer your phone?”
is, “Because I was busy.”
When I am working on something important, I tend to shut out all outside interruptions. I go to my unreachable island of isolation so that I can get work done.
Here are some of my favorite tactics to limit interruptions:
  1. Don’t Answer That Phone – If I don’t know who is calling, I don’t answer it. Plain and simple. That is what voice mail is for.
  2. Use Privacy Mode to Limit Callers – I take control of who can ring my cellphone by using Privacy Mode. That way only the people who I allow can actually ring my phone.
  3. Only Read the Important Email – I don’t read email very often. When I do, I make sure that I read the important ones first. I use the new VIP Inbox and a great service called Sanebox to make sure that my most important email is what I see first.
  4. Don’t Read Unsolicited Email – Lots of people complain about spam. I don’t get much. But, the ones I do, I just don’t read. Delete, delete, delete.
  5. Use Quick Forms of Communication – A quick IM, text, or tweet can be much more efficient in some circumstances. Sometimes it is not necessary to get on the phone or have a face-to-face chat.
  6. I Shut My Door - When I am working on something that needs concentration and uninterrupted creative time, I shut my door. Don’t let some misguided open-door policy prevent you from getting your work done.
  7. Set Expectations – One of the best ways to limit interruptions is to set expectations with your team. Ensure they know the preferred methods of communications and when it is appropriate to interrupt.
  8. Practice the Right to Decline – Many people feel guilty if they do not answer their phone or immediately respond to an email. Give yourself permission to decline the interruptions.

Isolate Yourself When Necessary

can go to my own island to avoid interruptions. And I may be unreachable, for a time, while I am getting work done.
You are welcome to join me.  Just make sure you turn your phone ringer off.
Question: Do you ever make yourself unreachable in order to get work done?


Top 10 Ways to Be Happy at Work

Even the best employer may not be best for everyone. These are the factors that will help you find happiness at work.

1. Choose to Be Happy at Work

Smiling man is happy at work.
Happiness is largely a choice. I can hear many of you arguing with me, but it's true. You can choose to be happy at work. Sound simple? Yes. But, simplicity is often profoundly difficult to put into action. I wish all of you had the best employer in the world, but, face it, you may not. So, think positively about your work. Dwell on the aspects of your work you like. Avoid negative people and gossip. Find coworkers you like and enjoy and spend your time with them. Your choices at work largely define your experience. You can choose to be happy at work.

2. Do Something You Love Every Single Day

Man and women working on a solution.
You may or may not love your current job and you may or may not believe that you can find something in your current job to love, but you can. Trust me. Take a look at yourself, your skills and interests, and find something that you can enjoy doing every day. If you do something you love every single day, your current job won't seem so bad. Of course, you can always make your current job work or decide that it is time toquit your job.

3. Take Charge of Your Own Professional and Personal Development

Computer training class.
A young employee complained to me recently that she wanted to change jobs because her boss was not doing enough to help her develop professionally. I asked her whom she thought was the person most interested in her development. The answer, of course, was her. You are the person with the most to gain from continuing to develop professionally. Take charge of your own growth; ask for specific and meaningful help from your boss, but march to the music of your personally developed plan and goals. You have the most to gain from growing - and the most to lose, if you stand still.

4. Take Responsibility for Knowing What Is Happening at Work

Man seeks information through a magnifying glass.
People complain to me daily that they don't receive enough communication and information about what is happening with their company, their department's projects, or their coworkers. Passive vessels, they wait for the boss to fill them up with knowledge. And, the knowledge rarely comes. Why? Because the boss is busy doing her job and she doesn't know what you don't know. Seek out the information you need to work effectively. Develop an information network and use it. Assertively request a weekly meeting with your boss and ask questions to learn. You are in charge of the information you receive.

5. Ask for Feedback Frequently

Positive feedback.
Have you made statements such as, "My boss never gives me any feedback, so I never know how I'm doing." Face it, you really know exactly how you're doing. Especially if you feel positively about your performance, you just want to hear him acknowledge you. If you're not positive about your work, think about improving and making a sincere contribution. Then, ask your boss for feedback. Tell him you'd really like to hear his assessment of your work. Talk to your customers, too; if you're serving them well, their feedback is affirming. You are responsible for your own development. Everything else you get is gravy.

