5 Ways to Demand Respect in the Corporate World

5 Ways to Demand Respect in the Corporate World It’s an experience which is all too common within the office and corporate environment. Do your opinions, solutions and comments sometimes  fall on deaf ears? When you ask someone to pull their weight, is your  request ignored?  The question you ask yourself is, “where am I going wrong”? You know you’re intelligent; a model employee who’s always there for your  colleagues. So why don’t you get the respect you deserve? Below I’ve put together 5 ways in which you can help raise your status amongst your peers and make them realise that you are a valuable team member who deserves respect. 1. Ensure you get credit for what you do If you’ve completed an impressive, laborious piece of work, try to make  key people are aware of what you’ve done. If youre ocnstantly down-playing your abilities or being too humble, you might be shooting yourself in the foot. No one likes a bragger, but being too humble in a professional setting can sometimes backfire and discredit your effort. One thing you can try is  carbon copying managers  into your emails if you can (but don’t spam, be tactful and  only copy them into things which show you in a good light and actual  relevance to them). Subconsciously they will recognise your contribution, your value,  ultimately resulting in more respect. 2. Quality not quantity In any meeting don’t be the first to speak, take your time and ensure that what you say is meaningful and has value. If all you’re doing is adding is your 5 cents worth, it’s better to control the urge to speak and stay silent because in these situations less is more. If you’re asked to participate, a good approach is to say the following “I thought everyone raised some valid points …”  followed by highlighting one or two points which you liked. Ensure that you name the individuals and give them credit,  then close with “I have nothing more to add”.   3. Add weight to what you say in meetings Start off with “like Steve said” or “I agree with Jen”. Always mention someone else’s name before making your own point  and giving your opinion. When you’re in agreement with someone who has greater influence than you, your point will carry more weight! Also, those individuals will appreciate the credit they’ve received from you and therefore, subconsciously will be more supportive of what you have to say. 4. Deal with the users It’s very likely that if you’re not respected it’s partly down to people taking advantage of your good nature and this has to stop! Every organisation has its fair share of lazy, corner-cutting  â€œusers”, who get others to do their work whilst taking the credit. Any healthy relationship is a two-way street. So if you feel you’re being used, test your relationships.   Ask them to do something for you (related to their work) and see if they’ll do it. If they don’t (after repeated requests), it’s time to put them on your “Users” List. Next time they ask for help,  just say “Sorry I’m too busy ask so and so”. They will come back but by continuously  and politely rejecting their approaches they will soon get the hint and find someone else. 5. Deal with the office bully Not every office has one but  if you do you probably know. Their humour  is like a hate filled jam donut, doughy banter filled  with passive aggression;  and just like a school bully, they pick on easy targets. PsychologyToday talks about how humans have  pack mentality; how  this person will set the tone for the way others treat you. Deal with the bully and you’ll deal with the rest. So how do you do it? Firstly It’s important not to be passive aggressive back. Don’t give them the feedback or the reaction that they crave.   My personal, simple advice is to call them out on what they say! Call a spade a spade. If they say something demeaning, let them know that what they said is demeaning and not very nice or professional. Now things might get worse before they get better (because it’s likely they’ll push for a reaction that they’re used to getting). However, by not buckling under the pressure they’ll soon realise that you’re not a soft target and they’ll eventually move on. The human subconscious is by far the biggest driver in forming our opinions of others. By using these soft techniques, you will hopefully see improvements and find that co-workers and your boss are more interested in what you say, appreciate what you do and give you the respect you truly deserve.   About the author: Farhan Raja is a career coach, former recruiter and founder of Jobinterviewology.com.

