3 Little Words That Will Transform Your Work Relationships

3 Little Words That Will Transform Yur Work Relationships3 Little Words That Will Transform Your Work RelationshipsA few years ago, I worked with a woman named Angela, who managed a program that was interdependent with the one I was involved with. Though we didnt have a reporting relationship, our mutual success was clearly dependent on our ability to collaborate.It was one of the fruchtwein difficult working relationships Ive ever experienced- and an extremely stressful one. As I reflect back on that time, I realize there was one major ingredient missing from our collaboration. The problem was we never whispered those three little words that everyone wants to hear from their closest co-workersI trust you.The lack of trust was frustrating to my team and me, and it made everything we did so much more difficult Conversations took longer, coming to an agreement was excruciating (if not impossible), and negotiating everything, from resources to outcomes, was exasperating.Maybe youre in a similar situation. Perhaps you know the relationship isnt quite right, but youre not sure why its so hard to get along. Every meeting seems to erupt in frustration you sense theres a hidden agenda alongside the one on the table in front of you. In The Speed of Trust, Stephen M.R. Covey suggests that trust is essential for a team to function effectively. When trust is high, performance accelerates. Covey describes it as a leavening agent for performance. And when trust is lacking, the opposite is true. As I found with Angela (and likely, she with me), because we didnt trust each other, everything took longer, felt harder, and, as a result, cost more- emotionally and financially. You might think, as I did long ago, that its the other persons responsibility to trust you. But its not. Its your responsibility to invite others to trust in you- and you do this by behaving in way that exemplifies your trustworthiness. In research at Ohio State University, Roy Lewicki and Edward C. Tomlinso n offer a few practical steps to overcome the conflict created by lack of trust. Read on for their suggestions about how to increase others trust in you and rectify your working relationships. Do Your Job WellCovey says trust is a function of two things character and competence. Angela and I were certainly competent when it came to doing our respective parts well. However, a big part of our assignment required us to work interdependently, and neither of us was getting that right. People trust others who get stuff done, so when you dont do your job well- even just a portion of it- its harder for people to trust you. Be CongruentThis is where the character comes in. When your words are aligned with your actions, people will trust you. Angela and I were both saying, Yes we want to move forward. But in all honesty, we both feared that the other was trying to muck in our program, so we werent doing everything we could to actually move the project forward. That disconnect between our word s and our actions caused both of us to seem untrustworthy. Honor CommitmentsTrust is built on a consistent pattern of each of us doing what we say we will do. People watch for this and make assessments about your trustworthiness based on it. (The researchers call this Do What We Say We Will Do, or DWWSWWD.) You promised youd have the report ready by the end of the day, then turn up empty handed? Thats a strike against your credibility.Communicate TransparentlyRemember that hidden agenda perception I mentioned earlier? Yep- total trust killer. When you arent transparent about your intentions (e.g., what youre trying to achieve, what youre concerned about, or what you really want to accomplish in a project meeting), you negate the others ability to trust you. Be Compassionate Toward OthersTrust grows when you show care and concern for others. For example, I never once asked Angela what kept her up at night. We never discussed the business risk or personal vulnerability we felt as we t ried to manage these two huge programs. I see now that a simple conversation like that could have been an incredible bridge builder. When you have to work interdependently- and in this day and age, who doesnt?- the degree of trust you have with others can make or break your efforts. If youre looking for ways to up your performance quotient, reduce your stress level, and get more satisfaction out of your work, look for opportunities to build more trust with those around you. Photo of letters courtesy of Shutterstock.

