How to Succeed on a Competitive Team at Work - The Muse

How to Succeed on a Competitive Team at Work - The MuseHow to Succeed on a Competitive Team at Work Who doesnt love to work on a high-performing kollektiv? Its motivating to work with smart, dedicated colleagues who constantly add value to projects and are quick to execute on their responsibilities, then ask, Whats next?But in some high-performing gruppes, collaboration gets put aside as competition heats up. Co-workers play verbal ping-pong in meetings, constantly promote their achievements, and put in long hours to try to gain an edge over their colleagues. Sohonigweinimes, it can seem easier to take a back seat while your teammates go head to head. But Linda Adams, President of Gordon Training International, says,Silencing ourselves exacts a huge price. When you adopt a passive attitude, your contributions and opinions get overlooked, and the team loses a valuable voice.So what does it take to speak up and have a voice when you work in a highly competitive team?When a participant asked that question in my recent webinar, Finding Your Voice, panelist Monali Jain leaped at the opportunity to offer some guidance.And for good reason Jain has spent zu sich career working on high-performing, highly competitive teams. Her experience encompasses roles in software engineering, technology leadership, angel investing and consulting. Im working on a multi-million dollar project right now, she said. Everybody who is on the team is very competitive thats why theyre there.While it can be easy to be intimidated by these hard-charging, high-stakes environments, Jain has a great perspective on the benefits. I am driven by competition, but more so by team success, explains Jain. Competitive people are driven by wanting to be better than before- so learn from themTo answer my webinar participants question- and perhaps your own- Jain offered these three suggestions for thriving on a highly competitive team.1. Take Your Seat at the TableThe first step to finding your own voice in a highly competitive atmosphere is to show up with the right attitude. If you find yourself on such a team, embrace the experience. Once youve gotten into the team, it means youve got a seat at the table, Jain says. Now, use it.You might feel intimidated by the team at first, but realize youre there for a reason. Youve met the price of admission, so trust your particular skill set, and challenge yourself to speak up. Make sure you contribute, says Jain. Contribute even if youre not asked.2. Lean on Your NetworkAccording to Jain, one way to increase your comfort level with speaking up in a competitive team is to build a very strong network.Jain used the example of a time when her team was in a tough meeting, trying to justify a particularly big investment. We were about to make a multi-million dollar commitment and needed to know how it would pan out, Jain says. They asked tough questions, and we didnt have answers. To find those answers, Jain reached out to her network for help, an d because of the connections she had made, she was able to come back to her team with some new data points to look at. With this fresh perspective, the team was able to move beyond the impasse.Ask yourself Would you have those kinds of resources to draw on? If not, now is the time to begin building a network of high-caliber associates that complement (or exceed) the skills of your team. Then, youll have on-demand access to a network of confidantes and experts for support and answers when the pressures on you and your team to deliver.3. Differentiate YourselfFinally, its important to let the other team members know what you bring to the table as an individual as well as a team player. Differentiate yourself, so that you can complement others, not compete with them, advises Jain. When youre in a competitive team, it means youre there to collaborate. Youre there to help each other and supplement each other.Figure out what you can do differently than other team members that will be a un iquely valuable contribution. For example, bringing in those data points was my contribution, Jain shares.Do this well, asserts Jain, and others will reach out to you for your expertise. If you differentiate yourself, people will look up to you and make you a part of the team.Working on a team is complicated- even more so when populated with vocal, highly competitive colleagues. Contribute, seek support, and carve out your own your niche, and youll be able to establish your unique voice in your team.Photo of rowing team courtesy of Shutterstock.

