Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Sweeten the Bad Apple On Your Team

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Sweeten the Bad Apple On Your Team I’ve been getting a lot of reader emails about the pervasiveness of negativity in the workplace. I can understand where people are coming from. After all, the business world is still reeling from the effects of the recession, and many employees are overworked, frustrated and stressed out. Perhaps you have a mostly terrific team made up of individuals who are upbeat, motivated and dedicated to doing the best job possible. But there’s one person who is souring the group with her bad attitude. She doesn’t get along with anyone and complains about everything, and group morale and job satisfaction is suffering as a result. According to a study by Will Felps, associate professor of organization and personnel management at Rotterdam School of Management, the behaviors of one negative group member can have a powerful, detrimental influence on an entire team. Felps found that groups with bad apples performed 30 to 40 percent worse than groups without a bad apple. The ability to get along, share work and collaborate significantly dropped in groups with a bad apple, as other team members took on the bad apple’s characteristics. You must neutralize your bad apple before she destroys your group’s cultureâ€"and you must do so without appearing to single her out. Otherwise, she may feel attacked and picked on, and her level of antagonism may reach a new high, and hit a level where she’ll be unlikely to make the necessary behavioral changes. Focus On The Bunch My friend Marshall Goldsmith, author of Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, and How to Get it Back if You Lose It, shares a wonderful tip. He suggests that you work on improving team behavior across the board by having each team member ask every other member a simple question: “In the future, how can I do a great job of helping our team demonstrate effective teamwork?” This will foster healthy dialogue, encouraging people to stay positive and focused in their replies to other team members. Listen to your people, learn and express gratitude for the feedback. Then in one-on-one meetings, have each employee discuss with you what he or she has learned from the other team members. As the team leader, after hearing the suggestions from this persons co-workers, share your ideas. Finally, to maintain the flow of information, do a similarly structured follow up in a few months. By participating in this process, you will lead by example. For more where this came from, have a look at the full post on AMEXs Open Forum.

How You Can Format Your Resume - A Practical Solution

How You Can Format Your Resume - A Practical SolutionSome professional writers suggest keeping a resume writing order. This will make your resume much easier to read and also make the reading flow better. A resume should be read in a certain order that makes sense to you. I will explain what I mean.When you get the job, it is usually going to ask for some credentials such as an undergrad or college degree. You might need a certain number of hours for your current level of experience. In this situation, a resume can be written in a particular order that you may prefer.The first place that you should go is in the file cabinet. The file cabinet can be locked up tight with several files and can make it hard to read. The important thing is that you want to get your resume in front of someone who can easily read it.The most important thing that you want to do is open up the paper that is to be used to format your resume. Many people think that this is the only time that the paper is going to be seen. If you are the type of person that has a fear of getting in the middle of others, then you should use a different way to get a person to see your resume.A computer is going to be a better way to organize the resume. Most resumes will have a very condensed layout on them. The paper that is going to be used to format the resume will be saved on a computer and so it is not going to be seen by everyone. When you format the resume on a computer, you can put the format on the same spot as the important things that you want the reader to see.The format of the resume should start with your name. Next, you should talk about the experience that you have had and then list your work history. Finally, you should include information that you can demonstrate that you have leadership skills.After the resume has been formatted properly, you should print it out and turn it around three times. The third time, you are going to examine the resume. Ask yourself whether or not the resume will be usable for a future job interview.Remember that any resume that you write is going to be given a chance to the reader to read it. You want to make sure that you make the resume as easy to read as possible. In order to do this, you want to keep your resume in a well-organized form.

