Category: career development

Stop Holding Your Business Back And Start Doing Better

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If your business isn’t seeing the level of success that you know that it can, then you need to do something about that. The more that you put it off, and the less that you do to rectify whatever is wrong, the longer your business is going to struggle. In the end, this could result in you losing your business if you’re not careful. The good news is that you can start taking steps right now to ensure the future of your company, you just need to know where to start. 

Luckily, we’re here to help with that. Down below, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the ways that you can stop holding your business back, and start doing better so that you can see better results. Would you like to find out more? Feel free to read on.

Know What Your Business Needs 

We’re going to kick things off by looking at what your business needs. Do you have any idea what this is? Do you have any idea where your business is struggling and what you’re not providing for it? If not, then that’s a huge problem. As the business owner, it’s your job to ensure that your business has what it needs in order to see success, and if this is not happening, it falls squarely on your shoulders. 

There are plenty of articles online that you can read about the basics for your business, and we’re going to be covering some of them down below, but you need to do your research. The more that you know, the easier it’s going to be to see success. Start with equipment, then move onto other things, making lists as you go so you know what you need to purchase.

Work On Your Leadership

A lot of people struggle to look at themselves as a potential problem, but that’s not a good way to run a business. You need to look at all of the elements, and that includes you even though it can be tough to assess yourself. If you feel as though you’re not even remotely the problem, we do recommend that you have a private individual who has nothing to do with your business come and assess your leadership. 

If it turns out that you’re not doing as well as you could be, then it’s time to take action. There are leadership courses that you can take that have been designed to help you be the very best leader you can be. Once you’ve completed these, hopefully you will find it easier to manage your business, moving forward in the best way possible.

A Solid Website

Have you given much thought to your website? If not, then that’s an important area that you’re not going to be able to ignore for much longer. Your business site is one of the first things that most people see, and therefore is the first impression that many get of your business. If you’re not careful, you’re going to drive people away before they get to know much about your business, causing you major problems in getting the sales that you need.

So, you need to undertake an evaluation of your website. Look at the aesthetic and see if this is pleasing, look at the functionality of the website to check if this is an issue, and more. It might be the case that you’re going to need to hire a professional to completely redo your website, creating something that appeals to users, and keeps their attention, while also keeping the feel of your business. 

Create Your Own App 

Do you have an app for your business? If you don’t, then you could be missing a trick here. It’s all well and good to optimize your business for mobile use, but you’ve still got to do more than that. You’ve got to make sure that you have your own app so that people can use this effectively, encouraging them to purchase whatever it is you’re selling.

Everyone has apps these days, and you can’t be the only one who doesn’t. For example, there are dumpster rental business apps for businesses who provide this service, there are gaming apps for phones, design apps for phones, and so much more. You need to be developing your own app for the sake of your business, and if you don’t, you will continue to lag behind.

Research Your Target Audience Better

A key area that companies forget about is their target audience, which sounds silly, but it happens. It’s not just a case of researching the target audience when you first begin your business and then not needing to do it anymore, as the wants and needs will change over time. You need to make sure that you are continuing to give your customers and potential customers what they want, otherwise they’re going to go and find a business that does. 

Ideally, you should be conducting regular research, keeping up to date with market trends and more. If you feel as though you can’t do this, or you wouldn’t do it to the right standard, you need to make sure that you are hiring someone who can. There are outside individuals who are happy to do this for you, so find one of them and get a report compiled for you. This way, you get all of the information that you need, but you don’t have to worry about finding it yourself, which is a huge stress off of your plate.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do to stop holding your business back and start doing better. We know that sometimes it feels unfair that it all falls on your shoulders at the end of the day, but it’s your company. The success and failures are yours, and they impact you the most, so pushing towards success is important.

Balancing Career Growth and Personal Well-Being

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There are countless people who struggle to balance their career and career growth with their well-being. They have big goals and these can easily clash with the need ot have rest and spend valuable time with family or friends.

