Friday, December 27, 2019

Work-From-Home Jobs for Pregnant Women

Work-From-Home Jobs for Pregnant WomenWork-From-Home Jobs for Pregnant WomenIf youre looking for a job and youre pregnant, or if a high-risk pregnancy is preventing you from reporting to work but you still need a paycheck, you still have some work options. Your doctor may suggest that you restrict activity during your pregnancy, especially if its considered a high-risk pregnancy. If this is the case, then working from home is likely your best option. Several types of work-from-home jobs allow expectant mothers to make money and still get the rest they need. Its possible that you already hold a job that can be done remotely. In that case, ask your employer if you can work from home until your maternity leave begins. (In some cases, bed rest could warrant early maternity pay. Check with your employer on this issue.) Otherwise, try looking into one of the following lines of work. If you decide that you want to pursue one of these options, do a job search with one of the many companies t hat help mothers look for home-based work. Just be sure to clear any work arrangements with your physician first. Freelance Writer Are you creative and able to write well?Can you hit deadlines and express your thoughts clearly in written fasson? Work as a freelance writer may be what youre looking for.These types of gigs may ask for writing samples, so a good way to start preparing for this career is to write and publish blog posts on your own website or LinkedIn.Most companies pay per article, per page views for online publishing, or both. Virtual Assistant Being organized and getting the little things done is something every business person needs, especially entrepreneurs.Virtual assistants free up their time to create and sell their products. For this type of role, youll need excellent Microsoft Office skills, quick email management, and a stock of online tools to keep schedules straight and transfer files (for example, Google Calendar and Drive).Some assistants are paid per task, while others are paid per hour. If youre interested in this line of work, check out the International Virtual Assistants Association. Data Processor So much written or recorded data needs to be processed into a ordnungsprinzip in order for businesses to function, and a data processor is usually responsible for that task. This type of role requires extremely good organizational skills and the ability to stay focused while doing repetitive functions.Usually you are given source data- paper files or audio clips, for example- and are asked to transcribe them and enter the results into a database for easy retrieval. Online Community Manager or Social Media Manager This type of work can require building, managing, and maintaining an online community that resides on a business website or social media channels.People who do this job create content for users to talk about, moderate comments, and encourage the conversation to help build the company brand or cause.It could al so mean managing and posting content on a brands social media accounts, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Pinterest. Corporate Recruiter If you have a human resources background and are a good judge of character, then corporate recruiting work, sometimes known as headhunting, could be for you. Recruiters are responsible for crafting job descriptions,conducting phone and prescreening interviews, developing a pool of qualified candidates, and coordinating final interview schedules. This type of position involves excellent written and verbal communication skills and a hunger to find the right fit for an organization. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act Do you feel uneasy looking for work while pregnant? The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1978, says employers cant deny a woman a job simply because she is pregnant, so dont let pregnancy stop you from looking around for something new.

Monday, December 23, 2019

8 Ways to Get Your Employees Excited About Their Jobs

8 Ways to Get Your Employees Excited About Their Jobs8 Ways to Get Your Employees Excited About Their JobsHappy and satisfied employees are more productive, and engaged workers tend to stick around longer. We know that employee retention is a big deal for small geschftsleben owners who dont have the budget to handle the costs of hiring and training new employees on a regular basis. This is whygood employees can be one of the greatest resources in your small business. There are many things you can do to help your employees manage stress, find job satisfaction and get motivated to work. Communicate Openly There may not be a quicker way to lose the loyalty of your employees than withholding important information or communicating in a way that is misleading. Of course you dont need to share every detail of running your business, but there are some things that are important for your employees to know so they can do their jobs effectively. Communicate this information to your employees on a regular basis. Listen Just as communicating down is important, it is also important for employees to be able todiscuss issuesand ask questions that will give them direction in their jobs. Give your team opportunities to talk about things that are important to them, then take the time to listen and act on what is discussed. Be Positive The day-to-day operationsof a small business can be stressful, but a can-do attitude can reduce the impact of the challenges. The best part is thatpositivity can be contagious. The more upbeat and optimistic you are in the office, the more your employees will see the glass as half full. Make Learning Part of the Culture Skilldevelopment opportunities are valuable for employees, not only so they can do their current jobs well, but so they can also prepare for career advancement opportunities. Share Successes Its amazing how much a pat on the back can do for morale in a small business. Let your employees share in the celebrations of big wins so they can see the results of their hard work, and be motivated to continue building the positive momentum. Bring Fun into the Workplace An enjoyable work environment can be a great motivator.Consider starting a friendlycompetitionwith your teamwith monetary incentives or a day off as the reward. Or bring in some amenities that will lighten the mood, like a popcorn machine or Friday afternoon pizza parties. Be Fair Just like a parent needs to be fair with multiple children, you need to treat each of your employees fairlyor feelings of resentment and jealousy will begin to develop.Hold everyone to the same level of accountability, with the same rewards or reprimands doled out across the board. Let Your Passion Show You started your business because you have a passion for your work. Let that excitement show so your employees can appreciate how much you have put into your business. If you show thatyou are excited about your job and simply love what you do, your e mployees are more likely to genuinely enjoy their jobs as well. It takes time and attention to develop a team that is highly motivatedand excited to come to work every day. Incorporating some of these ideas into your business will help you become a better leader and a more successful small business owner.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Why its OK to focus on your career over starting a family

