Great Questions to Ask at Work and of Yourself

Great Questions to Ask at Work and of Yourself One of the things I’ve learned as a coach is that it’s far more useful to ask a good question than to give someone an answer. Yet, at work, we’re constantly expected to provide answers. Not only that, people want us to answer with conviction and confidence. Otherwise, we risk being seen as weak, ignorant, or both. Questions to ask at work While there are many times when a definitive answer is exactly the right thing, like when your boss turns to you in a meeting and asks, “What does the data say about XYZ?”, often you’re better off asking a great question. One that turns the meeting in a different direction, introduces a new angle for thinking about the problem, and makes people think. One of my former colleagues was especially skillful at this. He would wait until the right moment â€" usually about two-thirds of the way through the meeting when we were getting mired in some well-worn internal debate, and badly needed to get back on track. Then he would sit forward and ask something like, “Has anyone thought about this from the client’s perspective?” And that would free us from the endless loop so we could move into a more productive space. Here are a few others that I’ve come across that are effective. To make sure there’s alignment: “How would this benefit the bigger mission?” “How does this align with the company’s strategy?” To encourage collaboration: “Who else could contribute to this effort?” To manage stakeholders: “How would this affect stakeholder X?” “Who needs to know about this before it’s announced?” To elicit ideas: “What more can we do to win the mandate/competition/award/grant?” “What would happen if we did the opposite?” To pressure test: “What could stop us?” To do a reality check: “What would need to be true in order for us to succeed?” “What assumptions are we making?” To examine scenarios: “What if XYZ were to happen/not happen?” “Who would be the winners versus the losers in this scenario?” To get a meeting back on track: “These are good points, but we don’t have enough time to do them justice. Could we take this offline?” “Is this on the critical path?” “Is there anything else we need to cover before Mary has to leave for her next meeting?” Questions to ask yourself Another place where questions can make a big difference is when it comes to managing your own career. Unless you hire a coach or have a particularly astute set of mentors and friends, no one else is going to ask you to think about these things. Yet you’ll be far more successful and satisfied with your life if you do. So exactly why is asking yourself these questions such a vital part of having a great career and life? First, they make you think and reflect. In a world of hyperactivity and the “always on” culture, creating space to think is a well-deserved luxury. It will help you do your best work and live life according to your own terms. I like to think of it as living “on purpose”. Second, they can alert you to times when you need to make a change, and encourage you to act. Even though it’s uncomfortable to hear the truth, there’s no point in keeping yourself in the dark until it’s too late to do anything about it. Third, these questions make it more likely that you will focus on what truly matters and use your time wisely. And time is the only thing we can’t make more of, even if most of us don’t treat it that way. Like spending hours making international travel arrangements myself to avoid paying a nominal travel agent fee! There are certain questions that you need to ask yourself periodically to make sure you’re still on track. In case you’re concerned that these are navel-gazing kinds of questions, let me assure you that these are all practical and serve a purpose. Here are a dozen of my favorite ones grouped according to their application. When you are super busy: Why am I doing this? How does this support my bigger future? What do I need to say “no” to? Am I focusing my energies in the right places? To make sure you keep improving: How have I invested in myself this quarter? Am I still learning and growing? Am I putting my best foot forward every day? To get out of your own head: What more can I do for my clients/colleagues/organization/family? How can I make a difference here? To move beyond your comfort zone: What am I afraid of, and what do I want to do about that? Am I playing big enough? What’s the one action I will take this week to get beyond my comfort zone? It doesn’t hurt to ask As you can tell, I’m a big fan of asking questions. At work, they can help you add value and support the team, and in the career context, they can get you to take action toward your goals. Plus, as they say, if you don’t ask, you won’t know. And I like to go into situations knowing as much as I can. Don't you? So look for moments when asking just the right question can move a meeting along, help yourself or a colleague get noticed, and spur your career to new heights. And when it comes to having a great career and life, not only doesn’t it hurt to ask, you’ll be better off when you do. In the spirit of this post, let me ask you this question: What are your favorite questions to ask at work and to ask yourself? Leave a comment below and share your wisdom.

