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

Five Ways to Encourage Creative Thinking

As the chief executive of a private equity firm I am always on the look-out for the UK’s brightest and most innovative talent. My role as chairman of the Government’s Start-Up Loan scheme has made me become even more aware of the need to be constantly watching for the best creative talent in the country.

Creativity can be a difficult notion to grasp but it is a key talent that is always found at the heart of any successful company. I would say that true creativity, along with drive and self-belief, are the defining characteristics of any successful entrepreneur.

Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognised expert in education, leadership and innovation, has described creativity in an easy to understand and succinct way. He wrote that creativity is “the process of having original ideas that add value”.

That is a straightforward definition, but the real difficulty comes in actually being able to think differently or “out of the box”. It is a very rare and valuable skill to be able to come up with ideas that are truly original and different to anything currently out there on the market.

Creativity always has to be relevant but it is crucial to the success of any business. Without originality, businesses have no way of differentiating themselves from their competitors in the market place. Being different from rivals has become increasingly important in the modern business environment.

Taking all of this into account, I believe it is vital to encourage staff to think differently and this can be done in several ways.

• Give your staff the time and the space to be imaginative and creative. Apple is a great example of a company which has benefited enormously from this. Up to a fifth of their working day is given to creative thinking sessions. Innovation is a key characteristic of the company so it is vital for Apple to inspire staff and to give them the space to be original.

• Constantly question yourself and your working practices. Instead of sticking with tried and tested methods, business leaders should always be thinking of alternative approaches when it comes to solving issues and problems. Simply posing the question can lead to new ideas and projects, which opens up valuable income streams.

• Encourage people to work in groups. That way, ideas can be shared along with responsibility and the credit for success. A company which has an overly competitive and individualistic culture can stifle creativity.

• Not every idea is going to be a great idea but it is important not to ridicule people who are brave enough to think differently from the rest of us. If people are scared of being mocked then they are going to be reluctant to step forward with new ideas.

• Running a business and hitting targets is serious as people’s livelihoods rely on the success of a company - but the creative process needs to be fun. If you want to inspire people to think differently then you have to create the right culture and environment to allow them to do just that.

However it is important to remember that creativity on its own is not enough to guarantee success. The focus should always remain on how to use innovative thinking to make the company financially successful. Stick to these rules and there is every chance you will have a success story on your hands.

James Caan

CEO of Hamilton Bradshaw

Original Link: 

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130315125605-32175171-5-ways-to-encourage-creative-thinking

Five Ways to a Successful Five Minute Presentation

The five minute presentation is the most challenging of all presentations to create and deliver. The five minute presentation from an audience perspective is more engaging and less boring than a typical sixty minute talk.

Creating a compelling, focused speech with a single message is the ultimate goal of the five minute presentation. Whether you are crafting the five minute presentation for a venture capital pitch, selling a product, or educating an audience -- the creation process is the first vital step. But is five minutes enough time?

What Can Be Accomplished in Five Minutes?

Five minutes doesn't seem like much time to accomplish anything but keep in mind the insight of George Matthew Adams:

• Napoleon wrote that the reason he beat the Austrians was that they did not know the value of five minutes.
• It took Lincoln less than five minutes to deliver his immortal Gettysburg Address.
• In less than five minutes William Jennings Bryan electrified a great political convention with but a single expression that gave him the nomination for the presidency of the United States.

Five Ways to a Successful Five Minute Presentation

pply these five methods to your five minute presentation for a memorable means to engage your audience.

Dig Deep: Although your material is limited for your five minute presentation, you'll still need to do enough research to understand your topic and extract the essence of your talk.

Simple Is: Once you have the materials, narrow down your topic to one core concept. As stated by Chip and Dan Heath, authors of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die state, "How do we find the essential core of our ideas? To strip an idea down to its core, we must be masters of exclusion." It's all about just one idea.

Practice, Practice: Rehearsal is critical for a short presentation. You have no time to pause or collect your thoughts. To engage your listeners you'll need to be smooth not bumbling.