Examples of Job Skills

Examples of Job SkillsThe best example of job skills is a person who takes time to really know something, in order to be able to teach it. Example of job skills would be someone who goes into a restaurant and knows how to make their chicken taste good, with a great taste and nice taste. There is no doubt that someone who knows how to make good chicken taste good is a knowledgeable individual.Another good example of job skills is someone who knows how to get a book in order to be able to read. Knowing how to read is another way of learning how to use your brain.It is also important to have examples of job skills, when you are trying to be successful with what you are doing. Having a feeling is one way of using your brain. I have seen people who look down on those who read, rather than telling them how reading can help them improve their lives. They often tell people who are reading, that they are stupid.In fact I have seen the person looking down on the people who had a mind which can improve their life. The fact is, when we read, we improve our mind. Being knowledgeable is a basic function of our brain.If we look at good examples of job skills, we will be able to learn more about the human brain. We can learn about its many functions. If we know what our mind is capable of, we will know how to use it and how to make it work well.Examples of job skills, have been found in many cases in the universe. Just imagine, if you are sitting in a room with a group of people who are all looking at a clock. When you sit next to the person who is sitting next to you and ask him or her if he knows how to get aclock to run, then you will find that the person who sits next to you knows a lot about clocks.If you want to improve your mind, you should try asking the person who sits next to you to point out the various parts of the clock. If you want to know how to use your brain, then you should try making observations about a clock.Example of job skills, can be found in people li ke Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Buddha, and a lot more. We can all learn a lot from people who knew how to use their brains and make them more aware of the world around them.

Twentysomething Why I regret getting straight As in college

Twentysomething Why I regret getting straight As in college This is a guest post from Jon Morrow, who is 25 years old. His blog is On Moneymaking. By Jon Morrow I nearly killed myself in college to get straight As. Well, almost straight As. I graduated with 37 As and 3 Bs for a GPA of 3.921. At the time, I thought I was hot stuff. Now I wonder if it wasnt a waste of time. Let me explain: 1. No one has ever asked about my GPA. I was told that having a high GPA would open all kinds of doors for me. But you know what? I interviewed with lots of companies, received a total of 14 job offers after graduation, and none of the companies asked about it. They were much more impressed with stuff like serving as Chief of Staff for the student government and starting a radio station run by 200 volunteers. I suppose a college recruiter from a Fortune 500 company might ask, but honestly, I cant see any employer hiring a straight-A student over someone with five years of relevant work experience. It might tip the scale in a competitive situation, but in most cases, I havent seen that grades are really that important to employers. 2. I didnt sleep. Unless youre a super genius, getting 37 As is hard work. For me, it was an obsession. Anything less than an A+ on any assignment was unacceptable. Id study for 60-80 hours a week, and if I didnt get the highest grade in class, Id put in 100 hours the next week. Translation: I didnt sleep much. From my freshman to junior year, I averaged about six hours a night. By my senior year though, I was only getting 3-5 per night, even on weekends. I was drinking a 2 liter bottle of Mountain Dew and 2-3 energy drinks per day just to stay awake. Not only is that unhealthy, but its not particularly fun either. 3. Ive forgotten 95% of it. I majored in English Literature and minored in Communication Theory. The main reason I chose those subjects was I thought they would teach me how to write and speak, two skills that would serve me well for the rest of my life. Boy, was I stupid. Instead, I spent all my time reading classic literature and memorizing vague, pseudoscientific communication theories. Neither are useful at all, and Ive forgotten at least 95% of it. Id guess the same is true for most college graduates. Tell me, whats the point of spending 60-80 hours a week learning things that you immediately forget? 4. I didnt have time for people. Being in the student government and running a radio station, I had lots of opportunities to build a huge network. But I didnt have time. Between studying and doing my job, I had to prioritize the people I wanted to develop relationships with and narrow it down to the handful who could help me the most. Thats no way to go through school. College isnt so much a training ground for entering the work place as a sandbox for figuring out who you are and how you relate to other people. You develop your social skills and forge relationships with people that might be colleagues for the rest of your life. If I could do it all over again, I would spend less time in the library and more time at parties. I would have 50 friends, not 3. I would be known for the guy that knows everyone, not the smartest guy in class. Not only because it wouldve been more fun, but because I would still be friends with most of those people now and would have access to the networks theyve developed over the last four years. 5. Work experience is more valuable. In retrospect, I couldve probably spent 20-30 hours a week on my studies and gotten Bs. That wouldve freed up 30-70 hours a week, depending on the course load. When I think of all of the things that I couldve done with those hours, I just shake my head. If theres one thing graduates lack, its relevant work experience. If you want to be a freelance writer, youre much better off writing articles for magazines and interning with a publishing company than working your tail off to get straight As. The experience makes you more valuable to future employers and usually results in a paycheck with a few more digits on it. What about Graduate School? If youre getting your masters, going to law school, or becoming a doctor, then youll need all 37 of those As to get into the best school possible, and you can safely disregard this entire post. Just be sure that you follow through. I thought I would go to law school, and then I found out what a miserable career it is and how little it actually pays. All of those good grades are now going to waste. It also comes down to the question, Whats the most effective use of your time? If you cant imagine living without an advanced degree from an Ivy League school, then reading until your eyes fall out and sleeping on a table in the library is a perfectly defensible lifestyle. On the other hand, if you want to get a job and make as much money as possible, then good grades arent going to help you as your teachers and parents might have you believe. Youre better making powerful friends, building a killer resume and generally having the time of your life on your parents dime. Jon Morrows  blog is  On Moneymaking. _____________________________________ Once youre done with college, what should you focus on next? Its clear your grades dont matter, but what does matter? The most important thing after you graduate college is to treat your 20s like they matter. This is not practice. This is your life. And here: How to Make Your 20s Count.