Were going have a look at some of the things that can help you to succeed with career growth aswell as focus on your personal well-being. 

Why Balance Matters for Career Success

Work is essential, but it is only one part of a whole life. Spending long hours at the office or bringing work home each night can quickly lead to burnout. When you are tired or stressed, your productivity tends to drop. You may find it harder to solve problems or work well with others. Over time, this can affect your career and your health.

Finding a healthy balance allows you to perform better and enjoy your work more. Employers now recognize that employees need space to rest, spend time with their families, or pursue hobbies. Many companies offer flexible hours, remote work, or support for mental health. But actual balance depends on the choices you make each day.

Think about what matters most to you. Are you spending your time on things that bring you satisfaction and energy? 

Ensure you have clear boundaries in place for when your working day starts and when it ends. Turn off your work notifications outside of work hours so you aren’t tempted to work when you shouldn’t be. 

Setting Goals Without Sacrificing Well-Being

Setting clear goals is key to making progress in your career. But your goals should never come at the expense of your health or relationships. Start by breaking big tasks into smaller steps. Each time you complete a step, you build momentum and confidence. Celebrate small wins instead of waiting for a big promotion or raise.

Be honest about your workload. Discuss your concerns with your manager if you feel overwhelmed. Many leaders appreciate feedback and may not realise how much you are taking on. Ask for help when you need it. Collaborate with colleagues instead of trying to do everything alone. You don’t need to work nonstop to demonstrate your value.

Building Strong Relationships at Work

Work relationships impact both your happiness and career growth. When you have a supportive team in place, it can make it a lot easier to complete challenging projects. It makes them more manageable and reduces stress. Take the time to get to know your coworkers. 

Join group lunches, team meetings, or casual chats. Share your ideas and listen to others. Strong communication fosters trust and enables you to solve problems together. You might want to arrange to see some of your wrok colleagues outside of the work environment so you can get to know them more. 

If you work remotely, it is even more important to look for ways to connect with your colleagues as it can become isolating. Maybe a regular team meeting or even casual coffee and chat on Zoom. 

Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout

Everyone feels stressed at work sometimes. Deadlines, difficult tasks, and changes in your role can make you feel overwhelmed. The key is to notice stress early and take steps to manage it. Ignoring stress can lead to burnout, a state of physical and mental exhaustion.

Set realistic expectations for yourself. You do not have to be perfect. Learn to recognise the signs of burnout, such as irritability, trouble sleeping, or a drop in motivation. If you notice these signs, take a step back. Talk with your manager or a trusted colleague. Ask for time off if you need to recover.

Try simple techniques to manage stress each day. Take regular breaks, move your body, and make time for hobbies outside of work. Practice gratitude by writing down things that went well each day. When you focus on the positive, you build resilience and cope better with setbacks.

If you want more practical ways to create balance, see this guide to work-life balance.

Upskill and Pursue Passions Beyond Your Job

Learning new skills is a strong way to support your career and personal growth. But upskilling does not mean you have to spend every evening in a classroom. Look for different opportunities that fit your schedule and interests. Online courses, webinars, or short workshops can help you learn at your own pace.

Teaching others is another way that you can grow your skills aswell as refine them. It can also add an interesting element to your career and open doors that you didn’t know where there. 

If you have a passion for writing, consider how you can teach writing online. Helping others improve their writing not only supports your own learning but also connects you with a community of like-minded people.

Creating a Routine That Supports Success

A good routine helps you balance work and life without feeling overwhelmed. Make sure you create a plan for each day so you have time for focused work, a little bit of rest, as well as other activities that you enjoy. It could help to use a planner or a digital calendar so you can track what you need to do and when. 

Have a look at your routine for your day each morning, and you will soon start to see the difference. 

Make sure to include breaks. Working for long periods without rest can reduce your focus and creativity. 