What your co-workers with Aspergers wish you knew

What your co-workers with Aspergers wish you knew The first year we lived on the farm, my son showed pigs. He did okay  (and I got one of my favorite posts of all time). But he realized that the county fair is not about pigs, its about social skills. You have to be able to guess what traits of a pig the judges will like this year, which requires talking to neighbors and pig feed sales guys who come by the farm. Its a networking thing: Hows the weather? How are hogs this year? Even crops can be subjective. Should beans be more green or more consistently shaped? Should the cauliflower  be presented with or without leaves? The judges change each year and you have to know who youre dealing with. The other thing you need to do to win at the county fair is to make eye contact with the judges. Or even chat them up. Its ironic since a crazy percentage of farmers have Aspergers (think about it: great at logistics and no need to talk with people during the day.) So its the kids with great social skills who win at the county fair. My son figured that out fast and  didnt want to show pigs the next year. Lesson: We know we  have bad social skills. You wont offend us by saying you know too, just help us to not have to use them. Instead my son entered the crops part of the fair. He entered his sweet corn. (In the country you say sweet corn so people know you are not talking about feed corn. In fact, so few people grow sweet corn that if its feed corn you say just corn.) It was a long  wait for the judges to pick a winner among  50 stalks of corn that pretty much all looked the same because the July fair is too early for corn. Then he  had a revelation: he had already made money selling corn, and he was having a hard time seeing why it would be better to show corn at the fair than sell corn at the gas station. (In the city, farmers markets look like a rural gathering. In the country, farmers markets look like  a trip to the store.) He got a blue ribbon. He  announced on the way home that this was the last year of the county fair. Then he said, Hey, now I can advertise that I have blue-ribbon corn! I can charge more money! Lesson:  We understand money because its black and white and its a game with clear rules, no nuance. The third year of the county fair my son only wanted to go on the rides. This is disturbing to me because I am sure they are unsafe. But I tell myself its more dangerous to cross the street  so next time Im in NYC I  can have the kids cross one less street for each ride they go on and itll be a statistical wash. The fair has too many people for my son. When he was younger he could bring a chew toy  to alleviate stress. Sort of like when an adult bites their nails, but people with Aspergers are biting their nails all the time so there are no nails so they need a substitute. But since he knows a chew toy is not socially acceptable,  he started bringing a book to read. Which is fine for restaurants and intermission at the symphony, but not okay at the county fair. He knows that. So he was picking his nose. We have picking rules. No picking if theres puss. No picking where people can see scars. And no picking if there is blood. I relent on the blood because picking is not that interesting if there is no blood. I think its not so much the blood as the sharp pain. Its a way to focus. I realize this cutting talk is not socially acceptable. And I convey to my son that most people I know with Aspergers do some sort of socially unacceptable picking, but you cant really talk about it. Just do it if you need to calm yourself. He understands its a fine line between picking enough to stay off OCD medicine and being so OCD that you have to have medicine. We are trying to walk that line. But its super  stressful at the fair: Lots of people. Sweat. Noise. Flashing lights. I said, Your nose is bleeding. Go to the bathroom and get a paper towel. He does that. I see him get in a few more picks on his way there. At the cotton candy stand there was a placard for  taking pictures. I tell the kids  we cant pass this up. I point  the camera at the placard and this is what I get: I show my son and first he says, Mom! Delete that! Then we both cant stop  laughing and he says, Okay. You can keep it. Lesson: We have to do some self-soothing in public. We are trying our best to do whats most socially acceptable even though we know none of it really is. When my son and I travel, we stay in a hotel. Inside the hotel almost the whole time. The hotel is nice because there is none of our stuff there. Its empty. No distractions,  and nothing that requires transition. Our experience of life is gearing up for transition and recuperating from transition. Vacation is a vacation from transitions. I have a rule that we have to leave the hotel once a day because people with Aspergers get more flexible in their routines if they take small steps. In Hermosa we went to the beach, in Beverly Hills we did lunch, in Seattle we went to the Chihuly exhibit. He complained, of course, but I told him to shut up because I hate leaving our room as well. I told him if I complained as much as he did no one would talk to me. I didnt tell him if he wants to complain he should get a blog. I didnt tell him I get paid to complain. He can learn all that later. (Although actually, he is learning the ropes of the post on his own.) In the exhibit we were so happy. It was dark and quiet and nothing moved. I told my son we need a picture because we were having such a good time. He says, okay, how about this? and climbs up a wall next to a sign that says DONT CLIMB. Then he makes his standard get-me-out-of-here pose. Lesson: When we are being funny, it means we are happy. Even if the jokes inappropriate. Were still trying.

