Saturday, December 28, 2019

Reach Out How to Connect with Someone on LinkedIn

Reach Out How to Connect with Someone on LinkedIn Reach Out How to Connect with Someone on LinkedIn Youve been told you need to be on LinkedIn. You created your account, wrote a killer LinkedIn profile, and optimized it for recruiters, but thats only the start. Only about half of LinkedIn users have logged on in the past month and countless accounts are empty, outdated, and abandoned. To get the most out of LinkedIn, you must reach out to and connect with your colleagues and industry peers.Adding quality LinkedIn connections improves your job prospects whether youre actively searching or simply keeping an open mind to career opportunities. For example, expanding your network will increase the number of first-, second, and third-degree connections between you, recruiters, and hiring managers, which helps you rank higher in LinkedIn Recruiter Search results.How to connect with someone on LinkedInConnecting with someone on LinkedIn is a two-way process. You must send an invitation to co nnect then wait for your contact to accept or ignore your invitation. Once youre connected, you gain access to their complete profile, network, and ability to message them directly. Here are some different ways to connectWhen setting up a new account Your first opportunity to connect to people on LinkedIn is when you first set up your account. If you link up your emaille account, LinkedIn will suggest people to connect with.Keep in mind that when you select people from this list, you will not have an opportunity to add a personal musiknote to your invitation. When you click the plus sign, your contact will receive a generic Id like to join your LinkedIn network message. More on that below.When browsing network suggestions or search resultsUnder the My Network tab, you can review any incoming invitations you might have. Below that are suggestions based on your existing network, associated companies, and interests. Clicking Connect in this section will not allow you to send a personal note with your invitation. If youd like to send a personalized message when you reach out, click into their profile and follow the instructions below.The same logic applies when you search for people on LinkedIn. Clicking Connect will instantly send an invitation with the default note.When viewing someones profileWhen viewing another LinkedIn users profile there will typically be a blue Connect button at the top with their personenname and other details. Some LinkedIn users have customizable profiles and have moved this button to a menu. Click More to reveal a way to connect.When using a desktop web browser, clicking Connect on someones profile will give you the option to add a personal note with your invitation. When using the mobile app, tapping Connect will always automatically send a default invitation. More on how to customize your mobile LinkedIn invitations below.More about how to utilize personal notes below.Should you add a personal note when you connect on LinkedIn?Yes, b ut its not always necessary. When someone considers your LinkedIn invitation, they need to know the followingDo I know you?If so, how do I know you?If not, why should I know you?If I shouldnt, why do you want to know me?In many cases, a personalized note isnt necessary to answer these questions. Your name and LinkedIn headline will often provide a full answer for your co-workers, high-touch business contacts, or industry peers. If it doesnt, write a mora descriptive LinkedIn headline and/or clarify those questions with a personal note. How to write a LinkedIn connection requestIf youre going to write a personal note, write something useful. Dont bother sending a note that is a rewording of LinkedIns default Id like to join your LinkedIn network. For example, Hi Jon, I thought it would be a good idea if we connect isnt an effective connection request.Take advantage of the 300 characters available in your invitation note. Answer the questions above as best as you can and try to connec t some dots by bringing up things like Shared connections and how you know themI noticed that were both connected to Jerri Smith. I managed Jerri at ABC CorpIm glad we were able to meet and chat at XYZ Conferences happy hour last ThursdayHow and why you found their profileI was searching for digital marketers in the Seattle area becauseWe are both members of the LinkedIn Group Digital Marketing SeattleYour comment on Jerri Smiths post about integrity in marketing got me thinkingThe specific reason youre reaching outI just moved to Seattle from Los Angeles last month and am arranging a meetup of like-minded marketersHow your professional goals align or intersectOur companies seem to share a mission of building great tools for jobseekersIm hoping we can learn from each other as digital marketers working in Seattle techSimilar education or past work experienceI saw that you graduated from WSU in 2013. I am currently a senior thereI noticed that were on a similar path, having gone from Oregons J school into content marketing What you admire about their work or LinkedIn brandYour advice on LinkedIn is always actionable and has helped me to become a better marketerI love the way youre able to market your companys products without ever feeling spammyThe video series you produced for XYZ Corps Facebook page made me laugh so hard I criedCombining as many of these as possible in 300 characters will ensure that your LinkedIn invitation to connect is personalized and pertinent.How to add a LinkedIn connection request on the mobile appTapping Connect on the LinkedIn mobile app will always result in an instant connection request without a note, even on individual profile pages. This comes as a surprise to users accustomed to the way LinkedIn behaves on desktop, where users have an opportunity to append a note after clicking Connect. The mobile app makes it a little trickier to send a personalized message. Oops. Sent without a noteTo send a personal note with your invitation to connect on LinkedIn, dont click Connect. Instead, tap into the persons profile, tap the More menu, then tap Personalize invite. How to cancel a LinkedIn invitationYou can retract a LinkedIn invitation to connect by navigating to the My Network tab in your top navigation bar, clicking Manage all on the top right in the Invitations section, then clicking Sent.If youre logged in, you can jump straight to your unaccepted invitations by going here https//www.linkedin.com/mynetwork/invitation-manager/sent/Check out Jobscans LinkedIn Optimization tool to get even more out of LinkedIn and take your career to the next level.