Step away from your screen for meals or short walks. Build routines that signal the end of your workday, such as closing your laptop, going for a walk, clearing your desk, or creating a to-do list for the next day. 

Conclusion

Having a career that rewards you doesn’t mean that you need ot put your well-being to the side. It’s all about balance and making sure everyday has time that you split between work, relationships and general life. 

With these habits, you can build a career that supports your growth and allows you to enjoy life outside of work.

When You Have The Pick Of Careers, How Can You Select The Right Enterprise?

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There are problems that seem fantastic to have on the surface, but still present a problem in general. For instance, most people would love to live in a multi-million dollar mansion with all the luxuries they could think of, but how to afford some of the property taxes, how to make sure the garden doesn’t fall into disrepair, how to have it regularly cleaned, all of this takes planning and can be a problem if not resolved. A good problem to have no doubt, but a problem nonetheless.

The same can be said for having multiple companies vying to have us work for them. Perhaps you’ve managed to get to a point in your career where your technical know-how and experience speak for itself, and you have two or more incredible offers with competitive pay and the benefits you’re looking for.

How can you decide between them? Well, should you ever find yourself in this situation (and we hope you do), then you may wish to consider some of the following guidance:

Which Values Resonate With You Most?

It’s fair to say that at this level, pay and perks are a given. From there, think about what they stand for and how that lines up with your own priorities. Do they care about things you care about? Maybe it’s their commitment to innovation, their focus on giving back to the community, or their approach to treating employees fairly that helps you want to pursue their mission statement.

What Processes & Procedures Does The Business Follow

Sometimes you just prefer how a business goes about their tasks and after a few robust interviews you feel like there’s more of a fit here. Maybe you appreciate the methodology they use, such as Leica digital pathology to perfect medical devices, and want to engage with it. You don’t need to overthink it, but a workplace that matches your values and preferred workflow can make your job feel like more than just a place you go to get paid, and that means you’ll engage with the hard days much more readily.

What Significant Impact & Change Of Influence Could You Have?

It’s good to ask if your presence there is going to make a difference. At this level, when many companies want you to come and assist them, there’s a chance you’ll get the best assignments and can really have an impact with your creative input. You might as well ask that outright. 

For instance, willl you have opportunities to grow, take on challenges, and genuinely contribute? Ask where your skills and ideas will be most valued, or where they’d place you if you were successful and onboarded with the role. Ask for potential advancement opportunities, considering which role excites you when you imagine yourself in it six months or a year from now. If you feel like you’re doing your best work and can properly express all the knowledge you’ve worked hard to attain, that in itself can be deeply satisfying.

With this advice, we’re certain you’ll be able to achieve even when you have the pick of careers at your fingertips.

Looking For A Career Change? How To Find The Most Inspiring Workplaces

Scott Asai2 Comments

It’s reported that 27% of people change careers in search of a better work-life balance. You want a job that’s more rewarding in the sense that it helps you manage your lifestyle better than before. At the same time, lots of people couple this with the need for a more inspiring career. They don’t want to be stuck in a boring workplace all their lives; they want to work somewhere that feels more rewarding and inspiring. 

Staying on that theme, how do you find the most inspiring places to work? Based on a recent list of the top 100 most inspiring workplaces, it’s pretty easy to spot patterns and identify the workplaces that create the best atmospheres for employees. 

Join a revolutionary tech company

Most of the companies on the previously mentioned list as tech startups. These tend to be the most inspiring places to work because you’re at the forefront of a revolution. Every day is about pushing the boundaries and finding something new to work on. Plus, tech companies are typically owned by younger people. These owners know what workers look for in jobs, which is why they tend to provide the best work environments. 

Many of the world’s biggest tech companies have the coolest headquarters and offices ever made. We all know about Google and its endless slides and fun activity areas, and loads of tech businesses have followed suit. If you want a great work-life balance in an inspiring setting, a tech job could be for you. 

