How Do You Manage Your Own Mental Health at Work

How Do You Manage Your Own Mental Health at Work Our employees wellbeing is of utmost importance, theres no denying that. But so is yours. You couldnt support any of your staff if youre not looking after your mental health which is often overlooked because of your own pressures and stresses within the workplace and sometimes in your personal life. This week our team of panelists reveal what they do to make sure theyre ok. Nick Patel For me, mental health is often about taking a break from work.   I do this by taking the time to go for a walk before and after work (usually as part of my commute), and I use this time to do things that make me happy and relieve stress.   Sometimes this is talking with friends and family and other times it is just taking in the sights of Boston Common.   I occasionally throw on some music or a podcast as well. Nick Patel, CEO of Wellable. Renae Shaw I have adopted a range of habits, tips and tricks which helps maintain my own mental health at work. Most recently, I’ve started a gratitude journal where I write something I am grateful for each day. This lets me really focus on what I appreciate and not take important aspects of my daily life for granted. I exercise frequently throughout the week and eat as well as I can which always improves my mood. I enjoy lunch time walks with different employees and encourage new members of staff to join us which means I always get to speak to new people and have met great friends in the process. Renae Shaw, Head of HR at Search Laboratory. Lee Keyes For me, being very clear about what I am and what I am not responsible for in employment is a key. Being continuously aware of these boundaries helps me know what I need to do, what I can delegate to others, and when I can walk away from the office and focus on other parts of my life and identity. Dr. Lee Keyes, is a Psychologist and Emeritus Director at the University of Alabama. Emma Mamo We have some great policies, procedures and tools to keep us well here at Mind. Tools like the Wellness Action Plan help identify triggers that may impact our mental health and wellbeing. Our flexible working patterns and regular one-to-ones help us to manage our time effectively and reduce factors that would cause us stress or impact our wellbeing negatively. Personally however, I find the following helps: Taking a lunch break and getting some fresh air Blocking out time for planning and defining my work â€" and delegating! Managing my inbox but not being a slave to it Refreshing my ‘to do’ list at the end of the day Reflecting on what is working well â€" keeping a “success log” of my achievements Making sure I’m maintaining a life outside of work Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind. Brendan Street We all have our own values, and these relate to different areas of our lives. Work is one of these areas…but only one. If we aren’t careful the work value can be the only area of our life, we are attending to. Our behaviours become out of sync with our values…mental health deteriorates. As such I make sure I regularly revisit my values and make a commitment to engage in behaviours that energise everything I consider important regularly. Brendan Street, Professional Head of Emotional Wellbeing at Nuffield Health. Shona Davies I have various techniques that I have learnt over the years that will help me to deal with any anxiety or low mood that I experience during the working day. Particularly helpful to me are grounding and focussed breathing. Meditation also helps and I try to get at least 10 minutes at the start of the day to give myself focus and calm. In addition, I make certain I have time to take my dog for walks and to enjoy the company of my friends near and far. . Shona Davies, Founder of Shona Davies Consulting. Chieu Cao Balance is always something I try to remember. Working in a scale up environment can often be stressful and as a result I have learnt to prioritise taking lunch times and switching off when on holiday. The power of conversation also shouldn’t be   underestimated as they often say, a problem shared with a colleague or friend is a problem halved. At Perkbox we believe that a culture of transparency, communication and psychological safety is the way forward.                       Chieu Cao, Co-Founder of Perkbox. Lucy Faulks We try to practise what we preach as much as we can! We have a highly flexible approach to our working practices as we know that when employees feel in control of their working practices have better job satisfaction, productivity and happiness. When working in the office, we try to eat lunches together, take walking meetings away from our desks and have numerous employee perks such as having dogs in the office, free fitness and meditation classes at lunchtimes and treats for employees such as massages or and free healthy lunches. Lucy Faulks, Co-founder of Elevate. Paula Whelan Too much stress or pressure will impact on my mental health at work, I manage this by being open and talking to colleagues. I am lucky to work in an environment that is supportive and it is okay to talk about ‘not being okay’. . Paula Whelan, Head of Diversity Inclusion at Right Track Learning. Nicole Thurman I am not an expert on this subject, but I try to maintain balance. I ask myself quite often: whats the worst that can happen? Usually, its not that bad â€" its stuff I can deal with. I personally make a conscious effort to not make up or believe stories. I also believe in exercise, hobbies and work-life balance. I think any time you get too wrapped up in something and you are out of balance it causes problems. If you have a balanced life, then you have other things to rely on when life gets tough in other areas. But theres a lot that goes into mental health, and we can’t always solve what’s wrong with us. Thats why mental health counseling and anxiety and depression prescriptions are sometimes important. If you break your leg, it won’t heal properly without professional care. The same thing goes for anxiety and depression sometimes you need professional care without trying to manage it yourself. Nicole Thurman, Vice President, Talent Management at CHG Healthcare.