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Three clever ploys for dealing with dumb job interview questions

Three clever ploys for dealing with dumb job bewerberinterview questionsThree clever ploys for dealing with dumb job interview questionsWeve written about The 12 Habits of Genuine People at Ladders News, but what happens when your interviewer isnt genuine?An article that promises We got 10 CEOs to tell us their one killer interview question for new hires ought to be full of impressive questions that directly connect the behavior and past performance of the candidate to the job, right?Unfortunately, no.As it happens, the ten CEOs that Quartz assembled display the usual mess of dumb questions, self-important nonsense, and bizarre voodoo rituals.And while theres a good explanation for how even the top dog at a company can end up asking the worst interview questions, the important outcome for you is to make sure that dumb questions dont keep you from landing a great gig.These bad questions shouldnt cause you concern, and in fact, theyre an opportunity for you to shine by gently moving yo ur answers to the core of what really matters - your likely success in the job.Interviews are strange, of course. Its tough for you to get a feel for whether youre supposed to be buddies with the person across the table, or try to impress them, or puff yourself up. Thats why its common to have a bit of sympathy for anybody whos going on a job interview - almost everybody says good luckBut we should also have a dash of compassion for the person doing the interviewing. As these CEO questions confirm, most interviewers in the United States are horribly trained - if trained at all - and are often just thrown into interviewing without preparation, education, or practice.Thats how you wind up on the receiving end of questions like these - and lets face it - these are terrible questions Talk to me about when you were seven or eight. Who did you want to be? A key test comes early in the meal I give them the wine list. I told him to sing for us Would you rather be respected or feared?T he reason theyre terrible is they have nothing to do with job performance.And I dont just mean directly. There are plenty of questions that are not directly about how you did your job that are nonetheless effective in assessing future job performance (Ken Moelis Monopoly question being a good example of assessing analytic skills via non-job-related subject matter.)What I mean is that these questions are not predictive of future job performance. There is nothing about what you wanted at eight years old, how well you know your way around a wine list, or your propensity to sing in public that has any ability to determine whether or not youll be good at the role youre interviewing for.So lets get to the practical matter how should you handle dumb questions from the CEO, or anybody else, in an interview?Here are your three clever ploys for dealing with interview oddities. Your can use some variation of these responses, always delivered in a pleasant, accommodating, welcoming way, to move the conversation to the substance of your ability to do the job.The But What About Me? MoveWhat are you trying to understand better about my background with this question? Perhaps I can help clarify something I havent made clear.The Let Me Highlight What I *Am* Good At GambitI think what youre trying to ask is whether Im good at ___________ fill in the blank with something youre good at. Let me share with you the time thatThe Jiu Jitsu, Turn-It-Right-Around-And-Send-It-Back ActionI know this job is important for your team / group / company. What would be the answer youre looking for from somebody in this role, and I can tell you if I match up with that?Each of these moves, alone or combination, can help you keep your interview flowing in the right direction. So rather than frittering away valuable interview time on answering daft questions, or getting annoyed with an ungelehrter interviewer, turn the conversation towards something that puts your abilities in a better light.For exam pleWould you rather be respected or feared?Help me understand what are you trying to assess about my experience with that question. Whether Im effective at motivating people, right? Well, let me tell you about the time thatSing for us.I think what youre trying to ask is whether Im comfortable in front of audiences, and the answer is definitely not Thats why Im applying for this economics analyst job. Numbers sing to me, I dont sing for themWhat did you want to be when you were seven or eight?Great question, and I know this job is important for your team. What kind of answer are you looking for from the candidate youll hire for this role? And then I can tell you whether I match up with that.In every case, turn the conversation back to the job, your experience, and how your background indicates that youll be successful in this role.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Heres How to Gain Clarity When Youre Stuck in Your Career

