5 things businesses should NEVER copy from sports - and 3 they should - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

5 things businesses should NEVER copy from sports - and 3 they should - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Many companies look to sports for cues on motivations and performance and star athletes and coaches and make big bucks as corporate speakers.?There is this?unquestioned assumption that if youre successful in sports, you can teach workplaces something that will make them more effective. Id like to challenge that assumption :) In fact, I believe there are so many fundamental differences between running a business and (say) coaching a football team that it becomes?almost impossible?to transfer any principles or practices. Here are?5 things businesses should definitely?not copy from sports: 5: Abrasive?coaches It seems like sports team coaches are given license to be complete jerks. They can throw tantrums, yell at referees, badmouth opposing players (or even their own players) in public and be celebrated for all of this because it shows passion. Nobody wants that kind of behavior from their manager at work.?Steve Ballmer tried this sort of thing as CEO of Microsoft and has been deservedly?ridiculed for it. 4: Adulation for star players Sports teams have a few stars and many supporting players.?In a workplace you need everyone to perform at their best. 3: Intense?competition Its a common belief that?competition?makes people perform better, but research shows that its actually the other way around competition makes people achieve worse results. 2: Rewards for results Athletes are almost always rewarded for results win that tournament and theres prize money. Again, research shows that bonuses in the workplace make people less productive on any task that requires creativity and independent thinking. 1: Focus only on the next game In sports, the focus is often only on the next game. In business, you need to be able to think long-term and create success not just for this week but for years in the future. Each of those 5 practices are very common in sports but just dont work in business. ?That being said, there are a few?practices in sports that businesses should?absolutely emulate. Here are three: 3:?Make time for training Athletes spend many more hours training for matches than actually in matches.?This gives them a chance to improve their skills and a risk-free environment where they can try out new approaches and plays and see how they work. In the workplace however, there is rarely a chance to try out new ideas without risking failure. Employees are always playing for points and never playing to learn. 2: Celebrate success Athletes are very good at celebrating?wins. They even celebrate partial progress towards a win when they score a goal or similar. In many?workplaces, success is met with a shrug and wins are rarely celebrated. 1: Include?restitution Every successful athlete know that you get stronger by training and THEN RESTING.?Without restitution, youre actually just continually weakening yourself. Workplaces on the other hand?consistently underestimate the need for restitution. Employees are worked hard constantly and breaks and time off work?are seen as a necessary evil. In fact,?employees are?implicitly told that they can show commitment by giving up weekends and vacations and working more hours. There is no?reason why we should try to follow the lead of athletes and coaches?in our efforts?to create better and more successful workplaces. Many of the practices from sports just wont work in a workplace you could even argue that many of them dont even work that well in sports. And dont even get me started on copying practices from the military :) Your take Has your company ever had a star coach or an athlete come in and speak? What did they say, that you found useful? What do you think workplaces should or shouldnt copy from sports? Write a comment and let me know your take. Related posts Top 5 reasons to celebrate mistakes at work Top 5 ways NOT to praise people at work Free time a forgotten dream Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Making a Good Impression Food Choices at Work - Hallie Crawford

Making a Good Impression Food Choices at Work This situation happens all the time to every professional, even if they are not in a client-facing role: You have to meet a colleague, your boss or a prospective customer for a meal. On the surface, it may not seem like a big deal. But we all know how awkward it can be to eat a messy meal like a burger in front of someone, where its almost impossible to look graceful. And how tough it is at a networking event to eat finger food and balance a drink in your other hand while trying to look professional and smooth networking with someone. There are other situations as well. Sometimes youre asked to recommend a dish, or you dont know whether its appropriate to order an alcoholic beverage or not. How do you know what to order? Whether you realize it or not, your meal choices can say a lot about you. And while you do want to respect your diet, whether you are vegetarian or gluten-free or love to eat meat, you can make choices that will make a good impression and avoid potentially embarrassing situations, or you can make bad ones. For example, continually taking clients to the same unimpressive, unclean bar and ordering wings, fried cheese sticks and nachos for business lunches can make a bad impression. If that type of food is typical for your group of friends, thats fine! And if its common in your industry, thats OK too. But for some professional arenas, that type of fare sends the wrong message. In Hallie’s US News article you will discover potential problems you could run into and how to avoid them. Read on here.

