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1. Don’t think about Monday. If you spend the weekend thinking about Monday, then Monday is going to be here before you know it. Live in the moment!
2. Get an early start. You can’t actually extend the number of hours in the weekend, but you CAN extend the number of hours that you’re awake to enjoy it! Sleeping late can make you feel like the day is half over before it’s even started. It’s a good idea to maintain your weekday wake-up times on the weekend… this will extend the hours in your weekend days AND make it easier to wake up during the week.
3. Seize the day. Plan ahead! If you want to spend a day doing something with your family for example, have a rough plan outlined ahead of time so you’re not sitting around on Saturday morning trying to figure out a plan for the day. This will give you more time to actually enjoy your day.
4. Dedicate some time to relaxation. Since weekends are so limited, you may naturally want to try to cram as much as you can in this short amount of time. But you need to remember to dedicate some time to relaxation as well, otherwise you’re going to be starting off the work week on Monday exhausted from the weekend. Go for a walk, sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, watch a movie, curl up with a book, go to the beach – anything you find relaxing. For some reason, time seems to slow down a bit more when you’re relaxing as opposed to when you’re busy on the go.
5. Save chores for weeknights. Let’s admit it, a lot of us spend many hours on the weekend cleaning the house, doing laundry, running errands, etc. Instead of spending time on the weekend doing these things, consider spacing these chores out over the weekdays. This will give you more time to do things that you actually ENJOY on the weekend. If you DO need to dedicate weekend time to these things, try to do this on Saturday morning so you have the rest of your Saturday and all day Sunday to enjoy for yourself.

If you follow these 5 tips, you might feel like your weekends last a bit longer. It’s the next best thing to actually adding hours to your weekend!

sources: rightattitudes.com

Today, you are expected to think quicker, work harder, excel at everything you attempt, and effortlessly sport countless hats throughout the day. You’re the “go to” problem-solver, the event coordinator, the equipment troubleshooter, the trainer, the negotiator, the buyer, and the writer, editor, and wordsmith for every memo, message, and manual needed.  Phew. Stress is as common as a word in your vocabulary as the word deadline.

While different triggers in the workplace can cause varying levels of stress among different staff members, there are common stressors that all workers experience at one time or another. Here are three familiar causes of stress (and tips on how to reduce or completely eliminate them to enhance your professional growth).

Stressor: An interruption in the day’s workflow
Stress Reducer: Be flexible; expect the unexpected.

Through any given day there will undoubtedly be a change of plans, projects, assignments, or deadlines. What was a priority in the morning, suddenly gets put on the backburner in order to handle a more pressing issue. If you accept that interruptions and diversions from the day’s planned schedule will always be part of the norm, then your mindset will be immediately changed.  You no longer will be frustrated, or stressed, that once again your workload is being interrupted. Instead, you will expect the unexpected assignment or new deadline and embrace it as part of the day’s regular routine.

Stressor: Deadlines
Stress Reducer: Seize the moments to be efficient

With big projects and deadlines looming, often even just the thought of them can cause stress.  The best way to handle a deadline is to start the project immediately – even if that means simply making an outline or doing some research or making a list of vendors that need to be contacted. If you set aside a few minutes each day to work on the minutiae that will make up the whole, you will not be overwhelmed as the deadline approaches. Procrastinating and waiting until the day before the deadline to start a project for work will not only produce more stress and irritability in the workplace, but also a less-than-exceptional final product.

Stressor: The type of work people have to do
Stress Reducer: Instill a sense of gratitude and pride

No matter what the job or responsibility you find yourself called to do (whether having to make your boss a perfect cup of coffee each morning that includes 10 ingredients, having to restock the paper towels and toilet tissue in the bathrooms, or having to contact a number of vendors to find the best pricing for a product) – do it with gratitude and pride. Be grateful for the opportunity to be of service to others to help others have an enjoyable day and take pride in every aspect of your daily responsibilities. If you are going to do anything at all at work, do it well. Get the reputation for doing things right the first time. Be known as someone who can be counted on to do an exceptional job – consistently and without complaint.

Though you can’t change others outright, you can change yourself, inspire others, leave things better than how you find them, and enhance your professional growth. To reduce your stress at work – be flexible, be efficient, and be grateful.

image credit: muovo.blogspot.com

What is a collaborative work culture?

