Think Doctor Career Coaching

Tips on Preparing Your Cover Letter

2011-06-18T21:51:00.001Z

Barbara McDonagh

ShareThe great resume that you've written is just one part of the package. Adding to the package, however to provide insurance for that resume is the cover letter that you will add to your resume. Writing the proper resume cover letter is an important part of the package that you will give over to your resume recipient.
Writing the proper cover letter takes a little time and some skill. Finding the right way to write your cover letter means reviewing proper formatting for this part of your resume and then using it to your best advantage. What's the right format for a resume cover letter?

What are some of the things you will want to include in your cover letter? What will you want to leave out? How long is the best cover letter?Getting it right means making a good impression on whoever will be receiving your resume.
An amazing cover letter to add to that review will net you an interview nearly every time. Here is how to write the cover letter that will get you seen by the prospective employer.

Highlight very specific portions of your resume. Add small doses of the things that you do best. This will enable the interviewer or the personnel department to scan your information. One fast review of the cover letter will tell them that they are interested in reading your resume and bringing you in to their business office to hear more.

Research the company thoroughly and know something about them when you write your resume. This way you can offer small bits of information there that let the company know that you've cared enough about the new job to learn more about it.
Knowing more about the company will assist you in writing the letter as well as how to handle the interview.

Send your package as well as your cover letter to the real person. Research who is the head of the personnel department, or the department that you're going to be working in. Send it out in care of an actual person and take the time to send it in a format that will require a signature.

Proof your letter thoroughly. Don't leave a single extra space of any spelling or punctuation issues. Make the letter as close to perfection as you can make it.

Keep your cover letter to pertinent information and stay as close to just one page as you can. Most cover letters who are more than one page will end up being sent directly to the trash. One page cover letters give pertinent information about you in a way that makes them easy to read and easy to take in. Don't overwhelm your readers.

How to Increase Your Skills To find A Better Job

2011-06-18T21:33:00.002Z

By Kalpendra Singh

The online job search is necessary and important in these robust times. Additional and additional folks these days are relying to the net to seek out jobs as a result of additional and additional employers are scouring the net for workers. There are plenty of benefits of job search, not solely has job looking out become easier however it's currently quick and extremely intensive. Today, there are varied dedicated sites to assist job hunters seek for jobs worldwide.In recent years, thanks to upswing of Indian economy, one will notice huge number of jobs in India.

In India, every year, several students are graduated and creating a protracted line to urge employment. There was a time, when a recent school graduate will hardly get employment however in of late; one will get several opportunities in wide selection of industries in India. Within the current state of affairs, one will notice a protracted list of jobs in India in numerous sectors. In India, firms are often recruiting for numerous posts of each fresher and experienced candidate.

part time jobs wherever in India provide a nice benefit to individuals who aren't ready to give their total calendar day for work or eager to be paid a number of additional ready money. There are largely learners or college students, wife’s who are willing to work and many of that kind are engaged with such jobs. Half time or part time occupations in Delhi permit job searchers to require work that suit their lifestyle and knowledge. There are numerous jobs associated with part time work in Delhi where you'll work simply. A person gets data regarding part time work from native newspapers, TV signals, personal ad and employ organization etc. Before selecting the task, one ought to perceive that job is best suited when it come to caliber. Mainly, half time jobs don't need abundant time of the day. It entails solely a couple of hours of the day. In step with your suitability, you'll match it together with your routine work.

Plentiful half time jobs are on the market within the market that you'll select in step with your capabilities and skills. There are several places within which you'll notice half time jobs like hotels, restaurant, laptop jobs, etc. Some jobs may be drained home also as several firms give home primarily based work in order that person will simply do the work. Knowledge entry jobs are the simplest example of home primarily based jobs.

In this present work marketplace scenario you wish a unique move in the direction of work for fresher and your expectation in the direction of your first job. As there is less jobs for fresher’s in huge firms which frequently use to rent truthful variety of fresher’s, they are ought to look in to different avenue like small companies, pop out and different new layer who give you new work that difficult job roles and numerous job liability to begin out your occupation and ultimately the expertise that you simply grow in that work can facilitate to urge a dream job within the future.

How to Use Action Research to Improve Your Career

2011-06-18T21:26:00.001Z

E. Alana James

People not involved in the world of research might find the suggestion to use a standard research practice to improve your career slightly peculiar. However, this is exactly what this article is going to do. Because action research has proven itself “a tool for complex times”, it can also be implemented in the persona area of our lives with great success. After all, our lives are also complex. I will introduce the three steps that are involved in action research and will also give you examples of their importance in each of the three main time periods within any career: 1) as you get started, 2) making strategic plans midway, and 3) transitioning to new accomplishments.

Discovery:
The first step in any action research projects is to discover everything about the world you want to learn about. This usually involves work on the internet, visit libraries, and interview people, in general just asking questions in any format that comes your way. As you can tell, this would be a good way to get started on any project, because it grounds us in what is already knows, which makes is less likely that we will “reinvent the wheel”. For example, a person who is starting off on their career should first investigate what kind of lifestyle will be involved in the jobs they are applying for.

Often people do not understand just how much our work will reduce the quality of our lives, and people need to make conscious decisions about not only what they are right for the job, but what kind of impact on their lives work will be both short term and long term. For mid-career strategic planning, the discovery phase takes the professional into the literature of their work, ensuring that decisions are made with some broader understanding of what others are doing in similar situations but in other contexts.

