Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom How NOT to do Change Management

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom How NOT to do Change Management Change management is difficult, especially when it involves a complex structure like an organization. But some techniques are better than others, and here are a few you’ll want to avoid next time around. Driving from the bottom instead of the top Any successful change strategy requires the enthusiastic involvement of managers and employees on the ground, and bottom-up goal setting is terrific for innovation and morale. However, unless you work in an organization with no hierarchy whatsoever, your proposed change won’t go anywhere without executive buy-in and ongoing support. So get it and get it early. Assuming everyone shares your opinion It’s a mistake to believe that the majority perspective mirrors yours, even if a certain point of view seems obvious. For example, it’s tempting to think that everyone would naturally support a flexwork or citizen development initiative, but without polling and/or focus groups with groups in all functions and roles across the organization, you really can’t be sure of anything. Even if you’re inhigh-growth mode and are under pressure to take action, do your due diligence before pulling the trigger. Relying exclusively on logic It’s necessary to build a bulletproof business case full of rational and objective arguments for your strategy, but don’t forget passion, fire, and story. Unless people can feel the problem you are trying to solve, they won’t be motivated to help you. There’s a happy medium here, though. You have to be able to create a sense of urgency without coming across as over the top. Force-fitting a strategy that’s at odds with the culture Corporate culture is an unseen, but tremendously powerful force. In any organization, so much goes on behind the scenes of organizational charts, mission statements, and annual reports. Gaining an in-depth understanding of what drives your culture is a critical step in undertaking any change strategy, even those that aren’t technically “culture” initiatives. For more ways NOT to do change management, check out the full post on the QuickBase Fast Track blog.

Tips For Cold Collar Resume Writing

Tips For Cold Collar Resume WritingCold collar resume writing is a great way to get noticed as a career candidate in today's technologically driven workforce. You can impress recruiters and HR professionals with a short-listed resume that reveals your strengths but also shows the things you are passionate about and can easily relate to.Cold collar resume writing includes a lot of general details and information but also offers personal information such as a favourite hobby, interests and experiences to help set you apart from the crowd. You should highlight the most relevant aspects of your achievements and show that you are motivated and willing to work hard. However, make sure that you do not overwhelm the reader by including too much detail.The first thing you should do when using a cold collar resume is to list your achievements. List your highest achievements and at least three years of relevant experience, followed by what you have learned from your past positions. You can add a little personal information about your interests and hobbies. Do not mention your top three or five personal goals because this will quickly become overwhelming for the recruiter.In order to get the reader to scan your details, you should be able to break down your tasks and responsibilities into multiple sections. For example, you can list your responsibilities that relate to specific job functions such as Sales, Operations, Customer Service, Human Resources and Research. Include your job title and any skills you possess that are related to the duties or responsibilities that you are listing.Examples of this format include: Sales Management: General Manager, Admin Manager, Client Services and Office Manager. Or it could be more specific such as: Sales Management: Development Sales, Account Management, Service Support, Service and Manufacturing and Customer Support Manager.With cold collar resume writing, it is important to remember that the reader is looking for specific elements and a little detail is a good thing. However, it should not be so detailed that the reader is getting lost and that you start talking about yourself and your interests while you are listing the positions you held.Recruiters are looking for specific qualities that will drive you to succeed. They are not looking for you to cover your whole life story. If they are going to listen to you and spend time to interview you, they want to be able to clearly see that you understand their expectations of you.You should remember that the resume should be designed to get your name out there to recruiters and other corporate team members. By crafting a format that they can relate to, you will be giving yourself the best chance of success.

