10 Facts About Employee Engagement

10 Facts About Employee Engagement Many people become confused by the term engagement specifically when it comes to employees. What makes an employee engaged and how do you know if your actual employees are disengaged? This presentation by Officevibe on  SlideShare  explain the 10 critical pillars of employee engagement and how to improve these. Managers need to take note of these when considering employees as 87% of employees are not engaged with their jobs. The 10 Pillars Relationship with managers: 75% of people dont quit their job, they quit their jobs. Happiness:  Happy workers are 12% more productive. Wellness: Medical costs fall $3. 27 for every dollar spent on wellness programmes. Company Alignment:  The way that employees align themselves with the companies core values has a direct effect on bottom line profits. Workplace satisfaction:  Have open and honest communication, so that employees can say if their work is meaningful for them or not. Relationship with colleagues:  According to research, socialising with colleagues is the only thing proven to make you as happy than when youre not at work. Feedback: 14.9% lower turnover rates in companies that implement  regular employee feedback. Recognition: 78% of employees said being recognised motivates them in their job. Personal Growth: Companies that invest more in training and career development outperform their peers. Ambassadorship: The question to ask employees is on a scale from 0-10, how likely are you to recommend a friend to work here? RELATED:  13 Shocking Facts About Employee Engagement  

Simple Tips on How to Write a Science Resume

Simple Tips on How to Write a Science ResumeScience resume writing is a process of drafting a resume that is going to help in acquiring the job of a scientist. It is important that you are able to present yourself well so that the employer would be able to know about the caliber of your work ethics. Your science resume writing must help you as a candidate to help in showing the employer your expertise. Here are some of the important tips that you need to know about before getting started.A science resume is an important document that you need to have for all the positions that you apply for. You may think that your resume is no longer necessary but you need to remember that your previous work experience is a vital part of your application. This is because most employers look for work history and not only the degree that you have obtained. So make sure that you get all the details of your work experience on paper.The science resume must be interesting and attention grabbing. Make sure that your resume gives a lot of reasons for the employer to select you for a certain position. Try to write a resume that is concise but informative. Be brief but make sure that it gives a glimpse of your abilities. By writing about a few things about yourself, the employer will be able to make a fair judgment.Another important thing that you need to consider is the format that you need to follow when writing your resume. There are some formats that are used in resume writing that are outdated. You should ensure that your resume is in line with the latest trends in science writing. Make sure that you do not break any rules and guidelines that the hiring managers use.In the science resume writing process, it is necessary that you write in a style that is unique to you. You can choose one of the many resume writing templates that are available online or hire a freelance writer to help you out. You should also remember that this science resume writing process is not easy. You need to follow specific rules and guidelines and do not forget to edit the document after you have submitted it to the hiring manager.The truth is that science resumes are going to be scrutinized very thoroughly by the hiring managers. So make sure that you do not sound like a complete fraud. In order to avoid having these suspicions, try to present a well thought out resume that presents your skills and capabilities.You should also make sure that your science resume has the right spelling and grammar. If you have made any mistakes, you should take remedial measures and correct them right away. As a member of the scientific community, your resume should be going to represent you well and not be any kind of liability.Science resume writing is not an easy task. It requires some extra time and effort but it can lead to success. Just make sure that you do not use the tools of bad grammar and spelling in order to avoid a negative assessment.