Give back by working for the emergency services

It’s no surprise that jobs in the emergency services area are considered the most inspiring. Specifically, you should look into jobs with different ambulance services. As shown at https://www.royalambulance.com/, a job in this domain is enough to feature in the top 100 inspiring workplaces for the last three years in a row. 

Jobs like these teach you so much about the world, and you see so many inspiring things. Emergency services will partake in a lot of charity work as well, which adds to the inspiration. It’s hard to find a different sector that hits the inspiration and sense of achievement factor as much as this one. 

Work with animals

Are you an animal lover? Working with animals has proven to be a highly inspiring and rewarding career option. You have vets and veterinary assistants who deal with saving animal’s lives and fixing health problems. 

Then, you have jobs in animal sanctuaries or nature reserves that revolve around rescuing animals and nurturing them back to health before releasing them into the wild. Jobs like these have grown in popularity as people seek drastic career changes for a more wholesome life. 

Regardless of which career path you go down, always be prepared for a big change like this. Ensure you follow the right steps to make your career change easy and stress-free. You can transition from your old life to your new one and embark on a journey that leaves you feeling more fulfilled than ever before.

How To Get Your Uber Taxi Driver Career Off To A Flying Start

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Becoming an Uber taxi driver is becoming a viable and lucrative career for an increasingly large number of people. The company now offers numerous opportunities for budding drivers, looking to make a better living.

But what do you need to do specifically to get a career as an Uber driver off to a flying start? Here’s everything you need to know: 

Work On The Basics

The first step is to ensure you have all the basics in order. Making sure you meet these makes your life much easier. 

Bring together all your essential documents first, including your vehicle registration and driving license paperwork. It also helps if you can provide Uber with evidence of your driving history and any motor vehicle collisions you’ve been involved with., 

Also, check your vehicle fits in the desired category. Uber has various classes, including UberX and UberXL. Ensure the vehicle is eligible and in a reasonable condition. The rideshare app has various quality requirements you must reach, similar to Airbnb and other sharing apps. 

Understand The Platform

Next, you’ll want to check you understand how the Uber platform works. A deeper knowledge will allow you to figure out how the outfit makes money and what it does. 

Furthermore, it can also help you on the job. For example, you could investigate driver-specific features and navigation tools. These make it easier to get around and pick up passengers. You could also look into the earnings dashboard, telling you how much money you’ve made so far, and what your earnings are for the week, month or year. 

Depending on your city, you may also have to comply with additional regulations. Many local authorities are trying to protect their conventional taxi services against better options from rideshare apps by limiting the supply. This factor may determine whether you can be a driver or not. 

Aim For Higher Ratings

Ideally, you want to aim for the highest ratings from the start so more customers get lifts from you. Working on the inside of your vehicle is, therefore, essential. 

For example, your top priority is to ensure that the cabin smells good. You want to avoid certain odors, particularly stale air, and flatulence. 

If you operate in a polluted city, it also helps to put advanced filters in place for the air conditioning system. These reduce particles getting into the cabin, protecting users from smog and other nasties. 

It can also help to put a car tablet holder on the back seat. This way, you can provide riders with entertainment on demand, similar to an airline. 

Other ways to increase ratings include: 

  • Greeting customers in a polite and friendly way
  • Sending them a courtesy message if there is going to be a delay in picking them up
  • Telling them about any traffic en route that might delay them from reaching their destination on time
  • Offering conspicuous safety systems to keep passengers secure
  • Sticking to speed limits and driving smoothly

Figure Out How To Grow Your Earnings

At the same time, you also want to figure out strategies to maximize your earnings. Following simple tactics can be an excellent way to grow the amount of money you make. 

For example, driving close to high-demand locations is always a good tactic. These regions often have a large population of professionals who need to get to destinations across your city fast. 

You can also do the same for rush hour and special events, like weddings. Surge pricing allows you to charge more and win customers with the greatest need to travel. 