6 Ways to Keep Your PC Optimised

6 Ways to Keep Your PC Optimised Keeping your PC clean both physically and digitally is essential to keep it running at an optimum level. Here are a few tips to help improve your PCs performance and lengthen its life from the experts at FileHippo. Slim Down the Software Running too many programs at the same time is a drain on your computers resources and can slow it down. When Windows boots up, there are programs that start which you may not necessarily need. You can control which ones you want to run through your Task Manager (accessed via CTRL, ALT, DELETE). Navigate to Task Managers startup tab, right-click on the program you want to disable and then reboot your PC. Note: some programs are essential to keep your computer running correctly. Make sure you research online first before disabling a program at startup. Uninstall Unused Programs Getting rid of unused software is an effective way to free up more space on your computer. Go to Programs and Features in the Control Panel (Windows 7) or by right-clicking Start and navigating from the pop-up menu in Windows 8.x. For Windows 10, its Apps and Features, accessed via the Settings cog. Anything you installed yourself but never use can go but if youre not sure whether a program is necessary for the smooth running of your system and other apps, Google them first before uninstalling. Clean Up Your Disk Space This is like getting unwanted clutter out of your hard drive. Windows 7, 8.x and 10 all have different ways of accessing clean-up resources for Win 7, from Start, go to All Programs - Accessories - System Tools. For Windows 8.x, just hit the WIN key, type disk cleanup, and select the option to free up disk space. In Windows 10, press the Windows Start button and youll find it under Windows Administrative Tools. The cleanup tool will remove all the temporary files that build up on your hard drive and any cached files. It will empty your recycle bin too make sure youve moved everything you want to the recycle bin first. Reorganise Your Disk Over time, as your PC accesses and uses files, they start to become fragmented and muddled up, which impairs performance. Defragmenting your hard drive brings your files back into contiguous blocks again. Only defragment HDD-type drives SSD-type drives dont need it. In Windows 7, the Disk Defragmenter is in the System Tools in Windows 8.x, just type defrag after hitting the WIN button. In Windows 10, the tool is called Defragment and Optimise Drives and can be found under Windows Administrative Tools. Use PC Cleaning Software As an alternative to maintaining your computer manually, there are various free PC cleaner programs which are free to download. CCleaner is an effective tool that cleans and organises your disk space without having to use the various administration tools in Windows. Choosing the Slim installer version of CCleaner will ensure you dont get any unwanted extras. Keep Your Machine Clean Dust is a great insulator, which can contribute to your computer overheating. Giving your computer a thorough clean involves taking it apart, which can violate any guarantees. If it has a maintenance warranty, have it cleaned professionally, but if not, and youre feeling confident enough, there are some good guides online on how to give your machine a proper valeting.

How to Build Your Freelance Writing Resume

How to Build Your Freelance Writing ResumeWhile building your freelance writing resume, it is important to consider which documents to include. A resume is usually designed to present the right skills and educational background that will help a person find employment quickly. In order to build your freelance writing resume effectively, you will need to carefully review these documents.The skill sets you include should reflect the kind of work you have performed. A good resume will contain your basic skills, including your education, work experience, and job responsibilities. Some employers might also want to see some proof of your work. This could be a job application, portfolio, or even testimonials from past clients. Remember that this could be used as a reference when interviewing new employees.Another item to include on your freelance writing resume is your professional awards or honors. This information will allow the employer to identify you as an accomplished professional. It may also demonstrate that you have the skills and education needed to succeed in the field you are applying for.The names of past clients who have provided testimonials can also be listed on your freelance writing resume. Although you can add this information yourself, hiring a freelance writer is generally the best way to get a professional-looking resume. Many people are nervous about talking about their clients and it can be easier for them to let someone else write their entire resume.Your biography can be an important part of your freelance writing resume. This is an opportunity to list your skills and hobbies. When you include this information, make sure you clearly demonstrate the relevance of your skills to your current client.There is no single format that is best for everyone. Instead, you will want to consider how your experience and skills are relevant to the position you are applying for. You may choose to include other areas of expertise on your resume as well, so make sure you include every aspect of your skill set.Lastly, keep your resume current. Even if you are not currently looking for a job, you will still need to update your resume on a regular basis. Employers do not like to hire someone who has been working as a freelancer for years and they will begin to wonder why you do not have a job. Thus, it is important to review your documents often and make any necessary changes.Building your freelance writing resume is an important step in landing a job. However, it is also important to remember that this document is only one of many steps you must take in order to land the job you are seeking.