Building Your Job Search Support Team

Building Your Job Search Support kollektivBuilding Your Job Search Support Team8Job searching is not a fun experience for most people, especially when facing it alone. Thats why creating a job search support gruppe prior to starting your search can be lifesaver. This gruppe can help hold you accountable, while also providing you with the support, resources, and tools to be successful at finding and landing your next gig.Creating a TeamTo create your job search support team, you need to consider the different areas in your search where you could use the most support. Once you establish these areas, you can pinpoint people in your life that would fit the role. These people can include friends, family, neighbors, and those you interact with during volunteer activities. If, however, you dont know someone to fit the role, you can meet new people through networking events, professional organizations, or ask for introductions from people already in your network.As you form your team, you wa nt to keep in mind not only the areas where you need support, but also people who are going to push you or keep you grounded. You also want to have people who are knowledgeable in your desired career field and experienced with job searching and networking.The Support TeamThe support team is going to be comprised of people who will help you succeed in your job search. These people will help you stay focused and on task, while also holding you accountable and helping you through the challenges you will face. Here are a few different personalities to consider for your teamThe Mentor This person should be an experienced professional, ideally in your field. They will have the knowledge to provide you with inside career information that can help you target your search. This individual will also be able to help you understand more about the career path that lies ahead.The Fun Guy Lets face it job searching can be frustrating and boring. You need someone to keep your search fun. This member of your team will help keep you focused, but will create engaging and interesting ways to search that wont feel so much like work.The Cheerleader Its easy to get down on yourself when youve been searching and havent had much success. Your cheerleader will be someone who can pull you out of those slumps. In addition to providing you with positive feedback and encouragement, your cheerleader will help get you re-engaged and energized in your search.The Competitor A little bit of healthy competition is good for everyone. Your competitor team member will be goal focused and willing to put you up to a challenge. This person is likely to be conducting a job search of their own and will provide you with a little motivation to step up your game.The Practical Guy Its all about perspective, and when you are job searching its easy to lose sight of your goals. The practical team member will help to keep you grounded and focused on the facts. This person will be great when analyzing job descrip tions that match your experience, or even setting goals that are achievable.The Networker Its a part of any job search networking. Your networking team member should have a lot of connections and be willing to help you out in meaningful ways. This person will be able to connect you with other professionals who can either help you in your search or connect you with others who can.The Writer/Editor A huge part of a job search is sending in documentation or written communications. Knowing someone with a writing and editing background will help significantly in ensuring that your communications are spot on and that your cover letter and resume are free from errors.The HR Director Want insider information? Get a team member with a background in HR. This individual can help you craft targeted cover letters and resumes. Additionally, when it comes to interview time, they can give your pointers and conduct mock interviews with you so that you are on your A game.The Social Media Expert Most people are engaged in social media activities in a personal sense, but what about professionally? Consider finding a team member who is social media savvy and can make sure you arent harming your chances of finding a job. The person can help you clean up your profiles, while also showing you how to protect your privacy and sharing abilities. Additionally, they can provide you with tips to engage more professionally on different platforms available.Readers, have you utilized a job search support team in the past? If not, would you utilize one in the future? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below

Healthy workaholics exist, study finds

Healthy workaholics exist, study findsHealthy workaholics exist, study findsTurns out, you can work till you drop, and your body wont suffer - as long as you love what you do.A new study in the Academy of Management Discoveries wanted to test how unhealthy it is to be a workaholic. What they found upends the conventional wisdom that working excessively is automatically bad for your mental wellbeing.Researchers recruited 763 employees at a consulting firm to take a questionnaire on their work habits and then undergo a medical health screening. To determine whether or leid they were workaholics, participants were asked how many hours they worked a week and to rate how much statements like I feel guilty when I am not working on something resonated.Study Happy, healthy workaholics existThe researchers found no link between working long hours and major health risk factors likeobesity, high blood pressure, and high levels of blood cholesterol.This doesnt mean that being a workaholic will give you a clean bill of health. The researchers found that a compulsive work mentality would make you more predisposed to stress-related physical symptoms like headaches.The main difference between the happy, healthy workaholics and the unhealthy, stressed workaholics in the study was whether or not the employees said they were engaged at work.Workaholics who reported above-average engagement with statements like I am enthusiastic about my job showed no signs of serious health risks. Employees who felt like they were wasting their every waking hour on a task they didnt care about were more likely to have heart disease or diabetes risks.Work hard, be healthyThe study shows that if you work long hours, you can still live a healthy life if you are dedicated, enthusiastic, and absorbed in the work you do.Theres a big difference between workers whose propensity to overwork and inability to relax after hours stem from absorption in the challenges their job presentsand those for whom it r eflects, say, anxiety about the job or obsessive ambition, the studys author Lieke L. ten Brummelhuis said.So if you love your job, go ahead and stay late at work finishing up your passion project. If youre just going through the motions, however, working overtime can have serious consequences for your health.Whether or not you take pride in your workaholic lifestyle, dont be a work martyr, leave the office - the benefits of frequent breaks and vacations are well-researched.

