Evaluate a Job Candidates Social Skills

Evaluate a Job Candidates Social SkillsEvaluate a Job Candidates Social SkillsEvaluate a Job Candidates Social SkillsWhen it comes to recruiting strategies, hiring decisions often focus largely on candidates technical skills and expertise, with relatively little attention given to soft skills. This can result in hiring employees who have the cognitive firepower to succeed but lack the social skills required to effectively use what they know. These employees tend to either rapidly leave due to interpersonal conflict and frustration, stall out in lower-level positions due to their inability to handle the social demands of leadership or bulldoze through the organization, leaving a trail of poor morale and increased turnover.Hiring the right candidate based on technical knowledge without looking at social skills is like designing a race car with a powerful engine and substandard steering and braking systems. Your car is likely to go somewhere fast, but not necessarily in the direction yo u want it may even hurt a lot of innocent bystanders along the way. Fortunately, there are relatively easy and inexpensive ways to decrease the risk of hiring the cognitively skilled but socially inept.Social skills reflect a persons ability to work with others in a way that accomplishes near-term business objectives while strengthening longer-term working relationships. The concept of social skills has been around a long time, although it is periodically repackaged under titles such as emotional intelligence, tacit knowledge and interpersonal savvy. Social skills depend primarily on four fundamental characteristicsSelf-awareness Monitoring how our actions affect the behavior of those around us.Sensitivity to others Showing concern toward the needs and feelings of others.Social intelligence Understanding methods for influencing others behaviors and perceptions.Self-control Being able to control our actions and emotions, particularly when under stress.One need not be highly adept at all of these to be socially skilled. However, a serious deficit in any one area can result in major interpersonalissues with problem employees.There are several methods for assessing job candidates social skills, and an interview is the least complex. A candidates lack of social intelligence may show up during the interview process as social errors. Carefully observe how the candidate interacts informally with others. Create social settings such as group discussions or luncheons that require candidates to display social skills. Moderately low levels of social intelligence wont be a problem unless the job requires the ability to quickly develop rapport with others.Sensitivity to others can also be assessed during an interview, but it is a bit more difficult. During the interview, ask candidates to describe influences on their careers or interpersonal conflicts they have experienced at work. Pay attention to how they describe others in their answers. Answers that are highly judgmental or give little credit to the contributions and interests of others could be associated with low sensitivity to others. References can also be a good source of information. Ask people to describe what the person was like to work with. If they say things like highly independent or difficult to manage, you may want to probe a bit more.Self-control and self-awareness are perhaps the fruchtwein difficult social skills to assess. One of the best ways to assess these social skills is to use a role-play exercise. This involves having candidates interact with trained assessors in a simulated work scenario (e.g., having the candidate give feedback to a fictional underperforming employee). If properly structured and conducted, role-playing can be one of the most valid predictors of social skill.Social skills can also be assessed using standardized questionnaires such as personality tests and social style measures. These tests measure underlying beliefs, preferences and attitudes that affect i nterpersonal behavior. Many of these measures are relatively straightforward to use, fairly inexpensive and can be highly valid. There are a wide variety of well-designed measures to choose from, but its often difficult to tell the difference between a good measure and one that looks good but does little. Consequently, its a good idea to consult with an independent assessment expert when choosing this sort of measure.Once you rate a candidates social skills, its important to decide how much weight to give that information, depending on the position youre filling. The right decision will help ensure a smooth ride inside your organization.

