Five New Ways to Network (That You Won't Dread) (by Patti Sewall)

If you want to groan every time you hear the word “networking,” well, I don’t exactly blame you. The word conjures images of uncomfortable schmooze-fests, where suit-clad business executives work the room, wine glass in hand, feigned interest at the ready. Who would enjoy that?

But guess what? Networking doesn’t have to be that bad—in fact, it shouldn’t be. The goal is to meet new people and expand your professional network, and there’s no reason those activities have to be confined to conferences and industry happy hours.

1. Reinvent the Meet-and-MingleAll it takes is a little imagination, and networking might even be kind of fun. These five ideas will help you get started.

Is there an activity you’ve been wanting to try, or a new skill you’d like to learn? Pick an activity—like taking up golf, learning to make your own wine, joining a book club, or anything else that other stressed-out professionals might do to unwind—and try it out! (Groupon is a great place to look for new ideas.) People in a relaxed, social setting are usually more open to conversation, which makes this the perfect opportunity to open up, ask questions, and build new relationships.

2. Be In With the In Crowd

In nearly every big city, there are at least a few restaurants where the politicos, the PR people, or the state workers like to go to mingle with their own. Even professional chefs have their favorite after-hours haunts. And a little legwork or friendly conversation with a knowledgeable bartender will give you some ideas of the hot spots in your industry. So, pick your place, grab a friend, cozy up to the bar, and strike up a conversation with the person next to you. Putting yourself (literally) next to other people in your field will increase your chances of networking success.

3. Take Up a Cause

Consider volunteering your time where your heart is. Pick a local church, animal sanctuary, or non-profit where you can put in a few hours after work or on a weekend alongside other people in your area. Or, lend your professional expertise to a neighborhood school: Put together a presentation (complete with handouts) about your field for career night, when parents (read: new contacts) are also in attendance.

4. Work It

Fundraisers usually have no trouble finding people who are happy to fork over $200, get dressed up, and enjoy the wine and hors d’oeuvres—what they really need is extra hands. So call your favorite charity and offer to work the registration desk. You’ll get to be there for the entire event, you’ll have a built-in chance to meet and talk with the (often high-profile) attendees, and you won’t have to pay a dime to do so.

5. Reconnect With Your Past

College and high school reunions or alumni events are the hidden gems of the networking world. They offer a room full of people with diverse interests and careers who you already know (or at least, who you have something to talk about with)! So, after you reminisce with your former classmates, club-mates, and sorority sisters, strike up a conversation about their careers, and talk about yours. Your old friends could be (or at least put you in touch with) valuable connections.

Whether you’re looking to leave your dead-end job or just want to connect with people who may lead you to your next career move, face-to-face networking is still one of the best job search tactics out there. And if you’re willing to think outside the box, it might actually be fun, too.

This article was originally published on The Daily Muse.  

About the Author: Patti Sewall is a longtime writer, editor, and foodie who never has less than four kinds of cheese in her fridge at any given moment. After 20 years as a writer for a nonprofit, she is enjoying life as a freelancer, and is combining her love of writing with her joy of cooking and baking on her food blog, http://www.stewedragsandbuttermilk.com. She lives in Northern California with her two rescued golden retrievers.

Original link:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/04/10/5-new-ways-to-network-that-you-wont-dread/

Five Ways To Sharpen Communication Skills

From handling a sales presentation, to resolving conflicts, to running an all-hands-on-deck meeting, the ability to communicate well is paramount for success at work. Clear communication helps one earn the trust and respect of peers, seniors and clients. An employee who recognises one's inadequacies and has the willingness to learn has already taken the first steps to succeed in the process, feel experts. Anumeha Chaturvedi explains.


1 Recognise Your Flaws 
Communication can happen in a variety of ways and could include verbal, nonverbal or written communication. To embark on the process of improvement, one has to recognise one's areas of improvement first. “Is it your body language that is a cause of concern, drafting emails, or articulation. You have to identify the areas where you need to invest time on learning,“ says Puja Kapoor, HR head, Dunnhumby India.


2 Seek Coaches at Work 
Kapoor suggests the 70:20:10 approach for improving communication skills. “While 70 is about on-the-job learning and making use of all the internal opportunities by reading, improving vocabulary, practising during meetings, 20 is about mentors or coaches and 10 is classroom learning through other forums,“ she says. We could all do with a good sounding board at work. This is someone who is good with what you are lacking in and could help you improve.