Life, Death, and Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing

Life, Death, and Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing For example, if you have an important employment gap since your final position, you might want to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one. It is by far the most important and unavoidable position in nearly all of the organizations. If you're lacking a good deal of qualified experience then it is even more critical you compose a flawless education section. Be certain to mention the position you want, and any appropriate education and certifications you've attained. Whatever They Told You About Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing Is Dead Wrong...And Here's Why A follow up call in a couple of days can present your SQL developer resume another chance. It is not always simple to do, but quantifying your professional experience will offer you an edge over a number of other applicants. As it's a mix of the two, it provides the most flexibility. While all resumes should offer information on your work and education experi ence, and your abilities and accomplishments, there are various ways to present this info. Hard skills are teachable abilities that can typically be quantified. Don't say you have good computer abilities. With hard abilities, be specific. It might also work nicely for you whether you're making the move to another career path, or have a particularly relevant skillset. A mistake which most people make is to prepare an exact great resume which does not capture any product that was indicated on the work description. Much like day-to-day life in the area, your resume must feature the exact same quantity of attention to detail. You want to reveal you're not like all of the rest. The Chronicles of Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing Before you begin on your resume, have a look at this high quality assurance resume sample to find a notion of what the best resumes look like. Some folks copy sample resumes but neglect to alter the hobbies and details. It will be so much simpler in ca se you construct your other sections initially, then circle back and summarize them. Locate a resume template which suits your taste. The Importance of Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing You must have at your fingertips important info about the provider. Use strong action verbs to outline just what you bring and the way you can add to the success of the hiring company. You have to make sure your resume summary statement concisely demonstrates why you're a perfect candidate for the particular job and business. Spice this up with action words. For a long-term career, the professionals may require in order to possess a wide variety of testing skills dependent on the project requirements and the form of industry you are working with. Whether you're a recent graduate, a mid-level manager, an executive with several years of experience, or merely someone seeking to change career paths, there's a resume format that may really make you appear great to a hiring manager. There are many jobs offered for QA professionals online, choose the one which is most appropriate for your abilities and prepare your resume as per job requirement. Browse some other relevant resumes below and locate your inspiration. The New Fuss About Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing A Resume is the initial step when you get started looking for work. Make sure that you tailor your resume to the job you're applying for. After that, show you comprehend the job, and the way you are able to provide help. Find more in job features online.

Are You on Google Plus 3 Ways it Will Affect Your Job Search - Work It Daily

Are You on Google Plus 3 Ways it Will Affect Your Job Search - Work It Daily Google Plus has taken the Internet by storm. The latest numbers say 13% of U.S. adults have already signed up for the service and, in a year, that number could reach 22%; making Google Plus the number two social media network and leaving LinkedIn and Twitter behind. A lot of folks are excited about this platform, mostly because it addresses some of the flaws of existing social networksâ€"such as organizing your contacts, distributing content to the right audience, and allowing for group video chat, among other things. Recruiters, human resource professionals and hiring managers are particularly interested in figuring out Google Plus for sourcing job candidates. Unlike Facebook, Google Plus allows for searching and finding candidate whom they are not connected with, and the platform certainly has more to offer than LinkedIn thus far. Here are some things Google Plus offers that can have a substantial effect on your job search: Enhanced privacy settings. Not only can you share specific information with Circles of your choosing, but you can also opt to share information publiclyâ€"meaning potential employers or other influential connections (whom you’re not already connected with) can see it, too. Instead of worrying about privacy, you can use it to your advantage. More conversation. The platform encourages interaction through content sharing, status updates, online and video chats (Hangouts). Want to learn more about something a hiring manager posted? Ask about it! Interested in speaking face-to-face with a networking connection? Set up a chat to talk with them in more depth. Greater online visibility. If you choose to make your profile public, it will be easier than ever for you to be found online. Although the search capabilities of Google Plus don’t include some specifics yet, surely they will in the future. (So, be sure to complete your profile to help potential employers find you!) What else excites you about this new social networking platform? Will you use it in your job search or career? How? Image from 1000 Words/Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

