work – Page 4 – Personal Growth Cafe

August 22, 2018January 31, 2018

Remember the difference between a boss and a leader. A boss says “Go!”, a leader says “Let’s go!” – E. M. Kelly

August 7, 2018March 2, 2018

I enjoy taking time to help others in the workplace.

My workplace is a community. Because I choose to be part of this community, I want it to be a warm place.

Finding ways to bring happiness into my workplace brings me joy. My workplace is more harmonious when I collaborate with my coworkers.

My coworkers and I are a team. I am bonded with them. If there is a way for me to help the people I work with I will take action.

By working together, we can solve problems faster, come up with innovative ideas, and bring joy to each other’s lives.

There are so many simple ways to bring positivity into the workplace.

When there is a new employee in the office, I can teach them a new task.

When I go to lunch, I can invite someone new to accompany me.

When someone is experiencing stress, I can find a thoughtful way to help them.

When I get coffee, I can pick some up for a coworker. And when the paper tray in the copy machine is empty, I can take a few brief moments to fill it.

Recognizing that small actions throughout the day can make my workplace a more enjoyable environment inspires me to act in a helpful way.

These actions bring me pleasure.

In my life, it is important to accomplish my goals.

When I am at work, I recognize that my coworkers and I often share the same goals.

It is such a blessing to have people who are moving in the same direction as me.

What goals do you and your coworkers share?

What actions can you make today that will bring happiness to a coworker?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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August 5, 2018January 15, 2018

I delegate my responsibilities to other very capable hands.

The more I do, the less of me I can put into each project.

That is why I delegate my responsibilities to people that I trust.

Getting the work completed well is more important than who completes it.

If I am always pouring myself out, I will run dry.

To renew my strength and be a better worker, I need to take breaks. It is okay to stop and rest.

Resting does not make me lazy or irresponsible. On the other hand, when I rest, I demonstrate maturity.

It is wise and reasonable to recognize when the load is too heavy. I never put work above personal health.

Trying to do everything alone is a sign of selfish immaturity.

I cannot possibly believe that I am the only person that can get the job done well.

I trust the people around me and I know they would love to help me once I ask for help.

I trust my ability to recognize competent and skilled people with whom I can share my load.

As the team player that I am, I welcome the ideas of others.

As a result, I allow the people around me to learn and grow.

Others enjoy working with me because I make them feel valued.

I support the people working with me and I make myself available for questions and suggestions.

Ultimately, my work benefits from the creativity of others and I can get quality work done without exhaustion.

When I delegate, I do not obsess over every detail that may not turn out exactly as I would have done it.

Instead, I am eager to witness a fresh approach from someone else’s point of view.

How have you been trying to do too much because you are afraid to ask for help?

How can you support the people who help you?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 9, 2018January 8, 2018

Improve Office Morale with Gratitude and Teamwork

We all desire recognition for a job well done, especially as members of a team.

As a team, each person works together toward a common goal.

Now instead of working together, imagine a team where each person was only interested in their own, separate little interests.

Would you be able to get anything done?

Of course not!

When you’re working within a team you have to put personal interests aside and focus on the collective.

If you don’t, tempers flare and trouble ensues.

Teams composed of members who can’t put differences aside don’t win. Put simply: you won’t achieve the success you want if you aren’t focused on the common goal.

United We Stand – Teamwork Tips

The key strategy to boost office morale and team productivity is to stand strong behind your common goal.

By creating a unified front, you will be able to work together, instead of pulling apart.

Here are some teamwork tips:

Appoint a team leader to oversee the progress and to keep everyone motivated to finish the project on time.

Assign jobs according to the strengths of each team member.

People naturally procrastinate when faced with a daunting task they’re uncomfortable with, so divide the work accordingly.

Praise team members for a job well done.

Acknowledge each person’s hard work and dedication and be sure to pass along any positive feedback from clients or upper level management.

Set up a team reward upon successful completion of a project.

Money doesn’t have to be the only motivating factor to spur your team. Maybe it’s time-off, a gift basket, or a trophy.

Get an Attitude of Gratitude in Your Office

How can tension within the office be turned around?

Gratitude. Yes, it really is that simple!

Each member needs to felt appreciated for his or her contributions and value added to the team.

Imagine a football team.

If the quarterback isn’t grateful for the offensive line who blocks for him, the wide receivers who catch his passes, and the running backs who he can hand off the ball to, he will not have confidence in his teammates.

This lack of confidence will show up as miscommunications, blown plays and lost games.

The same things happen in the office!

In reality, an office setting is very much like being on a football team. You have to show gratitude to the:

Administrative assistants who keep things organized and flowing

Salesmen who bring in new profits for the company

Human resources representatives who bring in new talent for you to work with

Marketers who make the company known

Managers who coach, inspire, and lead

Staff who tackle the finer details and makes things happen

Everyone plays an important part of the team, which is why we all need to appreciate one another in order to get things done!

After all, without each other, where would you be?