Follow these 7 steps to grow as a purpose-driven leader

Follow ansicht 7 steps to grow as a purpose-driven leaderFollow these 7 steps to grow as a purpose-driven leaderAccording to Google, there are 208,000,000 articles on how to grow as a leader. This isnt one of those articles. Rather, its a mini-guide complete with plenty of research and resources to help you take practical steps to develop your leadership skills.What is purpose-driven leadership?Purpose-driven leaders tap into the intrinsic motivations inside themselves and those around them. According to ground-breaking research from Imperative, purpose-driven leaders are the most effective at advancing their own careers while making the world better.They also inspire their teams to achieve extraordinary results for reasons other than money. As our global economy shifts towards a mora inclusive model that is not destroying the planet, purpose-driven leaders are the ones creating more responsible businesses and products, and mobilizing the best employees to contribute towards somethin g greater than profits.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAnd the demand for purpose-driven leaders is growing, because its good for business, too. According to a report from EY on this very topic, getting purpose right builds organizational resilience and, crucially, improves long-term financial performance.So even companies behind the curve on sustainability initiatives are now realizing that they need purpose-driven leaders more than ever before.So what does the research say about how you can actually grow as a purpose-driven leader?The research is pretty clear on this topic If you want to grow as an empathetic and purpose-driven leader, you need experience leading. Period.But not all experiences are created equal in fact, its less about the type of leadership experience you get and more about what you do during your experience that helps you grow as a leader.Follow these 7 ste ps, inspired by transformative learning processes, to help you grow into the purpose-driven leader youre capable of beingStep 1 Set goals, write them down, and tell a friendDont skip step 1 In fact, the best leaders over-invest in this stage. Write down your goals using a SMART format. Once youve got your main goals, copy them onto a sticky note and place it somewhere youll see it often. Then, tell a friend and/or mentor about your goals. Simply doing both of these steps will increase the likelihood that you will achieve those goals (research proves it).Step 2 Better understand yourselfMost people dont know their own leadership style nearly as well as they might think. If youre going to grow as a leader, you first have to know where to grow from. unterstellung 3 simple steps will helpTalk to your friends and colleagues and ask them for honest responses to three questions, known as the stop, keep, start method What are the leadership qualities you should stop exhibiting, keep exhibit ing, and start exhibiting?Understand your purpose drivers and what motivates you to lead. The Purpose Economy and Imperative Assessment can help you understand this better. As a primer, read Imperatives Purpose-Driven Leadership eBook.Think about the work you do that actually makes you come alive. Dan Pinks video presentation about motivation and book about Drive will add a lot of clarity to your search.Step 3 Build on your strengthsGrowing as a leader is hard work, and itll take a lot of hard work to get there. Youll expose yourself to lots of questions, self-doubt, and even isolation. Thats why its important to build your leadership style on your strengths. How? I recommend reading about Strengths Based Leadership after taking StrengthsFinder. Figure out the type of leadership strengths you already have, and build on those. After deciding on this and getting your baseline, you might want to go back to Step 1 to check-in on your goals and update them as needed.Step 4 Learn new conc eptsThe more you lead, the less technical know-how you need. Instead, you need to get better at using frameworks that help other peoplesucceed and make a lasting impact. For this, there is no better framework than design thinking with a human-centered lens. Improving your ability to empathize, understand problems, be creative, develop lean solutions, and then test learn is essential to being effective as a leader. Leaders dont provide tactical solutions, but rather they improve the processes and systems that enable their teams to be effective and develop their own solutions. In addition, improving your people skills through exercises like peer-based coaching and empathy-building is essential.Step 5 Get a stretch experienceThis step is actually the keystone of your growth. If you want to lead at the next level, you have to get practice leading at the next level. As we published in Harvard Business Review, social impact experiences offer an incredible opportunity to stretch yourself to learn and grow. But a stimmt genau of caution here Remember that any experience is better than no experience. Dont stress about finding the perfect opportunity or delay finding an opportunity in search of something perfect. Any stretch experience will help you learn and grow, but it is worth taking the time to try and align your experience in a way that builds on your strengths, while still stretching you to grow.Step 5 Get a stretch experienceThis step is actually the keystone of your growth. If you want to lead at the next level, you have to get practice leading at the next level. As we published in Harvard Business Review, social impact experiences offer an incredible opportunity to stretch yourself to learn and grow. But a word of caution here Remember that any experience is better than no experience. Dont stress about finding the perfect opportunity or delay finding an opportunity in search of something perfect. Any stretch experience will help you learn and grow, but it is worth taking the time to try and align your experience in a way that builds on your strengths, while still stretching you to grow.Step 6 Reflect, practice, and then reflect some more99% of people skip this step, which is a mistake To truly grow, youll need to be part of the 1% that doesnt. Reflection is actually where future behavior change happens. The science behind this is fascinating. Practice and reflection help build and strengthen neural networks in your brain, which enables you to actually develop your skills and change your behavior. At MovingWorlds, we teach a framework we call Think Back, Think Through, Think Forward to reflect on your experiences in a way that helps you understand the way you acted, decide on what you should have done, and then plan ahead for how youll act next time.Step 7 Record your learning and teach-backTo teach is to learn twice. Find some way to teach others what you have learned. This can be done through a blog post, your own portfolio website, a presentation at a local event, or by transferring these very skills to groups that you volunteer with or mentor. We always recommend that every participant in our leadership development programs keeps a consistent personal journal as well as a public-facing blog to document their experience. And while its never easy to condense all your learning into a short-form post, going through the process of condensing something into a short presentation will help you better understand whats most important, yourself, and what steps you should take next.This article first appeared on Kununu.

