HR Blog | Human Resources

Mar 31

Changing Jobs – How To Evaluate A Potential Employer

There can be any number of reasons why you are looking for changing jobs. Your career growth prospects in your present company may be limited, or your salary package may be too small. You may simply have a yen to try your hand at something completely different. Whatever the case, a change of jobs involves a change in companies.

Such a move deserves careful and thorough planning and research.

In the current volatile business climate, it is important to evaluate a prospective employer and the new job from various angles. There are basically three such angles under which most other objectives would fall.

The first is a reality check. The questions to be asked would be:

Does the new job help you build and leverage your strengths, or will it make you work on your weakness? It is difficult to make your weak areas match your strengths. The organization may not give you the time for this, and the rewards may not be consummate with the effort required.
How soon can you start contributing to the new company’s success in your new job?
What is the leadership / managerial style of the company, and will it contrast well with your values or preferred style?
What is the financial position of the company? Is it under heavy debt and interest outgo? Are there cost cutting measures and lay-off in the offing?
Does the company have high attrition levels, and does it have a record for letting go of people every few years after extracting everything of value from them?

The second angle pertains to your own passions. Establish:

Whether the job this company is offering gives you the adrenaline rush you seek
Whether you will be able to do something in this job which you can be proud of in few years

Finally, the larger market perspective should not be ignored. Questions to ask are:

Does the proposed job cater largely to domestic demand or also to the requirements of the Western world? Roles which cater to external demand can be risky in a downturn. The prospects of getting a good pay raise would be lower
Does the job being offered to you add directly to the company profit, or will you be back office support?
Does the company operate in sunrise sectors such as genetics or real estate, or in sunset sectors which are witnessing consolidation or over-capacity?
Does the company have a good record of ethical practices?
Does it have a top-grade auditor? You don’t want skeletons in cupboard to pop out after you join up
Is it recognized as an employer of choice by independent industry associations?

You can obtain a lot of the information you require to make an informed decision about the new job offer from the Internet. Another good source is the company’s financial records, which would be available in the public domain if it is a listed entity.

Of course, word-of-mouth information from current and previous employees of the company is worth its weight in gold.If this kind of research seems like a tall order to you, remember that it is your future that you are making taking a call on. There is no scope for snap decisions in such a scenario.

Jappreet Sethi

7 comments

Feb 09

An Ounce of Positivity | Be Happy & Live Happy

You can make it happen.

Strike out “I don’t know what to do” from your vocabulary.
You’ll figure it out.

Everything you have ever done has brought you to this point.
The force of life is on your side. Start fresh.
Break the bad habit of a recurring cycle that inhibits you to move forward otherwise it will just repeat itself all over again until you learn the lesson it ought to teach you.

In everything you do, do it like it is your first time.
Make tough choices.
Respect your fear but challenge it enough to get over it.
Passion is fuel.

You cannot have it all but you can always have and do great things.

Balance is a myth. One side will always tip a little more in one side; the key is not to make it fall so much as to make the other side have no weight at all.

Acknowledge your dream. Declare it. Share it. Most of all, realize that you can definitely achieve it.

Do not let perfection become procrastination. DO IT NOW.
Make it a point to learn and relearn. You are a work in progress.
The universe is always expanding and that includes you.

Do what you say you are going to do.
Goals are like arrows. Keep it pointed to where you want it to go.

Do a little more of what you want to do every day until your ideal becomes what is real. No worries — Goodness has got your back always. You got this so go ahead and make it happen.

This post appears on the blog of Gia Sison a doctor by profession . Gia is based in Manila, Philippines . You can connect with her @Giasison

Keep the faith!

Jappreet Sethi

Feb 03

10 Things Most Successful People Say Every Day

There are many roads to success, however there are some commonalities between what the most successful people say every day. Jeff points out what most successful people say every day.

If you want to make a huge difference in someone’s life? Here are things you should say every day to your employees, colleagues, family members, friends, and everyone you care about:

1. “Here’s what I’m thinking.”

You’re in charge, but that doesn’t mean you’re smarter, savvier, or more insightful than everyone else. Back up your statements and decisions. Give reasons. Justify with logic, not with position or authority.

Though taking the time to explain your decisions opens those decisions up to discussion or criticism, it also opens up your decisions to improvement.Authority can make you “right,” but collaboration makes everyone right–and makes everyone pull together.

2. “I was wrong.”

I once came up with what I thought was an awesome plan to improve overall productivity by moving a crew to a different shift on an open production line. The inconvenience to the crew was considerable, but the payoff seemed worth it. On paper, it was perfect.

In practice, it wasn’t. So, a few weeks later, I met with the crew and said, “I know you didn’t think this would work, and you were right. I was wrong. Let’s move you back to your original shift.” I felt terrible. I felt stupid. I was sure I’d lost any respect they had for me.

It turns out I was wrong about that, too. Later one employee said, “I didn’t really know you, but the fact you were willing to admit you were wrong told me everything I needed to know.”

When you’re wrong, say you’re wrong. You won’t lose respect–you’ll gain it.

3. “That was awesome.”

No one gets enough praise. No one. Pick someone–pick anyone–who does or did something well and say, “Wow, that was great how you…”

And feel free to go back in time. Saying “Earlier, I was thinking about how you handled that employee issue last month…” can make just as positive an impact today as it would have then. (It could even make a bigger impact, because it shows you still remember what happened last month, and you still think about it.)

Praise is a gift that costs the giver nothing but is priceless to the recipient. Start praising. The people around you will love you for it–and you’ll like yourself a little better, too.

4. “You’re welcome.”

Think about a time you gave a gift and the recipient seemed uncomfortable or awkward. Their reaction took away a little of the fun for you, right?

The same thing can happen when you are thanked or complimented or praised. Don’t spoil the moment or the fun for the other person. The spotlight may make you feel uneasy or insecure, but all you have to do is make eye contact and say, “Thank you.” Or make eye contact and say, “You’re welcome. I was glad to do it.”

Don’t let thanks, congratulations, or praise be all about you. Make it about the other person, too.

5. “Can you help me?”

When you need help, regardless of the type of help you need or the person you need it from, just say, sincerely and humbly, “Can you help me?”

I promise you’ll get help. And in the process you’ll show vulnerability, respect, and a willingness to listen–which, by the way, are all qualities of a great leader.

And are all qualities of a great friend.

6. “I’m sorry.”

We all make mistakes, so we all have things we need to apologize for: words, actions, omissions, failing to step up, step in, and show support… Say you’re sorry.

But never follow an apology with a disclaimer like “But I was really mad, because…” or “But I did think you were…” or any statement that in any way places even the smallest amount of blame back on the other person.

Say you’re sorry, say why you’re sorry, and take all the blame. No less. No more. Then you both get to make the freshest of fresh starts.

7. “Can you show me?”

Advice is temporary; knowledge is forever. Knowing what to do helps, but knowing how or why to do it means everything.

When you ask to be taught or shown, several things happen: You implicitly show you respect the person giving the advice; you show you trust his or her experience, skill, and insight; and you get to better assess the value of the advice.

Don’t just ask for input. Ask to be taught or trained or shown. Then you both win.

8. “Let me give you a hand.”

Many people see asking for help as a sign of weakness. So, many people hesitate to ask for help.

But everyone needs help. Don’t just say, “Is there anything I can help you with?” Most people will give you a version of the reflexive “No, I’m just looking” reply to sales clerks and say, “No, I’m all right.”

Be specific. Find something you can help with. Say “I’ve got a few minutes. Can I help you finish that?” Offer in a way that feels collaborative, not patronizing or gratuitous. Model the behavior you want your employees to display. Then actually roll up your sleeves and help.

9. Nothing.

Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. If you’re upset, frustrated, or angry, stay quiet. You may think venting will make you feel better, but it never does.

That’s especially true where your employees are concerned. Results come and go, but feelings are forever. Criticize an employee in a group setting and it will seem like he eventually got over it, but inside, he never will.

Before you speak, spend more time considering how employees will think and feel than you do evaluating whether the decision makes objective sense. You can easily recover from a mistake made because of faulty data or inaccurate projections.

You’ll never recover from the damage you inflict on an employee‘s self-esteem. Be quiet until you know exactly what to say–and exactly what affect your words will have.

10. “I love you.”

No, not at work unless your wife works with you !, but everywhere you mean it–and every time you feel it.

This article is written by Jeff Haden and is posted on Inc.com; Jeff has written more than 30 non-fiction books, including four business and Investing titles that reached #1 on Amazon’s bestseller list. @jeff_haden

Keep the faith!

Jappreet Sethi

Jan 26

Is It Time For A New Job

If you’re considering quitting your job, you may be indecisive about whether it’s the right decision or not. On the one hand, you’re pretty miserable. On the other hand, if you wait it out, you might make that promotion next year. While quitting or staying at your job is a personal decision, let’s look at a few key situations and what you should consider.

Situation 1: You don’t make enough money. If the sole reason you want to quit is the money you’re not making, consider the alternatives. Quitting over a lack of money is rarely the best decision. If there are other factors to consider, include those in the decision. But if it’s all about the Benjamins, find another way to get what you want:

Ask for a raise. Research comparable positions at other companies on sites like Salary.com to see what you should be making. Assess whether you truly meet the background and experience requirements to make that much (be honest with yourself: if you could make $20K more but need a master’s degree, you’re not qualified for that big of an increase). If you do qualify, present it to your boss, along with a list of accomplishments you’ve achieved. You always want to back up your request for a raise with what you’ve done to deserve it.

Look for another position in the same company. If your position doesn’t offer upward mobility, consider staying at your company in a different role. If there are no promotions opening up in your department, look at others, and check the intranet job board to see what’s available. Tap your internal contacts to see where there may be an opening on the horizon. Get a part-time job. If getting more money isn’t an option at your current company, but you’re still strapped for cash, consider getting a second job to provide more income. This way, you don’t have to quit your job and you still earn additional income.

Situation 2: Your boss is verbally abusive. If your supervisor calls you ugly names and screams at you, it may be time to find another job. You shouldn’t tolerate this kind of behavior, but understandably: you need your job. Still, the constant berating is likely wearing you down, and can even threaten your health, so in this situation, your best bet is likely to start looking for another position elsewhere as soon as possible. Try to be calm when your boss attacks you, and don’t feed the fire. Do your work and stay out of sight until you can resign.

Situation 3: You are dating a co-worker. Depending on what your workplace relationship policy is, you may be jeopardizing your job by getting involved with a co-worker. You might be fired if you’re found out to be violating your company’s policy … or not. Sometimes companies have strict (seeming) policies in place, but they might be willing to turn a blind eye, especially if you’re both hard-working and don’t let your office romance interfere with your jobs.Check with your employee handbook to see what it says about relationships. Then go to your human resources manager together and explain the situation. Get the HR recommendation on what to do. You may find you’re able to keep your job and enjoy your new-found love.

Situation 4: You haven’t been paid in weeks. If your company is late in paying you by several weeks and keeps promising you the “check is on the way,” you should see red flags. This won’t likely end well and you shouldn’t have to suffer personally for the financial instability of your company. Insist on getting paid for the time you work and start looking for a new job.

This post is written by Lindsay Olson. Lindsey is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs.com, a niche job board for public relations, communications, and social media jobs. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues.

Keep the faith!

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Jan 01

What Are The New Year Resolutions of Most Successful People

Well, it’s that time again—time to start rolling out the New Year’s resolutions.

How about learning from most successful people and their new year resolutions? Have you noticed how the most accomplished people just seem to identify important things and consistently get them done?

If you were to study successful people long enough you would notice a pattern in the new year resolutions they make.

Here are ten of my favorites:

Spend more time on the not-to-do list

Strategy is the art of sacrifice. That’s why you may consider creating a larger clearing for what really matters by first identifying, and then avoiding, what matters the least. Your time is a treasure to be invested. Creating a list of things that you are not going to do, allows you to invest more of your treasured time on the few things that matter the most.

Essential first, email second

What’s the first thing you do in the morning? For many of us, it is looking at email. We wake up with a renewed mind and spirit, ready to take on the world, and then we immediately allow ourselves to be distracted by an insignificant email. Instead, wake up, take on the most important task of the day, and then (and only then) hit the email.

Resolve to think about “Who” instead of “What”

Do you work for a “What” business or for a “Who” business? Successful companies run the risk of focusing too much on their current products and distributors thus—the “What”—losing sight of the constant and dramatically changing needs of their customer base. (The “Who.”) Insurance, pharma, health care, higher education often listen too much to their agents, doctors and professors. The real innovation starts with the end consumer.

Resolve to find your purpose

As my friend Simon Sinek will tell you: People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. Starting a career, a company or any kind of journey that is based firmly on your purpose is foundational to success and happiness. If you don’t know your company’s purpose or even your own, finding one is the worthiest of resolutions.

Resolve to support a cause

If you’re reading this, chances are you are one of the rare people who know how to start things. Fortunately, there are people like you who have already started causes that make the world better—they feed the hungry; they save the rain forest; they fight cancer; they do good things. There is virtually a cause for everyone, and contributing will make your year happier. Promise.

Resolve to invent more choices

Here’s a secret that happy people know that I learned from my friend Dr. Dan Baker: You can’t feel grateful and fearful at the same time. And one certain way to become afraid is to feel trapped by any situation. The remedy is choice. The more choices you feel you have, the less trapped—and happier—you will feel. So this year, resolve to do a bit of brainstorming every time you feel unhappy.

Resolve to find a Yin for your Yang

Walt Disney had Roy Disney, Steve Jobs had Steve Wozniak and Orville Wright had Wilbur Wright. Wherever there is great innovation, there is a Dreamer and an Operator; an Idea Monkey and a (Ring)leader. First, determine where your passions lie, then go find an equally passionate partner, then go change the world.

Resolve to get outside your jar

You can’t read the label when you are sitting inside the jar. The sad irony of being an expert is that it keeps you from seeing possibility. After all, you know what works, what doesn’t, what you can afford, what’s been tried in the past. Instead of relying only on your expertise, learn how to find other experts solving similar challenges to the ones you are facing. Go ask them what you may be missing.

Resolve to be the creator

What is the outcome you want? What stands in your way? How do you overcome these obstacles? These three simple questions will keep you from being victimized by any situation. Creators change the world. Victims just bitch about stuff.

Plan vacations (now)

You have probably heard the saying, “Life is what happens when you are not paying attention.” Unfortunately for many of us, we let this become true. Do yourself a favor and plan your vacations for the next year today. I promise you that the days around your vacation will fill in nicely. I also promise you that you’ll have something to look forward to and the life that happens during your vacations will be precious.

Happy New Year.

This article is written by Mike Maddock and is posted on his Forbes blog page. Mike Maddock is an entrepreneur, an inventor, a writer and a keynote speaker. He is the founding partner and CEO of Maddock Douglas, the leading Innovation Agency, which has helped more than 25 percent of the Fortune 100® invent, brand and launch new products, services and business models successfully.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Dec 20

How To Get A New Job in 2013

With the onset of the holidays and a brand new year just around the corner, along come the traditional resolutions. I will lose XXkgs, I will complete a marathon, I will give up smoking, I will stop working so many hours, I will find more work/life balance and a pretty common one – I will find a new job.

We’ve all done it and in most cases, all failed. What starts with a gusto soon fades as life gets in the way, excuses are made and before we know it we’re right back where we started.

If you want a new job in the new year, want to make the break and enter a new industry or occupation, do yourself a favour and break the goal into manageable and attainable steps.

The first thing you need to do is be clear about your goals. What are you looking for? Break it down – not just the industry, specifically what positions are you interested in?

Now what do employers need in those positions – skills, licences, certificates, training – do your research and make a complete list of what they look for in those roles.

Do you have what they need? If you lack some skills your next step is to gain them. Look at what you can do online, what courses can you take or perhaps volunteer to gain experience.

How will you present yourself to employers? Is your resume ready? Does it sell your greatest strengths and convey the value you offer?

How will you approach employers and find opportunities. Will you dedicate time to speaking to people in your network, reach out to people in the industry who may be able to help you etc? Determine a strategy.

Finding a new job is hard work. It takes enormous effort and patience.

Instead of resolving to find a new job within a prescribed amount of time and then giving up when it all becomes too difficult, how about resolving to do something every week to advance your jobsearch. Take the time to research and prepare before you execute a jobsearch and no matter what life throws at you along the way, stick to your guns – do one thing, every week to advance your search.

I am sure if you tackle it this way instead of the bold “I will get a new job by February”approach, you will find yourself making positive, well thought out steps that will do wonders for your job search.

Good luck and happy 2013!

This article is contributed by Michelle Lopez of One2One Resumes.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Nov 17

What Do You Want to Do with Your Life

It’s time for the big questions everyone asks themselves: Why am I here? What am I here to do?

Suddenly, I knew what I wanted. It was the eve of my fourth birthday, and for weeks I had been trying to decide what big present I’d like on my special day. Nothing had sprung to mind, until now. I immediately went to find my mum.

“Mummy, I know what I want for my birthday,” I yelled.

“What do you want?” she asked, excitedly.

“I want a briefcase,” I said, jumping up and down.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yes, it’s what I really, really want!”

“Why do you want a briefcase?”

“I want to do something important with my life,” I said.

“What do you want to do?” my mum asked.

“I don’t know yet,” I said, “but having a briefcase will be a big help.”

It starts from an early age—the curiosity about life and what life is really for. Initially, the curiosity expresses itself as questions: Why is there a sun? What is the purpose of ants? Why did God make cucumbers? Why do we have skin? Why do I have a life? If the curiosity is encouraged, you explore the questions looking for insights, inspiration, epiphanies and eureka moments. The rest of your life is about living the questions and discovering the answers that help you to be truly happy.