Heres how to find out what your coworkers really think about you

Heres how to find out what your coworkers really think about youHeres how to find out what your coworkers really think about youToo many of us are operating under the illusion that our coworkers see us as we see ourselves. Were open books, we tell ourselves. Ask us anything. Psychologists call this the transparency illusion, or the tendency to overestimate that our intentions match our realities. And this illusion only gets stronger as we climb up the corporate ladder and our power over other peoples careers and reputations makes it harder for people to openly criticize us.But its important to find our how people really think about us.If we live in this la-la land for too long, we may get blindsided by negative feedback. He thinks Im competing for his job? But I thought we were great teammates. She thinks I dont listen to her ideas? I was all earsThe only way to stop these surprises is to test our assumptions about ourselves and gather feedback about our work and behavior. And that m eans not waiting for your scheduled feedback one-on-ones - and getting the courage to ask for real feedback from multiple people who know you professionally.To find out how co-workers really think about you, you need to askLeadership coach Kristi Hedges, author of The Power of Presence Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others, outlined how to do this in Harvard Business Review. She recommends selecting five people from all walks of life in your career - from your current co-workers and supervisors to your past peers and mentors - and asking them for a face-to face meeting.This can be an uncomfortable request for some individuals, particularly if they report to you, so give the participant a heads up of exactly how this meeting is going to go. Be clear that youll keep whatever the person tells you confidential, which will encourage honesty, and that youll be collecting feedback from several people to find themes, which lessens the burden for any one individual, Hedges w rites.Asking people who know different sides of you at work is critical to helping you see the full picture of yourself. And you need to hold these talks in person whenever possible. Although it may be tempting to email or text requests for feedback, tone can easily get lost in written workplace communication.What to askOnce you meet up with your colleague, here are the two questions Hedges said that you need to ask themWhats the general perception of me?What could I do differently that would have the greatest impact on my success?These are broad questions that may need specific follow-up questions if you are not getting the feedback you need to hear. If your co-worker tells you that peers think you can be rude, ask Can you give me an example of that? If your boss says youre doing a good job, ask her for specific instances of your success so you know what youre doing particularly well and what you need to improve.Honest feedback is a giftIts important to recognize that when you rece ive honest feedback, its a gift, regardless of how painful it may sound at the time. Hold back from showing your gut reaction if the feedback stings. Dont interrupt them with your version of the story. Listening to your colleague means taking notes so you can spot patterns and themes. If you lack clarity, ask for it, but dont debate your colleagues story. The Muse recommends repeating back what you think your feedback partner is saying with statements like, I hear you saying that you want me to provide more detailed weekly reports, is that right? That way, you know that you and your conversation partner are on the same page.Dont forget to say thanksAbove all, remember to thank your colleagues and co-workers for taking the time out of their day to help you with your career.It may not feel like a gift when you hear it, but knowing how other see you at work is necessary information you need to succeed.More from LaddersThese companies let employees work from the comfort of their homesTh ese are the 15 highest-paying jobs in the nation, LinkedIn foundWatch out for this disturbing new trend in job interviews

Silence How to find it at work, and why you might need it to focus

Silence How to find it at work, and why you might need it to focusSilence How to find it at work, and why you might need it to focusAchieving a balance of sounds can be challenging- especially if you work in an open office.Thats why some people have a tougher time focusing on tasks. But there are ways to get the silence you crave to get work done.Are you a highly sensitive person?People have varying tolerances to sound, but some are mora sensitive to it than others.Psychologist Elaine Arons researchhas shownthatone of the characteristics of a highly-sensitive person is an extreme reaction to loud noises - or in fact, any noises. The personality profile of the highly sensitive person is that of someone who is creative, needs a lot of time alone to recharge, and reacts very strongly to any strong sensory input, from caffeine to powerful smells to hunger.If you fall into this category, dont worry- its not a bad thing, it just means you have to work harder to preserve your peace and se ek balance at work. Seeking out silence is a healthy practice to start with.According to a2017 Harvard geschftsleben Review article, recent studies are showing that taking time for silence restores the nervous system, helps sustain energy, and conditions our minds to be more adaptive and responsive to the complex environments in which so many of us now live, work, and lead.What to do if youre sensitive to soundA little quiet time can go a long way. Heres how to achieve it at work.Move to a quieter spaceOffice conference rooms can be such a gift as long as there arent many people mingling and talking outside.To be clear quiet office spaces for individual work are a necessity, not an option.An articlefrom the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University highlighted the impact noise can have on the quality of our work. Noise distracts us and reduces our memory and comprehension.It said that performance studies indicate that tasks requiring reading comprehension and memory are the mos t sensitive to noise, especially noise sources related to co-workers speech, citing a specific study, and that research indicates that prolonged exposure to noise reduces office workers motivation to persist at a difficult task, citing other research.PracticemeditationBecause noise can be so unsettling, its important to have a strategy to counter it or calm it down. Heres how to practice breath meditation.According to Harvard Mens Health Watch, simple breathing meditation requires only that you find a comfortable position in a place with minimal distractions. You may sit, stand, or walk- whichever you prefer. Many people find the sitting position to be best. Two ingredients are required to make breath meditation work, which the article lists as a sustained focus for your mind such as the repetition of a sound, word, phrase, or movement and allowing everyday thoughts to come and go as you focus on the repetition.But if youd rather use an app, consider trying out Calm, Headspace, or A ura. You can also listen to binaural beats, or sounds set to helpful frequencies for relaxation, which are available on apps or on YouTube.Invest in headphonesA pair of giant noise-cancelling headphones, which can cost anywhere from $50 to $300 for an upscale pair, are the saviors of many people at work - not only do they drown out sounds around your desk so you can focus, but their giant size also visually signals to people that youre occupied.But headphones that fit in your ear might actually be more effective, according to Berkeley Wellness earphones that fit in the ear (like earplugs) are better at blocking background noises than are those that sit on top of the ear canal opening- as are any type of active noise-canceling headphones- so you are more likely to keep the music at a lower, safer level.For the highly-sensitive among us, moving to a quieter setting, meditation and headphones areways to get in the zone at work. Then just watch your work improve.