What Do Best Places to Work Have in Common - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Do Best Places to Work Have in Common - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Everyone knows the Best Places to Work list which is released every year. If you look at that list, we mainly see tech companies like Google or Microsoft and then we see the big consulting firms like Accenture or PWC. However, sometimes we can also come across with companies we have never even heard of.   Did you ever wonder what these companies have in common? What do they do to be a great place to work? Read below to find out. Offer Training Programs: Many of the Best Places to Work companies offer on average 73 hours of on-the-job training per year. This increases skills and talents of employees. As a result, employees become more productive at work raising revenues. Also, employees feel that they are being valued by their employer so their commitment rises. Clear Mission and Vision: All of the Best Places to Work companies have clear visions and missions. They know where they are at now and where they want to be in the future. They set goals to achieve their visions and clearly communicate these goals to their employees via newsletters or meetings. Provide a Career Path: Best Places to Work companies offer their employees programs to advance in their careers. These programs include a clear career path, international or domestic job rotation or mentorship. As a result of these programs, employees get motivated and are able to set goals for promotion. Also, these companies clearly explain the duties of their employees, what is expected from them and how they can climb the career ladder. Thus, this helps the employees have a clear understanding of their roles within the company and motivate them to move forward. Adapting to Change: Best Places to Work companies are good at adapting change according to their customers’ needs as well as new technology. They monitor customer needs, their competitors and the new technology. As a result, they give the right tools to their employees because they want them to do their jobs properly. Time-Off: Most of the Best Places to Work Companies give their employees more than two-weeks paid vacation. In fact, some companies recently adapted unlimited vacation time policies (Of course, this depends on some circumstances). There are also some companies who adapted a 4 day work week schedule. This schedule gives more time to employees to handle their personal lives and run their errands. What do you think companies need to do to be a great place to work? You can share your ideas below in the comment section.

