Career Advice

One of the hardest things about moving to a new city is leaving a job you love. Yes, there really are people who love their jobs! It’s especially tough if you’ve been with a company for a while and have established yourself as a valued employee. Starting over with a new company after you move can feel rather daunting. Increase in Remote Workers Many companies are switching to a less centrally-located working platform and having employees not just telecommute from their nearby home offices, but also work from anywhere in the country. So maybe you have another option besides leaving your job when you move. Why not explore the idea of working for your company remotely after the move? Your Company’s Culture If your company expects nothing less than constant face time, meaning you must have your B.I.C. (Butt In Chair) at the office, you may have to say goodbye to your job. However, if your company already has a percentage of telecommuters and people working remotely from different … [Read more...] about Is It Possible to Work Remotely After Moving?

I've been blogging for a long time, but I'm not sure I've ever told you about the view from my office. My cubicle. I see 41 bricks.  And this makes me grateful. These bricks let me know when it's raining outside. Or when the sun is shining brightly.  It's a reminder that a world exists outside of these grayish-blue-cloth-lined walls. Would I rather be staring out across a meadow? An ocean? A city skyline?  Of course.  However, when I look at all of the people in the office building who have no window view whatsoever, I realize that I am one of the lucky ones. Here's why you should covet thy window: Connectedness. Whether you are a writer, a manufacturer, or a salesperson, a key element to success is keeping your audience/consumer in mind.  A window gives you a portal, a constant reminder that the world extends beyond the project you are working on. Outside Elements.  When the dark clouds gather and imminent danger presents itself, you'll be one of the first to know. This can help … [Read more...] about My Office View: 41 Bricks

The professional world is a daring and daunting place. Survival of the fittest, some would say. Therefore, if you want to gain an edge on the competition you need to become the fittest! A warrior! A fierce mercenary of valor! A competitor who knows no fear! Are you pumped yet? Well, you should be. There’s hope for you. Here’s what I mean. Most hires, job promotions, and good relationships with bosses have less to do with expertise and absolute effectiveness as they do less tangible impressions. Supervisors appreciate confidence, tenacity, ambition, and a person who demonstrates some healthy pride by taking care of themselves physically. These attributes are forged in fire, so take some initiative and begin training…boxing training, that is. The boxing fitness regimen is the best in its class for building more than just muscle. This program of exercise, utilized by boxers, emphasizes a healthy physique, mental and physical endurance, and general toughness, all of which are useful in … [Read more...] about How Boxing Can Change Your Professional Life

Telecommuting is now common in many of today’s workplaces. While this flexible work option offers benefits for employees, it often requires major management changes. In particular, if you’ve recently begun managing telecommuters, you may find your communication patterns with them differing from those with traditional in-office workers. Since the bulk of communication between telecommuters and their managers happens via email, it’s essential for you, the manager, to understand how to use this communication medium effectively. To avoid miscommunications during your venture into managing telecommuters, here are three tips for using this communication medium in the most effective manner. Tend to Subject Lines An email subject line should briefly summarize the intent of an email message. If an email is urgent and should be read immediately, include the word URGENT at the beginning followed by the topic of the message. While this may seem like common sense, many professionals misuse … [Read more...] about Proper Email Communication Tips When Managing Telecommuters

Employers are facing an unprecedented challenge in today’s workplace – managing multiple generations of employees. From veteran workers volunteering with organizations to generation Y now entering the workforce in droves, this mix of attitudes, work ethics and life experiences sets the tone for intense workplace debates if not managed properly. Addressing the generational demographics of your employees is essential for operating a functional business in today’s diverse workforce. However, avoid approaching the management of an intergenerational workplace in a negative light. Too many employers attempt to change the inherent workplace mentalities of each generation – manipulating generation Y workers into accepting a 9 to 5 schedule or in making veteran workers become more computer literate. Ultimately, these employers are setting themselves up for failure. To truly be successful in managing an intergenerational workplace, you must adopt policies that cater to all generational … [Read more...] about How to Minimize Conflicts in an Intergenerational Workplace

September 29, 2011 is National Coffee Day. Ahead of the highly-anticipated day, CareerBuilder and Dunkin’ Donuts have released their second annual list of professions that "rely" on coffee the most to get through the work day. Considering the negative affect caffeine has on our bodies, the findings are pretty alarming.  In fact, I'm kind of frightened that the educators teaching our children, the physicians scanning us for cancer, and the politicos trying to fix our economy, are all addicts.  But wait, the word caffeine is conveniently absent from the press release. I'm sure these folks are all drinking decaf. Not!Am I calling for a ban on caffeine in the workplace?  Of course not.  While I admit I am a tea snob, and someone who is hyper-sensitive to caffeine, I am also a huge proponent of all things in moderation.  I don't like the fact that people feel they need to "rely" on anything other than oxygen to get through the work day. And if you think the … [Read more...] about Caffeine Nazi Says: Roast National Coffee Day 2011

Good communication skills are vital for us to thrive in (most) work places, but how well do we really communicate? Answering this question and working on the areas that need attention can pay big dividends. Self Assessment If you would like to enhance your communication skills, take some time to honestly assess yourself. This can be a difficult task and may involve a lot of soul searching however getting honest with yourself will give you the opportunity to transform the way you communicate at work and in other areas of your life. Some questions you could consider are: How good are you at really listening?  (Note: Real listening is not just waiting for other people to finish talking so you can say what you want to say) Do you ask for what you want or do you complain instead that you can’t get what you want? Do you answer other people’s questions directly or ramble off topic? Do you use positive or negative language? Do you over explain or give limited information to others? Do … [Read more...] about Enhancing Communication Skills at Work

If you’ve read my posts, you know that I've always had trouble following the rules, especially rules in the workplace. I discovered in some recent reading that many workplace experts agree with me. Wow, I never thought that would happen! So here are some rules I suggest you break:  1.      Don’t say “I don’t know” or “I made a mistake.” – We learn early on at work that it isn’t viewed positively if you admit you don’t have the answer. But the problem with faking it is that invariably it will catch up with you later. So own up to it and say you’ll research the issue until you have an answer. Confessing that you made a mistake is also really risky. As we all know, blame has to be assigned somewhere. Step up and admit you made a bad call. Do what you can to make it right and learn from it.  2.      Don’t go out on a limb at work – Tell me if this has happened to you. You and your colleagues go into a meeting where you can tell your boss about an issue that’s causing you all problems. … [Read more...] about 6 Rules to Break at Work

I slept in till 9:30 a.m. this morning. I hate doing that because it perpetuates the myth that we who work at home are slouches. Normally, I get up around 7:15 and hit my desk by 8-ish. But the thermometer said 46 degrees and I wasn’t going to move out of that bed. Welcome to fall!Favorite SeasonA lot of people tell me fall is their favorite season and I agree, especially after the scorching summer we’ve had. I like the cooler weather, but I notice my SAD (seasonal affective disorder) starts to kick in. I’m way more interested in fats and sugar, feel down on cloudy days and have trouble getting motivated.I would imagine that even those of you without SAD are feeling distracted at work, maybe even a bit down because summer’s over and the days are getting shorter. How do you shift gears and head into fall without that affecting you? Take some steps to regroup with the change of season.Take InventoryTake note of what you didn’t accomplish over the summer. … [Read more...] about Happy Fall! Shifting Gears at Work for Autumn