An example of this might be a woman I worked with who wanted to lead virtual teams. She used her discovery phase to uncover the fact that communication would be the biggest area of concern and prepared herself with course work and other research to develop systems of communication prior to situations that would require them. At the end of our careers, as we are transitioning into a new kind of life, a discovery process also serves us well.

If, for example, we will soon be retired, a day or more searching the web about what retired people are doing will enlarge our view of the potential of our new life. I think one of the most exciting aspects of the discovery phase, no matter when we engage it, is that it opens us to potential and that enlivens our spirit. We are always better off moving into measurable action when we start from the potential of growth rather than in reacting to situations.

Measurable Action:
The second step in action research combines two of its major components - taking action to move things forward and measuring the outcome of those actions when we do. For example, going back to our person just entering their career, strategically sending out cover letters with resumes to organizations that have openings is a natural step. But this becomes exponentially stronger when the person opens a spreadsheet and tracks: the date, the person they contacted, when they called back, the results of those calls, whether they were introduced by someone or session application because of an advertisement, and what they learned subsequent to that application.

Over a period of time this spreadsheet helps them see what strategies were more successful. For instance, it would be likely the person would see that they got farther on the interview process through personal introduction.

Mid-career strategic plans have much in common with transition situations in the measurable action phase. They both involve mature decision-making and tracking results, perhaps over a period of time. The criteria for this phase is that no matter how small your action, you take it having predetermined your baseline.

This allows you to measure your results. For instance, people that I have worked with who have used action research will take measurable actions in the following laundry list of circumstances: 1) to develop professional training, 2) to work through risk management situations, 3) to understand the value of contractors within their industry, 4) to explore the efficacy of teaching classes using an online platform for delivery, 5) to narrowly define leadership options, and 6) to allow people to move into a multicultural settings easily. In all of these cases, mid-career or end of career professionals first investigated what needed to happen next to the discovery phase, and then took actions over a period of time tracking the outcome of each staff using the measurable action criteria.

Reflection:
I find that most mid - to end of career professionals consider themselves reflective practitioners. However when I ask them how they keep notes and what value they find from referring to them, this opinion breaks down. Reflection is more than looking back on what has happened and thinking about it. Quality reflection requires a protocol of regular use. It is like exercising the muscle, if you only do it once in while you don't have it's full range or strength available to you when you need it. So what does reflection involve and how might our three career professionals use it to their advantage?
The beginning career person could set up a weekly protocol of giving themselves on a Friday afternoon a half hour to review what they have done to find a job that week and how they are feeling. Writing the feelings down is important because it becomes data for later. I have found that men have more trouble with this then women can, so let me quote one of the bank personnel that I worked with, "My biggest take away was the functional benefit of using qualitative data from journals and meeting notes in a qualitative manner. Journaling was new to me and didn't come easy to a few of us (men).

Converting it into data demonstrated the functional value and has made a believer out of me". If our early career example had to apply for work over a period of time, their reflective data would record the differences in outcomes in the morning this week to week. Patterns would become clear, such as that on a Friday they feel better if they have applied for work on a Thursday than if it has been the beginning of the week and they have heard no answer. Since it likely makes little difference to the human resource professionals to whom they apply, they may conclude that for the quality of their own lives they will apply for work later in the week, giving themselves happier weekends.

Our mid-career professional uses reflective practice to track a myriad of ongoing strategic issues. Consider it data collection and assessment for ongoing projects you are managing. Again, it is useful to have irregular reflective practice on a Friday so that you can put your body of work for the week to rest knowing what to pick up and do when you come back in on Monday, also allowing your weekend to be free of straggling thoughts.

Finally, our end up career transition professional uses reflective practice for dreaming. Remembering what our intentions were for our lives when we started them, gives us a lovely reflective backdrop against which to figure out what we want to do next. Some of those early dreams are worth picking up and pursuing now. Some of the things that gave us joy and as mid-career professionals can now become hobbies, or active volunteer work, or show us other ways we can contribute to our world without having to "work".

In this case I recommend a daily reflective practice during a consistent period of time, often just after we wake up in the morning, or after lunch on a full stomach, or at the end of the day. Reflection during those times makes use of the natural rhythms of when our mind and body are relaxed our subconscious and be more active in our dreams more fruitful.

Action Research in Total:
This article is too short to tease out all the various ways in which these three steps of discovery, measurable action, and reflection successfully underpin our careers and our lives as we grow. My own personal research has shown it to be vastly beneficial as professional development for people working in groups to solve very complex problems. But why not use the same tools that we use in our work lives to help solve the complexities in our personal life? I end this hoping that everyone reading it takes some small step today to discover something new, measure the actions they're taking towards their goals, and reflect upon: where they are where they wanted me and what will get them the results they are looking for.

Author's Bio:
E. Alana James has been working and writing about action research as it is used in education and business settings since 2005 when she completed her doctoral dissertation at Columbia focused on the use of action research for teachers as professional development serving high risk children who are experiencing homelessness. Having just finished her second book for Sage publications on best practices for action research, you can find more of her writing at www.ar4everything.com. Registration on that site will send you a free e-book on the three AR iterative steps as outlined in Action Research for Business, Nonprofits and Public Administration: A Tool for Complex Times. Dr James is currently engaged in international meta-analysis of the first 50 years of action research, is published in journals and speaks internationally on topics that develop from that analysis.

She also has an academic site, www.doctoralnet.com dedicated to helping students finish their doctoral disserations quickly and efficiently

Is Your Career Hitting a Plateau?