6. Make Only Commitments You Can Keep

Keeping commitments.
One of the most serious causes of work stress and unhappiness is failing to keep commitments. Many employees spend more time making excuses for failing to keep a commitment, and worrying about the consequences of not keeping a commitment, than they do performing the tasks promised. Create a system of organization and planning that enables you to assess your ability to complete a requested commitment. Don't volunteer if you don't have time. If your workload is exceeding your available time and energy, make a comprehensive plan to ask the boss for help and resources. Don't wallow in the swamp of unkept promises.

7. Avoid Negativity

Avoid negativity to be happy at work.
Choosing to be happy at work means avoiding negative conversations, gossip, and unhappy people as much as possible. No matter how positively you feel, negative people have a profound impact on your psyche. Don't let the negative Neds and Nellies bring you down. Take a look at: And, keep on singing in the car on your way to work - or start.

8. Practice Professional Courage

Practice professional courage to be happy.
If you are like most people, you don't like conflict. And the reason why is simple. You've never been trained to participate in meaningful conflict, so you likely think of conflict as scary, harmful, and hurtful. Conflict can be all three; done well, conflict can also help you accomplish your work mission and your personal vision. Conflict can help you serve customers and create successful products. Happy people accomplish their purpose for working. Why let a little professional courage keep you from achieving your goals and dreams? Make conflict your friend.


9. Make Friends

Three smiling coworkers.





In their landmark book, First, Break All The Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently (Compare Prices), Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman list twelve important questions. When employees answered these questions positively, their responses were true indicators of whether people were happy and motivated at work. One of these key questions was, "Do you have a best friend at work?" Liking and enjoying your coworkers are hallmarks of a positive, happy work experience. Take time to get to know them. You might actually like and enjoy them. Your network provides support, resources, sharing, and caring.



10. If All Else Fails, Job Searching Will Make You Smile

If all of these ideas aren't making you happy at work, it's time to reevaluate your employer, your job, or your entire career. You don't want to spend your life doing work you hate in an unfriendly work environment. Most work environments don't change all that much. But unhappy employees tend to grow even more disgruntled. You can secretly smile while you spend all of your non-work time job searching. It will only be a matter of time until you can quit your job - with a big smile.




What do I do if I’m unhappy at Work?


Every person becomes unhappy at work at some time or another. It’s the natural emotional ebb and flow of being human. Even the best job has its problems.
You probably have certain expectations that can’t be met. These expectations must be emotionally bridged or you will constantly be grasping for unattainable happiness.
This article is not about settling for a crappy job. That’s the furthest thing from my mind. I believe you need to use your superpowers at work so you can optimize our present happiness while planning your most rewarding future.
Superpowers are actions that excite you, get you in the zone, and play to your strengths. If you aren't using your superpowers at work you are missing out on doing meaningful work that will engage every part of your mind.
First you must allow yourself to feel and understand your present situation. A good scream or a good cry can cleanse the mind. It all depends on the person. When you allow yourself to feel the emotion that is blocking you from moving on, then you can accept your current situation.

After accepting this emotion, you have limitless ability to learn from this process.
The only way to understand what type of work will bring you the most happiness in the future is to understand your present self. That means dealing with your emotions and building internal tools.
Learn to watch your emotions when they occur, then create a plan that will help you explore and encourage personal growth. Some of this may be painful, but believe me it’s a good pain. It’s this pain that will help make you smarter and emotionally stronger. I don’t mean stronger as in more stoic. I define emotional strength as the ability to process emotions and bring the mind back into balance.

After studying videos and articles, here are together a list of 8 tasks that will help you work happier.

  1. Find meaning.
  2. Become more aware of self-talk.
  3. Don’t take interactions personally.
  4. Help someone else become happy.
  5. Remember 3 good things.
  6. Utilize Smart Breaks.
  7. Speak up and take Action.
  8. Use More of Your Strengths.

