Dont Work with People Like You Marla Gottschalk

Dont Work with People Like You Marla Gottschalk This may seem counter intuitive â€" but I dont recommend that you work with people like you. In fact, you shouldnt work with those that make you feel entirely comfortable. (You dont even need to like the people you work with, every minute of every day. But, liking all of your co-workers is a bonus.)   What you really need are people to challenge you and help you contribute to the limits of your potential. If you surround yourself with those of the same perspective â€" or temperament or even in the same field or function â€" you are missing out on options for career growth and eventual success. Most of us have a tendency to drift towards what we know â€" a completely normal response to an often harried world. Well travel the same path to work, and order the same menu item at a restaurant. This process becomes second nature and we dont often question it. However, if we apply this to the workplace, things become problematical. You require exposure to differing opinions, experiences and work styles to excel. Lets imagine that you have the responsibility of forming a team to take on a problem or company initiative. You choose a team of   individuals whom you know and trust. What follows, is that you have a group of individuals that may certainly be strong in certain areas â€" but there is the possibly that they hold the same perspective or skill set that you possess. Consider the worst case scenario: that your team is just not robust enough to tackle the task in front of them. You now have a very serious problem. If you have indeed formed a team with similar perspective or skills as yourself, your team is now officially limited. The same premise can hold for your career. If you have contact with only individuals who share your specific perspective, youll likely never be challenged. This can handicap you in so many ways. The next opportunity you have to network or build a team, pause and consider bringing at least one completely fresh perspective to the table. Build your team with a wide breadth of both skills, temperaments and perspectives â€" being sure to represent all related functions. Add a mentor to your life from a completely unexpected background. Find out how that new co-worker, that you dont quite get ticks. You simply never know. That odd man may be holding the piece of the puzzle that youve been searching for. Dr. Marla Gottschalk is a Workplace Psychologist. Connect with her and continue the conversation on Twitter and Linkedin.

How to Survive the Four Types of Workplace B.S.

How to Survive the Four Types of Workplace B.S. Photo Credit â€" publicdomainpictures.netCompanies spend an extraordinary amount of time and money trying to keep employees happy. They send out engagement surveys. They haul in new office furniture. They bake cakes to celebrate work anniversaries. And they are completely puzzled when employees still leave the company.If you are HR leader or team manager you may be reading this and thinking, “Yes! But what can I do?” And we’re sorry, but this article for your employees. The ones who take the surveys, sit on the new office chairs and eat the cake â€" but are still completely miserable.We get it. We escaped our jobs after working for more than 20 years in our fair share of dysfunctional workplaces. And now that we’ve put a little time and distance between us and our former careers, we can attribute our misery to one destructive, globally pervasive problem: workplace B.S.evalThis B.S. is everywhere. It winds you up and grinds you down. And left untreated, it can make great emplo yees â€" like you â€" leave otherwise good companies.So, think of this as a public service announcement: four specific types of misery-inducing workplace B.S. explained. How to spot them. How to avoid them. And how to be truly happier in your job every day How to deal: This is a dangerous game, my friend. The swirl of office politics can be exhausting and unproductive â€" sucking up much more energy than it’s worth and harming your reputation and job prospects in the process.Steer clear of the battles. Don’t fraternize with those the kings deem as the enemy. And work in the cafeteria with your headphones on, so you can’t hear the screams of the villagers caught in the fray.3. The Emperor’s Clothing StoreA new leader arrives with impressive credentials and heroic tales of previous workplace successes â€" then quickly proves himself incapable of managing the basics.What it looks like: The new boss throws around terms like innovation, “step change” and “journey management .” He eliminates activities he doesn’t understand, and gives you vague direction on his directionally vague vision. He flip-flops on important issues, chalking it up to “managerial agility.”evalHow to deal: Be a good corporate soldier â€" emperors don’t appreciate candor, unless you’re telling them how awesomely awesome they are.Gently steer them toward work that will be successful, knowing full well they’ll take the credit. Then kick your network into gear: Schedule coffee chats with people who work in departments or companies that have leaders you can respect.4. Forced FunThe leadership team intends to make you happy â€" whether you like it or not.What it looks like: Eye-rolling icebreaker exercises kick off every meeting (e.g, “If you were sea mammal, what sea mammal would you be?”). Attendance is tracked at “optional” happy hours. Mandatory fun activities, like 2-minute afternoon dance parties, are rammed down your throat.How to deal: Smile and fly under th e radar. Grin through the icebreakers, make brief appearances at the unhappy hours, and schedule meetings during the dance-a-thon. Then find your real work friends and schedule an off-the-radar happy hour where you can vent.Photo Credit â€" rockandvossbooks.com