2011-06-18T21:22:00.001Z

By Robert Boroff

is easy to get comfortable at a job and cease to stop pushing the boundaries. Often we get into a daily routine and allow ourselves to perform at the same the level each day. This can of course be a positive thing. It can allow you to maintain productivity and helps prove your reliability. But it can also stop you from moving forward on your path to success. So what can you do if your career seems to have hit a plateau? Craig Chappelow and Jean Brittain Leslie of the New York Times offer some advice.

First and foremost don’t be afraid to ask for instant feedback. If you can tell that you are under-performing ask a coworker or manager what you could have done to have better performed. Often they’ll be able to offer you helpful advice and will value the fact that you care enough to ask. Of course you need to have thick skin when listening to these responses but if you take their feedback as constructive criticism you are sure to improve.

Secondly, you should also provide yourself with some personal feedback. Engaging in self-analysis can help you to know who you are and what you have to offer. This will help you emit self-confidence and will allow you to sell yourself to your boss and clients. If you don’t know why somebody should do business with you than they won’t either.

Thirdly, gain an understanding of the company culture. Notice the way changes are made at your company and learn to adapt with your company, this will help you to guide the company through challenges and prevent your work style from becoming outdated.

Fourthly, learn to empathize with and listen to the people you work with. If you sympathize with your peers and managers you’re more likely to develop stronger personal relationships with them. Actively listen to what people have to say. Give them your full attention, take notes as they talk and respond accordingly. This can help you to more fully comprehend what they are saying and will likely result in improved work performance.

Fifthly, collaborate with coworkers. If you work with and communicate with others you are likely to be more effective. You’ll find that your efforts go further if you have a little help. This also helps you to establish transparency and will allow others to know just how much you contribute to your company. This includes delegation. Often we try and do everything ourselves which can be overwhelming and prevents other employees from showcasing their talents. Delegation is a key part to a successful leadership philosophy. This will also help you to focus on the task at hand which allows you to bring jobs to a close giving you quantifiable results.

Lastly, if you hit a rough patch adjust your behavior and learn from your mistakes. If you allow yourself to grow from your setbacks you’re likely to achieve greater successes and continue to advance in your career. A positive attitude goes a long way, so don’t loose enthusiasm and capitalize on your strengths. People are sure to notice.

Author's Bio:
Robert Boroff is the Managing Director of Reaction Search International Marketing Recruiters Sales Management Headhunters a leading sales and marketing Executive Search Firm that assists both U.S. and International firms recruit all levels of sales and marketing experts Globally.

The Best Day To Go For An Interview By Michael Donovin

2011-06-18T21:18:00.001Z

First of all, to fully understand and appreciate the answer, a couple of givens must be taken into account. What I believe to be the most important item for dealing with an interview successfully is, your attitude. Your attitude determines the outcome of every interview. The core competencies must be there in order for you to get the interview in the first place but, your attitude during the interview will be what ultimately gets you accepted or rejected for the position. If it was as simple as, "I can do the job", there would be no need for an interview in the first place - the employer would just hire based upon the resume.

Now that we have determined that attitude will determine the success of the interview, lets more deeply understand the answer to the question. Unequivocally, without a doubt, the best day to interview is not Monday, it's not Friday, it's not Wednesday, like 95% of the people answer when I ask that question. The best day of the week to go on an interview is...drumroll please...the day after you get a job offer.

Again, understand that attitude determines your level of success on an interview and, when you have achieved success, that is, have obtained a job offer, your attitude generally is never higher. When you have already received a job offer, your confidence level is at it's highest. You are no longer worried about how you are going to pay your bills. You feel successful because others obviously believe in your abilities - otherwise you wouldn't have gotten the offer. Thus, you are "higher than a kite" at this time. This is the time to continue your search and just hammer away at as many interviews as you can possibly setup.

It is important at this stage in career development to take advantage of the synergy of the momentum or the incredibly good luck streak that you are currently on and, the way you do that is to continue to interview once you have gotten your first offer.

The positive momentum gained when you have a job offer in your back pocket is very strong. In fact, you can attack the remaining interviews with a can't lose mentality. This will allow you to see things clearly and to make the best possible decision for you and your family and for your career. There is no reason to stop interviewing after you get a job offer, and in fact, in "Hiring Secrets Revealed" this is one of the $10,000 secrets I'm sharing with you.

There is not a Human Resources Manager or Hiring Manager and especially not a Recruiter or a Recruiting Firm or Consulting Firm that will ever tell you the best time to interview is the day after you get a job offer - it's just not in their best interest to allow you to keep interviewing. Each and every one of the aforementioned decision makers wants to have a commitment immediately. They want to place you in a job now and collect their fee. They have no vested interest in helping you or advising you to continue with your interviewing process.

In subsequent articles I will show you how to maintain an open dialogue with your recruiter and how to time your interviewing so that all of these things come together so you can make decisions in a timely fashion. The point is, do not stretch out the interviews because that could go on forever. Your objective is to have choices. And you need to strike while the iron is hot.

By following this one simple secret, you will give yourself choices. The best part about interviewing after you have already gotten a job offer is - now you are confident. You have a job. You can ask for an negotiate the salary you truly wish to have and you have nothing to lose if they say no. What to you care if the second, or third, or fourth company says no to your salary requests, you already have a job.

However, since that is precisely what your attitude is… you most likely will be able to negotiate the salary you wish because the interviewers will feel your confidence and believe that you are worth the money. That's the power of being able to walk away from the negotiating table.

Everyone senses that you are ultimately the person in control of this situation - nothing has to be said to imply this - it is felt due to your high level of confidence. This one idea alone can be the one that gets you the $10,000.00 or $20,000.00 raise.