3 Engage Your Audience 
Marketing manager Sakshi Juneja used to be a bundle of nerves before her presentation meet ings. Through feedback from bosses and peers, she learnt that there was no eye contact be tween her and her audience. Her monologue style did not help matters either. Through regular practice, Juneja worked on building eye-contact and used ways like prompting audience for their views to keep them engaged.

4 Leverage Internal Opportunities 
Most companies run internal trainings programmes. In her previous job at Google, Kapoor was trained on customised communitybased HR-centric programmes linked to her function which dealt with improving her presentation and communication skills. Dunnhumby runs Influencing Top Authority for project managers which deals with managers communicating all project-centric information to top bosses correctly, besides Inspirational Management, a programme for managers for improving feedback skills.


5 Use the Right Words 
Communication and interpersonal skills mattered the most to recruiters according to an opinion poll conducted by market research firm Harris Interactive in the US. Beginning and ending conversations on a positive note, thanking people for their time, and showing appreciation can also help one build rapport with people, feels Juneja.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 13-05-2014)

Five Ways To Lead In Time of Crisis





Leading during crisis is the biggest challenge a leader faces. While the crisis can take several forms -technological changes, a grim macroeconomic scenario, regulatory changes and a company leadership's involvement in unethical practices -the strategy to deal with a crisis has certain thumb rules, explains Shreya Biswas.

1 Bring Back the Trusted Leader Bring back a former successful leader who enjoys the faith and trust of the management and is respected for his leadership and can hit the ground running. They will fire up the company's growth prospects. For instance, Edward Neville Isdell was brought back by Coca Cola, and so was Steve Jobs of Apple and recently, Narayana Murthy was brought back by Infosys,“ says Rajiv Burman, managing partner, Lighthouse Partners.

2 Make a Future Road Map Make employees aware about the present market scenario and the upcoming challenges to inspire confidence and optimism in overcoming difficult situations. “Ensure that the leadership team is competent to lead and implement the above strategy and quickly make the necessary changes,“ says Burman.

3 Take Initiatives to Motivate People In a crisis or downturn when the overall employee morale is low, a leader must launch strategic initiatives to engage the team in positive activities to create synergies. “These initiatives might not be able to solve the situation but would act as a catalyst in infusing positivity and motivation among the employees, to keep them surging forward,“ says Bhavishya Sharma, MD, Athena Executive Search & Consulting.

4 Set Common Targets Align the organisation around common goals and generate a sense of urgency so that plans are implemented quickly. “Create milestones which are celebrated as the company moves along its new path. It will motivate the employees,“ says Sharma. For instance, generate ideas for pushing up bottomlines, bring in cost efficiencies, generate new product lines and services lines, and celebrate each of these when they prove successful.

5 Act as a Shield A leader should act as a shield who absorbs all the conflicts and problems of the world outside to inspire the team in battling a rough situation.
If the leader leads from the front, it will be inculcating confidence, security and strength amongst employees,“ explains Sharma. Teams should look upon the leader, as someone who is there in this downside protecting them from external factors that influence their careers.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 16-05-2014)

Five Ways To Manage One’s Team Efficiently

While different people have different styles of managing, too much micro-management can do more harm than good. Shreya Roy speaks to experts to understand how best to draw the fine line between managing one’s team, and over-managing it.
 
1 Hire the Right People 
It is important to analyse your needs and hire those who meet them instead of hiring people and then figuring where to accommodate them. Creating the team you require will eliminate the need to micro-manage. “A good team is formed when you recognise each individual’s contribution and allow each one to contribute ideas,” says Murali Padmanabhan, senior director & global head of learning & leadership development, Virtusa Corp. 


2 Assign Workloads & Delegate 
The problems start when a manager does not set the expectations right with his team. It is important that both the manager and his team have a qualitative session wherein they discuss goals, approach, workload and the challenges. Let everyone know exactly what they are accountable for. “This will also help them take decisions on their own, motivate them to work and thereby increase the productivity,” adds Padmanabhan. 


3 Embrace Uncertainty 
Managers tend to get overly involved in times when things are not going as per the plan. Understand that there is always a chance that things will be out of yours and your team’s control. “Rigid processes are often responsible for high-order micromanaging. Be prepared for new developments; adopt a positive approach for handling uncertainties,” says Satya D Sinha, chief executive officer, Mancer Consulting. 


4 Trust Your Team to Deliver 
“Be available to guide, support and help them when required. A manager should have the confidence in his or her team to perform well,” says Ronesh Puri, MD, Executive Access. 