Does Your Resume Need Rescuing Put It To The Test

Does Your Resume Need Rescuing Put It To The Test What exactly differentiates an impressive resume from a weak resume? Well, a stand-out resume SELLS instead of tells. It also: Advertises a job seeker’s unique value proposition just like any other marketing material. Is attention-grabbing, tailored in content, and keyword rich. Informs the reader specifically what the job seeker can do for them, demonstrating clear value! Is packed with results! Written lean and clean, meaning it says a lot but with fewer words. On the flip side, a weak resume simply TELLS the reader mundane facts. It also: Focuses incorrectly on tasks, duties, and responsibilities, regurgitating job descriptions. Leaves the reader confused with too many unrelated details. Lacks focus and punch, neglecting to highlight results and value-add. Rambles and is too text-heavy. How can you know for sure if your resume is ‘up to snuff’? Put your resume to the following test to find out: 1. Has your resume been created without the use of a template? YES or NO! Avoid Templates: these are easily spotted and difficult to customize. Every resume should be unique. 2. Does your resume have clear section headers and ample white space? YES or NO! You want the design of your resume to be inviting, easy to read, and professional, applying a different format for both human-readers and ATS-readers. 3. Does your resume include an opening profile or qualifications summary? YES or NO! Leverage these sections to present the reader with immediate value.   Highlight your value proposition and how it can directly support the companys requirements. 4. Does your resume include crucial design elements such as bullets? YES or NO! Basic design components assist with highlighting important content and help guide the reader  through the document.   Richer design components like text boxes, graphs, or charts are best used in networking resumes and/or resumes supplied to an actual human reader. 5. Are all of the resume sections clearly labeled and easy to spot? YES or NO! Headers should be slightly larger in size and bolded or emphasized in a way that draws attention to each section. 6. Are you confident that the resume sections have been placed in the best order to highlight your strongest credentials? YES or NO! Information should appear from most relevant to least relevant throughout the resume. The top 1/3 of the resume is prime real estate. 7. Is your resume targeted towards a specific career goal and not a one-size-fits-all document? YES or NO! Generic resumes will not catch the eye of recruiters. Custom tailor a new resume for each role. 8. Does your resume include a solid listing of career accomplishments that are quantified with the use of specific numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, or other concrete measures of success? YES or NO! You must provide the proof. Add value to your statements and highlight results with quantitative details (include how many, how much, and how often). 9. Does every accomplishment statement in your resume begin with strong, varied action verbs? YES or NO! Action verbs command attention and accentuate achievement.   Heres a list of favorites. 10. Have you separated your accomplishments from your responsibilities? YES or NO! Apply a strategy to  separate  tasks from achievements (ie: bullet achievements and use short succinct sentences for the job overview). Ensure the resume does not heavily emphasize generic tasks and duties; these add no value.  Focus on what sets you apart. 11. Does your resume avoid the use of  personal pronouns such as I, me, and my? YES or NO! Resumes rarely  include personal pronouns. Instead, ensure content is action-focused. 12. Is the resume as perfect as possible, with no typos or spelling, grammar or syntax errors? YES or NO! Proofread carefully, and then have someone else double check. 13. Are you confident that all information presented is relevant to the hiring managers needs? YES or NO! The resume is a marketing tool, not a career chronology. Only list details related to the targeted role. Tailor content accordingly. 14. Is your resume keyword-rich and packed with appropriate buzzwords and industry acronyms? YES or NO! Do your homework and make sure you know what buzzwords and phrases are common in your industry; pepper these throughout the  resume. Keywords are critical in ATS.   Not sure where to locate the best keywords?   The job posting is a great resource! 15. Have you omitted the following from your resume? Yes or NO • Non-relevant information over 15 years old. • Listing reasons for termination or other negative comments/facts. • Noting “References Available Upon Request”. • Personal information regarding gender, age, religion, race, marital status.! Never include any of the above. TEST RESULTS:Tally up your YES and NO totals to the above questions. If you answered NO to more than three of the above questions:your resume requires some repairs. If you answered NO to more than six of the listed questions:your resume needs some serious rescuing!   Remember, a recruiter or employer is almost always short on time. They need your career history properly positioned on paper so it is easy to scan, effortless to locate key details, and straightforward in value. You need to employ a modern resume approach that sets you apart from your competitors to  ensure your resume gets read. Want to see samples of modern, interview-winning resumes?     Visit our samples page.  Still struggling with putting pen to paper or navigating current resume trends? I can help.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Make Anyone More Excited About Their Job