Look at each job offer carefully, and decide appropriately, but do it in a timely fashion. Your objective is to make this happen as quickly as possible. I have learned that no one will give you anything unless you ask for it. Heck, if an employer thinks they can hire you for $55,000.00, why in their right-mind would they offer you more? Get it? If, however, they believe that you are worth $65,000.00 or $75,000.00, and you ask for it, they are definitely going to be inclined to pay that to get you.

A friend of mine worked for a company that was bought-out by a bigger firm. The bigger firm actually bought 12 other smaller companies just like my friend's company. All the ex-owners of the smaller companies were paid a three month severance upon their exit from the larger company. My friend wanted to take the summer off and he thought he deserved more so, he called the President and asked him for six months of severance. It was given to him with barely the blink of an eye. Why? Because he asked for it. If you don't ask, you won't get it - guaranteed.

That's why you need to keep interviewing immediately upon getting your first job offer. Your confidence will be sky high and you will not be afraid to ask for more because you have nothing to lose.

Testimonials: Bob H.,Yardley, PA., "I've been in the telecom business for thirty years and have interviewed a lot during my career. What you're saying really makes good sense. Your succinct and straight-forward way of communicating is very refreshing and I eagerly recommend this important work for any and all job seekers. Thanks for getting this information onto your website and making it available to us.

Author's Bio:
Michael has over twenty-five years of Executive Search and Leadership Consulting service to United States organizations. Michael has also engaged in various human resources consultation activities including strategic planning, succession planning, organizational development and analysis, human resources research, prevailing wage analysis, and executive coaching services for individuals making career transitions. Michael has acted as an adviser to over 1500 professionals in their career development.

The Four Traps

2009-03-15T19:34:00.002Z

We all want to achieve certain goals in our lives. The goals may be different for each person and indeed different even for the same person in different stage of his life. These goals may be love, happiness, prosperity, power, peace, salvation, recognition etc.

The achievement of a goal depends on the path on chooses in his life. If he chose the right path and move on the path with determination, it is only a matter of time, when he attains his goals. However, often a man is trapped in circuitous path that leads to nowhere and the man keep on moving without reaching to any destination. There paths are like traps which gives the illusion of moving forward but actually leads to nowhere as the man keep on moving without ever coming close to his goal.

GIta, the holiest scripture of Hinduism, provides four paths of salvation i.e. Union with God. These paths are "Gyan" (Knowledge), Karma (Action), "Bhakti" (Faith) and Yoga (Self-realization). A man can achieve salvation by following any of the four paths.

The Abraham religions viz. Judaism, Christianity and Islam, emphasis only one path of God viz. unconditional devotion to God which needs total surrender to God. Buddhism runs contrary to the path of faith and provides only one path of salvation viz. self-realization as Buddha himself said
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own commonsense".

In the modern time, the secularist and atheist lay emphasis on action (right action or karma) and knowledge (right knowledge or "Gyan") as the right path as faith has no place in their scheme of things. Everything that is true must be established by the evidence and logic.

Thus even after millions of years of evolution and experience, man has not been able to find a single path that can lead to the desired goal or mankind whether it is the spiritual goal of salvation or the worldly goal of peace and happiness.

Everyone seems to be confident about their path and fail to see light of the other path. Often people keep on moving in the circuitous route where they come back to the same place again and again without moving an inch towards their goal which may be happiness, health, salvation or anything.

The reason, why most people are trapped in a circuitous path is because instead of discovering the right path by conscious effort merely follows their tendencies. Therefore, they never move but get trapped in their tendencies. This nature of man was given a physical shape by "Asaf-ud-Daula" in 1784 when he constructed "Bhul Bhulaiya" (The Passage of Confusion).

The Passage of Confusion

In the ancient city of Lucknow (India), there is a famous place called "Bara Imambara" whose major attraction is "Bhul Bhulaiya" (The Building or Passage of Confusion). There are hundreds of narrow stairway passages, some of which have dead-ends, some end at precipitous drops while others lead to entrance or exit points. Most people get confused and unable to come out of the "Bhul Bhulaiya". One should always take a Guide to explore "Bhul Bhulaiya".

The "Bhul Bhulaiya" was constructed to confuse any enemy intruder. People are often trapped in the circuitous roots of the building and keep on coming back to the same place again and again without being able to find the path leading to the exit door.

The architect of the building has a good knowledge of human psychology and they have designed the passages in such a way that the path you chose using your commonsense or experience is never the right path. The right path is one which is counterintuitive as discovered by one such traveler.

Everyone who visits Lucknow must have gone to Bara Imambara and has seen the mystic "Bhul Bhulaiya". I had a visit at childhood. My the then memory reminds me of a place where people can get lost if not properly guided. I can recall a moment when our guide left us in a place and told that within ten minutes if we could get ourselves out of the "Bhul Bhulaiya", he would not accept his charge. We failed miserably to get out of the place. We tried for half an hour. Every time it seemed that we were landing at a same place. After we surrendered to him (the guide) he took only few seconds to show us the stairs to get outside.

Rule of reverse

Last June, I again had an opportunity to visit "Bhul Bhulaiya" after 20 years. I was expecting for the offer from the guide. But he did not turn up. So I by myself told him (after he showed guided us) that we would be trying to get out without his help. He told that we would not be successful. For first five minutes my experience was same as I had twenty years ago. Suddenly something clicked in my mind. I made a rule of reverse. If someone needs to climb up he need to take to downwards step. Same is thing to go down. Going to left and right also had the same method. I wondered that the rule clicked. We were being able to move wherever we were wanting. Then it was a matter of few minutes we were at outside without the help of guide.

Amazing and wonderful piece of art! Is not it?

