Life Balance to Amplify Employee Success

Life Balance to Amplify Employee Success Finding the Perfect Work/Life Balance to Amplify Employee Success When it comes to enhancing employee success, supporting work/life balance is a great place to start. Although this delicate dance is important for all generations, millennials emphasize the need mora than most,and todays workforce is filled with such Gen. Y-ers seeking better balance.Here, well dig into some key strategies to help you encourage the perfect work/life balance for your employees1. Support Self-CareWe all need to be reminded from time to time of how important it is to take care of ourselves physically and mentally. You can start promoting work/life balance by encouraging your employees to ask for help when they need it and seek resources that fit their needs.No matteran employeesrole, stress is a given at some point.Its important for employees to find ways to de-stress both at work and at home. Meditation can be one way to cope. The University of Southern Californ iasonline Master of Social Work programhas compiled a list of mindfulness resources that may be helpful here.2. Create a Guilt-Free EnvironmentIts important that you empower employees to be mindful of their limits, which means you need to show understanding and support when someone says enough is enough. As executive coach Rebecca Zucker notes in an article for Harvard Business Review, guilt-free self-care is mora than a luxury its an essential tool to optimize creativity and productivity.According to Zucker, more than 40 percent of our creative ideas come when we are taking breaks or allowing our minds to wander. Tell your team to rest when they need to, and remind them that they cant be at their best if theyre not taking time to decompress.3. Promote OptimismResearch shows that optimisticpeople can actuallyhelp teams be more productive and support work/life balance. Business consultant Joe Robinsonclaims that, on high-performing teams, positive statements outnumber negative ones by six to one. On low-performing teams, the ratio of positive to negative statements is under one to one.Citing mindfulness as one key to recognizing the power of negative emotions, Robinson says its essential to focus on the positive instead. Or, as he quotes Mark Twain, Drag your thoughts away from your troubles by the ears, by the heels, or any way you can manage it.4. Lead by ExampleAnotherimportant thing Zucker emphasizes is the fact that, as a manager, you need to lead by example. When you stick to exiting the office at a reasonable hour and the world doesnt fall apart, your employees will see that they can do it, too. Setting your own solid boundaries for work/life balance benefits both those and all who are watching you.Get Started TodayEmpowering your employees to achieve great work/life balance is good for them and for your companys well-being. You can start today by askingemployees what they need, providing more education about work/life balance, and reminding them that quality not quantity is the key to success.Colleen ODay is a digital PR manager and supports community outreach for 2U Inc.s social work, mental health, and speech pathology programs.