In my work, I help individuals, groups and organizations to clarify and strengthen their sense of purpose. My clients recognize the essential value of knowing your purpose, and so they often fly me across the world to help them explore this vital subject. Discovering your purpose is what helps you to be true to yourself, to remember what is real, to be creative, to be resilient and to live your best life. A purpose-led life is a blessed life.

If I asked you, “What is the purpose of your life?” what would you say? Have you figured it out yet? Are you still searching? Are you clearer than you used to be? In this article, I am going to share with you six coaching exercises that have helped me to get clear about my life purpose.

I have shared these exercises with thousands of people over the years. They really work, and they can work for you too. I must emphasize, however, these exercises are not just for your spiritual entertainment; they require some work from you! So let’s begin.

A Shared Purpose

“I feel like I have a really big purpose, but I feel stuck. I don’t know how to begin,” said Susan, a 38-year-old drama teacher.

“When did you first feel like you had a big purpose?” I asked.

“About four years old, or even earlier,” she replied.

“Who or what has helped you the most to get clear about what your big purpose is?” I asked.

Susan paused for a moment. “Nothing and no one,” she replied. “I guess I’ve been trying to work it out by myself.”

“That’s why you feel stuck,” I told her.

Be clear about this: Your purpose is bigger than your ego. All too often, the ego—the voice in your head that believes you are separate from everyone else—wants you to find your purpose so you will feel special, unique, superior and less neurotic than others. However, to discover your purpose, you have to be willing to connect to something bigger than your ego (your “mini me”, to quote Austin Powers). Connection is the key to inspiration.

It is the spiritual imperative of every human to overcome his or her perceived sense of aloneness. This is the key to big, real, meaningful, juicy success. Your purpose is to heal the illusion of separation and realize your oneness with creation. Why is this important? Because your purpose is not just about you; it involves your family, your friends and ultimately all of humanity. Knowing this helps you to open yourself up to inspiration and help from other people, from the divine, from nature and from life itself.

Exercise 1: At the deepest level, the human race has a shared purpose. Ask yourself then, “What do I think is the purpose of humanity?” I know this is a BIG question, but don’t let your ego put you off. You are a fully paid member of the human race and are equally qualified, along with everyone else, to answer this question. Be still and listen. Visualize how humanity needs to grow and how you want to grow. Think about what the human race still needs to learn and what you need to learn. Reflect on what is your shared purpose with all of humanity.

The Real You

“I’m tired,” said Melissa, a 42-year-old marketing manager.

“What are you tired of?” I asked.

“I’m tired of searching for my purpose,” she replied.

“Searching is tiring,” I said.

“I just want to give up,” she said.

“I recommend you give up immediately,” I said.

“What do you mean?” asked Melissa, looking startled.

“I want you to give up searching outside of yourself for your purpose.”

The purpose of your life is to discover who you are. It is to meet yourself and to identify what you are made of and what you are made for. To do this, you have to be willing to give yourself some special attention. You have to stop “going” “doing” and “chasing” and start spending more time “being” with yourself. You have to connect consciously with what I call your unconditioned self, the original essence of who you are. Your unconditioned self wants you to know yourself. It wants you to know who you really are.

Exercise 2: Book a meeting with yourself, and explore this question, “From 0 to 10, how alive do I feel?” Zero represents “the living dead,” and 10 represents “100 percent alive.” Notice how alive you feel in your life right now, and identify what would help you to feel even more alive. In particular, name specifically what inspires you and what motivates you to show up in your life each day. To live your purpose, you have to dare to be even more of who you really are.

A Call to Joy

Since 1992, I have been the director of The Happiness Project—a project that explores the psychology, sociology and spirituality of happiness. I am an advocate for happiness because I believe the purpose of happiness is to help you to find your purpose. When you know what makes you happy, it helps you to remember who you really are and to give yourself more wholeheartedly in your life.

Here is the vision statement of The Happiness Project:

It is because the world is so full of suffering,

that your happiness is a gift.

It is because the world is so full of poverty,

that your wealth is a gift.

It is because the world is so unfriendly,

that your smile is a gift.

It is because the world is so full of war,

that your peace of mind is a gift.

It is because the world is in such despair,

that your hope and optimism is a gift.

It is because the world is so afraid,

that your love is a gift.

Exercise 3: Placed inside every human being is a call to joy, and the purpose of your life is to answer that call. People who follow their joy experience the fullness of their being. They are the renaissance workers who evolve the consciousness of humanity. In this exercise, called “At My Happiest,” identify all the occasions when you feel truly happy. Afterward, reflect on what this exercise has taught you about your true purpose in life.

Your Heart’s Prayer

Since 1996, I have been the director of Success Intelligence, a project that explores the heart and soul of authentic success. Central to this work, is the exploration of life purpose. Several years ago, I was asked by a journalist to sum up the heart of my work with Success Intelligence in 100 words.

My answer to her question reveals what I believe to be an essential key to discovering your purpose. Here is what I wrote:

Before you dedicate your life to a person, a marriage, a family;

to a corporation, a political party, a peace campaign;

to a religion, a revolution, a spiritual path;

make one other dedication first.

First dedicate yourself to LOVE.

Decide to let Love be your

intention, your purpose and your point.

And then let Love inspire you,

support you, and guide you in every other dedication

you make thereafter.

Exercise 4: To discover the purpose of your life, you have to “let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love,” Rumi said. If you love enough, you will surely fulfill your purpose on earth. You can begin right now by listening to your heart, which is the doorway to your unconditioned self. Your heart knows your true purpose. It keeps no secrets from you. All you have to do is listen. A few years ago, I found the following words by Matthew Anderson, which I share with all my clients. His words make a great exercise: “There is a prayer that lives in the center of your heart. If you pray it, it will change your life. How does it begin?”

Your Real Work

I once coached a man named Neil who said, “For 23 years, I went to work without a purpose. I had a reason, which was money. But a reason is not the same thing as a purpose.” Neil had worked for a bank his entire adult life and, although he had gotten many promotions and pay raises, he still felt unfulfilled. He came to see me to find his purpose. We talked about the difference between busyness and purpose. We began by acknowledging there is a world of difference between having a job and having a purpose.

Exercise 5: In my coaching sessions, I help my clients to create their own unique business cards. Instead of writing your job title on this card, you get to write your purpose. I recommend you use a maximum of three words to name your purpose. For example, a hairdresser I once coached wrote, “Self-Esteem Consultant.” “The purpose of my work is to help people feel good about themselves,” he said. You can also add a motto, an affirmation, a symbol, a mission statement or anything else. The idea is to identify your real work.

Choosing Your Purpose

“I’ve been searching for my purpose my whole life,” said Sheila, a 44-year-old-housewife. “And no matter how much I search, I still can’t find my purpose.”

“What would you like your purpose to be?” I asked.

“I don’t think I understand the question,” said Sheila.

“Well, if searching for a purpose isn’t working, I recommend you choose a purpose.”

“How do I do that?” asked Sheila.

The way to discover your purpose is to live a purpose-centered life. In practical terms, this means focusing on and being receptive to the highest purpose of every situation you find yourself in. For example, before you attend a meeting, you might say a prayer like, “Dear God, show me the purpose of me being here.” Or, before an important conversation with a friend, you might want to connect with your heart and think about what the real purpose of your friendship is. Or, before you even get out of bed in the morning, you might want to choose how you want to feel today.

Exercise 6: Wherever you find yourself—in a meeting, driving your kids to school, on a date, waiting for a bus—make it a habit to be as open as possible to what is really happening. This will help you to be truly present and receptive in your life. Also, be mindful of how you are being and what you are giving, and make sure your choices are aligned to what you most want to experience. Your purpose is something you live each day, and it’s something you give from you heart to the world.

This Post appears on Oprah.com and is contributed by Robert Holden, PhD. Robert’s innovative work on happiness and well-being have been featured on The Oprah Show and Good Morning America and also in two major BBC TV documentaries, The Happiness Formula and How to Be Happy, shown to more than 30 million TV viewers worldwide. He is the author of the best-selling books Happiness NOW!, Shift Happens! and Success Intelligence. His latest book, Be Happy, is published by Hay House. Robert lives in London with his wife and daughter.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Oct 18

Are You Effective at Work

Once a quarter or so, I find it valuable to step back and ask: How am I doing?

Otherwise, you can end up consumed by work for years at a time and not be really happy, or not be really getting anywhere. So it’s helpful to take some time to step back and check in with yourself.

Here are three (3) questions for success:

Question 1: Am I delivering on or ahead of expectations?

Judge yourself. Don’t wait for a performance review. I spent 23 years reporting to managers — and I did my own performance review 17 of those years.

Once you confirm that you are indeed delivering great results, then check:

Are you clear about the business value your work provides?
Could you be working in a way to add even more value?

One of the reasons people get stuck is that they think delivering on their job description is enough to get ahead. It’s not. That lets you keep the job you have now.

To get ahead you need to do more than what’s in your job description.

You need to figure out what else to do and then you need to do it. Don’t wait for your manager or someone else to tell you that you need to do this.

Don’t be held hostage by your job description.

If your job description is defined in a small and narrow way, then it’s up to you to figure out how to add more value. Also, you need to figure out how to get your job done without using up all your time and energy. You need to make room to do the extra stuff.

Question 2: What am I known-for at work?

Another big reason some people get stuck (while others get ahead), is that they forget to think about how they are showing up at work. Once you are convinced that you are contributing work that the business values, you need to ask yourself, “Can anyone see it?”

The most successful people find ways to create visibility for their work and for themselves and their teams.

I have been having this conversation lately with people from new college grads, to executives trying to step into CEO positions, and pretty much everyone in between.

You have a personal brand whether you know or it not.
Find out what people think of you — or find out if you are invisible.
Then, plot a course to manage what you are known for on purpose.

The challenge is that the work itself will take up all of your time and energy if you let it. And managing your reputation does not seem like your day job. So it’s helpful to think about building your credibility as part of your day job. And it’s true because high credibility makes your more effective in your work.

People with high credibility and strong personal brands get more done.

They are trusted. They are faced with fewer challenges and fewer stupid questions about, ”Why did you choose that? Why does this cost so much? Did you evaluate that other thing? How do you know this will work?”

People with high credibility get to go faster. They don’t need to spend so much time defending their honor (and their budget). They are permitted to just GO, without justifying every expense and every decision.

You can’t build credibility if you are invisible.

It’s the difference between getting the work done, and showing yourself as leading the effort, communicating effectively, and connecting with your peers in a meaningful way. What more can you be doing to show up as personally leading strategy and making a difference. What do you want to be known for?

Some people call this political and think it’s a waste of time, so they opt out. They expect their reputation to thrive and grow on their results alone. Some people even feel that it’s much more important to NOT call attention to themselves. That is fine, but if you choose the invisible path, don’t be discouraged or upset if you get passed over.

Showing up is not about bragging, it’s about leading – you can be humble, and still show up as having a strong personal brand — and the stronger you show up, the better you’ll be at your job.

Question 3: Is what I’m doing setting me up for where I want to go?

First, ask yourself if you know where you want to go. What do you want all this work to amount to? What kind of role? What level? Geography? Business area?

Once you decide what it is you want, you need to consider the following:

Is the work I am doing getting me the experience I need to get to the job I ultimately want? It’s up to you to make sure you are getting the experiences which will get you access to the kind of roles you want in the future. This is what career development is really about — deciding what you want to do next, then getting experience in that job before you are in it. You also need to pay attention to how you are perceived relative to the role you want.
Am I someone who is known for being a good fit for kind of job that I want? If not, you’ve got some work to do. This gets back to the question of how you are showing up. In addition to getting the right experience, you need to make sure that you are getting known as someone
who is a good fit for the kind of job you want.

Find experiences beyond your current job, and then make connections with people in the places you want to be later. Make sure they can see you doing the new work.

Succeed on purpose

Most people who succeed do not do so by accident. They don’t just work hard and rely on their results to be admired, and expect to be “discovered” and ushered into the next big thing. They get there by managing how they invest their time and managing what they are known for.

This was originally published on Patty Azzarello’s Business Leadership Blog. Her latest book is Rise: How to be Really Successful at Work and LIKE Your Life.

Patty Azzarello is the founder and CEO of Azzarello Group Azzarello Group. She’s also an executive, best-selling author, speaker and CEO/business advisor. She became the youngest general manager at HP at the age of 33, ran a billion dollar software business at 35, and became a CEO for the first time at 38 (all without turning into a self-centered, miserable jerk). You can find her at [email protected] .

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Oct 16

Four Questions Which Can Destroy Your Life

One of the biggest issues for me over the years has been how to make the mind an ally instead of an enemy. Everyday suffering is largely mental. We obsess and worry. We are haunted by old hurts and anticipate new ones with anxiety. For many people, the same four questions keep cropping up to exacerbate these feelings:

1. “What’s wrong with me?”

2. “What’s going to happen?”

3. “How will I ever get out of this?”

4. “Where will the money come from?”

Making these thoughts go away is extremely difficult. They are persistent and never seem to resolve themselves. The solutions we try to find don’t work either. We ignore the nagging questions—a form of denial—or we reassure ourselves that there is nothing actually wrong, which, ironically, only stokes the worry and doubt. Another tactic? We try to offset our anxiety by proving our worth through the pursuit of money, power and accomplishment. This can result in riches and success, but it doesn’t put end to the fear or the idea that the future holds something dreadful and unknown.

It’s necessary to try a new way, one that allows our mind be our friend and not our enemy. To do that, we have to move from the level of the problem to the level of the solution. The first step is to take an honest look at what the four questions are doing to you and where they come from.

“What’s wrong with me?”

This thought arises from personal insecurity, self-doubt, and judgment against yourself. When people wrestle with self-doubt, they generally get stuck saying opposite things to themselves: “There’s nothing wrong with me” one day and “I’m a mess. Everything is wrong with me” the next, as circumstances swing from good to bad. Neither extreme is true, but that’s not the point. The false answer becomes a ritual, a fixed response that gets nowhere. Other ritualistic thoughts would include “I keep doing this to myself,” “I’m stupid,” “I’m all alone,” “I never get a break” and so on.

The problem is that you’re trying to answer a question that is self-defeating to begin with. Instead, you must look at why the question arose and solve that problem—which is insecurity. You are giving away your power. Security comes from being centered in the self.

“What’s going to happen?”

This concerns dread about the future. It’s about lack of trust. In life, you will never know what is going to happen. Any attempt at a response is futile, since this, too, is a self-defeating question. Instead, you need to live in the present. Realize that the future is not only unknown to you—it is unknowable to anyone no matter how much you worry. Therefore, you are worrying about a phantom; fear is piling on hypothetical possibilities and worst-case scenarios. They vanish only when you place your attention on the here and now.

“How will I ever get out of this?”

This question comes from a feeling of being trapped. To end that feeling, you must make space for creativity. It is self-defeating to block your creative juices with an obsessive repetition of doubt. Solutions don’t come from panic. They come when you reframe the situation you are trapped in. Instead of seeing it as a prison, see it as a chance to prove that you are capable of meeting reality head-on. By clearing away the fear, you open a channel for new solutions to appear.

“Where will the money come from?”

On the surface, this is about finances. But beneath that, this question comes from the feeling that your life can be taken away from you. You think that money protects you from total loss of control and if there isn’t enough of it, unseen forces will overwhelm you. Rather than tackling the money issue, it’s time to create a safe place inside you. The first step is to see that money isn’t going to make you safe (unless, of course, you lack the basic necessities of food and shelter). A prudent amount of money is undeniably a safeguard, but a sense of lack is psychological. You will feel safe inside not when you have enough money, but when you can say “I am enough.”

This Article is written by Dr. Deepak Chopra a World-renowned expert on mind-body healing, Dr. Deepak Chopra is the co-founder of the Chopra Centre for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California. Deepak’s Wellness Radio airs weekly on Sirius/XM Stars, Channels 102 and 55, and focuses on topics like success, love, sexuality, relationships, well-being and spirituality. Deepak is the author of more than 55 books, with 14 best-sellers on mind-body health, quantum mechanics, spirituality and peace

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Sep 18

How To Be Successful Like Richard Branson

Richard Branson founded Virgin in 1970 at the age of 20, and he hasn’t looked back.

He’s the only entrepreneur to have built eight separate billion-dollar companies in eight different industries — and he did it all without a degree in business.

“Had I pursued my education long enough to learn all the conventional dos and don’ts of starting a business I often wonder how different my life and career might have been,” he writes in his new book, Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School.

We’ve compiled some of the best tips from his book here.

Don’t do it if you don’t enjoy it.

Running a business takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears (and caffeine). But at the end of the day, you should be building something you will be proud of.

Branson says, “When I started Virgin from a basement in west London, there was no great plan or strategy. I didn’t set out to build a business empire … For me, building a business is all about doing something to be proud of, bringing talented people together and creating something that’s going to make a real difference to other people’s lives.”

Be visible.

Branson received some timeless advice when building Virgin Airlines from Sir Freddie Laker, a British airline “tycoon.”

“Make sure you appear on the front page and not the back pages,” said Laker. “You are going to have to get out there and sell yourself. Make a fool of yourself, whatever it takes. Otherwise you won’t survive”.

Branson always makes a point of traveling often and meeting as many people as he can. This, he says, is how he came by some of the best suggestions and ideas for his business.

Choose your name wisely.

The unique name and brand that Virgin employs is one of the things that has made the company a success. Branson makes sure that the name ‘Virgin’ represents added value, improved service, and a fresh, sexy approach.