Heres How to Gain Clarity When Youre Stuck in Your CareerHeres How to Gain Clarity When Youre Stuck in Your CareerSeveral years ago, my team planned a two-day event called the Instigator Experience. In the nine months leading up to the event, my life changed a lot. I found a mentor who played an instrumental role in helping me turn my geschftlicher umgang around, self-published a book that succeeded beyond my wildest expectations, and rebranded my podcast. After the event was over, my life took a turn for the worse. The major difference between before and after the event was clarity. Before the event, I knew exactly what I should be working on every single day. After the event, I didnt have the same clarity, and as a result, I lost a great deal of momentum.When youre not clear on your goals, its impossible to accomplish them.Youd never get in your car with no idea where youre going. But we do this all the time in life.1. Finding ClarityHalf the battle of finding clarity is figuring o ut what you want. Sometimes we think we want certain things because other people think we should want them. When we choose to do something because of the validation well receive, we often make errors in judgment.For a while, I had this idea that I wanted to turn Unmistakable Creative into a large, venture-funded media company with hundreds of employees. But the more I understood what that truly meant- a hauptplatine to answer to, employees to manage, an office where I was expected to show up every day- the less I wanted it. By doing that Id end up creating the very thing Id spent the last 10 years trying to escape.Figuring out what you truly want is a process of deep emotional inquiry, and you need to be willing to be honest with yourself.One of the reasons I write 1,000 words a day is that it helps me find clarity. By getting thoughts and ideas out of your head and onto a blank page, youre able to see your thinking. Another simple exercise that I revisit every few months is somethi ng my friend AJ Leon recommends in his book, The Life and Times of a Remarkable MisfitWrite a 500-word description of what you want your life to look like in two years. This will act as your signpost. Then (and heres the kicker), post it on your blog or email it to someone who will get it. Its hard to go back on a revolution that youve already announced.Meditation can be another great way to find clarity. When I interviewed Gay Hendricks about finding your zone of genius, he recommended a daily meditation and contemplation of the following2. Aligning Actions to GoalsOnce you have clarity, it becomes straightforward to align your actions with your goals.Last year I had one big goal schliff writing my second book. The action that aligned with that goal was to set aside one focused hour a dayof uninterrupted creation time. I even have the period blocked off on my calendar.I had a deadline of November. Because of this, I was able to break up a huge goal into smaller, more manageable par ts. Writing a 50,000-word book feels intimidating. Writing 500 words a day over nine months doesnt.Accountability can also make a big difference in your ability to take action. I work with a fantastic writing coach who keeps me on track. If it had been a few days since Id made a dent in my manuscript, shed send me an email nudging me, or wed set up a phone call to talk about where I was stuck.In his book, Principles Life and Work, Ray Dalio uses the analogy of a machine to describe a process for achieving goals. We have goals, and we have an outcome. The actions you take bridge the gap between your goal and your outcome. If the goals are different than the outcome, you have a flaw in the design of the machine. If the outcome isnt favorable, you have to either change the design or change the people.Its also important to focus on high-impact tasks.Throughout his career, Brian Tracy always asked himself the question, Is what Im doing leading to a sale? If the answer was no, he knew tha t he wasnt focused on a high impact activity. So, ask yourself Is what Im doing moving the needle on what matters the most?High-impact activities tend to be in your zone of genius- the kinds of things that nobody can do as well as you do. They also tend to be focused on behavior instead of outcomes. I cant outsource writing or interviewing guests for my podcast- those are high-impact activities. But editing the show, formatting blog posts, and other ancillary activities are necessary, but not the highest impact things I could be doing for our business.For some people, low-impact activities become a form of procrastination. As a result, theyre busy, but not productive. Below Ive included a simple framework you can applyA bias toward action is what separates the people who benefit from clarity from those who dont. Consistency leads to progress, which increases your motivation, which in turn creates momentum.In any life, youll go through periods where you have a tremendous amount of cl arity, and moments when you lack it. When a career has been a big part of your identity for a long time and no longer is, youll be searching for clarity. Throughout our lives, we walk into unterstellung caves of darkness and emerge into the light, having evolved, grown, and transformed into better versions of ourselves.This article was originally published on Unmistakable Creative. It has been republished here with permission.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Five Marketing Careers that Didnt Exist Before the Internet