11 Tricks to Save Money on Paper and Printing

11 Tricks to Save Money on Paper and Printing11 Tricks to Save Money on Paper and PrintingWhen it comes to paper, dont just recycle- reduce and reuse too- tosave on paper and printing costs. Every time you use the printer you are not just spending money on paper but on toner and ink too. When you savepaper, youllsave on printer cartridges, and you will create a mora eco-friendly home office.The simplest ways to save paper is, of course, to print less stuff. However, it takes some discipline and rethinking to put this into practice. Try these 12 tips and spend less on paper and toner. 01Get to Know Your PrinterThinkstock / Getty ImagesLearn how to use your printer more effectively to savepaper. Before printing, choose print preview to check if one line is going to cause another whole page to print.Dont just blindly hit OK when the print dialogue box pops up. Reduce the print range to just the pages you need. You can also highlight only the text you need and choose print selection. Thi s is particularly useful when printing from websites because you can ?eliminate the ads.If you have difficulty printing, clear your printer queue once youve fixed the problem. That way your printer wont spit out the six attempts you made before you figured out you were out of paper02Use a Tablet or E-ReaderIf you are printing documents because it is easier or more convenient to read them on the go, consider investing in a tablet or e-reader. You can use them to read Word documents and PDFs and even make notes in them in many cases.03Take Notes, Screenshots and Bookmark Web PagesWhen viewing a website, jot down information rather than printing a whole page just for a phone number or address. You can also copy and paste information into a Word document or other organizing software. Or, if it is something you want to keep for future reference, simply bookmark it.04Proofread CarefullyBe sure to check your work before you hit print. If you do find a mistake, hit cancel quickly, so you on ly have one misprinted page. If the whole document prints before you find the error, only reprint the page with the error, if possible.05Send Electronic Invoices to ClientsSending electronic invoices will save money on postage, but dont print out a hard copy for your records, either. File them electronically on your computer and be sure to back up your records. While youre at it, request paperless statements for your bills to make your office as paper-free as possible.06Share Documents Online With Free Online Office ToolsUse these free ansprechbar office tools to send and receive documents via the web. These can be downloaded and filed on your hard drive or left online so you and your clients or coworkers can each make changes without ever using a piece of paper.07Print on Both Sides of the PaperThis may mean setting up for a two-sided print job- sometimes called duplex printing. This can also mean putting a new print job on the reverse of old paper. Fill the paper tray with old mis taken printings. After it is finished printing, flip your document over to the wrong side and mark a line through it, so that in the future you wont waste time reading the wrong side.Whileyou dont want to use this technique for something youd send out to clients, it works well for internal documents. ?08Reuse Old PaperWhenever possible, reuse paper. Not only can you print on the back side, as explained above, but you can use it for many other purposesCut it in half to make scrap paper for lists. Cutting it keeps it from getting mixed up with current documents, but you can also just mark a line through it.Staple it together to form scrap-paper notebooks.Give it to yourkids for drawing or scratch paper for math homework.Shred it to make packing materials.If you use electronic bill pay, save the return envelopes that come in your bills and use them to send in the kids lunch money or to organized small items.09Adjust Your MarginsUse narrower margins, smaller font, and closer line spacin g to get more to a page. Along these same lines, one tip for saving on printer ink cartridges is to use the draft quality setting or grayscale when printing.?10Use Email More Print It Less.Writing effective email is a key skill for a telecommuter, but a ?goodfiling system for emailis almost as important. If filed and backed up on your hard drive or online, emails will very rarely require printing. Set up folders in your email client and have your email automatically sorted. You wont just save paper youll save time too.11Put Your Fax Machine to RestSend and receive documents as PDFs rather than fax. The quality is better, and its easier, particularly if you dont have a second line for the fax. If you do have a second line, you can get rid of that monthly bill.

