Having a good atmosphere at work makes a huge difference to the day to day experience at work. Here are a few tried and tested ways to create a good atmosphere at work: Say Good Morning Saying good morning to your colleagues is an easy and important way to start the day well for everyone. Most of us will have had the experience of being greeted by a grunt (or ignored) by a colleague or boss and know it is never a nice way to start the day. Do your part and say good morning to everyone you encounter at work. Smile Smiling is free and makes a difference! Be aware of your body language and the effect it has on those around you. Be Thoughtful You could bring some cookies in to share or some of your old magazines for colleagues to read in their break. Little habits like this trigger reciprocity and help contribute to a caring atmosphere at work. Don’t Gossip Gossiping is one thing guaranteed to create negativity in the workplace. Not gossiping and staying out of other peoples gossip … [Read more...] about How To Create A Good Atmosphere At Work
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Office Christmas Party – Do’s and Don’t’s!
The office Christmas party is one of those things that can be heaven or hell! Here are a few ideas for dealing with the office Christmas party: Don't Feel Obliged Unless your party is within work time, don’t feel obliged to go. You can politely decline. Office Christmas parties are not everyone’s idea of fun so don’t feel that you have to go, or give in to pressure; just let people know you are not available. Go Steady On The Alcohol Alcohol is one of the biggest reasons for red faces and embarrassment the day after an office Christmas party. Make sure you eat well before or during the party and limit your drinks. In the excitement of the moment it can be tempting to drink and be merry but you don’t want to be that member of staff throwing up in the corner or hitting on their boss! Spreading your drinks over the course of the night and having a limit will enable you to call the shots, have fun but not end up doing something you wish you hadn’t! We … [Read more...] about Office Christmas Party – Do’s and Don’t’s!
Making a Fresh Start in Your Current Job
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle When we start a new job we are often filled with good intentions; we might promise ourselves that we will get to work in plenty of time, really give 100% and make the best of the role we are in. It feels good to do our best and we look forward to the clean slate and opportunity to start afresh. However, as time goes by in a job, it can be easy to slip into bad habits. Bad habits can erode our sense of self esteem and even our enjoyment of our work and the worst thing about them, is that often we don’t realise we are doing them! Whether you work cleaning jobs or accountancy jobs, here are some ways to blank the slate and help yourself to grow and reach your potential at work. Assess Yourself Take the time to do an honest assessment of yourself at work; your strengths and weaknesses and your positive and negative habits. What are you good at? What do you struggle with? What habits support you and … [Read more...] about Making a Fresh Start in Your Current Job
5 Ways To Be a More Thoughtful Colleague
We don’t always get to choose who we work with and as a result we might find ourselves sharing a workspace with colleagues whom we might not have much in common with or naturally get on with. However, although many people dream of having nicer colleagues, how do you fare up as a colleague yourself? If you would like a better relationship with your colleagues, it is important to look at your own behaviour first and see what you can bring to the table. Here are some ways that I have found to be a more thoughtful co-worker at work: 1. Encourage Encouraging your colleagues in their endeavors, rather than being in competition with them, is an inspiring way to be at work. We don’t have to be cut throat or out for ourselves to do well at work; encouraging and supporting your colleagues really does pay dividends and enhances your day to day experience of work to boot. Treat your colleagues as you would like to be treated. 2. Listen True listening is a real skill and … [Read more...] about 5 Ways To Be a More Thoughtful Colleague
Learning To Say "No" At Work
Many of us find it hard to say “no” in our day to day lives and it can be a particular challenge in the work place, where people are often eager to please and don’t want to appear inflexible. However, saying “no” isn’t about being any of those things; it is about creating boundaries and being clear with ourselves and others about what works and doesn’t work for us. Do you feel that you can’t say no at work? That you are always taking on too much? Do you regularly work late to stay on top of your workload? If saying “no” at work is a challenge for you, start by saying no to small requests. You can then build up your “no” muscle and work your way up to saying no to bigger requests in time. Here are a few ideas to help you on your way: Give Yourself Time When someone makes a request of you and you are not sure if you can (or want to) do it, let the person know that you will check and come back to them, so that … [Read more...] about Learning To Say "No" At Work
Creating and Maintaining a Positive Work Space
The environment that you work in makes a difference not only to the quality of your work but also to your overall mental and physical wellbeing. It is worth taking the time to create the best work environment that you can. Here are some ways in which could help you to create and maintain a positive work environment. Keep Your Desk Clean and Clutter Free Keeping your desk clean and clutter free is a simple but effective way to take pride in where you work and keep it as an inspiring place to be. You could set aside five minutes at the end of each day to clear and clean your desk ready for the next day. Digitally Declutter Clutter doesn’t have to be physical; the digital clutter we accumulate can also weigh us down. Clearing out your digital clutter regularly is a good habit to get into and stops the number of digital files you have saved getting out of control. In turn, this also reduces the need for more and more storage space! You could create a reminder on your … [Read more...] about Creating and Maintaining a Positive Work Space
Make That Career Change!