Why its OK to focus on your career over starting a familyWhy its OK to focus on your career over starting a familyEven though Im surrounded by entrepreneurs, including those in my family, there is still always talk about starting a family and having kids. My female colleagues are determined to run a business and have kids. At this age, its what starts happening. Ive received numerous baby shower invitations and comments that if I have kids soon, then we can plan playdates together.Its easy to start feeling left out and panicked that your friendships may diverge because you are not rushing to get a bun in the oven. Whether it is friends or family, theres no need to feel guilty about choosing your career over kids. Heres why.Theres no need to conform to social normsWhile Ive heard about a biological clock ticking away, the problem is that, for me, I dont hear anything. Having children is not something I feel passionate about. In the past, it might have been taboo to say that out loud f or fear you would be labeled as selfish or mean. The reality is that those people who do not feel strongly about having children should not have them.Otherwise, they are just doing it because it is the social norm or they have too much presaya from family and friends. In reality, some people are not cut out to be parents and are actually doing the right thing in not taking on something that they will come to resent later. Every child deserves loving parents who love what they do.Your company is your childOn the other hand, running my own business and the career Im developing is what I feel passionate about and where I feel I can truly succeed. Its where I want to put my energy and where I feel I can actually help people mora than bringing a child into the world. I know that I am good when I focus on one large thing at a time. My personal experiences of trying to multitask have not gone well. And, when I see women trying to be Wonder Women, I also dont see them succeeding at raising both types of children. Or, if they do appear successful, these women looked run down and burned out. Neither of those options is appealing.Its best to be on the same pageMy partner and I agree that having a family isnt something we want to do now, and quite possibly never. At this point in our lives, we dont own a pet either. Thats because we both have careers in mind that involve traveling and long hours. If you have a partner, its important to make sure they are on the same page as you in terms of family and career goals.If one is secretly pining for kids, then its not going to work and will end badly. Having someone who thinks like me and is focused on their career also means we understand the long hours or other career responsibilities that take us away from handling other tasks at home. If we were both to focus on our careers but also had pets and kids, there would be additional stress surrounding who would take on what responsibilities.Money only goes so farI believe it is ha rd enough to get by financially in certain areas of the country like Silicon Valley (where I live) with just a career on my plate. Add children, pets, and all their needs to the budget and it seems next to impossible. That again breeds more stress than necessary in my opinion. Also, in starting a business to fulfill certain dreams, there are costs and risks involved where it would make me more nervous and hesitant should I have kids who need that money that Im now putting into a business. Choosing my career over children means that Im going to absorb all the results of the risk rather than put some little person in a position where they dont have all the things they need while growing up. In my mind, trying to do both on a shoestring budget is more selfish than just focusing on a startup.Its OK to change your mind, tooMaybe later on, my partner and I will change our minds and hear the tick-tock of the biological clock, letting us know that children are something we want to have in o ur lives. If that urge and passion rise to the surface, then it is just as OK to change your mind and start a family. You could also discover an interest in adopting and helping out those children in great need. Whatever you decide to do, think it through, consider the pros and cons, discuss it with your partner and reach an agreement together.Most importantly, dont let anyone make you feel guilty about the decisions you make in your own life. Only you and your partner know whats best for your lives, including what you are capable of doing and what you want to achieve. You also dont need to explain or prove yourself to others for making these large life decisions in a responsible way. No one else is going to understand except perhaps other female entrepreneurs who have reached the same conclusion.I am a co-founder, Customer Care Ninja, and Director of Marketing at Due. Lets change the way payments are made.BusinessCollective, launched in partnership with Citi, is a virtual mentorshi p program powered by North Americas most ambitious young thought leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and small business owners.