The Hidden Truth About Best Resume Templates 2018 Uncovered

The Hidden Truth About Best Resume Templates 2018 Uncovered Top Best Resume Templates 2018 Secrets Thus the use ofA Construction Resume TemplatesA is extremely beneficial for all applicants who would like to be employed. Zetys resume schablones are made with the assistance of recruiters and stick to the best practices in HR. Resume builder includes an instantaneous preview, and therefore you dont will need to save and refresh the page to see the way that it appears like. Below are a few of our resume samples that weve created for previous customers. So the expert references are obsolete. Also be sure to tailor the document to the job youre applying for. Try to remember, when youve finished personalizing your resume, youre not prepared to fill out an application yet. As soon as you have modified the standard resume template that you found on the internet, make it simple on your upcoming self and save numerous versions of your resume. The majority of the templates are suppl ied by named, resume writing specialists and thus the quality is quite good. In case the preceding templates do not satisfy your requirements then complexity is possibly the ideal selection. You can select the best amongst the many template samples out there. By utilizing a resume template absolutely free of clutter, youll only consist of relevant info. To look for similar image you may go to Resume page. By making use of a template, you receive a feeling of what information to include in your resume and the way to arrange it. You may change almost every part of your preferred template. For those reasons listed above, youre want to begin with a resume template. Have a peek at these examples to choose which format is ideal for you. When you add your private stamp to it through imputing your distinctive abilities, professional experiences, and wording, it is going to stand from the crowd for all of the perfect factors. There are lots of free creative resume templates youll be a ble to use, permitting you to focus your energy on everything else you should do. The initial two examples are created with creativity in mind. A complete option for candidates with lots of experience who want to have a really good one-page resume template. It is fantastic for highlighting to prospective employers each of the skills you have developed over the duration of your career, without needing to incorporate each and every workplace chronologically. Career profiles offer an overview of your region of specialization and useful skills giving employers a general idea about what you can actually do. When youre asking for a job which relies on the strengths of the person, you will need a resume template you could inject a little more personality into to make it pop. A resume builder can help you rectify any errors and supply you with a working vision of the resume as you edit. If youre having trouble getting attention, be certain to have a look at our tips to receive your res ume noticed. However much or what kind of work experience youve got, theres a resume format that is likely to make your qualifications shine. Each resume format welches made to improve your odds to find the job in 2018. You likely have plenty of personal and expert information you wish to share to your upcoming employer. There are many strategies to create a more effective resume. So, all the advice on how best to compose a resume still stands. The absolute most hard step here is to determine which resume format is appropriate for you. Try to remember, you can eliminate any section you dont want or merely to keep the resume shorter. Just insert the info you require, and thats it. To do this, you want to organize that information first. Youve finally prepared all of the essential information.

The Ultimate Writing Personal Skills into Resume Trick

The Ultimate Writing Personal Skills into Resume Trick Hard skills are quantifiable and frequently learned from school or at work. Resumes ought to be short and concise. When you have backed up your skills, youre prepared to conclude your resume. Learn about the three kinds of skills its possible to highlight and the way it is possible to incorporate them into your resume. After youre done Get rid of all of the skills you simply have a simple grasp of. Some skills might be relevant while others arent. Needless to say, each job will call for unique abilities and experiences, so make certain you read the job description with care emphasizing the skills that align with this. 1 other means to describe hard skills is they are quantifiable or measurable. Professional skills are extremely important additionally to include on your resume. Writing Personal Skills into Resume No Longer a Mystery By applying the greatest personal resume templates, you should likewise do the exact s ame thing write a top-notch resume. By paying attention to the particular phrasing employed in the work description, youre know precisely what to concentrate on in your skills section. Regardless of what your age, and however much experience that you have, you always need to be ready to learn a new skill or technique. Double-check if youre employing the ideal abilities and experience keywords. The Basic Facts of Writing Personal Skills into Resume A personal resume have to be neat, and it ought to be simple to read. Writing your resume can be an extremely intimidating experience. 3 First, you have to select the best skills for your resume. Review their About Us page and see whether your soft abilities or attributes are aligned with the businesss core values. Facts, Fiction and Writing Personal Skills into Resume Youll find more details on various sorts of skills for a resume in the previous section. Look out for keywords to spell out your core qualifications, key profess ional and individual skills. There are three sorts of resumes, each with its own benefits and pitfalls. You might delight in trying to find resumes in your area.