5 Value Your Own Time 
A basic management principle is that responsibility without authority fails to create desired impact. Share your experiences but encourage them to take their own decisions. It’s critical to guide the team, but eventually they should be able to take decisions independently without any preconceived notions.

The Economic Times, Mumbai, 06-05-2014

Five Ways To Inspire Your Team Members

At a time when an increasingly impatient generation is joining the workforce, and the rest are grappling with a gloomy economic outlook, a manager’s job has gone far beyond just getting the job done, to inspiring his team to commit, and innovate on a daily basis. Shreya Roy speaks to experts to find about ways to inspire your team. 


1 State the Purpose and Let your Team in on the Vision 
A team can’t function in void, without understanding what they are working towards. Paint the big picture for your team, and show them where their efforts are headed. “An inspiring leader is one who understands how to mobilise people towards a shared goal,” says Shilpa Vaid, senior vicepresident and head- HR, Bharti AXA General Insurance. 


2 Be Authentic and Show Courage 
With changing times, team members are not likely to respect a know-it-all. Managers today are also dealing with a generation that is more inquisitive, unafraid to ask tough questions. “Having humility, accepting what you can and can’t do, is necessary to inspire people around you. The current generation needs to see the real you,” says Vaid. 


3 Recognise and Encourage 
The new workforce has been raised in an environment where parents and schools spend more time in recognising their efforts. “When you walk down to your team members, recognise them for the good work they have done, and do it till it comes naturally to you,” says Mark Driscoll, Human Capital leader, PwC India. 


4 Be Empathetic and Respect Individual Differences 
Understand that not everyone is motivated by the same things. As a leader, it is your responsibility to understand what works for each of your team members. “Don’t be surprised if what works for you does not work for everyone else, and have patience for those who may not be driven by the same ambition as yours,” says Vaid. 


5 Walk the Talk A good leader not only shows the way, but also goes the way. Nothing inspires a team more than seeing an energetic leader who is down in the trenches, performing with the standards that he expects from his team. “Do what you say, and walk the talk,” says Driscoll.

Five Ways To Deal With Rotation In Job Roles

Job rotations reflect the aspirations of an executive and the confidence the company has in him. To climb up the ladder, two or more job role changes are necessary for entry into the top brass club, say HR experts. However, a job transition is not always smooth and there are a few cardinal rules. Devina Sengupta explains five ways to deal with a job rotation.

1 Chalk it out Like Succession Planning 

Job rotations are given to high performers and the company should explain to the executive the career progression they have in mind, says P Thiruvengadam, senior director, Human Capital Advisory of Deloitte India. The stint in the new role should be a minimum of one year and both roles should not overlap. 

2 Linear Growth will Get Nowhere 

The executive should understand that the role of the top brass is possible if the resume shows at least 2-3 job rotations. “We start our career as specialists, but to become a leader we need to have a multidisciplinary approach. This comes only through job rotations,” says Adil Malia, group president, HR, Essar Group. Malia says he too had job rotations. 

3 Do not Look Back 

Just after a job rotation, the departments may be linked. It’s important for the executive not to interfere in the working of his previous team. Both roles should have clarity and it’s up to the mentor to prevent the candidate from doing so, adds Malia. 

4 Assign a Mentor 

The executive getting readied for a job rotation should be assigned a mentor. Regular discussions, feedback and clarifications should take place. His progression should get monitored and the amount of exposure the executive must have should also be pre-decided. 

5 Prepare Staffer Before the Rotation 

Before a new role is given, the firm should do a personality and capability fitment test so that they know the candidate is apt for the new role. “Some 80-90% of job rotations are successful and 90% go back to their original post after the rotation is complete,” adds the senior director from Deloitte.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 29-04-2014)

Five Ways To Deal With A Job You Are Not Keen On

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 22-04-2014)