Using Uber’s incentives and promotions can also help. Keeping an eye on these allows you to adjust your pricing without affecting your profits. 

Finally, keep your car in good condition. Optimizing fuel usage and taking it for regular servicing can reduce overall vehicle usage and maintenance costs significantly. If you can fill up the tank when fuel prices are low, that’s even better. 

Keep Up To Date

Lastly, when you do start driving, ensure you remain up to date with Uber’s policies and look for ways to improve. Sometimes the company will change how it operates, forcing you to adapt your style or change how you process passengers. 

Of particular importance are changes in payment structures. These dictate how much of the profit you keep, and how much you need to pass over to the company. If these numbers rise, then it is sometimes worth seeking alternative rideshare opportunities with different brands. 

Always take time to gather feedback and adapt. Work out what your customers like and make improvements.

5 Reasons To Follow Your Career Dreams

Scott Asai1 Comment

No matter your age or stage in life, it is never too late to pursue the career of your dreams. Whether you’re starting a brand-new career or taking on a new role at an existing job, the rewards are significant and worth striving for. Here are five reasons to follow your career dreams:

A Sense Of Accomplishment

Pursuing and achieving your career goals can bring you great satisfaction and accomplishment. Having the chance to take on challenges and experience success in the pursuit of something you’re passionate about can be an incredibly rewarding feeling. This sense of accomplishment can also be transferred to other areas of your life, helping you grow and succeed in many different ways.

Increase Your Self-Confidence

Taking on a new career can help to build your self-confidence, as it gives you the opportunity to prove to yourself that you can do something outside of your comfort zone and succeed at it. Taking on this challenge can help increase your confidence in both a professional and personal setting, leading to further opportunities and successes down the line. In addition, your self-confidence can improve when you’re surrounded by people who are also striving for success, which can lead to positive mutual support.

Personal Growth And Development

Changing careers will give you the chance to increase your knowledge base and skill set. Pursuing the career of your dreams will help you become more knowledgeable, and it will also help you to develop personal traits such as communication skills and problem-solving abilities. For example, Alex Graveley is someone who pursued his dreams and focused on improving his skills, which has now resulted in him becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Financial Opportunities

Having the chance to pursue a career in something you’re passionate about can bring great financial rewards. You will be motivated to work harder and be more financially successful when doing something you love. You may even have the chance to increase your earning potential by taking on additional roles or opportunities and offering services or products related to your new career. In addition, following your dreams may encourage you to become your own boss, which can significantly increase earnings.

Career Fulfillment

Finally, following your career dreams can bring you greater job satisfaction. This is because when you’re doing something that you truly enjoy, it won’t feel like work. Your enthusiasm for the role will be evident in everything you do, and this will create a more fulfilling working experience. Career fulfillment is something that everybody should strive for, and it can be achieved by making the decision to take a risk and pursue your dreams.

Final Thoughts

It’s never too late to follow your career dreams. There are many benefits to making the leap from traditional roles and routines and following a path of personal growth that will lead you toward greater fulfillment and financial reward. So why not take the plunge today and start working on achieving your goals? You may just surprise yourself with the positive impact it will have on your life.

6 Ways To Level Up Your LinkedIn Profile

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Collaborative post – may contain affiliate links

OK, so you have a LinkedIn profile, and its…OK. You don’t update it very often but it does the job. 

But having an out of date LinkedIn profile is worse than not even having one. It can mean great things for your networking and your career so take the time to take yours to the next level. 

Write a killer headline

Your headline is a key way to get people to notice you. Rather than letting LinkedIn set your default to your current position and job role, write your own. 

Join/leave groups

If you were one of those people who joined LinkedIn in a flurry of activity and joined every single semi-relevant group you could find, it’s time for a cull. 

Find your list of groups and leave those that are inactive, irrelevant or you haven’t participated in recently. 