Five Marketing Careers that Didnt Exist Before the InternetFive Marketing Careers that Didnt Exist Before the InternetBefore the Internet advertising was done primarily on television, print, radio and outdoor billboards. Marketing consisted of public relations, fests and sponsorships. In the age of the Internet options for marketing have expanded. Almost 30 percent of corporate marketing budgets go toward digital marketing, and those budgets are growing every year. With people spending more time on computers and mobile devices instead of in front of the television, it makes sense for companies to spend more online.Thats good news for people who love technology but dont have degrees in computer science. Careers in marketing are a great fit for people with liberal arts or non-technical majors, and digital marketing is no exception.Why you might be a good fit for digital marketingYou Can See the Big PictureThey key to a successful career in digital marketing is the ability to binnensee the big picture combined with the ability to focus on the details. Being on a digital marketing team is like being parte of a giant puzzle. If the whole of the puzzle is promoting your companys services or products, you must know how your piece of the puzzle contributes to the overall picture.You Listen to MetricsOn the Web everything is measurable. Another key to a career in digital marketing is the ability to focus on numbers and make decisions based on what the numbers tell you. Your ability to keep the big picture in mind while looking at metrics will allow you to suggest changes that will improve performance. Perhaps the awesome blog deutsche bundesposts you wrote as a content manager are not performing well, but the SEO on the blog is lacking, or it wasnt promoted on social media. Successful online marketing is truly a team effort.Things you need to know going inEvery company does it differentlyEvery company has different titles and digital marketing skill breakdowns. At a sma ll company one person could conceivably fulfill all five of these roles. Large companies and agencies generally hire full-time specialists or whole teams in each area.Know the toolsEvery company uses a different set of tools. Before you interview, see if you can find out what tools they use, and research them by visiting the websites and watching product demonstrations. As an employee youll likely have tool providers pitching you frequently, and you may be involved in product evaluations.Learning never stopsDigital marketing is a fast-changing field and new tools and social platforms are introduced all the time. Therefore its a good idea to stay abreast of trends by reading industry blogs. Your reading should be weighted toward reputable publications based in the U.S. (if you live there) rather than individual bloggers. There are many spammy online marketing blogs based overseas that provide incomplete or incorrect information.If you want to be a pro, get your information from the p ros who work for reputable companies. A good rule of thumb to see if a publication is reputable is to find out if they host or have authors who speak at conferences in your country. Once you get a job as digital marketer, you may be sent to one of these conferences to learn and network.Five Careers in Digital Marketing1. Social MediaSample titles Community Manager, Social Media Manager, Social Media SpecialistSocial Media is all about getting the word out there and engaging directly with customers. Social media outlets include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, YouTube and blogs. A social media manager might post on behalf of the company to some or all of these outlets. Youll need to know how to post images, how to craft compelling short posts, and youll learn how to design campaigns that focus on a single topic over time. If you love connecting with people online, consider a career in social media.ToolsHootsuiteBit.lySocialFlowSpredfastAdobe SocialOracle Social CloudSprout SocialP ublicationsSocial Media ExaminerTechCrunch2. PPC (or Paid Search)Sample Titles PPC Manager, PPC AnalystAs a PPC manager, youll be in charge of placing ads on search engines and other performance-based media channels such as Google, Yahoo/Bing and Facebook. Youll look at monthly, weekly and daily budgets and try to get the most out of your companys ad spending by optimizing keyword bids and ad copy across locations and devices. If you have a love for analyzing numbers and enjoy looking at graphs and charts but can also think about keywords and their many permutations, you could be a great PPC manager. It could also be a great fit for people with knowledge of finance or accounting who would like to be more creative in their work.ToolsGoogle AdWordsGoogle AdSenseMarin SoftwareKenshooAdobe Media OptimizerDoubleClickPublicationsSearch Engine LandSearch Engine WatchSearch Engine JournalGoogle Inside AdWords3. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)SEO Manager, SEO SpecialistWhile PPC is about pa id search placement, SEO is about organic search placement the search results that arent in the sponsored link sections at the top and right rail of the search results page (SERP). The closer a companys links appear toward the top of the page for a given search query, the more likely it is that users click.SEO specialists understand techniques for acquiring relevant besucherzahlen from search engines such as building links, optimizing title tags and making URL recommendations. The search engine algorithms change frequently, so they stay abreast of changes by reading blogs and industry publications. At some companies, SEO and PPC can be done by the same person. Youll be great at SEO if you love going into code, making tweaks, and tracking results over time. Youll also need a good understanding of language.ToolsGoogle Webmaster ToolsBing Webmaster ToolsBrightEdgeGoogle AnalyticsConductorMozSearchMetricsMajestic SEOPublicationsSearch Engine LandMoz blogSEO BookGoogle Inside Search4. Di gital (or Web) AnalyticsTitles Digital Analyst, Web Analytics ManagerOriginally focused on analyzing traffic to a website- where it comes from and what people do there- Web analytics expanded to digital analytics when social media grew in importance. Digital analysts look at the traffic to a website or social pages, what pages people visit, how long they stay, where they come from, what devices they use and whether they convert (buy a product or sign up for something). That information is used to determine what tactics can be applied to generate more conversions. Digital analysis is a good fit for people who would enjoy researching behavior and recommending changes based on what they find out.ToolsGoogle AnalyticsAdobe Analytics (formerly Omniture)IBM Enterprise One (formerly Coremetrics)WebtrendscomScore Digital AnalytixResourcesGoogle Analytics BlogDigital Analytics AssociationWeb Analytics Demystified5. Content MarketingSample Titles Content Strategist, Content ManagerRoles in co ntent marketing tend to vary based on what business the company is in, particularly if the companys customers are consumers (B2C) or businesses (B2B). Content marketers determine what type of content is the best way to get people interested in a particular service, product or event and take the steps to getting that content created and posted. Content types can include copy, blogs, articles, video, social media posts, downloadable documents such as e-books and white papers, webinars, case studies, emails and newsletters. Content marketers may need to know at least some HTML or CSS as well as keyword-based SEO techniques. Content marketing is a great fit for people who love to read and are good with language.ToolsWordPressDrupalJoomlaMarketoPardotEloquaMailChimpConstant ContactSilverPopHubspotResourcesContent Marketing InstituteMarketing LandTop Rank BlogCopy BloggerDigital marketing budgets are growing 10 percent or more a year. As budgets grow, companies need to hire more people to work in social media, PPC, SEO, digital analytics and content marketing. Over time your job might expand to include two or more of these areas, or you could end up managing a whole team of specialists. With your eye on the big picture and an ability to listen to metrics, youll be prepared for a long and varied career.