However, only few people are able to understand the rule of reverse and discover the right path as most of us are always trapped in our tendencies or commonsense. It is said in "Bhagawat Gita "
All Actions is entirely done by the nature of the nature of man. Man deluded by his ego thinks, "I am the doer". (Gita, III 27)

THE FOUR TRAPS

Even without having any knowledge of Gita or any Scriptures, man has the natural tendency to use these four paths of achieving the goals of his life. However, these four paths gradually become his traps as his nature always traps him in these paths which are designed as circuitous and counterintuitive.

These four traps are discussed as following:-

1. The Knowledge Trap

The first trap of the all educated men is the trap of knowledge. This has become truer in the modern times when almost every person is imparted education. An educated man seems to have a clear understanding of the world as he has remembered many theories which define the world and the people. If anything is incomprehensible, it is only due to lack of knowledge. Everything in this world can be explained by the knowledge and solved by using one of the theories that men has created. If an unexplained event happens, the person blames his lack of knowledge for it and seeks to learn more and more knowledge till the end of his life.

A man of knowledge lacks the knowledge of other three viz. karma, faith and self-realization. He does not practice what he preaches as he does not believe in the knowledge. Knowledge for him is a tool to earn his livelihood and solve the problems. He can prove anything under the sun by sheer arguments, logic and evidences.

"Johann Wolfgang von Geothe" guarded the people of knowledge in following words,
Knowing in not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
Yet the men of knowledge due to their infallibility of knowledge try to know more to succeed rather than trying others paths for aching their goals.

2. The Action Trap

There are many people who are always trapped in the action, which they consider as right and good. They are often called workaholic in the modern times as they are addicted to work. They believe in action and they are always engaged in action.

Yet they may not be very successful in their life as their actions often lead to nowhere. These people do not have good knowledge of the world and the people, they also do not have faith on others and they have no time for self-realization. Since they do not have proper knowledge, they make many mistakes and they often repeat the same mistakes again and again.

Thus they devote more time in doing the job as they do not know the best method of doing the job. Further due to their lack of faith in others, they can't trust others and they end of doing not only heir job but also the jobs of others.

Every action leads to a reaction which is actually a counter-action which is equal and opposite of the action. Hence every karma gets accumulated and the man gets trapped in cycle of karma. Despite of working hard, the karma does not exhaust but rather keep on accumulating over the period of time. Thus the man of karma is trapped in such a way that they are never free from action in their life.

3. The Devotion Trap

Faith is the deepest trap of mankind. Often faith is called blind as a faithful man is unable to see any light. The blind faith on religion is the cause of all terrorism and extremism in the modern world. It is impossible to convince people, who have blind faith in their scripture, their people or their ideology. These people are the slave of words because instead of seeing the spirit of the scriptures, they see the words. They are easily misguided by the unscrupulous people who only let them know only the limited words of scriptures and use them for their selfish political or economic goals.

The people of faith have no real knowledge nor they believe in selfless action (karma). They are also not capable of self realization as they have stopped using their commonsense and intelligence to know the truth. They have closed all other paths and they are ever trapped in the blind alley of faith and devotion.

4. The Self-Realization

Trap The forth major trap is the excessive faith on the self as one believes that he is the reflection of the God and the universe. This philosophy is explained in Indian Scriptures as "Aham Brahmasmi " (I am the Universe/God). It is said in The "Upanishads",
As is the human body, so is the cosmic body As is the human mind, so as the cosmic mind As is the microcosm, so is the macrocosm.

The people seeking self-realization believe that they can discover all knowledge from within. They trust none but themselves. They fail to take advantage of the knowledge discovered by millions of great men of wisdom over thousands of years. As a result they waste lot of time in the "reinventing the wheel".

In the ancient time, people left all worldly pleasure and became ascetic, saints, yogis or "Rishis" as they tried to discover the knowledge from within following the path of self-realization. The result was that everyone discovered knowledge that was so different that it confused everyone. They, however, instead of looking the truth contained in the knowledge discovered by others, insisted that only their knowledge is true or genuine.

When the knowledge lead to wrong conclusion, they instead of taking support of the other knowledge already available in this world, sought to again reinvent the wheel and discover the knowledge from with.

Thus the people who followed the path of self-realization became more and more secluded as they created little value for the society as their quest was only for the satisfaction of the self.

The Four-in-one Design to Avoid All Traps

All the four paths of salvation are equally important and useful for achieving any goal of life whether worldly of spiritual. However, one can not achieve anything if one gets trapped in a single path.

In order to arrive at the destination, one has to travel all the four paths as no path is complete in itself. Each path leads one to the other path. The only difficulty is that when the right path comes in our way, we often discard it as that path is designed to be counterintuitive.

Only when the knowledge is put into action, it created value for the man and society. Every piece of knowledge that is tested always leads to creation of a new knowledge or increases our faith in the theory.

If it proves what was predicted, it gives rise to the faith in the theory. If it does not prove so, then also a new knowledge is created (that the theory is incorrect). By the help of self-realization, one can then search something that has not yet been discovered by the world.

Thus only by self realization, a new knowledge can be created and the new cycle of knowledge-action-faith and self-realization begins. Only when all the four paths are combined, man can escape the trap and realize his goals.

A Brief Profile of Dr Awdhesh K Singh

I am an Engineer by education, a public officer by profession and a spiritual person by intuition. I hold my PhD degree in the field of E-Governance. I am a founding member of The Aatmic Science Foundation (The Science of Soul Foundation) that is working for the synthesis between all religions, spirituality and sciences.

