Freelancing can be a wonderful way to work and can allow you more freedom in life in many ways. However, being a freelancer has its downsides and can mean it is harder to switch off; after all your success is down to you alone and it can be tempting to keep working! Here are some tips I’ve learnt: Set office hours Setting office hours can be helpful for both yourself and others. For yourself, it can mean a clear boundary between your work life and your personal life. Without a boss to tell you to go home, it can be tempting to answer one more email or try to tie up the loose ends on that project. Setting office hours can be useful for others too; clients will know when they can contact you and how long to expect for you to get back to them. A common freelancer mistake is to try and be available all the time; others will come to expect it of you and it can all too easily lead to burnout. Of course this doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible or help out in an emergency; but … [Read more...] about The Freelancers Guide to Switching Off
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Leader vs. Manager = What Are the Differences?
“All managers are leaders, but all leaders are not managers.” Leaders and managers are not the same thing, although there are lots of overlaps and it is possible to be both a leader and a manager. It can definitely help a manager to develop leadership qualities as well as management qualities, though there is often less relevance the other way around. For example, Martin Luther King was a leader, standing for something bigger than himself which was more of a calling than a job, so we wouldn’t say he ‘managed’ the civil rights movement . At the same time, the qualities we see in leaders such as Martin Luther King, are definitely transferrable to management positions. In summary: Leaders: can be self-appointed (leaders don’t need a managerial role to act) are inspired to make a positive change are leaders because of their personal qualities overall concern is the groups goals and think big are forward thinking inspire and motivate others has a vision and helps others to become … [Read more...] about Leader vs. Manager = What Are the Differences?
Incentives That Employees Actually WANT
What incentives do employees actually want? Offering practical incentives to employees is obviously good practice and will help to attract and retain staff however it has been increasingly found that appreciation, recognition and the sometimes more invisible incentives, are equally, if not more important to employees. As an employer, by all means offer good practical incentives but also be aware of advertising those other incentives too. Recognition Employees want to be recognised for who they are and the job they do. No amount of money or incentives will compensate for feeling like a small cog in a big wheel! Being Kept in the Loop A common complaint and frustration for employees is feeling out of the loop and being the last to know about issues that affect them and their job. Employees want to know that they will be kept informed and feel valued and appreciate being kept in the loop. It is not enough to think that they will find out through the grapevine or … [Read more...] about Incentives That Employees Actually WANT
How to Make Your Pay Check Last
Whatever job you do and however much you are paid, managing your pay check well is important. So how do we make the most of our paycheck and make it go further? Set a Budget Working out a realistic budget is the foundations of making your pay check go further. Sit down and work out all your essential expenses first (rent/mortgage, utility bills etc) and then move onto other expenses in order of priority. If you realise that your rent is taking up too much of your pay check, could you downsize or find somewhere cheaper to rent? What bills could you reduce? Get creative and see what expenses you can reduce in order to free up more of your pay check. You could try tracking all your expenses for a month to get a true indication of what you are spending your money on, so that you can get really clear about what you want to keep spending on and what can be cut. Live Within Your Means Once you have set yourself a budget, make sure you live within your means. It is important to make your … [Read more...] about How to Make Your Pay Check Last
Overwhelmed at Work? How to Cope
If you are feeling overwhelmed at work, you will know that it isn't a nice feeling. Everyone feels overwhelmed at one time or another, but if you can't see your way out of it and can't see a light at the end of the tunnel, here are a few ideas to help you handle this tricky time: Do You Need to Delegate? Maybe you just have too much work to cope with now? You might have some personal issues that are making it more difficult to stay on top of your work than usual? Whatever the reason, if you continue to feel overwhelmed it is important to let someone know and delegate or speak to a sympathetic manager that can help you do that. Don't continue to battle on alone and ignore the issue; that won't help anyone. Have You Been Trained Properly? At times, people are thrown into jobs that they just aren't trained for. Take a step back from your situation and see if you can get a sense whether that is what has happened to. You could ask a trusted co-worker for their feedback. If you … [Read more...] about Overwhelmed at Work? How to Cope
