Download PDF version: The Navigator - May 2010 (30)

There’s nothing like sunshine and a warm spring breeze to lift the spirits. Spring is a great time to try new things and bring joy to the office. The sun is shining outside, so bring some sunshine inside with a little humor.

Humor in the Workplace

Leaders today face many challenges in striving to meet company goals and keep employees happy. Encouraging teamwork and fostering an empowered work environment are key factors in creating a high performance workplace. Another, often under-utilized tool to creating high performance workplaces is humor.

There are several benefits to keeping things light at the office:

Improve Morale

Injecting a little fun into the workday helps improve morale. One of my clients who leads a call centre occasionally sets up game days where everyone dresses up in a theme and the teams compete against each other to get the most sales.

The laughter and joy in their voices bubble over into the phones and their customers pick up on the high morale rolling through the team.

Achieve Goals and Encourage Teamwork

Because humor in the workplace has the potential to enhance productivity, it often helps organizations complete goals and meet deadlines. Humor is especially helpful when leaders use it to get a team project through the necessary stages toward completion.

Why is humor so important during a project? Most projects come across roadblocks and problems along the way that can derail progress and cause delays. Leaders who use humor to diffuse a stressful situation or face problems with a positive outlook are more likely to move past issues that crop up quickly and efficiently.

The effective use of humor also allows team members to use creative problem solving to resolve dilemmas because they feel safe to “think outside the box.”

The appropriate use of humor develops a sense of trust between team leaders and members that promotes originality and imagination. However, it’s important to realize that the use of humor should not detract from the project at hand. Too much humor can have a negative effect on employees if it is overused, and harm the project rather than help it.

Temper humor with professionalism and stay away from sarcasm and ridicule, which have nothing to do with lighthearted, work-appropriate humor.

Relieve Stress

Humor is a low-cost way to lessen workplace stress and boost productivity at the same time. Humor tends to relax people and create an environment more conducive to getting things done.

Humor is also effective at reducing conflict between individuals and averting potential problems before they arise or become too big. Scientists have found that laughter releases specific chemicals in the body that increase energy and cultivate a positive attitude. When employees are happy and stress-free, the organization’s goals are easier to achieve.

Although humor doesn’t necessarily come naturally to everyone, it is possible to improve your leadership style by allowing humor to become a part of your work personality and how you deal with employees.

Allow moments requiring humor to spring up naturally -don’t force humor where it doesn’t belong, as people will sense the insincerity. Simply be more open to possibilities that may benefit from a sprinkling of humor, and don’t shy away from its application when a situation presents itself. Give humor a try and help your team members to incorporate a sense of joy into their daily routine.

Shelley Holmes is the creator of leadership-and-motivation-training.com -a website designed for the high performance leader who wants to fast-track their career to enduring success by bringing out the best in themselves and others.
Go to http://www.leadership-and-motivation-training.com to pick up your free audio on how to manage emotions in the workplace.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelley_Holmes

Download the print version: The Navigator - April 2010 Volume VI, Issue IV (38)

There are more workers out there than there are jobs so why worry about the workforce you have? It costs much less to retain the workers you have than to replace them. So, why not provide an environment that will get the most out of the ones you have? Read this article to get ideas on how to keep the employees you have and get the most out of them.

Workforce Sustainability – How to Get the Most Out of the Employees You Have!

We’ve heard it over and over: A happy employee is a productive employee.
It’s not like I can cut you from the bottom of your left earlobe down to your forth rib pull that out and go: “See there, that’s your work. Or that’s your personal life.” It doesn’t work that way. We are all like a fine tapestry and when one thread is tugged it affects the others.

Whether you work for a large corporation or for a small mom–and–pop shop you spend a considerable amount of time at work. That’s why it’s so important to consider the whole employee when determining and providing ways of showing appreciation. When an employee feels valued they will focus more on the positives of the Company/Management/Task rather than the negatives.

With a more positive outlook people have feelings of being honored and appreciated for not only what they do but also for who they are. This helps to develop an environment that gives people freedom to be their best and to do their best.

We talk about the sustainability of our environment. Our employees are part of that environment. It’s very difficult for a person to concentrate on work, deadlines, and going “above and beyond” when they are unhappy, unhealthy, or have feelings of being unappreciated and over worked.