Test yourself Do you make your colleagues happy at work - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Test yourself Do you make your colleagues happy at work - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Do you make your co-workers happy or unhappy at work? Using my brand-new Facebook application, you can invite current or past co-workers to answer 10 simple questions about you, and learn if you make others happy at work or if youre the office bully making everyone run away screaming. You will also learn the top 3 ways you make others happy at work. Its really simple: Click here to go to Facebook and add the application. Invite current and past co-workers to rate you. Once they answer the questions about you, you can see your rating. You need to be a facebook user if youre not you can sign up for free right away. The application was developed by Infinito who did a great job on time and within the budget. I recommend them highly! Try it out and let me know what you think! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Inspirational Quote and Hallie Recommends The Body Shop - Hallie Crawford

Inspirational Quote and Hallie Recommends The Body Shop I received a beautiful card recently from a Career Seekers class participant, Erin Douglas McCann. Heres the quote on the card: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. Henry David Thoreau Heres a cute journal on Amazon with this quote on the front. To help you identify and mentally focus on your dreams. More on that Wednesday… Erin is living her life according to her values and priorities by being an independent consultant with the Body Shop at Home. She chose the Body Shop because their products are made with the environment in mind, they support fair trade and are against animal testing. Check out Erins website if youd like to buy any Body Shop products or want to be a consultant with them. Rock on Erin! If you need help identifying your values or priorities in life, contact me. Its much easier to identify these with the help of a coach. Hallie Creating Your Own Path Coach,

Untold Stories About Creative Writing Skills Resume That You Must Read

Untold Stories About Creative Writing Skills Resume That You Must Read The Fundamentals of Creative Writing Skills Resume You Can Learn From Beginning Right Away When writing, consider setting yourself some smaller goals. Different skill, take pleasure in the cover letters, written resume writing require various kinds of creative resume should demonstrate an entry-level status in the top. If you would like to find creative, it is possible to find some pretty amazing examples on CV Parade. What's Actually Going on with Creative Writing Skills Resume The typical period of time someone will appear at your resume is about 5-8 seconds. Well, that and whether you really want to have that job. By acquiring a head start with some basic activities, you can assist your child begin to come up with her writing skills from a young age. Life After Creative Writing Skills Resume Writing is a significant kind of communication. It can be an important outlet. It is an important part of ou r daily lives. Writing and editing is a rather wide category. Ruthless Creative Writing Skills Resume Strategies Exploited It's simply unethical however you consider it! By the close of the year, you are going to be well on your way to becoming a specialist in all things writing. Just bear in mind where it is that you're sending it. In the great majority of cases, your mind has the power to `process' thoughts and ideas faster than it can take for you to locate them! Creative Writing Skills Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone The sessions include presentations on various facets of creative writing and the opportunity to plan, compose and rate your own work in a beneficial and supportive atmosphere. Our occupation is to encourage our children's writing so that they will delight in putting their ideas and ideas on paper. Aside from the workplace, you are likely to need writing skills as a piece of a plan of study, whether at college or university. You've got to compose several aca demic papers over the span of a year. You never receive a second opportunity to produce a great first impression. There's just one way to be a better writer, and that's through a lot of practice. The creative genius within you'll simply lay dormant making it that far more difficult to use whenever you do call upon it! Now you're not merely developing your writing abilities but your credibility also! Making up creative writing ideas is essential for anyone utilizing content when working online. however, it can be challenging! Written language skills are an essential part of many positions in nearly every business. Some projects need other sorts of software, like spreadsheets or video editing. The Fundamentals of Creative Writing Skills Resume Revealed Creative writing often uses extended metaphors. How Dyslexia Impacts Writing Skills Students with dyslexia show a considerable difference between what they are able to inform you orally and what they're in a position to conve y on paper. Varying the writing prompts helps students practice unique varieties of writing, for instance, one prompt might call for descriptive writing and one might call for persuasive writing.