The War Against Jobscan.co

The War Against Jobscan.co The New Angle On Jobscan.co Just Released Many employers search for candidates who have strong social abilities, particularly for leadership roles, Barker states. Instead, be strategic in regards to the means by which you attempt to deal with the impression you give to employers. It gets you the work interview. Now go get your fantasy jobIts been an extraordinary journey. However you arrange your day, make certain to make the the majority of it. Thats absolutely huge now days. New Ideas Into Jobscan.co Never Before Revealed If youre unemployed, or merely unhappy in your existing role, and are interested in a new opportunity then you have to create a path which will help recruiters and staffing agents find you, online. Let your team own portion of your business. If you submit an application for a position at a huge company, theres a possibility a human wont even examine your resume. Managed a group of operations professionals misses a chance to s howcase complexity and depth. In addition, employers want to employ people who understand the organization culture and share its values. Please discuss at any training organisation you investigate to binnensee whether there are subsidies but should you need to learn prior to starting the training search. JobScan is a great tool which has a lot to give, but its important to ensure youre choosing the perfect Human Resources software for your business and its special needs. If you want to network and utilize social media to your very best ability and have a strong on-line presence after Bootcamp, youll discover something speedily. Prove people want your goods first. You may use all the tools whom I have mentioned here at no cost. Get creative and conserve time Word clouds are a visual method to recognize the critical words for the jobs to which youre applying. You have limited space. Another skill important to demonstrate is the capability to understand and follow directions. At the close of the day, yes, resume format is essential. Actually, plenty of individuals wish to become involved in projects. You never understand what doors people are able to open for you. Working from home, you may or might not have someone holding you accountable. If you would like to end your work search, you have to speak to the folks having the power and authority to hire you as often and as frequently as possible. By spending just a couple minutes of your schedule, you will not merely obtain the code, but also all the instructions you must utilize it right and delight in a discount. There are several leads out there. The Battle Over Jobscan.co and How to Win It You may also easily schedule messages for all these websites, measure ROI for your activities and the tool will also allow you to secure more followers, because when youre sharing interesting and appropriate content you get started attracting more people. You might wind up with repeating all the mundane task s like copying your LinkedIn URL in that text box for every single work application. Have the product ready and emaille reporters in your region to check it out. It needs to be refined and optimized to make sure a significant number of calls. By this time, you are aware that its important to customize your resume to the work description. Looking for a job can be quite tedious work. A new version of Resume must be prepared every single time you sense things arent working out. Resume Content The ultimate version of your Resume ought to be in such a manner that its easily understood by means of a teenager. Get the Scoop on Jobscan.co Before Youre Too Late Also, try to find a specific field on one of the pages that demands the debut of the Jobscan promo code. In these lines, you are just about to find out the way to use Jobscan promo code. At this time you have all of the info you must take pleasure in the promo code provided by jobscan.co. It is an enormous advantage to the w ork candidate, should they make sure their resume is optimized for an ATS. Theres no surefire resume format to acquire past an ATS. The truth about graphics Many old ATS help will say to prevent graphics at any cost. Alignment While creatively formatted resumes can show personality and fashion, it is going to be hard to read for an ATS, and might not be legible.