The workforce today has to accomplish more with less. More work with less people and resources. If employees are using precious mental energy on worrying about their work environment, they will have less of that energy to devote to accomplishing the work.

Employees, people are our greatest resource yet we don’t always treat them as valuable.

Tips for creating a valued workforce:

Health and wellness programs help to cut the costs associated with poor employee health, which include absenteeism, loss of productivity, and poor work quality. There has been a 25% jump in corporate interest in providing Employee Health and Wellness programs.

A healthy and happy person will be more productive in the workplace. Employers are discovering that providing programs and resources directed for the benefit of the employee is good for the health and happiness of the company’s bottom line.

Coaching is a hot topic among Fortune 500 companies and a recent Fortune magazine article showed executive coaching yields a return on investment of almost six times its cost. According to Fortune, benefits to executives who received coaching included improved working relationships, productivity, quality, organizational strength, customer service, employee retention, cost reduction, bottom-line profitability, and reduced customer complaints.

You don’t have to be among the Fortune 500 or an executive to realize improvements in productivity, organization strength, and customer relations. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own office. Coaching is provided through a telephone, at a fraction of the cost of executive coaching.

In one company that had launched a coaching program they were able to identify specific financial and intangible benefits that came as a result of their coaching.

The two things most significantly impacted by the coaching process were:

• productivity
• employee satisfaction

These two items alone demonstrate just how valuable a good coach can be to your business. Additional benefits derived from the coaching program were:

• work output
• work quality

Happy employees are not only more productive they are more creative and more willing to go “above and beyond”. They are also more willing to “think outside the box” which is where the most lucrative innovations and creative problem solving originate.

Imagine how even a ten percent increase in work output by you and your employees could impact your bottom line! That alone would more than reimburse you for the costs associated with a quality coach and coaching program.

More companies are starting to realize that it’s smart and profitable to invest in training for their employees. Technical training for specific job requirements has always played a part in the corporate world.

Now, training is being considered for the improvement of the employee for the employee. Employers are  recognizing that this improvement will also benefit the company’s bottom line.

A few training topics that companies are finding particularly beneficial are:

• Stress reduction and management
• Goal setting and achievement
• Communication
• Nutrition
• Fitness

Training can take many forms. Depending on the employee’s learning style, it can be on-line, in a traditional class room setting, one-on-one, on-site or off-site.

According to a Gallup Poll, 80 percent of employees said the availability of company sponsored training programs was a factor in deciding whether to accept a new job or stick with a current one.

Mentoring programs are classic. The focus of a good mentoring program will be on the development of the employee.

Initiatives to recognize and reward staff can improve an employees’ feeling of being valued, but even a simple “thank you” from management can dramatically improve the extent to which staff feel like key contributors to the organizations’ success.

Don’t mortgage the future of your company by ignoring your employees.

TJ Helm, Certified Professional Coach and founder of Galileo Professional Services, Inc., provides training programs and coaching services to help you achieve the very best you, you can be. Visit http://www.DoLifeBetter.com, email tj@DoLifeBetter.com, or call 503-846-9228.

Download the Print Version: The Navigator - March 2010 (69)

Do your employees feel valued? How do you know? What are you doing to make you think they feel valued? What are they doing to make you believe they feel valued? If you don’t know how to answer these questions you’ll want to read this article. Don’t just assume your employees are happy, help them to be happy and productive. Your bottom-line will appreciate it.

Workforce Sustainability – How to get the most out of the employees you have!

We’ve heard it over and over: A happy employee is a productive employee.

It’s not like I can cut you from the bottom of your left earlobe down to your forth rib pull that out and go: “See there, that’s your work. Or that’s your personal life.” It doesn’t work that way. We are all like a fine tapestry and when one thread is tugged it affects the others.

Whether you work for a large corporation or for a small mom–and–pop shop you spend a considerable amount of time at work.

That’s why it’s so important to consider the whole employee when determining and providing ways of showing appreciation.

When an employee feels valued they will focus more on the positives of the Company / Management / Task rather than the negatives.

With a more positive outlook people have feelings of being honored and appreciated for not only what they do but also for who they are. This helps to develop an environment that gives people freedom to be their best and to do their best.