Sleep deprivation is killing you and your career

Sleep deprivation is killing you and yur careerSleep deprivation is killing you and your careerThe next time you tell yourself that youll sleep when youre dead, realize that youre making a decision that can make that day come much sooner. Pushing late into the night is a health and productivity killer.According to the Division of Sleep Medicine at the Harvard Medical School, the short-term productivity gains from skipping sleep to work are quickly washed away by the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation on your mood, ability to focus, and access to higher-level brain functions for days to come. The negative effects of sleep deprivation are so great that people who are drunk outperform those lacking sleep.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraWhy You Need Adequate Sleep to PerformWeve always known that sleep is good for your brain, but research from the University of Rochester provi des the first direct evidence for why your brain cells need you to sleep (and sleep the right way- more on that later). The study found that when you sleep your brain removes toxic proteins from its neurons that are by-products of nerven betreffend activity when youre awake. Unfortunately, your brain can remove them adequately only while youre asleep. So when you dont get enough sleep, the toxic proteins remain in your brain cells, wreaking havoc by impairing your ability to think- something no amount of caffeine can fix.Skipping sleep impairs your brain function across the board. It slows your ability to process information and problem solve, kills your creativity, and catapults your stress levels and emotional reactivity.What Sleep Deprivation Does to Your HealthSleep deprivation is linked to a variety of serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It stresses you out because your body overproduces the stress hormone cortisol when its sle ep deprived. While excess cortisol has a host of negative health effects that come from the havoc it wreaks on your immune system, it also makes you look older, because cortisol breaks down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic. In men specifically, not sleeping enough reduces testosterone levels and lowers sperm count.Too many studies to list have shown that people who get enough sleep live longer, healthier lives, but I understand that sometimes this isnt motivation enough. So consider this- not sleeping enough makes you fat. Sleep deprivation compromises your bodys ability to metabolize carbohydrates and control food intake. When you sleep less you eat more and have more difficulty burning the calories you consume. Sleep deprivation makes you hungrier by increasing the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin and makes it harder for you to get full by reducing levels of the satiety-inducing hormone leptin. People who sleep less than 6 hours a night are 30% mor e likely to become obese than those who sleep 7 to 9 hours a night.How Much Sleep Is Enough?Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to feel sufficiently rested. Few people are at their best with less than 7 hours, and few require more than 9 without an underlying health condition. And thats a major problem, since more than half of Americans get less than the necessary 7 hours of sleep each night, according to the National Sleep Foundation.For go-getters, its even worse.A recent survey of Inc. 500 CEOs found that half of them are sleeping less than 6 hours a night. And the problem doesnt stop at the top. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of U.S. workers get less than 6 hours of sleep each night, and sleep deprivation costs U.S. businesses more than $63 billion annually in lost productivity.Doing something about itBeyond the obvious sleep benefits of thinking clearly and staying healthy, the ability to manage your emotions and remain calm unde r pressure has a direct link to your performance. TalentSmart has conducted research with more than a million people, and weve found that 90% of top performers are high in emotional intelligence (EQ). These individuals are skilled at understanding and using emotions to their benefit, and good sleep hygiene is one of the greatest tools at their disposal.High-EQ individuals know its not just how much you sleep that matters, but also how you sleep. When life gets in the way of getting the amount of sleep you need, its absolutely essential that you increase the quality of your sleep through good sleep hygiene. There are many hidden killers of quality sleep. The 10 strategies that follow will help you identify these killers and clean up your sleep hygiene. Follow them, and youll reap the performance and health benefits that come with getting the right quantity and quality of sleep.1. Stay Away from Sleeping PillsWhen I say sleeping pills, I mean anything you take that sedates you so that you can sleep. Whether its alcohol, Nyquil, Benadryl, Valium, Ambien, or what have you, these substances greatly disrupt your brains natural sleep process. Have you ever noticed that sedatives can give you some really strange dreams? As you sleep and your brain removes harmful toxins, it cycles through an elaborate series of stages, at times shuffling through the days memories and storing or discarding them (which causes dreams). Sedation interferes with these cycles, altering the brains natural process.Anything that interferes with the brains natural sleep process has dire consequences for the quality of your sleep. Many of the strategies that follow eliminate factors that disrupt this recovery process. If getting off sleeping pills proves difficult, make certain you try some of the other strategies (such as cutting down on caffeine) that will make it easier for you to kiste asleep naturally and reduce your dependence upon sedatives.2. Stop Drinking Caffeine (at Least after Lunch) You can sleep more and vastly improve the quality of the sleep you get by reducing your caffeine intake. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that interferes with sleep by increasing adrenaline production and blocking sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain. Caffeine has a 6-hour half-life, which means it takes a full 24 hours to work its way out of your system. Have a cup of joe at 8 a.m., and youll still have 25% of the caffeine in your body at 8 p.m. Anything you drink after noon will still be near 50% strength at bedtime. Any caffeine in your bloodstream- the negative effects increasing with the dose- makes it harder to fall and stay asleep.When you do finally fall asleep, the worst is yet to come. Caffeine disrupts the quality of your sleep by reducing rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the deep sleep when your body recuperates most. When caffeine disrupts your sleep, you wake up the next day with a cognitive and emotional handicap. Youll be naturally inclined to grab a cup of coffee or an energy drink to try to make yourself feel more alert, which very quickly creates a vicious cycle.3. Avoid Blue Light at NightThis is a big one- most people dont even realize it impacts their sleep. Short-wavelength blue light plays an important role in your mood, energy level, and sleep quality. In the morning, sunlight contains high concentrations of this blue light. When your eyes are exposed to it directly (not through a window or while wearing sunglasses), the blue light halts production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin and makes you feel more alert. This is great, and exposure to a.m. sunlight can improve your mood and energy levels. If the sun isnt an option for you, try a blue light device.In the afternoon, the suns rays lose their blue light, which allows your body to produce melatonin and start making you sleepy. By the evening, your brain does not expect any blue light exposure and is very sensitive to it. The problem this creates for sleep is that most of our f avorite evening devices- laptops, tablets, televisions, and mobile phones- emit short-wavelength blue light. And in the case of your laptop, tablet, and phone, they do so brightly and right in your face. This exposure impairs melatonin production and interferes with your ability to fall asleep as well as with the quality of your sleep once you do nod off. Remember, the sleep cycle is a daylong process for your brain. When you confuse your brain by exposing it in the evening to what it thinks is a.m. sunlight, this derails the entire process with effects that linger long after you power down. The best thing you can do is avoid these devices after dinner (television is okay for most people as long as they sit far enough away from the set). If you must use one of these devices in the evening, you can limit your exposure with a filter or protective eyewear.4. Wake Up at the Same Time Every DayConsistency is key to a good nights sleep, especially when it comes to waking up. Waking up at the saatkorn time every day improves your mood and sleep quality by regulating your circadian rhythm. When you have a consistent wake-up time, your brain acclimates to this and moves through the sleep cycle in preparation for you to feel rested and alert at your wake-up time. Roughly an hour before you wake, hormone levels increase gradually (along with your body temperature and blood pressure), causing you to become more alert. This is why youll often find yourself waking up right before your alarm goes off.When you dont wake up at the same time every day, your brain doesnt know when to complete the sleep process and when it should prepare you to be awake. Long ago, sunlight ensured a consistent wake-up time. These days, an alarm is the only way most people can pull this off, and doing this successfully requires resisting the temptation to sleep in when youre feeling tired because you know youll actually feel better by keeping your wake-up time intact.5. No Binge Sleeping (In) on t he WeekendSleeping in on the weekend is a counterproductive way to catch up on your sleep. It messes with your circadian rhythm by giving you an inconsistent wake-up time. When you wake up at the same time during the work week but sleep past this time on the weekend, you end up feeling groggy and tired because your brain hasnt prepared your body to be awake. This isnt a big deal on your day off, but it makes you less productive on Monday because it throws your cycle off and makes it hard to get going again on your regular schedule.6. Learn How Much Sleep You Really NeedThe amount of sleep you need is something that you cant control, and scientists are beginning to discover the genes that dictate