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Tips on giving Effective Performance Review to Employees
2008-02-07 19:42:00
In the Inc.com article titled: Putting an End to End-of-Year Review s, A recent study by Salary.com found that more than 60 percent of workers doubt reviews boost performance. The criticisms are legion. Annual reviews fail to motivate people long term; assessments are often perfunctory; problem resolution gets postponed; and the ritual is painful for all concerned. In response, some CEOs are starting to rethink the process, emphasizing more frequent feedback and in-depth evaluations, says Steve Gross, who heads the performance and rewards consulting practice at Mercer Human Resource Consulting. "Employees want the feedback, and companies want a better sense of whether an employee is at risk of leaving," Gross says.There are two case studies which discuss how the review system was improved over time with frequent assessments and rewards process.Not just one year end review or two in a year is the call of the times but we need more involved process where there employee feels more respo...
More About: Performance , Tips , Giving

Blogging as a Career
2008-02-07 00:40:00
A few years before no one would have even thought that blogging could be a full-time career but recent news in business magazines Entrepreneur and BusinessWeek often cite success stories from not one or two but quite a few bloggers on how they are making decent money blogging full time.Would you want to take on a career as a blogger? Ask yourself first what motivates you to do so and why?If money is the only reason then think again. The first step towards your decision to be a full-time blogger must be to research thoroughly on how previous successes have been achieved and what are the real life scenarios – not getting all enamored by the one page websites of all those bloggers around who want to sell their software or services and get you making a 5 figure income in a month through blogs – easily.There are some great blogger tips websites; Darren Rowse on ProBlogger perhaps tops it all. He recently had a post on his website titled: Do you call yourself a blogger, worth a look t...
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The Power of Appreciation - How to Praise your Employees
2008-02-05 20:46:00
We have talked about the difficult bosses, the no-so-good communication between employees and managers and the traits of good and bad employers in the past. Not only these, but of course a lot of other good stuff as showing appreciation at work and getting along with co-workers, but how about how to praise and applaud an employee’s work at the office? Are managers doing it often and if not let’s discuss why they should be doing it on a regular basis - appreciation and recognition is an essential step towards employee retention.Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, "Make me feel important.” Never forget this message when working with people.-- Mary Kay Ash Compliment often and with HonestyJust saying “Good job” might not be the best way to get the praise across. Display sincerity and be specific in praising your employees. Send an email to the employee and if you wish CC to the HR personnel or another senior manager in your division. On being specif...
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What to do after a Layoff
2008-02-04 22:53:00
Once you are done with accepting and dealing with the layoff in the initial phases it is time to plan on how to make the most and best of this period.Some recent articles also suggest that people who are unemployed are finding hard to get into a job and are out of work for a longer period.Since it is harder to find a job right now, what would you like to do in this period?Of the various options before you, how about:Make the Best of the Available TimeDo you have some extra time at your hands these days? Make the best of your time; plan your day accordingly during the layoff period. Assume you are on a project; every well executed project works on a well laid off plan. Plan your job search smartly; the more conscientious you are now, the faster you shall see the results. Review some of the suggestions below and see how you can divide your time to these activities resourcefully to quicken your steps towards your goals.Make the Best Use of the offered Employment Placement ServicesIf yo...

Accepting and Dealing with a Layoff
2008-02-01 18:13:00
Are you a victim of a layoff or want to help your friend through these tough times? Is everyone telling you that this may be the best for you, or are you just trying hard to find the silver lining?Don’t feel frustrated if you are not feeling great about it. It is ok to vent out your feelings either through angry verbal expressions with your spouse or your close friends, whatever you do just don’t get cocooned in a gloomy shell.Layoffs can be scary and can have major implications on your personal and financial life, if your have major liabilities with less stacked away in your “rainy days fund”. But then, being depressed and shutting yourself off for a long period would only do harm, the faster you are up on your feet planning and executing your action plans the sooner you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.Layoffs could be one of the better turning points of your career if you were already stuck in that job and the new opportunities and possibilities open up for you...