Gratitude Leads to Effective Teamwork

Once you’re grateful for the skills and talents of your team members, you’ll begin to appreciate how each part of the puzzle is important for the overall success of the team.

You may even discover a renewed excitement about your job and all the projects your team can accomplish.

Let others in the office know how you appreciate their time, talents, and hard work.

Send out emails or mention specific names in the company newsletter.

Let your team know you care about them as people and not just as workers.

Encourage your workers to start up office clubs or activities that everyone can enjoy as a group.

Doing so will help you get to know each other on a more casual basis.

Remember: it all starts with acknowledging how grateful you are for the talents of those around you. So take a moment today to say “Thank You!”

How do you feel when you do things with a team?

How can good teamwork make the workload lighter?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 8, 2018January 8, 2018

Remember the difference between a boss and a leader. A boss says “Go!” A leader says “Let’s go!” – E.M. Kelly

July 7, 2018January 8, 2018

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. – Dwight Eisenhower

July 5, 2018January 8, 2018

How to Work With Difficult People

No matter where you work or what industry you happen to work in, there’s a good chance you’ll meet someone you can’t stand working with.

It’s unfortunate, but true.

Maybe it’s as simple as getting a cubicle mate who is loud or overbearing or maybe it means dealing with someone who never gets things done on time.

The truth is we’re not always going to be friendly with the people we work with.

However, it doesn’t mean we can’t do anything to deal with the negative environment.

Take some time to follow these tips for dealing with difficult co-workers.

Once you begin implementing them you’ll find that it does get a bit easier to work with difficult people.

Remember: You’re NOT the Boss

If you don’t have authority over the other person, you’re going to look very unprofessional if you start telling them how to do their job.

If your coworker is lazy or does a poor job and you’re tempted to correct their mistakes, don’t expect to be thanked for it.

And don’t be surprised if they’re stubborn about your good-natured advice either.

Lead by example and focus on doing your own work successfully.

Avoid Communication through Email

When dealing with someone who’s difficult, try making it a priority to handle things on the phone or face to face. If you’re concerned about coming across well, remember emails can come across as sounding very blunt and brusque.

If you must communicate via email, try reading your emails out loud before sending.

Without tone or facial expression to help you out, you may come off as being angry or upset, even when you don’t intend to.

Though you might love nothing more than to avoid the person, make sure poor or misinterpreted communication doesn’t compound your issues.

Avoid Gossip

When someone at work is difficult, it seems natural to gossip about him or her, but don’t do it.

If you must vent your frustrations or get another opinion, wait until you get home.

Avoid office drama by not participating in gossip.

Not only do many offices have strict policies about gossip, you never know who might be listening.

Be friendly and make sure you always take the moral high road.

Let Go of Your Anger

When you’re dealing with a difficult person, it’s easy to get angry.

You think of the time they have wasted, the things they have done, and before you know it, you might have your teeth clenched!

Remember anger is an energy drain.

The more time you spend being angry, the less time you have to spend on important things.

Take time to release your anger and turn it towards more productive things.

Don’t let your annoying coworker eat up any more of your time than they already have.

Keep a List

If your coworker’s problems start to affect your work performance, start keeping a list of all the problems that arise.

It can help you establish a paper trail should it be necessary later.

Keep a list, date it, and if necessary, show it to your boss in a formal complaint.

Doing this will give you evidence in the event that your coworker disputes your complaint.

We all have coworkers whom we’d rather not work with.

Unfortunately, we don’t tend to have any control over who works with us.

Instead of wasting your time and energy stressing over those annoying people in your life, just get the job done while keeping problems to a minimum.

Focusing on your own job, along with carrying out the actions mentioned above, will save you your sanity in the long run!

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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May 4, 2018January 7, 2018

Single-Tasking: The Sane Alternative to Multitasking

What do you do when you’re answering emails and suddenly the phone rings?

Do you answer it and try to speak to the person while you finish your emails?

Then the doorbell chimes.

Do you go to the door while still on the phone?

Now you have some decisions to make.

We live in a world where multitasking is commonplace.

But is it the most efficient use of our time?

The Multitasking Myth

A number of states have already made it illegal to talk on your cell phone and drive at the same time.

Some states won’t even allow you to drive and eat at the same time!

These laws are based on the fact that if your focus is divided, accidents are more likely to happen.

Recent studies have also shown that when people are forced to change gears in the middle of a task, valuable time is lost.

The more complex the task, the more time is lost.

The lost time is the time that’s usually spent by the frontal lobe of your brain making decisions and establishing priorities.

So when you multitask, rather than getting a lot more accomplished, you’ll find that the quality of your work diminishes significantly while important tasks actually take longer!

Single-Tasking: the Alternative

Just for argument’s sake, try spending one day where all you do is focus all your energy on one task at a time.

You may be surprised to discover that you’re making significantly more progress than usual as you tackle one job at a time without interruption.

Without interruption? Perhaps you’re thinking, “That’s easier said than done.”