it. The problem is, most people sleep much less than they really need and are under-performing because they think theyre getting enough. Some discover this the hard way. Ariana Huffington was one of those frantic types who underslept and overworked, until she collapsed unexpectedly from exha ustion one afternoon. She credits her success and well-being since then to the changes shes made to her sleep habits. I began getting 30 minutes more sleep a night, until gradually I got to 7 to 8 hours. The result has been transformational, Huffington says, adding that, all the science now demonstrates unequivocally that when we get enough sleep, everything is better our health our mental capacity and clarity our joy at life and our ability to live life without reacting to every bad thing that happens.Huffington isnt the only one. Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, and Sheryl Sandberg have all touted the virtues of getting enough sleep. Even Bill Gates, an infamous night owl, has affirmed the benefits of figuring out how much sleep you really need I like to get 7 hours of sleep a night because thats what I need to stay sharp and creative and upbeat. Its time to bite the bullet and start going to bed earlier until you find the magic number that enables you to perform at your best.7. Stop Wo rkingWhen you work in the evening, it puts you into a stimulated, alert state when you should be winding down and relaxing in preparation for sleep. Recent surveys show that roughly 60% of people monitor their smartphones for work emails until they go to sleep. Staying off blue light-emitting devices (discussed above) after a certain time each evening is also a great way to avoid working so you can relax and prepare for sleep, but any type of work before bed should be avoided if you want quality sleep.8. Eliminate InterruptionsUnfortunately for those with small children, the quality of your sleep does suffer when it is interrupted. The key here is to eliminate all the interruptions that are under your control. If you have loud neighbors, wear earplugs to bed. If your mother likes to call at all hours of the night, make certain you silence your ringer before you go to bed. If you had to wake up extra early in the morning, make sure your alarm clock is back on its regular time when yo u go to bed. Dont drink too much water in the evening to avoid a bathroom trip in the middle of the night. If your partner snores . . . well, you get the idea. If you think hard enough, there are lots of little things you can do to eliminate unnecessary interruptions to your sleep.9. Learn to MeditateMany people who learn to meditate report that it improves the quality of their sleep and that they can get the rest they need even if they arent able to significantly increase the number of hours they sleep. At the Stanford Medical Center, insomniacs participated in a 6-week mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavioral therapy course. At the end of the study, participants average time to fall asleep was cut in half (from 40 to 20 minutes), and 60% of subjects no longer qualified as insomniacs. The subjects retained these gains upon follow-up a full year later. A similar study at the University of Massachusetts Medical School found that 91% of participants either reduced the amount of medication they needed to sleep or stopped taking medication entirely after a mindfulness and sleep therapy course. Give mindfulness a try. At minimum, youll fall asleep faster, as it will teach you how to relax and quiet your mind once you hit the pillow.10. When All Else Fails Take NapsOne of the biggest peaks in melatonin production happens during the 100 to 300 p.m. time frame, which explains why most people feel sleepy in the afternoon. Companies like Google and Zappos are capitalizing on this need by giving employees the opportunity to take short afternoon naps. If you arent getting enough sleep at night, youre likely going to feel an overwhelming desire to sleep in the afternoon. When this happens, youre better off taking a short nap (even as short as 15 minutes) than resorting to caffeine to keep you awake. A short nap will give you the rest you need to get through the rest of the afternoon, and youll sleep much better in the evening than if you drink caffeine or take a lon g afternoon nap.Bringing it all togetherI know many of you reading this piece are thinking something along the lines of but I know a guy (or gal) who is always up at all hours of the night working or socializing, and hes the number one performer at our branch. My answer for you is simple This guy is underperforming.We all have innate abilities that we must maximize to reach our full potential. My job is to help people do that- to help the good become great by removing unseen performance barriers. Being number one in your branch is an accomplishment, but I guarantee that this guy has his sights set on bigger things that he isnt achieving because sleep deprivation has him performing at a fraction of his full potential. You should send him this article. It just might shake something loose.After all, the only thing worth catching up on at night is your sleep.This article first appeared on LinkedIn.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers k now 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