5 Ways to Ensure Your Employees Like You

5 Ways to Ensure Your Employees Like You As any good team leader knows, you get the most out of your employees when they’re happy to work for you.   You don’t have to be everyone’s friend all of the time, but getting your team on your side will lead to a happier and more productive workplace, with people willing to go the extra mile to please you.   If you want to win your employees around and make sure they like you, here are the five things you should be doing… 1. Be a Good Listener Good team leaders spend more time listening than they do talking, so make sure you give your employees the time and space to talk.   People like knowing they can chat things over with you, whether that’s the mundane stuff about ordering more biros for the stationery cupboard or about what’s worrying them in their lives outside of the office.   Be a willing and compassionate listener â€" people will feel more valued and will like you more as a boss if you let them talk openly to you. 2. Keep Your Word If you say you’ll do something, make sure you do!   People will only like you if they know they can trust you, so always follow through on your promises whether they’re big or small.   It could be something as minor as giving feedback on a project or as major as giving someone a salary raise, but nobody wants to feel they’ve been conned or ignored.   If you say you’ll do something, set out a clear time frame for completing the task and stick to it. 3. Set Out Your Expectations If you let people know what you expect from them, they’re going to be more productive and like you more.   If people aren’t entirely sure what it is you want from them then they’ll probably be very wary and defensive around you, and uncertainty doesn’t lead to a healthy or happy working environment.   Set out your expectations and goals clearly so that people know what they’re aiming at.   Having clear expectations means people will be eager to meet and exceed them in order to make you happy. 4. Give Constructive Criticism Believe it or not, your employees will value criticism if it helps them get better at their jobs.   Giving feedback and constructive criticism means individuals know where they need to improve and that will make your team stronger as a whole.   Provide fair and justified criticism when necessary and people will learn to value your opinions and up their game in the future. 5. Ask for Feedback If you’re happy to dole it out, you also have to be happy to take it.   If you’re going to provide constructive criticism to your team then you also have to be willing to ask for feedback on your own performance.   If your employees feel they can give an opinion and help you improve as their boss then it’s a win-win situation all around.   Ask them what you could be doing better and they’ll feel more valued and more content working for you. The simplest advice is just to be kind and considerate.   Even when you’re having to do the difficult or unpleasant things like letting a team member go, always try to be compassionate, thoughtful and ‘human’.   You don’t have to be besties outside the office, but get your employees to like you as a boss and you’ll find the office becomes a happier and more productive place to work.

How Will Technology Change Work in the Future

How Will Technology Change Work in the Future The buzzword nowadays is AI, and there has been non-stop debate over how work will change in the future. By 2020, experts predict about seven million jobs will be lost and two million gained as a result of technological development. It is no  doubt that we will see a dramatic re-shape within the working environment, and our careers for that matter. Therefore due to the prevalence of this topic, this was one of the most important questions we could as our panel. Jonathan Kestenbaum   I believe artificial intelligence and intelligent workflows will make monotonous and rather simple tasks automated, leaving employees to focus on the creative aspects of their role. Jonathan Kestenbaum, Executive Director, Talent Tech Labs Cheryl Cran Cobots “collaborative robots” are going to change the nature of work job descriptions will be refined to focus on outcomes and projects, not tasks, as robots will work collaboratively with employees to produce work outcomes faster and more accurately. Cheryl Cran, CEO Future of Work Expert, Synthesis at Work Inc Nathan Perrott There will not only be changes in how we work, but also in what the workplace of the future looks like. Technology has and will continue to allow greater collaboration, drive efficiencies and improve effectiveness in the workplace. We’ve seen the possibilities of that already with virtual, augmented and mixed realities (for example, Microsoft’s Hololens). Longer-term, we’ll probably continue to see technology replace jobs that are primarily task focused, through increased automation. This in turn, will continue to lead to the over-supply of unskilled labour and under-supply of skilled labour. Certain sectors already suffer from severe skill shortages. Nathan Perrott, Director of Digital Marketing Strategy, AIA Worldwide Adam Glassman   I envision a world where technology can handle much of the mundane, repetitive tasks and let the recruiters focus on building people-centered relationships. Technology should make our lives easier, and in turn, there should be a re-emphasis on people skills in our space. This combination will help create a much more positive candidate experience as well. Adam Glassman, Recruitment Strategies Manager, Alorica Hung Lee Technology will have impact work in two main ways enhance or replace. There is no question that a great deal of what we currently consider economically valuable work will be conducted entirely by machines who can simply do the job more efficiently, at higher volume, to a higher level of quality. Humans will migrate to the work that machines still find difficult to do stuff that most typically involves working other other human beings technology in these jobs will augment human performance rather than replace human actors. Hung Lee, CEO, WorkShape.io Chris Russell   Id say its already having massive effects from data-driven jobs to inserting micro-chips into workers hands. Look to companies like Amazon, they are a window into the future of work and life. Chris Russell, Managing Director, RecTech Media Bryan Chaney Let’s go ahead and call this: ROBOTS ARE NOT STEALING OUR JOBS. I think automation, like every technological advancement, will change the definition of what it means to be a working human. This is work that won’t go away, but it will evolve into jobs that require complex judgment or perception. Even the best algorithms today still make mistakes and artificial intelligence will help repetitive working machines learn from those mistakes. Plus, we’ll always need people to work on the machines. Bryan Chaney, Director of Employer Brand, Indeed