The True Meaning of How to Present a Resume

The True Meaning of How to Present a Resume Up in Arms About How to Present a Resume? Therefore, if youd like to produce a memorable impression, selection is crucial. You also ought to think about whether including an objective statement is actually the ideal use of that prime real estate at the very top of your resume. It is possible to even use three in the event you have over a decade of expertise and want to find a high-level executive position. Your portfolio ought to be organized in a means which makes it accessible to advertence during your interview. For example, if you have a substantial employment gap since your final position, you might want to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one. The functional resume is utilized to concentrate on skills that are particular to the kind of position being sought. You also need to prepare a general resume without a particular objective. A good example of an objective can be observed in the resume model. The How to Present a Resume Pitfall In spite of no experience, you still ought to show experience. Its great if youre able to list a college and a level, but in the event that you cant take a careful look at classes, workshops and internet training you might have completed. Everything in your resume needs to be verifiable. However much or what kind of work experience youve got, theres a resume format that is likely to make your qualifications shine. Possessing quirky and distinctive hobbies and individual interests on resume is a remarkable approach to collect attention Following that, you can begin adding the resume content by means of your work experience and education background. You dont require experience to get achievements. Also, as you would have little work experience, you would have the ability to balance both column resume easily. Possessing a resume that shines and that you could feel proud of is important. Therefore, its best that you start by developing a list of hob bies on resume you will list. Employers and recruiters are extremely busy people and expect to read a specific amount of content based on the kind of job they are hiring for. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often theyre utilized to secure new employment.1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the considerable cost saving in comparison to traditional hiring methods. Speak to professionals in the area If youre having a tough time determining what skills an employer might need to see, look at contacting a professional already working in the business or position very similar to the one that youre applying for. You would like your employer to understand what you did in your prior jobs, but you dont will need to incorporate the kitchen sink. A possible employer is likely to call your references and the people to whom reported to be able to find a better comprehension of your abilities and qualifications. Actually there are various tactics to present your resume to some other job opening. Even in case you have no true work experience, you might have experience from volunteering, school activities, or relevant hobbies that may show employers achievements and transferable skills that fulfill their requirements. You are earning a career change. Provided that it is related to the job, school projects are acceptable and absolutely ought to be mentioned when youve got zero work experience. Also, bear in mind that theres a high probability you resume will be scanned electronically as an increasing number of companies utilize special software to index resumes. The aim of dropping off a resume in person, in place of sending it by mail, is that you wish to earn a personal connection and provide yourself an edge. Copies made from copies are able to lose readability. The resume within your manila envelope should have up-to-date info, including a cover letter customized to that particular job and your present contact info. Using blocks o f color to direct the reader through your resume will not only assist with flow and comprehension, it is going to get your resume to stick out from the various applicants. Have a peek at these examples to choose which format is ideal for you. You ought to have a particular languages section which gives more comprehensive info on your ability.

Why it Matters to be the Cool Kid at Work

Why it Matters to be the Cool Kid at Work While there are significant differences between the popularity gained in high school as opposed to that of the workplace, there are also several similarities in the way others react to popularity, as shown in the many research studies done on the subject throughout the past decade. Most studies have shown that popular children are viewed as better performers and are much mora likely to easily make and maintain friendships. Furthermore, in 2009, a study by organizational psychologists at the University of Florida found that popularity also plays a big role in workplace success. The definition of popularity used within the study was a person who is accepted by ones peers and has been conceptualized as a function of the personality of an employee and the position of that employee within his or her group. Studies of co-workers have also found that they feel po pularity is associated with favorable treatment thanks to the rewarding nature of interacting with popular employees. Popular employees are also thought to impact the position of co-workers through association and facilitate cooperation.Many tips for becoming more popular are relatively painless to implement and can equate in immediate social benefits within the office Take some time to learn about the priorities of co-workers, both personal and professional, and show genuine interest in learning about those things. Most people love to talk, especially about themselves, and the more they share with you the happier he or she will be to be in your company. Keep your conversations focused on the other person. By shifting the attention away from yourself and your experiences, you make the other person feel important and interesting. Seek to admire, not to be admired. One of the primary traits that is related to popularity is self-confidence. Displaying confidence fosters trust from othe rs and allows other to feel less nervous when talking to you. Though you may be nervous internally, try to portray a natural and relaxed demeanor by avoiding thoughts of how you are being perceived by others. While you dont always have to be the cheerleader or activities organizer, it is helpful to occasionally work to organize fun activities with co-workers outside of work. Most people want to be social and friendly with their co-workers and whoever takes the initiative to create social outings typically gains popularity points from everyone involved. Dont keep your skills and knowledge to yourself. The more you share your expertise, and the more willing you are to help out without expectation of a reward, the more you will be liked and seen as an invaluable resource in the office. People like dependable people who can be turned to during stressful times to help out without making a big to-do.