Seven skills that will help reach your full potential

Seven skills that will help reach your full potentialSeven skills that will help reach your full potentialDo you sometimes feel like youre wasting your potential? And do you also feel unsure about how you can even reach your full potential?If so, youre like any other ambitious rolle who wants to make the best of his/her life. Because to me, thats what reaching your potential means.We all have limited time on our hands. Some live longer than others. But you and I both know that its not about howlongyou live, its aboutwhat you dowith the time youre alive.Its about leaving everything on the table and making sure you live up to your inner drive. Look, when I talk about reaching your potential, Im not talking about what other people or society thinks we should do with our lives.When you chase empty goals and objects, you become restless. Instead, chase yourownpotential and forget about everything external. Become the best part you can be. Thats the only honorable aim there is.Ive studied people who committed their lives to chase their full potential. Not only famous people like Muhammad Ali, Helen Keller, Thomas Edison, Malcolm X, or any other person who made an impact on the world.Ive also learned many lessons from normal people I know personally. People who learn every day, give it their all, keep growing and get closer to their full potential.What does it take to do that? How can we do it too? I identified 7 skills that almost all of these great people had in common. Here they are.1. Self-awarenessYou must be comfortable with who you are and what you are. Dont try to be something youre not. And dont try to change yourself just because others tell you to.Instead, know who you are. And if you dont know, find out. Read, write, think, talk. Thats self-awareness It only requires you to be aware of your thoughts.And when youre self-aware, you automatically learn more about who you are - which is called self-knowledge. But it all starts with being aware. No awareness? No knowledge.Ive made a list of20 questionsyou can use to improve your self-awareness. Use it to improve this skill.2. LeadershipFirst, focus on yourself. Fix your own problems. Become a stable person who you can rely on.When you do that, focus on inspiring others to do the same. The best way to help others is to teach them to rely on themselves.Sick and narcissistic people want to make people dependent on them. Leaders teach others to be independent. How? By setting a good example. Theres no better way to lead.3. WritingBetter writing leads to better thinking. And better thinking leads to better communication. Better communication leads to better results in your career.What? I never thought writing was that important When you get good at one thing, it will help you to get better at other things. You see?It was only when I started writing that everything clicked.When you become a better writer, you can easily express yourself and start making connections.That will improve your caree r in ways you never imagine.4. MindfulnessMy definition of mindfulness might be different than yours. To be clear, Im not talking about meditation, yoga, or Zen Buddhism.Im talking about being a calm and mindful person. A person whos in control of their thoughts and emotions. A person whos solid as a rock. A person who others can rely on.But achieving that inner peace requires much training. I dont think we can ever fully master this skill. But by practicing control over our thoughts, we can get better.My favorite way to become more mindful is being present. The more Istayin the present moment, the more mindful I am. The aim is never to be lost in thoughts. Its to be here.5. ProductivityThe funny thing about mindfulness is that people assume living in the present removes your drive to achieve your goals.The reverse is true. The more present I am, the more desire I feel to improve my life. And how do you improve your life?You already know it. I dont have to tell you that work is the only way to achieve things. Thinking about achieving your goals will not do anything real for you.Become a person whos productiveevery day. Make use of your time. Dont just waste it on watching tv, hanging out with your friends, gaming, or any other mindless routine activity.Know how to get the most results in the least amount of time.Thats the ultimate aim of productivity skills.6. PerseveranceSome days, I want to give up. You know why? Because some days you dont see any results in your life. You work, work, work, and you getnothingin return.For years, I studied and worked without seeing any results. No recognition, no money, and no rewards. Just me, plowing ahead.But one day, after years of work, I started seeing some results. I got better at what I did, felt more confident, and started earning more.But if I didnt persevere, I wouldnt get any of those things. Thats why I dont quit on striving for betterment. And neither should you. Ever.7. ExcellenceI half-assed many things in my life. Lets just get it over with, was my motto. I was soimpatientthat I hardly did anything well. I just put in the minimum effort. Hence, I was never the best at anything.But then I realized that excellence is a skill. Look at Robert Greene who took 6 years to write another book. Or Lebron James who worked out during every off-season of his career. Or Helen Keller who published 5 books, despite being deaf and blind.But this is also true for successes that dont get attention in the media. Look at the top salesperson in any given organization who arrives early and leaves late every day. Or the mother who sacrifices nights out and dinner parties to raise her kid with all of her attention and love.Thats called excellence.No matter what you do. Do it the best way you can - or not at all. If you want to reach your full potential, thats the quickest route. Its also the hardest. But that shouldnt be a surprise to you.

Why laughing at work can help you be more productive

Why laughing at work can help you be more productiveWhy laughing at work can help you be more productiveI had some pretty gnarly anxieties when starting my most recent job.Thankfully I lucked into sharing an office with a part-time, stand-up comedian. Every weekday, for about an hour, Im treated to perhaps the most visceral attacks on my character. And its done wonders for my productivity it helps that the barbs are funny of course.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe immediate effects of a good laugh session have become even more visible in a professional context. You return to your desk feeling more energized, and a little less self-important.Laughing is a vulnerable affair, but it can be a great way to stay focused in the belly of a stressful work week, science even says so.The link between laughter and productivityLaughter boasts an established positive correlation with stres s reduction. The process actually improves our ability to take in oxygen-rich air, which in turn improves heart health, muscle relaxation, and lung functionality. The long term befits of budgeting your day to accommodate a couple of wise-cracks, have been studied to boost our immune system, due to the release of neuropeptides that occurs when we have positive thoughts.Laughter Wellness refers to the appreciation of laughter as a therapeutic method of managing stress and decreasing risks for chronic illnesses. The Journal of Primary Prevention backed workplace laughter as a strategy for enhancing employee morale, resilience, and personal efficacy beliefs. On a biological level, laughter has been shownto stimulatecatecholamines, which are hormones responsible for the release of endorphins.Unfortunately, outside the world of science, laughter is probably more often linked to poor time management, even though the research seems to imply the contrary. Leila Lewis of Fast Companymakes a g reat point about all the money corporations dump into activities meant to foster employee solidarity.Off-site happy hours, team building actives, andvideo games areall much more expensive than setting aside some time to guffaw.The data is pretty undeniable. Workers are better at performing tasks when they are in a good mood.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 habits of mentally strong people