Riley Folds Talks About the Challenges of LGBTQ Job Seekers

Riley Folds Talks About the Challenges of LGBTQ Job Seekers There are many challenges for job seekers out there, but Riley Folds talks about how members of the LGBTQ community in this years graduating class face other trials when trying to get into the workforce. Im honored to have had an exchange with Riley Folds, author of the book Your Queer Career, a book described as the ultimate career guide for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender job seekers. Riley Folds inspires people everywhere with his role as Executive Director of Out for Work, which acts as an element in educating LGBT students the process of assessment and implementation of their career plans before even stepping out into the job market. Out for Work has helped countless individuals with their programs, resources, and assistance in different skills and aspects of career and enhancement of skills to explore career options, master search techniques and strategies and research employment opportunities. 1. What motivated you to write Your Queer Career: The Ultimate Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Job Seekers? How did this book come to be? At the time, I had spent the past 10 years traveling to college campuses and conferences educating, preparing, and empowering LGBTQ college students for the transition from academia to the workplace.   That was on top of creating and managing the only nonprofit organization with the same mission, OUT for Work.   However, my speaking opportunities and OUT for Work could not reach all students.   Therefore, I decided that writing a book on the subject would not only be the perfect capstone to my work, but also a vessel for others to be exposed to the information. 2. What is the biggest challenge that the LGBT community face in job searching and their careers? Theres not a one-size-fits-all answer for that.   I think self-evaluation is a big component.   Your Queer Career offers an opportunity for individuals to do just that.   Also, I think job seekers need to know the laws in the state they want to work in as well as the policies of the organizations that they want to work for.   Doing the homework such as this will help the individual find a better fit. 3. What was your career defining moment as a member of the LGBT community? How did it impact your work life? I write about this in detail in the book.   It was early in my career.   I left an organization for another I knew was LGBTQ-inclusive.   I decided from day one that I would let my supervisor know that I had a partner.   I believe it provided the baseline for forming a trusting and open professional and personal relationship.   A major component of the workplace is, in fact, the relationships we create.   I was able to openly talk about my partner, invite him work functions, and put a picture of him in my office without fear of harassment or retaliation.   That experience gave me the conference to grow in my own queer career. 4. If there is one invaluable advice that you would give to an LGBT job applicant, what is it? Know who you are.   Understand that there is an intersection between your sexual orientation, gender identity, and career development.   Embrace these attributes as well as all the others that make you who you are.   Companies are looking for innovation through the diversity that their employees bring to the workplace.   But remember it is your journey and much like coming out to family and friends, coming out in the workplace is a personal choice and should be done on your timetable. 5. How can our LGBTQ readers follow you online or reach you for advice? I am on LinkedIn.   Also, I will be speaking at OUT for Works national conference taking place  October 911th  hosted at UT Dallas.   More information can be found at  www.outforwork.org.