Branson says that he is asked all the time about the origin of the Virgin name, back when Virgin was just starting. “One night, I was chatting with a group of sixteen-year-old girls over a few drinks about a name for the record store,” he says. “A bunch of ideas were bounced around, then, as we were all new to business, someone suggested Virgin. It smacked of new and fresh and at the time the word was still slightly risqué, so, thinking it would be an attention-grabber, we went with it.”

You can’t run a business without taking risks.

Branson thinks of one of his favorite sayings when advising about taking business risks: “‘The brave may not live forever—but the cautious do not live at all!’”

Every business involves risks. Be prepared to get knocked down, says Branson, but success rarely comes from playing it safe. You may fail, but Branson also dares to point out that “there’s no such thing as a total failure.”

The first impression is everything. So is the second.

The first impression you make on customers will probably be when you acquire them. The first impression is extremely important, says Branson, but the second is equally as important.

The second time a customer usually contacts Virgin, it’s because he or she is having problems with the product or service. How you present yourself and your brand in these situations says a lot about how your brand maintains good customer relationships and handles obstacles.

Perfection is unattainable.

“There’s an inherent danger in letting people think that they have perfected something,” says Branson. “When they believe they’ve ‘nailed it’, most people tend to sit back and rest on their laurels while countless others will be labouring furiously to better their work!”

For this reason, Branson never gives anyone a 100% perfect review of their work. He believes that no matter how “brilliantly conceived” something is, there is always room for improvement.

The customer is always right, most of the time.

The customer is always right… unless they’re wrong. After all, they’re only human too. Your customers’ opinions are important, but “you should not build your customer service system on the premise that your organisation will never question the whims of your clients,” says Branson.

Branson warns that many entrepreneurs think if they provide ‘the-customer-is-always-right’ service that it will improve their businesses. This is only sometimes true. Beware not to damage relationships with customers or staff with your customer service policies.

Define your brand.

When it comes to defining your brand, Branson advises entrepreneurs to do the opposite of what he did with Virgin, which is spreading out all over the place. And while it’s true that Virgin branches into many different industries, Branson says the company is actually quite focused on one thing: “finding new ways to help people have a good time.”

Stick to what you know. Underpromise and overdeliver. Because if you don’t define your brand, your competitors will.

Explore uncharted territory.

Branson compares exploring new territory in business to exploring new territory in science or geography.

“We will find new species and better understand the make-up of the deep-level waters,” says Branson.

Business translation: There are still many things out there that haven’t been discovered, invented, achieved. Exploring little- or uncharted areas can spark new ideas and innovations.

Beware the “us vs. them” environment.

A workplace should be one in which the boss and his or her employees communicate well and work together toward the same goal. “If employees aren’t associating themselves with their company by using ‘we’, it is a sign that people up and down the chain of command aren’t communicating,” says Branson.

If you think there might be discrepancies or tension between employees and management, Branson advises to check with the middle management first to try to uncover the source of the problem and address it head-on.

Build a corporate comfort zone.

Employees must feel free and encouraged to openly express themselves without rigid confines so they can do better work and make good, impactful decisions.

“This may sound like a truism,” begins Branson, “But it has to be said: It takes an engaged, motivated and committed workforce to deliver a first-class product or service and build a successful, sustainable enterprise.”

Not everyone is suited to be CEO.

A manager needs to be someone who “brings out the best in people,” someone who communicates well with others and helps an employee learn from a mistake instead of criticizing them for it.

Not everyone does this well, and that’s okay. The founder can but doesn’t have to be the CEO; if the fit isn’t right, he or she should know when the role is meant for someone else.

Seek a second opinion. Seek a third.

Branson says you must learn to be a good listener in order to succeed, and that means bouncing “every idea you have off numerous people before finally saying, ‘We’ll give this one a miss,’ or ‘Let’s do it.’”

That means being thorough and deliberate before executing any decisions. In business, seeking a variety of opinions “can save you a lot of time and money,” says Branson. “Don’t tell people about others’ suggestions until you’ve heard what they have to say. In the end you may decide that the best advice is to walk away—and later find out it was the very best solution.”

Cut ties without burning bridges.

Business ventures with another person, be it a friend or a partner, don’t always work out. If this is the case, successful entrepreneurs know when to part ways.

But just because you decide to go in another direction doesn’t mean things have to end badly, especially with a friend, says Branson. Handle any problems quickly and head-on, and end the relationship as amicably as possible.

Pick up the phone.

It’s great to be tech-savvy, but don’t text or email when you should be calling. “The quality of business communications has become poorer in recent years as people avoid phone calls and face-to-face meetings, I can only assume, in some misguided quest for efficiency,” Branson says.

Problems are more difficult to solve by text or email, and “there is nothing efficient about allowing a small problem to escalate,” says Branson, when it could have been easily addressed with a phone call.

Change shouldn’t be feared, but it should be managed.

“Companies aren’t future-proof,” says Branson, and nothing lasts forever. An entrepreneur should be prepared to adapt, and avoid being nostalgic about the company itself.

“Sometimes you have to take your company in a new direction because circumstances and opportunities have changed.” If this is the case, Branson advises that you should “find ways to inspire all employees to think like entrepreneurs … so the more responsibility you give people the better they will perform.”

When it comes to making mistakes, bounce back, don’t fall down.

Your decision will not always be the best decision. Everyone makes mistakes, but the best thing you can do in the face of a mistake is own up to it.

Honesty isn’t just the best policy, it’s the only policy, notes Branson. When a mistake is made, don’t let it consume you. Uncover the problem and get to work fixing it.

Be a leader, not a boss.

Branson sees the classic image of “the boss” as an anachronism. Being bossy is not a desirable trait in a manager, he says. A boss orders while a leader organizes.

“Perhaps, therefore, it is odd that if there is any one phrase that is guaranteed to set me off it’s when someone says to me, ‘Okay, fine. You’re the boss!’” says Branson. “What irks me is that in 90 percent of such instances what that person is really saying is ‘Okay, then, I don’t agree with you but I’ll roll over and do it because you’re telling me to. But if it doesn’t work out I’ll be the first to remind everyone that it wasn’t my idea.’”

A good corporate leader is someone who doesn’t just execute his or her own ideas, but also inspires others to come forth with their own.

Source: “Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School.”This article is written by Melissa Stanger and appears on inc.com

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Sep 12

Stanford’s Free Online Courses – Fast Track Your Career

Stanford University is recognized as one of the world’s leading universities and is offering free online courses. This is a great opportunity to upgrade your knowledge. God supplies us with the opportunity, but he cannot take advantage of it for us.

Many employees now use their spare time to try their hand to learn new skills. It may well be something that they have always longed to do under different circumstances. The experience and certification that they gain by branching out like this boosts their resume and career prospects considerably.

Stanford’s free online courses are taught by regular Stanford faculty in a highly interactive mode. You will not get Stanford credit for your work; however you do receive a statement of accomplishment if you successfully complete the course module. These are online programs so you can be anywhere in the world to complete it.

Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them – Eppie Friedman

This is the list of current open enrollment programs at Stanford University, click on the title for more information on the module.

Title	Instructor	Dates – 2012
Introduction to Mathematical Thinking	Keith Devlin	Begins September 17
Human-Computer Interaction	Scott Klemmer	Begins September 24
Organizational Analysis	Daniel McFarland	Begins September 24
Introduction to Logic	Michael Genesereth	Begins September 24
Probabilistic Graphical Models	Daphne Koller	Begins September 24
An Introduction to Computer Networks	Philip Levis and Nick McKeown	Begins Fall 2012
Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, and Batteries	Bruce Clemens	Begins Fall 2012
Technology Entrepreneurship	Chuck Eesley	Begins October 1
A Crash Course on Creativity	Tina Seelig	Begins October 1
Designing a New Learning Environment	Paul Kim	Begins Fall 2012
Finance	Kay Giesecke	Begins October 1
Advanced Entrepreneurship	Clint Korver	Begins Fall 2012
Algorithms: Design and Analysis, Part 2	Tim Roughgarden	Begins October 2012
Cryptography II	Dan Boneh	Begins January 21,2013

Do not wait for ideal circumstances nor for the best opportunities; they will never come – Anonymous

Do you yearn to spread your wings and soar higher in your career? The way to do it is to upgrade your knowledge and make it more attractive to present or future employers. Make best use of this opportunity to fast track your career.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Aug 30

10 Business Clichés That Prove You’re Lazy

Recognize any of the platitudes on this list? Here’s why you should stop using them–now. Whipping out a platitude isn’t just annoying. Using some platitudes also shows you’re lazy–and not just in words but in actions:

“Work smarter, not harder.”

What happens when you say that to me?

One: You imply I’m stupid. Two: You imply whatever I’m doing should take a lot less time and effort than it does. And three: After you say it, I kinda hate you.

If you know I could be more efficient, tell me how. If you know there’s a better way, show me how. If you think there’s a better way but don’t know what it is, say so. Admit you don’t have the answer. Then ask me to help you figure it out. And, most important, recognize that sometimes the only thing to do is to work harder. So get off your butt and help me.

“There is no I in team.”

Sure there is. There are as many I’s as team members. Those individuals, the more “individual” the better, serve to make the team stronger. The best teams are often a funky blend of the members’ individual talents, perspectives, and goals.

If you want a team to work hard and achieve more, make sure each person feels she can not only achieve the team’s goal but also one of her own goals. Spend time figuring out how each individual on the team can do both, instead of taking the lazy way out by simply repressing individuality in the pursuit of the collective.

“It just wasn’t meant to be.”

Fate had nothing to do with it. Something went wrong. Figure out what went wrong and learn from it.

“Oh, it wasn’t meant to be” is not just lazy but also places responsibility elsewhere. “Let’s figure out what we can do next time” is empowering and places the responsibility where it should be: on you.

“That’s probably not what you want to hear.”

It sucks to hear bad news, no doubt. But when you say that something isn’t what I want to hear, you shift the issue over to my side of the table. Somehow it’s become my problem.

Don’t shift. Explain why you made a decision. Explain the logic. Explain your reasoning.I still may not want to hear it, but that way the focus remains on the issue and not on me.

“Perception is reality.”

Yeah, yeah, I know: How I perceive something is my version of reality, no matter how wrong my perception may be. But if other people perceive a reality differently than you, work to change that perception. Make reality the reality. Besides, perceptions are fleeting and constantly changing. Reality lasts forever, or at least until a new reality comes along to replace it.

“We want your feedback.”

You see and hear a similar line everywhere: websites, signs, meetings.

Don’t be passive if you truly want feedback. Don’t just make it easy for people to provide. Go get it. Be active. Ask, People who really want feedback take responsibility for getting that feedback–they don’t wait to receive it

“Do it now and apologize later.”

You’re not a bold, daring risk taker; you’re lazy and self-indulgent. Good ideas are rarely stifled. People like better; if they don’t like your idea, the problem usually isn’t them: It’s you.

Don’t take the easy way out. Describe what you want to do. Prove it makes sense. Get people behind you. Then whatever you do has a much better chance of succeeding.

“Failure is not an option.”

This one is often used by a leader who gets frustrated and wants to shut down questions about a debatable decision or a seemingly impossible goal: “Listen, folks, failure is simply not an option.” (Strikes table or podium with fist.)

Failure is always a possibility. Just because you say it isn’t doesn’t make it so. Don’t reach for a platitude. Justify your decision. Answer the hard questions. If you can’t, maybe your decision isn’t so wise after all.

“Let’s not reinvent the wheel.”

Because hey, your wheel might turn out to be a better wheel, which means my wheel wasn’t so great. And we can’t have that.

“It is what it is.”

Here’s another shutdown statement. “It is what it is” really means, “I’m too lazy to try to make it different, so for gosh sakes stop talking about it.” “It is what it is” is only true if you take the easy way out by letting “it” remain “it.”

This article appeared on Inc.com and is written by Jeff Haden. Jeff Haden learned much of what he knows about business and technology as he worked his way up in the manufacturing industry. You can follow him on twitter @jeff_haden

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

The author uses life stories to demystify the day -to -day Human Resources Challenges we face at work. His HR Blog – Human Resources Blog endeavours to simplify the HR jargon.

Aug 26

Neil Armstrong – 5 Lessons From His Life

“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for Mankind.”

Neil Armstrong has finished his current inning on Earth for the time being; he is and will remain a legend for generations to come. How did the small boy from Wapakoneta, Ohio make it big in life? Neil Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio and was the first of three children of Stephen and Viola Armstrong. He married his college sweetheart, Janet Shearon, in 1956. Janet Shearon and Neil Armstrong got divorced in 1994. Neil Armstrong married Carol Knight after his divorce.

Neil Armstrong Did What He Loved & Loved What He Did

Neil Armstrong loved everything about aviation from childhood. He began making model planes as child. So much was his love for aviation that he picked up odd jobs at the local airport. The money from these odd jobs paid for his flying lessons. Neil Armstrong obtained his pilot’s license at the young age of 15; this was even before he had a car license.

Take Control of Your Dream – It Is In Your Hands

As a kid at 15 he loved aviation, and knew it would be difficult for his parents to pay for the flying lessons. He took up odd jobs to save money for the flying lessons. He dreamed big and worked hard to make his dream come true. Neil Armstrong by the age of 17 had flown two long-distance solo flights and had done his paperwork to start classes at Purdue to pursue a program in aeronautical engineering.

I think we’re going to the moon because it’s in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It’s by the nature of his deep inner soul… we’re required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream – Neil Armstrong.

Things Will Go Wrong; Don’t Panic – Do Your Best

Neil Armstrong was known for not panicking when things go wrong. Neil Armstrong took two trips into space; his first journey was in 1966 as the commander of Gemini 8 mission, which was about to end in a disaster. Neil Armstrong kept his cool and brought the spacecraft home safe after a thruster rocket malfunctioned and caused it to spin out of control.

During the last stages of Apollo 11 the team realized that the Eagle lunar module’s auto-pilot was preparing to land the crew on the slope of a huge moon crater. Neil Armstrong said “The computer showed us where it intended to land, and it was a very bad location, on the side of a large crater about 100-150m in diameter with very steep slopes covered with very large boulders — not a good place to land at all.” Neil Armstrong took charge and overrode the automatic pilot to avoid landing in the big rocky crater. The landing was full of danger; the lander had only about 30 seconds of fuel left when Armstrong put it down on Moon. After landing he calmly radioed back to Mission Control on Earth, “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

You’ve got to expect some of these things are going to go wrong, and we always need to prepare ourselves for handling the unexpected. And you just hope those unexpected things aren’t something that you can’t cope with. – Neil Armstrong

Throw Fear Out of Window

As a U.S. Navy pilot, Armstrong flew 78 combat missions during the Korean War. In his stint at NASA he tested many high-speed aircraft, including the X-15, which could reach a top speed of 4,000 miles per hour. He gave his best and won three medals in Korean War. Armstrong had several arial accidents and some were a close shave. The accidents did not make him fearful of flying; it just emboldened him. He kept on dreaming bigger and bigger.

There can be no great accomplishment without risk – Neil Armstrong

Don’t Let Success Get to Your Head

Space Foundation survey in 2011 ranked Neil Armstrong as the #1 most popular space hero. Throughout the world there are places named in his honor. Neil Armstrong was once asked on how he felt knowing his footprints would likely stay on the moon’s surface for thousands of years. “I kind of hope that somebody goes up there one of these days and cleans them up,” he said.

While many people are quick to cash in on their 15 minutes of fame, Armstrong avoided the public spotlight and chose to lead a quiet, private life with his wife, children and grandchildren. He remained humble throughout his life and said he was just doing his job. He would even feel frustrated with the publicity he would attract.

For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.” – Statement released by Neil’s family after his death.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

The author uses life stories to demystify the day -to -day Human Resources Challenges we face at work. His HR Blog – Human Resources Blog endeavours to simplify the HR jargon.

Aug 24

What Successful People Do In The 1st Hour Of Their Work Day

How much does the first hour of every day matter? As it turns out, a lot. It can be the hour you see everything clearly, get one real thing done, and focus on the human side of work rather than your task list.

Remember when you used to have a period at the beginning of every day to think about your schedule, catch up with friends, maybe knock out a few tasks? It was called home room, and it went away after high school. But many successful people schedule themselves a kind of grown-up home room every day. You should too.

The first hour of the workday goes a bit differently for Craig Newmark of Craigslist, David Karp of Tumblr, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, career writer (and Fast Company blogger) Brian Tracy, and others, and they’ll tell you it makes a big difference. Here are the first items on their daily to-do list.

Don’t Check Your Email for the First Hour. Seriously. Stop That.

Tumblr founder David Karp will “try hard” not to check his email until 9:30 or 10 a.m., according to an Inc. profile of him. “Reading e-mails at home never feels good or productive,” Karp said. “If something urgently needs my attention, someone will call or text me.”

Not all of us can roll into the office whenever our Vespa happens to get us there, but most of us with jobs that don’t require constant on-call awareness can trade e-mail for organization and single-focus work. It’s an idea that serves as the title of Julie Morgenstern’s work management book Never Check Email In The Morning, and it’s a fine strategy for leaving the office with the feeling that, even on the most over-booked days, you got at least one real thing done.

If you need to make sure the most important messages from select people come through instantly, AwayFind can monitor your inbox and get your attention when something notable arrives. Otherwise, it’s a gradual but rewarding process of training interruptors and coworkers not to expect instantaneous morning response to anything they send in your off-hours.

Gain Awareness, Be Grateful

One smart, simple question on curated Q & A site Quora asked “How do the most successful people start their day?”. The most popular response came from a devotee of Tony Robbins, the self-help guru who pitched the power of mindful first-hour rituals long before we all had little computers next to our beds.