We talk about the sustainability of our environment. Our employees are part of that environment. It’s very difficult for a person to concentrate on work, deadlines, and going “above and beyond” when they are unhappy, unhealthy, or have feelings of being unappreciated and over worked.

The workforce today has to accomplish more with less. More work with less people and resources. If employees are using precious mental energy on worrying about their work environment, they will have less of that energy to devote to accomplishing the work.

Employees, people are our greatest resource yet we don’t always treat them as valuable.

Tips for creating a valued workforce:

Health and wellness programs

Health and wellness programs help to cut the costs associated with poor employee health, which include absenteeism, loss of productivity, and poor work quality. There has been a 25% jump in corporate interest in providing Employee Health and Wellness programs.

A healthy and happy person will be more productive in the workplace. Employers are discovering that providing programs and resources directed for the benefit of the employee is good for the health and happiness of the company’s bottom line.

Coaching

Coaching is a hot topic among Fortune 500 companies and a recent Fortune magazine article showed executive coaching yields a return on investment of almost six times its cost. According to Fortune, benefits to executives who received coaching included improved working relationships, productivity, quality, organizational strength, customer service, employee retention, cost reduction, bottom-line profitability, and reduced customer complaints.

You don’t have to be among the Fortune 500 or an executive to realize improvements in productivity, organization strength, and customer relations. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own office. Coaching is provided through a telephone, at a fraction of the cost of executive coaching.

In one company that had launched a coaching program they were able to identify specific financial and intangible benefits that came as a result of their coaching.

The two things most significantly impacted by the coaching process were:

• productivity
• employee satisfaction

These two items alone demonstrate just how valuable a good coach can be to your business.

Additional benefits derived from the coaching program were:

• work output
• work quality

Happy employees are not only more productive they are more creative and more willing to go “above and beyond”. They are also more willing to “think outside the box” which is where the most lucrative innovations and creative problem solving originate.

Imagine how even a ten percent increase in work output by you and your employees could impact your bottom line! That alone would more than reimburse you for the costs associated with a quality coach and coaching program.

Training

More companies are starting to realize that it’s smart and profitable to invest in training for their employees. Technical training for specific job requirements has always played a part in the corporate world.

Now, training is being considered for the improvement of the employee for the employee. Employers are  recognizing that this improvement will also benefit the company’s bottom line.

A few training topics that companies are finding particularly beneficial are:

• Stress reduction and management
• Goal setting and achievement
• Communication
• Nutrition
• Fitness

Training can take many forms. Depending on the employee’s learning style, it can be on-line, in a traditional class room setting, one-on-one, on-site or off-site.

According to a Gallup Poll, 80 percent of employees said the availability of company sponsored training programs was a factor in deciding whether to accept a new job or stick with a current one.

Mentoring

Mentoring programs are classic. The focus of a good mentoring program will be on the development of the employee.

Initiatives to recognize and reward staff can improve an employees’ feeling of being valued, but even a simple “thank you” from management can dramatically improve the extent to which staff feel like key contributors to the organizations’ success.

Don’t mortgage the future of your company by ignoring your employees.

TJ Helm, Certified Professional Coach and founder of Galileo Professionals Services, Inc., provides training programs and coaching services to help you achieve the very best you, you can be. Visit http://www.DoLifeBetter.com, email tj@DoLifeBetter.com, or call 503-846-9228.

Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean peace and good will toward one another have to end as well. You spend too much time at work for it to be unpleasant. You can change your little corner of the world and the people in it by changing what you do and how you do it. Let this article give you some tips to make your little corner of the just that much better.

Boosting Workplace Morale

Whether an employee or an employer, you can be part of the solution for boosting morale in the workplace. Many employees seem to act as though they are in direct competition with one another. If you are vying for a raise or a promotion, then this may actually be the case. However, this does not mean that we cannot treat each other with respect and compassion. These two simple, yet powerful items, go a long way for boosting morale.