If so, here are some tips to help you gain the advantage of single-tasking:

Create a to-do list. Have categories on the list for home, work, etc. Write the items on your list in order of priority.

Organizing your tasks will help you see everything you have to do and give you a definite place to start.

Keep a notebook handy. If ideas for another task come while you’re working on something else, jot them down quickly so you can continue concentrating on your current project.

You won’t have to worry about forgetting your ideas and thoughts later.

Tune out distractions. If possible, turn off your phone or shut down your computer if they’re diverting you away from your present task.

If you feel the urge to check your email, simply take a deep breath and continue working.

Don’t worry; your email’s not going anywhere! It will still be there in the same place when you finish your current task.

Plan your day in blocks of time. Depending on the number of tasks you have to do this can be in hour-long blocks, or just 20 minutes.

Make sure you leave some blocks open for unexpected situations that may arise.

Every now and then, take inventory.

When you’ve completed a task successfully and have a few minutes to spare, use that time to check your inbox for any new situations that may have come up.

You can then re-prioritize your to-do list if necessary.

Single-tasking might take some time to get used to, especially if you’re accustomed to working on multiple projects at one time.

However, focusing your efforts on a single task will help you think more clearly and determine what steps must be completed.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of ideas but these tips will help you get started with single-tasking.

Multitasking can be very stressful.

Wouldn’t it be nice to make your life a little less chaotic?

Single-tasking can do a world of good for your emotional, mental, and even physical well-being. It’s the sane alternative to multitasking!

Have you done multi tasking recently?

How were you able to fully focus on what you were doing?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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May 2, 2018January 7, 2018

How to Gain the Respect of Your Co-Workers

Whether you work for a small company or a large one, whether you are in management or an entry-level position, gaining the respect of your coworkers is a smart career move.

In today’s competitive job market, looking ahead and planning a career path is essential.

Following that path requires respect from your coworkers.

These tips will help you gain more respect at work:

1. Take responsibility for your actions. No matter what happens, take responsibility for your actions – both good and bad.

It’s okay to point out when you do something good.

However, don’t spend all your time bragging about yourself.

It’s just as important to acknowledge when you might have acted wrongly.

If you feel that your actions resulted in negative consequences for someone, always make amend and ask if you can help repair the situation.

2. Avoid taking things out on coworkers. One of the traits of well-respected people is the ability to control their emotions and attitudes.

As you go through your workday, there will be situations that annoy and frustrate you.

Make sure you don’t vent your frustrations on people who don’t deserve it.

3. Treating people fairly reflects well on you. If you have a problem with a coworker, address the problem in a private area or office.

Avoid humiliating a coworker in front of others.

4. Remain calm. The truth is you’ll get bad news from time to time at work.

When you receive bad news, first think about the way you should respond so you can react appropriately.

5. Shouting and losing your cool are the worst things you can do.

Instead, remain calm and gather all the information you need to handle the situation in a composed manner.

6. Take a moment to cool down by going for a walk, getting some coffee, or even just sitting in your car for a few minutes.

Once the news has sunk in, then take the steps needed to get the matter resolved.

Remaining calm on the job is essential to gaining the respect of your coworkers.

7. Give quality information. When you want to advance your career, resist the urge to listen to office gossip.

There’s a lot to be said for an office environment that has an open door policy, but that same policy may also make it difficult to discern correct information from false.

8. Don’t relay gossip. Only pass on information if you know the information is reliable, truthful and necessary for someone else to know about.

Avoid talking about coworkers’ personal lives, especially if you’ve been told information in confidence.

Remember, if a person was standing in front of you and you wouldn’t say something directly to them, then don’t say it behind their back.

9. Give credit where credit is due. When other people have done a good job, make sure to tell them so.

Take the time to speak well of them to others.

Aside from making people feel good about themselves, you’ll soon realize that speaking highly of others will also work wonders for bringing respect to you, too!

Giving credit to your coworkers is honest, fair and it gains you respect. This quality is one of the attributes shared by great leaders.

10. At the end of the day, the most important way to gain respect in the workplace is to respect those you work with.

Treat everyone with courtesy. Don’t talk down to anyone or act condescending towards their thoughts or opinions.

It all comes back to the golden rule: If you treat others the way you would like to be treated, then they will treat you the same way.

How important is your co-workers respect?

How do you show respect to your co-workers?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

March 16, 2018January 7, 2018

Tag: work

Remember the difference between a boss and a leader. A boss says “Go!”, a leader says “Let’s go!” – E. M. Kelly

I enjoy taking time to help others in the workplace.

I delegate my responsibilities to other very capable hands.

Improve Office Morale with Gratitude and Teamwork

Remember the difference between a boss and a leader. A boss says “Go!” A leader says “Let’s go!” – E.M. Kelly

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. – Dwight Eisenhower

How to Work With Difficult People

Single-Tasking: The Sane Alternative to Multitasking

How to Gain the Respect of Your Co-Workers

The world is filled with willing people: some willing to work, the rest willing to let them. – Robert Frost