Confidently Single

Many workplaces have those inspirational posters on “Teamwork” and “Creativity” and “Attitude” to name a few. I am sure you may have come across one of these at some point in your life. They are great posters, if you take their meaning to heart. Employees are aware of these key qualities yet somehow, they are only capable of creating misery and negativity in their work place. There are some amazing companies out there, where the employees look forward to coming into work, really do give their best and positive workplace relationships co-exist. Maybe you are fortunate to work in this type of environment. Some of you, on the other hand, maybe thinking “where does that happen?!”

It all comes down to you. Obviously, the more positive minded people under one roof the more everyone gets out of work. I have worked in a variety of environments, both positive and equally negative and some, a mix of the two. The only way to survive with the negative groups is to remain positive, no matter what! Misery loves company, and it does not take much to bring down workplace morale. Suddenly, you are surrounded by bitter and disgruntled employees. If you are on the brink of tearing your hair, take a step back, take a deep breath and evaluate the situation.

What NOT to Do in the Work Place

1. Do NOT get involved in the drama of other co-workers, ever, period.Why? Because you are pretty much putting out a welcome mat inviting them to come to you with all their troubles, and believe me, they will. Be courteous enough to ask how they are feeling but once they start spilling details, avoid getting drawn into the conversation by keeping your responses neutral, suggesting you are not going to take sides, solicit advice or state your opinion of any kind. A sympathetic nod will do, and then walk away.
2. Do NOT bring your own drama into the workplace. No one’s life is perfect and some days it can be quite the feat to even muster a smile for your boss. Do it anyways. No one needs to know about your personal life or at least your personal problems. Remember, people talk. Do you really want your co-workers to know certain things about you? Zip it.
3. Do NOT get involved in group bitching sessions. You see this all the time, where you have a cluster of employees complaining about something or other. Do NOT complain with them. You can hear them out, nod in agreement perhaps but do not verbally articulate your agreement. Rather, think of solutions to fix the problem. And for the problems beyond your control, direct them to someone who can solve them or roll with the punches when necessary.
4. Do NOT behave like you would outside of work. Work is work for a reason. You are there to perform a function, which in turn earns you a paycheque. Be respectful. I am always surprised to see people walk into work like they just rolled out of bed, clearly making it visible that they do not want to be there. Some people treat their workspace like disaster zone while others kick up their feet onto their desk and stare at the ceiling. Really, what impressions do you think your colleagues, never mind, your boss will have of you? I can name a few adjectives: lazy, unreliable, disorganized, unproductive…you can kiss your promotion goodbye. Always look prepared, Always looks alert and focused. ALWAYS look productive. Even if you are chatting by the water cooler, make it habit to carry a file folder in your hand so it gives the impression you were on your way to do something important but paused midway to your destination.

If you really cannot handle the people you work with-leave. Always keep your options open. Stay on the good side of the key players-the people that matter. If leaving is not option, make sure you have ways to de-stress outside of work! Ensure you have a good support system you talk openly with. Do things you enjoy. Remember, work is only a part of your life and who you are.

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) will be hosting a Lunch and Learn Seminar – Building Your Toolbox for Success. This will be helpful to those who are thinking about starting a business or are in the start-up phase. Presented by a guest speaker, a professor at Centennial College, serial entrepreneur and business consultant, who will be sharing tools for success to help generate leads, convert leads into sales and methods to get and stay motivated while growing your business.

February 25, 2010 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

Cost: $10 – $19

For more information contact:
Phone: 416-408-2923
Ext: 2109

Address:
100 Adelaide Street West, 6th Floor

http://www.cybf.ca/news-events/

So now that you know where you want to be and you know how to get yourself noticed, it is time to put your plan into action. In order to get that promotion you have to keep your eyes and ears open at all times. Know your game plan, remain flexible with the rules and adapt to circumstances.  Make sure you have a game plan. If you don’t then you cannot succeed. Make short term goals as well as long term goals. And above all, know which way your company is going. Study your industry well.

Figure out the promotion system

Usually when you start your career, you obtain an entry level position with a lot of people to look up to. As you gain experience set your sights upwards. Don’t allow yourself to get stuck where you are comfortable, coasting along or getting side tracked. Otherwise, it’s game over. Don’t wait for things to happen. Look at the highest position and then the lowest. Now, mark your own place and plot the steps you need to get you there.

Be a team player

You will hear this at most work places time and time again. Now how do we make the most of this concept? Know your role. Naturally, everyone has certain strengths. Therefore, it is important to contribute your assets in the best way possible to benefit the team.  Are you a planner? Resourceful? A Coordinator? An Achiever? Analytical? A Diplomat? Creative? A Specialist? Whatever it is, hone in on that skill and highlight in your work.