These are concepts that are easy to understand, but may be hard to implement. You’ll need to practice these to make sure they become a part of you. I’ll break them down so you can apply them to your working life.

1. Find Meaning
If you believe in the work you do, it will be easier to connect to each task.
It’s a simple equation.
Blood + Sweat + Tears = Passion
People who are passionate about their work will do almost anything to make sure the job is done well.
The problem many of us have is that we can’t connect with the work we are presently doing.
Maybe you don’t believe in the service or product.

A BMW salesman  took a pay cut to sell Honda cars. He didn't believe that BMW’s value was worth the extra expense. He did believe in Honda’s value to price ratio. So instead of selling a car he didn't believe in, he switched jobs to have an easier time connecting with his product. The best part is that within six months he was making more money because his customers sent their friends and family members to him. He received twice as many word of mouth sales. This happened because he believed in his product.

You need to find a way to connect with your job. I would suggest that you start by listing all of the aspects of your products and services that deliver value. A few of these items should ping your heart.
If you can’t find value in anything you are doing, then you probably need to find a new job.
If a few of these items from your list tug at your emotions, then expand on them. How can you consistently keep these feelings at the forefront of your brain as you work?
You should keep these emotional simulators in a place where you can see them. If you are feeling down and your energy is broken, then read over these simulators and try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who needs your product or service.
If you find that these emotional simulators aren't doing the trick, then you need to become more aware of the internal story that prevents you from connecting to your work.

2. Become more aware of self-talk
You have continual dialog going on inside your head. The dialog can be positive, negative, or neutral.
It’s what you do with this dialog that will determine your perspective.
You've probably seen a co-worker who can take almost any situation in stride. They seem to have a magical ability to roll with their problems. This talent is largely due to the way that they communicate with themselves.

I worked along side a friend who could find the joy in every situation. I was amazed by her ability. During my time with her, I was at a point in my career where I was so pessimistic that I couldn't see even a sliver of joy in the work that I did.
I studied her, watching her ability to enjoy even the most stressful situation.
The most important reason for her emotional success was her ability to talk herself through a problem. There were times when I could hear her whispering encouraging thoughts or jokes to make herself giggle.
She took her inner dialog to a new level. Instead of allowing her “self-talk” to beat herself up she used it to find a constructive point of view. She built upon each thought, allowing her thoughts to take her to an internal place that brought her joy.

You have this ability too. When you are in a stressful situation, watch your thoughts and see how they add or subtract to your happiness. If you are having thoughts that subtract from your joy, then try to offset this with fresh angles that help you see the positive. I usually try to think of things for which I am grateful. This helps me stay balanced.
By noticing what you are grateful for, you’ll expand your choices. The more positive choices you have the more likely you will feel happy.

3. Don’t Take Interactions Personally
See Peter's story:
"I went to a therapist when I was in my mid twenties. I needed help. I was constantly frustrated by work, relationships and life in general.
My biggest struggle was relationships. I was afraid to joke around with new friends for fear of hurting someone else’s feelings. I was also afraid of what people thought of me. There were times when I decided to stay home instead of putting myself at risk of being judged by others.
Yep, I was a mess.
I thought that if I isolated myself from the pain that I would be happier. This only made me even more unhappy."

We all know that we shouldn't take other people’s comments personally because they are just dealing with their own problems. I look at how angry and sad many people are. They never feel that they are treated fairly at work, in traffic or at home.
Most of the time these people are signaling others to treat them unfairly. It goes back to creating positive inner dialog. Instead of letting other people’s negative comments bring us down, we need to see every interaction as an opportunity for growth.
I’ve learned that people who speak negatively about other people really see this trait in themselves. They only see life from their perspective. They haven’t been able to expand beyond their own issues.

The way you can adjust your perspective on other people’s comments is to empathize with them. You can allow them to say what is on their mind, without taking it personally. You will be taking the first step toward mastering your own emotions.
Whenever someone makes an upsetting comment about you, it helps to ask yourself, “Why do they feel this way about themselves?” You’ll eventually stop putting the blame on yourself.
When you stop taking everything personally you can find ways to bring joy to your relationships without fear of what someone might say about you.