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Make Anyone More Excited About Their Job Brittle. Slow. Bureaucratic. These are the terms that Jason Jennings uses to describe the companies that have fallen by the wayside since the Fortune 500 was first published in 1955. In the last 60 years, the majority of those original companies are gone. Jennings, author of The High-Speed Company, says that managers must create a sense of urgency and growth in this nanosecond culture, or find themselves in the same boat as Sears and Kmart. (He compares these companies to witnessing a train wreck in slow motion.) The key for managers, he says, is that they must create asense of purposefor their teams if they hope to drive a sustained sense of urgency. For example, he recently spoke to a group atSilgan Containers, a company that makes 50 billion aluminum cans a year. While its a decidedly unsexy business, Jennings pointed out to employees and leaders that what you do has changed the world. I told them how they saved hundreds of thousands of lives every year because they offered food safety, he says. After the speech, a 24-year-veteran with the company approached Jennings and told him, This is the first day Ive been excited to work here. Jennings says that the Silgan employee is representative of many other employees at other companies who are never told about why their jobs have purpose. Thats the first challenge for any good manager, he says. You have to let them know their purpose you must identify it so that you can attract, unite, ignite and fuel people. However, its also critical that you express that purpose as succinctly as possible about 12 words or fewer. If it takes more than a dozen words to explain why what youre doing is good, it will be hard for anyone inside your company, let alone outside, to remember the purpose, he explains. Youll miss the opportunity to evoke a strong emotional connection between your companys work and doing good in the broader world. Other keys for managers who want to create a sense of urgency for teams: Provide guiding principles. These are the shalls and shall nots that keep everyone true to their stated purpose. Its not enough to just put the principles on a website theyve got to be fully explained to workers. Jennings says that of 220,000 companies his company has studied, there were fewer than two dozen where everyone knew the companys guiding principles and used them when making tactical decisions. Connect the dots.Everyone who works for you should know how their role creates value for the company, he says. They should especially learn the economic value they create and how it can be measured, by you and by them. Be clear.Instead of giving vague, general directives that aresteeped in jargon, be willing to say I dont know, if thats the case, he says. Its OK to (read more here) Photo: dumblittleman

Navigating the Gig Economy

Navigating the Gig Economy The following is a guest post by  Torin  Ellis, a job search expert.  His bio follows. The phrase this isn’t your parents job search has never been more true.   Up until the year 2005 or so, the typical reference to people working for a company where they were not full or part time employees was temporary workers.   Well,  now the millennial generation has gotten all fancy and crafted a new name.   They refer to them as “contingent workers.”   Sigh â€" same thing. The point being,  not only has some of the vernacular changed in the job search, but so has the process of where you look and what resources are being used.   Savvy candidates today have an understanding of how the internal recruiting teams operate.   Call it a leg up, gaming the system, having the inside track. You know â€" the connect. Since about 2012, there has been a rise in what is referred to as the gig or on demand economy.   This current economy is an environment in which contingent positions are exploding.   For sake of an explanation, companies take this position because it is more cost effective on the bottom line.   Those details are fit for another article another time. The rise in companies using contingent, freelance or independent contractors for these short-term engagements can be found in nearly every industry ranging from education, hospitality and healthcare, to errands, side projects, and professional services. This gig or on demand economy is not a fad, but rather in full swing and will impact employee employer relationships for the near future.   In fact, a study by Intuit predicted that by 2020, 40 percent of American workers would be independent contractors. The Gig or On Demand economy is being shaped by business models like that of AirBnb and Uber and professionals sourcing work using companies like Task Rabbit or the Upwork Community.   