Here are some simple steps to making co-workers feel good, and in turn, make you feel good about yourself:

• Say “good morning” or “hello” to colleagues. This shows that you have acknowledged them and may brighten their day. Though not everyone will reply, you can feel good knowing you tried to play a small positive part in someone’s day.
• Compliment a new article of clothing, piece of jewelry, or hairstyle. However, make sure that you are sincere. Do not say it if you do not mean it.
• Commend someone on a job well done. Much good work goes unmentioned. We all want to know that we are doing a good job and feel valued, particularly if a project has taken a long time or a difficult situation has been dealt with diplomatically and successfully.
• Stand up for others if you see they are being bullied or wrongly accused of something they did not do. Be careful how you approach this situation though, especially if it is your boss you wish to approach. Uphold your ethics and maintain diplomacy.
• Give credit where credit is due. If you and a partner worked on a project, but you were the only one to receive any credit, make sure that it is known that the other person contributed as well.
• Be a good listener. If a co-worker is having a personal or job-related problem, lend an ear.  However, do not join in gossip if that is what he or she is looking to do, as gossip is one of the most destructive things that takes place in the workplace.

As an employer, here are some tips to boost morale:

• As mentioned above, commend someone on a job well done. If an employee is feeling a bit down or unsure if he or she is truly appreciated, this simple act can turn his or her outlook right around.
• Celebrate goals achieved and let all employees know that they played a part in the success.
• Bring in the occasional treat. In all honesty, who doesn’t love free food?
• Celebrate births, birthdays, and workplace anniversaries.
• Have an open door policy and encourage employees to approach you regarding any work-related concerns, or non-work-related issues if you so choose.
• Try to accommodate. Employees are human beings too with lives outside of work and special events to attend.
• Plan special days or incorporate Casual Fridays to create a more relaxed, yet work-oriented atmosphere.
• Have a suggestion box and encourage employees to share their methods for improving productivity, efficiency, service, and staff morale.

You can also think up your own creative ways for improving workplace relations and fostering a friendly and supportive environment. Since we spend a good portion of our day at work, why not make it comfortable and enjoyable for everyone?

Candace Davies, Owner of A+ Resumes for Teachers is a Global Career Management Professional dedicated to assisting educators worldwide leverage their strengths, accomplishments, and unique selling points to capture their dream career. Her team has successfully assisted 3500+ education professionals by transforming their talents into concise documents that secure numerous interviews.

Please visit her at http://resumes-for-teachers.com or send an email to candoco@telus.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Candace_Davies

Boy, those holidays sure were fun. Time off to spend with friends and family. The festivities and food were great. But now it’s time to go back to work with everything that goes with it. All the work that has to be done, deadlines, more work than people, over time, the boss, and the stress. Read this article to get some fresh ideas to help make this year a better year in the workplace.

Start the New Year With Fresh Satisfaction in the Workplace

The start of the new year is a time to make and honor resolutions – both on a personal and professional level. And one of these resolutions is to increase your satisfaction levels during the hours you spend at work. Our work environment often has a big impact on our mood, motivation, productivity, and job satisfaction.

Recent workplace studies indicate workers rank their work surroundings as the most critical element of job satisfaction…even more than job recognition, compensation, and security. Productivity is highest when a person is relaxed and free of stress, which occurs when an environment is soothing.

All this suggests that a great way to get a jump on the new year is to refresh your workplace ambiance with the latest colors and designs. Even small changes in your work environment is likely to boost your energy, make you more comfortable, and help you make it through long days of important meetings and emails. Here are just a few suggestions:

Personalize your space. Your work space should be your favorite space in the entire office. Add your favorite artwork, photos of your family or friends, a vacation photo, even a picture of your pet. Gentle reminders of your personal life beyond work help get you through the day.

Go green in the new year! The latest studies show that if you add plants to your work environment you will feel more connected with the outside, more alert, and more productive. Plants can also remove common toxins from indoor environments and add oxygen to stale air.

Add color from the latest color trends. Not only will you look stylish to your coworkers, you will also feel more content to spend time in a space where you have chosen the color scheme. The latest trends in colors for [2009] are relaxing and nature-inspired and are accented with a more modern grouping of contemporary contrast colors. Soft neutrals of wheat, cocoa brown, pumpkin orange and cinnamon apple pie soothe even the most stress-filled day. Natural leaf-like greens and organic browns make you feel more in tune with the earth. And for those who desire a more stark contrast, choose crisp clear reds and deep plums to black and whites for a real energy boost.

These simple changes can have a large impact on overall job satisfaction, increase creativity, and get you and your coworkers in the right frame of mind to accomplish great things in the New Year.