6 things that will make you sound clueless at work

6 things that will make you sound clueless at work6 things that will make you sound clueless at workIn general, its smart to say what you mean. In the workplace, people tend to use overwrought business jargon to compensate for leid knowing their stuff. But theres a less-apparent risk to doing just the reverse. If you sound like a walking Instagram comment, you might start to alienate yourself in your own sekretariat and lose your coworkers trust - even if they use those same kinds of words expressions when theyre texting their roommates.Some terms and phrases are best left to casual exchanges with friends and family. Here are a few you probably shouldnt let creep into your arbeitszimmer vocabulary.1. No problemI know - what could possibly be wrong with this one? Its so innocuous, right? Youre asked to photocopy a document or put together a meeting agenda. Easy enough. No problem, you reply.The expression comes up in all kinds of business environments, and the tone is often chipper and upbeat, so you dont give a second thought to using it periodically. Few people who hear no problem take it literally, but at a level just beneath consciousness awareness, it telegraphs an underhanded resentment. The speaker implies the possibility that somebody has created an issue that theyre willing to let slide.Its not the (nearly absurd) risk of a literal misinterpretation that you should guard against, though. Its the likelihood that youll default to no problem when presented with tasks you consider menial- giving directions, taking minutes, photocopying, wrapping a package, or stepping out of someones way in an elevator - and unconsciously show your annoyance with them (including nonverbally).RelatedFour Words And Phrases To Avoid When Youre Trying To Sound ConfidentChances are you wont say no problem when your supervisor asks you to prepare an important report or assigns you some other significant task. When a work duty carries more weight, youre more likely to ask smart questions about what itll take to do it right, convey your enthusiasm, and declare that youre up to the task. But shouldnt you try to be seen as the person who approaches all your work that way? Scrap no problem - it isnt helping you show your best side. (And after all, its a double negative.)2. WhateverLike no problem, this word usually has a flippant tone to it, but thats not the main downside to using it. Whatever is often used to dismiss another persons idea. If I say, Sure, whatever after somebody has offered a suggestion, I might think Im just saying I dont mind one way or the other - kind of like, doesnt matter to me, go for it But it wont always come across that supportively.Instead, it might signal that I disagree but will go along with it anyway - maybe because I dont have the power or the aktion to convince my colleagues otherwise, or maybe just because Ive got a martyr complex.Whatever denotes resentful resignation, even if it doesnt sound that way to your own ears. Much the same is true of other tepid notes of assent, like yeah, yup, sure, and fine. Use these words with your friends, but not in professional settings where the stakes are fundamentally different.3. It is what it isClichs like this make you sound like a lazy thinker. We default unthinkingly to empty expressions when were trying to give the impression we have something to say but really dont, and also when we want to sound as though were comfortable with something but might not be.Business is business, it is what it is, and phrases like them arent just meaningless and repetitious - they sound like you dont really care or that your brain just isnt in gear. Good luck getting promoted that way.4. Pissed offThis expression is heard around the office more commonly than you might think, and even when the speaker is referring to how somebody else is feeling, it still reflects badly on them. Saying Im pissed off that I didnt get that vacation time makes you sound angry and uncooperative - that much is obvious.But if you say she welches really pissed off after that meeting, referring to your boss, youre subtly expressing a criticism of her (even if you think she had every right to be furious). Likewise, if you remark, I think I pissed off Doug yesterday, youre basically confessing that you cant get along with others (even if you think Doug was in the wrong).From just about every angle, this expression doesnt work in your favor. Yes, people in your office - including you - are going to get upset from time to time. That much is natural. But how you speak about those breakdowns in collaboration should be more, well, collaborative. That goes for email, too, by the way.RelatedSix Ways To Write Emails That Dont Make People Silently Resent You5. CantTo be fair, you cant get away with never saying cant - its just too common and useful a contraction - and Im not suggesting you try. But it is smart to be on you guard for the contexts where you use it.For example, you mig ht innocently say at a meeting, I cant get that report to you until next Monday. And fine, maybe you really cant because it just isnt feasible. But phrasing it like this makes you sound ineffective- like the person who disappoints. Why not flip it around and say what you can do instead? Ill have that report to you next Monday. There - suddenly youre somebody who delivers, and is helpfully realistic about timelines to boot.Try to avoid dont in similar situations. Rather than saying, I dont know what the solution is, go with, Lets go over what some possible solutions might look like - I could really use some input. Then youll sound bright and collegial.6. HopeHeres another perfectly innocuous word that can sound defeatist and passive (or even passive aggressive) around the office if you arent careful. In some contexts, it can make you sound less than confident. For example, if you say, I hope well meet our sales target, youre really planting the opposite idea - the possibility that you may not.Obviously, that possibility is real and may even be one that you want to impress upon your team in order so they know what the stakes are. But then why not just say, I really want us to meet our sales target, and I know we can get there?Similarly, I hope our team can agree on a plan sounds like you dont exactly see how youll manage to. Instead, just say, We expect to hammer out a plan or were committed to coming up with something everybody agrees on. Even if you might not actually be confident thatll happen, you should probably refrain from showing it.No matter what, people invariably draw impressions of us based on the words we say. And by the very nature of language, those infinite shades of interpretation are impossible to control. But its still possible to avoid the expressions that may impart resentment, resignation, or a lack of commitment that you might not even actually feel.Avoid these six words and phrases and youll start to sound just a little more collegial and confident. In the workplace especially, a little often goes a long way.This article originally appeared on Fast Company.