Robbins suggests setting up an “Hour of Power,” “30 Minutes to Thrive,” or at least “Fifteen Minutes to Fulfillment.” Part of it involves light exercise, part of it involves motivational incantations, but the most accessible piece involves 10 minutes of thinking of everything you’re grateful for: in yourself, among your family and friends, in your career, and the like. After that, visualize “everything you want in your life as if you had it today.”

Robbins offers the “Hour of Power” segment of his Ultimate Edge series as a free audio stream (here’s the direct MP3 download). Blogger Mike McGrath also wrote a concise summary of the Hour of Power). You can be sure that at least some of the more driven people you’ve met in your career are working on Robbins’ plan.

Do the Big, Shoulder-Sagging Stuff First

Brian Tracy’s classic time-management book Eat That Frog gets its title from a Mark Twain saying that, if you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, you’ve got it behind you for the rest of the day, and nothing else looks so bad. Gina Trapani explained it well in a video for her Work Smart series). Combine that with the concept of getting one thing done before you wade into email, and you’ve got a day-to-day system in place. Here’s how to force yourself to stick to it:

Choose Your Frog

“Choose your frog, and write it down on a piece of paper that you’ll see when you arrive back at your desk in the morning, Tripani advises.“If you can, gather together the material you’ll need to get it done and have that out, too.”

One benefit to tackling that terrible, weighty thing you don’t want to do first thing in the morning is that you get some space from the other people involved in that thing–the people who often make the thing more complicated and frustrating. Without their literal or figurative eyes over your shoulder, the terrible thing often feels less complex, and you can get more done.

Ask Yourself If You’re Doing What You Want to Do

Feeling unfulfilled at work shouldn’t be something you realize months too late, or even years. Consider making an earnest attempt every morning at what the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs told a graduating class at Stanford to do:

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

“Customer Service” (or Your Own Equivalent)

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark answered the first hour question succinctly: “Customer service.” He went on to explain (or expand) that he also worked on current projects, services for military families and veterans, and protecting voting rights. But customer service is what Newmark does every single day at Craigslist, responding to user complaints and smiting scammers and spammers. He almost certainly has bigger fish he could pitch in on every day, but Newmark says customers service “anchors me to reality.”

Your own version of customer service might be keeping in touch with contacts from year-ago projects, checking in with coworkers you don’t regularly interact with, asking questions of mentors, and just generally handling the human side of work that quickly gets lost between task list items. But do your customer service on the regular, and you’ll have a more reliable roster of helpers when the time comes.

What do you with the first hour of your workday to increase productivity and reduce stress? Tell us about it in the comments below.

This article is written By Kevin Purdy and appears on Fastcompany.com

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Aug 15

Failure is an opinion not Reality – Story of 360 million web hits -Susan Boyle

How long can you dance to someone else’s tune, it’s time that you try dancing to your own tune. Go through the records of most successful people and you would see a common thread; all of them were branded as failures at one or another time in their life’s journey.

They could have sulked, cried and taken the opinion of the few zombies to their heart and relinquished their pursuit. The victorious choose a different way; they see failure as an opinion and not a reality. Abraham Lincoln said “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing .”

Susan Boyle is a story of a commoner – not highly educated middle-aged woman in an ordinary dress, unknown outside her small village in Scotland, who by her sheer determination catapulted herself in five minutes onto an international arena mostly reserved for those who meet a carefully promoted standard of elegance, glamour & fashion.

The clip of her audition in Britain’s Got Talent has been viewed 360 million times, more than any other video in history. Her debut album titled “I Dreamed a Dream” was a super hit, along with her subsequent releases she has sold more than 14 million albums worldwide.

Who is Susan Boyle?

Susan Boyle was a small town girl raised in the unknown town of Blackburn, Scotland. Her Father was a miner and veteran of the Second World and her mother was a shorthand typist. Susan Boyle was the youngest of nine siblings – four brothers and five sisters.

It is said that Susan was briefly deprived of oxygen during a difficult birth resulting in a learning disability. Boyle says she was bullied as a child, and was nicknamed “Susie Simple” at school. In an interview she told one newspaper that her classmates’ jibes left behind the kind of scars that don’t heal.

She had not had an easy life, for most of her adult life she was unemployed and earned a living by performing at local churches and pubs. Nevertheless she won numerous awards at the local level. Boyle never married, and she dedicated herself to care for her ageing mother until she died in 2007 at the age of 91.

It is said that Boyle abandoned an audition for The X Factor because she believed people were being chosen for their looks. She almost abandoned her plan to enter Britain’s Got Talent believing she was too old, but her coach O’Neil persuaded her to audition.

Susan Boyle says that she entered the musical career to make her mom’s wishes come true and pay tribute to her. That was her calling – so it didn’t matter what other were saying about her looks, age or societal status. She was focused on what she wanted and overturned all the odds to make a new life for herself.

If you watch the audition video you would notice the sneers, looks, judgments, and assumptions that nearly everyone makes – including the respective judges when Susan Boyle comes to stage. Susan Boyle in her audition declared to the judges and audience that her dream was to become a professional singer. Everyone frowned including the judges. This does not unnerve her, in fact it makes her will stronger to give her best!

Within 7 days her audition video had been watched more than 66 million times. Within three years she had sold 14 million records and earned more than US $25m. Is anybody laughing at her now?

Click Here to - Watch the Susan Boyle – Video

7 lessons from Susan Boyle’s story

Don’t make age an excuse for not doing something great
Never give up , never give up , never give up
Believe in yourself from deep within
Find yourself a coach
Dream big and make it big!
Be focused on what you are doing, don’t let other’s comments derail your plans
God gives everybody talent, all of us are gifted one way or another – discover it

Human spirit is indomitable by design; we set our targets high or low. What is stopping you from dreaming and making it big in life like Susan Boyle? . Always remember the famous quote by Vince Lombardi ” The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.”

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Aug 11

How to Handle Panel Interviews

As if a one-on-one interview wasn’t stressful enough …. there is the dreaded Panel Interview! If the thought of facing a panel of interviews sends you into a tailspin, you are not alone.

Panel interviews are most commonly used for government positions within Australia. The panel is made up of representatives from different business units including human resources, line management and senior employees. Numbers vary but typically range between 3 and 6 panel members. On a positive note, panel interviews usually negate the need for a second round of interviews.

Feeling intimidated in these interviews is common because questions can be fired at you from all angles. With a one-on-one interview you have time to catch your breath in-between questions while the interviewer makes notes. However, in a panel interview, another member will pick up where one left off. Try to relax and answer as best you can.

The key to a good panel interview is to connect and build rapport with each member. Remember too, that each member will have his or her own agenda. For instance, the needs of a representative from the HR department will be different to that of the sales or operations areas. Try to tailor your response to meet the agenda of the member who asked the question.

The main area of concern for panel interviews is eye contact. This is a challenge, but when responding to a question, direct your answer to the person who asked the question. However, be sure to make eye contact with other members of the panel as well. Engaging everyone on the panel will help you to make a good impression.

Tips:

At the time of making your interview appointment, don’t be afraid to ask who will be on the panel. Note their names and position within the organisation.
Your preparation for a panel interview is similar to that of a regular interview. Review your resume in advance, study the job description and develop examples of your ability to meet the criteria.
When you arrive greet and shake hands with every panel member. Try to remember their names. It is good to use their names during the interview. A good trick is to use your notepad and make notes of the panel member’s names in the order they are sitting so that at a glance you can remember their name.
Maintain eye contact with each member of the panel. A good rule of thumb is to address your response primarily to the person who asked the question, but let your eyes drift briefly to other members during the response.
If you need a moment to gather your thoughts during the interview say so. There is no shame in taking a moment to come up with the best example.
As with other interviews, a follow up letter is a must. Make sure you send one to each member of the panel and tailor it towards their area of the business.

This article is contributed by Michelle Lopez of One2One Resumes.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Aug 11

How To Handle One-on-One Interviews?

These are by far the most popular style of interview. You meet one-on-one with a representative of the company, more often than not, the manager you will be reporting to, or, in some cases, a representative from the HR department. If you reach this stage of being offered an interview you more than likely have the right qualifications and skills for the job. So now is the time to determine if you are a good ‘fit’ for the organisation.

These interviews are usually structured. The interviewer may have a list of questions that he/she will ask all candidates in order to compare apples with apples. Bear in mind though, that some interviews are unstructured. In other words, an interviewer may ask questions prompted from your responses, so come armed with examples.

Interview questions will be of a technical and general nature. The interviewer will be looking for specific examples of how you have, and will, handle certain situations in the workplace. To that end you may be asked questions like – “What would you do if faced with….. ?” or “How would you handle a situation where …..?”. Other questions may include “Tell me about yourself”, “Why would you be a good fit for the role?” etc.

The interviewer will be working from your resume and will undoubtedly ask questions about its content, so be ready to answer more in depth questions about your background, skills and experience.

There will be other candidates who are being interviewed so your aim in this interview is to show them that you are the person they need. Talking about your achievements and unique selling points is the most effective way of differentiating yourself from other candidates.

Tips:

Be prepared! Review the job advertisement/description and make notes of areas where you have a lot to offer.
Review your resume and highlight points that you want to elaborate upon.
Look at the achievements in your resume and come up with different examples to demonstrate the breadth and depth of your experience.
Think about the STAR method when answering questions. What was the ssituation, your task, the approach taken and the result. See Understanding STAR for more information.
Try to establish rapport. Be professional, friendly and engaged. Watch your body language. Listen attentively and maintain eye contact throughout the interview.
Research the company. Use the Internet, industry associations, your network, publications etc to understand the company and their products/services. Be ready to ask questions about the company. This shows the interviewer that you’ve taken the time to research them and demonstrates interest.
Always thank the interviewer for their time and remember to follow up with a thank you letter.

This article is contributed by Michelle Lopez of One2One Resumes.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Aug 11

How To Handle Telephone Interviews ?

The key to a good interview lies in your ability to research, prepare and rehearse. There are many different styles of interview and understanding how these work can help you prepare in advance so you don’t freeze with nerves.

Telephone interviews are becoming increasingly common. However, the mere thought of them make some people literally quiver at the knees! Here are a few suggestions to help make your preparation and hopefully, experience of telephone interviews, a little more pleasant.

Employers and recruiters use phone interviews as a means of narrowing down the number of candidates who will be given a face to face interview. They are just as important as traditional interviews and you should be prepared.

Remember, this is your first point of contact, aside from your resume, with the employer. Your telephone manner, tone of voice and overall professionalism will be monitored and you want to make the interaction a positive one. This is your chance to shine – to add a touch of ‘you’ to your application, to build rapport, get more information on the role and present highlights of your background; all of which could land you a face to face interview.

Smile! Yes, no one can see you, but I guarantee they will hear your smile. This will also increase your confidence and settle the nerves.

Make sure you are in a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted. You don’t want background noise, screaming kids or traffic in the background. Try to use a landline if you can to overcome the potential for poor reception or drop outs.

Keep a glass of water with you.

Don’t forget the pleasantries. Just because you’re not in front of the person doesn’t mean manners don’t count. Be polite. Listen attentively to what is being said or asked and try not to interrupt to make a point. Wait until the person has finished and then put forth your answers.

In many ways a telephone interview can be easier because you can have a ‘cheat-sheet’ in front of you. Write down what you want to say so you have a list of key points which you won’t forget in the event of nerves.

Questions are impressive. If you’ve done your research and have some well thought out, intelligent questions to ask, you come across as someone with initiative who is well prepared and interested. Don’t read them verbatim because you risk sounding stiff, but have them in front of you to use as a prompt.

Make sure you have your diary nearby in case you are asked for an interview at the end of the call – you don’t want to appear unorganised.

No matter how the call ends, always thank the person warmly for their time and consideration. We hope this makes preparing for a telephone interview a little easier. Good luck!

This article is contributed by Michelle Lopez of One2One Resumes.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Aug 01

Got A New Boss Again: What To Do?

It is a well-known fact that established teams experience “transition pains” under the leadership of newly appointed managers. The stress levels go up, and both the parties use moves and countermoves to outwit each other. New managers, insecure in their roles, often seek absolute compliance to orders from their subordinates, particularly in their early days.

I’ve always found that the speed of the boss is the speed of the team – Lee Iacocca

In fact, most of the new managers struggle in their new roles initially along with their team members. Is there a way out? , yes of course if you want, you can turn it into a win – win situation for you and your manager.

Some of the common concerns of the team members are:

Will I get along with my new manager?
How do I make sure that my new manager recognizes the contributions I made before he/she arrived?
Will my work style clash with that of my new manager?
What new processes or procedures will my new manager put into place?
Will my performance and development suffer with this change?What changes will my new manager make to the team, my role, and my projects?
How can I build a positive relationship with my new manager?
How can I make sure my new manager recognizes my strengths?

Some of the common concerns of the newly joined managers are:

How can I establish my authority as manager without alienating my new team?
Will I get along with my new team?
Will my work style clash with that of my direct reports?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of my new team?
How can I build positive relationships with my direct reports?
What projects should be our top priority?
Who are the key players, and what are the unspoken rules of my new role?
What are the political “land mines” of my new job?
How do I quickly prove that I deserved this role?

If both sides keep on operating from fear and caution time shall pass, and one of the parties will win at the expense of other, more often than not it is the manager that wins, unless you are very strongly glued to your system, and any amount of pestering does not bother you. And always remember the saying – If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn’t have a job if he was any smarter.

Most of the times the senior management will support the newly appointed manager. They promise him/her the autonomy & authority to shape the team. I am not sure if this is the best way, and if it works against the interest of everyone. Nevertheless, your new manager has the backing and ears of the higher ups. Make no mistakes about this and the higher ups may give you an occasional ear to let off the steam without any long-term benefits.

So it’s in your best interest to help your new manager succeed because when managers struggle, so do their team members. You don’t need to do a lot to help your manager. The challenge for both the parties is to nurture a strong sense of common commitment to shared goals – rather than one of the blind allegiance to each other’s dictates. By having an open dialogue around your concerns you can change the dynamics. Some of the things which you can do make this a win –win transition are.

Be adaptable
Be open to change
Give feedback on ideas
Help your new manager learn responsibilities of new job.
Help your new manager learn teams shared objectives
Help your new manager learn team’s work methods/ processes
Share your strengths and weaknesses.
Share the top challenges which you are facing
Share what is the support that you are expecting from your new manager.

It’s helpful if you remain open for new ideas and be adaptable. However, that’s not enough. You’ll have a bigger impact if you also provide your new manager with insight into your strengths and weaknesses & offer timely feedback. How about writing a Welcome Letter to your new manager?

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

The author uses real life stories to demystify the day to day Human Resources Challenges we face at work. His HR Blog – Human Resources Blog endeavours to simplify the HR jargon.

Jul 28

How Becoming a Leader Can Help You Get a Promotion

Many companies today are looking for leaders, not just managers, to take on greater roles within the organization. As a result, competition for higher-level positions can be fierce. Leaders have the ability to inspire others and foster teamwork, which leads to achieving results. No matter what your current position is, becoming a leader can help you stand out and increase your chances of securing a promotion.

Qualities of Workplace Leadership

A leader is someone who motivates, unites and guides others towards a common goal. Leaders are usually highly effective communicators who are competent, trustworthy and organized. They are also often charismatic and inspirational. In order to be recognized as a leader in your workplace, you should seek to exhibit the following:

Honesty – this builds trust with your co-workers and superiors
Passion – enthusiasm and excitement are positive and contagious, which draws others to you
Commitment – a strong work ethic and discipline make you highly productive and can create a favorable impression of you in others
Goals – by setting and working toward goals you show others that you are able to strategize and execute work to accomplish something meaningful
Humility – giving credit where it’s due and emphasizing the team’s efforts instead of just your own makes people more inclined to work with you and go the extra mile

In addition to the traits listed above, leaders are also adept at planning, strategizing, managing change, solving problems and creatively addressing opportunities and difficulties.

How to Show Your Leadership Skills

Most jobs offer opportunities to exhibit leadership qualities, no matter what the level or job title is. Below are a few key opportunities that you can use to demonstrate leadership skills and set yourself on the path to promotion:

Day-to-Day Work: By developing and maintaining a high standard of quality and productivity in your own work, you show that you’re ready to take on more responsibility. The absence of a good job performance will likely mean that you will be passed over for other opportunities to develop and display true leadership qualities.

Take on a Project: Projects can be one of the best ways to show leadership skills. You can volunteer to participate on projects or create your own opportunities by looking for steps you can take to improve a process or output. No matter what your role is on the project team, you should seek to exceed expectations. Meet or beat deadlines, show yourself to be a team player by giving credit to others when appropriate and offering a helping hand when needed, and produce work or results with excellence.

Assume a Formal or Informal Leadership Role:

If you’re in a supervisory capacity, your leadership quality may be judged mostly on your team’s productivity and quality. By helping your team set and achieve goals, prioritize work and maintain or improve quality, you can show that you’re ready for higher levels of responsibility. Even if your current position isn’t supervisory, you can still exhibit leadership qualities, which can positively influence co-workers and position you as a role model.

By implementing these suggestions, you can develop and demonstrate the leadership qualities that will help set you apart from other employees and can get you noticed when an opportunity for career advancement arises.

This guest post was provided by Jessica Edmondson who discusses online education in the business leadership and management industry.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Jul 15

5 Ways To Increase Your Productivity

All of face the brunt of higher demands on productivity, most of us have been working regular schedules and the only way to increase productivity is to work extra hours. That’s not a good solution as it will make you a work zombie who will do nothing more than work. Don’t get disheartened there is good news; you can use these 5 simple and highly effective ways to increase your productivity.

As Paul J. Mayer said “Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”

Break down your work into tasks and sub tasks

Most of the successful projects have a common theme; all of them would have been broken down into activities and tasks with owners and resources assigned against each one of them. Ask yourself these questions.