Trudy Brusenbach is the Marketing Manager of Ambius. Ambius is dedicated to improving the interior landscape of businesses across North America. Ambius provides a broad range of products and services to enhance the workplace including interior landscaping, ambient scenting and odor remediation, wall art décor and holiday décor. Ambius is a division of Rentokil Initial plc (LSE: RTO). For more information, visit the new Ambius website at http://www.ambius.com Ms Brusenbach has over 10 years B2B MarCom experience specializing in business and brand development.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trudy_Brusenbach

The holidays are coming, does that mean I have to buy a present for everyone at the office? Gosh, I certainly hope not. What are my options? Get some ideas how to navigate the office during the holiday season with this article.

Gifting In The Workplace

Tis the season when we are wracked with indecision on who to buy for and what to buy. We don’t want to insult anyone, but neither do we want to bust our budgets. Here are some of my thoughts on this dilemma.

First of all, this is not a competition or at least it should not be one. The largest or most expensive gift is not always the one most appreciated.

Make a list – a short list. Your gift giving list should include your immediate boss and perhaps those co-workers you think of as friends. If this gets uncomfortable because of your co-workers are less than what you consider worthy of your hard earned cash, then you might want to take the gift giving for those who have earned your respect and trust out of the office environment. For example, share a lunch with the few you wish to give gifts to or send the gifts to their homes. Hopefully they will recognize and respect your desire for private giving and not tell all at the office. Of course you could take a stand on office gift giving and not give individual gifts but instead treat everyone with homemade cookies, candy, or some other goodie. This way no one’s feelings get hurt.

Of course, some companies have instituted a Secret Santa type of gift giving, where everyone draws a name and purchases a gift for that person staying within a declared dollar amount. This can be fun in a small group where people know each other well enough to personalize the gifts. In a large group, gifts tend to be very impersonal and the whole experience, in my humble opinion, just falls flat. One company I worked for many years ago put into place a unique gift giving opportunity at their holiday party. Every employee was asked to prepare a personal award presentation for an employee chosen by passing the hat. These presentations were funny, thoughtful and often brought employees closer as each of us strove to be positive with our “awards”. It was fun for the giver, the receiver and the audience alike.

And don’t forget that gifts don’t always have to be bought. They can be gifts of service. Babysitting, gift wrapping, offering to supply a special dessert for a busy co-worker’s upcoming party, pet sitting, house sitting – the list goes on and on. Think of your talents and what may be needed by a co-worker. Just be sure to be clear as to what you are offering and when. And don’t over book yourself.

And now for your boss. Unless you are new to the company, you have been working with this person for awhile, so you must have some idea of his or her interests. Be thoughtful in your choice of gift. Just don’t run out at the last minute to pick up any bottle of wine or liquor or gift basket. Are they into reading – perhaps a book in a subject that interests them? Do they participate in athletic activities – then think about a tee shirt or sweat shirt that is imprinted with artwork that will inspire them. How about an art print to decorate their office? Or even that special coffee mug – not just any old one – but one that really makes their daily coffee a fun or inspiring event. I have found Raven Studio is just great for gift giving ideas. Whatever the interest, you will be able to find a great gift. Check it out.

Whatever you chose, make sure of two things – it’s a quality made gift (not always expensive) and it relates to their personal interest. You will make more of a splash with your thoughtfulness than by trying to impress them with the cost of the gift.

And most of all – have fun, don’t break your bank and make your gifts ones that will be remembered for years to come.

Copyright all rights reserved Bookkeeping R Us 2006

Donna MacMillan, certified QuickBooks consultant and president/founder of MacMillan Associates provides a unique set of services covering all aspects of successful business growth and financial health for all business types and sizes. Offering comprehensive, confidential, and professional services, MacMillan Associates can analyze, design or redesign your current systems to maximize productivity, cash flow and solidify your bottom line.

Bookkeepers R Us is dedicated to honoring the profession of bookkeepers with current news and resources for bookkeepers and businesses. Our articles discuss the everyday details of running a business, career/education opportunities, workplace ethics/behavior, software choices and many other subjects to help you increase your value in the workplace and the value of your business.