Monday, December 9, 2019

The Number One Article on Resumes That Stand out

The Number One Article on Resumes That Stand out Another is to utilize Resume Builder. Your CV is a crucial portion of your quest for the sort of jobs you have earned. To begin with, you have to locate a job for the CV. Job seekers have been striving for a long time to create their resumes stick out from the pile. Graduates are ready to research and cooperate with global companies and company partners. Seasoned applicants are requested to submit a on-line tool. Including your community-service work will help you distinguish yourself from the rest of the resumes and applicants out there. The Unusual Secret of Resumes That Stand out Theres always a danger to receive caught. Therefore, taking the opportunity to thoroughly craft a new version for each job youre applying to is usually advisable. Rather than spending plenty of time developing a video or attempting to stick out on social networking, you might go down the conventional route just with a twist. Theres a good deal of crucial projects going on. What You Need to Do About Resumes That Stand out Starting in the Next 20 Minutes For the student, it is an opportunity to have the business experience you have to get hired. You are able to use your resume as a means to showcase your experiences, your accomplishments, and the skills youve got, but in addition help it become clear how youve grown over recent years. It helps to incorporate skills you have over a restart. The most suitable education can help an applicant to stick out in both big phases of the application practice. Boring works as soon as it comes to the majority of resumes. Resumes are supposed to be action oriented, accomplishment focused but theyre supposed to be visually appealing, Lanzalaco stated. They are typically quite short often only about a page but they are often the first chance you will have to make an impression. Nearly all resumes also incorporate a concise work history section. What You Dont Know About Resumes That Stand out Well, theres a high possibility that youve sent the incorrect sort of resume for the particular job description. To call the present job market overcrowded would be a big understatement. In order to acquire work, you require a resume that will get you noticed. Dont just add your latest job in addition to your old resume. Its better to know which to utilize in which portion of the world to ease in your job search. It can be quite hard to stick out from the crowd when applying for work. If youre expecting to launch work search, or are already in the center of one, you might be facing a great deal of competition. For folks that are unemployed or underemployed, figuring out how to stick out in the work search is critical. Top Resumes That Stand out Choices So, make certain youre knowledgeable about the requirements and learn to write resume outline first. Resumes are nothing if they dont open in a grand way. Resumes that stand out, float to the peak of the pil e, and wind up on the desk of the individual who will hire you. Resumes That Stand out - What Is It? As soon as it is undoubtedly true that nobody will hire you solely depending on the caliber of the paper used to print your resume. Instead, state your name and that you will return calls whenever possible. Actually, theres scope to attempt to use social media to provide your alternative resume some traction to make certain that your dream provider takes notice. Even smaller details, like the range of patients seen daily, provide a clearer picture of what the nurse accomplished in that specific workplace.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Skills-based Resume: No Longer a Mystery