Be energy efficient

I am not talking about becoming green although there is nothing wrong about caring for the environment. What I am talking about is using your time wisely and knowing when to strike. It is important to identify the key times and events at your workplace. It could be a meeting, an event or a presentation, so note whether your attendance will benefit you or not. Only use all of your energy when it is: appropriate, meaningful, advantageous, beneficial, necessary and/or important. Remember, make a positive impression and it will be remembered.

See opportunity in the negative

Here are some key words you hear on a regular basis in workplaces nowadays: downsizing, take over, vindictive co-workers, asshole bosses, new technology, new systems, new procedures, in other words; threats. That is when you need to roll with the punches and go the distance. Sometimes, we cannot overcome every single threat and we get hit, hard. Once a threat is a reality, learn to deal with it and think of it as a chance to improve yourself. You can only go in one direction: upward.

Respect your elders

I am sure your grandparents are great but it’s not these elders that I am talking about. No matter what level your position is, spend more time with senior staff. Just don’t suck up. You have to blend in and look like you belong. For example, after a meeting don’t scurry off back to work like all of the other junior staff does. Hang back a bit, maybe tidy up the board room and keep quiet. That way you will get to overhear important business conversations and may be asked for your opinion. This has happened to me several times in my professional career so do not let yourself  be caught off guard looking like a deer caught in the headlights with nothing intelligent to say!

Not all workplaces are the same but office politics generally, are. Remember to have confidence in yourself and your abilities, cultivate positive relationships with your superiors and colleagues, and know your industry and your role. Showcase your skills and remember to stay positive! Be patient and stick with it. I am sure you will be on your way up before you even know it.

Unfortunately, everything we do or say is judged by everyone around us each and every day. How we dress, how we speak, the car we drive, what we have for lunch, where we go on vacation become subject to the judgment of other people. To be successful, it is important to ensure that others opinion of us is positive. You cannot stop other people’s judgments but you can consciously affect them.

Dress for Success

There is no excuse to dress down or dress badly since dressing well is the first noticeable thing about you. Always aim to wear the best quality clothing that you can afford. If you are on a budget, read my article “Dress Well Without Spending a Fortune” (http://confidentlysingle.com/?p=140). I know many work places have a casual dress code nowadays but that is no excuse to get all sloppy. This means no running shoes, no jeans -unless they are well fitted and stylish, no Hawaiian shirts-unless you work as a bartender at a resort, and no t-shirts with immature or controversial sayings and so forth.

Smile

A smile is the best part of your wardrobe. Learn to wear it every day, no matter how bad your day may be. Smile when you greet your colleagues in the morning, Smile when you shake a client’s hand, smile when you get more added to your work load, but smile like you mean it! There is nothing worse than a tight-lipped phony smile. It is easy to detect and takes away from you sincerity.

Show Some Life

If you walk into the office everyday looking like it’s the last place you want to be, your day will be hell. Don’t drag yourself miserably through the door. Try to have some spring to your step. Arrive bright-eyed and fresh , ready for the day ahead.

Be Attractive

As superficial as it is, attractive people fare better that those less fortunate in the looks department. But before you rush off to get some plastic surgery, exterior looks are not entirely what make a person attractive. Ignore the physical imperfections and think about: charisma, charm, magnetism, presence and personality. Looks are all in the smile and the eyes; your smile should light up a room and your eyes should twinkle with life. Pay attention to your posture as well. If you slump, you give off an aura of depression and gloom.

Speak (and Write) Well

Communicating is all about conveying information. You want to get yourself across to others as clearly as possible. Do not mumble, speak too quietly or too loudly, use jargon-unless you are communicating with someone in your field of expertise, and avoid speaking in any manner that identifies you with a particular social class and above all: use proper grammar!

Next week: the final part of this series- Pt III The Psychology of Promotion

(Photo courtesy of Bloo Tung Studios)

Let’s face it, we all know the corporate world is like a jungle out there, and only the strong survive. The economy is uncertain and the working world today is demanding, unsympathetic and competitive. You work hard, you produce quality work, you log in the over time, you take on extra projects and you want a promotion or at least some recognition. These tips will help keep your best interests in mind and set you apart from your colleagues.

If you talk the talk, you better walk the walk

Even though you are the one with the brilliant ideas, you will not get very far if you don’t put these ideas to work. The underlying rule is: know your job, do it well and do it better than anyone else. It’s important to look calm and efficient, on top of everything and totally in control. This will help you get your work noticed.

Keep Busy

Forget about that promotion if you spend the majority of your work day surfing the net, worse, if your boss catches you doing it.  I know it beats staring at the clock all day but remain static and so will your career. Keep busy. If you get all of work done early, spend some time researching your company and finding ways to improve its operations. It never hurts to at least look “busy”; if you are going to the photocopier, walk with purpose. If you are going for a coffee break, carry some folders in your hand. This will give the impression you are too busy to waste company time.