Lead With Wow: During a five minutes presentation you have little time to build a case or draw your audience in. The best approach is to lead with a compelling or controversial position. Make them think right of the bat.

Tell a Story: A presentation full of facts, figures and statistics will quickly lose your audience. One stat may be fine to reinforce a point. But if you want to create a memorable presentation tell a story.

A great five minute presentation is more than enough time to get your funding, educate an audience or sell a client as well as a chance for your five minutes of fame.

Author: Darrell Zahorsky, former About.com Guide

Original Link : http://sbinformation.about.com/od/marketingsales/a/fiveminuteprese.htm

Five Ways To Deal With Favouritism at Work

It’s never easy dealing with a boss bitten by the favouritism bug. Even more so, since favouritism, in some form or the other, is alive and kicking at most workplaces. Just a couple of years ago, a survey published by Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business that covered senior executives at large US corporations, found that 92% have seen favouritism at play in employee promotions, 84% have seen it at their own companies and 23% said they practiced favouritism themselves. Most organisations tend to ignore or play down the issue of favouritism. But if not dealt with properly, it can create bad feelings among colleagues and affect employee morale. Sreeradha D Basu gets you a few tips on dealing with favouritism at work: 


1 Analyse if You are Really a Victim 
Take an honest look to figure out if that ‘favoured’ employee walking away with the bigger raise and promotion actually deserves it more than you. You may discover that the person has, in fact, been performing better. A study from the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business shows that bosses should pick favourites if they want top performing teams. Sauder Professor Karl Aquino, who co-authored the study, maintains that while conventional wisdom dictates that everyone should be treated the same to create a productive work atmosphere, research shows this can be a disincentive for workers who would otherwise go above and beyond on behalf of the team with a little more attention. 


2 Maintain a Positive Attitude 
It may seem difficult to do especially if you are feeling victimised, but it can help you deal with the situation better. Says Taruni Sen (name changed), a magazine reporter, who works in an organisation where a colleague has long been the boss’ favourite. “I figured it wouldn’t help to crib about it. Instead, I just concentrated on doing my own work better. Soon, I was getting noticed too, on my own merit,” she says. 


3 Avoid Gossip 
Gossiping about the situation with your colleagues isn’t going to help in any way. All it will do is make the situation more tense and negative. 


4 Speak Up 
According to Arvind Agarwal, president and chief executive, corporate development and HR, RPG Enterprises, the employee feeling overlooked needs to express himself instead of sulking about it. “A lot of times a particular individual may be playing favourites, but the organisation may not even be aware of it. Then the employee can take the matter up with the HR or even the boss’ boss,” he says. “In many evolved companies, there are now whistleblower policies where an individual can raise an issue to a higher level. Even avenues like customer engagement surveys can be used to raise this point. What is important is that the employee doesn’t disengage,” cautions Agarwal. 


5 Look for Options 
If the situation doesn’t improve and no one is listening, then you need to move on, feels Agarwal. “There’s only so much one can do. Having to move on is unfortunate, but sometimes it’s necessary,” says Agarwal.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 11-06-2013)

Five Ways to Find Your Passion

You want to get up in the morning and feel fired up about what you do. But what if you don’t know what, exactly, that is?

Finding your passion isn't always an easy road—at least for me, and many people I know, it wasn't. You’re working in a hectic day job that takes up a lot of your time and energy, and while you know it’s not what you love, you can’t even manage cooking your own dinner most nights, let alone discovering your passions.

Our lives are constantly operating at a frenetic pace, and so it’s easy to get caught up in all of the noise and distractions. But if you’re itching to discover your passion, then it’s time to clear your schedule and commit to making it your number one priority.

And here are five ways to start doing that today.

1. Slow Down

This may sound counter-intuitive, but you need to slow down and get off the treadmill in order to find your passion. There may be clues all around you that are telling you what you should be doing, but when you’re too busy, it’s hard to see them. It’s in those moments of silence that you’re able to really become more aware of what inspires you.