4. Help Someone Else Become Happy
Your happiness can expand if you help someone else become happy at work. I can cite about a dozen articles about the psychology of this process, but most of them a pretty dry and boring.
It’s better to demonstrate by using an example that I know you've all experienced.

Laughter. Yes, the endorphin releasing experience that we all love so much.
When you make someone laugh, how does it make you feel? It makes you feel good. It’s a basic part of being human.
Making someone else laugh is the same as helping someone at work: when you do it, you increase your own happiness. You stop worrying about yourself and focus on making someone else happy. The best part is that you improve your own happiness at the same time.

I finally found one quote that resonated with me:
“When I’m feeling a bit down and I stop myself and say, ‘Let’s forget about me for a moment and do something nice for others,’ the negative feelings subside, and a sense of bliss flows in to replace them. It’s quite simple in practice. The challenge is remembering to do it.”
- Steve Pavlina’s article Afternoon of Life
This trait is the basis of all good friendships.

5. Remember 3 Good Things
When you take the time to remember 3 good things, you are training yourself to see the positive in each day. Alex Krujelf the Chief Happiness Officer, gave this tip.

Many of us actually do the opposite: we look at all the upsetting things that happened in our day, thinking that if we look over our mistakes we can avoid repeating them. This causes us to focus on the negative and beat ourselves up.

When I first started practicing the “3 Good Things” habit, I noticed a difference right away. Despite the fact, that my job at the time, was dragging me down. I found any tiny bit of joy that was in my day and added it to my list. By the time I was done listing three things, my mood had always picked up and I found myself looking for the positives in other things.
You can apply this habit at the end of your work day too. This is a perfect activity for your commute home. If you work from home, then remove yourself from your home office and take five minutes to remember three good things that happened to you that day.

6. Utilize Smart Breaks
Smart breaks replenish the mind and body. Without a good break between tasks, you won’t be able to stay productive. You know how inefficient your brain becomes when you work too hard, whether you are studying or working on a project for hours at a time. You get cranky and start to cut corners.

The difference between a smart break and a regular leisure break is the focus. Anyone can take a break, but most breaks don’t really help you release your stress and prepare you to go back to work. A smart break is an optimized break that allows you to rejuvenate yourself.
I’ve been guilty of not taking smart breaks. I would waste my “break time” either stressing out about the task I was working on or worrying about something else in my life. I had trouble relaxing my mind in order to replenish my creativity.
I needed to learn to relax in the moment and not let any thoughts distract me from my purpose.  When I returned to work on my project and I could still feel my mind going to mush, I figured out that the best thing for me to do was just to get up and start walking somewhere, anywhere. My favorite place is outside. Nature is a great source of calm and replenishes my energy. I’ve found that a walk outside allows me to go back to work with a fresh angle on the problem.

The best part about taking smart breaks is that the more a person utilizes this stress reducer, the more it helps. It also takes less time with practice. You will eventually learn to recognize when you need a break and know exactly how to reenergize yourself back to feeling good. A few years ago I needed 15 – 20 minutes to replenish my energy. Now I can usually recharge in 5 – 10 minutes.
Once you find out what works best for you, just keep tweaking it until it becomes a habit that you look forward to. Once smart breaks become a part of your routine, you’ll find that you are more motivated and productive.

7. Speak Up and Take Action
You may be the most peaceful person in the world and perhaps this makes you happy, but when you aren't being treated fairly you have to speak up. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

Bullying at work has become an epidemic that needs to be addresses by every organization.

“From the data obtained, the researchers tell SINC that 14% of the respondents have confirmed having suffered situations of psychological abuse over the past six months, with 5.8% suffering frequently and the rest, 8.2%, occasionally.”
- e science news from the article Bullies have harassed 14 percent of workers over past 6 months

This research was done in Spain, but bullies are in every organization.

"I had a boss who loved to bully me. He would verbally abuse me. He once told me that he could have a monkey do a better job than me. There were days when I would go home and cry. I felt lost and out of options."

I hope that you never experience this situation, and if you do then please create a plan to change it and take quick action.
That may mean talking to the person who is bulling you or finding a better situation. You have options and people do want to help, but only you can take control of your happiness.