Five Ways To Deal With A Bad Hire

It is costly, time consuming, and a manager’s worst nightmare. Hiring a bad employee can cost a company dearly. But assessing the reasons on time and taking remedial steps to rectify performance could help salvage the situation for managers, says Anumeha Chaturvedi. 1 Set a Deadline  Defining someone as a bad hire almost a year after recruiting him does not really cut it, feels T Muralidharan, founder and chairman of recruiting and HR services firm TMI. “Typically a period of 90-120 days is enough to recognise one and will also help put remedial steps into action before the next year,” he says. 2 Assess the Reasons  The reasons why a manager would not approve of an employee can be multiple and varied. “The most crucial aspect of dealing with a bad hire is the manager’s assessment of the problem. It is only after assessing the reasons can a manager decide on whether the employee should stay the course or should be terminated,” says Tarun Katyal, chief human resources officer at MTS India. 3 Gather Solid Evidence  The veracity of reasons can only be highlighted once managers back up their reservations and concerns by facts and figures. Documenting evidence against employees can also put their own doubts to rest. Allegations of grave nature like sexual harassment require solid evidence and proof before initiating action, says Muralidharan. 4 Engage and Provide Feedback  At MTS, a new hire performed spectacularly well in the first two months, only to flounder later. Post frank discussions, the manager realised the sudden downward spiral stemmed from the employee’s mother’s illness. Engaging with employees and providing constant feedback will help rein in rude shocks. 5 Facilitate Counselling  According to a survey, 41% of the companies surveyed stated that a bad hire in the last year has cost them at least $ 25,000. Factors like inability to deliver results or slow learning can be addressed through counselling. (The Economic Times, Mumbai, 04-04-2014)

Five Ways To Tap Your Listening Skills

An old Argnetine proverb puts it quite simply. “He who speaks, sows; he who listens, reaps.” In a world rich with social platforms to express oneself, good listeners are a rare species. But at the workplace, using your listening skills can get you far. Shreya Roy speaks to experts, to find out five ways to best leverage your listening skills.

1 Resolving Conflicts 
Good listeners tend to be better equipped to resolve conflicts. “Leaders are more approachable if they offer to lend their ears to team members during a crisis at work which results in a better constructive method to solve the issue,” says Minhaj Zia, managing director, Polycom India & SAARC.


2 Defying Distance and Barriers 
In today’s world, we are constantly collaborating with people from various countries, who belong to wildly diverse cultures, and we rarely even get to personally interact with them. Using your listening skills to the maximum becomes a necessity, and not just a good trait to have, in order to achieve such collaboration smoothly.


3 Listen to Connect the Dots 
The ability to draw commonalities between multiple conversations improves dramatically if a person is a good listener. As a leader, this can help in improving fact-based judgement. “Asking for clarification will allow you to probe for additional facts. Using this effectively shows your ability to connect,” says Mark Driscoll, Human Capital leader, PwC India.


4 Driving Innovation 
When you allow someone to talk for 20 minutes, and just listen, they tend to come up with their own solutions. “One can come up with interesting new ways of working and infuse new life into projects by spelling out the objective and then letting the team come up with suitable action plans rather than prescribing a traditional approach,” says Zia. 

5 Establishing a Rapport 
A distraction-free conversation portrays to your speaker that you care about his view points, and are not just obsessed mentally with what you will say next. Even in a meeting with multiple people, you can build a better rapport with colleagues, by actively listening to speakers, and responding non-verbally.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 08-04-2014)

Five Ways To Hone Your Influencing Skills

Influencing others is not just a useful, but an extremely important attribute to have. Interestingly, influence has been the subject of considerable research, the most notable of it by Dr Robert Cialdini, Regents’ Professor of Psychology and Marketing, Arizona State University, who’s spent 30 years not just studying, but narrowing down his findings to six key principles, published in his 1984 book ‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion’. They include: reciprocity, commitment (and consistency), social proof, liking, authority and scarcity. Sreeradha D Basu speaks to experts to decode the science behind influencing others better 

1 Improve your Interpersonal Skills 
People are more likely to say ‘yes’ to you if they like you. So, it’s worth making the effort to work on your interpersonal skills, says Swapnil Kamat, founder, CEO and chief trainer at executive education and training firm, Work Better. “People like dealing with positive people, so it’s important to project both a positive body language as well as positive facial expressions. Also, people like dealing with others who are like them,” suggests Kamath.


2 Go out, do Something for People 
Not only does it make you a better person, but it’s likely that people will reciprocate. “Most people have this innate instinct to return favours. So, if you have done a favour for them in the past, it’s human nature to try and equalise that,” says Kamath.

3 Come Across as a Figure of Authority 
People who come across as a figure of authority tend to influence others in a big way. It could involve anything from power dressing to associating with a figure of authority or becoming an expert at what you are doing. 

4 Talk About Previous Examples 
As a society, we get influenced by what everyone else is doing. “People are comfortable going ahead with something when others have done it in the past,” says Kamath. Ad agencies use precisely this mindset to drive home their message. 