Or if you haven’t joined any, find a few that are relevant to your industry and interests and devote some time to get involved in conversations. Don’t join too many at once, or you’ll never be able to keep up. If a group isn’t very active, or you aren’t getting anything from it, don’t be afraid to leave the group. 

Groups are a great way to network with others and alongside your digital business cards can get your name out there in your field. 

Update your current position

If you’ve not updated your profile in a while, your current description is more than likely out of date or even an old job. Rewrite your current responsibilities as it’s your current job that people will most likely look at first. 

If relevant, add examples of your work and multimedia pieces to your profile too. 

Create a customized URL 

By creating a customized URL that incorporates your name, you can make the link to your profile a lot more memorable and professional. If you have a common name, you may have to get a little more creative, but don’t be tempted to put nicknames or something that you might regret later. 

Reach out for recommendations

A good LinkedIn profile should include a few glowing recommendations from employers, colleagues and other people who can vouch for the quality of your work and professionalism. 

Potential recruiters and headhunters will also be able to see it. Many job sites are now allowing you to apply automatically with your LinkedIn profile, rather than having to submit a separate application. 

Use a good photo

The photo you use on LinkedIn should be of good quality. There is some debate about how professional it should be. Some people use standard corporate headshots, others use something a little more personal. Whichever you choose, ensure that it gives the impression of you that you would want other people to have. 

Try and stay away from selfies or photos where you’ve clearly cropped yourself from a larger group of people. 

Conclusion

A good LinkedIn profile can really open career doors for you. But rather than neglecting it for long periods of time, followed by a sudden flurry of activity when you start looking to move a job isn’t an effective use of the platform. It’s also a huge giveaway to your current employer that you’re looking to move.

Become the Manager Employees Want to Emulate

Scott Asai5 Comments

Collaborative post – may contain affiliate links

Being a boss is easy- all you need is to hire someone. But becoming a manager that employees willingly follow and respect can be challenging. Fortunately, managing is a skill you can learn. 

Transformational leaders are inspiring, positive, and empowering. Some of the qualities associated with great leaders include intelligence, adaptability, and assertiveness. For some people, these traits are acquired naturally, while others have to learn. 

Use these tips to learn how to be a great leader that employees would emulate. 

Treat Employees Fairly

Treating workers fairly and equally in the workplace is necessary to ensure optimal company growth. Maltreating employees decreases employee morale, resulting in low productivity. Workers may also file a lawsuit against your organization for discrimination and unfair treatment. 

Avoid “lording” and showing prejudice towards certain employees over others. What applies to one worker should apply to others. Avoid discrimination based on age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or religion. 

When it comes to promotion, do so based on performance and qualification, not on personal relationships. Ensure job postings are open for all employees instead of verbally telling some workers about an opening. 

Provide all employees with an employee rule book or handbook to help them understand rules. It would be unfair to discipline a worker who’s unaware of the rules. Remember, if it were not for the workers, you would not have that job. 

Your managing title should inspire and not be a symbol of harassment. 

Motivate Employees

The best manager understands that motivating employees is a holy grail of any business. Giving your staff a peaceful working environment inspires them to work harder. The break room, the outdoor space, and even bathrooms can affect your worker’s motivation. 

You should, therefore, design the working space thoughtfully and curate it to inspire. The color scheme has a profound impact on the productivity and mood of the company. You can get an instant feel of a room as you enter. 

According to color psychology, blue is among the productive colors to choose from. It can be soothing or vibrant with a calming effect on a hectic working environment. Green represents nature, plant life, or fresh air. 

Green is also associated with creativity and broader thinking. A softer shade has a calming effect. Red is a vibrant, energizing color that boosts brain wave activity, heart rate, and blood flow. 

Understand the color that will bring out the best in your workers. You may also involve them when choosing the office colors.

Maintain a positive attitude to have a profound effect on employees’ motivation. Positivity can help you view problems as grand opportunities to get creative and innovative. 