Surviving and thriving on unemployment - Sterling Career Concepts

Surviving and thriving on unemployment Surviving and thriving on unemployment Our guest author today is Nadia Crum,a young military wife,mother of two, and author of theblog, A-B-C Frugality, where she sharesher tips on how to survive and thrive on a shoestring budget.Gone are the days when the white collar was a safety net of employment; when employment was an assumed privilege of a college education. In today’s economy, unemployment is striking down people at all socioeconomic levels. The emotions associated with unemployment in today’s market can be crushing: frustration, embarrassment, unworthiness, defeat. But in this situation,such feelings are not helpful or productive. Its important to remember you cansurvive and even thrive on unemployment. Remain realistically optimistic. You will find employment again. It may take some time, but the economy will recover and you will find career success again. Maintain a sense of routine. Get up each day, shower, and get dressed as if you were still going to work. Schedule time each day for job hunting, interviewing, and even networking. Volunteering or internships are another great way to round out your resume while you are temporarily out of your career field. Take time away from your family. If husband and wife are both home with the kids orif the parent who was working is now home with the kids, there can be a great amount of tension and stress as the family gets used to a new dynamic. Make sure to take a break for yourself. Go to the park or library, and have some quite time. Secure family health insurance. COBRA is now very affordable, and health care is something your family should never be without, if at all possible. If COBRA is not an option, look into government or state-run health assistance programs for your children. Take control of your finances. Evaluate your bills and determine priorities. Paying down debt can often wait until after you are employed again. Call your creditors and let them know the situation. Many are willing to work with you if they are aware of your situation. Track your spending. By keeping a log of your expenses for one week, you can see extra spending that can be eliminated or scaled back. You cantchange spending habitswithout awareness. Make the most of your unemployment benefits. Yes, that means being frugal. But today’s frugality is hip, classy, simple and effective, and can save you thousands! Frugality is about simple steps; cutting back unnecessary spending like Starbucks and McDonalds, learning to save 30% on your grocery bill without ever cutting a coupon, and putting value in the things that matter like family and community, rather than material things like the expensive suit you cannot buy. There is a wealth of information available online, including my blog,that will teach you hints and tips to save money. By using techniques like knowing the sales and buying in season, I have learned to feed my family of 4 for $25 or less per week. This is just one example of what a little preplanning can gain you. Take advantage of discounts and coupons. If you are willing to invest the time, your local Sunday paper has so much more than the classified employment ads…pull out those grocery ads and use them to make your shopping list, and then clip those coupons and take them along, too. Between coupons and shopping techniques, I save thousands of dollars each year on the things my family needs. Research local free entertainment. Libraries and community groups often have story time for young children, low cost fairs and festivals on the weekends, and cultural groups frequently have celebrations where you can hear music, dance, and try foodfrom other cultures. Unemployment is a rough season in any family’s life. But by maintaining the right attitude yourself and helping facilitate the right atmosphere in your home, you can make it much more tolerable. If you are willing to make certain concessions, cut back on extra spending, and research resources in your area, you will not only stretch your unemployment dollar and survive, but you will live a richer and fuller life and thrive. For more information onfrugality, and additional tips on how to survive and thrive on a smaller budget including a21-day eCourse on frugality planned for later this fall, please visit Nadiasblog, A-B-C Frugality.

5 Ways To Harness The Power Of Visuals In Your Job Hunt - CareerEnlightenment.com

In terms of formatting the text itself, consider your resume as a visual entity in itself; it should communicate your strengths not just through words but through appearance. The psychology of fonts is well understood, so educate yourself. “It’s hugely important as the world evolves that all of those involved in the future of communication and technology understand the power of type,” says font expert Sarah Hyndman. Want to look organized and clinical? Go for clean Calibri. Want to look creative? Put in a little display text. The options are endless and will not only help to distinguish your resume from alternatives but send an additional, visual message to your recruiter.In terms of formatting, don’t just keep your resume tidy â€" make it sing. A splash of well-judged color can help headings pop, while mixing up your formatting can work wonders. Just go carefully with any innovations; if it’s not readable, it’s not worth your hiring manager’s time.At the far end of the spectrum, infographic resumes can yield fantastic rewards. You’ll have to ensure that your chosen field is suited to a more brand-heavy approach; you’re not going to nab many banking jobs with a spiralling, cartoony creation. But if the role suits, infographics can certainly help you stand out from the crowd. Just ask Ben Matthews, whose foray into visual-heavy resume writing resulted in his perfect job offer.Get some internet real estatePersonal brand is important these days, and nowhere more so than the net. Having a personal website enables you to control to the last word what is said about you online. A link on a resume or LinkedIn ensures that hiring managers can find your work quickly and easily, in the format you would like them to view it.What to include on your personal site? If you’re a creative, a portfolio is essential. If you have copyright-free work from a previous job that you can display, put it up. It’s one thing to claim you can make up this form or compil e that report; it’s another to show you can. You might even consider starting up a blog â€" a neat way to humanize and elevate yourself in the eye of recruiters.Finally, in the land of the internet-savvy, the video is king. Four times as many consumers would prefer to watch a video about a product than to read about it. And what is a candidate but a product, ready to be hired?These days, if you want to maximize your chances of employment, the video resume is a legitimate method of bringing your personality off the page and into a hiring manager’s consciousness. Like infographic resumes, videos only work for some people. If you have few presentation skills or are chronically shy, this probably isn’t the route for you. But if the role you’re applying for is client-facing, presentation- or sales-heavy, a video resume is the perfect way to demonstrate your initiative and people skills.So next time a new acquaintance says you look different to how they imagined, ask yourself why. It’s easier to remember a face than a name, to recall a colour than a word. Worm your way into that recruiter’s visual memory, and you might just end up in the job too.