Transitioning to an Active Job Search on LinkedIn - Your Career Intel

Transitioning to an Active Job Search on LinkedIn - Your Career IntelIf you are an active LinkedIn user, you already know what a great resource the site can be in your job.If you keep your page updated and keep up with your connections, you are well-positioned to leverage LinkedIn in your job search. But if you are transitioning to an active search for a new position, you need to update your profile accordingly. Here are three ways to change your LinkedIn strategy when you are on an active job search.Job Search Tips for LinkedInPunch-up your personal summary. Your LinkedIn summary is the first-place recruiters and potential employers look on your profile. When you are actively looking, your summary should include and highlight your professional accomplishments. People are more than their job title and when you are in active search mode, you need to clearly show what youve done, as well as describe or list all your other selling points.Update your accomplishments. Even if your profile lists your current or most recent position, take some time to document what you have done in this role. Highlight your accomplishments with active verbs. Include quantitative information numbers stand out to the eye and show you achieved results. Some examples of the schrifts of numbers to consider adding to your profile are dollars saved or earned, percentage changes in efficiency or responses, and number of customers or constituents reached.Be generous with key words. Key words are key for making it easier for recruiters to find you. The first place to add key words is to your headline. After your title, add words that explain your job function or areas of specialization. One good way to determine what key words ought to be in your headline or summary is to look at the job description for the type of job you want. Ask yourself What is important to the role? and What resonates with my personal brand?Just because you have a strong LinkedIn profile, doesnt mean you can leave it as is when you start an active job search. The same way you tailor your resume for each application, tailor your profile for your current career goals. And if your goal is to pursue a new position, punching-up your personal summary, updating your accomplishments and being generous with key words will take your job search to the next level.Authored by Andrew Ko

6 Ways Maternity Leave Makes You Better (Yes, Better) At Your Job

6 Ways Maternity Leave Makes You Better (Yes, Better) At Your Job Youve probably heard of the burst of energy that many pregnant women experience that predicts imminent laborthey scrub their bathroom grout with a toothbrush, say, or alphabetize the spice rack, 1950s housewife clich-style. How industrious At work, its the same thing. The surest sign that someones water is about to break in 3, 2, 1, call the carpet-cleaners...is a pristine desk, a maternity-leave hand-off memo on your Drive (updated hourly), and perhaps a thoroughly-researched proposal for how your company can trounce its three biggest rivals using nicht unter resources and maximal team-building. Everyone would think you were on speed if not for the fact that you cant even have coffeeI experienced this Work Burst myself but also heard about it from the hundreds of new moms I interviewed and surveyed for my new book, The Fifth Trimester The Working Moms Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby(out today, April 4)Bottom line The Work Burst is exhilarating when youre in it, but coming back to work, it can bite you in the rear. Why? Because its the belastung impression everyone (yourself included) had of you before you vanishedpoofon maternity leave.Weeks or months later, you reappear, sans belly (and perhaps avec sexy breast pump). Suddenly, that last image of your hyper-energized self can be haunting. As you block out precious time to pump, or quietly announce your new hard stop of 545 so you dont miss daycare pick-up, its natural to wonder if youre only a fraction as valuable at work as you once wereparticularly if youre going back before you feel emotionally and physically ready. The women I interviewed said they felt modell again at the 23-week mark, on averagemonths after most had needed to be back at their desks. A full 75% said they returned before they wanted to.But my research uncovered a very shimmery silver lining, too While you might not be that same plump whirling dervish of e nergy that you were right before parental leave, you are actually so much more More efficient, more decisive, more strategic. And, actually, more capable. If you are in this wildly complicated post-baby transition, or work with anyone else going through it, please internalize this list, and shout it far and wide. Policy changes for new families are paramount, but smaller cultural shifts like transparency and pride move the needle, too. So, know that...New moms are better at pivoting At home on maternity leave, you were subject to the whims (okay, needs) of the worlds tiniest, hangriest drill sergeant. If Lieutenant Baby woke up famished, you stopped whatever you were doing and fed him. If he blew out a diaper, it didnt matter where you were -- you were prepared for the assault, with backup everything, including socks. At work, this new skill translates. You have been conditioned out of needing transition time. The meeting got moved up? The conference needs a new sponsor? Something l ands on your desk with a deadline of now? No wallowing, no second guessing, its handled.New moms are pros at time management If you have managed a three-hour-and-six-minute cycle of wake, eat, play, sleep, you are now and and forevermore painfully aware of the march of time. This is good news at work. At home, it may have crushed you to realize that, no, you really werent going to squeeze in a nap while the baby was napping. But at work, you will have a new superpower time guessing. It will be years before you look at a clock again and think wow, its that time already? You will just know. More practically, where you may have once over- or underestimated the time required for a task, you are now spot on in your expectations -- and when something takes too long, you find a workaround. Because hard stop.New moms are savvy about saying no. Congrats You have just being a lifelong game of would you rather. Would you rather Meet a potential new client for an after-work drink, or save $30 o f babysitting overtime and see your baby before she goes to bed? Would you rather spend two hours training the new intern, or turf that task to someone else? Every decision you make in your new, more efficient workday is done with this kind of mental tango -- and your footwork? It is fancy. When you say no to something its no longer even a question of being lazy. Its because youve asked yourself Is this truly valuable to me (or to my employer and therefore to me)? Because if its not, some drooly little person in a onesie would be very happy to claim that time.And new moms are more committed when they say yes. That tango? Once youve danced it and decided that YES -- yes, you will go for that promotion yes, you will extend your work trip yes, you will take on that challenging new project -- its because youve really thought it through and committed. You are keenly aware of the compromises youve made, and you are motivated to see real results from your efforts.New moms are better at del egating. This is not a backhanded compliment. Becoming a working parent forces you to make some pretty big-picture life and career decisionsand to quit sweating the small stuff. At your job, you delegate more readily, opening up your calendar and brainspace for highly-valuable big-picture planning and thinking. Thats great for your own career and your workplaces success -- and the people under you who stretch to pitch in. Thats C-level thinking.New moms are making the workplace kinder for all of us. This last one is so simple and so true Like it or not, everyone at work now knows that you have a personal life, and they feel more comfortable sharing theirs, too. When they see you struggle and triumph, they know This is doable. I, too, can have a child. I, too, can care for an aging parent. I, too, can have a life outside of work that motivates and fuels me. I too, matter. And thats how the needle gets moved.--Lauren Smith Brody is the former executive editor of Glamour magazine. She is the founder of The Fifth Trimester, and the author of The Fifth Trimester The Working Moms Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby (Doubleday, April 2017)