If you’re not familiar with those sites, take a moment to visit them.   You’ll be surprised by the vast number of projects posted on those platforms.   Even more, you do a bit of research and you’ll uncover that people around the world sustain themselves by using these online conduits to secure work. Job Search In Todays World What does all this mean?  Well,  coupled with the rise of startups, shifts in innovation, and slower growth at legacy companies, it will require you to edit how you go about shaping your career.   Especially important for women and minorities that are more likely to experience unequal pay, lack of access to opportunity, and/or stagnation in employment.   Said another way, you will most likely do much more than use Career Builder, Indeed, and Monster in your next job search.   You will most certainly do things differently if you want to decrease frustration and shorten the time it takes to secure full employment. You can’t afford to subscribe to just one formula for securing employment when so much about the process has been automated and the competition is now global.   I’ve seen far too many candidates present their experience in a cluttered and unorganized fashion.   Subscribing to the “do-it-yourself version of pulling together their accomplishments without an effective guide as to  how it might look and how to avoid an empty conversation. My new book, Rip The Resume is that guide and here are a few steps, excerpted from the September release, to help you monitor your hyphen and craft a document and conversation you can be confident in: Consider smaller time blocks of activity. Whether making edits to the resume or actually searching for a position, I suggest 40/45 minute slots versus an hour. Focus   remains high and targeted. Bursts of creative energy are vital to achieving results. Know when to stay in the zone and if that requires you to shut down social media feeds or turn off the wireless headphones. This calibration is important. Minimize after hours computer/email/research time. Not all people applaud you for drafting that 4:38 am email response to a job. Know when to hold your hand for a better round. Consider additional / alternative resources to Indeed and Monster. There are niche sites, apps, and chat bots on the horizon to assist in sourcing new opportunity Adapt or Perish I recall viewing a Social Media State of the union Keynote NERVE 2014 by Gary Vaynerchuk.   Besides unapologetically dropping colorful language he shared that most of the audience would be in the same position the following year and beyond, because they would ignore the requirement of  remaining relevant.   They would not listen to the market.   Let that resonate.   Just look around and you’ll see example after example of people that ignored great advice and one year later are in the very same position as before.   You must be in tune with shifts in the marketplace. Embrace those that matter, and uncover how your progress will be impacted.   I’m reminded of the book Who Moved My Cheese.   Be prepared to shift if required and unwilling to make excuses or spend enormous amounts of time mired in a non-productive process. Amid all of this connectedness enjoyed through the internet and social media, there is a deep importance of locking in on the signals that improve your family and work life, that elevate your joy, that feed your production meter, and play an important part in your having good health.   One of my favorite phrases: potential interference = results. Torin  Ellis, 47, was born in Florida and raised in the Midwest, spending time in Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa. He joined the Air Force in 1987 and served as a communications analyst while stationed in Texas and the Philippines. He left the service in 1990 and worked for Union Pacific Railroad and Marshall Fields before joining MCI in 1993. While at the telecommunications giant he sold long-distance, paging and toll-free services to small business customers. In his first year, he averaged more than 200% above his sales quota and was promoted to lead a sales team. In 1998, the entrepreneurial spirit called Ellis to go out on his own. He formed a recruiting company and he has been contracted by such firms as Verizon Wireless, Oracle, AOL and Datapoint (now Expedient) to find qualified employees. Ellis has been  contracted by Monster.com    to be a part of their travelling speaking team, and he’s also been hired to speak at the Department of Labor’s “Youth Opportunity” programs all around the country. Through these engagements, Ellis has spoken to thousands of students and professionals. Images: Online jobsearch:  Robert S. Donovan Freelance  Divya Vibha Sharma Unemployed  Evan Jackson