Encourage Career Development

An employee with developed and advanced knowledge is a great asset to the company. That’s why you should value their career advancement. Making talented workers feel undervalued kills their morale and can affect productivity negatively. 

Know how to communicate effectively with employees. Interacting with workers on a one-to-one basis helps you stay attuned to their career expectations and aspirations. Help workers outline a potential career path to visualize their future. 

Consistent, direct, and clear communication from a manager makes the employee feel valued. Ensure you establish a formal mentoring program for workers’ professional and personal growth. For instance, you can encourage the engineering team to get more training from reliable engineering recruiters for advanced knowledge. At the very least, you should have programs like construction safety training in place, depending on the sector you work in. When employees know you’re keen to keep them safe, they’re a lot happier.

More so, assign smaller side tasks that are not aligned with workers’ careers to boost their skills. Give your team members a chance to work in different departments for a day to enhance their skill set. 

Be a Role Model 

Remember, you’re a role model to your workers. In short, you’re the magnifying glass. Have the model behaviors, which can be termed the big three- integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness. 

  • Integrity- As a leader, you need to do the right thing all the time. No taking advantage of others or playing favoritism. 
  • Honesty – Being straightforward is out of the question. You must be honest with all the decisions you make in the company. Let employees know why the decision was made and how it can affect the company’s going concern. 
  • Trustworthiness– As a manager, learn to live up to your commitments, respect confidential information, and keep all promises. 

Correct Problems 

No one is perfect, so learn to correct mistakes. In the business world, you cannot progress without fixing problems. Learn to give feedback- both positive and negative- and resolve issues as soon as they happen. 

Having empathy doesn’t mean you hold back making decisions. Correct a worker who’s doing a task wrongly, but give them a chance to rectify their deeds. Even a minor error can cost your business big time. 

Ensure you gather your professionals and personal courage and speak up. Letting the problem continue is a recipe for disaster. It can ruin your company’s reputation and ruin the morale of other employees. 

Be a Good Communicator

Your subordinates are not your slaves. You only happen to be slightly elevated above them. Although being a manager gives you power, you should never be rude to employees. 

Communicate your vision and let your workers understand what you want. You can enhance your communication skills through practice. And to be a good communicator, you must practice active listening. 

Pay attention to what employees are asking or sayings. Through active listening, you’ll understand what the person wants and respond appropriately. Your eye contact, tone of voice, and hand gestures can also convey your message. 

When communicating to workers, just say enough- not too little or too much. Be short and precise. Whether you’re communicating via email, phone, or in person, be clear and direct. 

As you communicate, be friendly to encourage your employees to open up. It’s important to be polite and courteous. 

Admit When You Are Wrong

One of the biggest problems that employees have with their employers is their inability to admit when they have gotten something. Everyone is human so we are all going to make mistakes, and owning up to them is a huge part of earning the respect of the people around you, especially if they work for you. If you think about it, people like Caitlin Brodie who are now teaching people how to be better leaders did not get to the position they are in by never making mistakes. You have got to admit that you were wrong or that you made a mistake, then work to correct it so that you know what to do in future. This will earn you the respect of your employees, and they will hopefully copy this behavior when they make an error.

The Bottom Line 

Great leaders are inspirations to employees. And you can also become one of the leaders’ workers would love to emulate. These traits and priorities will set you apart from other leaders. 

And you’re not only limited to these qualities. As a leader, set the pace, behave ethically, and practice adaptive leadership. Communicate with positive mental health and compassion.

The Things That will make you know you’re officially an adult

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Collaborative post – may contain affiliate links

Of all the things we were taught in school or by our parents, the biggest thing was that there is no real moment in time where you truly know you’re an adult. Physically, you could get to 80 years old but still feel mentally as you did at 21. 