5 Build Better Trust and Connect 
It’s important to motivate and praise the employee so that he feels positive about the work that he has been assigned to, says Udit Mittal, MD, Unison International. “One should give their employees flexibility in schedules and take genuine interest in their work-life balance. Such small gestures definitely make a lot of difference. Giving due credit for past successes also helps,” he says.

Five Ways To Multitask At Workplace

Multi-tasking is not everyone’s forte. Yet at workplaces we are left with no other choice but to juggle between multiple activities. Experts say it is important to set realistic goals to multitask. Rica Bhattacharyya talks to experts for a few tips: 

1 Be Efficient in Juggling 

SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timebound) goals can help in multi-tasking. “A SMART plan helps you to remain focused and to be efficient in juggling. It allows you to evaluate when and how much attention is needed to complete a task and whether two tasks are compatible,” says Ruchi Sinha, assistant professor of business, organisational behavior at ISB. 

2 Know Your Priorities 

Knowing the priorities, while multitasking, and scheduling the tasks helps in minimising errors and being more productive. “Even when you are multitasking you must know which tasks need more of your attention and which ones can be achieved with partial or limited attention. You must combine a filler task with a larger more complex task,” says Sinha. 

3 Don’t Procrastinate 

As a manager’s demands of multitasking increase, he/she must be mindful of procrastination. “If you have an agenda, plan early and address it as soon as possible,” says Sudhir Dhar, senior VP & head, HR, Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Agrees Sinha: “Finish those short phone calls when you are walking between meetings. Ask a colleague to join you for a cup of coffee and make it into a work meeting.” 

4 Define Your Limits 

Multitasking has its advantages, but don’t take on too much or set yourself unrealistic targets. “Don’t say yes when you want to say no,” says Dhar. “It’s all very well to impress your bosses but don’t end up becoming a victim of a burnout,” he adds. 

5 Practice Makes Perfect 

“Some days you will feel you did good and on other days you might feel that your multitasking attempts were a disaster. You need to continue practicing till the juggling becomes natural and your skills of planning and utilising time become internal to you,” says Sinha. Make it a routine to plan for every day and to consciously practice the art of multitasking.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 15-04-2014)

Five Ways To Deal With Office Politics

Things may be hotting up this election season, but politicking, or the act of engaging in partisan political discussions or activities is not the sole preserve of politicians. In the sphere of work life, one could be faced with colleagues who thrive on plotting and scheming to downplay one against the other. Transparency, collaboration and a calm demeanour are key traits that could help one come out unscathed, finds Anumeha Chaturvedi.

1 Be Transparent 
Establishing transparent and direct communication channels through verbal and written commnunication consistently could help keep politickers at bay. “If you work this way, people around you will understand and even possibly respect you for it. It also helps in building trust at the workplace,” says Vipul Singh, VP and head of HR at ADP India. This is particularly important for larger teams as different people hold different perceptions owing to various circumstances. Transparency can be achieved by being genuine in all your interactions. “Not succumbing to judging people based on hearsay will only help one being perceived as more open and genuine,” says Singh. 


2 Understand People 
Make attempts to understand the office culture of the firm, the practices, and people around you. Strong and lasting relationships can be built by knowing more about direct reports, team members, their backgrounds and aspirations. “It will also help in dealing with different sets of people, progressing on projects, winning friends, and avoiding misunderstandings,” says Singh. 


3 Collaborate IT professional Ashish Jain tried the collaborative approach to win trust of colleagues around. Collaborating on projects with a diverse set of people has helped him gain a deeper understanding of how people operate. “Over the years, with different partnerships I have also learnt to keep my ears open and my mouth shut. While colleagues will often have something to rant or crib about, it is advisable to keep your view points to the bare minimum to avoid discussions being blown out of proportion,” he says. 

4 Never be Hostile 
Never try to react to a situation when you’re emotional or angry as you will regret it later. It is necessary to maintain your composure at all times, even with troublemakers,” says Singh. Interacting in a professional and courteous manner could help alleviate signs of discomfort and harshness among colleagues. 


5 Seek Feedback 
While being embroiled in office politics can be hard to avoid, professionals are bound to hit the breaking point when instances start affecting their personal lives. “While other things could be compromised upon, peace of mind is non-negotiable. It might help to discuss the state of affairs with a trustworthy senior at work to seek timely redressals,” says Jain.

(The Economic Times  Mumbai 18-04-2014)

Five Ways To Hold an Engaging Meeting

Meetings are an inescapable part of corporate life. Managing effective meetings, though, requires many things: a clear agenda, timelines, ideation from all participants and fun and trivia, underscored with the core goal. Rica Bhattacharyya explores the art of achieving this.