Skills-based Resume No Longer a Mystery A fresher resume template will usually comply with a functional structure, where it will let you concentrate on your relavant abilities and qualifications for that specific job. If youre looking for work in the accounting sector, an accounting resume template would be beneficial for you. You dont require any coding skills in any respect. Avoid, if youre able to, common resume templates. The Argument About Skills-based Resume Stunning Resume matters a lot when youre trying to find a great job. Hiring managers are seeking employees that yield results. Hiring managers and recruiters skim resumes to choose if they wish to interview you and interviewers skim to determine what things to speak to you about. Hiring managers (for the large part) are especially interested in what youve been doing in the previous 23 decades and the way it is related to the standort theyre attempting to fill. Try to remember, after youve finished personalizin g your resume, youre not prepared to fill out an application yet. Whether youre searching for a job associated with design or not, design thinking is an invaluable skill to get. More frequently than not, customizing your resume does not indicate a major rewrite, but instead just a couple of tweaks. What Skills-based Resume Is - and What it Is Not Many job seekers attempt to pass off periods of unemployment by claiming that they started their own company, which might or may not truly be true. To create a resume you will need to understand the necessities of the perspective employer for that specific job profile. If you would like to receive a nice job, you require a good resume. You need to be particular about the job objective mentioned at the start of your resume. What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Skills-based Resume Resume tips for felons are an enormous assistance. Thus, your resumes are simply a single push away typically. If LinkedIn will publish a similar report, I am quite sure the outcome will be supporting LinkedIn instead of TheLadders. With the debut of creative bots, LinkedIn could grow to be as fantastic as OkCupid. Both are crucial if you are asking for a client-facing position. All such skills have to be mentioned in your resume, if theyre related to the job that you are applying for. If you are searching for a job for a nurse, a nurse resume template would be excellent for your career. The abflug of Skills-based Resume The target of your resume is to secure you the interview. The most difficult portion of applying for employment is obtaining an interview and receiving the opportunity to speak to your employer in person. The ideal approach to practice is to attempt to recreate what an actual interview would be like. Your resume, as stated, isnt an all-out explanation of each step youve taken. Heres What I Know About Skills-based Resume In general, the above mentioned outline is remarkably simple because the work search p rocedure, despite all of the anxiety and confusion, is remarkably easy. Most times you are going to be provided a deadline for when youve got to have the coding challenge done by. You are able to also see resume template. Employing a resume template saves you a good deal of time.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Finding your voice in a competitive team