How to Give Employees GiftsThat They Really Want

How to Give Employees gesundheitsgefhrdender stoffsThat They Really WantHow to Give Employees Gifts- That They Really WantStaff satisfaction and motivation are vital to keeping your business performing at its best. If your employees are feeling unsatisfied or unappreciated, their motivation, and subsequently their productivity, will drop. Show your staff that they are valued to boost and maintain morale. One way to demonstrate how much you appreciate and value your employees is to provide a holiday giftstoff for employees- a holiday gift that they really want. A new survey of workers by the online print company, Instantprint, illustrates how important giving a holiday gift for employees is for your business. 94 percent of respondents said a holiday gift from their employer would make them feel appreciated, valued, and happier at work. To make the most of the holiday gifts you offer your employees, you need to ensure you are giving them something that they want. Undesired gifts wont h elp boost staff morale or provide inspiration. Instantprints research has also unveiled the most popular gifts to receive from employers, as voted for by workers, to help you choose gifts for employees that they really want. Gift Cards as Gifts for Employees Gift cards came in as the most popular gifts employees could receive from their companies with almost one-third of the vote (29 percent). In addition to employee appreciation of gift cards as gifts, gift cards offer further benefits. First, they are easy for an employer to provide. Other options on this list, such as providing early time off from work, involve staff time to plan. Gift cards, however, are readily available to purchase both online and in a wide range of stores. Second, gift cards give employees the freedom to choose a gift they will really use. With gift cards now available that are valid in most major stores, giving them to your staff can help make the most of your gifts for employees. Early Finishes Durin g the Holiday Season as a Gift for Employees Coming in at a very close second to gift cards in terms of most popular holiday gifts to receive from employers is the option of an early finish. With 28.8 percent of the vote, little difference exists between the two gift options. The holiday season is about spending time with your loved ones, so its not surprising that early finishes to the workday rank so high. Getting away from work early can make all the difference when it comes to finishing your Christmas shopping or making it to the family get-together. Two ways in which you can arrange early finishes for your staff are these Allow staff to choose on which day they want to leave work early. Set up a spreadsheet, similar to one for monitoring annual leave, and ask staff to request their day to leave work early, so you can ensure you always have adequate coverage.Choose a day for the entire company to leave early, for example, Christmas Eve, when many companies close at noon. Just m ake sure you give fair warning to clients and customers that this will be the case. Provide an Open Bar at the Holiday Party as a Gift for Employees Office holiday parties and get-togethers are great events to organize for your employees. They bring your staff together outside of the workplace and help build and improve their working relationships. One in five employees says the holiday party would be better if their company offered an open bar. Providing an open bar is a way to encourage staff to attend the holiday party and helps your employees enjoy themselves. Covering the bar reiter for the entire company is costly, but you dont have to go this far at your holiday party if the cost isnt in your budget. Consider offering to cover everyones first drink instead. Or, issue a certain number of drinks tokens or coupons employees can use throughout the night. This will stop everyone from piling up to the bar and ensure that all staff has equal access to the perk. Physical Gifts for Employees One in ten employees wants to stick with the classic option for the holiday season, asking their employer to get them a physical gift. Physical gifts allow you to team build when the employees unwrap their gifts together. To achieve this, however, youll likely have to give all of your employees the same gift. This one-size-fits-all gift-giving is difficult to get right. Youll want to talk to your staff, take note of their interests and habits, and use their ideas as your inspiration. Often the classics are best when you give employees a physical holiday gift. For example, your staff is likely to use a travel cup, and the cup should last for a long time. Gifts like travel mugs and company clothing with logos add an extra benefit to your employee holiday gift as they are useful to increase your brand awareness. Charitable Donations as Gifts for Employees When your employees are having fun, celebrating this holiday season with gifts and gatherings, its important to remember those less fortunate than themselves. 7 percent of staff want their employers to help them accomplish this mission by making a donation in their anthroponym to charity. The holiday season is a difficult time of year for employees to donate, with all the financial pressures of gift-giving, festive outings, and feeding the family. Donating to worthy causes in the name of your staff can help them ramp up the feel-good factor this holiday season. If you donate this holiday season as a gift for employees, thoroughly research your chosen charity. Choose one that aligns with your company values. Local causes are also solid options as they increase your standing as a business that gives back to its community. You dont have to limit yourself to just one of these options for holiday gifts for employees. You can offer several to make the most of the holiday season for your staff. Youll boost their motivation well into the New Year.

Flexible Retirement Jobs Now Hiring

Flexible Retirement Jobs Now HiringFlexible Retirement Jobs Now HiringAfter years of juggling your career with your other obligations, interests and passions, its time to change the focus of your day-to-day and truly embrace retirement. The problem is that nothing quite prepared you for this. How do you adjust to a calm and quiet lifestyle, plus that wide open calendar, when you are accustomed to being on the go all day?You want a job that gives you the rewards of work a chance to meet new people, earn some spending money and get the satisfaction of a day spend productively. But you dont want a stressful job. Youve graduated from that. Now its time for a fun and flexible gig, like unterstellung Marina Dock Assistant Average Full Time Salary $16,000Work outside near the water facilitating the rental of boats and other marine recreational vehicles. In addition to working with the public, professionals in these jobs usually help maintain the inventory and the facilities. Marina jobs are at their busiest during the tourist seasons and on weekends and holidays. In some regions they are only available during limited times of the year.Search Marina Dock AssistantjobsGym Staff Average Full Time Salary $57,000There are a range of positions that fall under this category, from assisting members checking in for their workouts to helping to keep the facilities in tip top shape. Theres always a need for help in commercial gyms and non-profit community wellness organizations. Some niche areas may include working in the babysitting room or helping to prepare facilities for classes. These are vibrant and exciting work environments that may prove perfect for your new career. Search Gym StaffjobsLibrary AssistantAverage Full Time Salary $38,000The library is both a bustling cultural meeting place and an oasis that invites researching, reading and learning. Libraries offer a range of programs to entice infants, toddlers, teenagers, adults and older patrons. There are a host of way s to apply your skills, from working the circulation desk to reading books to children. Theres never a dull moment in the library.Search Library AssistantjobsTour Guide Average Full Time Salary $40,000Wineries, breweries, ski slopes, museums, farms and factories all need compelling speakers to keep their visitors engaged while they learn about the facilities. If you have the gift of gab and you love working with the public, this may be just the right role for you.Search Tour GuidejobsBarista Average Full Time Salary $16,000Learn the tricks to brewing all those enticing beverages that for years youve sipped with colleagues, customers and friends. Its fun to be on the other side of the counter and work a job thats fast-paced and social. Search Barista jobs