The best college in each state for getting a job in 2018

The best college in each state for getting a job in 2018The best college in each state for getting a job in 2018As the unemployment ratecontinues to shrink to figures not seen for nearly half a century, its becoming more and more important for college graduates to prepare for a competitive workforce.This means picking the right major, having a great internship and work experiences, but most of all, choosing the right college to attend in the first place.If you missed our study last year about the best college in each state for finding a job,check it out.Given that a new crop of recent grads just entered the workforce (welcome to the Thunderdome, class of 2018), we figured wed redo our analysis for the newest bunch, and see which schools set their students up best for success after graduation.Below is a list of the top 50, but first, heres the best of the bestPennsylvania Lebanon Valley CollegeRhode Island Salve Regina UniversityOhio Ohio Northern UniversityOregon Oregon Health S cience UniversityNew York Hobart and William Smith CollegesSouth Dakota University of Sioux FallsWisconsin University of Wisconsin PlattevilleMassachusetts Endicott CollegeNebraska Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityConnecticut Quinnipiac UniversityUsing theIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)andDepartment of Education College Scorecard data, we searched for the college in each state with the highest listed job placement ratings, looking specifically at employment levels at year 10 after students start.Then, we looked at the ratings themselves and ranked each states top school according to their rating. For the purposes of readability, the top schools ratings were then rounded down to the last three decimal places, and we included the city the top ten colleges are located in.Ok, thats it Now, onto the list.1. PENNSYLVANIACollege Lebanon Valley CollegeCity Annvilletischordnung Rate 96.185%LVC tops the rankings as the best college in the United States for finding a j ob. With 40+ majors and just a 101 student-to-faculty ratio, career guidance is a big deal at LVC, and it shows with their ranking.2. RHODE ISLANDCollege Salve Regina UniversityCity NewportPlacement Rate 95.896%Besides its campus emitting images of Hogwarts, Salve Regina Universitys second best quality is getting its graduates jobs. The school keeps growing, as it just graduated its largest class ever.3. OHIOCollege Ohio Northern UniversityCity AdaPlacement Rate 95.527%ONU consistently beats the placement rate national average for its graduates.4. OREGONCollege Oregon Health Science UniversityCity PortlandPlacement Rate 95.509%It isnt too often one can say their campus is a hospital, but such is the case with Oregon Health Science University, with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland.5. NEW YORKCollege Hobart and William Smith CollegesCity GenevaPlacement Rate 95.447%Another college with a picturesque campus, Hobart and William Smith Colleges is one of the top liber al arts colleges in the country. Many of their students take advantage of their reputed study abroad programs, as well.6. SOUTH DAKOTACollege University of Sioux FallsCity Sioux FallsPlacement Rate 95.428%The private liberal arts university only has about 1,500 students, but gets the vast majority of those students jobs after graduation.7. WISCONSINCollege University of Wisconsin PlattevilleCity PlattevillePlacement Rate 95.337%With an in-state tuition of just above $7,500, Wisconsin-Platteville offers one of the best bang-for-your buck educations for any in-state school.8. MASSACHUSETTSCollege Endicott CollegeCity BeverlyPlacement Rate 95.309%Alright, were serious this time. Endicott College may have the best looking campus in the country. Just do yourself a favor and google it. With 90% of employed graduates working in careers related to their major, the views arent the only reason to attend Endicott.9. NEBRASKACollege Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityCity LincolnPlacement Rate 95.217 %NWU is a private, coeducational university in the states capital. Bringing some shine the college is the fact that it is among the nations leaders in Fulbright scholars.10. CONNECTICUTCollege Quinnipiac UniversityCity HamdenPlacement Rate 95.172%If you start at Quinnipiac, you arent likely to leave the university boasts a retention rate of 90% from first to second-year students. The school is also among the best colleges for veterans.Here are the rest of the statesThis article first appeared on Zippia.