A collaborative work culture is a cool concoction of a welcoming work environment, creative and flexible people, leadership by example, frequent opportunities to brainstorm and share ideas, and 21^st century technology when – mixed together – create a stress-free, extremely-productive, high-energy work culture where individuals are valued and respected for the unique contributions they bring to the circle and where camaraderie just naturally blossoms because everyone shares in the successes and challenges of others.

How is it beneficial?

The individual ingredients of a collaborative work culture each benefit the company and the workers. The environment of a collaborative work culture inspires creative and productive work. Common physical characteristics of this environment include: fun and thought-provoking posters, lots of natural lighting, an open cubicle layout, and shared whiteboards and work boards. The right people in the mix will encourage and inspire each other to do more, create more, and be more. This benefits clients, corporate executives, and team players alike. The most beneficial qualities of collaborative team members are people who are smart, passionate, active listeners, life-long learners, and those open to new ideas and change.

Workers lead by example in the collaborative work culture. Thus, everyone is motivated by seeing actions of doing vs. simply being told or intimidated what to do. Collaboration tools like wiki, social profile, desktop video conferencing, blogs, and social networks spark the creativity and gumption in others. Another benefit of a collaborative work culture? Ideas can flourish in both formal and informal settings at work. From a formal, purposeful meeting where participants are invited to brainstorm, solve problems, and make decisions ~ to a social and informal gathering where workers congregate at the water cooler, kitchen, or staff lounge – a collaborative work culture is ever-present.

Is a collaborative work culture a good fit your company?

If you aren’t flying solo and having to sport all the hats at your company, and if you aren’t one of thousands of workers at your company, then a collaborative work culture can be an easy and good fit. (While certainly a major corporation can instill and encourage a collaborative work culture, the larger the company, the more “individual” cooperating parties throughout the different divisions need to formed to create this ideal environment.)

Collaboration requires the collective work and brainstorming of at least two individuals who share a common purpose and direction. Even if your company doesn’t have formally-implemented strategies policies, and structures that promote a cooperating environment, you can still strive to encourage and initiate this type of culture among your co-workers. Instead of working individually on your own assigned projects that impact and influence others, you can open communication and begin to brainstorm with others for ideas and to share your ideas on their projects.

Letting others know that  a co-worker was the one who conceptualized a presentation’s cover or recommended the vendor for the company’s party, for examples, are easy ways to spark the creation of a collaborative work culture. The ideal work environment is not a stress-filled competition where each person works for herself/himself, but rather, a team-oriented, supportive collaborative circle of like-minded creative people all striving to be productive, appreciated, and of value.

Use a mouse pad. Most mouse pads have a rubber padding or grip on the bottom which makes them perfect for opening tricky jars. The cheapo or free mouse pads usually work best for this because they are more flexible.

Use a rubberband. This trick can open all sorts of jars/containers, large or small. Just wrap the rubberband around the top of the container and it will give you that extra grip that you need.

sources: apartmenttherapy.com , realsimple.com

Plan

Is this you? You get to work, all fired up and ready to get a lot accomplished for the day – but then, you sit down to check your email “for just a minute.” Before you know it, two hours have passed and you’ve gotten absolutely nothing else done.

The fix is to have a plan. Sit down and write up a simple plan or to-do list at the end of every day that will be instantly visible the second you walk in the door every morning. Put it on your desktop, schedule the tasks in Outlook, etc. Every morning, you’ll know what you have to do immediately, no floundering. Do this for a little while and you’ll notice that professional growth is happening almost effortlessly.

Set both small and large goals

It’s not enough just to have a plan. You have to be able to follow it. Set small goals of what you’re going to accomplish throughout the day or for the week. Breaking up large goals into small distinct steps that you can accomplish on a day-to-day basis will help keep you working toward your larger goals, all the time.

Break it up a little

Hyper-focus is likely to leave you just as fatigued as constant distraction is, so schedule some breaks into your day. In addition to taking personal breaks like getting lunch or taking a brief walk in the afternoon, you can also “take a break” by interweaving tasks that would otherwise distract you with the big jobs on your to-do list. Answer email for 10 minutes in the morning, again just after lunch, and again at the end him of the day instead of trying to do it all in one big  block. Or, take a walk down the hallway to discuss something with a colleague instead of resorting to email.

Delegate when you can

It’s not always going to be possible, but if you can delegate some tasks, do so. This will help clear your schedule so that you can focus on the truly important things that need your attention.