I know it’s not always easy to slow down, but even a couple of lifestyle changes—things like getting plenty of rest, moving your body, and even practicing a mindfulness technique like meditation—can make all the difference in connecting with your passion. When you take time to nurture your mind and body, you’ll feel more energized and creatively inspired.

2. Be Your Own Life Detective

So you’ve started to slow down and take some time for yourself. Now what?

Take some time to notice the things in your life that bring you the most joy. What activities energize you when you do them? Is it writing? Talking to people? Working on a design project? Being with kids? Over the next week, grab a journal and record how you feel as you’re going through your day-to-day activities, as these activities can be big clues into what your passions are. And don’t dismiss any activities—if you get jazzed up when you color coordinate your closetor design one-of-a-kind pet accessories, that counts.

Another great exercise is to walk into a bookstore and see where you end up. Do you gravitate to the cooking section? Self-help? Sports? Find topics that interest you and go dig deeper into the subject.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Explore

Now that you’ve started to pay attention to which activities and interests make you feel most energized, keep doing more of them and stay away from those that drain you.

When I was figuring out what my passions were, I realized that I enjoyed yoga, dance, writing, and studying holistic health and personal growth. And as I started integrating more of those activities into my life, I was amazed at the amount of inspiration that followed.

Eventually, as you give yourself permission to go down these roads, you’ll start to narrow down your passions more and more, just by doing what feels best to you. For example, while exploring my interests, I enrolled in a Basic Photoshop class at a local design school—then quickly realized sitting behind a computer and designing was not for me. Later on I pursued my interest for holistic health by enrolling at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and that road led me to my calling. 

Some interests will lead you to your passion while others won’t, but know that that nothing you do is a mistake because your actions are informing you of where you’re meant to go. The more you take action on your areas of interest, the more you’ll begin to discover your passions.

4. Reach Out to People

As you’re going through these exercises, be sure to connect with people who are doing something you’re interested in—maybe it’s the nutritionist at your gym or the owner of the art gallery you stop by every day after work—and talk to them about their experience. I consulted with four different people who had graduated from my holistic health program before I took the plunge and enrolled. Another woman I know worked on the floor of a wine shop and reached out to several founders of wine shops before starting her own.

Ask them questions like, “What is your day-to-day like?” “What steps can I take to transition from where I am now to doing this full-time?” or “What are the things I need to consider before working in this industry?”—anything that might help you learn more about the field.

In addition, doing an internship or apprenticeship, even a few hours a week, is a great way to learn if you enjoy working in a particular field before committing to it. It will also give you a foot in the door when you’re looking for new jobs down the line.

5. Stay Open and Flexible

Finally, know that when you follow your interests, they could lead you on a different path than you ever expected. So, it’s important to stay open and flexible without any attachment to where you’ll end up. A woman I know left her stable financial analyst job to become a journalist at a financial publication and follow her passion for writing. Two years later, she left there to start her own online publication after gaining chops as a journalist.

You have no idea where your interests will lead you if you keep moving toward what feels good to you—but you can be sure you’ll be guided to where you need to be.

And once you’ve found what you love? Well, then you can begin to figure out how to turn it into your reality.

About the author: Eva Werk is a career and lifestyle expert who works with women to discover their life’s passion and have a career and life they love through one-on-one, online and group coaching programs. To learn more about her work visit Unleash The Brilliance Within and download her free ebook "Now That I Have My Perfect Life, Why Am I So Miserable?" Eva is passionate about wellness, personal growth, traveling, writing,entrepreneurship and women's empowerment. You can follow her @theworkyoulove.

Original Link - http://www.thedailymuse.com/job-search/5-ways-to-find-your-passion/

Five Ways to Outfox a Know-It-All

Know anyone who won't let you get a word in edgewise? Ever sit across a table from someone who lectured, rather than conversed? Or has it been impossible to discuss work, health issues, relationships – or, gee, just about any subject -- without a know-it-all in your life telling you you're wrong and there's a better way?