The Absolute Best Plan to Use for How to Make a Resume for College

The Absolute Best Plan to Use for How to Make a Resume for College Fortunately, there are now lots of resources available that make resume writing much simpler. Regardless of what you would like to do, writing a blog is an easy means to display your abilities. Creative resumes have better odds of being selected. As most applications dont take a scholarship resume, adding one is an excellent way for students to acquire an edge. If it is finally time for an interview, you are going to be well-versed in the several issues that impact your industry, and youll likely even gain valuable real-world exposure and connections by your blog. Possessing a comprehension of industry jargon will be able to help you stand out, and utilizing the correct terminology shows your focus to detail. Click the next link for more advice on how to construct a resume using college involvement as experience. Therefore, if youre searching for assistance in writing a resume, you might want to start looking into using an internet or downloadable resume builder. Read on, and youre going to find out how to produce the best scholarship resume in the pile. Actually, there doesnt appear to be a big difference between the resume software package and the online resume builder except that one which you download to your hard disk and the other youve got to go to the site to work from. You may have to speak another language start taking classes, or teach yourself be a totally free on-line course such as Duolingo. The 5-Minute Rule for How to Make a Resume for College Youll also have to choose if you would like to incorporate an objective statement or a summary of qualifications. A General Receipt is precisely the thing. Our printable receipt for financing payment is simple to edit to satisfy your requirements. Next, you are going to find out how to create a college resume prepared for the big leagues More info on the First Year Abroad program is on the International Programs site. Mor e information on the First Semester it is available on the International Programs website. Whenever you choose to discover some sample, you will need to become ideal College Resume Objective Samples. Furthermore, the subsequent College Resume Objective Samples is going to be the useful. In case you havent any research, you might require a College Resume Objective Samples. Resumes usually get only a fast review, or so the committee may not take the opportunity to review a long resume. How to make a professional resume. You must get right to the point. Dont attempt to cram things in to spaces that are too tiny. Allow it to be simple for them to find you by including the link to your profile at the peak of your resume. If references can be given, then they could be mentioned. Nevertheless, in both situations, theres a specific structure and points to be mentioned. After all, you wish to sound strong, competent, and prepared for the job at hand. For instance, experience for a waiter or waitress can be rather helpful if youre asking for work in sales or marketing. You place the time in to help it become great, now make certain you also make it seen. Utilize part time or summer jobs to reveal your work ethic. Because it plays the function of your spokesman it must be well-structured, respectable and informative. If you wish to make an application for a youth pastor position, then your resume for the youth pastor will play a crucial role for you to obtain the position. The documents created by the department office plays an important function. Either can demonstrate the dean youre more than only an application. Whispered How to Make a Resume for College Secrets Your work experience is contained in the third section. Without a great deal of solid job experience under your belt, you are going to want to call attention to any transferable skills you might have. Even those who have known you for quite a long time might not be familiar with all your achievements. Students with little if any work experience may also add a section discussing their involvements. One might be the conventional, with an objective at the very top, then education and appropriate coursework, and following that, experience and techniques. Take into consideration how your experience fits with the job youre applying for. Whenever you get a new experience, add it. Afterwards, you might get into your professional experience.

How to Avoid Workplace and Hiring Discrimination [INFOGRAPHIC] - Spark Hire

How to Avoid Workplace and Hiring Discrimination INFOGRAPHIC - Spark HireDiscrimination in the workplace and hiring process should never be the elephant in the room. In order to fight against discrimination, it is important that employers face the matter head on. However, many business owners and even human resources professionals find themselves wondering exactly what is and what is not discrimination. Fortunately, Spark Hire has put together the infographic below to address these questions in a visually appealing format.Some important takeaways Video resumes and video interviewsare EEOC compliant. Pre-employment exams and disability-related questions can be made after an offer as long as all employees are subject. Some tips to avoid discrimination include establishing written evaluation criteria, asking applicants the same interview questions, and conducting in-house training.Check out the infographic below and let us know what you think in the comments. What is your company doing to prevent discrimination in the workplace and hiring process?