Strategies to help your college grad land a dream job

Strategies to help your college grad land a dream job Strategies to help your college grad land a dream job Rising tuition costs, growing student debt, and a very tough job market for graduates are signals that we need to help our kids with this last mile of securing employment. Granted, our kids are putting their hearts into their educations and looking forward to improved job opportunities and challenging careers. But they may need your help. Lets look at some data. According to an Accenture study: Nearly half of those who graduated in 2012 and 2013 consider themselves underemployed and working in jobs that do not require their college degrees While 81 percent of the class of 2014 planned to earn more than $25,000 per year, 41 percent are earning $25,000 or less While 69 percent of 2014 grads expected to find a job within 6 months of graduation, only 42 percent found one While 85 percent hoped to find employment in their chosen field, only 67 percent are working in their field Unfortunately, your son or daughter may have to settle for a job for which he or she is overqualified, or delay a career in a chosen field, risking as much as a decades worth of foregone wages. What can you do? With graduation coming, give them something; dont just ask. Your child is saying, I got this, right? Wrong. They may be strolling into their college or universitys career placement center, expecting help. But school placement centers are most useful on a broad level, not focused on individual needs. The career placement center on campus is optional for students to visit, and my informal survey shows that only about 10 percent of students are using the resources there. Finally, these centers are often underfunded, not in touch with the latest recruiting, interviewing, and hiring practices, and focus too much, in my opinion, on résumé writing. Most likely, your children havent done anything yet because they mistakenly think its too early to look for a job. And if you ask them, Hey, would you like some extra help in your job search? Ill bet they will answer, Nah. I am a mother of two twenty-something boys and I have privately coached many college graduates, so I know! What to give To help them attain success, choose gifts that can augment the resources available on campus. There are multiple options, depending on how your child learns best and what you believe is going to deliver the best results. Here are two main options: Books There are lots of good books available, written by authors with various types of backgrounds. Look for those that come with tools and templates, are current with the latest hiring trends and, preferably, authored by those who have been on the hiring side of the table. Many come in audio or digital versions, but also invest in a good old-fashioned book so your child can highlight, make margin notes and give it a few dog-ears. Private job search coach If your child needed private assistance in a specific subject, you may have secured a tutor Did your child ask for a tutor? Probably not. You recommended it and maybe even just did the presumptive close: Heres your tutor. Similarly, think of private fitness training. Maybe you have a trainer because simply going to the gym may not yield the results you want. Taking classes is a little better, but a private trainer accelerates the time toward meeting your goal. A private job search coach can do the same. Get involved, push your child to start job searching right now, and consider options like a job search coach who will customize a program to help your son or daughter hit the ground running and get that dream job. Parents, whatever you do, now is not the time to stop parenting.

Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail - A review -

Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail - A review - Act with enthusiasm and confidence act as if it were impossible to fail. Your beliefs become your reality, and your expectations have a direct result on the outcome of any given situation. Concentrate on your strengths, your triumphs and your successes as you power up the corporate ladder (p.177). Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail, by Joe Lavelle I met Joe Lavelle, author of Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail The Employee Handbook That Your Empoyer Hasnt Given You, via Twitter and when he began to comment on this blog. He writes the Act As If Blog, which offers great advice to anyone hoping to accelerate his or her career plans. So, I was delighted to read a copy of his book. Joe doesnt disappoint! His book is filled with stories that lead the reader to understand his points. My favorite was the story of how Ford rolled out the Edsel, as it relates to seeking (or not seeking!) feedback and the inevitable results. How often have you thought about feedback as a gift? If you hope to propel your career to a new level, it is something to focus on. If you are not getting the feedback you need, it is time to think about how to ask for it. Joe reminds readers that first impressions are important, but it is even more important to manage the impression you offer. In fact, he details a story of Karen, who had failed to make a good first impression, but who worked to revise how people viewed her. The point Every day is an opportunity to make a new first impression to introduce the world to the new and improved you (p. 13). I really enjoyed Joes book. It is a good read, with lots of useful information to help anyone who hopes to drive his or her career bus, which is something I write about a lot and believe everyone should do! I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?   If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While youre at it, dont forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on FacebookId be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since were on the subject of doing something newAre you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

How To Create A MyPerfect Resume

How To Create A MyPerfect ResumeWhen you have a job interview or are interviewing for other jobs, one of the things that is probably going to come up is a perfect resume. That's because it is extremely important for job seekers to create a resume that is perfect for their particular job.For a job seeker, there are no doubts about it. There are many different jobs in the world. However, some jobs are better than others. You don't want to just go and waste your time at another job without even knowing if it is what you really want.In order to be successful, you have to know what you want to do and who you want to work for. If you know that, then you can start brainstorming about jobs. Once you start working on one, make sure that you take everything into consideration and that you don't do anything that will hurt your chances of getting the job.Creating a resume is not that difficult but there are some things that you need to remember. For example, when you look at the MyPerfect Resume , you need to keep in mind that they are only for you. They are not for anyone else. If you get an interview with a company that is based out of your state or if you are applying for a job that is located in another state, you would need to submit your resume in that state.The second thing that you should remember is that you don't want to send your resume in the trash. Instead, make sure that you follow up with the company. This means that you should send your resume to the company so that they can see that you have done everything that they asked. If they don't reply, then you know that you have a very good chance of getting the job and that you didn't do anything wrong.Of course, if you'd find a job or you don't think that you have what it takes to get the job, then you can always hire a professional. However, even though it may cost you more, it may be a good idea to get a professional resume writing service for your resume.It is very important to make sure that you use the righ t type of template that is easy to use. If you have an account on the site, you will see that they have templates that you can use.