5 Secrets to Working With Men - Classy Career Girl

5 Secrets to Working With Men If you are about to start working with men or you already are and just want to have more success, you may be nervous about where to start. You might be worried about coming across as too strong, aggressive, or bitchy. You might not be confident in yourself because you dont really understand men. You might be uncomfortable, awkward, and quiet around the men you work with. I was. I could relate more with women on my team, but I knew that understanding men was the key to getting promoted and having more leadership opportunities. Learning how to manage both genders successfully was the key for me to finally getting ahead at work. Here are the 5 keys that you need to know when working with men: #1: Stop Being a Perfectionist Striving for perfection is actually one of those things that you think would be a great strength to have as a female leader but it can be especially negative when working with men who don’t have the same concern for perfection. After my male boss told me not to be perfect, I realized that men don’t strive for perfection like women often do. The other woman working for me and I eventually moved positions and two men took our place. They laugh, have fun and don’t stress about making things perfect. And guess what? The ship doesn’t sink. We are all imperfect and trying to get to perfect can come with a lot of stress. Also, perfection kills creativity, which is very important when managing a team. #2: Don’t Try to Be Someone You Aren’t Your success as a manager depends on how confidently and comfortably you are leading. You want to be authentic and never want to act like someone you arent. My first experience as a manager was not great, but I learned from it. I didnt get the respect I deserved from the man I managed because I was trying to be like his previous manager instead of being like myself. I was afraid of confrontation and was not comfortable leading. He could tell I was uncomfortable and he didnt respect me because of it. Be proud of your female leadership strengths and don’t try to manage like a man. Female leaders have many great leadership strengths to be proud of such as collaboration, intuition and empathy. #3: Get Straight to the Point Cutting to the chase quickly is really important when managing men. One of the biggest mistakes a female manager can make is to communicate with a man the same way she would communicate with a woman. Your speaking style really needs to change depending on who you are talking to. But dont worry; it really is quite simple to communicate with a man. When you are speaking to a male employee, keep it short and sweet. If you can reduce the time you spend in the conversation and get to the point as quickly as possible, the more success you will have. #4: Don’t Be Afraid to Assert Yourself Assertiveness is an easy way to quickly gain respect from the men on your team and it can help men become more confident in you. Men respect a woman who speaks her mind and challenges others. Men want to hear your voice because you have different strengths than them and you bring a different viewpoint to the team. Men also expect interruptions because that is what they are used to when they are around other men. Therefore, your assertiveness wont be seen as overbearing (or bitchy!). When you waver or ask for reassurance, you lose trust and respect. If you sweat, your team sweats. If you simply go along with what other people say, you lose credibility. #5: Embrace the Competition Its no secret that men like to compete. You can even trace the role of competition in a mans upbringing back to his childhood. Your goal is to make mens love of competition work positively for your entire team. You should create opportunities for your employees to cooperatively compete with each other even if your current work environment is non-competitive. Competition can help men excel beyond what they or even you thought possible. You should push them, which will often lead to higher-quality work. Follow these tips while working with men and you will quickly gain confidence and build trust. P.S. If you enjoyed this article and work with men, I would be honored if you read my book, The Professional Womans Guide to Managing Men too!