Know-it-alls can be as exhausting as they are annoying. The secret to outfoxing one, communication experts say, is to realize where they're coming from. Try these five tactics:

1. Master the "yes, but . . . "

What that sounds like: "Yes, I see why you think that way, but can you see where I'm coming from?" "Point taken, but can you look at it from my perspective?" "Yes, I understand that you see it this way, but I see it another way."

Why it works: Acknowledging a know-it-all's views, then using a "but" transition to launch into your side of things, can stall some of his or her momentum. Do this with an "I" statement that starts with your perspective: "I see, but . . . " "I understand, but . . . " "I'll consider it, but . . . "

Know-it-alls are often narcissists -- people preoccupied with themselves, says psychotherapist Steve Sultanoff, an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University. "Their brain functions as 'my way is the right way,' even when there's no one right way," Sultanoff says.

Making noises of agreement, without agreeing, allows you to insert yourself and share your disagreement, slowing the onslaught.

2. Present your facts in a nonthreatening way.

What that sounds like: "Well, here's what I know." "Let me tell you what I learned about it." "This is what I've heard."

Why it works: You can't shut this personality type down with direct confrontation, says Simon Casey, a psychologist in San Clemente, California, and the author of Secrets to Emotional Wealth. "Know-it-alls tend to be grandiose egocentrics with an inability to admit they're ever wrong. If you challenge them directly, that's where they thrive -- they'll argue relentlessly to prove their point. "

In fact, he adds, they tend to argue relentlessly to prove a point even if they actually have limited knowledge about the subject at hand.

So saying, "You're wrong!" or "I've heard enough already!" backfires. It's like throwing oil on out-of-control flames.

3. Ask about alternatives.

What that sounds like: "I know you see it that way. How might others in the same situation see it?" "Are there any other alternatives you can think of?" "You do it this way and I do it that way; are there other ways?"

Why it works: By inviting the know-it-all to consider alternative views, you nudge him to adopt a broader perspective. That can sometimes shift him out of the "me-me-me" mode that's so wearisome to hear.

To some extent, this tactic depends on your relationship and how well you know Mr. or Ms. Smarter-Than-You. Some steamrollers will just say, "No, my way is the only right way," whereas others will at least share what they think about a wider range of views.

The know-it-all may still be insufferable, but at least you've moved him or her to wider turf.

4. Initiate a closing without pushing for an apology or a concession.

What that sounds like: "We just see things differently." "I'm afraid we have to agree to disagree." "That's interesting, but I'm not going to change what I do."

Why it works: These pedantic pests are secretly running scared of being exposed as the insecure beings they are -- so admitting their inferior knowledge isn't gonna happen. Rather than pushing for consensus or an admission of error, just call it a stalemate. If you wait for concessions from the know-it-all, you'll be waiting a long time.

The psychological makeup of a know-it-all means they have a difficult time with humility. "They don't feel good about themselves, so they wear a mask that they love themselves -- they're as good as or better than you, as evidenced by their knowledge," Casey says. "The most important thing to them is to be right."

5. Chalk up any continued pontificating to personality -- and realize you have a choice about how much to take.

What that sounds like (said to yourself): "There goes Bob again, monopolizing the conversation -- he can't help himself. " "This is not worth arguing over, but I know my ideas are better." "She and I just see things differently; that doesn't mean I'm wrong."

Why it works: Another way to respond to a know-it-all happens internally: You mentally let it go. Basically this means telling yourself, "This may not be pleasant for me, but the poor guy is doing what he needs to do to get his needs met." Combine this internal empathy (which, admittedly, isn't easy with a bombast) with self-reminders that a know-it-all's lecture-at-you style doesn't have anything to do with you as a person or your own level of knowledge.

At root, it's about them: Conversation-monopolists often literally can't help themselves. "If they can impress you with something you didn't know, they feel good momentarily," Casey says. "They can't help doing this over and over, because their egos are insatiable."

Remember, too, that suffering through a one-sided conversation is a choice, Sultanoff says. "Tell yourself, 'I don't have to be here, but I've chosen to listen,'" he says. Then you can use the above tools to avoid feeling resentful or ignorant. And if you do get overwhelmed despite your careful responses -- and really, who can blame you? -- then it's your choice to say, "Excuse me, that was interesting, but now I have to go."