Visit us today to read free articles that will update your skills and knowledge and increase your worth within the business world!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_MacMillan

It’s amazing how much mental and emotional energy we put forth at work. Not only on the tasks but on the people as well. And what’s really sad is that we don’t respect or even like the majority of them. We spend too much time at work to be unhappy, dissatisfied, disgruntled, and annoyed. Here are some ideas to re-adjust your thinking about work.

The Top Ten Ways to Be Unhappy at Work, Especially After 40!

Most people are good at being unhappy at work. There are so many people who are already unhappy at their work that I probably don’t need to teach them since they are already so good at it. But for those who want to change bad habits, a reminder sometimes is a good idea.

1. Work for JUST the money

When you work for JUST the money after 40 you will start to resent your work. Work will start to seem like an obligation. Everyone around you will feel like competition. The money will not be appreciated and it will be spent quicker. When you work JUST for the money, it is easy to lose track of one’s sense of purpose and values about their life and what is most important. This is a great way to be unhappy at work especially for those over 40 who have been unhappy for many years at work due to society pressures and expectations.

2. Make money doing something you don’t care about

Make the money you need in ways which make no sense to you. Work in areas which the work is not coherent to you. That is, work in areas which do not make sense to you at the end of the day. Go to sleep after doing work all day which provides no joy or meaning. This will be great for restless sleep, worry and of course unhappiness about one’s work!

3. Ensure that your work really DOES NOT interest you

After 40, this is very important. Work which provides no interest will set you up for retirement and then a quicker death. Work which does not interest you will impact your sense of self, your happiness and affect how you relate to those around you. This will be great for becoming anti-social and unhappy. After 40, ONLY work at things which clearly do not align your interests and abilities.

4. Only work at things which you are good at

This is a great strategy for being unhappy at work. Do work which you are really good at but no longer interested in. This will keep you in dead end jobs for years JUST for the money. Human Resource policies around performance management will always make you the winner ensuring many more years of making money and unhappy work.

5. Have no sense of urgency about your life and work

This is another great way to stay unhappy at work. Just wait for good luck or better hope something will happen to make your life and work better without action a sure recipe for unhappiness!

6. Work in JOBS and careers after 40

This is one of the best ways to ensure unhappiness in mid ‘life. Just work in defined jobs with nice titles and even better career tracks with hopes to someday retire and finally be happy and do what you want. Just waiting for someday will almost guarantee your unhappiness at work.

7. Look forward to retirement

Plan your retirement and all the things you will finally be able to when you stop working. This is one of my best recommended strategies for unhappiness at work. For sure life or the economy will get in the way and you just might have to work forever at just jobs.

8. Actually, retire!

Just stop working and join activities with other retired people. Enjoy the good life. This is a great strategy for unhappiness. Soon a life without new goals or meaningful work and contribution will set in and the water will boil before you notice it. This will speed your progress towards unhappiness.

9. Work around people who enjoy what you don’t

This is a great way to become unhappy at work. Work in areas which everyone around you seems to enjoy except you. Soon you will feel like you are broken and that something is wrong with you. A sure path to unhappiness!

10. Have a job and DO NOT have your life’s work

This is my favorite. JUST have a job that one day you can retire from. For sure don’t think deeply about the world and where you want to make a greater difference especially after 40. Forget contribution, joy, meaning, and all those silly concepts of vocation. Just assume a job is work and the rest of your life happens after you get home.

Does this sound familiar? Does your work fit into any of these ten steps? The good news is by following of course the opposite direction of these steps WILL ensure you a lifetime of happiness and joy and a sense that your work matters. Now this can ENABLE happiness! I’ll be cheering you on as you go!

Craig Nathanson is the author of “Don’t JUST Retire and Die: A New Approach to Your Life and Work After 40? and he is a coaching expert who works with people over forty. Visit Craig’s online community at http://www.thevocationalcoach.com where you can take a class, get more ideas through Craig Nathanson’s books and CDs, get some private coaching over the phone or in Craig’s office, or read other stories of mid-life change and renewal. Craig lives and works in Petaluma, California. His office is located at P.O Box 2823, Petaluma Ca, 94953. You can reach him at 707-775-4020 or at craig@thevocationalcoach.com. Follow him at https://twitter.com/craignathanson. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Nathanson

By Jan Tincher  

Would you like to learn a new way to succeed? Here is an exercise to do just before you go to bed. Sit down and relax. Get ready to use your mind and visualize. Tell your brain that your body may be a little tired, but your brain is fully alert and able to visualize. 