Professional Resume Writing Services Houston Secrets

Professional Resume Writing Services Houston Secrets Why Almost Everything You've Learned About Professional Resume Writing Services Houston Is Wrong Professional resume writers also know the present buzz words in every single business. If you can't locate any testimonials, you can ask for references. You have to be more creative and focused, and you also need to capture the interest of your readers. Listed here are bits of suggestions to produce a resume noticeable. Professional Resume Writing Services Houston - the Story There are many companies that offer resume editing. Unfortunately, writing a resume can be rather a challenge. Writing your resume is no simple undertaking. Resume writing is the main step in presenting your abilities and receiving the job that you desire. Professional Resume Writing Services Houston: No Longer a Mystery During the procedure, you will work one-on-one with a certified, experienced professional till you have a resume you're pleased with. Ask to see samples of earlier resumes, which can help you get a sense for the caliber of the service's work. For more than a decade, the procedure to write and produce a resume has been accomplished more efficiently and affordably because of technology. If you're a completely new graduate seeking to produce your start on your career ladder, we can still help you distinguish yourself from the crowd. Wherever you're in your career, Find My Profession can provide help. You would like your career to visit the next level. Lots of people don't like their present job or career. What to Do About Professional Resume Writing Services Houston You most likely have questions. Relying solely on endorsements or recommendations means you'll miss the large opportunity your network presents. Well, there are a lot of means to know whether you truly require the aid of a specialist. If you feel as if you want to use our professional resume writing help, you may apply at the moment by merely contacting the customer service center. Want to Know More About Professional Resume Writing Services Houston? Bright professionals recognize that competing today is significantly different than competing just a decade ago. As soon as you open the search engines and begin searching for a reliable resume writing service, you will observe there are dozens and dozens of businesses that offer such help. My intention is to make an unbiased evaluation of a number of the top resume writing companies by checking out reviews from different clients and making a purchase to personally check the grade of service they give. As an expert review company, our goal is to research thoroughly and supply you with the very best possible top resume writing services reviews. Houston is a superb spot for job seekers, as there are opportunities within quite a few industries. Any offers aren't for the jobs you desire. Think about the hiring manager who needs to wade through 200 resumes. You're empow ered to begin your job search immediately. What is Really Happening with Professional Resume Writing Services Houston If you can't locate a review on a certain company you want to know more about, I advise that you take a peek at our top rated resume writing services and pick one from the list. More than 50% of ideas as you may choose to earn a professional writing services dallas. More than 50% of ideas as you're able to trust. Instead, you're doing something that could help you advance your career. You're fighting to express your prior work experience. Reasons to acquire help... If you don't have the skill set to compose a winning resume, then getting the aid of professional writers is an excellent idea. The resume writers are generally contracted remote employees dispersed throughout the nation and might even get the job done internationally. Professional writers employ the most innovative organization practices to your resume. Finding the finest Houston resume writers is no simple feat. The Downside Risk of Professional Resume Writing Services Houston After all, nobody would like to employ someone who doesn't look the part. You wish to employ somebody that has been writing resumes for many decades. Besides your resume, an effective cover letter will impact the amount of interview opportunities you get. It must be concise.