What to do when your Supervisor does not Report your Complaints to the HR
2008-01-31 16:47:00
You might be working with a difficult boss or co-workers and often reporting certain extreme complaints about your manager might not make it to the HR. Approaching the HR directly with your complaints may land you in the “trouble maker” books as you might anticipate and even part of your personnel record, but depending on the seriousness of the complaint you have to choose how you want to take on from here.Here are some tips on what to do when your boss does not report your complaints about him/her or other problems at workplace to the HR even when you have requested him/her to do so?According to attorney Jonathan Segal, a sought-after speaker on HR legal topics, “You must tell your supervisors and managers that they are required to report complaints, says Segal—even if the employee asks that it be kept confidential, and even if the supervisor thinks the claim lacks merit. The decision of whether to investigate is yours, not the manager's.”Certain academic institutes main...
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Tips to help you be Proactive towards your Performance Review
2008-01-30 01:37:00
Be it the year end review or the beginning of the year goal setting meeting, you feel as if it is just another meeting to get done with. Well, think again your performance management and reviews impact you in different ways. It could mean a higher raise, a promotion and even protecting you from a possible layoff further down the year.Consider it an opportunity to enhance your career and an essential step towards your professional development.On Setting Goals: What were the goals defined at the beginning of the year? Did they change over time? Ensure that the goals set for you are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time bound). Read more about goal setting in the book, Managing for Dummies by Bob Nelson and Peter Economy.An excerpt from this book:Specific: When goals are specific, they tell employees exactly what is expected, when, and how much.Measurable: If your goals are not measurable, you never know whether your employees are making progress toward their success...
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Best Jobs to have during Recession
2008-01-28 19:32:00
What is recession?According to Wiki definition, a recession is a decline in a country's gross domestic product (GDP), or negative real economic growth, for two or more successive quarters of a year.We fear recession since it could result in more than normal job cuts, financial tension and the burden of managing the needs of the family increases. With less or no employment growth the scenario looks bleak.Although you might have Googled the Internet on the best jobs to have during recession hoping to receive a comprehensive answer to this question and in all probabilities have received a lot of information already, but my advice first is to research outside and research within to find the right answer.By “research outside”, I mean finding out the present industry strengths, researching job market trends, following the stock market and investigating on the future of some promising careers.By “research within”, I mean delving deeper into your present expertise, your abilities a...
More About: Jobs , Recession

Am I going to be in a Layoff?
2008-01-27 17:58:00
What are the signs of a layoff?Though not all discussed below may be concrete signs of an impending layoff, it is good to be aware of these reasons which could result in job cuts:Recession – Downturn in Financial MarketsAlso look up the world market health, in the 21st century the financial markets are all closely twined together, a major dip somewhere has ripple affect everywhere.Budget cuts and Hiring Freeze Within CompanyThere are talks about projects being scaled down or tough budget cuts being announced by the management. Usually the budget cuts are followed by hiring freeze.Stock Prices of your Company DippingStock prices dip because of sluggish profits or other reasons. The company may decide to trim costs by reducing a certain percentage of the workforce.Takeovers, acquisitions or Mergers leading to Job Cuts within the CompanyMergers and acquisitions often lead to reduction in the workforce. Consolidation of workforce and projects follows mergers to reduce costs and also t...

Sample Goodbye Emails to Colleagues
2008-01-25 20:31:00
Since the last post on Saying Goodbye to coworkers, there have been quite a few requests on providing some sample goodbye letter to co-workers and manager. So here is a compilation of some recommended ones and one ‘on the lighter side’ – an original that has traveled around the world through Emails .Some Tips:When to send the goodbye Email?Once you are done with all your wrapping up work. Because when you let this email out the possibility is that many of your colleagues would be coming over to say a person adieu and you might also want some time to chat with them. Make sure you are done with all your tasks at hand before sending out the mass email.Make it personal.Add a few lines on how someone had helped you during your tenure in the organization and graciously thank all even though there could be some you would not want to.Make it easy for your colleagues to follow-up.Always add your personal contact numbers and address to stay in touch here after.CC yourself on the goodbye ...
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Countering Recession the Tax Relief Way – How are you going to Use the ex
2008-01-24 21:13:00
A slightly off-track blog post not focused on the career advice but definitely related to the present discussions on the US economy in recession.In a recent announcement to help the “suffering” US economy, the US government is ready to shell out the extra $600 or so person towards tax relief to abate recession and help consumers to spend more.Would it help or not only time will tell but when you do get the check in mail in June, how are you going to spend it? Or would you have already “spent” it and waiting to payback to the credit card company?Some thoughts from Economic Stalwarts on the announced Rebate From the NPR article titled: Weighing the Impact of a Possible Tax Rebate, by Adam Davidson,"But some economists warn about potential pitfalls. Once the federal government opens up the floodgates of spending, it may be difficult to rein it in – especially in an election year. Another potential sticking point is that Americans may not spend their rebates. Putting the rebat...
More About: Relief , Recession