Expert Resume Writing Tips - How to Use Your Skills For Job Success

Expert Resume Writing Tips - How to Use Your Skills For Job SuccessIf you are looking for expert resume writing tips then this article is for you. Resume writing and cover letter writing is one of the most important steps in the job search process. There are many things to think about when it comes to a well-designed resume and cover letter. Let's take a look at some of the things you should know before you get started.When creating your own resume, keep it short and simple. You want to be able to showcase your best assets to the employer. This includes everything from your education to work experience. You don't want your resume to be too long or too detailed.Focus on the benefits that will be presented by your skills and accomplishments. Don't overwhelm them with detail. Let them know what they are getting with you.A cover letter is meant to answer the question, 'Who is this person?' It is also meant to give the employer a very brief introduction to you. Be sure to tailor your resu me and cover letter to your audience. Choose the appropriate format based on the requirements of the business.Presentation is one of the most important elements of your resume. Keep it clean and to the point. Make sure that your font and sentence structure are clear and easy to read. With the fast paced world we live in, keeping your reader interested in your resume and cover letter is a must.Expert resume writing tips include the use of bullet points. This is a simple technique that allows you to present your highlights in a concise manner. By using this style of writing, your potential employer can see your best qualities in a much more effective manner.Creating a professional resume and cover letter is your top priority. They will be your first contact with the employer, so be sure to make the most of them. Use these tips, and show your prospective employer why they should hire you.Resume writing tips are a great way to gain an edge on the competition. These tips are simple and e ffective; make sure you follow them to ensure that you are in the best position possible when it comes to the job hunt.