Improve your culture, buy a chicken

Improve your culture, buy a chickenImprove your culture, buy a chickenI welches having lunch with a friend who told me about an interaction that he had with one of his team members. Apparently, he caught wind that a young lady who reported directly to him was at herbei desk, crying inconsolably. After inviting her into his office, he began to inquire about what had upset her so. Being a newlywed, she was experiencing difficulty adjusting to married life and a number of challenges had come their way, compounding the stress. But, the proverbial straw that broke the camels back was that her favorite chicken had died suddenly from an unknown cause.When she shared the news of her departed fowl friend, he wasnt sure how to react to the non-cackling conundrum. Not living in a rural area, he was in a quandary imagining how, or even why, she would have chickens. But holding his intense curiosity at bay, he expressed great empathy and comforted her to the best of his ability.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhen she left his office, he knew exactly what to do. He needed to buy a chicken. But buying a chicken turned out to be far more complicated than looking for little cluckers on Craigslist. Evidently, purchasing live poultry is highly regulated. After doing a little research, he located a hatchery several states away that eagerly schooled him on purchasing her preferred egg producers.Before the end of the day, he called his colleague back into his office and told her that she would be receiving three little chicks, of her favorite variety, within the next few weeks. Overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness and delighted at the prospect of having three downy replacements, she broke into tears once again. But these were tears of joy. The impact of this ingenuous gesture continues to linger long after the original fowl was forgotten.It is a story of a simple act of kindness, which upon repeated telling, sends positive ripples throughout the organization.You see culture is the collective expression of the values, beliefs and behaviors that individuals bring to any endeavor. Its the environment that is created when people come together. ARemarkableculture is a place where people believe the best in one another, want the best for one another and expect the best from one another. Believing the best in one another speaks to trust. Expecting the best from one another is about ownership and accountability. But wanting the best for one another is all about creating a sense of community and compassion. Its how people take care of one another. Do they support one another in the pursuit of their dreams? Are they there for one another during difficult times? Do they demonstrate their support for one another when there are strong headwindsor when someones favorite pet poultry passes?It has often been said that culture is the single fruchtwein important differentiat ing factor that any organization possesses. Culture is about engagement and has a direct impact on discretionary effort,loyalty and ultimately the performance of your teams.So, if you want to improve your culture buy a chickenBut, if you dont have a hatchery nearby, here are a few ideas to get your organization moving toward a transformational cultureHire well. Hiring quality people is the fastest way to infuse new life into an organization. Simple to say difficult to do We recommend that you use axiological instruments to screen for functional values. Personality profiles and IQ assessments are essentially non-predictive. You need to use instruments that are designed and validated to screen for values alignment.And while we are talking about hiring, be sure to hire slow and fire fast. The best organizations take their time in hiring to make sure that the values, beliefs and behaviors of each prospective team member matches that of the enterprise. Its not enough to simply embrace c ertain propositions. Each person must embody the right values. This takes time and ample observation to ascertain correctly. And, when it becomes obvious that there is not values alignment, dont linger long about moving a mismatch out.Focus as much on what youwant for your peopleas you do on what youwant from your people. When you shift from being avalue extractionorganization to one ofvalue creation,that perspective will flow through to your clients and customers. Investing in the personal growth and development of team members will pay rich dividends.Measure, monitor and move engagement levels within the organization. There are a variety of approaches to measuring engagement among team members. Each methodology has certain benefits. We suggest you focus on the individuals emotional health and wellbeing. When you have healthy team members, good things naturally happen.Drop the hundertprozentigemployee. You must recognize that you have no employees in the traditional sense thirty y ears of service for a gold watch. In todays economy, everyone is afree agent. They will play for your franchise for a season and then decide whether or not to stay based upon what they deem to be the value you bring to the table and its not based upon pay as much as it is passion. If you want to keep good team members, treat them like familyand not the dysfunctional kindGood culture cannot be reverse engineered. You cannot break it down into a formula. It is far too fluid and dynamic to be encapsulated. But if you could, it might look something like this Remarkable People + Remarkable Culture = Remarkable Results.This article originally appeared on Appreciation at Work.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habit s of mentally strong people

