How does one become popular at work? How do we increase the odds of being liked in the workplace? If you are popular in your workplace it might be something you take for granted, something that comes easily; however if you are struggling with bonding with your team or colleagues and feel that you are unpopular this can seem to be something elusive or hard to get a handle on. There are of course always different work places and cultures, but there is also usually a lot we can do ourselves to influence the odds. Here are some ideas:Learn from Others Many successful people recommend learning from others who are doing what they want already. Look at who's popular at your workplace and identify what you admire about them. You could ask someone you admire to mentor you. Traits like happiness, thoughtfulness and being a team player are common ones for popular people. I'm not talking about "copying" or being something that you are not, but about being aware of the ways of being that … [Read more...] about Increasing Your Popularity in the Workplace
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How to Get Organized at Work
Being organized helps us to feel calmer and more in control. Working smarter and not harder makes sense. If you feel that you could do with getting more organized at work, here are a few tried and tested tips for you: 1. Use a Diary I haven’t always been a fan of using a diary, but I am now a convert! Rather than trying to keep and remember everything in your head, make it easy for yourself and use a diary. There are many different methods you can use; an old fashioned paper diary, a calendar on your PC or laptop or your phone’s scheduler. For me, a paper diary is easiest as I don’t have to turn it on like a laptop to use it. See what works best for you. Look at how you work and run your day to day life and use a method that is the easiest for you as that will increase the chances of keeping the habit up. Whatever method you decide on, it is important to get in the habit of using it each day. 2. Plan Your Day Once you have a diary or … [Read more...] about How to Get Organized at Work
5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Lunch Break
1. Make Sure You Take Your Break Pretty obvious, but one that we've all been guilty of not doing at one time or another I'm sure! Get in the habit of taking your break. There's always more that can be done, but by actually taking a break you are much more likely to be efficient when you return.2. Eat Healthily It can be tempting to quickly eat a sandwich or whatever is easiest or graze on snack foods throughout the day whilst at work, but taking the time to plan a healthy lunch is important for your health. Be proactive and plan what suits your tastes, health and budget and ensure you take time to eat well during your workday. 3. Nap Not getting enough sleep? Getting enough sleep, but know you benefit from a nap? Either way, napping is a win-win. I know it isn't always easy to find somewhere to nap when you're at work, but with a little creativity there is often somewhere you can find. I used to take a nap in my car when I worked in my last office job. I would drive to a quiet road … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Lunch Break
How to Create a Good Relationship with Your Boss
Your relationship with your boss is an important relationship. It may mean the difference between getting ahead in your chosen career or even being able to negotiate working conditions that suit you. You don’t have to be best friends with your boss, but developing a good relationship with them makes life easier for you and them. Here are some tried and tested ways to make your relationship with your boss a good one: Do Your Job Well Ultimately, doing your job well is one of the best ways to develop a good relationship with your boss. The better you do your job, the less there is for them to worry about. Even if you are not close outside of work, by doing your job well you are more likely to earn their professional respect which is what matters at the end of the day. Put Yourself in Their Shoes It can be easy to pick fault with your manager or think “I wouldn’t do things that way if I were the manager” for example, but putting yourself in their shoes will … [Read more...] about How to Create a Good Relationship with Your Boss
Dealing with an Annoying Co-Worker
Working alongside other people can be a great experience but it can also bring its fair share of difficulties for many people. Firstly, let's have a look at the main types of annoying co-workers: The Gossip A little harmless discussion about current events in the workplace is one thing, but working with someone who likes to share everyone else’s business and their opinions on it, can be a real drain. You will need to learn how to avoid gossip to stay clear of this one! The “Smelly Food” Eater Of course, we all have different tastes in food, but in the workplace it is worth thinking about how what you are eating and drinking will affect those around you. An egg sandwich now and then might be forgiven, but you don’t want to be known as the colleague with smelly food! The Noisy Colleague When you are working in a shared environment, an awareness of your behaviors and noise levels on those around you is necessary. If you work with … [Read more...] about Dealing with an Annoying Co-Worker