Count yourself down slowly from 10 to 1. Take in a deep breath and take your time letting it out. As you are relaxed, visualize this: You are sitting in your favorite chair, very relaxed. In your hand is a remote control. You are looking at a 3 foot TV screen . . . and there you are on the screen. What are you doing? Here’s what you are doing. You are succeeding at something that you’ve never succeeded at before. 

What is different between the you on the screen and the you sitting there watching? The obvious one. The you on the screen is succeeding in something the you on the chair hasn’t been able to yet, and didn’t even know you could! 

You can tell by the way the you on the screen is smiling. It’s a smile you yourself have had when you have succeeded at something that was a big challenge! And you can see your work place behind the you on the screen, so you know the you on the screen succeeded at some sort of challenge at work. 

This is cool, huh? Well, how about succeeding at something in your spiritual life? Your financial life, social life, physical life, or your emotional life? We all have challenges in all areas of our lives at some point. But that’s OK. Challenges are just ways of showing us how to succeed. 

So, let’s go back to the remote control. It’s a pretty fancy gadget. And guess what — it has all of those areas listed on little buttons, right in front of you. Spiritual, financial, social, physical, and emotional. You push a button on the remote and the screen changes. You are still a success, but you are seeing yourself as a success somewhere else, maybe at home, maybe at someone’s house. 

You are smiling as you watch this, because you know that even when you go to sleep tonight you will continue being a success. That being the case, you keep pushing the buttons and visualize the success in all areas. When you are done, go to the one area that needs the most work.

Watch as you succeed over and over again in that area. Then, get up and go to bed and let your unconscious work, as you sleep, to bring that success into reality for you. 

Thanks for reading. 

If you like Jan Tincher’s articles, you’ll love her Success Tips! Click here to subscribe! mailto:successtips1@getresponse.com When you do, you will be sent her new ebook, “Tame Your Brain For Success!” Jan Tincher, Master Neuro-Linguistic Programmer & Hypnotherapist, is a nationally recognized expert in Hypnotherapy & Neuro-Linguistic Programming. She teaches strategies and techniques that help people find success. She is an award winning author, and has written hundreds of articles that show people how to live healthier, happier lives. You can read her articles at Self Help Advice Web Site
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Tincher

By Jim Meisenheimer 

Personal branding for professional salespeople should be a high priority – unfortunately it isn’t.

Your personal branding can provide you with an unique competitive advantage if you take the time to develop it.

Here are five easy steps you can use to launch your personal brand.

1. What makes you different – I mean really, what makes you different from other salespeople? If you don’t give this any thought, don’t think you’re memorable from your customer’s perspective.

I often ask the question, “what makes you different from your competition” during my corporate sales training programs. I always get the same responses: honesty, reliable, experienced, problem solver, product knowledge, follow up, trustworthy etc.

While these qualities are admirable they won’t differentiate you from your competition because everybody believes they possess these qualities.

Just remember this – if you want to be remembered you have to be memorable!

2. What are you known for? Do you have specialized training? Do you have an advanced degree? Do you have 23 years of experience within a market subsegment?

For example, I have met salespeople with doctorate degrees who keep this a secret from their sales prospects and customers. Why in the world would you do this, when you could differentiate you from your competition?

Are you unflappable? Do you possess an extraordinary sense of humor? Do you possess any unique skills – like you’re scratch golfer or maybe a college football referee? Are you a gourmet cook? Do you breed dogs in your spare time?

What makes you different, makes you memorable.

3. Let people know what makes you different. You can communicate your uniqueness in ways you have never imagined before. I’ll give you 2 specific ways you can do this.

Prepare a special report on a topic that you have some experience and expertise in. Google makes doing research a snap. You create a title page, an about you page, the actual content pages, and you could end your special report with a short list of resources your sales prospects and customers would benefit from.

You could also write a book. If you happen to be a timid soul you could team up with two or three other salespeople. Imagine how your sales prospects and customers would react when you give them a book you’ve written. It automatically establishes you as an expert. It automatically sets you apart from your competition.