How to Talk to your Boss about your Career Goals
2008-01-23 21:50:00
Whether you had a great or a bad performance review for the last year, now is the time to ensure a more positive one for this year. Plan and prepare to meet with your boss on goal planning for the current year. Most of us just chuck it under the carpet or roll our eyes, wanting our best to delay as much as possible. But taking charge of your career is in your hands and you better be diligent and smart about it. If you don’t take control now someone else will and that might not be of your liking.Performance management is as much your responsibility as your manager’s, well in fact more of yours. Your company’s performance management system may be a real sucker or even one that changes every year and then (a personal experience – when a previous year’s performance appraisal was very conveniently ‘lost’ by the system. Ignored it then, with the “who-cares” attitude; but now realize the importance of what it truly means to take charge of your performance management repor...
More About: Goals , Boss , Talk , Career

Creating more Jobs can help Abate Recession
2008-01-23 18:27:00
Create more Jobs Whether it is the creation of the green collared jobs or the blue colored jobs, the point is to create and keep those jobs here to help abate recession.The government contingency plan must be to allocate money for free employment training to those looking for jobs or in a layoff this year. I also endorse Senator Hillary Clinton’s plans to broadening unemployment insurance for those who are struggling to find work. Though a quick note to those making the higher decisions in the government: try to involve public opinion and do your best to gather information from the general public right now before you implement and pass bills on all the planned ‘reforms and actions’. The more you ask for public input the better solutions you can come up with. It is not a simple patch-up job that people need, a long-term solution but with a shorter implementation period is the call of the moment.Manage your MoneyApart from creating more jobs and providing the much needed tax reli...
More About: Creating , Recession , Abate