When Should You Quit Your Job to Become a Full-time Freelancer CareerMetis.com

When Should You Quit Your Job to Become a Full-time Freelancer If you’ve stumbled upon a freelance side gig you love and feel passionate about, your goal in life may be to quit your job and freelance full-time. People always say to do what you love and the money will follow, but that isn’t necessarily true.As an employee, you receive a steady paycheck, benefits and someone else paying a portion of your taxes. As a freelancer, you’re responsible for finding your insurance, income can be sporadic and you’ll have to pay self-employment tax.evalThere are currently 62.2 million freelancers in the United States, with the number projected to rise to 90 million by 2028. No matter what type of freelance work you go into, whether writing, design or consulting, you can be almost certain there is competition. Not only do you need to be good at what you do, but you have to acquire some savvy skills if you want to succeed at running a business.If you’re still determined to work for yourself and follow your dreams, there are some things you should li ne up ahead of time to have the best chance of success becoming a full-time freelancer.Going from a full-time employee to a self-employed person is scary, but with a bit of planning, things will go much more smoothly.1) Beef up Your SavingsIn your first year of business, you’ll make mistakes â€"big ones. You’ll need a few solid months of seeking leads before you start to gain regular customers and income begins to pour in.Before you consider quitting a steady job, make sure you have a comfortable amount of money in your savings account. Experts such as Dave Ramsey recommend an emergency fund of three to six monthsof total costs, including housing, car payment, food, etc.However, you should also have some reserves for the business’ expenses. If you need to hire employees, for example, do you have enough set aside to pay them until clients start paying? Make sure you are financially able to take on building a new startup. It’s better to stay in your job for another year and sa ve money than to struggle and wind up seeking a new position because you can’t handle the stress of lack of income for a few months.2) Consider Your LifeSome of life’s seasons are incredibly stressful and full of “must-dos.” If you have an ill family member, a small child still at home or other significant circumstances, it might be better to delay any career shakeups until your situation improves and life settles down a bit.evalPsychologists recommend taking stock of any major changes in your life. Even positive changes cause some stress, such as having a new baby, a child going off to college or getting married. It’s best to start a new business when there aren’t any big adjustments going on in your life.3) Get Extra TrainingEven if you think you know everything you need to strike out on your own as a freelancer, there is likely something you haven’t thought of. People who are already freelancing understand the benefits of learning new skills that help them do their jobs better.In one survey of 6,000 U.S. workers, 93% said they valued skill-related training, compared with only 79% seeing a college education as an essential factor. If you already have a degree, great. But that’s not the end of the story. You should still add as many skills as you can before you start your business.Think outside the box a bit with your training. You may be an expert designer, but your math is lacking. Take some introductory accounting courses through an online site such as Udemy and brush up on what you’ll need to track your business expenses and profits. When you first strike out on your own, you likely won’t have the funds to hire a bookkeeper, so knowing how to keep your accounts is an integral component of your success.4) Find the Right WorkspaceevalMake sure you have a productive place to conduct business. If your freelance work involves regularly meeting with clients, seeking out a shared workspace where you can meet gives you a professional edge and shows potential clients you’re serious about what you do. On the other hand, if you do most of your work solo and chat with clients via the internet, a home office setup might be all you need.There are many benefits to shared office space for new entrepreneurs. Research on co-working shows the opportunity gives people a chance to collaborateand network more effectively.If you’re serious about building a successful brand, you’ll need more than a corner table at your local coffee shop. Whether you set up a dedicated space in your home or you invest in shared space at least part of the time, consider how well the field suits your needs as a new business owner, and be flexible enough to upgrade as your business grows.5) Establish a Support SystemAs soon as you turn in your resignation letter to your boss, you’ll probably start to second-guess your decision. Striking out on your own is scary. Even if you’ve already built up a small client base, you may wonder if you can repeat that success.Finding new clients and keeping the ones you have for the long haul is a balancing act. There will be moments where you think you’ve made a terrible mistake, and many