Friday, December 13, 2019

George H. Corliss

George H. Corliss George H. Corliss George H. CorlissAre you an engineer inventor who can sell your own ideas? George Henry Corliss was. During the industrial age, Corliss (1817-1888) left school at age 14 and spent his early years working in New York as a clerk in a factory store. He attended an academy in Vermont, but opted to return to the only business he had known previously and opened his own store, working as a merchant. Bored with routine tasks, around age 23, he began to use his mechanical talents to invent and perfect machinery, and after a few years was awarded his first patent for a boot-stitching machine.Corliss moved from New York to Providence, RI, to seek funding to market and produce the stitching machine but his plans changed when he became interested in steam engines. As a result, he took a job at Fairbanks, Bancroft, and Company as a draftsman for their steam engine and boiler manufacturing firm. He rose in seniority, was able to work on his own projects at the co mpany, and after a few years, left to pursue his own ideas as senior mann an ihrer seite in Corliss, Nightingale, and Co. His new ideas improved steam engine design which benefited the entire world.Corliss invented a valve that allowed steam to quickly pressurize a piston, moving it back and forth before the steam could condense. He also created governors that would control the steam and exhaust. These advances reduced waste heat and allowed the engine to operate with more uniform motion and lowered fuel costs. He designed, developed, and patented the Corliss Engine based on these improvements.The Corliss Centennial Engine.The Inventors Hall of Fame notes that the efficient shuttle valve in the Corliss Engines paved the way for the widespread use of steam power in nineteenth-century America.In 1856, Corliss opened the Corliss Steam Engine Company in Providence, RI. The steam engines he produced were used in many industrial applications, and were soon exported to Scotland for use in cotton mills. He opened a second production facility in England and oversaw both locations. Over time, the Corliss Engine was used worldwide, and once the patents expired, Corliss-type engine designs were adopted by many manufacturers.Corlisss fruchtwein well-known achievement was the Centennial Engine. Built for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, PA, this steam engine powered all of the machinery in Machinery Hall for the six month expo. It stood forty feet tall and weighed six-hundred-tons, making it the largest steam engine, and based on its maximum power rating, the most powerful at the time.With much celebration, President Ulysses S. Grant and Emperor Don Pedro II of Brazil activated the Centennial Corliss engine using hand cranks to kick off the beginning of the Expo. After the expo closed, the engine was sold to the Pullman Company, where it operated for 30 more years. This low-speed engine was also significant as it marked the end of an era for steam engines, as high-speed steam engines became popular in the late 1880s.Awards and medals from around the world indicate the extent to which Corliss impacted daily life during the industrial age. He personally held an honorary M.A. from Brown University, Bostons Academy of Arts and Sciences 1870 Rumford Medal, and the Institute of Frances 1879 Montyon prize, which at the time, was the highest honor known for mechanical achievements. He was also made an Officer of the reservierung of Leopold in 1886 by the King of Belgium.The Corliss engine also received numerous awards. It won the highest prize at the 1867 Paris Exhibition, beating more than a hundred of the worlds most noted engine builders. At the 1873 Vienna Exposition, despite not even being on exhibition, the engine won the Grand Diploma of Honor - the top award - since Corlisss innovations were in almost every steam engine exhibited.Debbie Sniderman is an independent writer.Over time, the Corliss Engine was used worldwide, and once the pat ents expired, Corliss-type engine designs were adopted by many manufacturers.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