Finding your voice in a competitive kollektivFinding your voice in a competitive gruppeWho doesnt love to work on a high-performing kollektiv? Its motivating to work with smart, dedicated colleagues who constantly add value to projects and are quick to execute on their responsibilities, then ask, Whats next?But in some high-performing teams, collaboration gets put aside as competition heats up. Co-workers play verbal ping-pong in meetings, constantly promote their achievements, and put in long hours to try to gain an edge over their colleagues.Sometimes, it can seem easier to take a back seat while your teammates go head to head. But Linda Adams, President of Gordon Training International, says, Silencing ourselves exacts a huge price. When you adopt a passive attitude, your contributions and opinions get overlooked, and the team loses a valuable voice.So what does it take to speak up and have a voice when you work in a highly competitive team?When a participant asked that question i n my recent webinar, Finding Your Voice, panelist Monali Jain leaped at the opportunity to offer some guidance.And for good reason Jain has spent her career working on high-performing, highly competitive teams. Her experience encompasses roles in software engineering, technology leadership, angel investing and consulting. Im working on a multi-million dollar project right now, she said. Everybody who is on the team is very competitive thats why theyre there.While it can be easy to be intimidated by these hard-charging, high-stakes environments, Jain has a great perspective on the benefits. I am driven by competition, but more so by team success, explains Jain. Competitive people are driven by wanting to be better than before - so learn from themTo answer my webinar participants question - and perhaps your own - Jain offered these three suggestions for thriving on a highly competitive team.1. Take your seat at the tableThe first step to finding your own voice in a highly competiti ve atmosphere is to show up with the right attitude. If you find yourself on such a team, embrace the experience.Once youve gotten into the team, it means youve got aseat at the table, Jain says. Now, use it.You might feel intimidated by the team at first, but realize youre there for a reason. Youve met the price of admission, so trust your particular skill set, and challenge yourself to speak up. Make sure you contribute, says Jain. Contribute even if youre not asked.2. Lean on your networkAccording to Jain, one way to increase your comfort level with speaking up in a competitive team is to build a very strong network.Jain used the example of a time when her team was in a tough meeting, trying to justify a particularly big investment.We were about to make a multi-million dollar commitment and needed to know how it would pan out, Jain says. They asked tough questions, and we didnt have answers.To find those answers, Jain reached out to her network for help, and because of the connec tions she had made, she was able to come back to her team with some new data points to look at. With this fresh perspective, the team was able to move beyond the impasse.Ask yourself Would you have those kinds of resources to draw on? If not, now is the time to begin buildinga network of high-caliber associatesthat complement (or exceed) the skills of your team. Then, youll have on-demand access to a network of confidantes and experts for support and answers when the pressures on you and your team to deliver.3. Differentiate yourselfFinally, its important to let the other team members know what you bring to the table as an individual as well as a team player.Differentiate yourself, so that you can complement others, not compete with them, advises Jain. When youre in a competitive team, it means youre there to collaborate. Youre there to help each other and supplement each other.Figure out what you can do differently than other team members that will be auniquely valuable contributio n. For example, bringing in those data points was my contribution, Jain shares.Do this well, asserts Jain, and others will reach out to you for your expertise. If you differentiate yourself, people will look up to you and make you a part of the team.Working on a team is complicated - even more so when populated with vocal, highly competitive colleagues. Contribute, seek support, and carve out your own niche. Youll be able to establish your unique voice in your team.Thisarticlewas originally posted onBeLeaderly.com.

Monday, November 25, 2019

The most cringe-worthy, team-building exercise I participated in

The most cringe-worthy, team-building exercise I participated inThe most cringe-worthy, team-building exercise I participated inFabio is at the door.This phrase, uttered in a mockingly dramatic tone, can totenstill elicit groans and laughter in certain Seattle advertising circles. This team-building exercise, which happened over 20 years ago, is legendary in its awfulness.I welches a new hire - and new to the role as a copywriter for a large advertising agency which is now part of a behemoth global concern. My first of many jobs for this group of agencies, which are generous as a rule, and tend to have plenty of funds for employee development programs, no matter how dubious.This particular office suffered from an unusually competitive, back-stabby culture. In retrospect, I also think the culture extended to client and vendor relations. Maybe some of them complained about things like padded invoices and inflated hours which they couldnt prove, or maybe someone thought we needed conti nuing education in ethics.Regardless of the reason, they thought they could fix things by bringing in this consultant, a Tony Robbins type, who announcedI am here to help you feel inspired.Inspired to, you know, not pad the expense reports and stuff. At least this welches the gist of it again in retrospect. But it was all couched in these touchy-feely parables about relationships, including a hypothetical situation he outlined while instructing us to shut your eyes.I want you to imagine youre a woman, home alone. Your husband is traveling on business. He will be gone for awhile. Nobody else is around to see you or hear you.Okay, my eyes are shut. Im picturing myself on the couch with a pint of ice cream, watching As The World Turns like the 1990s stay-at-home housewife I wasnt.Suddenly, you hear a knock. You go to answer it.Fabio is at the door.Huh? You mean that dude on the fake butter commercials? Why would he be at the door?The guy waited with bated breath. What do you do? Do you invite him in? After all, nobody will know.Um, ew, no. God no. Thats super creepy, and quite frankly, more of a male fantasy than something women would dream up, especially those who might have been raped or attacked by an intruder.Why on earth would this guy think that this was an appropriate question to bring up in a corporate setting? Its horrible,even in an everyday setting. Like he assumed that if were offered a chance to cheat without getting caught, wed jump at it, even with a total stranger.Besides, Fabio??? I mean, he could have used Antonio Banderas or Harrison Ford or even the guy in the Cindy Crawford Diet Coke commercial. But no, not Fabio.I wasnt the only one to be shocked. Stunned silence was followed by laughter, followed by boos, followed by a lot of people - the women especially - walking out on the whole thing to complain.Funny enough, I did end up meeting Fabio during a personal appearance at Whole Foods years later. He was handsome, I guess, but the attractio n was mitigated by the presence of a box fan hed set up so his hair would remain windblown as he talked about the whey protein he was shilling.Nice enough guy, but if he showed up at my door, Id still call the cops.Photo credit me. Im the second person on the left, cuddling up to the big lug.This post first appeared on Quora.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Worker safety rules are quietly going away