highs and lows throughout your first year or two of business.Getting a support system in place beforehand is vital for your mental health. Find those who will cheer you on during those hard times. You need people who believe in you and help you stay motivated, whether a mentor, family member or close friend.At the same time, seek out people who’ve gone down the same road you’re starting on. If you run into an obstacle, they’ve likely dealt with it already and can help you navigate the choppy waters of running a business, as well as encourage you that things get better.Educator Rachelle Poth points out mentors are valuablebecause they help you through pivotal moments in your life. Seek out people who know more than you, then pay it forward by mentoring someone else.6) Understand Invoicing and Billin gTake the time to study invoicing and billing systems and figure out which software is easiest for you to use for your business and the costs involved. Some of your clients will pay late, and you’ll need to send them repeated invoices before they send you a check. If you’re on a tight budget, setting up invoicing through something like PayPal or Square saves you on monthly accounting software subscription costs.evalHowever, with paid services, you may gain features such as automatic invoice reminders and recurring billing abilities.Talk to other freelancers about how they handle billing. Do they require half upfront before starting work and payments at certain phases of the project? How long do they let a client go before reminding them they owe money? How much of a debt do they allow their customers to run up before cutting off work until something gets paid?Talking to others about how they’ve handled difficult payment situations gives you the skills you need to run a busines s before you quit your regular job.7) Toughen UpMargarita Tartakovsky, M.S., suggests there are some ways of developing a thicker skin, such as developing strong friendships to provide the support needed to get through challenging situations.Those who accept criticism well and learn from it don’t take comments personally, even if they seem personal. They realize there is an underlying frustration or issue with the other person. They use the information that might help them improve and move on from any negativity.evalIf you’re an extremely caring and giving person, the freelance life can be difficult. You’ll develop a relationship with your clients, but sometimes those people aren’t good for you or your business. Learn to let bad clients go, and open up that slot for a better business relationship.Every six to 12 months, evaluate your client list. Take note of any clients who are negative, consistently pay late or take up the majority of your time and energy. Drop the bottom one or two clients, so you have the bandwidth to take on better clients.It isn’t easy to let those relationships you’ve cultivated go, but if you want your business to succeed, you must. With time, you’ll develop a list of clients who are positive, easy to deal with and pay on time.8) Strengthen Communication SkillsAs a freelancer, you’ll need strong communication skills. Not only do you need the ability to describe your vision for your customers, but you need to be able to listen clearly to their desires for a project. One of the best ways to strengthen your communication skills is by practicing them. Start with friends and family members. Listen more than you speak and work on giving concise, clear directions.Take a course through Dale Carnegie or a local university and learn how to speak to people without offending or upsetting them. Seek out books on problem-solving and conflict resolution. Tell your current boss you’re working on improving communication and ask for fe edback. Ask co-workers to help you improve your listening and direction giving skills.9) Figure out Your Insurance SituationOne of the drawbacks ofworking for yourself is a lack of employer-provided health insurance. However, there are several options. Although it’s expensive, you can usually use COBRA for a while after you leave a position and stay on your former company’s insurance.If you have a spouse with insurance through their place of work, ask if they can add you to their policy. You can also purchase private insurance and may find it’s more cost-effective than COBRA.Before you leave your job, take advantage of all the perks you currently have. Go to the dentist, get new eyeglasses, visit the doctor for a physical. Join some small business owner associations, too, as they sometimes buy group insurance and you can get affordable rates.10) Collect Any BonusesIf your current employer offers profit-sharing or holiday bonuses, go ahead and stay long enough to collect any mo ney you have coming.You can throw the extra cash into your savings to help you past the initial hurdle of striking out on your own. Look ahead at the calendar and figure out when the best time to exit the company might be.Enjoy the Freelance LifeWhen you spend time planning out your transition from a job to freelancing, the entire process goes better.Working for yourself isn’t always easy, but it is personally rewarding, and with a little preparation, it can be financially lucrative as well.