The New Angle On How to Make a Cover Letter for Resume Just Released

The New Angle On How to Make a Cover Letter for Resume Just Released How to Make a Cover Letter for Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone To assist you structure your titel letter, heres a template including examples you may utilize to impress hiring managers and recruiters and increase your odds of receiving an interview. Leave the hiring manager free of doubt which you could do the job duties at the maximum level. A successful candidate for a work opening takes the opportunity to figure out the names of the vital individuals in the organization where theyre applying. Finding an adequate job can be exceedingly difficult irrespective of your profession with incredibly qualified applicants being your strongest competitors in the industry. You can also see Sample Cover Letter For Resumes A titelblatt letter can be shown by anybody who is going to apply to get a job, whatever the stelle and the competition involved. In 2018, you should be format-flexible. Generally, many of us prepar e our resumes at home but to provide the best suited and expert look you are able to seek the advice of Sample Resumes as well. You can have a letter of recommendation by means of your rental resume, but you may also offer reference contact info in the body of your resume. Another choice is to buy a good resume software application. Any additional information which you want to point out must be stated concisely and properly too. While the action of searching online is definitely not a lousy practice in itself I will suggest there is another, a lot more important, step that ought to be taken before you start your search. Cover letters ought to be included when submitting a resume to a possible employer. A cover letter differs from a resume, and its a document that introduces you to the employer and states why youre an ideal candidate for a specific position. It should show the employer that you have the qualifications to perform the job you are applying for. Your cover lett er ought to be specifically written to deal with the requirements of the employer to which youre applying. You also have the alternative of making any clarifications. Whatever you put in your cover letter needs to be relevant to the essentials of the position youre applying for. For instance, a cover letter is a terrific place to speak about a career shift or maybe to explain a long gap in employment. Your cover letter is able to help you take that excess degree of control over your application package. Some believe there continue to be credibility issues so far as the Web is concerned. You are able to also understand the Student Resume Template. The above Sample Cover Letters resume should assist you in developing an idea about what to write and the way to formally present your candidature for work. Review our examples and make use of what you learn how to develop job-specific cover letters for every one of your applications. An effective cover letter has to be compelli ng yet to-the-point to avoid wasting somebodys time. Just make sure you dont rush and get everything important on it so youll have a great shot at being the individual hired for the job that you are applying for. No employer will be ready to be placed in hold while attempting to get in contact with you. Most employers wont even offer a messy resume the good time of day since therell be better resumes they can look over. Regardless of what engineering track youre on, your cover letter should highlight problem solving skills and the ability to fulfill quality standards. Your cover letter is similar to an expert sales proposal to promote your skills, wisdom and experience in the very best possible light. Dont offer an email address which you dont check regularly. Its possible for you to find out how others have placed together compelling statements that grab the readers interest. Although there are numerous techniques to compose a cover letter, the next format has worked well f or students previously. An application letter is where to show youre passionate about teaching. Finally, heres a cover letter format example. You would also be prudent to find a template offered by means of a company that will also help you compose a cover letter for your resume. To assist you craft the very best cover letter, were supplying you with a few examples to examine. A strong cover letter is able to make your application stick out from the crowd. You should tailor your cover letter to talk specifically to each firms needs. A cover letter is potentially the most significant part the job application procedure. however, its frequently the most overlooked. It is designed to showcase your interest in the company and your best attributes for the position. Your cover letter is an opportunity to express genuine interest in a business. Who Else Wants to Learn About How to Make a Cover Letter for Resume? The earlier you begin, the earlier you will have the most professi onal resume you can and youre going to be ready to find any job you apply for. Only the simple fact that youre ready to prepare a professional resume for job gets you across the majority of your first obstacles. For many job seekers, a cover letter plays a considerable role in the application approach. If you are searching for employment for the very first time or trying to find the change from present job, what all you must have is a Resume. The most important body of text can be between a few paragraphs. Once you have proofread the letter, after that you can let another person take a look only to keep on the safe side. A significant part tailoring your cover letter to the business is striking the appropriate tone, Schawbel states.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Good Headhunting with The Headhuntress

Good Headhunting with The Headhuntress If youve been a recruiter before and probably even if you havent, watching Bravos new headhunting reality TV show The Headhuntress is a lot of fun. The new show documents the daily work of Wendy Doulton, a headhunter in LA, as she screens candidates, works with clients, coaches candidates, and gets frustrated with her staff. The Headhuntress stays true to the recruiting business.A recruiter watching the show will say over and over again, Its just like that and That always happens. Its worth putting on your DVR, if only to give your spouse a glimpse into your what you deal with every day.About half of the show is dedicated to job coachingand counseling candidates. On the debut of The Headhuntress, she coaches a former porn actor and a hapless women that professes a faith in numerology. The emphasis on job coaching may just be for TV the general public will app reciate that more than the parte about taking job orders and filling reqs. Wendy has some fun tricks for coaching candidates, including going up and down in an elevator with a candidate while she performs a literal elevator pitch. In another scene straight out of The Kings Speech, she coaches an introverted candidate until he is yelling Im a Winner at the top of his voice.Her best advice of the first show was, however, given to her staff. She prods them into following up with candidates by saying You have to keep close to your talent. To fill a job and close candidates, she says to pretend your life depends on it. Its that kind of sage headhunting advice that has probably never seen the outside of an office, much less the light of semi-primetime TV.If youhaventseen the first episode, I wont spoil it for you. However, her client does end up giving her some high praise Good headhunting Its at that moment that Wendy, like any recruiter, is transfixed the brief,transcendentmoment when the candidates talent is the headhunters, before they are again at zero and its time to just fill another job. The Headhuntress truthfullydocumentsthe ups and downs of the headhunting business, and at least on the first show, I thought there were more ups than downs.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Managing Changes On Work Projects