Meet your deadlines- at your own pace

If your boss asks you when to expect your report, don’t be afraid to buy yourself some extra time. Even though you know you can have it done by Wednesday, say Friday. Of course, you are going to submit that report on Wednesday and it is going to be your best work. I wouldn’t use this tactic often because then your boss’ expectations may increase. Sometimes it helps to play dumb. It works to your advantage because you look good and you surprise your boss and colleagues with your skills.

It’s all in the attitude

Most employees make the mistake of taking the side of the employees vs. management. This could put your career advancement to a halt. If you see yourself as a manager or a director or vice president or any head of department, you have to start looking at both sides of a situation and identify with the position of management.  You don’t have to voice your concerns so that you appear to side with your colleagues; you are a team player after all. Become even more committed and let everyone else do the moaning and complaining.

Image is everything

Think of successful CEO’s; they always look like they are enjoying the high life. To be successful you have to look successful. You always want to look in control. You never run, panic, or hurry even if you feel like it. Yes, you work later into the evenings, work through weekends and holidays but your boss does not need to know how much you may despise this. As difficult as it may be, never: ask for extensions of a deadline, never ask for help (you can ask for advice, guidance, opinion and information but never admit to needing help), do not complain about your workload, learn to be assertive and always look for ways to ease your workload (unnoticed of course!) to speed things up.

It isn’t easy playing the game and more of us want to have a healthy balance between our work life and personal life. If you are happy with your job and don’t expect anything more, don’t change a thing. However, if you have the drive and ambition, why not get what you want and deserve out of your job?

Next Week: Pt II The Fishbowl Effect

Women live busy lives and often the first thing we neglect, in an effort to attain “balance” in our lives, is our girlfriends. But where is the balance when we forget to include those supportive and cherished friendships that help us get through that stressful day, get over that tough break-up and look forward to that amazing outing we have planned on the weekend? We should never let ourselves get too busy for that! The Girls Nite Out Club is a Toronto based social club for women of all ages that provides a unique opportunity to meet other women with common interests while living up the Toronto experience.

The club is a social club and as with any social environment you will get out of it what you put into it. Members are encouraged to interact and exchange contact information for get togethers outside of structured club activities. The club attracts positive women who are looking to expand their social networks and to try new things in a safe and welcoming environment.

The Girls Nite Out Club offers you just that. The opportunity to meet women, who just need to hang out with the girls, chat, giggle and relax. Whether you’re going to a movie, enjoying a play, doing a craft or taking a trip, you’ll find yourself surrounded by amazing women that you may never have met otherwise. It’s a new beginning. Explore your interests while giving yourself a chance to expand your social network.

www.girlsnightoutclub.com

I wasn’t much of a Barak Obama fan when he first came to the world stage to present his case, but he’s growing on me.  He’s growing on me because his actions are speaking louder than his words and I’m left to wonder “why is that?”.

Here’s what he did on his first few days in office:

• Froze salaries for top White House staff members
• Placed phone calls to Mideast leaders
• Circulated a draft executive order to close the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay within a year.
• Ordered new lobbying rules for “a clean break from business as usual.”

The takeaway from this is complimentary to the New Years resolutions that you’ve recently created:  Obama is focussed on his goals and determined to reinvent our image of the President.  He’s making big presidential moves that matter to the public and making his “change” campaign happen.

Here are four steps that you can do to make every day as important as Obama’s:

1)  The Message
First start out with the message you want to represent every time you do something.  Keep your message simple and easy to understand. Your message will act as your path to help guide your goals and more clearly and boost your self confidence and esteem as you live through your message daily.

For Obama, his campaign was based around the word: Change, which is easy to understand at all levels.  It’s better to choose a message that is elevating to your character and keeps you focussed on your goals.  I’d discourage the use of sentences for the sake of simplicity.  Break out the theasaurus and dictionary to help you with this part if you are stuck for words or ideas.

2)  The big picture
If you’ve already made resolutions, skip to the next step.  If you haven’t, this is the time to back up your message with a plan of action.  Like the first step, this should be a simple, big picture look at what you will be accomplishing this year and centred around your message. An easy way to start this is to make 3-5 goals that you will set out for the year and break down every month into what you will do to accomplish them.  It’s hard at first, but you’ll get better at this when you start to train your mind to think this way.

3)  Your Weekly Address
Obama has a weekly public address on YouTube and I think you should have one too.  Maybe not as elaborate as putting up a video of yourself, but a public announcement to let others know that you are persistent and determined that your goals are being met and your message is making a difference.  This doesn’t need to be a big event either, but simply something to let someone know that things are being done.  I find it helps to make a weekly task list of details that need looking after throughout the week.  Microsoft Outlook’s calendar and Blackberry synchronization keeps me on task and I cannot live without those tools.  I suggest you find a system that works for you too.

4)  Review
Like all good plans, you need to review them constantly to make sure the fundamentals are in check.  A good time to review at the end of the month when your tasks are due and a new plan is to follow.  You can check more frequently if your plans are more complicated, there’s no wrong way to double check to make sure you’re RIGHT.