About the author: 

Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor, writes extensively about health and caregiving.

Original Link: http://www.caring.com/articles/5-ways-to-outfox-a-know-it-all

Five Ways To Handle A Know-it-All Junior

At some point or the other, managers have been faced with team members who think they know it all and don't listen to any feedback. ET explores how to deal with this lot.

Look for the Cause

The know-it-all attitude of a team member can stem from a variety of reasons like restructuring of teams, a missed promotion, business reorganisation or a harsh assessment. There are times when the employee may feel he or she has been dealt with unfairly and the grievance may be genuine. "Managers should go beyond what is visible and try their best to understand the team member," says Vijay Bharadwaj, VP, HR, Dell India.

Build a Connect

Building an emotional connect and providing the professional more freedom can do wonders, says Bharadwaj. Getting to know a person better outside of work can build strong personal and professional credibility. "In any case, do not share your perception about the team member publicly as you might change your assessment as you get to know him better," he says.

Give Feedback Soon

Smart leaders cut to the chase and do not hesitate in providing prompt and firm feedback when required, feels Mohinish Sinha, leadership and talent practice leader at the Hay Group for South and South East Asia and Africa.

Assess Targets

Managers should not lose sight of the outcomes the team member is accountable for, and should assess how the team member impacts the team in the long run. "Be sure you are responding due to professional reasons and not a hurt ego," says Bharadwaj.

Performance reviews should be periodic. "If efforts have not worked basis the actions taken, and in cases of serious non-performance, insubordination or interpersonal issues, managers must take action as per organisational policies immediately," says Bharadwaj.

Provide Counselling

Most companies provide options of structured programmes, and mentoring and counselling for such professionals. "Sometimes hearing the same advice from different sources creates a stronger impact," says Bharadwaj. Managers could also turn to seeking feedback and advice from trusted peers or superiors on how to handle the situation.

The Economic Times

Original Link: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-03-05/news/37469958_1_feedback-managers-team-member

Five Ways To Follow Rules of Office Etiquette

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 04-06-2013)

Five Ways To Deal With Unwanted Advances At Work

In an age when gender diversity tops the agenda at progressive companies, it is crucial for a workplace to be free from sexual harassment. However, an Oxfam India survey shows 17% of working women in India have experienced it. The survey, conducted jointly with the Social and Rural Research Institute, showed that a majority of the victims did not resort to any formal action against the perpetrator. Rica Bhattacharyya finds out how women professionals can draw personal boundaries and stop unwanted advances early on.

1 Don’t Ignore It 

Don’t ignore or laugh off any kind of unwanted advance. “An unwanted advance is a form of injustice. You need to nip it in the bud, otherwise the person making the advances might be encouraged,” says Ruchi Sinha, assistant professor at Indian School of Business and an organisational psychologist. 

2 Listen to your Intuition 

People often rationalise their gut feeling, says Sinha. “Your body knows when you should run away and when you should fight. Listen to it,” she adds. “The earlier such matters are discussed the better the remedies,” says Ramesh Mitragotri, chief people officer, Aditya Birla Retail. 

3 Get Tough Most people look for soft targets. Indicate your lack of tolerance for unwanted advances in casual conversations. “Speak up, even in a subordinate-employee relationship,” says Mitragotri.  “Make sure the perpetrator knows you’re not a weak target,” adds Sinha. 

4 Read up on Policies 

Employees must be aware about the company’s policies on sexual harassment, so they know who to approach in case of such an occurrence. “Read the policies to know the support and mechanism for complaints in such situations,” says Sinha. 

5 Take Precautions It is important to know the culture of the country, profession and the organisation you are working with. Also, set the rules for yourself and be candid on what is acceptable and what is not. “There is a very fine line between your defining what is acceptable and the other person crossing the line,” says Sinha.

The Economic Times, Mumbai, 28-05-2013