Tips to get smarter, better at work

Here are some simple and effective tips that could enhance your career to a greater extent.

1. Effective communication forms the foundation for a positive work alliance. You need to be able to tell your potential ally what you need and listen deeply to what they need.

2. Treat your allies as equals. No matter their position within your organization, all people are equal; they just have different jobs. Believe this.

3. Exhibit total professionalism. Never participate in gossip or in discussing the business of coworkers behind their backs.

4. Make sure you are not forming an exclusive club that the rest of your organization will fear and resent. But, you must take the time to develop strong relationships with your allies.

5. When working on a project together, always put forth your best efforts. Be the person who is willing to do extra to strengthen the collaboration and the outcome or product.

6. Keep your promises. If you say you will do something, do it. People need to depend upon you and the deadlines to which you commit.

7. Resolve any conflicts or disputes at your earliest opportunity. Unresolved conflict festers just under the surface in organizations.

8. Be an ally. Support your colleague’s ability to accomplish his or her mission, too. Give credit for ideas and solutions.

9. Effective managers delegate and don’t micromanage. Prioritize your tasks to focus on the important ones.

10. Your workspace should keep you motivated, not provide hot spots for daydreaming. Dress up your desk with items that keep you focused.

11. Too much to do at work? Add another task to your list: take a vacation and relax. People can’t operate at full throttle on the job day after day.

12. It’s a fact that taking breaks will increase productivity. It’s been proven in studies. If you need to, find someone to help ensure you take a morning and afternoon break.

13. Establish a routine of planning your week and your day. This will allow you to have your most productive week all the time.

14. Delegate or delete the non-essential items from your to-do list. The best way to do this is to always do your most important things first.

15. Make sure you plan in enough time between activities and appointments, and find ways to fail proof being on time.

16. Choose to enjoy your time at work. Find others who are like this and spread good cheer. It’s contagious and it grows.

17. Deadlines, tough bosses, rude clients, slow computers. Don’t make them into large dramas. Don’t lament the challenges of the world.

18. Try doing something different. If you always go on a trip, try taking a more local vacation, and really get some good rest time.

19. When you complain or fight on everything, then your power to ask for things is diminished. Save it up for when you really need it.

20. Don’t wait for your company to tell you what to do. Think creatively about how you can work with others to generate a greater result than if you had each worked on this alone.

21. If you are asked a question that stumps you or surprises you, never feel like you have to answer it right away. Seek more time to think about or research your answer.

22. Don’t immediately reject critiques from others, even if you don’t like or respect them. Sometimes people you don’t like may be giving you more honest feedback.

23. Be open to change. Give it a chance. Adapt to new things while using your experience to guide you, and you will have great success.

24. Always be on the lookout for opportunities to learn and improve your skills. Look for good seminars and training.

25. Set up a routine for “busy days” - perhaps you work 2-4 extra hours, and stick to that schedule, working nothing beyond it.

26. Schedule things like “break”, “coffee”, or even “video games” into your calendar just like you would a conference call.

27. There is a time and a place for perfectionism - when things are busy, consciously choose the areas in which you are willing to slack.

28. Whether it be business or personal support, busy times call for a morale boost on a regular basis. Hire a temp virtual assistant or call a good friend.

29. Everyone has a few things that are guaranteed to bring your stress level down to normal. Know your ‘relax buttons’ and get them on your schedule now.

30. For many people, a computer is the central tool at work. Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver.

A Good Leader knows the Team's Colors

Leadership can be a very challenging task.

As leaders we don't always get to choose who is on our team. In fact very often a leader inherits a team, of which most of the members have been there far longer than the leader, and may even know more about the work than the leader. Whatever the situation, one of the responsibilities of a leader is to motivate the team to all work together towards the common goal. This can be a daunting challenge. So often the team is comprised of very diverse members, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and work styles. The team dynamics are also often complicated by internal disagreements and personal conflicts. The leader, not only has work with this group of people, but also needs to achieve the results expected by their superiors.

Leaders can great benefit by being able to identify the types of personality characteristics of team members.

By understanding the basic personality types, the leader can use individual strengths of members for the good of the team, as well as assign tasks that individual team members naturally excel in. A leader can also learn to communicate in a way that is motivating, by taking into account the needs, values and working preferences of different team members. A good leader will see the greatest results by working and utilizing the strengths and working style characteristics of the personalities on the team. By correctly positioning the individual member strengths and compensating for weaknesses, the leader can bring the team into a productive balance and harmony.