What do you need to achieve?
How will you know if your task is successful – what’s the measurement?
What’s the timeline?
What resources do you need? – People, budget, tools, support etc.
How many of these resources are under your control?

Devil lies in the detail – chart out the process

You have a plan, so what? The next step is break down each of the tasks into process through which they will get accomplished. When a problem is large or complex, and the optimal solution is unclear, charting a process allows you to begin making progress towards a solution even though you can’t visualize the entire path at the first instance.

It will be a good idea to buy flow charting software to help you see the work progress sequentially. Use the software output to communicate your plan to others. Detailing the tasks improves your chances of success and Increases your productivity. A word of caution- Detailing the process is tiring.

Set up a monitoring mechanism

Once you have set your goals and the plan has been broken down into tasks with process steps, the next move is to set up traffic signals and lights to know your progress status. You should know how much time it would take to finish the plan, raise the red flag early by giving progress feedback to all your stakeholders. Deliver all good news / bad news in advance, senior management team hates surprises. Knowing where you stand is a very important aspect of increasing productivity.

Avoid the Activity trap and be focused

Research shows that effective managers focus of one or two key tasks derived from the organizational priorities.They tend to keep away from distractors and allied activities which generally fill up most up of our time. Don’t confuse being productive with being busy, most of the managers take on one or another task to fill the time.Always being busy can make you rigid and narrow-minded. Create free time or have quick breaks in between to get those creative, productive juices going again. If you have spare time go read a book rather than carrying someone else’s monkey on your back.

Manage your time

Plan your time and manage it against a spend plan, in case you have not been valuing your time start doing it now. Time will not come back and this life is only for once. Make the best use of it.

I read somewhere that 85 percent of the things you do account for only 15% of your results, and vice-versa. I think that’s a pretty important observation to increase your productivity. Figure out your largest time wasters and eliminate them to increase your productivity. Time management is the key to increasing productivity. Taking time to plan and set priorities for your life actually frees up more time rather than diving into the muddle of activities.

These five tips will help you in increasing your productivity by accurately scoping out your work and using efficient processes to deliver them. As Shia LaBeouf said “There’s a tendency to mistake preparation for productivity. You can prepare all you want, but if you never roll the dice you’ll never be successful.”

Thanks and be happy !

Jappreet Sethi

Jul 03

20 Ways to Kill Your Job Application!

We spend a great deal of time talking to recruiters, employers and human resource staff every week. I recently sent an email asking some of them what they would list as their top 3 peeves when it came to receiving resumes and short-listing candidates. You should have seen my inbox fill up with responses! Many were repeated, so I thought I would share a list of the top 20.

Straight from the mouths of the people reading your resumes:

Rambling! I wish people would get to the point. I haven’t got time to read a novel.
Resumes that are a straight list of duties. Tell us what you did differently, what you did well.
I want people to tell me how they meet my need. If not, I move on to the next resume. Simple.
People who don’t meet the criteria for the role. If you don’t have the essential skills required, then don’t apply. Essential and desirable criteria are listed for a reason.
Career Objectives. OMG, these are so annoying. I don’t want to know what you want. I want to know what you can do for me!
Incorrect contact details. If an email bounces or the wrong phone number has been given, I won’t search for them, I’ll just move on to the next application.
Poor grammar and spelling mistakes. It amazes me how many people apply for a role where written business communication is a major component of the role and send me a resume riddled with errors. These people usually claim they pay attention to detail as well!
An application addressed to someone else. Its obvious they use the same application for every job and haven’t changed the salutation. These usually hit the shredder.
Clutter. Personally, I can’t stand looking at resumes that are jammed so tight and written using the smallest font to get as much information on the page as possible. They are too hard to read and very unappealing.
A cover letter that repeats, verbatim, what is in the resume. Why bother? You’ve wasted my time and yours.
Long resumes. Resumes longer than 3 pages lose me.
When you call a candidate about a job application and they say something along the lines of “Sorry, what job is this about again?” Keep track of your applications.
Resumes without dates for each position. My first thought is “What are you trying to hide?”
I’m sick of reading that everyone is a team player, has attention to detail and can see the big picture. Really? Prove it.
When I ask about salary expectations and get the “What is this role offering?” question in return. You should have an expectation and be prepared to discuss it.
Candidates who can’t make the time for an interview. I spent close to 20mins on the phone the other day with a woman who couldn’t seem to lock in a time to meet. It interfered with soccer practice, music practice, a monthly ‘girls’ movie night, and of course, her current role. If you’re serious about job hunting – make the time to be available for the interview.
Template driven resumes. One day recently I saw 4 resumes, the exact same format, and in some sections, the exact same wording! Write it yourself or get a reputable writer to do it for you.
Resumes that are not in chronological order. It is too hard to follow resumes that jump all over the place.
Trying to figure out locations of positions. People who have worked internationally or nationally need to include this information – I am not an atlas!
Gaps in employment that haven’t been explained. I know you will have a reason for it, but try telling me, I’m not a psychic.

So there you have it …. 20 ways in which to kill your application and lose an opportunity. I hope by sharing these, you will be able to avoid some of these pitfalls in your job search.

This article is contributed by Michelle Lopez of One2One Resumes.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Jun 25

How To Crack HR Interview – Using STAR Model

Using the STAR method is one of the most effective ways of getting your message across to potential employers whether in your resume or at interview. Applied correctly the STAR method can significantly improve your job search. It works!

The STAR acronym stands for:

Situation
Task
Action
Result

Following the STAR technique enables you to give employers a clear, concise and informative response which outlines a situation and the part you played. It tells them how you approached the task and the results of your actions. This gives credibility to your claims.

So how does it work?

Situation: Give an example of a work situation you were involved in with a positive outcome. Briefly outline the situation and your role.

Task: Describe the tasks involved. What were your tasks, duties or responsibilities? What needed to be done? What obstacles had to be overcome?

Action: Describe the action you took to address the situation. What did you do? What steps did you take to complete the task? What was the allocation of resources and/or people involved?

Result: Describe what resulted from your actions. What was the outcome? What were the improvements or benefits? How did the situation end?

An example of a STAR response in an interview works like this:

Question: Can you tell me about a time when you increased sales?

Answer: In my role at ABC Pty Ltd I was hired to drive sales by actively reaching new customers. There was also a major problem with declining sales from existing customers. Many were no longer purchasing from us and of those that were, the frequency and volume had significantly decreased. (Situation/Task)

The first thing I did on commencement was telephone all existing customers including those who hadn’t purchased with us in awhile. I introduced myself as a new member of staff and asked them for feedback on our products and service. I catalogued their feedback into an Excel spreadsheet and identified the key areas of concern. I presented my findings to management who were alarmed to find so many customers dissatisfied with the delivery contractors they were using. (Action)

As a result of this, management negotiated a new delivery contractor who promised to deliver on time. I notified every customer, both in person and in writing, and actively sought their business with an assurance of improved delivery service.

In 6 months I had increased sales in the division by 45% (from 26k to 38k) and am proud to say, managed to get all but 3 customers to buy from us regularly again. (Result)

Can you see how this technique is so effective at actually telling the employer not just what you did, but how you did it and the resulting benefits? Applied to your resume, this technique gives instant credibility to your claims.

Think about using the STAR method for your next interview and why not take a look at your resume again. Could it be improved now you understand the technique?

This article is contributed by Michelle Lopez of One2One Resumes.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Jun 20

How to Forgive

It’s hard to forgive. The hardest part is not knowing where to start. We know that we should forgive those who have hurt is. Not necessarily because they deserve to be forgiven but more for our benefit. Forgiveness leaves the past behind and allows us to move on once and for all. This post will show you where to begin on your path to forgiveness.

Accept responsibility for what happened

The first step in forgiveness is to accept responsibility for what happened. When you take the responsibility you are in control. As long as you keep blaming someone else for what happened they have control over you.

An exercise in forgiveness

When you are ready to take responsibility, and therefore take back control, commit these sentences to writing. Write this down as many times as it takes until it becomes truth, engraved upon your heart.

{Insert Name Here} is no longer hurting me. I am hurting myself but not letting this go. I now have the courage and the permission to heal and grow from this experience. I taste the freedom of forgiveness. I forgive and am forgiven.

Send your best wishes

There is just one thing left to do. Prove that you don’t mean any harm to the one that hurt you. Take the high road and send genuine best wishes their way. Again, write this down as many times as it takes:

I wish {Insert Name Here} only the best for the future. No ill thought will cross my mind because I have risen above the past and want the same for {Insert Name Here}. May life be full of love, peace and happiness for the both of us.

As you write these sentences down, they should free something inside you. Your mind should become clear and you should start to feel happier and lighter.

This article is contributed by Sheila from Believing in Bubbles

Website – Believing in Bubbles

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Jun 20

Want to stay on track with your New Year resolutions?

Last week I met up with a former client who I had not seen for some time. He was disappointed with himself because, although he had set himself some career goals for the New Year, everyday stuff had taken over and he had done absolutely nothing about them. I persuade him that all was not lost.

Does this sound familiar? This scenario is commonplace for many of us at some time or another when reaching out for something new and challenging. I have learned that the first thing is not to “beat yourself up”. You did go to the trouble to set goals in the first place and, funnily enough, your disappointment shows that you still care and have commitment. Just take a bit of time to review the goals and recall the benefits they will bring. Of course, if, on reflection, you find that the benefits no longer apply or aren’t sufficient then move onto something else. If other pressures are stopping you moving forward you should think about de-cluttering and creating some space in your life.

Be selfish and say “no” to some people and some commitments. Most of all give yourself credit for what you have achieved and recognise your strengths. If you believe in yourself, so will others. Enjoy the journey one step at a time.

In the best tradition of project management my former client went away to adapt his plan and set revised completion dates whilst keeping to the goals!

So, here’s the thing…………

Write your goals down and keep them in a place where you will be reminded of them every day.
Plan! Plan! Plan!
Get rid of some other unnecessary activities to create time and space for your new goals.
Say “no” to things that are not really important.
Regularly view your goals and remind yourself of the benefits that achievement will bring.
Revise your plans and re-energise the project as and when you feel your energy slipping away.
Recognise your achievements and give yourself proper credit.
Enjoy the journey!

This article is contributed by Dave Partridge and Michaela Partridge from Work’s A Dream

www.WorksADream.com

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Jun 13

Will blasting your resume Help or Hurt your job search?

When you first start looking for a job you’re excited … you jump online and blast your resume off to anything that looks remotely interesting. You are thinking about you … “Hmm, that sounds good, I might like to work in that role …”, hit Send and away it goes!

Perhaps you’ve lost your job and suddenly, with no warning, you’re staring down the barrel of financial struggles and stress. You desperately scour job sites and papers and apply for anything. This seems like a great idea – surely the more applications you send, the greater chance you have of getting another job and putting this stress behind you!

Others adopt a first-in, best-dressed theory – job markets are competitive and you believe that getting in quickly will give you an edge over the competition.

I know of candidates who sit at work, miserable in their job, and in reaction to something that has happened in the workplace, spend a few minutes online frantically applying for anything remotely possible.After a resume-blasting session you feel better … “Well that was a good effort” you think, “I’ve put myself in front of plenty of employers. Surely I will get a job from one of these.”

Did you know that, within minutes of a new job being posted on job search sites, employers and recruiters start receiving applications in their inbox? The problem is however, that most of those applications will be from people who don’t meet the criteria.

Job-searching is a numbers game and the more applications you get out there, the more likely you are to find a position. But your applications must be targeted.

Nobody is impressed by the number of applications you submit, nobody will pat your back at the end of a resume-blasting session and say “Well done Johnny, 30 applications sent”.

Employers want substance. Facts. Figures. Results. They’ve got a problem and they want you to solve it. Employers want to know what you’ve done, how you’ve done it well and the value you can offer them. Generic applications don’t address those needs.

Using a one-size-fits-all resume and generic cover letter will not make an impact with employers. You are wasting not only your time, but the employers’ time as well and ultimately lengthening your job search.

Stop and think about recruitment databases for a moment. Records are kept of positions you apply for: have you ever considered that in 3 months from now if you are still looking for work, people will see not only that you’ve been searching for a while but also that you’re a ‘serial applicant’?

Candidates who take the time to tailor their application to the role have far more chance of being considered as a serious applicant.

“But I need a job,” you cry, “I haven’t got time to be selective and tailor my application.” Understandably you need to secure work and have to be proactively applying for roles, but proceeding in a job search with a generic resume and cover letter is ineffective.Take the time now to work on an interview-winning resume and cover letter. You can use these as your base, so that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time you apply.

When you see a job of interest read the criteria carefully – do you meet it? If you do then it’s time to customise your application.

Start with your resume – make sure your profile and areas of expertise (core competencies/skills) are tailored to the role – does it contain keywords from the advert?
How have the company written the qualifications – are yours listed this way in your resume?
Look at the order of information in the advert (usually the order of importance for the employer) – does your application cover these points early in the resume?

Sometimes your resume will only require minor editing – perhaps changing the order of achievements to highlight key areas of importance for this role.

Treat your cover letter as an opportunity to talk about your ‘fit’ for the position.
Tell the employer how you will meet their needs.
Discuss other information that might not be contained in your resume but is relevant to the role.
Talk about the company: a candidate who has clearly done their research is impressive.
Address your letter to a person rather than Dear Sir or Dear Hiring Manager. You can call the receptionist or search online for this information.

Every time you tailor an application save a copy: if you come across a similar role you’ll only need to make minor adjustments.Taking the time to customise your application is well worth the effort. Employers can see that you’ve invested time in the application and you stand out from other applicants. You have the opportunity to highlight points from your past that speak directly to this position.

Don’t be reactive – stop and think about your application and take the time to get it right before pressing Send!

This article is contributed by Michelle Lopez of One2One Resumes.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Apr 04

Accepting Oneself – Boost Self Confidence

Accepting oneself is the beginning of leading a wholesome life, look around and you will find many fellow beings constantly struggling with who they are? Their life remains a constant process of adjusting to everyone’s feedback. They keep on doing this hoping to be perfect – they suppress their originality and may be never reach the worldly desired self. You will also find these individuals immersed in self-help books looking for Harry Potter’s wand.

All of us have innumerable attitudes, likes and dislikes which we will be better off without. Judgment is made and while one likes one’s good parts, one dislikes the others negative parts. With that comes suppression of those aspects of oneself that one is not pleased with. One doesn’t want to know about them and doesn’t acknowledge them. Absence of accepting oneself leads to numerous denials and a problem trap. Denials further lead to anxiety and negativity.

The answer lies in learning to accept the Ying- Yang of ourselves, being comfortable in holding the good and not so good parts of you. In simple words it means agreeing to the complete you while not necessarily agreeing to the parts of you. As a sum total you are the best! – start accepting oneself.

What I am telling you is opposite to what you may have been hearing day in day out from your bosses and members of the management teams– become perfect before one starts accepting oneself.

What does Accepting oneself mean?

Accepting oneself means being comfortable with whatever you are; it is an innate pose of being at peace with yourself. It is very difficult to accept ourselves when we are wishing that that we be different. Acceptance allows you to “BE” rather than repenting for “NOT BEING”.

Accepting oneself means looking at you without colored glasses or making judgments about oneself. You take a hard look at yourself – the reality of you the real you. Accepting yourself doesn’t mean you can’t change anything about yourself, it means recognizing who and what you are, and then making the most of it.

How to do it

Take a sheet of paper and fold it into two halves, label one side as things that I like about myself and the other side as thing that I don’t like about myself. Honestly fill up both the columns with thoughts as they come to you, don’t sugar coat or be afraid or pen it down. I have done this exercise with dozens of individuals, mostly the list of things which you don’t like about yourself run into two pages. This is due to the inherent flaw in the current societal and organizational system wherein every time you are reminded about what you don’t have and not what you have.

If I were to ask you to choose between head and tail of a coin and tell me which is better than the other, you will not have an answer. A coin has two sides- both sides co-exist. Your strengths bring their counter weakness in you – eg. if you believe you are patient – the flip side is some people will see you as slow. Try to visualize the relationship between the two sides of you – the light side and the dark side. The light side is which we portray to the outer world and the dark side is hidden and kept to our inner dungeons only. Day leads to night and night leads to day – both lead to and into each other – can they be separated?

Remember that you cannot be perfect and it will be equally true to say that you cannot be a perfect failure either.Start accepting oneself.

How does accepting oneself help ?

Accepting and loving you for being yourself is the beginning of a larger journey, it opens you to adapt and accept others for what they are without any caveats. It allows you to relate to others wholeheartedly. You would have realized by now that you do not need to change in order to accept yourself. It’s time to get out of this rat race of constantly chasing what you are not rather than enjoying yourself for what you are. Once you discover who you are you can use your goodness to shape the roles you choose to dawn—both now and in future.

You may have more to gain by developing your gifts and leveraging good parts rather working on weak areas. This will allow you to tap into your known and unknown strengths.

Your friends and partner will accept you for what you are if you are at peace with your real self. I quote this in most of my self-growth workshops; “Accepting oneself is about carrying your weakness with pride and strengths with humility”. Let go of the shame and guilt the world pours on you because you invite it. You deserve to be happy!

Jappreet Sethi

Mar 23

Managing e-mail Overload – 10 Tips for Success

One of the common challenge employees face is how to manage e-mails, not be managed by it. Time is a zero sum game. You can spend your precious time on an e-mail or spend it on doing something else. As on date e-mail is the most heavily used mode of business communication. As per a research corporate e-mail users on average receive 126 e-mails per day (excluding spam) and spend more than 41% of their time managing e-mail.

Most of the corporate staff is drowning in email tsunamis; they are just overwhelmed with the load.What can you do? These ten tips will help you in managing e-mail overload.