Worker safety rules are quietly going awayWorker safety rules are quietly going awayAs of March 14, the Labor Department has yet to publicly release any fines against companies committing workplace safety violations.This silence contrasts with the rush of fines from past administrations. Under President Obama, the departments Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released about 460 notices annually about fines.Why it matters What OSHA does, at its best, is advocate on behalf of workers by penalizing workplace safety offenders and detail what exactly employers did wrong.Without the list being made public, workershave no way of finding out which employers are frequent workplace safetyviolators.No more public shamingOSHAs list was used to raise awareness of workplace safety violations and force employers to improve their conditions through public shaming.This is a popular technique most frequently used by journalists. The Village Voice was known for annuallypublicizing th e 10 Worst Landlords of New York City, a list that would prompt landlords to do anything to get off of it for the next year.Now, companies dont have to worry so much about keeping records. Under the Obama administration, OSHA required companies to electronically submit records of workplace accidents, so that OSHA could list them publicly on its website. OSHA under president Donald Trump, in contrast, is not accepting electronic submissions at this time.OSHA rules apply to bro workers and factory workersAn important bit of context While OSHA is frequently considered a key protection for blue-collar factory workers, it also protects white-collar workers, who may become injured or ill from electrical dangers, indoor air problems, poor housekeeping, excessive noise, inaccessible fire extinguishers, and entrances and exits which may be blocked, according to an OSHA document.Everything from badeanstalt air quality to insufficient equipment could lead to white-collar workers seeking disabi lity payments for respiratory illnesses, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other physical maladies. Workers compensation to pay for injuries and illnesses in the workplace covered nearly 133 million Americans as of the most recent tally, according to the National Association of Social Insurance.Falls, slips and trips - which could happen in any office - account for around 17% of all workplace compensation claims, according to the National Association of Social Insurance.The organization noted in its most recent report, in fact, that white-collar workers are the ones most likely to be covered for long-term disability insurance 59% of workers in management and professional-related occupations were covered by long-term disability plans as of 2014, compared to 34% of workers in sales and office occupations, and 10% of workers in service occupations.That said, OSHAs strongest work comes in preventing fatalities on the job, which are far more likely to happen in factories.Senseless tragedyAs an example, in 2016, OSHA fined Alabama-based Ajin USA$2.5 millionafter a 20-year-old female factory worker was fatally impaled by a malfunctioning robot.In its report, OSHA calledthe incident asenseless tragedy that was entirely preventable with better safety guidelines. Putting Ajin USA on its Severe Violators Enforcement Program, OSHA could inspect Ajin USA factories more frequently.Without that list being publicly available, companies that violate safety rules are better able to avoid accountability.Federal contracts may go to workplace safety violatorsIn fact, companies that dont respect workplace safety wont even suffer financially they are now more likely to get federal contracts than they were just three months ago.Thats because in early March, the Senate voted to repeal theFair Pay and Safe Workplaces regulation, which the Obama administration put in place. The law required employers bidding on federal contracts to disclose alleged workplace safety violations. It was suppos ed to make it harder for the worstviolatorsto get government funding byholding them more accountable.With that law repealed, companies with safety violations can more easily win federal contracts. Since 1 in 5 American workers is employed by a federal contractor, this rule could have far-reaching consequences.Less regulation means more concerns for workers healthOSHA is now also delaying a rule that would decrease workers exposure toberyllium, a mineral linked to a fatallung disease. Due to the White Houses regulatory freeze memorandum, the rule that was supposed to go into effect this month will now go into effect onMay 20.In January, OSHA estimated that therule would impact 62,000 workers and save 94 lives annually, so longer delays or kompetenz revisions could further jeopardize workers health.