However, there are some real home truths that will remind you that you’ve made it to adulthood on a daily basis that will have you thinking ‘yeah, OK, I guess I’m an adult now…’ 

If you read some of these things below and find yourself agreeing aloud- welcome to the crew. You made it. It’s OK, really…

You Got Bills (and mortgage, tax, insurance, car maintenance)

When you were a kid and starting to look at jobs you may have looked at jobs and thought of all the wonderful and fun things you could buy with a $18k salary after you left college. But for an adult facing the stark reality that if you want to keep a roof over your head, $18k really isn’t going to get you very far at all. That’s a harsh reality of adulthood–your entry level job may not give you the lifestyle you wanted. You get your salary in your bank and then it’s stolen by rent, utilities, your car, and then you’re left with pennies at the end of the month. Having too much month at the end of the money is one of the biggest signs that you’ve unlocked the adult achievement. 

You Relish The Thought of Being On Your Own 

You work hard all day and then might spend time crammed up against people on the train on the way home so the thing you crave most is being on your own. Kids hate the idea of doing anything on their own, but by the time adulthood comes, you feel lucky if you can spend a few hours  on your day off at https://www.laurelridgeexperience.com/golf-course rather than having to do boring things like clean your car or go grocery shopping. Dull! 

When a spouse and/or kids come along — you can forget it! 

You Can Eat Whatever You Like–But You Don’t 

If you have kids, then you know that if you ask them ‘What do you want to eat?’ they will reply with a list of all of the things that scream ‘blood pressure meds’ or ‘high blood sugar’. Yes, you’re in charge of the grocery shop now, but you know that if you eat like a literal child let loose in the candy shop your aged body will not thank you. Eating poorly as you get older will make you realize exactly why your mom would enforce the occasional broccoli floret on your fork as you navigate through dental and medical bills to boot.

All in all, the realization that you have become an adult isn’t so bad. You get to earn your own money, eat what you want and drive a car- what could be better than that?

Advancing Your Career Might Be More Simple Than You Think

Scott Asai5 Comments

Collaborative post – may contain affiliate links

If you have been trying to figure out some ways to advance your career, it might actually be more simple than you think. A lot of the time, people are too quick to make things more complicated than they need to be, which is why they end up taking themselves backwards instead of forward. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the ways that you can advance your career without making it too complicated. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Have A Plan

The first thing that you need to do is come up with a plan as to where you actually want to go. Once you know where you are heading, it’s far easier to then come up with ways to get to that place. But, a lot of people don’t bother sitting down and coming up with a step by step plan as to what the best solution is, and this is where things start to go wrong. When you have a plan, it is easy to follow, you know what you’re doing, and it’s clear where you need to go. When you wing it, you can end up in a situation you didn’t want to be in, doing things you didn’t really need to do, and actually find yourself doing more damage than good to your career. It’s for this reason that you should come up with a plan, and then stick to it as best you can. Of course, circumstances change, but not all the time.

Be Prepared For More Education

Another thing that you should do is be prepared for more education. It is often the case that to get further in your career, depending on your level of education right now, that you may require some more. The higher up in the business you go, the more you are expected to know. Of course, you are going to be gaining experience when you are working your way up through a company, but if you change companies at any point, a higher level of education is certainly going to come in handy. For example, you might want to study a more holistic approach to health so that you have diversified your range of knowledge. This makes you a more attractive option than someone who has only got a one track mind.

Making Friends In High Places

The final thing that we’re going to recommend is that you start trying to make friends in high places. As they say, it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know which is why you need to be able to network. We get that not everyone is brilliant at being social, but you’ve got to suck it up for the sake of your career if you’re hoping to get somewhere good, fast. Having friends higher up the food chain can come in handy in so many ways, so it’s important that you do your best to meet these people.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see that advancing your career might actually be more simple than you think. If you take the advice that we have laid out above, there’s no reason that you should find moving your career forward to be too much of an issue, Good luck, and we hope that you get where you want to be.