Take time to draft the subject line in e-mail

The subject line of an e-mail should summarize the message; it has to be specific and crisp. Use the subject field to briefly summarize the content of the e-mail. This allows the recipient to prioritize e-mails and to find them later when they are archived. You can change the subject line as the subject of the e-mail thread changes. As you send each e-mail, ask yourself, “Does the subject line accurately summarize the message?”

In today’s world most of the business people use handhelds to look at e-mail, the screens are short and 50 words subject would be a sure shot disaster to view.

Be clear and concise in e-mail

You should be clear as to why you are writing the e-mail so that the reader gets to the crux fast.

Give the reader the full context and main idea in the beginning of the e-mail. This allows the recipient to respond and prioritize more easily, and saves them from having to scroll through numerous previous messages.
Keep the message in the e-mail short and to the point. Keep in mind the time constraints of your co-workers.
Limit yourself to one issue per e-mail. This encourages each topic to be addressed separately and helps in sorting and prioritizing.
Avoid using irony and hints in your e-mail. It is more difficult to discern subtleties in text. Avoid misinterpretation by writing clearly.
If no reply is necessary, say so. This eliminates confusion, saves the recipient time, and decreases overall volume of e-mail.

e-mail Layout

Reading on a screen is different form reading a print out. Try to keep the paragraphs short and do leave a space in between to increase visual clarity in an e-mail. Some pointer to keep in mind

Avoid using Capital letters in an e-mail, it is considered to be very rude.
Don’t go overboard with exclamation marks! in an e-mail , save them for an occasional congratulations
Try avoiding fancy and artistic fonts in e-mail, they are hard to read
Stick to black font color in an e-mail – blue is the standard when you are responding to an email
Avoid using emoticons and abbreviations in business e-mail – reserve them for FB chat

Try to close the loop in e-mail

E-mails often have several action items and queries. Make sure you address all the items in your response. Failure to do so will result in an e-mail ping pong and it will cost you time and energy. In case you don’t have the answer, be forthright about it.

Include the Message in e-mail

While replying to the e-mail it is best to choose the Reply button, if you click the new mail option, the e-mail thread will not be included. Including the thread gives the recipient background to the email.

Read twice before sending

In most of the countries an e-mail is considered to be a piece of evidence in the court of law. Whatever you write can be held against you. Desist writing an emotionally charged e-mail. It will be on record and the other party may use it against you in the future. If sending a stern and direct e-mail is important- a good way is to first send it yourself and then read it before sending it again to the intended recipient. This five minute activity works wonders when you are boiling in anger.

TO & CC dilemma

When you are sending an e-mail to multiple people, address your expectations and needs to each person. You should State your expectations. Be clear on what the recipient(s) is expected to do, and how and when you would like their response.

“To” should be used for the primary recipients.
“cc” (carbon copy) should be used when you want to keep someone informed regarding a particular issue, but do not require the person to act upon your e-mail. Before you cc a person, ask yourself, “Is the purpose to keep someone generally informed of what you are doing?” If so, send a separate single status report rather than a large volume of cc e-mails. A directed e-mail is more efficient and more likely to get attention from the recipient.
“bcc” (blind carbon copy) should not be used. Information relevant to the copied person should be sent separately.

Managing Attachments in e-mail

You don’t want to send heavy attachments vide e-mail; it consumes a lot of bandwidth. While you may want to share the photos of an office party with all your colleagues, imagine if your entire office was downloading the entire 20 MB file at one time. The system can come to a grinding halt and you may miss on important emails. It’s best to use a share drive or upload it to Picasa.

In case you have an Attachment in the e-mail, Call attention to the attachment in the message, explain why you included it, and make clear what you expect the reader to do with it.

Managing e-mails

Most of the people have difficulty reigning in the impulse of constantly responding to e-mails. This perpetual multitasking reduces effectiveness, unless your role is to reply to email’s only (Helpdesk/ escalation point).

If possible designate an e-mail time.Check your e-mail at predetermined times and alert your co-workers as to your timing. When you do check your in-box, sort and prioritize the new e-mails, and decide if the e-mail should be handled immediately or later.
The “Auto-Check” function should be turned off at all times.Remove visible and audio notifications as they often prove distracting.
Use flags to mark e-mails to address later. Decide which colour is most important to separate the “to do” e-mails.
Research indicates that more than 53% of the e-mail you receive is not a high priority to you. However we still tend to read and respond to these “easy” or low priority e-mail first. These unimportant e-mail distract you and take your time and focus away from the e-mail that are really important and awaiting your immediate attention – Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize!

How to use FYI

FYI (For Your Information) should be used in the subject row when a message is forwarded to colleagues. This makes it faster and easier to prioritize messages in the inbox and to apply rules for incoming messages.

It is in our hands to be a slave to the technology or use it to increase our productivity;an e-mail is one of such great tools. If you do not tame it early on you will spend a lifetime catching up with e-mail overload. E-mail is simultaneously the most used business application and the number one killer of productivity.The choice is in your hands.

Jappreet Sethi

Mar 20

What Are Your Needs In Life?

Needs are a very personal part of our makeup, ranging from a deep desire to be recognized or to be independent.

We do not consciously choose our needs, they emancipate from our unconscious deep within us. Once needs surface they are not optional – they need to be satisfied for us to function best. Wants are choices we make on the basis of what we believe is important in our life to function at peak.

Understanding ones needs is very important as it governs our energy cycle. The amount of energy we have at our disposal is directly proportional to the needs we have satisfied. Keeping your energy high means knowing what your needs are.

How to identify needs?

Let me help you with a simple yet powerful way to identify your needs. Look back into your past and ask yourself what needs were being met when you were at your best. Write down four instances when you really felt on top of the world and elated.

Now that you have identified four instances, concentrate on one at a time and think of a need that was being met. Let your unconscious take over and put down whatever comes to mind. Don’t look for correctness.

When you have compiled a list of your needs, check them against the following question – is this true need for me or do I want it because it looks fashionable. Thereafter freeze your list.

With all this data now you can paint a portrait of your needs. Now plan the actions that you are going to take. For this activity it will be good to work with a friend. Discuss your thoughts and actions with your friend. Your thoughts can be bizarre, serious or outlandish. Don’t worry put a plan to it and make sure to ask your friend to keep on reminding you about your plan.

Now you need to align your goals and objectives to fulfill your needs. Prioritize your needs, start with the top four or five and put a plan which is in your control to meet them. It is important that you take control of your life and do things to change it the way you want. It is stupid to blame others for having unmet needs – take charge of your needs and don’t be a victim of someone else’s design.

What are the benefits of having satisfied needs?

As you satisfy your needs the original wants become less and less important .When your needs are met you will have extremely high confidence, you no longer see others as a benchmark. Your desire to compete is about raising your standards and improving your personal best, rather than being a part of the rat race. The more you love yourself for who you are the more you will love other people and accept them for what they are in their life. You will start seeing wonderfulness in people around you; you will become an elixir of positivity and happiness.

By knowing and accepting what you are and being in the present – not in past or future you discover the joy of life. You have a real high because you see your own goodness and the goodness around you. It’s blissful!

Jappreet Sethi

Dec 30

Redefine Your Limits – Live to your Full Potential

We are limited by the beliefs we set in our mind, history shows that successful people are able to break these shackles and unleash their potential. The difference is the “ T ” between Can Do and Can’t Do. The “ T ” is your Thought.

Achieving your Potential

Steve Jobs was one of the best examples of breaking free of boundaries set by human mind; he questioned the traditional thoughts and his failure and unleashed his potential to create history.

Steve Jobs said in his autobiography:

I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life. [...] Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did .We limit our growth by putting limitations and glass ceiling on them and tell ourselves that I cannot go any further.

Where do these Self Limiting Beliefs come from?

These beliefs may have a represented a valid limit in the past, like your inability to write a speech when you were a toddler. As you grow you learn / unlearn skills and progress in life, it would have been logical to move beyond the original limitations set by you. Incidentally for some of us, this does not happen and we continue to hold on to them.

Failures are building blocks of success and not meant to be chains of trauma which will never let you live that way you wanted to live. Life will throw brickbats at you and it may be a different one each time, don’t accumulate all of them in note book, some of them may not repeat. Like Steve Jobs you can make your greatest failure into your greatest success.

Thoughts which ground you to do the same things day in day out and blame destiny for it will never allow you to live fullest to your potential.

The Flea Experiment

Put Fleas in an open transparent jar ,they can jump extremely high and are fully capable of jumping right out of the jar. Then if you put a clear lid on the jar, the fleas jump and bump their heads on the lid feeling the pain. The fleas eventually realize that they are unable to escape the confinement of the jar . Over the next hour or so the fleas give up and only jumps to the brim of the jar. Its a very Intelligent way to adapt to situation and avoid pain.

Later on when the lid is removed the fleas will not jump any higher. It continues to believe that it cannot get out of the jar and stops trying. The barrier has vanished physically but mentally it still present and hard coded.

And further more each flea is totally convinced that it is trying to escape just as hard as they can. But they are wrong! There was a barrier, but it’s no longer there!

So what are your Self Limiting Beliefs?

It is difficult to think outside the set beliefs. We use our beliefs to predict the future as connection is old data and experiences. You must look at things differently, Try to identify your self-limiting beliefs and see how you can break free of them.

How long have you been jumping just to the height that keeps everybody happy, without taking the risk of trying that little bit harder? Occasionally it may be worthwhile to bang your head against the limit; you may discover that the barrier is no longer there.

We all have our self-limiting beliefs, look at things you would want to do but have a coding that you cannot do it. Then re-look at the environment and your resources. Maybe you have acquired new abilities that will make you succeed this time. Knock the ” T ” off.

Jappreet Sethi

Dec 17

Tips to Make Your Career Development Plan Work

Career Development is a favourite topic on the agenda of employees and their managers. Career development plans are created at the start of the year and then put on back burner till the year end or next formal performance appraisal. What can you do to avoid getting into this trap and use it to propel career growth and pay raise.

The following tips are provided to help you ensure that your career development plans are relevant and reflect the skills and capabilities you want or need to build in a world where change is the only constant!

Does the Career Development Plan work for you?

At the end of the day, it’s your development and your career. You are responsible for proactively ensuring that your development is in line with your own performance expectations or career aspirations.

Prepare in advance

Most of the employees feel that they are in grip of their career and walk in unprepared for the career plan review meetings with their manger. The discussions are generally vague with a lot of feel good factor and no solid action. Knowing your manager very well cannot be the excuse for not having prepared for the meeting.

Is the Career Development Plan still relevant?

The world economy is undergoing major changes and global cycles are shorter and deeper, it may make sense to validate some of your goals against the economic reality, industry needs and your current job responsibility. Don’t get me wrong, it does not mean changing the goals every six months; however it may need alteration for maximum career benefit.

Is the Career Development Plan achievable in time frame set by you?

It is your career and you set the pace for your developmental goals with a timeline, what is the fun in setting goals which are not achievable in a set time and giving yourself a too big a stretch every time. Take a tough look at the time-lines, You can increase the pace over a period of time. My advice would be to start slow and build momentum on the way, A great career is marathon and not a sprint race.

Does it incorporate recent developmental feedback?

You may have gained new insights in your working style which helps you see your strengths and limitations in a better way. In case the recent feedback is important for you to grow in career, make sure you incorporate it in the career development plan.

Do you have a new Manger?

In case you have a new manager it may be good to run your career development plan with him, make sure you tell the current plan has been set in consultation with your old manager and you would review the progress with him quarterly. After a six month period your new manger would have settled down and you should sit review the plan with him intensely. You need to align the thoughts / goals of your manger’s role with the plan.

Make optimum usage of resources at hand

Both time and money are scarce resources in the modern corporate world. Take the time to review your manager’s coaching efforts to date, and see if they are aligned with your career developmental plan. If you wish to make changes to your development plan, you should be prepared to discuss how your manager can best help you achieve any new goals

Make sure that your career plan balances current performance expectations with future career aspirations and challenges you to build on your strengths . Always remember that there will be resources which you want and never get, maybe due to economic factors or your mangers visible or unstated constraints. Make best use of what you have readily available and not what you continue to fight for. Successful people make career out of what they have on hand and seldom squander energy on what they cannot have.

Jappreet Sethi

22 comments

Dec 13

How To Set Your Goals This Year

George Harrison said it all when he sang “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there”…

Goal setting is about fine-tuning the direction in which you want to go in a pre-determined period. In a very important way, it is about taking the locus of control over your life in your hands rather than resigning yourself to fate or destiny. We all know people who blame the destiny for what is happening to them. The idea behind goal setting is not to be one of them.

How To Set Your Goals

Setting goals is one of the easiest things to do. However, most of us don’t do it on time, or limit ourselves to the notoriously failure-prone concept of New Year resolutions. Here are the basic steps to effective goal setting:

Determine what do you want

You should be able to describe to yourself precisely what kind of results you want. Your also need to be clear on how they will impact your life and the lives of people around you. Once you have these points clear in your mind, close your eyes and visualize how you would feel about this success.

Be clear on the implications

Choose your goals freely, but be aware of how much and what kind of efforts are required to attain them. Picture this effort on a day-to-day basis – what can you keep of your present lifestyle, and what will you have to let go? While the destination may be tempting, you need to know what the journey will be like. No matter how desirable the goal is, you don’t want to miss out on the things that are very important to you. Life is a precious, limited commodity and must be experienced in the here and now.

For example – if you want to move on to a fast-track career and adopt a lifestyle that involves responding to all emails in 90 seconds (fastest finger first on Blackberry), be aware that you will be sacrificing sleep, personal space and family time. If your goal is a high-powered, swanky title y, be ready to deal with the stress that comes with it. There are no free lunches.

Determine a time-frame

Things seldom get done if you don’t put a deadline to them. If you are a chronic procrastinator, break your goals down into milestones, set up mini-deadlines and establish the necessary time metrics for their achievement.

To illustrate, many of us are haunted by the feeling that we did not do enough in the last few years of our lives. With such a demon dogging our heels, we will be tempted to hit the dirt track at full speed and try to achieve everything in a year. The chances of burnout are very high in such a situation. Remember that the journey has to enjoyable. Spread your goals out in a way that allow you to have fun while you achieve them.

Map the journey

Rome was not built in a day and not by one person alone, though Caesar gets most of the credit for it. Achieving ambitious career goals is always about leveraging one’s network and garnering support. If your goal is your mission, then you are a missionary – and no missionary achieves his mission without external resources. Your network of resources will amplify your efforts to achieve what you want.

Ensure that the resources you require are available to you, and that they are not based on assumptions. Accept your limitations and know that it is foolhardy to try to do everything yourself. Collaborating with others is the key. Concentrate on things you are really good at and use others’ strengths to support you in your weaker areas.

Are you getting paid for it?

You will often experience frustration and resentment at not recognized if you are not paid enough for the work you do. These negative feelings will hamper you in reaching your goals. If you don’t get paid enough for the goals you seek to achieve, you need to determine if achieving the goal is worthwhile even without the benefit of commensurate monetary compensation.

If you feel that you deserve appropriate compensation for the extra efforts involved in achieving your goals, discuss with your manager what the rewards would be if your hit the target. Of course, this depends on whether the company would see value on you achieving your goals. Your goal achievement would need to be quantifiable if you want to a fair shake for your success.

Measure the success of your goals

Success means different things to different people – there is no one-size-fits-all approach. If you want to sustain the drive to achieve, your goals must be in harmony with your values. This involves summing up what you feel is important in life and checking your goals against these values regularly:

Establish:

What makes you up (what are your values )
What do you want out of this life
What you don’t want to be known for
What do you want to be remembered for after this life is over.

Keep the faith!

Jappreet Sethi

16 comments

Dec 10

The Principles Of Personal Success

Knowing what the ingredients of a successful life are is important in terms of our social, professional and personal lives. Taking these principles to heart will also ensure that we reach obtain the maximum benefit from all relationships that we forge on these three levels.

Here are some of the principles that drive successful people:

Successful people know how to optimize what they have

They fully understand what their strong points are and the value these have in terms of their careers or business success. They know how important it is to develop their skills and leverage their strengths in their growth and development.

They know how to manage their energy levels

Successful people monitor and prudently ration out their energy. They do not depend on stimulants like coffee to get them going or depressants like alcohol to help them wind down.

They are firmly rooted in reality

Successful people spend their time and energy in things that can be controlled, like the present and the future. They know how to avoid impulses that relate to things they cannot control. In other words, they do not allow themselves to become resentful, complain, blame or engage in wishful thinking. They accept the difficult and harsh realities of life and know how to deal with challenging situations.

Successful people take responsibility

They understand that what happens in their lives is based on their own choices, not those of others. This means that they take responsibility for what has happened, is happening and will happen in their lives.

Successful people are consistent in their interactions with people

They know their weaknesses and strengths of character, and this helps them to change how they think, feel and behave with others. This allows people to feel safe and grounded in their presence.

They have a clear vision of the future

They know what they want and what they need to do to achieve it. They identify their goals, determine how to attain those goals and act accordingly.

Successful people know they have personal freedom of choice

They take this fact as a constant given, and not something that they need to earn. At the same time, they fully accept the responsibility that is part and parcel of this freedom. In other words, they feel free to make their own choices but are also completely willing to accept responsibility for the results of these choices.

They have developed the fine art of prioritization

At all stages and in all situations, successful people either know instinctively or reason out what is most important, what comes after that and what should come last.

They have inquisitive minds

Successful people are not satisfied with garden-variety or popular answers to certain questions. They have the ability to see beyond the obvious, discern the intricacies of a given problem and apply lateral thinking in finding solutions.