1 Have an Agenda 
The first rule is to have a clear agenda. “It is beneficial to distribute the agenda to all the participants beforehand. This helps everyone come prepared,” says Nitin Pande, vice president, HR, HCL Technologies. 

2 Strike a Balance 
An engaging meeting is a fine balance of anecdotes, instinct and information — too little or too much of any of these is a compromise, says Sameer Wadhawan, vice president, human resources, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia. Also, the leader must find ways to stimulate interaction among the group. 


3 Include Breaks 
Intersperse lengthy meetings with breaks. Take up a physical activity or a short breathing exercise or even a quiz on your company or brands. “An engaging meeting is one where the chair cuts the conversation at the right time. Debate is healthy, arguments are difficult,” says Wadhawan. 


4 Pass the Fruit Platter Around 
Here’s an aside: “Fruits should take precedence over cookies and biscuits in all meetings,” says Wadhawan. Coke boardroom meetings get done over a fruit platter, he says. “Fruits bring in more individuality, and are a very healthy option. But more importantly, we waste far lesser time moving fruits around the table, than we do moving snacks and cookies around,” he says. 


5 Be Neutral
 “While addressing the participants, the leader should be neutral and focus on the process of running the meeting, not shaping the content,” says Pande. The leader should give all the perspectives and welcome opinions; he or she should avoid sharing strong personal opinions, he adds.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 24-01-2014)

Five Ways To Manage Time Effectively

Effective time management can not only help one be more productive at work, but can also help one strike the right balance between personal commitments and family time. Discipline and cultivating the ability to prioritise work is key, finds Anumeha Chaturvedi. 

1 Prioritise Work A day usually comes with unexpected curveballs that may not be that significant but eat up a majority of your time, says Rishi Bhatnagar, director — staffing at Sapient Global Markets. It is important to prioritise tasks in spite of those additional activities and to avoid getting distracted by unnecessary email conversations. “Focus on your to-dos,” he says. 


2 Alter Off-Work Habits Subtle lifestyle changes like hitting bed early, a change in diet plans, exercising or meditation can help one focus better and can make one better at managing time for work as well as family, feels Anant Krishnan, a marketing manager. 


3 Plan Milestones, not Tasks Professionals should not think of work as a bunch of daily tasks or activities but as an initiative with a logical start and finish line with certain milestones, says Bhatnagar. “This way you will not have tick marked a list of tasks at the end of the day without working towards that milestone,” he says. 


4 Make Time for Important Tasks Elizabeth Grace Saunders, author of ‘The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success With Less Stress’, suggests allocating specific hours to certain tasks. One can then accordingly take out time from the less important activities if the important tasks take longer than expected. 


5 Review and Reorder Reviewing and taking stock of the week gone by can help one correct one’s schedules or possible lapses. “Make time to review your day, week or month to assess whether or not something needs to change in order to be more effective,” says Bhatnagar.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 31-12-2013)

Five Ways to Show Your Boss You’re Ready for that Promotion

You’ve been in the same position at your job for a while. It’s natural that you want to move up, make more money and take on more responsibility. After all, you’ve put in the time and earned it.

The only problem is that you’re not the only one in this position. A few of your coworkers probably feel the exact same way. For you to land the promotion, you need to stand out and make yourself a vital asset to the team.

That might sound like a lot of work, but these easy-to-follow steps will help show your employer it’s time for you to move up and advance in the company:

1. Dress for success

Your physical appearance doesn’t affect how well you do your job. But it does show your level of professionalism. Consider the standard dress at your workplace, and try to match that.

Obviously, if the dress code is casual, you don’t need to overdress. But you can still take a few extra minutes each morning on your appearance to show your employer you care about work and how you represent the company. And, paying attention to how you present yourself shows you’re aware of how you come across to other people.

2. Be punctual and prepared

Employers notice who shows up late and who’s on time. Avoid strolling in late like you own the place.

Arrive a few minutes early so you’re settled before the clock strikes 9:00 a.m. If your lunch is already in the fridge, your coffee on your desk and your email open as everyone else arrives, you’ll send the message that you value your job and care enough to start work when it’s scheduled to begin.

3. Ask questions and make suggestions

The biggest asset to any company is someone who knows what they’re doing. Asking valuable questions and clarifying answers is the best way to become well-rounded in your line of work.

Never be afraid to ask questions. Not only will you understand your position better, but you’ll show your employer you aim to get the most out of your time spent at work. Asking questions might make you feel as though you’re being a pest, but you’ll be strengthening your performance and making yourself a better asset to the company.