The website of the foundation is http://www.scienceofsoul.com

My main area of study and research is to use religions, spirituality and scientific methods of investigations to understand and solve the real life problems of human beings.
I have published hundreds of articles and research papers on this topic on various websites and journals.

Please contact me on my email aksinghirs [a] yahoo.com for any help, suggestions or feedback.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Awdhesh_K_Singh

Why do what you want to do?

2009-03-15T19:32:00.001Z

We are much more productive when doing something what we like. Spend five hours of learning something that you hate and you will learn 20% of the information. Spend two hours learning what you like and you will learn 110% of information. Doing what you want has a great advantage because we are much better at it.

We are all special in different kind of things. We all like different things and hobbies. But to most of us they stay only hobbies. But why not do in your life what you like to do? A smart man said: work what you like to work, and you will never need to "work" in your life.

Why don't we go beyond a hobby?

It is not easy to do what you like, because in the begining it may not give you anything besides personal pleasure and happiness. But why do we get something in the first place?
Why do we receive something in the first place?

A cook gets 2000 a month and a micro surgeon gets 10,000 a month, because he is providing bigger value than a cook. He is saving lives and not a lot of people can do such a job. So what you need to do is reach value and uniqueness. Become the best in what you like.

How to become the best in what you like?

It may take time and may not be easy in the begining, because we are stuck in the box of daily life. But each day spend at least one hour doing something what you like. Go out of your usual box and read books, learn about what you like, practise it. One hour will not hurt the box. Do what you like until it will become valuable enough to provide value to others and than you may receive something for it. Do it until it goes beyond a hobby and turns in to a profession, no matter what kind of a hobby you have in the first place.

Why provide value to others doing what you like?

Because we all like different things and the world needs it. There are some jobs that are not unique and a lot of people still do it and end up having no job because there are too many professionals in that sphere. But in the most cases, what you really like to do will be unique and give value that no others can give. Provide value to the world and you will gain value yourself.

Why should we provide value to the world?

It will not only provide value to you but that is also our purpose in this life. To provide value to others. And the only way to do it, is to become valuable yourself. So good luck in doing what you like at least one hour each day.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rokas_Leonavicius

Things To Do

2009-03-15T19:29:00.000Z

It's time to stop working from your to-do list. Stop doing what you should do and start doing what you want to do. Instead of tackling your list of SHOULDS and always heeding the advice of others, what if you only did what you really wanted to do?

It might surprise you to learn that what you want is actually in line with your highest good regardless of whether or not that desire matches your long, long list of SHOULDS.
Last year, an actress named Bobbi hired me to help her find some motivation. She's a busy person with a lot going on. She's not only an actor, but she's also a writer and stand-up comedian with quite an interesting social life. Needless to say, Bobbi's calendar is a full one.

With such a busy schedule full of appointments and obligations, Bobbi was drained and lacked any passion for her career. Simply put, the girl was overwhelmed and exhausted. With so many projects going on, Bobbi couldn't devote sufficient energy to anything she worked on. She was spread too thin. Bobbi felt like she wasn't good at anything because she couldn't effectively throw her energy in a million and one different directions.

Digging a little deeper, I discovered that Bobbi treated everything she did as an obligation rather than a choice. She believed that she had to work really hard in order to make it. She believed she had to stay super busy every day. If she didn't, somehow that meant she wasn't going to be successful. Bobbi stayed really busy doing the essential stuff she knew she was supposed to do, but nowhere did she find the time to do what she wanted. She also had a hard time saying no, which wasn't really working for her either. It's no wonder that Bobbi lost steam.

So, I challenged Bobbi to try a little experiment. For two weeks, Bobbi agreed to do only those things she really wanted to do. She agreed to wake up each morning and ask herself, "What do I want to do today?" Her answer would then dictate how she spent her time. This idea made Bobbi pretty nervous. She feared that if left to her own devices, she'd just stay in bed eating pizza, watching Sex in the City reruns and ignoring her career. But she agreed that her old way of doing things wasn't working, so she'd give it a whirl.

What happened next was pretty cool. Bobbi was right. She did spend close to two full days just hanging out, pigging out, and watching television. She soon grew tired of that, so she dug out an old, unfinished script and began work on it. Over the next few days, she continued to do whatever she wanted and she got tons of stuff done.

Not only did she finish the script, but she also joined an improv group, made some agent calls, ate great food, and got a more flexible day job. Bobbi stopped hanging out with the wrong people, she began attending regular yoga class, and started cooking at home for fun. When Bobbi consciously chose how to spend her time, she realized that her choices were absolutely in line with her highest good.

Owning her choices, she fully enjoyed everything she did free of guilt or obligation. When Bobbi compared her list of obligations to her list of want-to-dos, she discovered that the lists weren't that different. Knowing she could choose her tasks, she was once again in charge of her life. Even when she ate pizza in bed, she loved it and owned that decision as well. Life for Bobbi became fun, productive, and empowering.

Bobbi felt liberated and in command because her career belonged to her once again. She could indeed do anything she wanted to do and what she really wanted to do was creatively and aggressively pursue her acting and screenwriting career.

What would be different about your career if you only did those things you absolutely wanted to do? How would you approach your to-do list if it only contained tasks you truly desired to take on? How might you feel about your life if you lived each day exactly according to your inner most desires? What would it take to trust yourself enough to take complete ownership of your choices, your actions, and your results?

Here's a 14-Day Challenge: Do whatever you want for the next two weeks! Trust your gut and allow yourself to do what truly inspires you. You might be surprised by the results!
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Creative Career Coach & Author, Dallas Travers wrote the groundbreaking book, The Tao of Show Business: How to Pursue Your Dream Without Losing Your Mind. She coaches artists & actors around the globe to creatively master their business.