Take it easy

If you’re a perfectionist as so many of us are, chances are you set your expectations very high for yourself. This is especially true when it comes to accomplishing things “on time.” While you certainly shouldn’t be putting things off to the last minute, reevaluate the deadlines you’ve got at work and see if you can relax them a little bit. If you can, you’ll be much more able to focus on what you’ve got to do. Break things down into steps and concentrate on each step by itself, instead of getting overwhelmed by the “big picture” a large project can present.

Set boundaries

Today’s technology has made it very easy to be “at work” all the time, even when we’re not. When the end of the day rolls around, turn everything off, shut your door, and leave. Don’t take work home with you or invite professional calls after hours unless you absolutely must. Making your personal life a priority will actually help rather than hinder your professional growth.

Following these 5 steps and working smarter instead of harder will aid in your professional growth. Remember, it’s not how many hours that you work that’s important, it’s how much you’re able to get accomplished and the quality of your work that really matter.

 image credit: www.stage2planning.com

If you are interested in career advancement you must become a team player who can make things happen for yourself, the team, and the company. Your vision for yourself must be unwavering in your rise to a leadership/management level. Here are 9 tips to help you become an effective leader and advance in your career:

• Follow your vision: Your vision will take you wherever you want it to so dream big! Be vigilant and believe in yourself, your skills, and abilities and you will be able to see yourself as an effective leader of people. To achieve something you must first believe it is possible!
• Listen and learn: Great leaders listen before they speak. Listen to the people around you, learn who they are and what they are about but don’t get too involved in the small talk and gossip. It is possible to associate with your work peers on a professional level without getting too personal. Knowledge is power when you need it!
• Be part of the solution: Leaders offer solutions. Learn to get to the heart of the problems and then offer solutions that will fulfill everyone’s agenda. A little give and a little take go a long way when dealing with multiple personalities in groups of people. You can offer empathy without compromising the values of your position, your immediate superior, or your company.
• Clear communication: Great leaders are able to communicate at all levels. Communicate clearly with all levels of employees at your workplace. Do not leave anything you say open for interpretation by others. Say what you mean and mean what you say!
• Promote yourself: Leaders are not afraid to promote themselves. Make your career intentions clear, volunteer when needed, attend company functions, and find a mentor within the company.
• Be the leader: Be the type of leader among your peers at work that you would want leading you! Lead by example and others will follow. When there is an absence of leadership in any single area it can be felt by all levels and all departments.
• Educate yourself: Take whatever classes or seminars that are needed for your position to hone your skills and enhance your resume. And then take classes or seminars for the next level of advancement in your career!
• Do your homework: Read and study about great leaders in all professions and aspire to shape your leadership capabilities based on their successes with leading.
• Help others grow: Remember that leadership is all about leading; grow others as you grow yourself!

Generally speaking you must work your way up the ladder in order to reach the top. Career advancement is not normally an overnight process although under some circumstances it can be so you must always be ready to take that next step. When you are able to become an effective leader of people in your current position among your peers you will be noticed by superiors.

Employee Club House
Called the High Street Retreat, this employee “club house” was created at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines. They did a survey of their employees and found that most felt the office was “too uptight”, so they made it their goal to create some fun in the workplace. They created this “club house” that consists of pinball, foosball, air hockey, arcade games, books, vending machines, and whiteboards.

Breakroom Bowling
The company, RealNetworks in Seattle took a very interesting approach to redesigning their office… with the company breakroom in mind. They had an atrium with a cafeteria, kitchen, and foosball and Ping-Pong tables installed. Also part of the new design was a 3 lane bowling alley!

A NorthWest Nest
This breakroom may be a little strange looking at first, but it’s actually a really cool concept. It was created at Portland, Oregon advertising firm Wieden and Kennedy with the goal of being a relaxing space for employees. Actual natural elements were used such as sticks and willow saplings. Looks pretty relaxing to us!  

Hoops anyone?
Software publisher Vocus in Maryland has an on-site basketball court which they say really boosts teamwork and morale at the office… there is a pickup game going on almost every day. They also have an “oasis lounge” which includes a big screen tv, comfy seating and, a giant fish tank.

Gamer Central
Popcap Games in Seattle created a breakroom that really fits their culture and their industry – the gaming industry. Since most of their employees are game developers who sit in front of a computer all day, they wanted a space where employees could spend time together face to face. So they created a “rumpus room”, a video-game haven where friendly competition on the X-Box, foosball table, Ping-Pong table, or arcade machine is encouraged.

Check out Business Week’s full list of the best company breakrooms!

Which of these breakrooms would you enjoy the most? Comment below! 