Speak up and make suggestions. Nothing will impress your employer more than if you offer ideas to improve the work environment. Don’t be aggressive or persistent about your suggestions, but try to show you can be resourceful and creative when it comes to thinking of ways to improve the company’s efficiency.

4. Go the extra mile

It’s never fun to do more work than required, but sometimes doing a little more than everyone else can help you stand out. Do a little work from home, stay a few minutes after hours or take on an extra side project (even just getting the coffee going in morning).

You’ll set yourself apart from the rest of the pack and show you can be counted on.

5. Brighten up the place

Attitude can take you a long way in life, and a cheery, optimistic demeanor can make a difference in the workplace. It’s important to be yourself, but try to be someone your coworkers enjoy working with as well.

Getting along with others and avoiding workplace drama shows you’re mature and professional.Nothing is more of a turn-off to employers than catty, childish behavior.

It’s also important to take direction. Listen to any feedback and ask open-ended questions about what’s expected of you to show you’re willing to work within the company’s guidelines. On the other hand, getting defensive and having a rebuttal for any constructive criticism can leave the impression that you’re hard to work with and can’t own up to mistakes.

6. Communicate your desires effectively

Sometimes, showing your boss you’re ready to move up is as simple as saying it out loud. Express to your employer that you have a desire to advance with the company, and inquire about any future positions. This will put you in mind when a position does come along.

Standing out to your employer doesn’t have to be calculated. In fact, the steps you can take are easy. And if you’re already a quality employee, you most likely already practice these habits and have shown your boss you’re ready to move up the ladder.

The most important thing (as many times as you’ve heard it before) is to believe in your own abilities. If you lack confidence in yourself, don’t expect anyone to fill the gap for you.

About the author

Arlene Chandler is a freelance writer who loves helping people prepare for life’s unexpected turns. She writes about finance tips, career advice and income protection insurance (Suncorp).

Original Link: http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2013/05/06/5-ways-to-show-your-boss-youre-ready-for-that-promotion/?othersrcp=16057&wExp=N

Five Ways To Prepare For A Sabbatical

Sabbaticals, which have become increasingly common due to work pressure and higher aspirations, can hinder growth if not planned well. Worse, they can make the transition back to professional life tough. Shreya Biswas finds out how to make them work for you. 

1 Decide on the Reason 
Employees take sabbaticals to manage a special circumstance such as a family crisis or a child’s exam; when they feel the burnout coming; or to expand their knowledge and skills. “Decide what you want to address during your sabbatical, first, to make the best use of time that you will have to yourself,” says Ruchi Sinha, assistant professor, organisational behaviour, ISB. 

2 Discuss it with Your Family 
Before you reach out to your employer and communicate your decision, talk with your family. “The family backs you up if your plan doesn’t work out, be it financial or mental. Discuss with your spouse, children and parents before you take the leap,” says Sunetra Wagh, associate vice president – head (operations and strategy - manufacturing), Zensar, who returned from her eight-month sabbatical this April after her son completed his Standard 12 board exams. 


3 Plan Ahead 
Let your organisation know well in time so they can prepare for the time you will be away. Wagh, for instance, told her boss about her plan in January last year and formally in April, as she planned to go on the sabbatical from August. “It helped them find a back-up and I got the time to help the person transition into a new role and hand over my responsibilities.” Apart from work being taken care of, it kept her goodwill intact. 


4 Start a Sabbatical Fund Make a financial plan for your time away, saving at least 12 months worth of expenses for every three months of sabbatical. Think about sub-letting your apartment for taking care of regular household expenses. “For healthcare needs, get a private insurer or negotiate with your company,” says Prasenjit Bhattacharya, CEO, Great Place to Work Institute. 


5 Keep in Touch Once you’ve left for your sabbatical, continue networking online. Inform those close to you and family through a blog or an update every two weeks. Keep in touch with your boss and colleagues. This will come in handy when you get back to your professional life, says Bhattacharya.

The Economic Times, Mumbai, 28-07-2013
Original Link: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM/2013/06/28&PageLabel=8&EntityId=Ar00801&ViewMode=HTML

Five Ways To Curtail Star Tantrums

Every company has to deal with a tuft of employees who score a perfect ten when it comes to work but fail in interpersonal relationships. They prefer to work in silos, know their value but often make the mistake of believing they are indispensable. Human resource heads of Corporate India have strategies lined up their sleeves to tackle with these employees and get them grounded. Devina Sengupta looks at some of them. 