Why There is More Opportunity in the Hidden Job Market

Why There is More Opportunity in the Hidden Job Market Once the two hours of online search is accounted for, the job seeker still has several hours per week to dedicate to the rest of their search. Most people (over 80%) find their jobs through the hidden job market…the jobs that are not posted and that are communicated word of mouth. Open positions might not be listed on job boards for several reasons. Perhaps the company once had the position on a board and was unsuccessful in finding a candidate, so they are now searching offline. Maybe the company doesn’t have the money to post online. Many companies consider their employee referral programs a better source of hires and promote the program extensively throughout the firm. Or a situation exists in the office where someone is on performance counseling and will probably be managed out of the organization in the coming months. Still other companies have policies regarding internal posting practices and make opportunities available to their current employees before looking outside for potential candidates. In some instances a company plans to expand in a particular area but doesn’t want to post online for fear of tipping off the competition regarding their future expansion plans. These are all reasons why a viable position might not be posted online.Finding Job Leads Through Cold Call TechniquesThere are two main ways to access jobs in the hidden job market. The first is to cold call into an organization and try to find a connection to the person who is capable of making a hiring decision. Approximately 10-20% of people in search find their jobs by cold calling into companies. The cold call is made regardless of whether there is an open position or not. The goal is to identify industries and companies that provide a good fit for the job seeker based on their competencies, achievements, and geography and try to gain an introduction to someone in the company to convince them that you are a person worth knowing. By proactively establishing the relationship before the hiring authority has an actual need, you increase your chances of being the “go to guy” once a viable position surfaces. Prospecting for a new job is very similar to sales prospecting. The difference is that in the first scenario you are marketing yourself. There are numerous ways to find leads into companies. The public library houses an abundance of company-relevant reference guides that you can use to cull valuable information about an industry, company, or decision maker. Some of the many valuable resources available include Hoovers, The Corporate Directory of U.S. Public Companies, Consulting and Consulting Organization Directory, Gold Book of Venture Capital Firms, Thomas Register of Manufacturing Firms, and the Corporate Finance Sourcebook. In addition, there are professional research firms such as FTT Research that specialize in finding decision makers within companies.Networking Your Way to Your Next JobThe second and most successful method of sourcing jobs through the hidden job market is networking. Over 70% of people in search find their jobs through networking. Networking at its most fundamental level is information sharing and relationship building. When you network effectively, you seek out opportunities to meet new people, share information about yourself, learn about other people, and offer assistance to others whenever possible. Good networkers agree to meet with people to try to help them even if on the surface there is nothing in it for them. They open up their minds and their rolodex, share contacts and try to make recommendations in an effort to help people get closer to their personal and professional goals. Networking is not about asking for favors or asking for jobs. As a matter of fact, when you network you should never ask for a job. Doing so might make the other person uncomfortable, because they may not know of a job opening or the appropriate decision maker. Good networkers ask for information about an industry, company, or person to get one step closer to the decision maker. The problem that most people face when they network is that their circle of contacts has stagnated over the years because they have become far too comfortable within their inner circles. But it’s never too late to jump start your network and start planning for your future.Job seekers can start to accelerate their networking efforts by first identifying people in their immediate world. This may include friends, family, members of local community or religious organizations, doctors, dentist, accountants, etc. Everyone you know knows approximately 200 other people and one goal of networking is to try to tap into the people that your acquaintances know to extend your visibility and reach and try to pinpoint others who can help you in your search. Next try to identify companies you are interested in and people who work for those companies. They don’t have to be people who do what you do; they act as a bridge between you and the people you need to meet at a company. They can offer you invaluable information about the company’s culture, how open jobs are handled, where employees “hang out” after hours, etc. They can introduce you to others in that company who may be one step closer to your ultimate decision maker. Excellent resources for finding members of companies you are interested in include professional associations, virtual social/business networking sites such as LinkedIn, Ryze, and Ecademy, corporate alumni sites such as CorporateAlumni.com and BrightCircles.com, and school alumni sites including those listed on your undergraduate/graduate school home page and Classmates.com.Whether you are currently in job search or are planning for a new position or career in the future, it is imperative that you begin to tap into the hidden job market now to build relationships with people and companies that can help you secure a place for yourself in another organization in the future. Make networking an in tegral part of your career strategy today so you can reap the rewards of the process for years to come.

Read My Next Book Before Everyone Else and Completely FREE - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Read My Next Book Before Everyone Else and Completely FREE - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I am REALLY excited to announce that my next book Leading With Happiness comes out on November 21st.?Read all about it here. You are hereby cordially invited to read it completely FREE and before it goes on sale. The only thing we?ask in return, is that you review it online when it is published.?Click here?to see how it works and sign up to The Early Reviewers Secret Club :)?Access is limited to the first 500 people and you must sign up no later than November 2nd. Sign up is closed. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How to Get Yourself Promoted IM HIRED