5 Ways to Make Work Feel More Like Play
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Confucius The word “work” is often associated with drudgery and obligation, but it really doesn’t have to be that way. So, how so we make our work feel more like play? Here are a few ideas to get you started: 1. Do Work You Love As much as possible, try to do work you love (and if you're not, see what you can do about it). Doing work you love just makes it so much easier to have fun and get absorbed in what you are doing. If you are not currently doing work you love, thinking about what you would do, even if you weren’t paid for it is a great starting place. 2. Take Breaks & Vacations Work-life balance is a buzz word these days, and for good reason. However much you enjoy your work, skipping breaks and working on your vacation will end up with you being burnt out at some point. Get in the habit of cultivating a good work life balance on an ongoing basis. Recharging your … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Make Work Feel More Like Play
How to Overcome Boredom at Work
We all have times when we feel bored at work. Even our “dream job” will have down days. However, if boredom is an ongoing issue for you at your job, what can you do? Here are a few suggestions from my own experiences: Is It The job? If you are in a boring job, what can you do about it? It is worth getting to the root of the issue and finding out specifically what is making you bored. Do you need more of a challenge? Maybe you need to delegate some of the tasks you find tedious so that they are shared out more equitably with colleagues? Maybe you need to ask your manager for a promotion or more responsibility? Being bored now and then is not unusual, but if it’s a continuous issue for you at work, it is a sign that something needs to change. Is It You? Have you noticed that some people never seem happy, whatever job they are in? It can be hard to admit that we might be the cause (or part of the cause) of a difficult situation but it is worth being honest and seeing … [Read more...] about How to Overcome Boredom at Work
First Day on the Job: How to Make a Good Impression
Starting a new job can be a nerve racking experience. How do you survive your first day and make a good impression on your new colleagues and boss at the same time? Here are a few ideas: Be Punctual It might seem obvious, but do make sure that you leave plenty of time to get to work early for your first day. If you are taking a route to work that you haven’t taken before it might be worth doing a practice run before hand so you can be prepared as possible. Take a lunch break, but again it is worth making sure you are back punctually. Paying attention to the small details will help you settle in and make the best impression you can. Look Smart Choose what you are going to wear carefully to make the best first impression that you can. Think about practicalities – if you are working in an office but also need to go to a factory on site you might want to wear the more sensible heel for example! Thinking ahead will help you to prepare and feel as comfortable as possible … [Read more...] about First Day on the Job: How to Make a Good Impression
3 Tips For The Aspiring Freelancer
Freelancing can be a great way to work, giving you an extra income as an addition to your day job or the chance to strike out doing work you really enjoy. However, though it is great to earn money on your own terms, freelancing has pros and cons. Here are three tips to help you as you are starting out as a freelancer: 1. Be Organized Whether freelancing is your main job or a side gig, organization is vital. As a freelancer, you will have to set up your own structures and systems as well as doing the actual freelance work you are being paid for. When starting out, it might be tempting to wing it, but to make a success of your work it is best to get organized as soon as possible. It can be a nightmare trying to find all your expenses for your tax return at the end of the year or to not be clear on your pricing structure when talking to clients. You don’t have to go overboard; create systems appropriate to the size of your work that will help you manage your work and grow your … [Read more...] about 3 Tips For The Aspiring Freelancer
How To Stay Focused
Focus is essential to success at work. Without the ability to knuckle down and stay with a task, we are like a feather in the wind, being pulled this way and that. Do you have trouble remaining focussed? If so, here are some tips to help you stay the course: Do One Thing at a Time Multitasking was hailed as the way to be productive for a long time, however it is now emerging that multi tasking can be detrimental to focus and productivity. To stay focussed, practice doing one thing at a time. Ideally, try to complete the task in hand before moving onto the next thing. Take Control Taking control over your day is essential to focus. Turning up to work each morning and just doing what is in front of you means that you are at the mercy of whatever happens that day. Create a simple plan and stick to it. Make sure you complete the most important tasks first. Learn to Say No Learning to say no is very important in the art of becoming focussed. If you allow yourself to be distracted … [Read more...] about How To Stay Focused