2nX0HMS

Interested in learning how to pitch your story Check out these tips and get your writing published bit.ly/2nX0HMS We need gender neutral dress codes in the workplace. If you dont yet agree with that statement, look no fartzu sich than a 55-page presentation given to women executives at Ernst Young in a June 2018 training. pThe presentation, which made headlines last month when an offended participant a href=https//www.huffpost.com/entry/women-ernst-young-how-to-dress-act-around-men_n_5da721eee4b002e33e78606a target=_blankleaked it to the Huffington Post/a, reinforced gendered stereotypes of how women should dress and present themselves at work. Some highlights, which are actually lowlights in terms of equality in the workforce/pul class=ee-ul ee-ulliA list of appearance blunders for women to avoid, including no-nos like too-short skirts, plunging necklines, bottle blonde, flashy jewelry/liliOutfit and grooming suggestions to minimize distractions from your skills sic set like good haircut, manicured nails, and well-cut attire/liliAdvice on how to dress dont flaunt your body sexuality scrambles the mind/li/ulpThe women, there to invest in their professional development, were leid learning how to be better leaders or combat sexist stereotypes at work, but instead were being lectured to about what to wear and how to groom themselves./ppWhile the presentation welchesnt the official EampY dress code, it does highlight bias and assumptions made around gender that women have to manage. And this particular training focused only on the male-female binary. Employees who identify as transgender or nonbinary might feel even more burdened by dress code policies based on gender. /ppImagine how much more productive all employees, regardless of gender, could be, if they werent focused on avoiding dress code policing./ppTraditional gender-based dress codes can also discriminate on the basis of race. Many grooming guidelines for women, including rule s on acceptable haircuts, are extra burdens for black employees, particularly those who want to wear their hair in natural styles. a href=https//daily.jstor.org/how-natural-black-hair-at-work-became-a-civil-rights-issue/ target=_blankIn 2010, Chastity Jones got a job offer/a to be a customer service representative from Catastrophe Management Solutionsbut the offer was contingent on her cutting off her locs. When she refused, the company took back the job offer, and when she sued, with the help of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she lost her case in 2013 and again in 2016, when her appeal was dismissed. /ppAnd beyond forcing women of color to maintain their hair in a way thats deemed acceptable, gender-based dress codes can also discriminate against people of certain religions. Employees whose faiths keep them from cutting their hair or necessitate that they wear certain clothing (including head coverings) shouldnt be forced to adapt their beliefs to what their employer deems professionally appropriate for a woman at work./ppThe possibility for gender-, race-, and faith-based discrimination posed by prescriptive employee dress codes has a href=https//www.hrc.org/resources/workplace-dress-codes-and-transgender-employees target=_blankled the Human Rights Campaign to recommend/a that if an employer has a dress code, it should modify it to avoid gender stereotypes and enforce it consistently. Requiring men to wear suits and women to wear skirts or dresses, while legal, is based on gender stereotypes. Alternatively, codes that require attire professionally appropriate to the office or unit in which an employee works are gender-neutral./ph3Okay, So Gender Neutral Dress Codes Sound Good. What Do They Look Like?