And here’s some very good news for you – you don’t even have to write the book yourself. You can visit www.elance.com and post a job describing the project and how much you’re willing to spend. You can probably get a special report, on any subject, for less than $125. You can probably get a book written for less than $400.

Think about this for a minute. How many salespeople do you know, who are working in your industry, are giving their sales prospects and customers special reports and books they have written? Probably not too many.

You see, personal branding is not about blending in, it’s about standing out. Doing things that no one else is doing creates a strong personal brand for you.

Your personality, unfortunately, isn’t enough to differentiate you from all the salespeople calling on your sales prospects and customers.

4. Most professional speakers have signature stories they tell. These stories are unique to the speaker. It’s their signature. As an entrepreneur or a professional sales person you can create a signature for yourself. For example, my e-mail signature includes this: 21 years . . . 522 corporate clients . . . 72.7% repeat business.

These 47 characters help create my personal brand – you can easily do the same thing.

What color did Johnny Cash favor? He was the man in black, wasn’t he? What color shirt does Tiger Woods always wear on Sundays? It’s always red isn’t it?

You don’t have to be famous to consider doing this. In fact doing this may help you to become better known in your industry.

You could always wear blue ties. You could always use a fountain pen to take notes during sales calls and to write short personal notes. Not too many salespeople are doing these things.

Another good example of a great signature is Thomas Jefferson’s signature – it really does stand out, doesn’t it?

5. Do something that says you’re different. Do something on the blank side of your business card. Think about what you can leave behind at the end of the sales call. In preparing for this article I did a Google search for the phrase, pencils personalized.

You can order these pencils in a variety of designs and colors for as low as 7 cents each. You can also imprint up to four lines of text on each pencil. The pencil becomes your business card.

Imagine including a sharpened pencil with your sales proposals with a short note saying, “We already sharpened our pencil for you.”

Finally, don’t assume you’re automatically different because of your DNA. You have to work at cultivating your uniqueness within your industry. Doing these five things will enable you to become the “Go to person” within your industry.

I hope you have fun working on your personal branding.

Being boring doesn’t get you anywhere.

Being different does!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Meisenheimer

By Michael Roberts Jr 
There are different levels of business etiquette and email business communications. When emailing people there are different ideas and ways to convey messages in your email. Learning the tricks of perfecting a email is a great opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills and business communication etiquette.

FORMALITY
There is a certain level of formality that needs to be considered and remember when sending emails. When you are sending an email from a business address then keep the email about whatever your business was when you contacted the person. Keep all business emails formal!

SHORT
It’s been proven that after ten seconds people lose focus. A seven page email will not be read in its entirety. Be short, sweet and to the point. Cover the area that is pertinent of you to cover– leave the rest for later if at all possible. Craft from the top to the bottom, then check to see if your most important information is in the top 1/3 of the message.

BE QUICK
Don’t let the receiver have to guess who you are because you’re using a nick name and not the name that you go by in business. In the subject field be specific about why you are writing, while in the body of the email, as mentioned before get to the point. Be concise and polite always ending by thanking the individual for taking the time out of their day to read the email. Last– but not least, make sure the person knows that it is ok to contact you concerning the message.

When you sit down in the mornings (or whatever time you read your emails) to read your email make sure that you make time to respond to the email promptly. There is a chance if you put it off for later you will forget about making a response.

SENSITIVITY
Don’t handle any sensitive issues with an email. Making a phone call or speaking to the individual is important when handling these types of situations. Email is permanent– it is not the place for delicate matters that could trigger emotional responses.

ERRORS
Check, check and recheck the email for any and all errors! Once you press send the email represents you and your company. You lose the hands on, face to face relationship that you would have if a person was in your office. So once you send the email you don’t have the opportunity to go back and change it or correct yourself as you would in person. You must remember to do spell and grammar checks before sending all emails. Setup Outlook to do an automatic spell check for you… That one move could be a career saver.

This article was written by Michael Roberts Jr. the founder of Manage Up.net
His website is dedicated to developing better organizational leadership. The website has eBooks, articles, and online training for managers. Don’t miss the opportunity to sharpen your skills and take your career to new levels using insightful knowledge from an expert in management. Visit http://www.manageup.net/ today and receive a FREE eBook to get you started.