Managing Changes On Work ProjectsManaging Changes On Work ProjectsProject managers spend a lot of time producing plans and establishing team objectives. Sponsors, stakeholders, and teams then spend a lot of time making changes to the scope of the work and the rollout process. Having a clear, easy change management process in distributions-mix and a steadied eye on the bigger picture, even as some of the details shift, goes a long way toward keeping the project moving forward and allowing you to keep your cool. Accept That Change Happens Changes happen at virtually every point of the project management lifecycle. Recognizing that changes are inevitable - indeed, often beneficial - parts of the process allows the best project managers to adopt more agile approaches to planning and execution. Having strategies in place to effectively deal with changes as they occur is the fastest way to keep everyones eye on the prize, even in the face of what may sometimes seem constant shifts in direction. A defined, structured change management process is your execution playbook your strategy bible. It will define, for you, how best to respond as a leader to suggestions - even demands - for change within the development process. It will help you navigate, gracefully and with assurance, sometimes contentious collaborative landscapes toward the achievement of all parties ultimate goals. The Change Management Process The change management process looks like this Receive request/demand for change in process on projectAssess change request/demand with a focus on project budget regardingmaterialsany relevant permit requirementsman hourstime lost/gainedPrepare and present to project shareholders/liaison your recommendations for how to proceed relative to request(s)Receive shareholder decision approval or declination to proceed Lets look at each of those steps in turn Receive Request/Demand for Change in Process on Project Youll receive a request to change the project in hu ndreds of different ways in a meeting, via email, on the phone, in the corridor as you rush out of the office in the evening. Ideally, youll get the infassonation on a change request form, but you should know that in real life many important stakeholders think that completing this kind of paperwork is the project managers job - and in your company, it might be. The project change request template (more on that in a minute) should accurately and succinctly capture all the details of the request, however informally they arrive to you. Once you feel all details are accurately recorded, run the form past the initiator for verification that all points have been addressed fully. Remember that changes might also be about taking work out. Dont always assume that changes are going to relate to putting work in. The process is the saatkorn regardless of whether you are increasing or decreasing project scope. Carry Out Change Assessment Look at the change request in detail. Youll be assessing the impact on ScheduleDocumentationWork done to date and work still to doBudgetQuality measuresScopeResource availability For example, a software change may be estimated at 5 days. This would not just add 5 days to the schedule because it would push out another task and move that in a timeframe where the key resource is on a holiday. That task would also need to be moved, so overall this change would add 8 days to the schedule. It would cost $5k to do, and the extra 8 days pushes us into another month with the supplier contract, so there are costs to consider there too. Quality stays the same but scope changes to incorporate the new change. All relevant documentation would need to be updated including the project plan and training manuals, which have already been started. So in the big picture, a simple 5-day change has resounding effects. Its important to consider all relevant factors before making an implementation decision, as having the full picture can change the outcome. Prep are and Present Recommendations Armed with a comprehension of the full impact of the requested change or changes, present your recommendations regarding viability of the shift. In some cases, changes wont be implemented because the perceived benefit will be less than the cost. In other cases, enough benefit may be found to offset the cost of doing the additional work. Other cases, still, will prove changes to be inevitable and beyond your control, regardless of negative effect, resulting from regulatory or einhaltung issues, or internal issues such as organizational restructure. The Decision For small changes that fall within your authorization limit, the decision whether to accept or reject changes rests with you (with the right input from the team). Anything larger should be approved by the project sponsor or project board. Terms for what falls under which category are generally spelled out clearly at the outset of any project. Regardless of the outcome, its important to keep ever yone involved in the process apprised. Alienating team members at any point in the development can cost the integrity of the entire project, and any future collaborations as well. Change Management Tools A number of change management tools have been developed to make this process easier and more streamlined. Central to every change management toolbox should be A checklist or process map walking stakeholders through the proper steps to raise a change to project scopeA template change request form (leide If your projects work online from an automated workflow, its a great idea to have this form included in your docs list) Developing a Project Change Request Form The project change request form should include The name of the person requesting the change (the requestor).A unique identifier, like a change number (you can add this on yourself later as it is unlikely that any of the people raising the request and using the form will know what to enter here).A description of the propose d change, with as much detail as possible.The category of the change. Ideally, requestors should be able to choose from a prepopulated this section so they only have to tick the box. This is a good place to note whether a change request is relative to regulation or internal compliance - if it is (genuinely), you can bypass a lot of the planning and assessment steps and simply get on with it. The why of the change. What is the justification for implementing it? Why does the requestor want it?Potential impact of the proposed change to different elements of the project, including time, cost, quality, scope. Requestor may not have all the details so may require your assistance filling in these blanks through the change assessment step. The minimum you are looking for at this point is for is clarification as to whether it may increase, decrease or change the existing project parameters. Change request forms should be rounded out with space for details for you to fill in as change is fu rther discussed. A template should also include space for Change decision Accept, Reject or DeferName of person making the decision (or group) plus the date the decision was made and any additional comments. Changes and Project Scope Management Project scope management is the process which filters and refines the distinctions between what is necessary to execute a project successfully and what is not. When project change requests are received, its necessary to consider how those changes may affect the project overall. Your change management process helps you refine, and define within context, why a change is or is not practical or necessary. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) Fifth Editions coverage project change management is worth mentioningbecause its not as intuitive as you might think. The PMBOK Guide includes excellent starter guidelines in the form of a process called Control Scope in the Project Scope Management section. However, the chan ge management process on projects needs to be handled in a more integrated way, and that is reflected in the text. PMBOK Guide users should also refer to the Perform Integrated Change Control process as it sets out clearly how everything links together in the larger landscape. For the purposes of becoming a PMP, its important to understand how the PMBOK Guide covers change management as it will be a part of your examination. But bear in mind that the change management process youll actually use on projects needs to be integrated, easy to follow and practical. Leading Your Team Through the Change Process The project team is critical to the success of any project, so it helps to have them actively engaged when managing changes to the process. Here are 5 ways that you can help your team quickly come to terms with the project change management process 1. Be open about changes. Let your team know that change on projects is expected. 2. Be open about the process. The change management process discussed here doesnt come naturally to everyone. Most team members wont know what is expected of them until theyve been advised. Set up a briefing to go through the process with them, and let each know what his or her role in its execution. 3. Make it easy. Project change is often, at best, controlled chaos. The steps you take to successfully navigate it define your mettle as a project manager. Your team can find changes unsettling - especially big ones or ones reversing decisions long thought to be settled and hurdles considered long cleared. The schedule is wrong, the budget may be different, the requirements are certainly different. Your team looks to you for guidance and stabilization. Make the process as easy as possible for them. 4. Be there to help. A new way of working takes time to successfully integrate. If you have previously managed project change in an informal way (or not at all) then change to a formal process might take a while to become the way we do thin gs around here. Let the team know that you are there to help them if they need to run something past you. 5. Dont be afraid to say no. Not all changes are sensible proposals. Let your team know that if they feel strongly about a change not being the right thing for the project at this time that you will stand by them in that conversation with the change requestor. Failing to manage change effectively is chief among the ways a project can be completely derailed, so watch out. Armed with the right information and processes, project changes can be dealt with in a controlled, smart and beneficial way for all involved.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Learn and earn This language can help you cash in