How to Get Yourself Promoted Dear Boss, Id like to be paid more money, please give me a promotion. As a career advice blogger I get asked this question a lot. How are you supposed to stand out in the work place and make the people above you realise you deserve that promotion. Maybe you have already had a few ideas of your own but none of them quiet worked out as you would have hoped. You began by sitting down with your manager and making them aware you wanted more, you were happy to take on that extra workload you just wanted some recognition, maybe a change in job title but ideally a boost in your payslip. And how did that work out for you? Somehow your boss heard youre happy to work hard and do other jobs but your contract remains the same. You have ended up doing more but gained nothing in return. Does that scenario  sound familiar  to you? How do you do it differently? Do you wait for the next role to be advertised and then submit your application to only be told they have decided to go external for the post and again youre beaten to the finish by someone you didnt  even know was in the race. Now all you have to do is pretend you understand and remember to not make it awkward when you are asked to train the newbie despite not being good enough for the job. We all want to be recognised for what we do well but you cant just wait around expecting for it to happen, so how do you get promoted from within? I have put together the five main things you need to do to get yourself promoted in your current job and make 2018 the year where you get the position you deserve. Step 1  Know what you want We all want more but that doesnt mean we are going to get it and it doesnt mean it even exists. If you are looking for a promotion think about what you actually want from a promotion. Is there a particular role you are after, extra responsibilities  or duties you are eager to take on? Have a clear idea of what it is you want, so you know what is needed to go get it and be realistic. (If youre currently the reception wanting to go after the CEO role then you might need to put some steps into the middle.) Step 2 Make a Plan The key to getting a promotion is to take it seriously. Similarly to when you are applying for a new role you need that plan of action as to how you are going to get it. Okay so you might be lucky and your boss might call you to the side tomorrow and say thanks for all your hard work, wed love to promote you and give you a huge pay rise but in the real world thats not how it works. Instead you need to do your research, what skills, strength or experience do you need to get promoted, who has the authority to make decisions about promotions, how are you going to get noticed and what is your timeline you are going to be working towards. You should have this all planned out before you making your intentions of a promotion known at work. Step 3 Form Connections Ever heard the phrase its not what you know but who you know? When it comes to promotions this can have a huge effect on your success. Lets say your hard working and youve proven you can do the job, that doesnt make this a slam dunk. What if someone equally as great in another department knows the hiring manager of that area, they are always talking in the break room and they have worked together on several projects. Now friendships shouldnt play a part in the recruitment process but if a hiring manager has had a lot of face time with one person and they only met you for the first time in the interview, of course they are going to know more about the other persons skills, strengths and experiences. So get yourself noticed and start building relationships with more people than just your office bestie. It is great to have referrals on your side when going for that promotion. My top tip is to do the tea run once in a while, the kitchen is a great place to connect with colleagues and attend a work do; its easier to get to know your colleagues or manager outside the work environment. Step 4 Update your Manager Why do so many people forget to keep their manager in the loop about them wanting a promotion? Do you spend your one to ones day dreaming or thinking about what you might have for lunch? Well snap out of it and take any face to face time with your manager seriously. If you know you have a meeting coming up, prepare yourself notes for the meeting so you can make sure all your questions and queries are covered off. Dont let your manager take over the conversation and leave thinking I wish Id just asked. Ask for their advice on how you would go about getting a promotion and take their advice on board. Feedback is essential for you to know where you can improve on your performance and it shows you are proactive if you are openly asking for it. Not everyone is ready for a promotion straight away but a good manager should support you in developing to a level where you are ready. Step 5 Take on board feedback and show your improvements Now this is a step that so many people forget. If you are given feedback on how you could improve to get that promotion, you need to be measuring your success against it weekly. You need to be taking ownership for your own development and how you do this is simple. Keep a log of areas you have managed to improve, any successes you have had that week and think of your own targets for the following week to better yourself. Then take all of that with you to your next meeting with your manager and if nothing is booked in request that face to face time. You are showing you can be responsible for your own progress and you have a great portfolio now if there is ever an interview for a promotion. *Top Tip*  If any of the successes you noted included working in a team ask those colleagues you worked with to write you a short testimonial of how well you performed. The Promotion Myth A lot of people believe you get promoted by doing the job above you well. If you do it for long enough someone will notice and youll get that recognition you deserve. While this isnt completely inaccurate it isnt the whole truth. Yes I complete agree that most organisations will ask you to prove yourself in the job before they offer you the role but some employers will take advantage of that situation or simply not even notice you are doing that extra work. You need to be proactive if you want that promotion and do all the hard work for your employer by making it super obvious that you going above and beyond. So take a record of everything extra you do, get colleagues to backup that you are hard working with testimonials and then present all that evidence to your manager. Youll make it impossible for them to say no to you and if they still say no without any explanation  well maybe its time to take your talent elsewhere. Related Reads: Signs You Should Quit