The 10 Highest Paid Jobs of 2017 - CareerMetis.com

The 10 Highest Paid Jobs of 2017 Source : Pexels.comTake a stroll down memory lane; you will remember the difficulties you have faced when seeking your first job. Regardless of where you are today and what your designation is, you had faced multiple issues when you were seeking your first job.Over a billion people are living their ordinary lives, when it comes to job search, the number is on the rise along with the plethora of challenges such as lack of opportunities, lack of experience and low compensation or sometimes you have to work for free.We all want to feed our thirst for a lavish lifestyle, and we are interested in high-paying careers. Some people hunt for exciting, challenging and rewarding jobs and the life dream of many is landing on highest paying jobs.evalBut, these jobs are lucrative, they need a specific skill set that is hard to acquire, or take years to master. These plenty of careers can bring you hefty paychecks and help you to achieve a kind of lifestyle that you want.If you are looking for a gr atifying job with a high salary, make sure you are pursuing one of the roles I am summing up here for your convenience.1) OrthodontistevalThe chances of growth, in the vast field of dentistry with nine specialties, are expected to increase by 16 percent, at an above average rate, until 2018.Job opportunities are spurring in this field because of an increase in aging population requiring more dental treatments, the overall increase in population and increasing awareness about the importance of good dental hygiene among people.Healthcare professionals graduated and specialized in the field of orthodontics are orthodontists. It is a specialty field of dentistry, and the professionals in this area have to undergo training in dental school after graduating.Source : Pexels.comTheir job is to diagnose, prevent and correct misplaced teeth or jaws even they fix faces misplaced because of teeth. The exact treatment process depends on the problem, but generally, orthodontist job is using brace s, wear headgear and remove the teeth which are not looking aesthetically appealing.The basic salary of orthodontics is approximately $221,000.2) AnesthesiologistevalMedical doctors that focus on care of surgical patients and pain relief by administering anesthesia are called Anesthesiologists. They evaluate, treat patients by coordinating the efforts of their staff members. Job opportunities for anesthesiologists are in outpatient surgical centers and hospitals.You can find them in a group or private practices, academic medical centers, and urgent care centers or the military. Comparatively, anesthesiology work demands you to work long hectic hours, mostly they work up to 60 hours a week or more than that.These professionals are accountable for overseeing the combination of intravenous drugs and inhaled gasses which can cause anesthesia. It enables the surgeons and other physicians to conduct their procedures on the patient when he is at ease and comfort.The correct definition of a nesthesiologists suggests these are the individuals who hold one’s life during an invasive procedure and they are responsible for post operations after his recovery from the side effects of anesthesia. evalThis brilliant yet exciting and highest paying job is attracting a large number of individuals from the industry by offering a basic salary of $246,320 annually. 3) SurgeonSurgeons are dominating the job market. They command highest median salary among all career choices including both in and out of the healthcare because the job of a surgeon requires specialized skill set, extensive knowledge, and vast experiences.Surgeons are employes at hospitals, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, university and colleges and community health care centers. You can find many surgeons in private practices which they have established and managed on their own.Source : Pexels.comWhen we talk about surgeons, we talk about the doctor making treatment of injuries, diseases, and deformities through operations. Surgeons utilize different tools to rectify physical deformation, bone, and tissue maintenance specialists by conducting preventive or elective surgeries on patients.The general surgeon, orthopedic surgery, neurological surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and reconstructive surgery are some of the field undertaken by the surgeons.In this area, you can expect to earn an annual median wage of $352,000 with ten years projected growth of 18%.4) Family and General PractitionerFamily and general practitioners are the family doctors responsible for performing general physician duties. From sinus and respiratory infection to fractured bones they treat all.These professionals diagnose, treat and provide preventative measures on disease and common injuries that present in general population and require immediate intervention.The General practitioners are not confined to specific organs of the body because they have multiple skills and they can treat different health issues.ev alThese individuals are trained to prescribe treatment, therapy, medication, and vaccination. They can collect the information, monitor the progress of the patients and give the advice on disease prevention.Source : Unsplash.comUsually Family and general practitioners, establish their clientele or you can find them in hospitals and medical centers.An annual median wage of the surgeon is around $180,180, and the growth outlook for this profession is 18%.Regardless of the health and age, people need a general practice physician and the demand for them is on the rise with an increase in access to health insurance.eval5) PsychiatristPsychiatrists, professionals specialized in psychiatry branch of medicine.They are dedicated to diagnose, treat and study to prevent mental and substance disorder.evalThese medical doctors are uniquely qualified to understand the