Learn and earn This language can help you cash inLearn and earn This language can help you cash inTurns out, learning a second language can literally pay off.MIT economist Albert Saiz calculated the exact monetary returns of learning different foreign languages for U.S. college graduates and found that there are measurable benefits to learning how to conjugate German, French, and Spanish verbs.Mastering German could boost your salaryGuten tag If you want the most bang for your buck, consider learning German. Saiz, who co-authored the study, found that this was the language that produced the highest returns with a 3.8 percent bonus. Crunching Saizs percentages with average salary forecasts, The Economist found that learning German could potentially earn you $128,000.Speaking French earned language speakers a 2.3% bonus and Spanish earned speakers a 1.5% bonus.German earned top honors, elend because the language inherently was better than any other language, but because of supply and d emand principles There were fewer German speakers for a high demand of German-language jobs.The results indicate that those who speak languages known by a smaller number of people obtain higher rewards in the labor market, the studyconcluded.Although Spanish-speakers make up more of the worlds GDP, The Economist theorized that the financial value of learning German could also come down to trade Germany is a trade powerhouse, so its language will be more economically valuable for an outsider than the language of a relatively more closed economy.Other benefits to learning a foreign languageEven if youre learning a language that does not lead to monetary rewards in the labor market, there are other many science-backed benefits to earning fluency in a second language.Psychologists have found that bilingual speakers have a mental advantage They are better at controlling the parts of our brain in charge of judgment and planning, and they show heightened social skills. In one test, psychol ogists found that multilingual children were better at understanding the perspectives of others. When you have to keep track of different languages being spoken in a conversation, you are better at intuiting key context cues others may miss.These benefits all sound good on paper, but as anyone who has sat through years of language classes understands, easier said than done. Learning a second language at any stage of your career can be a long, bumpy journey of garbled tenses and embarrassing miscommunications.When youre practicing, you may wonder if your hours of learning will ever pay off. But next time youre struggling to remember how to translate obscure German stories for class, heres one motivating tip The German word for rich is reich.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Praise Science says this action will make you better at work