Setting the Right Social Media Strategy for Your Job Search

Setting the Right Social Media Strategy for Your Job SearchSetting the Right Social Media Strategy for Your Job Search5 simple guidelines to help you market your skills and network online.Social media is here to stay, like it or not. The Big 4 social media players of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube have become tightly intertwined with our personal and professional lives and completely transformed the news media.Millions of people worldwide use some sort of social media channel on a daily, if not hourly, fundament to stay in touch with friends and family or to promote their businesses. Social media is becoming increasingly important as a critical method by which to market their skills and network online.To the novice social media user, it can be overwhelming to decide how and where to start interacting online. If your goal is to conduct a successful job search through social media, then anxiety levels can increase for even the most learned user. The good news is that there are some simple guidelines to adhere to when embarking upon how to use social media to secure your dream position.1. Remember Your AudienceA savvy individual always keeps his audience in mind when searching for and communicating with target individuals and organizations. Your time to devote to social media will be limited during the job search process therefore, it is essential to determine where your audience lives online and apply your resources accordingly.Your audience might be former colleagues, HR representatives and executives of ideal employers, current and past clients, alumni connections or professional organizations. You may even determine social media isnt the quickest path to employment because your fellow professionals only hire from within or rub elbows at industry conferences. If thats the case then you have just saved yourself time and effort. However, for the vast majority of todays candidates, an appealing profile and a smart strategy will bolster your search.2. Matc h Your Audience to a Social Media ChannelIts easy to feel compelled to be all things to all people on all social media mediums. This is not the easy road because an effective social media strategy - versus merely hanging up your Internet shingle - takes more time and energy than you might think. The practical strategy is to begin with the one channel that is most germane to your search, reach a level of proficiency or mastery through proven traction with contacts and then decide if you can take on another social media outlet.To help simplify your social media selection, weve created a concise overview of the leading social media platforms and what they offer in your job search. Consider your career aspirations and then analyze the opportunities to create with social media. Click on the image above to see the full-size version of our social media overview.3. Build a Professional PresenceThere is an art and a science to building a professional presence online. Here are some basic ti ps for launching your profileCareer head shot - clean background, nicely groomed hair, business attireConcise overview - quick and impactful statement of your skills and valueCompelling content - keep it relevant to your professional field and remember to not post anything youll regret laterContact information - e-mail (avoid embarrassing or cute names), phone and listing of any other social media channels such as your Twitter handleCommunity player - start interacting through posts, applications and connections as soon as you feel comfortable no time to waste4. Make a CommitmentOnce you have built a professional presence online, the key to your success will be an ongoing commitment to tend to your profile, participate in the online community and be an avid adopter of new technological improvements from social media providers, such as Facebooks new Timeline.5. Critique and Measure Your ProgressSocial media can be fun, educational and a great community builder. However, if your goal is to supplement your job search, then you must periodically evaluate your effectiveness online. Go ahead and ask a few close and not-so-close contacts what they think of your profile. This informal audit process will provide valuable feedback to boost your presence.Also, platzdeckchen specific goals for your search. For example, on Twitter you might want to Tweet three to five times per day, have 300 people follow you and get ReTweeted once per week. The beauty of social media is that its incredibly measurable and there are tools such as Klout that can help you quickly surmise how much power you wield.To know that youre on the right track with your job search, take note of how many new and valuable contacts you are making, how many coffees you are arranging with leads and how many interviews you are securing through your online efforts. The real proof, of course, will be to land the perfect job.Good luck with your search and enjoy the benefits of social mediaEditors note This is the first in a series on using social media to best advantage in the job search.

Why You Should Always Ask for a Written Job Offer - Always!

Why You Should Always Ask for a Written Job Offer - AlwaysWhy You Should Always Ask for a Written Job Offer - AlwaysYouve been job searching for months. Your patience is exhausted, and so are you. Thats why its so important to be careful when you finally get that all-important call from your dream company offering you a job. Why? Because you might find yourself tempted to accept it right there on the spot. Not so fast.Yes, its completely understandable why you would be thrilled and relieved but keep one thing in mind before accepting its crucial that you ask for a written job offer before you verbally accept a position even if its one that youve been waiting for all your life.Why is it so important to have a written job offer?Until you actually see the contract in writing, you really have no idea of what youre getting. You might have a sense of what your kusine salary will be, but little else. Salary, of course, is very important but you also need to know the other parts of the job offer such as health insurance, vacation days and if applicable, maternity leave. All of these add up and you need to know what is really offered or isnt before you say yes.Lets say you find out later that your job offer didnt include basic short-term disability insurance, youve already put yourself in a poor position to renegotiate your contract. (For those that are wondering, companies really never negotiate on insurance, but if it isnt offered in a written contract, you can use it as leverage to ask for a higher base salary.) If you say yes, and then try to go back and pretend you now have to reconsider the job offer, youve shown your poker hand already.What to say when the call comes.You need to prepare mentally to handle the silence after the offer call comes in and not fill it with a big YES of acceptance. What should you say instead? Something along these lines will work, Im thrilled to hear back from you and I cant wait to look over the details in the written offer. When w ould you need my response?This works 9 out of 10 times. However, you might come across a pushy HR representative who really presses you for a verbal acceptance before they draw up the paperwork for you. In fact, some companies wont send an official offer without a verbal acceptance.We dont know of any company where this is actually an HR policy and were not sure what the motivation is behind this type of behavior, but when handling this situation, you should be mindful of your language. Reassure the HR representative that youre enthusiastic about the position but that youre just looking to get a feel for the details of the job offer before you formally accept. If this doesnt work, you can say, As of now, I see no reason not to accept this job, but I would feel more comfortable with a written offer in my hand.Rules vary by state on verbal contracts and they can be tricky business. The problem with at-will employment in the U.S. isnt so much about being unable to back out of a job, bu t more about being unable to negotiate terms.As long as you keep your wits about you and know to ask for a written offer before accepting a job, in most cases, the HR representative will send it along happily and allow you some time to think it over before you give a response. So, take a deep breath when you get that call and be prepared to negotiate.