psychological and physical health of their patients.You need four-year education in medical school and an additional three years i n psychiatric for an average earning of $182, 700 annually.6) Chief Executive OfficerThe group of most senior corporate officers is the highest paid group of people all over the world.Running an organization effectively and efficiently is the highly stressful job with extreme challenges. They are responsible for overseeing the execution of the long-term strategy for the organization with an objective to create value for the shareholders.CEO is the decision maker and a figure who act as a bridge between the board of directors and the management and responsible for the execution of the long-term as well as short-term managerial strategies. Source : Pexels.comThe life of a CEO is not about having indulgent lunches and having the rounds of golf while other mugs are busy in doing hard work. It is much more than that, and a CEO is responsible for everything from a paper clip to developing strategies for growth and development of the organization.The job market for CEOs is full of opportun ities with high salary packages. Average pay in corporate world for CEO is less than wage of medical doctors, but an annual median wage or senior level corporate executives is $180,700 with a projected growth rate of 11% over the next few years7) Pilot/Co-PilotA pilot, as a career choice, appeals to many because it promises a whole lot of perks and benefits with attractive salaries and an opportunity to travel the whole world.The job of the commercial pilot sounds glamorous and exciting at the same time, and they have myriad options available for employment.Pilots are considered to be the finest, most robust and best career choice across the globe. Flying demand highly trained and skilled individuals because it does not require much physical effort.Source : Pexels.comThe level of mental stress is high because the responsibility of the pilot to make sure the flight of an aircraft full of passengers is safe in all kinds and weather and that is demanding. The sudden spurt in demand for pilots suggests airlines require 4 to 10 pilots per aircraft.If you love adventures and traveling is your hobby, then the career in the aviation industry is the right track you can follow. You need to pursue bachelor’s degree in the aviation-related discipline and spend several hundred for both theory and practicals.Qualified pilots can work on commercial airlines with an average salary of $140,260.8) LawyerLawyers are trained individuals giving advise to their client in different legal matters including civial or criminal cases. Their job revolves around conducting extensive legal research, taking part in formal hearings and drafting and filing of the legal documents.They are also responsible for denoting their clients in the court room and give advisory counsel. When we talk about salary ranks, the scope of lawyers is broad. They have an endless stream of opportunities in private, public, government and international settings.You can find lawyers practicing various areas which include environmental law, corporate law, tax law. Intellectual property law, family law, and most important criminal law.This profession required seven years of qualification, and this is something which pays you off in the long run. The annual mean wage of lawyers is $133,260 which is much better than the professionals in other fields.Salary can vary depending on few factors such as the area of law which you are practicing, the country9) Data ScientistA current revolution in information technology has made data scientist a burgeoning career for people. Skill set required in this field is still new, and the people trained in data science are commanding competitive salaries in the job market.The data scientist is a considered to be a craven data field of science. This interdisciplinary filed analyze scientific methods, system, and processes to pull knowledge and insights from data in various forms which include both structured and unstructured ways.Source â€" Pexels.comData scientis t analyze data to make it understandable through difficult techniques that require specialized skills and techniques with a knowledge of different fields including mathematics, information science, and computer science.Data scientists are highly trained, and intelligent people and they can move up in their tracks as per the amount of schooling and training. They move up in their area specialize in a particular skill set and earn a high salary.According to an estimate in 2015, the average wage of data scientist was $124,150, and the expected growth rate in this profession is 15% over the next decades.10) Air Traffic ControllerAit traffic Controllers are highly trained professionals who respond to make sure that the aviation industry is running smoothly and safely. Job responsibilities of these individuals are challenging as well as demanding but immensely rewarding too, as keep the busiest airspace moving for 24 hours a day. Air traffic controllers provide air traffic service for a s afe, efficient and orderly flow of the air traffic both in the air and on the ground at an airport.Source : Pexels.comThe air traffic controller is a primary concern of the is to make sure that the flight is safe, they also direct the aircrafts efficiently to minimize the delays as much as possible.They manage the traffic flow, guide pilots during take off and landing process and monitor the plane when it is traveling through skies. They need to maintain multiple aircraft and so a quick decision-making power is essential.Automation and the economic woes of traveling industry have decreased the demand for air traffic control but the stress and specialized skills required in the job command a very high pay scale.An annual median wage of an air traffic controller for the year 2015 is $122,340, and the growth outlook is 1% for the next 10 year.