Praise Science says this action will make you better at workPraise Science says this action will make you better at workWe all enjoy it when someone gives us sincerepraise or commendation. It motivates us, encurages us, andmakes us feel good.When it comes to the workplace, science tells us that an expressionof commendation is more effective than even monetary rewards(in many situations).For example, research organization Gallupsurveyed more than four millionemployeesand found that individuals who receive regular recognition and praiseincrease their individual productivityincrease engagement among their colleaguesare more likely to stay with their organizationreceive higher loyalty and satisfaction scores from customersand have better safety records and fewer accidents on the job.Researchers have also highlighted the benefits of showingappreciation to our spousesandchildren.But heres the question If we know howeffective praisecan be, why dont we do it more often?Losing appreciationIts easy to begin taking for granted the things we previously appreciated.For example, a team leader may be impressed with a new employees work ethic and propensity to go above and beyond. Over time, though, the boss stops giving commendation. Why? Because this schrift of effort becomes the new normal.Why should I praise someone for doing something they should be doing? a mid-level manager for one Fortune 500 company once asked me.How about, so they dont stop doing it?Or even worse, so you dont lose them to someone who shows more appreciation.This principle applies in all areas of life - whether at work, in the family, or in other relationships.How can we cultivate a more appreciative spirit? And how should we make our commendation count?Look for the goodTheres an old saying Familiarity breeds contempt.Unfortunately, that adage may prove true if were not careful. Over time, we tend to become overly critical of those we are closest to. Im not talking aboutconstructive criticism, which is necessary for growth. Rather, its the penchant we have to start concentrating on what a rolle is missing, rather than on what he or she brings to the table.Instead, why not first focus on what a person is doing right? You might start making a list of traits you appreciate in your spouse, child, or colleague - or positive actions those people have taken that benefit your family or team.At times, that also means looking for potential. If you see something that others dont even see in themselves, you help to createself-fulfilling prophecies.Theyll get better- because you believe they can.Dont hold backOnce you cultivate an attitude of appreciation, you need to communicate itClearly. Specifically. Sincerely.Beclearby telling them directly how you feel. Dont leave it up to chance.Bespecificby not only saying that you appreciate them, but also telling themwhatyou appreciate, and why.Besincereby speaking up quickly when you see something good. By praising right away, you can encourage more of that good behavior.How might this look in real life? Heres an exampleHi, can we talk? I know I dont say this enough, but I really appreciate you and everything you do around here. The way you tell them the what, where, and why - the more specific the better. It makes our home/workplace a better place. Im really thankful to have you.Obviously, you have to keep it real. Make it your own, adapt to your circumstances, be sincere. And dont view commendation as a task to be marked off your checklist instead, try to cultivate amindsetof appreciating others- from your family members, to your colleagues, to your office housekeeper.So, what are you waiting for? Go tell someone how much you value them.BecauseJoni Mitchellgot it rightSometimes, you dont know what youve got till its gone.This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.Justin Bariso is a consultant and the author of many works including his forthcoming book, EQ, Applied. In 2016, LinkedIn named him the top voice in Manage ment and Culture.