What Stand Up Paddling can Teach us about Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Stand Up Paddling can Teach us about Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Summer is winding down… at least in the Northern Hemisphere. Did you get to try Stand Up Paddle boarding this summer?  Or as it’s  also known SUP. Did you see anyone out SUP’ing on any of the local waterways near you? If you did perhaps you thought about a few ways that Stand Up Paddle boarding  aligns and overlaps with business. There are some things that Stand Up Paddle boarding can teach us about business. For starters it’s a great way to bond and to get to know yourself as well as your fellow paddlers. SUP has more than a few parallels to business. Some of the more obvious are that anyone can do it and you can do it for your whole life. In the same sense that  some kids will start lemonade stands and others will start lawn mowing services or paper delivery routes. On the other end of the spectrum there are baby boomers and seniors launching businesses every day too. This is just one of the benefits of both Stand Up Paddle boarding and business in that  anyone can start a business. However, just because a Stand Up Paddle  board or a business is launched doesn’t mean it’s going to stay upright or go in the right direction without some skills and expertise. Both SUP and business have another parallel in that similar minds will often flock together to talk about what works well and what doesn’t. Some of that advice can only be found in the boardroom or on the water. In fact, some of the best “Board Meetings” I’ve ever had have been on my SUP. Just Add Water One of the great things about SUP is that you can do it almost anywhere. All you need is a body of water. It can be fresh water or salt water. It can be small lakes or ponds. Or it can be on a great lake or out on the open ocean. The skills are similar. This is where SUP and Business diverge a little. In SUP it’s easy to get started, easy to keep going and easy to get others to try. An often overlooked benefit of SUP is that for the most part you always see people smiling when they are SUP’ing. Whether they just paddled 15 miles or whether they are soaking wet because they just fell off for the umpteenth time… they are usually smiling and laughing. Reality Check: To learn to SUP is a lot easier than learning how to run a business. However, there are some parallels that are worth exploring. Where SUP has a few “easy” steps there are also a few equivalent realities of business that must be dealt with on a daily basis. SUP is Easy to Get Started Business POV: While it’s easy to think of an idea it’s much hard to execute and make it successful. SUP is Easy to Keep Going Business POV: Much like the first point it’s an every day challenge to keep the business growing and adapting. SUP is Easy to Get Others to Try Business POV: Anyone, that has ever sought investors knows that it takes a lot of work. However, this doesn’t mean that SUP and Business are all that different. Just because SUP has it’s easy steps, much like in business  there are skills that can and will be developed as experience and interest grows. Much like in business there are beginners, pros and instructors. Everyone had to start somewhere. The smart business people and SUP’ers will seek out guidance from the pros and the truly wise ones will find at least one instructor… which in business we call mentors. Will SUP replace Golf? For decades, golf has been a great way for people to get together and spend several hours on the same task. SUP will not likely replace golf anytime soon. However, there are a few things SUP can do that golf does not. As mentioned above SUP is relatively easy to do, requires minimal skills and a relatively low investment in equipment. The only thing SUP needs is a body of water, a bit of balance and a sense of adventure. Pretty soon everyone is smiling.  As an aside… some of the people I’ve seen on golf courses definitely are not smiling. SUP is a Great Equalizer Stand Up Paddle boarding is an activity where everyone is pretty much at the same level. Sure, there will be those with incredible balance and there will be some that are natural paddlers, but for the most part everyone can go out and have fun. Even if they want to paddle from their knees instead of standing up most everyone can get out, get wet and start smiling. One of the best things I have found with SUP that is parallel to business is that people can explore the shallows and cruise along at a casual pace. Just like in business we can explore the nuances and details of an idea at a pace that might be more casual as the idea is being fleshed out. Also,  as we look towards the big picture strategies we  can paddle offshore and occasionally lose sight of land. Stand Up Paddle boarding  can teach us about business and can help you Stand Out in Your Career by helping you see things from a different point of view, by getting your colleagues involved and by working together to see both  the little picture and the big picture. For your next corporate outing I suggest you think about hosting a SUP session. It may be the best “Board Meeting” you’ve ever had.

What to Include in Your Yoga Instructor Resume

What to Include in Your Yoga Instructor ResumeWhen you are thinking about doing a yoga instructor resume, there are some key elements that you will want to keep in mind. This includes how you plan to explain your experience and the level of expertise you have when it comes to working with people who are getting into yoga as a form of exercise and health-related activity.You will want to consider this when you are writing your yoga instructor resume. It is not always easy to take a look at a stack of paper and have a list of accomplishments appear. Sometimes you will be provided with an objective statement that will describe what you have accomplished over the years. For example, in your yoga instructor resume, you may want to include a statement that states 'in my yoga teacher certification program, I was responsible for preparing students for their first-time experiences.'It will help if you list the core abilities that you have that relate to working with people in the first place. If you are learning Yoga through adult yoga programs, you may have a statement that includes 'I am responsible for helping adult students attain maximum physical and mental benefits from adult fitness programs.' This is important because it will show how you learned about the program and who your instructors were.There are many different ways to describe your yoga experience but one of the best ways to go about doing this is to list the people who helped you and the work that they did. For example, you might list the names of the teacher training director, physical therapist, nutritionist, or chiropractor. If you are getting this information from a personal statement that you wrote about yourself, you can also include any other mentors that you may have had.In addition to these, there are also certificates and diplomas that you might have received throughout your career. These certificates will serve as your education to the yoga industry. However, when you write your yoga instruct or resume, you might need to be aware that the various Yoga degrees that are available may vary in the length of time that they can be listed. While you want to include these accomplishments as part of your summary of your work experience, they might not necessarily be considered equal to the professional credentials that are needed to succeed in the field.As an example, if you are currently completing a master's degree in the field of Yoga, you should indicate this on your yoga instructor resume. However, you will probably want to make sure that you don't list it as your certification or diploma unless you are requesting for this job opening and are interested in pursuing this profession. In addition, you will want to note your body of work that takes place while in the state of certification for the particular certification that you hold. This will allow employers to see that you have progressed and become more knowledgeable and competent in your position.The best way to determine how you need to incorporate this information into your yoga instructor resume is to find a professional writer who is specialized in creating this type of document. Most likely, you will find a good deal of information that you need and will be able to create a Yoga instructor resume that is attractive and informative. Your resume should be a living document that can be modified to match the needs of the job you are seeking.In the past, the means of getting hired for a particular position included making references or talking to current employees at a particular company. However, technology has made this quite difficult. Now, most employers are looking for people who are highly qualified and have a valuable skill set when it comes to their work environment.

