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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

4 Ways on Becoming an Exceptional Employee

Exceptional employees raise the bar, they get recommendations, they are great working with, and they seem to have great attention to detail. What do they do and how to become one?

Being professional: Many employees show unprofessional behavior at the offices. Phones can be used for work related tasks, but many employees use their phones during meetings for other than work reasons. Some employees just outright forget to put their phones on silence (phones on vibrate can be heard). Sometimes work relationships turn personal or married couples work in the same office. Keep those relationships away from the office. Be punctual; in case you are going to be late send a text, email, or just call. However, do not make a habit of being late. Wear professional clothes, that means business professional. Some offices allow business casual, but you are a professional after all. 

Think ahead: Good employees are goal oriented. A project might be going nicely, but anticipate any obstacles that may occur. Always think ahead. Normally, managers ask the question "Where do you want to be in six months?" The answer should be given immediately. 

Good communication and a better listener: Communicate clearly with coworkers and superiors. Issues will arise; just talk about it honestly and respectfully. Expectations from teammates should be made clear at the very beginning. Listen to your boss and follow any directions given. Also, listen to your teammates and make sure to be clear about what they are saying. 

Take responsibility and accept criticism: Do not blame others for the mistakes made. People make mistakes and that does not mean that they are bad people. The important thing is to learn from mistakes. Take responsibility for your actions even when the blame is to be shared with others. Solve any problems instead of complain about it. Complaining is not a solution. This will show your boss your character and your leadership skills.

People like to be around a person that is positive. A sense of humor, being talkative, and a positive outlook is a great thing. However, a shy person does not have to change, just smile and say "Hi". This will make a big difference.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Dealing with Self-Doubt

People may suffer from a lack of confidence once in a while. This affects a person's life in ways that might surprise people.

Some people spend many hours shopping or just buy expensive items as a way to feel better. This may be caused by self-doubt feelings. There are other ways to face self-doubt. Some people put things off until the last minute; this masks struggles with self-doubt. A person may be demonstrating self-defeating behavior related to low self-esteem when not finishing projects or not starting assignments early. Don't let insecurity set your schedule, take control of it.

For some, when not feeling happy about themselves they become super judgmental or they will have a hard time warming up to new people. This is some sort of defense mechanism, which only masks a person's feelings of self-doubt. Don't ruin a possible friendship with harsh judgments, just try a different approach. Another way to boost your confidence is to join new organizations and clubs. This might drive up your self-esteem and you might stop being such a judgmental person.

If you want more ways to drive up your self-esteem visit this site.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

HOW TO CONNECT WITH THE RIGHT BUSINESS PEOPLE

You are probably already familiar with nonprofits and foundations in your town. But, you can always learn about others. Get informed about other nonprofits or foundations by using the following resources; Guidestar provides an online database of more than 1.8 million IRS-recognized charitable organizations in the country. You can also use the Foundation Center. Important people join nonprofit and foundations to volunteer their time or to share their knowledge. Organization's board members are often the family members or friends of the person or persons whose wealth keeps the nonprofit going.

Pick a nonprofit organization and join it. Nonprofit organizations are in need of volunteers and experience. You will be able to identify and connect with board members and some organization's supporters. This way you will expand your network of important contacts. Your experience might make you an attractive candidate for board membership or even leadership. You will build visibility and credibility with senior executives, CPAs, attorneys, and other successful entrepreneurs in your area.

Don't just join, share your expertise. Help nonprofits with issues such as business planning, budgeting, and accounting. You will work side by side with other successful business owners in different business fields. You can develop strong relationships with new potential prospects.


Friday, October 2, 2015

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Life

There are a few things people should avoid doing.

Do not live in the past: Things change, get with the changes. If a person lives life as it was... say.. ten years ago, that person will have difficulties making certain changes when forced to make them due to life events.

Talking and talking... and talking...: This one is a mistake made while dealing with clients or customers. However, Some people do it while socializing with family and friends. Some people just love the sound of their own voices. In business, people have spent time in training, in seminars, and reading books, therefore, they want to share the knowledge they have with the clients and customers. But, a business person should listen more. Doing so a professional will find more ways to help a client. (If you want to learn about body language go here.)

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood." - Stephen Covey

Too much information: Sometimes a person, in a business setting, tend to provide too much information. Too much detail can cause a client or customer to loose interest or to get confused. In the personal level, there are things I do not want to know about a person's life. In some situations a person is too quick in talking about personal matters that should really not be said.

No fun: Today's society likes to have fun, comedy is healthy. Stop being so serious. People should be serious when necessary, but mix some laughter in there.

Selling yourself short: Using social media as a prospecting tool is great. However, many people use the social media as the only prospecting tool. Think of social media as one more tool that you can use. Embrace technology to enhance relationships with clients and customers, not to substitute for it.