8. Use More of Your Strengths
As I age, I learn more about what I’m good at and what type of projects energize me. I love the thrill of discovery and teaching. That’s why I love Work Happy Now. I’m constantly discovering what makes me and my readers happy at work, then finding the best angle to teach others how to discover their own work happiness.

It wasn't until a few years ago, after studying hours of career speakers on YouTube and dozens of other sites, that I realized the importance of working with my strengths. I realized that my strength was in writing to discover.
I never thought of discovery as a strength, but it certainly is. I just thought it was just something I did. Once I understood what excited me, I tried to do more of the type of work that fit with my strengths.

You can also find a way to use your own strengths at your job so you can leverage more happiness. That may mean volunteering for work that you enjoy doing even if you have a full plate. Hopefully your manager and co-workers will notice and try to give you more work of this kind.

Bear in mind that this will take patience. It takes time to retrain people on what type of work to give you.

You Can be Happy at Work
Now is the time to feel happy at work. You can’t live for retirement. That’s no way to survive.

You should never settle for average. You have a ton of creativity and energy within you; all you need to do is find the right fit. It just takes a plan and some action to make it happen.

Whether you need a little tweak at your current job or a complete overhaul, don’t put it off any longer.

You have an opportunity to do great work that makes you feel happy and excited. Don’t let this moment slip away. It may seem like a difficult task, but I promise if you build slowly, you will find yourself in the career of your dreams in no time.

***

Sometimes we just need to slow down and simplify our lives. That’s why I visit Zen Habits. It always gives me a new perspective on every day issues.



Top 10 signs you’re unhappy at work


How do you know that you’re unhappy at work? That something is not right and that it’s time to either make some changes at work or move on to a new job?
In my work, I talk to a lot of people who are not happy with their jobs. Here are the top ten symptoms of unhappiness at work that I’ve observed. How many apply to you?




1: You procrastinate
You really, honestly try to get some work done. But somehow you never really get around to it. Or you only do it at the last possible moment and then only do a half-baked effort.
Many people view procrastination as a personal weakness. To me, it’s one of the strongest warning signs of unhappiness at work.

2: You spend Sunday night worrying about Monday morning
“I never sleep on Sunday night very well because I’m worried about going to work on Monday morning. My job is very stressful and you kind of have to gear up for Monday and getting back into that.” (source)
One of the worst things about being unhappy at work is that the unhappiness bleeds over into your free time. If you’ve had a lousy day at work, it’s difficult to go home and have a great evening. If your week sucked, it’s hard to have a fun, relaxed, carefree weekend.

3: You’re really competitive about salary and titles
You don’t like the job itself, so you focus much more on salary and perks. Knowing that someone in a similar position is paid more than you, or is promoted when you’re not, really eats at you.
When we’re unhappy at work we get a lot more competitive, for one simple reason: When work doesn’t give us happiness and enjoyment we want to get something else out of it. And what else is there but compensation and promotions.

4: You don’t feel like helping co-workers
Your colleagues may be struggling. But you don’t really feel like lending a hand. Why should you?
One very interesting psychological study started by putting subjects in either a good mood or a bad mood. They were then asked to go down the hall to another room where the experiment would continue. In the hallway the real experiment took place – the subjects passed a man holding a big box struggling to open a door. Would the subject help that person? The experiment showed, that when we’re in a bad mood, we’re much less likely to help others.

5: Work days feel looooong
The first thing you do in the morning, is calculate the number of hours until you can go home.
Ironically, this makes the work day feel even longer.

6: You have no friends at work
Friends at work? They’re mostly all jerks anyway.
Gallup have found in their studies of workplace engagement, that one of the strongest factors that predict happiness at work is having at least one close friend at work.

7: You don’t care. About anything.
Things can go well or they can go badly for your workplace. Either way, you don’t really give a damn.
When you’re unhappy, you care mostly about yourself and not so much about the workplace.

8: Small things bug you
Small annoyances bug you out of all proportion. Like someone taking up too much space in the parking lot, someone taking the last coffee without brewing a new pot or someone talking too loudly in the next cubicle.
When you’re unhappy you have much thinner skin and a shorter fuse. It takes a lot less to annoy you.