Dressing up for an Interview
2008-01-22 00:51:00
Tips for dressing up an interview are all over the place and even though you may have been to many interviews it's very often the case that you stand in front of your wardrobe and think, “I have nothing to wear for this interview.” Or, “Would this be appropriate?”I remember a job interview I was in around 7 years back and had that uncomfortable twitch as I walked in the reception area, I felt I was “too dressed-up”. I was just in a skirt suit with a well done hair-do and light make-up but even that looked out of place in a very casual work environment – none of the HR personnel were in a suit or formal wear and as I entered the lobby and saw everyone walk around, I felt out of place. Though slightly conscious, I was confident enough during the interview process and thankfully it did not hinder my getting that job.It depends a lot on what type of job you are applying for. A trendy workplace would expect the interview to be at par with the dress culture at that place wh...
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Managing your Career during Recession
2008-01-18 19:11:00
Keeping your JobWith talks of global recession taking over the media and in general discussions, it is a good time to think on how to keep your present job and recession-proof yourself.Keep abreast of news around your company's performance and your division's importance, be ready to evolve and also be ready to change. Remember that "Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to the bigger changes that are to come" (my reference is here to the "Who moved my Cheese" if you have not read it, perhaps a good time is now.)A recent interview at NPR in Talk of the Nation, Stephen Viscusi, author of On the Job, offers tips on what you can do to protect your finances and your job. Some tips that he offered:Learn how to work, be valuableBe more visible at work and do a good jobBe on time, it is not a time for big vacationsAnd be practicalIt pays to be persistent with trying to keep your career healthy. It is always a good time to start paying attention to your overall career health and str...
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Top Reasons for Poor Performance at Work
2008-01-15 19:30:00
I list here the top five reasons which often results in poor performance at work. What are yours (if any)?Bored at Work Nothing exciting happening at that data crunching job and no stimulants to perform better in your present job can make even a very well paying job just another task to be completed. And when the passion, excitement and enthusiasm for a task wanes, performance at work goes on a downslide.Various studies over the years relate boredom to poor performance at work, according to an article in The Psychologist, boredom has been associated with a range of negative outcomes including poor performance at work and accidents (e.g. Branton, 1970), absenteeism (e.g. Brisset & Snow, 1993), errors stress, increased risk taking/thrill seeking (e.g. O’Hanlon 1981), sleepiness (e.g. Grose 1989), stress-related health problems such as heart attacks (e.g. Alfredson et al., 1982), job dissatisfaction (e.g. Caplan et al., 1975) and even property damage (Drory, 1982).When you are bor...
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Saying Goodbye to Work – The Right Way
2008-01-10 19:04:00
When you know it is time to quit a job, know how to do it the right way. You will never regret a well planned action plan and some tips here would help you in making a smooth transition to your new job or career. Once you know how to plan your exit the right way, saying goodbye to work becomes easier and effective.Informing your BossYour boss/supervisor must be the first one to know of your impending departure. He/she must not hear from someone else and be surprised about the news.Request a meeting with your boss and discuss the scenarios of when would be the best time to quit. Usually the company policies require you to give a two week notice but because of project schedules and handover responsibilities it could be a mutual decision to extend the final date of quitting, try to be accommodating as must as possible. You are helping yourself build a better referral by doing so. A hasty decision and inflexibility might only damage your relations with the manager or team.During this me...
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A Book Review – God is a Salesman
2008-01-04 01:05:00
“God never sells a product or service. God holds out an ideal, a standard to achieve, and most important, something to aspire to. Great salespeople learn from this and emulate it.”- Mark Stevens in his latest book, "God Is A Salesman : Learn from the Master"The book and the ideas it shares across is all about how the basic factors like love, trust, respect, and loyalty integral to God’s preaching can be masterfully implemented in sales and marketing by one and all. Stevens explains why great salesmen are expert story-tellers; why most sales presentations fail; and why trying to win sales by underbidding the competition is a loser’s game.Though at some stages of the book, the “God” factor weakens and the mortal selling techniques are more dominant. But Stevens does a good job at sharing some short personal stories on how simple events in life have taught him strong lessons in selling, and these simple but moral lessons in life teach us that a salesperson does not need flas...
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A Different Post - Some Great Quotes on Career and Life
2008-01-03 01:07:00
Some food for thought as we begin a new year..Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of the goal-a commitment to excellence-that will enable you to attain the success you seek.- Mario AndrettiYour profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on earth to do. With such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling.- Vincent Van GoghBeing busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing. -Thomas A. EdisonLife doesn't require that we be the best, only that we try our best.- Jackson BrownChance can allow you to accomplish a goal every once in a while, but consistent achievement happens only if you love what you are doing.- Bart ConnerGreat works are performed not by stren...
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5 Career Questions that you must ask yourself this New Year
2007-12-29 06:14:00
Is my work satisfying?How do you feel getting up in the morning and getting ready for work? Are you excited to be at a place which sparks the creative you, a feeling that you could make a difference today?Do you feel happy to be working where you are or where your career is headed?If yes, you are in a great career and job. Give it your best and the best shall come to you. Be positively productive at work and be a team player – two essential ingredients to a successful profession.If not, pause now and think what cold possibly make you happier at work or give you that enthused feeling to get up everyday and contribute your best to the world – everyday.Is my family/personal life better because of my career or is it suffering because of excessive/stressful time at work?Whatever one says that achieving a work-life balance is not possible in the 21st century, there it not much fulfillment at work if your family life suffers or you each evening you get home with a guilt feeling of not ...
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How Good are you at Connecting with your Team? – An Essential Tip for a S
2007-12-17 20:05:00
No matter how many ideas are shared on good leadership skills, I believe a good leader is one who can respect, connect and also influence the people he/she leads. And of course how well you can articulate your thoughts and future actions to your team, good communication skills and good people connection are fundamental qualities of a good leader.There's nothing more demoralizing than a leader who can't clearly articulate why we're doing what we're doing.- James Kouzes and Barry PosnerHave you heard or read Martin Luther King’s speech “I Have a Dream”? The speech is remarkable and what makes it truly remarkable was that Dr King was able to present the thoughts of millions together articulately and all the listeners had the same thought that day – “That is exactly what my dream is.” He appealed to the common man’s thoughts and dreams and he was able to emphasize this one thought effectively.These are the elements of an impressive, persuasive, and influential speech.K...
More About: Team , Good , Essential , Connecting