Here are the basic different personality types in the workplace and how to work effectively with each:

The “Commander”

The “Commander” is goal oriented, focusing on individual tasks and the end result. They want to be in charge, and they make decisions quickly, sometimes even before they have all of the details. They can sometimes come across as rude or condescending – but most often don’t mean to. They have a clear path in mind, and are convinced that everyone else should come with them, without question. These people work best alone or in a leading position.

Working with this personality

The Commander can be intimidating, a “professional bulldozer” that requires you to firmly stand up to them. Don’t, and they’ll simply run you over (and although challenging, working with this kind of personality can be great not only for your personal but professional growth). If you work together, you’ll need to be as strong and confident as they are. If this is your subordinate, assign individual projects whenever you can rather than group projects.

The “Adventurer”

Always looking for the next challenge, Adventurers are goal-oriented, with very high expectations for themselves. They are very secure, high energy and need variety.

Working with this personality

The Adventurer is a natural debater simply because “challenge” is their key driver. If this is your coworker, step right in and become part of that debate; brainstorm ideas together. If this is your subordinate, he/she needs lots of variety and change, so give him her projects to start rather than finish.

The “Stabilizer”

This personality is a steady, slow sort, and works perfectly in a team setting. People with this personality like routine and the status quo. They aren’t comfortable with risk. Flexible and agreeable, they get along well with everyone else and don’t like conflict or disagreement.

Working with this personality

This personality is the perfect coworker or subordinate.Hand them any task and they’ll get it done thoroughly, by the due date – including anything the aforementioned Adventurer starts. This self-effacing personality does not need lots of accolades or approval – but since they’re so well-deserved, give them anyway, and learn to recognize and praise their work and their professional growth.

The “Perfectionist”

Another personality that’s introverted and prefers to work alone, they are very cautious and will check their work multiple times before they turn it in. They’re very analytical and logical, detail-oriented, and aren’t afraid to simply dig in and go through everything with a fine-toothed comb. Unlike the Stabilizer, the Perfectionist is more likely to get frustrated and to express it.

Working with this personality

This is another personality that doesn’t like conflict and tends to be quiet and shy but not antisocial – it’s just that he or she prefers to work alone. Casual conversation is unnecessary, so don’t be put off by that. They also avoid conflict at all costs.

If someone with this personality type is your subordinate, you can hand them particularly difficult quandaries to solve and they’ll have no problem simply sitting down and figuring things out, as long as you give them the time to do so. It’s imperative that you recognize this as a boss, not only for the health of your work environment but for your own and their professional growth.

Which personality type are you? How do you work effectively with different personality types at your office? Comment below!

image credit: www.kiplinger.com

1. Use good manners. The same good manners that your parents taught you as a child are the same good manners that will help you communicate effectively in the workplace. For example you should never underestimate the power of saying please and thank you. When you thank a client for their business or you thank a co-worker for their efforts, this shows appreciation. When people feel that they are appreciated they are more likely to respect you in return.

Another fundamental aspect of displaying good manners is being a good listener. It is important that you fight any tendency to cut people off. You have two ears and one mouth. Do you exercise that ratio accordingly?  Also you just don’t listen with your ears, but with your eyes as well. So it is good to maintain appropriate eye contact. This will show personal interest. So as you can see, your good manners can help with your professional growth.

2. Respect the personal space of others. We’ve probably all had those situations where we were confronted with a close talker. No doubt, you will agree that such a situation makes you extremely uncomfortable. With that in mind it is good not to invade the personal space of others. If needed take a couple of steps away when communicating with others. Also connected with this point, people generally don’t respond well when someone is looking over their shoulder. This can make them feel stressed and tense. So this is a good point to keep in mind if you happen to be in a supervisory position. We can also connect the respecting of personal space back to displaying good manners.

3. Give thought to the tone of written communication. If your work requires you to communicate by email or to compose memos, then you need to be concerned with your written communication. Even though direct thoughts can be effective, you want to make sure that the tone of your writing doesn’t come across as abrupt or rude. You may find it helpful to read all written correspondence out loud before you send it to others. Giving due consideration to your written communication with further your professional growth.

4. Give thought to Non Verbal Communication. We already discussed appropriate eye contact in connection with being a good listener. But, there are other forms of non verbal communication that are important for you to pay attention to as well. For example a smile can go along way with making people comfortable around you. Also gestures such as crossing your arms can make you come across as stern and present a negative image. The non verbal at times speaks just as loud as the verbal.

How are your professional communication skills? Do you see room for improvement?