They are capable of change if the situation requires it

At the same time, they are also capable of remaining firm according to what a given situation requires. This means that they can admit that they are wrong and correct an erroneous course if required. At the same time, it also means that they have the strength of character to stand by their convictions if they know that they are right.

In short, personal success is based on self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-responsibility. A success-oriented mind-set requires great discipline and constant reinforcements. Because of this, you will invariably find success-oriented people attending whatever trainings, seminars, coaching opportunities and counselling sessions to maintain their focus and forward momentum.

Use the above as a check-list to determine if you are on the path of success. If you feel you are not, remember that it is never too late to change course and set sails in the right direction. All the best on your success journey!

Keep the faith!

Jappreet Sethi

Dec 03

Munnabhai, Gandhism And Corporate India

It is a sad statement on India that in recent times, Gandhi’s teachings only found a contemporary platform in Bollywood’s ‘Munnabhai’ film series. That said, we have to give due credit to Sanjay Dutt for underscoring Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals to a generation that seems to have forgotten them.

The ‘Gandhigiri’ that Sanjay Dutt’s character Munnabhai colloquially refers to is, in fact, the philosophy of Gandhism. Gandhi’s philosophy was based on three basic tenets – ‘satya’ (truth), ‘satyagraha’ (the path of uncompromising truth) and ‘ahimsa’, which pertains to Gandhi’s tenet of nonviolent resistance. It is a powerful philosophy that literally changed the course of Indian history.

So, does it all end with a series of formulaic Hindi movies? Not really. If we think about it, the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi have contemporary relevance in today’s business environment as well. In a company where Gandhian principles underlie a workforce’s perception of work, social ethics, moral discipline and human relations, nothing much can go wrong.

In fact, India does have many organizations with work cultures that reflect the essence of Gandhi’s teachings. Multinational corporations hoping to leverage India’s booming business potential are well advised to understand them.

Compassion and diplomacy have their place even in the hardest situations of corporate life. Guided by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, the art of negotiation assumes almost magical hues. To illustrate – we know that Gandhi boycotted foreign goods not only to defy the British, but also to boost to the local Indian economy by promoting the use of ‘khadi’ and other indigenous products.

However, his philosophies shone through when he traveled to the affected Lancashire mills and spend time will the mill workers on his next British trip. True to his principles, he explained to them why he was doing what he was doing – and his gesture won the day.

By making himself accountable in this way, Gandhi practically demonstrated the very essence of corporate social responsibility. In fact, CSR in India saw its beginning in the Gandhian concept of holding companies through a trust instead of by individuals.

Today, the Gandhian concept of ‘ahimsa’ – or non-violence – still has the power to transform even the worst of boardroom conflicts into cooperation. Contrary to certain Western schools of thought, ahimsa in business negotiation and conflict resolution is far from passive and submissive. In fact, it is a most courageous route. This baseline Gandhian concept of ahimsa, from which all of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophies originated, requires one to be serious, to accept reality and to be ready to make sacrifices.

Gandhism is not an obsolete social concept, and it is certainly more than just a populist gimmick to sell a movie franchise. It remains a revolutionary tool in an increasingly mercenary business environment. Some of the best corporate institutions in India, such as Tata, were inspired by Gandhi’s philosophy. All of us can adopt and harness its power. After all, when we speak of globalization, we are speaking of integration – not fragmentation. And integration is what Gandhi was all about.

Jappreet Sethi

Nov 29

How To Switch Jobs In A Market Slowdown

All things considered, this is not the best of times for switching jobs in India. This country has seen a fair bit of negative fallout of the economic problems in Europe and the US, and most MNCs in India are tightening their belts on recruitment. If you are looking to get a senior-level job in one of the bigger corporates, you will need to rethink the traditional job switching strategies.

Move Beyond Job Portals

To begin with, move beyond job portals like Naukri.com and Monster.com. In the current scenario, these platforms may not offer you what you are looking for. While they do serve their purpose at certain job levels, they may not be of great help to those seeking high-level placements. In times when good jobs are hard to come by, all you will find on these portals is the jobs that are not being filled because they are less than lucrative.

Remember that the HR departments of most MNCs have their own trusted recruitment routes and networks, and turning to job portals is usually their last option. Even when the occasional senior management job pops up there, your chances of your application getting short-listed are pretty slim. The queue is simply too long.

How To Get Through To Real Decision Makers

If you are looking for a senior management job today, your only real hope is to get face-time with senior decision makers within such companies. If you attempt to do this via the company’s HR department, the odds are heavily stacked against you. As already mentioned, the HR department of this company would already be in contact with the most suitable candidates in their database. You, as a stranger to this database, are therefore a wild card at best.

How do you manage to meet the senior decision makers and bypass the HR route? Tap into your own industry contacts and start working upwards till you get an email ID, a mobile number or a direct line. Remember not to shoot straight for the top. There is no point in talking to the CEO, since he or she will probably not be aware of the company’s managerial needs. Also, CEOs are unlikely to entertain unsolicited calls or emails, which would usually be fielded by their PAs. What you need is a direct line to the head of the department you are aiming to join.

Upgrade Your Resume to Reflect Your Achievements

Sit down with your existing resume and mercilessly edit out everything that looks like window dressing. Forget about your hobbies and club memberships. Never mind your personal objectives or ‘mission statement’. In a job recession, the only things that matter are your abilities to beef up a company’s bottom line.

Succinctly state how your skills can help make a difference to the department in terms of increased sales and greater visibility. Mention your past successes in some detail. Do not forget to include credible references. If you find yourself stumped, using a good resume writing service may be a good option.

Make A Strong Case In Your Covering Letter

Once your resume has been amended, compose a brief, winning covering email, attach your updated CV and send it to your designated ‘mark.’ If you have a phone number, follow up with a call later in the day. Explain that you are eager for a personal meeting to discuss your potential worth to the company. This direct and forthright approach is very likely to get you noticed. It emphasizes the fact that you have courage and conviction, and that you know what it takes to get something done.

Follow Up Strategically

Sending your resume is the start of the game, not the end – the action starts now. Make sure you follow up periodically. Find out if someone else knows the decision maker and get a reference call to him or her. It is all about making your case stronger than that of other possible applicants. However, temper your follow-ups with prudence – you do not want to seem desperate, either.

Networking In Conferences Works

The other way is to increase networking opportunities so that you can bump into senior executives at conferences, seminars and panel discussions. It would work best if your are actively participating in the event, since you could strike strategic conversations. In the course of such conversations, it becomes easy to infer that you would be interested in working for the organization. Often, companies sponsor executives for such events. However, my advice would be to not shy away from investing in an entry ticket. It pays off in the long run.

Jappreet Sethi

Nov 26

How To Achieve Career Mastery

You have worked hard at mastering yourself – your habits, your outlook on life, your relationships and your finances. Now is the time to master the course of your career, as well. You achieve career mastery when you can integrate your personal development and growth into your professional growth and development.

There are different elements for career mastery.

Becoming Proactive: The most important aspect of career mastery is going after what you want. This means identifying your goal and taking the necessary action towards it. It will not be easy, which is why you have avoided taking these steps in the past. Getting proactive about your career also means that you will regularly have to overcome barriers and limitations. You do not have to overcome everything at once; all that is required it consistent action
Networking: Obviously, you will need to interact with other people and build your treasury of valuable contacts. If you have not been very successful at this so far, you may have overlooked one very important aspect of connecting with others. You need to understand that to effectively connect with other people, you need to connect with yourself first. In other words, you have to gain a thorough understanding of who and what you are. Once you have this understanding, networking with the right people becomes effortless.
Becoming Informed: Have you put all your time and effort into staying informed about issues related to your current profession – to the exclusion of everything else? This is a mistake, because it closes you off from other career options. Career mastery may involve changing the current story-line altogether. Inform yourself about other professions that may interest you, as well.
Knowing Your True Potential: It is important to know your potential and your strengths and weaknesses. This will allow you to focus on what is feasible and workable in your professional life, and save you the wasted time and effort of Quixotic endeavors.

These principles hold true whether you are working for an organization or self-employed. The idea is to take charge of your career, no matter how and where you are placed right now. Remember that the onus of career mastery is completely on you – the world does not owe you better opportunities. Other people will not promote you in your professional life – only you can do that. Throughout your professional life, you will have to accept total responsibility for right and wrong career decisions.

Here is a fundamental standard to guide you in whatever you do from now on – you will only succeed at something if you love doing it. Successful people do not create and build their careers or businesses for economic reasons alone. They succeed because they love their company, their jobs or their business.

Probably the biggest challenge here lies in knowing what you really love to do. It is difficult to find and attain your true potential when you choose to act solely on the basis of logic and common sense. Peter Senge, the American scientist and director of the Center for Organizational Learning at the MIT Sloan School of Management, has correctly pointed out that adults have little sense of real vision. Most of us have goals and objectives in our lives, but having a vision and following up on that vision is a very different ballgame.

Changing or shifting your career as a professional or an entrepreneur is not easy. You have to master yourself first before you start changing. Career mastery begins with self-mastery. Self-mastery, in turn, begins with uncompromising self-examination, facing up to the immutable truths of one’s abilities and potential, and following through with determined, concerted action.

Jappreet Sethi

Nov 10

Indispensible Email Skills For Job Seekers And Employees

If you are about to apply for a job via email, the quality of your emailed covering letter to the potential employer is extremely important. After all, you are marketing yourself. This means that the employer’s HR department will first judge your capabilities by how you introduce and portray yourself. If clothes make the man (or woman), then his or her words make the aspiring employee.

In many cases today, emails have degenerated to offensively abbreviated messages. Job seekers seem to assume that the quality of their emails is not as important as their actual work. The point is that the Human Resources departments of the most prestigious companies today will ignore badly worded emails containing chat-like abbreviations, spelling errors and grammatical bloopers. They are looking for serious, properly educated, well-spoken employees who take pride in their communication skills and will be assets to the company.

Here are some pointers on effective email writing to help you get that lucrative corporate job:

State your business clearly in the subject line. For example: ‘Application for the position of _______’, ‘Response to your advertisement for __________’, etc. In direct email inquiries to you, the company’s HR department will have used a relevant subject line. Simply hit ‘reply’ while answering – do not change the subject line.
Be brief and to the point – Do not bore the HR operative with long introductions. Get to the point. State your name and experience, and express interest in working for the company. End with your complete contact details.
Include your CV and scans of experience certificates and additional qualifications. When it comes to your CV, remember that in most cases, the company’s HR operative is not interested in your future career aspirations.
Run a spell check and grammar check before sending. Most email platforms feature these today. If yours does not, write your email in Word first and run a spell and grammar check. Then copy it into your email window.
Maintain the right tone. Be businesslike and straightforward. Do not use superfluous words or language. Also, ensure that you use technical or business jargon sparingly. While you do need to impress the HR operative at this stage, you do NOT want to exasperate or intimidate him or her.

Nor do these email guidelines apply only to job applicants. In the rapidly globalizing India of today, your language and diction matter in EVERY email, be it an internal mailer or a response to a client. It is simply not good enough anymore to merely be a black belt in spoken English.

Most lines of business communication today begin with an email. The quality of language employed in our written electronic communications can therefore be a make-or-break point in many business situations. Remember that every email you send is, in more ways than one, an ambassador of the company you represent – and also your character certificate, personality profile and visiting card.

Jappreet Sethi

Nov 05

How To Manage Stress And Regain Well-being

Without doubt, wellbeing is the ultimate objective of human existence. Paradoxically, we often wind up surrendering well-being in order to earn money, and then spend a major part of the earnings in attempts to regain it. These efforts are invariably fruitless – so why do we do it? More often than not, the only real beneficiary of the eternal rat race is the healthcare industry.

For most of us, work is the central pursuit in life. We strive to move up the career ladder, putting up massive efforts at the expense of other important factors that make life meaningful. We are not unaware of the toll this takes; the effort leads to physical and mental stress, while the subconscious knowledge that we engaged in a fool’s errand leads to psychological and spiritual stress.

Managing stress is essential for maintaining a sense of well-being. Stress occurs when we face situations for which we don’t have ready-made responses. The stress factor remains in check and can even be exhilarating as long as our minds entertain the hope that success is imminent. As soon as a feeling of impending defeat or loss sets in, stress becomes unpleasant, unhealthy and draining. This also leads to loss of motivation and destroys all feelings of well-being.

The Building Blocks Of Stress

Stress is multi-faced demon which we create to drive success, and which eventually gobbles us up. It consists of:

Threat perception
Feeling of negativity
The resultant psychological arousal

The drivers of stress are called stressors, and everything perceived as an impediment to what one desires to achieve is a stressor. The defense reaction causes a psychological alarm to go off, and makes us to muster all our energy to achieve the goal. If the situation continues for a prolonged time, the human mind prepares for long-term battle by remaining in a persistent state of active alertness. Eventually, both mind and body tire of this constant stage of red alert. Energy levels drop and there are increased chances of failure at the task level.

The Effects Of Stress

At the mental level, persistent and continuous stress leads to anxiety, insecurity and lack of concentration. At the physical level, it leads to changes in our hormonal secretion, in turn leading to cardiac problems and reduced immunity levels. In the societal realm, it leads to the steady erosion and breakdown of relationships. Burnout – emotional, physical and mental exhaustion mixed with reduced self-confidence and morale – sets in.

The Causes Of Stress

In an organization, some of the commonly observed caused of stress among employees are:

Very high or very low role demands
Lack of sufficient authority to discharge duties effectively
Favoritism and poorly-handled appraisal discussions
Lack of career prospects
Impending layoff or role redundancy

At a more individual level, existing personal circumstances, learned responses as well as inherent genetic dispositions cause us to react to stress differently. Major life transitions such as the death of family member, family breakdown, illness or loss of friends also play a role and make us sensitive to stressors that would have been ignored under other circumstances.

How to Manage Stress

Here are some of the most effective stress management precepts:

Be conscious of your thoughts and deeds, and of what your action do to you and others
Maintain a healthy and balanced diet
Draw up an integrated life plan – give equal weightage to work, family and society
Practice regular yoga and meditation to balance body and mind – there are very easy modules run by several agencies
Remember that it is not about winning at all costs but winning without any damage to you

Finally, remember that we cannot remove stress from our life. There are too many causative factors, and not all of them can be stopped. A reasonable degree of stress can actually be beneficial, because it makes us strive for more. However, it is essential to how much is enough for each one of us.

Jappreet Sethi

Oct 29

How To Tackle Financial Stress

Financial stress can adversely affect a persons’ psychological state. This negative psychological state has a tendency to percolate down to the affected person’s workplace and – in fact – into all social interactions. Surveys have shown that financial stress is among the root causes of decreased performance at work and a steady decline in physical and mental wellbeing.

CAUSES OF FINANCIAL STRESS

The sources of financial stress are varied. In India, one of main causes is worry about the adequacy of retirement savings. Debt is yet another significant causative factor, as is worry about one’s ability to pay regular bills and housing loan installments. Most middle-class people in India are also under considerable stress related to their children’s education. Almost 90% of all survey subjects indicated that they experience stress over the rate of inflation and the resultant changes in interest rate, and the fact that their pay packets are not keeping pace with it.

An adjunct is stress created by joblessness or the fear of losing one’s job – which would create a financial deficit. A smaller segment of the Indian population experiences stress because they fear losing wealth that they have accumulated.

Lack of objectivity with the use of credit card can also cause stressful situations. Credit cards are a relatively new phenomenon in India, and many users tend to overspend with them. The financial woe this results in can be attributed to a lack of knowledge about credit card billing, hidden clauses and neglecting to read the fine print.

In the age of plastic money, people are tempted to overspend and misinterpret their spending power. A credit card purchase does not entail immediate payment and this can lead to a false sense of security. The result is invariably a lot of stress. The roots of most finance-related stress disorders are two-fold – lack of proper planning and a disconnection with the of one’s true financial position and future prospects.

DETRIMENTS OF FINANCIAL STRESS

Is financial stress itself a serious matter? If we consider that 80-90% of all ailments derive from stress, it certainly is. It has been proved that worrying excessively about one’s finances leads to heart disease, high blood pressure and in some cases alcohol and drug abuse. Depression related to haywire finances is almost a national mantra in India now. Financial stress also has peripheral bad effects, meaning that it causes absenteeism and reduces am employee’s productivity.

TACKING FINANCIAL STRESS

One of the baseline commandments in financial stress management is – get help. Finances are a serious matter and no single person can have perfect oversight. Moreover, we tend to become stuck in false belief systems about money. For instance, we may believe that a certain investment scheme is the best only because we have no knowledge of other schemes. Effective financial management calls for inside information into market dynamics and changing laws.

Complacency about deteriorating finances is a known ‘killer’. We tend to ignore the increasing seriousness of a situation, allowing it to build up until it is unmanageable. People dealing with large amounts of money – such as businesspersons – should consult a qualified financial adviser.

Even at the grassroots level of household finances, two heads are better than one. Managing household finances is teamwork, not a one-man show. Couples need to communicate with each other over the state of household finances. They must also set weekly, monthly and yearly parameters for what needs to be purchased or invested in. Doing this will considerably reduce the levels of finance-related stress in the family.

Regardless of how serious a financial situation is, it is never too late to get organized. Organization is they primary key for sorting out complicated finances. Effective organization calls for inputs from others and, when required, from experts.