How to respond to a Bad Performance Review
2007-12-13 18:51:00
It is indeed frustrating to see a bad performance review when you were not expecting one. Howsoever rattled or tormented you are feeling now, it is time to plan what to do next. Do not take an unfair performance review lying down and feeling there is nothing you can do about it; it is time to act but good planning must precede action. There is always a possibility to change the decision to your favor.Initiate further Meetings to Clarify Review Contact your boss to talk to him personally on the performance review. Not over phone or Email but a face to face meeting is recommended to initiate clarifications on the review. In this review try not to be on the defensive and do not let emotions overcome you.Before this meeting take time to carefully analyze the performance review you have received and also research on company’s policies on how to respond to bad performance review. Often organizations have a comprehensive HR webpage on the intranet or don’t feel shy to contact the HR on...
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A Book Review - Lessons on Leadership: The 7 Fundamental Management Skills
2007-12-05 18:46:00
This book by Jack Stahl, former Revlon CEO and former president of Coca-Cola, is presented in a very simple to understand style that offers some essential lessons on leadership with valuable framework on leadership, indispensable skills for someone to have even in a non-corporate world.Stahl in an interview with Business Week says, “Leadership is a bundling of very concrete action steps that can be taken and that what’s I have tried to outline in Lessons on Leadership.”The book progresses step-by-step leading you from valuable information on how to actively develop your leadership and management skills to people management and financial policies and models that are appropriate for your business.Some of the examples that Stahl gives from his Coco-Cola days and Revlon experience are insightful and offer the first hand cognitions on leadership qualities and people management skills.I loved the “leadership insights” and the “key points” or the highlights all through the va...
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Need for Better Communications Skills in a Collaborative Workplace
2007-12-03 21:07:00
This year has seen a remarkable change in the work culture in the Silicon Valley, more globalization for sure and more collaborative workspaces that have sprung up and are being considered by other large IT giants who are still entrapped in the cubicle workplace. Is it the end of the cubes and the lone worker on a deadline and begining of the new era of working together as a team with effective collaborations in a cubicle-less work environment?Though accommodating to this new change will take time and opposition from mnay cannot be ruled out but the results talk for themselves. In an article in the San Jose Mercury News about the new trend of Valley companies dump cubicles for open office spaces, the authors Mark Boslet and Katherine Conrad elaborate on the new accelerated productivity at the workplace:“Productivity also is up, said Larry Matarazzi, Cisco's senior director of workplace resources. Ted Baumuller, a senior manager in Cisco's information technology department, agree...
More About: Workplace , Communications , Skills

Thriving in the Global Workplace
2007-11-29 18:45:00
Globalization brings in many challenges and opportunities to the 21st century workforce. Apart from the work related travel, one of the major challenges today is efficient collaboration between teams working on different time zones around the world.The Challenges in a Global Workplace Team ManagementIf a team on a single project is working in two different locations, the challenge is scheduling meetings and work allocation. Often times the work is being done at parallel at two locations and the convergence at the near end of the project becomes a mess. Long distance employee relations and team management presents a challenge to many managers. The solution to this challenge could be a better collaboration effort by management and frequent information exchange. Using virtual communications like webinars and real-time internet webcasts enables continuous interaction while working in different time zones. Also all companies who collaborate globally must train managers around these issues...
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