9: You’re suspicious of other people’s motives
No matter what people do, your fist thought is “what are they up to?” Good or bad, big or small, all decisions and actions made by your co-workers and managers are seen in this light.
Studies show that we’re also more suspicious of others when we’re unhappy.

10: Physical symptoms
You suffer from insomnia, headaches, low energy, muscle tension and/or other physical symptoms.
Studies show that when you’re unhappy at work you’re more prone to experience these physical stress symptoms

Your take:
How many of these apply to you in your current job? Did I leave any important symptoms of workplace unhappiness out? Please write a comment. I’d really like to know your take!


Are you unhappy at work?


Are you one of those people who jump out of bed each day and who enjoy their work so much they can’t wait to get there? According to recent research, about 25% of us really love what we do for a living. Then there is the majority of people, about 56%, who describe themselves as somewhat happy with their work, but see room for improvement. Sadly, about 19% of us feel deeply unhappy with our work.
Interestingly, the number one thing that makes us unhappy at work is also the number one thing that makes us happy. Are you ready for it? It is the quality of our workplace relationships – how well we are getting along with our manager and coworkers, the level to which we feel valued by them, and how well our manager and workmates communicate with us.

Of course, there are other things that make us unhappy at work – a lack of meaningful recognition or reward, an ineffectual manager, changes that are poorly implemented, lack of opportunity to progress or learn new skills, ideas being ignored, the actual work not being enjoyable, and not feeling like what you do makes a difference. These results, of course, also give clues about what helps people to be happier at work. It is interesting to note that it was the minority of people, primarily those who are most unhappy at work, who say that a higher salary will help them to feel more satisfied.

I believe that becoming happier at work first involves developing the right attitude. An example of what I mean by this is the attitude that ‘my happiness is up to me’. We can choose to be happy, or at least as happy as possible, even while in a workplace that is challenging. It is not the absence of stressors that will make us happy but more the attitude we have to them.

Along with having the right attitude we also need to be willing to take action. It could be to negotiate with your boss about changes that would make your work more satisfying. It could also be a willingness to address a relationship difficulty at work before it becomes a bigger issue. For some, the action they need to take is getting themselves into a better workplace.

Although this is easy to say, for some it is preferable to make their work as satisfying as possible despite the challenges. To do so, you first need to think about what would make you feel more satisfied at work and the steps you can take that are in your control. You may also need to take action to make your personal life more satisfying. The good news is that the more satisfying your free time is, the better you cope with challenges at work.



Top-10 cover letter tips


  1. Do your homework. Learn what you can about the company or organization you’re applying to, so you can tailor your cover letter and really show the employer that you could be a good fit.
  2. Follow instructions. Be sure to include any information that was requested in the job posting. If the posting asked for the amount of hours a week you are available to work, be sure to answer that question in the cover letter.
  3. Don’t just restate your résumé. Use your letter as an opportunity to make a great first impression. Most employers read the cover letter first, so you want to catch their attention by describing your impressive skills. That way, they are more likely to read your full résumé.
  4. Personalize your letter. When possible, address your cover letter to a specific person. Use their name and title, and make sure the spelling of the name is correct.
  5. Tailor your letter to the job. Make sure the skills and experience you highlight in your cover letter are clearly connected to the job you’re applying for.
  6. Presentation counts. Use a font that’s easy to read, like 12-point Times New Roman or Arial. Using 8.5 x 11-inch white paper is usually a smart choice.
  7. Break it down. Make your cover letter easier to read by breaking the text down into short paragraphs.
  8. Use a professional tone. Be sure to use professional and respectful language when writing your cover letter.
  9. Be brief. Your cover letter should be no more than one page long—the best strategy is to keep it short and to the point.
  10. Proofread. Review your cover letter several times; don’t just rely on spell-check. Ask someone else to proofread it as well.