BRINGING DOWN FINANCIAL STRESS

If one is already under stress from financial problems, planning is an extremely important factor. Often, one is tempted to throw good money after bad in hope of a quick-fix solution. When one is faced with financial stress, there are certain ground rules to follow:

Consult a professional financial adviser – A professional will know of ways and means that you are not aware of
Curtail spending until the crisis is resolved – This is no time for impulse buying as a stress-busting measure
If in debt, talk to your creditors and explain your situation frankly – Perfect transparency in such situation is a far better tool than evasion

OBJECTIVITY – THE ULTIMATE STRESS-BUSTER

We tend to run away from money-related problems rather than facing up to them. This is not even a temporary solution. The minute we accept such a situation squarely, we reduce stress because we are no longer trying to escape.

Getting proactive about tackling financial problems means one develops a ‘game plan’. This means positive action rather than negative inaction, which displaces the anxious feeling of helplessness. To develop a game plan, we involve the help and advice of others. In other words, we are no longer alone in the stress-inducing situation and are strengthened in a situation where we feel impotent and weak.

Jappreet Sethi

5 comments

Oct 15

How Your Social Media Profiling Influences Employers

A lot of new generation companies are actually looking at the social media profiles of prospective employees and using these as a filter along with resume. Companies are especially interested in the recommendations and endorsements that candidates have on social media accounts like LinkedIn.

A fair amount of recruitment today takes place through recruitment consultants, who are mostly staffed by Gen Y operatives who are extremely savvy about social media, and therefore use them extensively to filter candidate profiles.

Here are some best practices that I recommend to candidates applying for jobs as far as their portrayal of themselves on social media sites is concerned:

Don’t use questionable language on your blog, website or social media account page.
Don’t share links related to adult content.
Don’t post updates about your drinking binges and related escapades on your social media account. If you do, restrict the audience that can view such information.
Don’t make comments or start polls on sensitive topics related to race, creed, religion, gender, politics, etc. Your posts should not give the impression that you have such biases.
Don’t bitch about your company.
Don’t leak your company’s confidential information on social media sites.

Always ensure that you share intelligent, relevant, thought-provoking links which portray you in a favourable light.

Can Blogging Give You A Competitive Edge?

Personal branding experts are now beginning to recommend that candidates start a blog so they can showcase their expertise and knowledge to future employers. The benefits of blogs are that they:

Show initiative on the part of candidate
Demonstrate discipline and ability to multitask if the blog author follows a regular cycle of posting
Demonstrate openness to share knowledge
Demonstrate courage to take stand, which can be inferred from blog posts

All these are some of the key competencies that HR departments look for in senior management candidates, so a blog may help in demonstrating these as inherent traits – especially because one doesn’t get paid to do one’s own blog.

Blogs can be big advantage if you are at a senior level role. C-suite and top management head-hunters take candidates’ blogs very seriously, since they give recruiter an overview of their thought processes.

Tips For Women Candidates With Respect To Their Social Media Profiles:

Get good recommendations from your former managers and colleagues, but watch out for the statements such as “She is very pleasing person”, “My best friend” and “She was a great party organizer”. Instead, your recommendations should reflect your courage, drive and willingness to work hard.

Strictly avoid male-bashing and making comments which demonstrate a negative bias against a particular. Instead, post articles which trigger progressive thinking, talk beyond lifestyles and parties and express your opinions on important topics.

Jappreet Sethi

Oct 08

Human Resources Jobs: Skills And Qualities

Human resource professionals are important personnel in an organization. This is because they contribute to the viability and the success of the business through the strategic organization of human capital. While most people think that ‘people’ skills are the main ingredient of a successful human resource professional, one actually needs to have a perfect mix of ‘people’ and technical skills. Most of jobs in human resources entail collecting data, dealing with complex paperwork, analyzing information, and presenting the findings of this information to the top management.

Human resource professionals require a clear understanding of applicable laws as well as of business administration. They also need to be very conversant with the goals and missions of their organization. Because of this, a majority of employers prefer hiring human resource professional possessing a diploma or degree in any field that is related to human resources. The fields that are generally considered as related to human resource include commerce, business administration, industrial relation or any other social science.

Personal Characteristics

Hr Jobs call for a wide range of skills. A background in social sciences and a broad base of business skills and knowledge are particularly important. The best human resources professional normally possess excellent verbal and written skills as well as proficiency with computers and basic Information Technology. Not all HR jobs ask for all these skills; however, it is incumbent upon applicants to learn them as soon as possible after landing the job, or in specific training courses.

Human resource jobs fall in various categories such as selection, placement, recruitment managers, training and development managers, compensation and benefits specialists, labour and employee relations specialists and safety, health and security specialists.

Human resource jobs in the category of selection, placement and recruiting normally call for someone who is a good judge of character, is tactful yet self-confident and has excellent written, verbal and presentation skills. HR professionals in such roles also need to be capable of ‘selling’ the organization, making cold calls and building relationships within and outside the organization.

Training and development specialists’ jobs require persons with excellent verbal, writing, and interpersonal skills. Such people also need a good sense of humour, a fertile imagination, cutting-edge knowledge in training fields and good understanding of the future knowledge needs of the organization.

Compensation and benefits specialists’ jobs require persons with strong analytical and quantitative skills, writing and verbal skills, knowledge of local and state level laws, a flair with statistics and the ability to communicate in plain language the meaning of statistical numbers.

Labour and employee relations specialists’ jobs require, above everything else, persons with high levels of integrity, the ability to speak comfortably with people irrespective of their education levels, negotiation skills and communication skills.

Lastly, health, safety, and security Specialists’ jobs applicants ought to possess outstanding levels of attention to details, honesty, communication skills and familiarity with the various human resources laws at the local and state levels, not to mention familiarity with regulatory agencies concerned safety, health and wellness.

Jappreet Sethi

7 comments

Oct 01

How To Tackle A Difficult Boss

It’s a vexing problem for many – they like their job but just don’t seem to be able to get along with their boss. Obviously, the first impulse of many who have a difficult boss is to hand in their papers and search for another job. Is this always the best decision to take? One of the things you like about your job may be the financial security it brings with it. Is scuttling this security worth it just because of a difficult boss?

There are other ways to handle such a situation. Here are some tips on handling a difficult boss. These tips will not work in all situations. Your boss may be a genuinely unreasonable man, in which case it may be prudent to look elsewhere. However, we often perceive our bosses as difficult only because we are scared of them. Fear closes down communication, which means that resolution of the problem is impossible.

Stop gossiping about your boss. The spoken word has immense power – over you, over those you work with and over the general office atmosphere.

If you have been unable to communicate your grievances directly to your boss, you may have fallen in the habit of bad-mouthing him or her to all who will listen. This creates two problems – firstly, it reinforces your own negative feelings about your boss, making the problem worse. Secondly, it can strain your relations with your boss further because word travels quickly in an office setting. The more you complain to those who cannot make a difference in your problem, and the more slander against your boss you indulge in, the worse the situation becomes.

Communication is the key to resolving most problems in life. If you do not communicate your issues to your difficult boss, he can hardly be blamed for not being part of the solution.

The intangible concept of ‘relationship’ comes into play here. You need to build a better relationship with your boss, and this involves communication. How many times have you approached him or her personally? Muster up the courage to approach your boss and outline your problems diplomatically. Be sure to mention that you are happy with your job, but that you would like to enjoy better professional comfort levels. Be specific about the nature of your problem and ask if there is any way you could help in resolving it. You may be surprised at how open people can be if they are approached properly and sincerely.

If you feel or have been told that your boss has a negative impression about you, strive to change that opinion.

Your boss’ antipathy toward you may be well-founded. You may be under-performing, gossiping about the management or be fraternizing too much with other negative people. Make efforts to correct this course. Drop out of office gossip and groups that indulge in it. Offer to work over-time on a crucial project, and ask your boss if there any areas he or she wishes you to improve upon.

We tend to look at our bosses as super-human people who do not think, feel and react like we do. This is a mistake. In any given situation involving your boss, ask yourself if you would not have reacted in the same manner if the shoe were on the other foot. Once you are able to see your boss as just another human being, you may begin to understand where the problem lies and what you can do about it.

Jappreet Sethi

Sep 10

Do You Have Healthy Work-Life Balance?

Are you married to your job? Have your family, personal hobbies and social life taken the back-seat? For how long has this state of affairs been going on?

If you do not have a healthy work-life balance, chances are that your stress-levels are on the higher side. You may be able to detect some of the symptoms of stress within yourself – fatigue, recurring headaches, lack of appetite, depression and hopelessness, etc. However, the more dangerous symptoms of work-related stress are likely to be flying below the radar. If you don’t know this by now, wake up – stress can kill you.

Gone are the days when people could draw the line between work and personal life. Modern technology (read Blackberry, laptops and video conferences) has ensured that work follows us wherever we go. This causes us to lose whatever harmony we may have once had in our lives. We forsake our hobbies, give our families the short end of the stick and lose touch with our friends. We do nothing to divert ourselves from work and work-related issues

If you’re currently married to your job because you’re chasing a promotion, remember that losing your work-life balance can actually impede your productivity. The lack of diversion and family time will cause your faculties to overload and slow down. Moreover, you will have lost focus on what hard work is finally all about – creating a better life for yourself and your loved ones. Your absence from your family is therefore not going to increase the quality quotient of your life

Also, don’t forget that the more you put in over and beyond the call of duty, the more will be routinely expected of you. You may soon find yourself shouldering a burden of responsibilities that should ideally be spread over a team. In other words, your hard work may be nullifying the chances of forming and leading a team for your department. This obviously translates into negative career growth.

Losing work-life balance is also a leading cause of substance abuse, nervous breakdowns and various other health-related problems.

Finally, excessive work may also be an escape mechanism. Many people whose personal lives are out of whack tend to bury themselves in work. This is a form of denial which can have serious consequences. The objective in such cases is to postpone or entirely avoid working on such issues. The ultimate result will be that these unresolved issues reach a breaking point. For instance, many divorces take place because of this syndrome.

If you find yourself consistently working harder and longer hours and losing work-life balance, it is time to take a close look at your options. Here are some the questions you should get answers for:

Are you empowered to hire subordinates?
What are your delegation powers?
Is you company open to flexible working hours and/or telecommuting?

However, the onus of creating work-life harmony still falls on you. After all, we cannot blame our employers for giving us work-loads that we seem willing and even eager to take on. If you have not learned to refuse to take on excessive work, you may need counselling to muscle up your assertiveness skills. You should also reinvent your weekly schedule to include a fair and equitable amount of time with your family, with your friends and on your own to pursue your personal interests.

Aug 20

Tips on Writing A Killer Résumé

I thought it appropriate to pen down some good résumé writing tips that show you how to write a résumé that gets results. The idea is to make your résumé more attractive to present or future employers. Many employees end up feeling that their current employers cannot offer them what they are looking for and proceed to scan the market. Having a dynamic résumé on the Internet is a definite advantage.

Here are some time-tested résumé writing tips. They will guide you in how to enumerate your personal details clearly, succinctly and in the correct order:

State your full name, phone number, temporary and permanent address, and e-mail address
State you educational qualifications, along with appropriate dates for each completed school, college and post-graduate course
State you actual work experience, which should include internships, extracurricular activities, and significant volunteer work
State your skills intelligently. Do not mention skills that have no bearing on the job for which you are applying and give relevant details for those that do
State any academic and professional recognitions and awards conferred on you

Long, rambling résumés are no longer in favour and the single-page format gets the best results with employers. The accent is on short, pithy accounts of a prospective employee’s career to date. The details can appear either in chronological or functional format. In the chronological format, you start with your earliest job and work up to the latest you have held. In the functional format, you group your qualifications and experience under appropriate headings.

Your résumé should not mention your personal hobbies, unless these have direct bearing on your chosen career path. Details of your extra-curricular activities should profile:

Any additional skills you have that increase your profile and on-the-job value
Any experience and qualifications you have gained in a job-relevant area that you excel in

Today’s employers give preference to candidates who have a wide range of professional experience. If you have any experience certificates, mention these in your résumé and include copies of these as separate attachments. If you have held temporary jobs that are in keeping with the job you are applying for, mention these briefly. Having ‘temped’ gives you an extra edge in interviews. It proves that you have had exposure to different work cultures.

Employers also value any evidence of higher social awareness in prospective employees. If you have had a chance to work for a charitable organization, mention the fact in your résumé. This value-adds to by it enormously. Mention details of all charitable work you have done. If you have feedback and commendation letters in this context, include those too as separate attachments.

Your résumé must not only have all the relevant information – it also needs to look attractive. It is often not possible to format online résumés for better appearance. However, in an actual face-to-face interview with a prospective employer, the candidate with a properly composed, well-presented résumé has a clear advantage.

Get a person experienced in page layouts to format your résumé if you lack the necessary skills. Then have it printed out on good quality paper, fold it neatly and enclose it in a right-sized envelope that bear you name and the position for which you are applying.

Aug 14

Psychology As A Life And Career Tool

For many centuries, the study of human thought and emotion was not considered a very fruitful pursuit. Not that it hasn’t fascinated many people down the ages – it has. But the most interesting insights into human psychology came not from scientists but from poets and writers. In that respect, it is possible to find interesting observations and illustrations in the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespeare and Milton.

All that changed with the advent of psychology as a serious science. Freud, Jung and Adler broke the ground that has, since their pioneering work, become the venue of intense and abundant research. Since the late ‘50s, men and women have delved deeper and deeper into the mechanics of human thought and behaviour. The result is that we have learnt more in the last six decades than we have since the beginning of recorded time.

Apart from psychology’s primary concern of mental and emotional welfare, it has yielded new parameters for:

Education
Employment
Crime detection and prevention
Market analysis
National security
Marriage counselling
Sports

Psychology, at first seen as a pointless area of research, is now included in many formats of formal education as a required subject. One does not have to be aiming for a degree in mental health or for a job in law enforcement to derive incalculable benefit from its study.

A basic knowledge of psychology gives one a better understanding the driving force behind human relationships, ambitions, expectations and behaviour in general. This is extremely useful knowledge to have in professional life, and gives you an edge in most careers that require you to deal with people at any level. It is no longer just a way of ‘getting in touch with yourself’ or a topic for idle college dormitory bull sessions.

Psychology is an immensely valuable tool in some major aspects of modern social and professional life. In fact, an individual who holds some kind of qualification in psychology is an eminently employable and much sought-after professional. This is because such an individual can reasonably be expected to have evolved employer relations skills, have a keener understanding of workplace dynamics and be better at conflict resolution.

The parameters surrounding qualification in psychology, though exact, are not as rigorous as those for the more clinical area of psychiatry. More than anything else, it calls for intense academic study. Qualification via correspondence courses is now an acceptable form of doing this, and it is possible to earn a diploma, certificate or even a degree online.

Of course, qualifying in psychology is everyone’s objective, and it certainly need not be a part of everyone’s career plan. However, reading some of the ground-breaking contemporary works on this subject can make a decided difference in how one understands the world, the people that inhabit it and the motives that drive them. For those who work in a corporate setting, the two books ‘Emotional Intelligence’ by Daniel Goleman and ‘Games People Play’ by Eric Berne are invaluable fonts of fascinating psychological insights.

Jappreet Sethi

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Aug 08

Are You A Manager Or A Leader?

It is a known fact that people who do what they are good at are happier people. As a happy adjunct – happier people tend to be better at what they do! Interestingly, the amount of satisfaction that qualified people derive from their jobs depends on whether they are managers or leaders.

“Is there an essential difference?” you may ask yourself. “After all, managers lead people, don’t they?” Technically, this may be true. However, the fact is that managers are people who know how to get things done. They operate best when they surround themselves with people who have vision. They serve a vital and useful purpose, but managers are not necessarily highly creative people. Rather, good managers keep whatever processes already exist running smoothly.

Leaders, on the other hand, are creators. They are people who know precisely what to do, and they operate best when they surround themselves with people who can help them create. In a corporate setting, the act of creation may lie in opening up new business avenues or revamping current ones to make them more profitable.

For leaders, the job they do is a matter of passion, and they have the ability to use their passion to energize others. Observe anyone in your company in a leadership role. On phone calls, in meetings, or even next to the water cooler, they act passionately – and others follow suit. They have a specific vision, a specific game-plan and the capacity to organize combined effort to create something new.

To identify whether you are better at a manager’s job or are indeed leadership material, you obviously need to have a very clearer picture of your abilities. Your company’s employee review is one way of finding out; however, it may not always be an accurate representation of your abilities. If the company review lacks sufficient depth, it may only be able gauge how effective you are at what you have chosen to do. It may not be able to identify leadership abilities.

There are various assessment modules and aptitude tests that can give you a very accurate picture. If you have ever experienced even a twinge of career frustration because you feel you are able to do a lot more, it makes sense to avail of them.

Over the course of our lives, we make and achieve specific career goals because we want to advance ourselves. In the process, it is possible for us to subconsciously convince ourselves that the work we do is good and that we are successful and happy. However, many people in managerial positions find themselves in situations that challenge these assumptions. At such points, they no longer love what they’re doing – and they soon lose their effectiveness.

Are you among them?

One possible reason for this could be that you have frustrated leadership abilities. You may have true passion for what you do, but are stuck in a manager’s position that limits these abilities. At such a point, it is worthwhile asking yourself if you’re in the right job at all. Changing this status quo would require a major change of mindset, because we tend to burrow ourselves into our comfort zones.

On the other hand, the passion that burns in a person with leadership qualities will make him or her challenge the status quo. If you genuinely feel you can do justice to a leadership position, you will muster the courage to ask for one within your company. If this proves ineffective, you will quit and find a job that is equal to your abilities. However, do all you can to establish that your leadership aspirations are not based on illusions of grandeur, but rather on real passion and vision – and the aptitude to back them up.

In the final analysis, both managers and leaders serve a vital purpose in any company’s scheme of things. Both can safely be said to be indispensable in their own right, and no company can function without either. Find your calling and answer to it. The trick is be able to assess your calling accurately.

Jappreet Sethi