Strategies for Staying Employed Longer (part 2)

Strategies for Staying Employed Longer (part 2) Strategies for Staying Employed Longer (part 2) Strategies for Staying Employed Longer (part 2) August 27, 2009 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment In addition to being a jack-of-all-trades, you want to position yourself as an expert or the go to person in at least one specialized area. Carve out a niche for yourself. This is how you can become invaluable to an organization. Take one of your natural talents or areas of interest and then learn everything you can through training, books, and mentors. When you become the source for information, and share your knowledge freely with others youre not only helping advance your department, but youre also making yourself sticky and indispensable to that organization. Be a resource to others. People are the jet fuel behind your career. They can promote you, hire you, or introduce you to others who could potentially hire you. The key is to build and nurture a powerful professional network before asking for anything in return such as a plum project, key assignment, job lead, or recommendation. Professionals are naturally drawn to those who are well informed and well connected. Be sure to tell your network about new technologies, events, professional opportunities, and news and information that may interest them. Send out quick e-mails with links to books, white papers, press releases, news articles, or websites. Want more strategies for staying employed longer? https://careercoaching360.com/products/

IKEA UK voluntarily raises wages for lowest-paid workers - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

IKEA UK voluntarily raises wages for lowest-paid workers - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog This announcement from Pernille Hagild, Ikeas?HR Manager in the UK and Ireland, is beyond awesome: We will adopt the Living Wage (as defined by the Living Wage Foundation) from the 1 April 2016. This means all our co-workers across the UK will receive a minimum of ?7.85 per hour and ?9.15 per hour within London. The Living Wage is a hot topic in the press at the moment so we feel its important to explain why we have made this decision. Ikea?has seen?that the UK minimum wage of GBP 6.75?is too low to allow many of their employees to?live well and have therefore decided to voluntarily raise salaries to follow?the recommendations of the Living Wage Foundation. Why? Because Ikeas?values are not only about doing good for the customer but also extend to the employees. Pernille puts it like this: Ikea is a values-driven company. We are guided by a vision to create a better everyday life for the many people and this vision includes our co-workers as much as our customers and the communities touched by our business. Providing a meaningful wage to all of our co-workers, that supports their cost of living, is an important part of our values which are fundamental to who we are. Of course this is not cheap: The initial ?7.5million investment is a big one for us and will benefit over half of our co-workers here in the UK. We have been discussing this for the past year and the thought behind our decision is pretty simple: it is the core of our values to treat people equally and decently. We believe in paying a fair wage for all co-workers regardless of how old they are and that also takes into account where they live. Will it?make employees happier? It does however raise the question of whether this will make employees happier.?Do salaries matter? Heres what we think: Wages have the power to make us unhappy if we perceive them to be unfair or if they are so low that we spend a lot of time and energy worrying about our finances. Once salaries reach?the point where they are fair and allow us?to live comfortably, further?raises do not increase happiness. This move specifically addresses those issues and can take away much potential unhappiness for many of Ikeas?employees. That being said, its also noteworthy?that Ikea?UK does this voluntarily and out of a genuine desire to improve their employees lives.?This means that the move might have an actual positive effect beyond just reducing financial?unhappiness because?it strengthens the relationship between employees and employer, by showing that the company cares about them. Itll be really interesting to see how this plays out. I love everything about this. I strongly believe that if your business cant afford to pay the?employees a living wage, then you dont deserve to be in business. The fact that Ikea?is a long-term client of ours and that Pernille Hagild is a friend of mine who helped introduce?a similar move in Ikea?Denmark years ago only makes it MORE awesome :) Related posts Happy retail staff = more sales When it rains, the price of Ikeas umbrellas goes DOWN Happy at work at IKEA Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related