How to Motivate a Team An Executive Shares his Secrets - Your Career Intel

How to Motivate a Team An Executive Shares his Secrets - Your Career IntelMotivating your gruppe is one of those goals that can easily drop to the bottom of your list of priorities. Managers often have a hard time understanding exactly how to motivate a team, keeping them focused and fired up over time. After working with numerous executives in different industries, Ive observed the following tried and true team motivation techniques that you can put into practice right away.Establish Clear Goals. Constantly working to accomplish a set of vague, imprecise goals can be draining for anyone, even your most enthusiastic team member. Work to create clear goals and present them early on, so everyone knows what needs to be achieved. Its also helpful to provide goals that include measurable accomplishments. For example, rather than asking your team to improve customer service, ask them to increase the number of positive customer reviews by 10% within the next two months.Another secret of suc cessfully motivating a team is to set a group goal instead of (or in addition to) individual goals. Giving the team something to work toward together encourages members to collaborate and help each other as they reach for a common target. Once these goals are in place, that doesnt mean you can step away and wait for everyone to knock them out of the park. Communicate and check in when necessary especially if your team is tackling an unfamiliar task.Reward Achievements. Whenever your team hits one of their long-term goals, find a way to reward them. While individual rewards are great, aim for incentives that all members can enjoy together. By rewarding the group with a team outing or trip, you not only provide a common motivator, but the reward doubles as a bonding opportunity.Get feedback from the team about how theyd like to celebrate hitting their next goal. Drawing from their requests and announcing the reward early on will give the entire team a reason to get excited and work h arder to achieve success.Set a Great Example. Almost nothing kills team motivation faster than a leader whom team members perceive as dishonest, ungrateful or unmotivated. In other words, you should reflect what youd like to see from your group members. If your team lacks enthusiasm, find genuine reasons to get excited about reaching your goals. If you ask the group to bring ideas to the next meeting, bring your own ideas too.Finally, and perhaps most importantly, make sure you consistently go to bat for your team when youre dealing with your superiors. Employees are almost always willing to work harder for a manager who stands up for their best interests.What have you learned about how to motivate your team? Tell us what worked for you in the comments below.

How to Plan a Wedding Without Ditching Your Day Job

How to Plan a Wedding Without Ditching Your Day Job Remember when you were a girl and you fantasized about when all your wedding dreams came true? Remember when you imagined how you would spend every second planning every detail, from the moment you woke up to the moment you went on your exotic honeymoon?Remember when you got a full-time job? Right.You cant quit your job to plan one day, but youcan plan a wedding while working full-time. You have some long days ahead, but when theres a will, theres a way.Here are 6 tips on how to plan your wedding like a Fairygodboss1 Set a Realistic DateThe countdown clock begins the second you tischset a date. The Knot says the average engagement is 14.5 months. However, the time youll need depends on many factors, like where you are in your life, the type of wedding, venue availability, and cost.Its important to evaluate your personal agenda before you set a date. Do you or your partner have a prearranged work trip? Are you up for a promotion or w orking toward another goal? Do you have vacation time to go on a honeymoon? For that matter, do you have enough money to pay for a honeymoon? Consider how much time youll need to manage these dynamics.2 Make a Bullet JournalWedding planning requires a lot of note taking and inspiration. Bullet journaling is the organizational phenomenon that is your solution to both. If youre not familiar with this journaling craze, watch this video and then go on Pinterest to get ideas. Weddingbells.com explains how you can create one to meet planning milestones and relieve stress through therapeutic doodling.3 Share the Wedding WorkloadEven though youve been dreaming about your wedding since before you met your fianc its not just your day. Delegating tasks to your husband-to-be will get him more excited about different elements of the event (even the flowers), and will make it easier for you to find a balance between wedding planning and your job.4 Maximize Your BreaksUtilize your lunch break to s chedule and follow up with vendors. Your company may have a policy about using their computer for personal activity, so familiarize yourself with that first. At a minimum, you can use breaks to call vendors and to ask your boss and colleagues for recommendations.5 Schedule Appointments Off-HoursThe easiest times to meet with vendors are the evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. You dont want to rush finding the perfect venue, dress, DJ and florist. Also, if you want your fianc, parents, bridesmaids or friends to join, its easier to find time when everyone can meet after work or during the weekend.6 Limit DIYDo-It-Yourself is great way to save money and personalize favors and dcor. However, theres only so much you can do when you work 40+ hours each week. Choose a select number of tasks to DIY and then leave the rest to the professionals whose full-time jobs are to make your wedding awesome.--Kristen Farrell is a professional communicator who previously worked in human resources. She shar es career lessons and everyday experiences on her blog kristen-farrell.com. When shes not writing, youll find her running, crafting, or spending time with her husband, Jonathan and cat, Trotsky.