How To Achieve Your Aspirations and Live The Life You Want

How To Achieve Your Aspirations and Live The Life You Want Are you living the life you want, or is there a gap between where you are and where you want to be? Are you firing on all cylinders and cutting a clear path to achieving your dreams, or does it feel like you’re slogging through most days, too exhausted to do the things that truly matter and drifting farther away from your goals year by year? Be prepared to play big We all have aspirations no matter how big or small they may be. Maybe it’s to become CEO, or obtain a promotion, or simply wake up an hour earlier every morning. But to achieve those dreams, you’ve got to be prepared to play big. That means taking those actions we know we should take but that feel difficult or scary or both. And it means continuing to do those things on a consistent, purposeful basis so you don’t look back one day and wish you had done things differently. And maybe you’ve even started taking those actions and experienced the buzz of getting some good results. But then life gets in the way and things slip back to normal. Whether it’s about getting started or staying in motion, it can feel like there are some powerful forces out there keeping us right where we are and preventing us from playing big, using all our potential and living a life of no regrets. How to get moving (again) When you’re feeling stuck, playing small, and no longer living according to your aspirations, what you need is to find a catalyst to get you moving again, to get you behaving according to your aspirations. What happens after that is magical. You’ll see visible results and feel more motivated than ever before. You’ll enjoy a positive knock-on effect that turns those seemingly daunting tasks into things that you can easily tackle. Let me give you two examples. What I learned from my daughter’s summer vacation First, one of my daughters (and yes, I have her permission to write about her!) is home for the summer. She spent the first half of it doing the usual “college freshman home for the summer” stuff, including watching TV and movies (well, she is studying to become a screenwriter), sporadic exercising, some visiting with friends, and lots of staying up late and getting up late. She talked about wanting to get up earlier, exercise and write scripts, but it wasn’t coming easily. She then went back to the US for 3 weeks to work at and attend a series of basketball camps run by PGC (Point Guard College), which she has attended each summer for several years. These camps are as much about leadership and leading a good life as they are about basketball. Since she’s returned, she has been visibly different. She’s up early every day, working out and shooting baskets, writing for at least 2-3 hours, learning Chinese using an app, listening to educational podcasts, and cooking dinner for me while I work on my upcoming program launch. She’s also visibly fitter than ever, and pretty close to her peak physical condition. Best of all, she is happy with herself. And no nagging or reminding from mom needed. In fact, she’s inspiring me! My daughter’s catalyst So what happened? Her PGC experience was a catalyst for this change in her behavior. Going back there was a refresher on all the lessons she had learned and benefitted from over the years, but had temporarily fallen by the wayside. Here are two of the gems she’s shared with me from PGC just this morning: “Success is bridging the gap between knowledge and action.” And since her return, she’s started taking action on the things she knew already but had gotten out of the habit of doing. “Change just takes a moment. It’s about consistently making good decisions.” In fact, she’s been making choices that are aligned with her aspirations for how to live her life. What happens when you avoid your catalyst The second example is my client, let’s call him Jon. He had been working on finding a new role that’s more closely aligned with his aspiration for his bigger future, which is in a different sector from the one he’s currently in. But his current job is highly demanding and could take up every waking hour if he let it. We had agreed to meet monthly for six months, but after the first four months he kept rescheduling until two whole months had passed without meeting. He finally agreed to have a 30-minute call to catch up, at which point he explained that he didn’t have much of an update, and thought he should wait until he had some results to report before scheduling our next session. During our call, it became clear that he was not taking much action to find a role aligned to his true calling. Instead, he was defaulting back to doing his current role to an exceptionally high standard, and too tired to do much else once he got home. Jon was not prioritizing his own needs and aspirations so it was always item 12 on his to do list, but he only ever got to item 9 or 10 every day. We came up with a new habit that he wanted to experiment with. Here’s what he now does: Prioritize himself by doing his item first. In fact, he’s not allowed to do any job-related work until he has done something for himself in the morning. Create his personal “to do” list the night before in the subway on the way home from the gym. Tying this to his existing gym habit made it part of the evening ritual. That, in turn, makes it more likely that he will follow through consistently. The “to do” list has to be simple, small steps that Jon can complete in 20-30 minutes in the morning. Jon’s catalyst Jon’s catalyst was our coaching call. Before the call, he had reverted to processing tasks as part of the daily grind, and let that prevent him from getting to the important work of changing his career direction. Now, he’s now making great progress and he also feels better because he’s taking steps. In Jon’s case, he was avoiding the catalyst of his coach challenging him about what’s going on. He had it the opposite way around. I’m not there as someone he reports into â€" I’m not his boss. He’s his boss. I’m there as someone to challenge, ask questions, pressure test, and help devise experiments and create options. Keeping the change alive But, no change is permanent. As with my daughter’s example, the positive effect of any single catalyst tends to wane. When that happens, there’s no sense in beating yourself up or recriminating. It’s completely natural. Real life has a habit of taking over despite our best intentions, and the kind of behavior change required to play big and realize your aspirations is not a “once and done” kind of deal. So here’s the trick. When you feel things starting to drift back, go and get another dose of your catalyst as a reminder, refresher, or booster. Sometimes that’s a person or a group of people, like an executive coach, weekly group calls, a personal trainer, or a running club. Other times the catalyst could be a book, a seminar, a recording you listen to, or an online program. My daughter’s catalyst was going back to the PGC camp, and Jon’s was scheduling the coaching call. For you it might be something else. But it’s almost always someone or something external. You don’t have to take on the entire responsibility yourself. Sure, they’re your aspirations, but no one plays big on their own. In my experience, doing it all by yourself and relying solely on willpower is a recipe for falling short of your goals. It’s not only okay to get help, it’s crucial to ask for it! And preferably before things get dire. So, what is your catalyst for living according to your aspirations? Leave me a comment and let me know.

How to Get More Done at Work - Hallie Crawford

How to Get More Done at Work If youre looking for ways to be more productive at work, check out this new article about enhancing your productivity! We have a new  article published on US News called, 6 Ways to Be More Productive at Work. We all have tough days at work when we just cant seem to get it all done. Maybe youre coming back from vacation and are having a hard time hopping back into your routine; maybe your boss is training you for more responsibility, and its overwhelming you; or perhaps you are covering for a workmate who has called in sick. However, what if you feel like that all the time? Feeling that way adds to our stress level and reduces our productivity. Its not just about the impact on our mental sanity, either â€" feeling constantly overwhelmed affects our physical,  long-term  health. According the Cleveland Clinic: Newer information supports the idea that not only does physical illness cause stress, but stress may bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases. Bottom line: We need to be able to get our work done without feeling overwhelmed, otherwise our physical health can be impacted. Read the rest of the article to get  tips to help you feel more in control of your workload!