The Top Cities for Walking and Biking to Work

The Top Cities for Walking and Biking to Work More commuters are walking and biking to work in America’s biggest cities. The Alliance for Biking Walking’s 2016 benchmark report found that cities all over the country are adopting measures to make alternate modes of transportation more accessible and safe. The report looked at transportation trends in all 50 states and in the 50 most populous cities in the country, in addition to 18 cities that were previously studied by the Alliance. The benefits of walking and biking are plenty: Increased cardiovascular health, a slimmer waistline, and a cleaner environment. For some people (this writer included) walking to and from work offers a peaceful respite from an over-crowded transportation system (and a bit of fresh air). The Alliance’s report makes the case that there’s an economic benefit for walking- and biking-friendly cities, as real estate values can increase and businesses see healthier profits. If a more active, less car-dependent commute is appealing to you, these are the cities you’ll want to check out: Percent of Commuters in Most Populous U.S. Cities Who Walk/Bike to Work City Percent of Commuters Who Walk or Bike to Work Boston 16.7% Washington, D.C. 16.7% San Francisco 13.9% Seattle 12.9% Portland 12.1% New York 11.2% Philadelphia 10.6% Minneapolis 10.4% Chicago 8.1% Baltimore 7.7% Among other, less-populous cities, Burlington, Vermont, Davis, California, and Boulder, Colorado boast populations with over 20% of commuters walking or biking. Statewide, Alaska, New York, Vermont, Montana, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Oregon see the largest percentage of residents (all over 5%) walking or biking to work. “Bicycle commuting has seen steady gains in the majority of large cities from 2007-2013,” the report reads. Interestingly, while women make up 46% of walking commuters, they make up just 27% of bikers (and 47% of commuters overall). Another divide is age: Just 77% of millennials commute by car, compared to 92% Generation X and 90% of Baby Boomers, according to a 2013 study by the Urban Land Institute. Lower income households are also more likely to walk to work than high income households. If a big city isn’t your scene, MONEY also analyzed the best small towns for walking and biking as part of our 2015 Best Places to Live list. You can check that out here.

Should You Alter Your Personality For An Interview - Work It Daily

Should You Alter Your Personality For An Interview - Work It Daily Getting a job interview is a challenging thing to do, let alone getting a job. Different employees and departments have so many varying personality types that it can be hard to know what people expect from you. Should you alter your personality for an interview? CAREEREALISM founder J.T. O'Donnell suggests not to, but there is one important action you can swap in for changing who you are. If you change your approach in a job interview based on the different types of personalities you'll be dealing with, you have a much better shot of really connecting with your interviewer. Knowing which personality type you are and which one they are makes the path to common ground much clearer. We have an interaction style assessment test linked to at the bottom of this post that will help you determine what type you are, and how that makes you appear to other people. You'll be able to customize your approach to the interviewer to give yourself a much better chance to move forward in the hiring process. The test we use to assess people has four different outcomes: contemplator, commander, empathizer, and energizer. Once you know which of those four you are, you will know your polar opposites and who you work well with. We encourage you to know yourself and your personality type very well. Be aware of the body language you're exhibiting to others, including facial expressions. If you know how others see you, you'll be way ahead of most other job seekers (and people in general). One of the biggest hurdles in deal making is not knowing how one is perceived. You can use the signs other people give off to figure out what personality type they are and what they would like to see/hear from you. Always think about how THEY want to be communicated to based on their actions. Act accordingly and you just may get what you [both] want. Are you a little confused about what we mean? Try this example: If you're a contemplator, you're thoughtful and emotional, but probably don't show it. Others may see you as snobby, aloof or indifferent. If you're dealing with someone who is more animated, you need to smile more, because the person needs to feel more from you. Lean in or laugh more. Give the other person more information than you might normally. Any of these tactics will make sure they're comfortable with you, because they're the types of things they appreciate most. When you can start to anticipate what people need and know how to adapt to give them what they want, you will be well on your way to a high emotional intelligence. Whether it's because of technology or some other reason, we're losing our ability to connect with people, so developing emotional intelligence is as important as ever. Don't change your personality, but tweak how you deliver messages based on who you're communicating with. It's YOUR job to present the information in the right way, and if you do so, you may get the job and a lot of productive work relationships along with it. Enjoy this article? You've got time for another! Check out these related articles: Take Our Free Personality Test Why Do Employers Ask Nasty Interview Questions? Networking: Is My Personality Killing My Chances?   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!