/h3pIn their simplest (which, in my opinion, also means best) form, gender neutral dress codes at the workplace can take the form of General Motors dress policy. When now-CEO Mary Barra was VP of global human resources for the automotive giant, a hr ef=https//qz.com/work/1242801/gms-dress-code-is-only-two-words/ target=_blankshe replaced their 10-page dress code with two words/a Dress appropriately. /ppIn the article linked above, the author explains why Barras dress code works so well She avoided assumptions, instead choosing to trust her employees judgment, which in turn empowered all employees and was particularly impactful for women. /ppFor workplaces that need more specificity about what employees can wear, HR should follow in the footsteps of other institutions that have successfully adopted gender-neutral dress codes. Namely, high schools./ppAfter a wave of protests, social media outrage, and thoughtful advocating, a href=https//www.dispatch.com/news/20180919/more-schools-revamping-sexist-dress-codes target=_blankseveral schools have revamped their dress codes/a, which tended to put undue burden on female students. New guidelines apply to all students, regardless of their gender. Instead of specifying the length of skirt s versus shorts or the width of a cami strap versus a tank top, a href=https//www.usatoday.com/story/life/parenting/2019/07/15/gender-neutral-dress-code-gets-approval-roanoke-virginia-school-district/1734009001/ target=_blanka Virginia high schools new gender-neutral dress code/a simply defines what must be covered clothing must cover areas from one armpit across to the other armpit, down to approximately three to four inches in length to the upper thighs./ppstrongWhat does that look like at work?/strong /ppSpell out specific dress code rules by article of clothing, elend by gender, use non-gendered pronouns, and make sure that any grooming guidelines could apply to anyone. Dont place burdens on anyone based on their gender, and try to empower employees to manage their own appearance in accordance with professional expectations./ppFor business casual workplaces, try this, a href=https//www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2018/09/28/gender-based-dress-codes-human-resourc es-diversity-and-legal-impact/355d9f064f53 target=_blankadapted from Forbes/a Employees should dress in business casual attire, which could include casual slacks and skirts, collared shirts, blouses, or sweaters. Inappropriate attire includes sportswear, jeans, and unkempt clothing, among other options. Please exercise good judgment./ppFor business formal workplaces, you could use the following Traditional business attire, including dresses, suits, and pantsuits, is required for external meetings with clients or prospects. Employees should use discretion on other occasions and are expected to demonstrate good judgment. /ppAnd for casual workplaces, which are on the risea href=http//blog.indeed.com/2019/08/20/casual-dress-in-workplace/ target=_blankaccording to Indeed/a, 50% of companies allow employees to dress casually every day, as of 2019go with something simple, like this, a href=https//www.thebalancecareers.com/simple-sample-dress-codes-for-business-attire-1917931 target=_blank adapted from The Balance/a Dress comfortably for work, but please do not wear anything that could offend your coworkers or make them feel uncomfortable. That includes clothing with profanity, hate speech, or exclusionary language. Your clothing, while casual, should show common sense and professionalism./ppNo matter the level of formality your dress code needs to define, make sure youre thinking from the perspective of all employeescurrent as well as futureand creating an environment where they can thrive./pp----/ppstrongWant to share these tips with your company? /strongShow them this handy one-page guide on creating a gender neutral dress code/p p class=shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image img alt=Gender Neutral Dress Code Guide class=rm-shortcode data-rm-shortcode-id=UGVL4K1574631551 data-rm-shortcode-name=rebelmouse-image data-runner-src=https//assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwMDE3 Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU3NDc2NjEyMX0.5akget5uOA_9aHMcPUxY1YM_Zn2w2Yhcj7m_HSCqg7I/img.jpg?width=980 id=a14b6 type=lazy-image/ /ppbr//p