Top Choices of Medical Office Manager Resume

Top Choices of Medical schreibstube Manager Resume The 30-Second Trick for Medical Office Manager Resume Possessing a plan will drastically lower your stress levels and allow you to locate a job faster. What is included in your resume will differ based upon what kinds of positions you want to apply for. Although resume objectives are getting more obsolete in favor of career summaries, in some specific conditions, it is logical to incorporate an objective. Resume templates can be referred before writing to have a better insight into the most suitable format. Youve got an intelligent entry level medical receptionist resume here which shows how to begin a summary with a suitable action word. Refer frequently to our healthcare office specialist resume sample and get started making your document. Make certain that you add information thats pertinent to the position. To observe the way your contact information ought to be formatted, have a look at the health care office specialist resume sample. Medical assistants are a valuable part of the health care industry as they provide essential beistand within healthcare facilities. Free resume templates for work in the medical industry. Now you know how to craft a magnificent Medical Receptionist resume, have a look at our Medical Receptionist cover letter sample to complete making your application materials.Search for the most often asked questions in interviews online. Attention to detail is vital, Johanson states. You need to try to help it become full of information. You have to offer relevant, concise info. Responsibilities of health office manager Operational As the head of a health institution, your principal task is to be certain that the practice works smoothly. A health office manager also has to be flexible and ready to operate well in a fast-paced atmosphere. The more you know more about the company, the better you will have the ability to observe where you would most fit in. There are many di fferent kinds of health care assistants. The History of Medical Office Manager Resume Refuted Office manager roles are in demand, yet to land the job you will want a compelling resume. Your ability to discover jobs as an office manager, or another part of the country, will largely depend on your willingness to take the ideal actions. You also ought to state in the Office Clerk resume objective that you comprehend the roles expected of a person in your position. Below youll find the most typical skills needed to fulfill an office manager position. Whether youre searching for a full or part-time job, look at a barista position. The receptionist ought to have good skills for managing time so they can attend to patients and clients as soon as possible. She must therefore be someone with the ability to work under pressure to get the job done. Show your passion by mentioning whatever you like about the business. The target audience differs with each sort of office manager resume. Otherwise, then theres something wrong. Cumulatively these little things add up and add to the success of the business. Theres a simple way to demonstrate your resume experience. Multitasking skills In the health care work environment, there may be a good deal of things on the desk at a certain time, which necessitates attention. Go at your own pace whilst writing your resume. Ok, I Think I Understand Medical Office Manager Resume, Now Tell Me About Medical Office Manager Resume The main responsibilities of a health office manager may consist of supervising all office staff like the secretary, receptionist, or medical biller. Educational qualifications are essential to be mentioned. Be certain to include any certifications youve got. You can talk about your accomplishments and achievements in the area also.

talent

talentMeet Meg, PowerToFlys Talent Advocate. If youre looking to elevate your career with us, help Meg and our team of Talent Advocates work with you by creating a profile on our site. We update our jobs on a daily basis. Learn mora about our team and join our PTFcommunity. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance an d problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive neuerung and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earne d an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.