It Pays to be NICE to Your Employees - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

It Pays to be NICE to Your Employees - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog This is a guest post by my good buddies Linda and Robin over at THE POWER OF NICE. Managers, when was the last time you asked yourself, ?Am I doing enough to show my employees how much I appreciate them?? If you?re unsure, chances are your office could probably benefit from a little gratitude. A November 2009 Careerbuilder.com survey revealed that 40 percent of employees have difficulty staying motivated at work, while 23 percent describe their office morale as ?low.?? What was the reason? As you might have suspected, it was a simple one. They felt unappreciated by their employers. Contrary to what you might think, however, it doesn?t take a whopping pay raise or a slew of promotions to make employees feel valued. Studies have shown repeatedly that it?s the small, interpersonal gestures that have the biggest payoff. A 2010 McKinsey study found that the best workplace motivators appeal directly to the emotions, with 67 percent listing praise or recognition from an immediate manager as ?effective? or ?extremely effective.?? What?s more, respondents found all emotionally based motivators to be more effective than financial ones. While we certainly can?t argue with the value of congratulating an employee on a job well done, we have another novel trick that we?ve found rather effective: chocolate. Yes, when you ?sweeten the deal? quite literally, you?ll find that your employees will actually experience a bit of an emotional boost. It?s not just because of the sweet taste, either. Chocolate contains over 300 different chemicals, including caffeine, theobromine, and phenylethylamine, which stimulate the neurotransmitters in the brain linked to concentration and mood. In other words, a few handfuls of MM?s could have employees feeling better and working smarter. (Quite a big accomplishment for a little chocolate candy!) No matter what your approach, demonstrating your gratitude toward your employees and recognizing their accomplishments regularly is a SMALL but highly effective way to transform your office culture and rev up productivity?and as a result, kick your business into high gear. And that?s something everyone can appreciate. Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval are the co-authors of the bestselling books, THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness and THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference. To connect with them, follow them on Twitter, ?like? them on Facebook, or check out their blog. Related posts How to be nice when youre the boss. A letter from your new boss. How do you deal with a bad boss? How can companies hire happy managers? Why do some people like bad bosses? Are bosses nice or nasty? Get our survey results. 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

Writing a Cover Letter For Resume - How to Write a Cover Letter For Resume

Writing a Cover Letter For Resume - How to Write a Cover Letter For ResumeWhen writing a cover letter for resume, it is important to remember that the main purpose of the document is to show the prospective employer that you have written a good resume. Therefore, one of the first things you should do when writing a cover letter for resume is to do your best to create a strong impression on the reader.Firstly, the letter should be short and simple. The cover letter should only be one page long, with the introduction at the top and then the resume at the bottom. Make sure that the cover letter and resume both go together and that the letter flows nicely and naturally.Focus on your strengths and skills. You may have a list of qualities that you have but you must think about why you are the right person for the job. Do not dwell on the weaknesses. Instead, make sure that you focus on the strengths and put in the word work that will show what you can do.It is important to write the letter as you would speak to someone at the first meeting. Show the reader that you are sincere, eager to learn more and ready to tackle the employer on their own terms.Note down the parts of the letter that relate to the hiring process. That way, you can keep track of what you say in your letter, what is said in the hiring interview and what you do in the future. Keep in mind that the hiring manager is not always looking for the exact same things, either. Keep this in mind when writing a cover letter for resume.Ask a lot of questions. Do not be afraid to ask questions about the job and how much experience they require. A resume needs to include everything you can think of so, do not be afraid to ask a lot of questions and see what they think.Lastly, remember that your resume is to help the potential employer to get a good impression of you so that you will be hired. Therefore, do not be afraid to make changes to the cover letter for resume that you have written.These are just some basic ideas on how to write a cover letter for resume. The point is that you should make this part of your job so that you can get hired for the job.