29 Inspiring Work Quotes
Trying to find work you love? Stuck in a rut with work and looking for some inspiration? Here are 29 quotes about work to lift you up and give you that inspiration you are looking for: Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work. Booker T. Washington Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction. Anne Frank Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it. Henry David Thoreau I think the person who takes a job in order to live - that is to say, for the money - has turned himself into a slave. Joseph Campbell There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something. Henry Ford Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Confucius All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and … [Read more...] about 29 Inspiring Work Quotes
When a Good Boss Becomes a Bad Boss
You enjoy your work and have a good relationship with your boss when you begin to notice that things are different; something is changing. The compliments become fewer and the criticisms more regular. The tactics that you used to keep your boss happy, don't work anymore. Your good boss becomes a bad boss. What to do? 1. Have You a Part to Play? If your relationship with your boss has changed, can you see what's really going on? Have you been slacking recently? Been off your game? Maybe you're unhappy with a decision your boss has made. The change may have nothing to do with you, but it is worth checking in with yourself and being honest to make sure that you are not part of the problem. If you find that you are, what can you do to resolve your part in the situation? 2. Don't Take it Personally When someone changes their behavior towards us for the negative, it can be easy to take it personally, but try not to, whatever the situation. Stay professional and … [Read more...] about When a Good Boss Becomes a Bad Boss
3 Ways to Deal with the Unreliability of Freelance, Temporary and Agency Work
Working on a freelance, temporary or agency basis can have a lot going for it, however there are downsides too; one being the sometimes unreliable nature of such work. Here are three tips to help you with this, in order to be an effective freelancer, temporary or agency worker: 1. Hedge Your Bets If you are planning to do freelance, temporary or agency work and already have a current job, it is worth seeing if you can do some of this work outside of your job to start with unless you know that there is enough work for you. That way you minimize the financial risk and get to try out the work to make sure it is really something you want to do. It can be a fine balance transitioning into freelance, temporary or agency work whilst you have another job. It is easier if your current job has some flexibility so you can gradually reduce your hours as your freelance, temporary or agency work picks up. Freelance, temporary or agency work can be a great way to work, but if you have … [Read more...] about 3 Ways to Deal with the Unreliability of Freelance, Temporary and Agency Work
Is it Time to Leave My Job?
Is it time to leave your job? This isn't always an easy question to answer. Some of us leave jobs too easily and some of us stay too long, for a variety of reasons. So, how do we know if the expiry date is really up on our job? Here are a few pointers:What's the Real Issue? You need to find out why what the real issue is about why you want to leave your job. If you dread going to work, is it a general feeling of boredom or ambivalence towards the work you do? Maybe you don’t feel that you gel with your co-workers or boss? Pinpointing exactly what the issue or issues are means you are better equipped to deal with it. Pinpointing the issue could mean that you find a way to deal with it and stay in your current job. A change of perspective on your part or realising that you need to ask for more of a challenge can help you move forward. If you do this work, but you still feel in your heart of hearts, it is time to move, then you are another step closer to your answer; it might be … [Read more...] about Is it Time to Leave My Job?
Handling Romantic Relationships in the Workplace
Work and relationships can be a funny mixture. On the one hand, work can be a great way to meet people but on the other hand, there is the professionalism issues and possible fallout that can come if things don't work out the way one or both of you would like. Finding out if someone likes you in that way can be difficult at work; you don't want to find out that you read the signals wrong. After all, you will have to face your co-worker every day in a professional capacity. Navigating this slippery slope is even more difficult than finding out when to give the perfect push present! You also need to think about whether you like them in that way too, if they are into you. If so, how do you proceed? If not, how to let them down gently and without ruining your professional relationship? Possible signs a co-worker likes you: They go out of their way to talk or engage with you They are interested in what you do outside work and whether or not you are going to the staff party … [Read more...] about Handling Romantic Relationships in the Workplace