Writing a Cover Letter


Be sure to include a cover letter with your résumé when you apply for a job. This page will help you write a strong cover letter and provide you with tips, examples, and templates to help you get closer to the job you’re looking for.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a formal letter that accompanies your résumé. Use it to introduce yourself to potential employers, and to convince them that you’re the right person for the job.
Your cover letter doesn’t simply re-state your résumé—it offers some new information, and it highlights the skills you have that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.





Important information to include in your cover letter
The three main objectives of your cover letter are to:
  1. introduce yourself, identify the position you are applying for, and explain how you found out about the position
  2. explain how you are qualified for the position and why you would be a great fit for the job
  3. request an interview and thank the employer

Sample cover letters

Although the basics of a cover letter remain the same, the information you include in your cover letter may change, depending on whether or not the job is advertised.

Advertised job

In your cover letter for an advertised job, mention how you heard about the position—whether you heard from a job posting, a newspaper article, or from someone in your network of contacts.
Identify the position you’re interested in. If there’s a competition or job number, include it in your cover letter.
Review the qualifications or job description and describe why you would be a good fit for the job, based on your skills and experience.

Unadvertised job

When writing a cover letter for an unadvertised job, introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in working for the company and how you came to hear about it.
Use your cover letter as an opportunity to pique the employer’s interest in you as a potential interviewee, and to request an opportunity to discuss potential employment opportunities or the possibility of an informational interview.




Ten Cover Letter Don'ts





Your cover letter is the first thing employers see when they open your materials. Avoid these 10 mistakes, and make your first impression a good and lasting one.


Mistake #1: Overusing "I"
Your cover letter is not your autobiography. The focus should be on how you meet an employer's needs, not on your life story. Avoid the perception of being self-centered by minimizing your use of the word "I," especially at the beginning of your sentences.

Mistake #2: Using a Weak Opening
When writing a cover letter, job seekers frequently struggle with how to begin. This often results in a feeble introduction lacking punch and failing to grab the reader's interest. Consider this example:
Weak: Please consider me for your sales representative opening.
Better: Your need for a top-performing sales representative is an excellent match to my three-year history as a #1-ranked, multimillion-dollar producer.

Mistake #3: Omitting Your Top Selling Points
A cover letter is a sales letter that sells you as a candidate. Just like the resume, it should be compelling and give the main reasons you should be called for an interview. Winning cover letter tips include emphasizing your top accomplishments or creating subheadings culled from the job posting. For example:

-Your Ad Specifies: Communication skills

-I Offer: Five years of public speaking experience and an extensive background in executive-level report.

-Your Ad Specifies: The need for a strong computer background.

-I Offer: Proficiency in all MS Office applications with additional expertise in Web site development and design.

Mistake #4: Making It Too Long
If your cover letter exceeds one page, you may be putting readers to sleep. A great cover letter is concise but compelling, and respects the reader's time.

Mistake #5: Repeating Your Resume Word for Word
Your cover letter shouldn't regurgitate what's on your resume. Reword your cover letter statements to avoid dulling your resume's impact. Consider using the letter to tell a brief story, such as "My Toughest Sale" or "My Biggest Technical Challenge."

Mistake #6: Being Vague
If you're replying to an advertised opening, reference the specific job title in your cover letter. The person reading your letter may be reviewing hundreds of letters for dozens of different jobs. Make sure all the content in your letter supports how you will meet the employer's specific needs.

Mistake #7: Forgetting to Customize
If you're applying to a number of similar positions, chances are you're tweaking one letter and using it for multiple openings. That's fine, as long as you customize each letter. Don't forget to update the company, job and contact information -- if Mr. Jones is addressed as Mrs. Smith, he won't be impressed.

Mistake #8: Ending on a Passive Note
When possible, put your future in your own hands with a promise to follow up. Instead of asking readers to call you, try a statement like this: I will follow up with you in a few days to answer any preliminary questions you may have. In the meantime, you may reach me at (555) 555-5555.

Mistake #9: Being Rude
Your cover letter should thank the reader for his time and consideration.

Mistake #10: Forgetting to Sign the Letter
It is proper business etiquette (and shows attention to detail) to sign your letter. However, if you are sending your cover letter and resume via email or the Web, a signature isn't necessary.


By Kim Isaacs