If you're ready to jump-start your artistic career, get your FREE Thriving Artist Starter kit now at http://www.thrivingartistcircle.com

Creative Career Coach & Author, Dallas Travers wrote the groundbreaking book, The Tao of Show Business: How to Pursue Your Dream Without Losing Your Mind. She coaches artists & actors around the globe to creatively master their business.

If you're ready to jump-start your artistic career, get your FREE Thriving Artist Starter kit now at http://www.thrivingartistcircle.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dallas_Travers

How To Pass Psychometric Tests

2008-07-04T04:33:00.003Z

Psychometric tests and recruitment exercises
The following sites give tips and information on a variety of psychometric tests. Manycontain examples and interactive tests to give you practice of the types of testsemployers use. The standard of the questions may not all be graduate level and thetests graduate employers use may be harder.

ASE A variety of practice tests including GMA
(Graduate and ManagerialAssessment)
http://www.ase-solutions.co.uk/support.asp?id=62

BMAT Sample Biomedical Admissions Test questions PDF.
http://www.bmat.org.uk/practice

Cubiks Online practice for verbal and numerical tests.
http://practicetests.cubiks.com/

E-financial Careers Practice various numerical tests online.
http://students.efinancialcareers.co.uk/numerical_test.htm

Human Factors Online tests including personality assessment, reasoning & problemanalysis.
http://www.peoplefactors.com/signin/

Kogan Page Verbal, Numerical & Abstract Reasoning tests with a personalisedfeedback report.
http://www.profilingforsuccess.com/kogan-page/

Morrisby Organisation Click ‘test takers guide’ and ‘tests for selection’ for pages ofsample tests from abstract, verbal, numerical, perceptual and more.
http://www.morrisby.com/

Mypotential Click on ‘Demo Assessments for verbal, numerical and personalitytests.
http://www.mypotential.net/

Prospects Information and practice questions. Includes assessment centre and interview advice.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/onlinetests

PSL Practice tests including numerical, verbal, logical and Branch ManagerQuestionnaire.
http://www.psl.co.uk/psl_practestarea.html

Psychometrics UK Sample questions from the Berger Aptitude for ProgrammingTest (B-APT)http://www.psychometrics-uk.com/bapt.html

Saville Consulting - Download preparation guides & advice
http://www.savilleconsulting.com/products/ability_practice.aspx

SHL Verbal, numerical and diagrammatic reasoning tests. Timed practice andfeedback given.
http://www.shl.com/SHL/en-int/CandidateHelpline/CandidateHelpline.htm

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) Information
http://www.allthetests.com/

Introduction to GMAT,GRE and SAT.http://www.ets.org Educational Testing Service - practice questions for GMAT, GREand TOEFL.
http://www.gmac.com/

Information, advice & practice tests for Graduate managementAdmission Test.
http://www.gmat-mba-prep.com/

Downloadable GMAT tests.
http://www.mba.com/mba/default.htm

Practice GMAT from Graduate ManagementAdmissions CouncilMore Tests….
http://business-psychology.tripod.com/psychometric_links.htm

Contains links toTestsCivil Service Fast Stream Click ‘How do I apply’ for sample E tray exercise and preparation advice.
http://www.faststream.gov.uk/

Civil Service Commission (Ireland) Website contains online practice tests and explanations.
http://www.publicjobs.ie/en/advice/sample.asp

Deloitte Psychometric test examples and E-tray exercise
http://graduates.deloitte.co.uk/

Follow ‘Graduate scheme’, ‘How to apply’ & ‘Ourselection process’.
JP Morgan Chase Numeracy and combined reasoning tests.
http://eurocareers.jpmorgan.com/content/content_228.asp

Procter & Gamble Problem solving test: mix of data interpretation, maths & verbal reasoning.
http://www.pgcareers.com/index.asp?page=159

Case Studies AT Kearney Document with case interview tips and sample case studies.http://www.atkearney.com/shared_res/pdf/interview_casebook_S.pdf

McKinsey Two interactive case studies plus tips on how to approach a case study.http://www.mckinsey.com/aboutus/careers/applyingtomckinsey/interviewing/casestudies/index.asp

Bain & Co Interactive case studies and pdf file containing tips on how to ace yourcase study interview.
http://www.bain.com/bainweb/Join_Bain/case_interviews.asp

Capital One – Interactive case study.http://www.capitalone.co.uk/web/raid/templates/dual_temp_10_001.jsp?page_id=1014&context_id =2&pageId=1014Miscellaneous tests/quizzes/self-selection

Morgan Stanley Section on interviews, with recommended reading and financial terms explained.
http://www.morganstanley.com/about/careers/recruiting/europe/interview.html

Pricewaterhouse Coopers Interactive tax, advisory and assurance challenges
http://www.pwc.com/uk/eng/car-inexp/graduate/challenges.html

Just for fun
http://www.queendom.com

http://www.iqtest.com/Take an IQ test online here.

http://rinkworks.com/brainfood/Various puzzles and quizzes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise
Worksheets, quizzes and games to improve yournumeracy & literacy.

JOB FAIRS ARE NOT FOR SISSIES

2008-06-20T20:04:00.001Z

There is more competition in the job market than there was a few years ago, so it pays to get out there. Attending a job fair beats sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring. If nothing else, it's a place to schmooze and find out what's happening. Your approach to the fair may make a huge difference in whether you achieve satisfactory results.