Quitting your job and changing career may seem like a daunting task, but that doesn't mean it is impossible. You want a change, but where do you start? Here are a few ideas to help you make the change: Don’t Settle It is possible to change careers at any stage of life though, it might take some work. Don’t settle for your current career if you do not enjoy it or if it is not what you want to do with your life anymore. No job is perfect all the time, but if you find yourself dreaming about a new job regularly, it could be time for a career change. Try to cacth yourself if you are feeling resigned about making the change and remind yourself regularly that it is possible. Reading articles about people who have changed careers or done something similar can be good inspirational fuel to remind you of where you want to go next. Identify Areas of Interest Start noticing what you are interested in and naturally drawn to. Don’t worry initially about whether or not … [Read more...] about Make That Career Change!
How to Stay Healthy at Work
Staying healthy is important, however many people put this on the backburner as something to do when they are less busy or maybe when they are able to work less. If you know that you could be healthier, start implementing better practices today. Small changes can have a drip-drip effect when employed over time. Being healthier will help you feel better and be more effective at work. Here are some ideas of practices you could implement: Take Breaks It sounds simple, but how many people regularly skip breaks at work? Make it a habit to take at least one break (if not more) during your work day. Contrary to what you may think, taking breaks will help you get more work done. It is amazing what half an hour away from the workplace can do for your productivity and general wellbeing. As well as having a break, try and do something that will make you feel better. Some form of exercise will help you feel much better when you return to work, even a short walk can do wonders. Sitting … [Read more...] about How to Stay Healthy at Work
How to Deal with Downtime as a Freelancer
If you work as a freelancer, via an agency, as a temp worker, or are self-employed there will probably be times when the work isn't coming in and you have periods with no income. These times can be worrying, especially if relatively new to this style of working or if finances are tight. Manage Your Money It's essential to have a safety-net of cash that is easy access but not so easy as to be spent at a whim. Ideally, an amount of money equal to 3-6 months of usual out-goings should be enough to cover most situations, should they arise. Keep monthly outgoings to a minimum, to keep payments manageable during periods of no work. When you have worked and saved enough to provide a safety net, with extra savings you know you can safely spend purchase those extras you want with one off payments. This may feel difficult at first, to wait till you've saved before purchasing, but in time this pattern will be second nature, and has the added bonus of avoiding … [Read more...] about How to Deal with Downtime as a Freelancer
The Hidden Costs of Your Job and How to Avoid Them
Have you ever thought about how much you pay to do your job? Many people think about securing a good salary when they start a job or getting a bonus each year and these things are important for your financial well being. However, have you thought about the about the hidden costs (financial and otherwise) of doing your job that impacts your bottom line? So what do I mean? Financially, I mean anything that you pay out for that you wouldn’t if it wasn’t for your job. I am also talking about the energy you use up because of doing your job, outside of what you are paid to do. For example: Buying work clothes Work clothes can be a real money drain. Can you mix and match what you already have? Shop in discount stores or charity shops? Or just cut back on what you buy? Be creative about dressing for work. Food and drinks Bringing your own food and drinks to work can be a huge money saver! If you don’t do this already, … [Read more...] about The Hidden Costs of Your Job and How to Avoid Them