1 Draw a Performance Plan Product services firm, Netapp, has an immediate remedy for all star employees who refuse to toe the line. They are put in the time-bound performance management plan, with specific areas of improvement and a follow-up session. “There have been instances when we have asked star employees to leave because they did not improve despite being on these programmes,” says SR Manjunath, human resource head. The company had once asked a top performer to quit for passing an unpardonable remark about another colleague. 


2 Include Career Counselling At the RPG Group, career counselling and personal coaching help the employee realise that for him or her to be a star performer, it will need more than just achieving key result areas. “Any gap in behavioural competencies mean one is not a star employee and his career progression will be at stake,” says Amit Das, senior vice president, group HR for RPG Group. Building on interpersonal skills, support programs and one-on-one coaching helps in getting them running on the right track. 


3 Increase Teamwork At HDFC Life, performers who prefer to work in silos and are not empathetic towards others are given more teamwork. The insurance company has 13 to 15 specially-created cross-functional teams, with four to five members in each. These teams are given special projects where they have to work together to achieve certain goals. “We get achievers who are averse to collaboration to work in these projects. They soon learn to work in teams,” says Rajendra Ghag, executive vice-president and chief human resources officer. 

4 Ask Hard Questions A company dealing with prima donnas has to first find out if those employees have an inherent problem or are working amongst “dwarfs”. Nearly 60% of best employers are interested in leadership roles and are willing to be improve for the next role while the rest are best left alone, says Saundarya Rajesh, president and founder of AVTAAR Career Creators and Flexicareers India. “Those who are good performers but lack leadership qualities are also important and do not aspire to become the next CEO. Therefore, a firm does not lose out by not mentoring them and often during a shake out, they look for other opportunities,” she says. 


5 Watch Your Attitude 
The best performer’s ego is often his or her Achilles Heel and superiors need to be sensitive about this. Mocking them or putting them down in front of others will not help them confront their problems; rather, it will make them go further into a shell or worse, put in their papers.

The Economic Times, Mumbai 02-07-2013
Original Link: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM/2013/07/02&PageLabel=8&EntityId=Ar00801&ViewMode=HTML

Five Ways To Get Out of Rut in Your Job

Be it an unyielding superior or poor salary, the reasons for feeling miserable at work could be multiple and varied. But in a lacklustre job market, one can hardly hope to quit in the hope of getting something better. At such times, finding a mentor in your company, or taking a vacation to de-stress and introspect can help in deviating your attention from the vagaries of work. Anumeha Chaturvedi suggests how. 

1 Get Specific 

However tough things are, not everything about the workplace can be wrong, says Naveen Narayanan, global head of talent acquisition, HCL Technologies.“Give time to yourself to evaluate circumstances and identify specific things that bother you at work,” he says. “Once you have the problem statement, walk up to your colleagues for guidance and a way forward,” he says. 

2 Look for Solutions 

Instead of complaining about problems and running away, focus on finding solutions, suggests Narayanan. Marketing professional Shruti Sharma’s relationship with her boss was strained, and she reached out to seniors to understand what was lacking on her part and what she could do to build bridges. “These were people who had worked with him, and I got an insight into my boss’ working style. I could adapt myself accordingly this year,” she says. 

3 Distract Yourself Studies published in the book, ‘Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements’ by Tom Rath  and James K Harter have shown that unhappy workers are at a greater risk of depression and heart ailments. “It might be worthwhile to go on a vacation to destress and energise,” says Sharma. She also relies on meditation and exercise, which calm her down and re-establish hope and confidence. 

4 Find a Mentor 

Lack of direction at work can also lead to dissatisfaction. Narayanan suggests looking for a mentor within your organisation. “It could be someone you admire. A mentor can be a senior person and not necessarily from the same chain of command. Mentoring helps in knowledge-sharing and professional development of an individual, increasing productivity and efficiency,” he says. 

5 Be Aware 

In a dismal job market, the chances of moving out for a better deal or offer are negligible. In such a scenario, it becomes important to stay abreast of market and industry developments. Often, gossip can lead one to feeling miserable and doubtful about surviving in an organisation. “Even if no one’s looking to hire immediately, talking to other people in the industry will help you gain confidence and a network, and establish whether the problems you face are inherent in your organisation or are an industry-wide trend,” says Sharma, adding, in case of the latter, worrying is uncalled for.

The Economic Times, Mumbai, 25-06-13