A brief overview of the different values and working styles of the four main personality types demonstrates the importance of this knowledge being part of the successful leadership toolbox. The four types of personality will be described using the colours Gold, Blue, Green and Orange .

The strong Gold employee takes work and responsibility very seriously. Gold personalities want to contribute, be part of the team, and to be successful and productive. They respond well to recognition, rewards and incentives. However Gold team members need well defined responsibilities and structure, firm expectations and timelines as well as being reassured from authority that they are on the right track.

The strong Blue personality needs an open, social atmosphere to be able work well. Relationships are very important for them, and they need the freedom to be able to nurture relationships with coworkers, customers and employers.. Conflict and intense competition are painful for a strong Blue, but they will thrive in a positive, creative, service orientated atmosphere.

A strong Green personality is more noted for expertise rather than people skills. They are excellent working with facts, data, research and analytical projects. Greens shine in their ability for designing, understanding complex systems and strategy. Facts are of utmost importance for the Green, but they have a weakness for routine follow through and are somewhat insensitive in social interactions.

Orange team members are noticeable by their energy, skill and creativity. A key factor for an Orange is the freedom to be able to use their skills and abilities. If there is too much structure, or their boss is very authoritarian, the orange personality feels blocked and does not function well. Orange personalities like people and work well in a spirit of teamwork, competition and camaraderie. They are action orientated, though and become impatient with prolonged talking and detailed administrative tasks.

A leader, by knowing the colors of his team, can use this knowledge to blend the team members into a unified, well coordinated picture poised for success. By facilitating each team member to function in their areas of natural strength and motivating them by communicating in a way that inspires harmony and team work, the leader is well on the way to achieving extraordinary results.

Easy ways to start New Job

One of the hardest things in the world to me is starting a new job. Not only is it stressful trying to learn the work itself, but making new friends and getting to know the “office politics” can make you feel isolated for quite some time. In fact, many people tend to stick with their old jobs for those very reasons even if they’re not happy with them. Having to get used to a new work environment takes you completely out of your comfort zone, and it’s not easy for everyone to get past that stage to where the rewards may lie.

There are several things that can make the job transition a little easier. If you’re just starting a new job, or are thinking of starting one but can’t quite come to terms with the prospect of that “new job” discomfort, try some of these strategies to help things go smoother for you.

1. Remember that we all have to start somewhere - When it comes to learning your new job, no one goes into it with enough know how to make management the first day. That’s what the learning process is for. Keep in mind that all of the people who know seem so at ease at this workplace were once like you…a bit scared and totally lost on the way things work. Know that down the road, you’ll be the one to know what’s going on and those just coming in will stand where you’re standing right now.

2. Take notes - During the learning phase of a new job, information coming at you can be truly overwhelming. Don’t hesitate to bring along a memo pad and pen and let your trainer know that taking notes will help you learn everything quicker. Freehand them at first and go back later and type them up in more detail for review. Going over certain processes in your mind a few times will you familiarize you with the job in no time.

3. Be yourself… with discretion - One cool thing about starting a new job is that you’re given a small chance to reinvent yourself. Did you get the reputation of being the office gossip at your last job? Now’s your chance to play it a little low key. If you shied away from social interaction before, now you can step up a bit and make an effort to be more interactive. You can let your own natural personality shine through in effect, but take the opportunity to feel out the office first and find your niche. You might not find it right away, but with the right attitude, everyone will eventually begin to accept the genuine personality that you let show.

4. Don’t be afraid of mistakes - A personal problem that I’ve had to overcome when starting a new job is the fear of making mistakes. In essence, it’s a silly fear, since you’re not going to start something new without making a few here and there. Being afraid to mess up will hold you back from trying, and eventually learning, different aspects of your job. Jump in and try to learn as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to take a few chances, especially if the can be easily fixed. If you’re unsure, finish something and then ask someone who’s been there longer, or even your boss, for some feedback and a double check that you did everything right. Employers know that you’re new and they don’t expect you to be perfect. Being brave and attempting to learn new things will make a good impression.

Overall, keep in mind that everyone has to start somewhere and that you’re not being judged because you’re trying to learn. There’s a good chance that within a few short weeks, you’ll not only know more about your job but that you’ll be making friends and establishing yourself in the office as well.