Joe received his layoff notice on a Friday. After a week at home, he knew he had to get out and make some contacts. He found and landed his last job at a job fair, and soon discovered on the Internet there was a tech fair in his area the following week.

Armed with several copies of his resume, Joe set out with an air of confidence. His confidence got a blow when he arrived at the site and saw the long line of people waiting to get in. This was going to be a very different experience than his last job search. As he walked down the line, he met friends and former coworkers. He tried to find out what was going on inside and how to deal with it. Some of his friends were veterans of the system and were glad to share some survival tips with him. Here are 10 of those tips:

1. Once inside, get a list of participating companies and choose which companies interest you. Spend your energies on them rather than wandering from booth to booth.

2. Check out job openings for each company of interest, typically found on a listing sheet. Or use a computer, if provided, to look up individual companies.

3. Get a floor plan map -- usually at the entrance or information table. Plan a route to move
around the floor quickly, visiting your companies of interest.

4. Stay upbeat and energized. Try to make an impression through your enthusiasm about the work. Also try to engage the company representative in conversation about the company, and listen to what the rep has to say.

5. Try to talk to the hiring manager or senior member of the team, if possible. Recruiters can be helpful regarding the company and what they are seeking, and human resources personnel can give you information on the hiring process and the company, but the hiring manager is the one with the clout.

6. Let the person you talk to know what you have to bring to the company. Be prepared with a short statement about yourself and your background -- less than two minutes. Try to hook the interviewer's interest with something unique about you.

7. Try to get a name or business card from anyone you talk to so you can use the name as a reference when you follow up.

8. Follow up by sending a letter and another copy of your resume to human resources and the
hiring manager. Mention that you talked with them, or a company representative, at the fair. Tell them how excited you are about the position. Let them know you are the solution to their problem -- you can make a difference and add value.

9. Follow up in a week or so with a phone call, inquiring about the position and the hiring status.

10. Use the job fair as one of many sources in planning your job search. Do further research on participating companies by visiting their Web sites and checking for additional openings and opportunities.

Try not to be overwhelmed by the size of the job fair or the number of job seekers in attendance. Keep focused on the companies you want to interview with. Don't be discouraged if you don't go home with a job offer or formal interview lined up. This should be just one step in your research and networking process.

Consider any new contacts you meet or information gathered at the job fair as a positive addition to your resources. Be persistent in your endeavors -- job opportunities sometimes come from the least expected sources at the most unexpected times.

Carole Martin, America's #1 Interview Coach is a contributing writer for Monster.com Carole will coach you at her Live Speed Interview Coaching Event.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole_Martin

How to Pass Psychometric Tests

2008-06-20T20:01:00.000Z

Companies have long hoped to be able to make the best possible hires to fill positions. However, most fail more than they succeed and find themselves in an endless turnover cycle. For that reason, all kinds of new techniques for making better choices have emerged over the past several years. The psychometric test has reared its ugly head for job applicants, and you need to be prepared in case you are asked to take one (or more) of them. It's comforting to know that they are rarely used by themselves to make hiring decisions but are considered along with several other measures, with the conclusions of the interviewer carrying the most weight.

What are Psychometric Tests?

So what are they and what do they do? First of all, they are intended to objectively measure your abilities and probably your personality. The ability tests will ask you to carry out a range of tasks. The personality test will examine how you do things but more importantly how you interact with whatever surroundings you find yourself in and particularly with the people who make up those surroundings.

On the day of the test, you will be in a room with a lot of desks and other examinees. The test may be taken on a computer or it may be in pencil-and-paper mode. You can expect a thorough explanation of the procedures that will include a little bit of information about the tests you are taking and how long each will last. It's the job of the test administrator to make certain the test is fair to everyone. For example, if you realize that you haven't marked questions correctly, if you report it, it will not affect your score.

Tips for taking psychometric interviewing tests:
Some people suffer from severe test-anxiety and these tests may not be an accurate measure of their abilities or their personalities. Almost everyone experiences some of this, so it's best to do some things ahead of time that can help you do the best you can. It would be a shame if you were the best candidate for a job but were eliminated just because you were not prepared for the test.
1. Practice. A number of practice tests are available. Look in a local bookstore or get online and Google "psychometric test".

2. You are entitled to know why you are taking the test. If you are not given that information, ask for it.

3. You are also entitled to have your scores given to you privately. Again, if this doesn't happen, ask why.

4. You are entitled to know who will see your scores and where they will be stored and for how long. Ask the question.

5. When you are in the testing room, clear your mind of other things and listen carefully.

6. If something is not clear, ask for clarification.

7. If you are taking the test on a computer, fiddle with it to be sure it is working properly.

8. Keep your mind on your own little space. It's irrelevant how others are doing.

9. If you don't know the answer to a question, guess.

10. Read each question carefully.

11. Don't panic if you're not going to finish. It may be built into the test.

12. If you finish early, go back over your answers. It helps if you've marked the questions you were not sure about so you can find them quickly.

The best advice is to calm down and deal with your anxiety before you even begin thinking about the test. If taking a practice test helps, then do so by all means. Use techniques for becoming calm and confident and you will have a much better chance of passing with flying colors.

Carl Yorke is an experienced sales manager and has recruited many people at all levels. If you are looking for practical advice on how to improve your interview skills please visit -
http://www.theinterviewhandbook.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Yorke

New Hires Are Risk (Part 2)

2008-06-20T19:57:00.001Z

Once a new employee has been hired, there should be some kind of welcoming into the company. This is not a short term event; it is a team building event. The process is called induction.
The first few weeks on a new job will develop a new worker's attitude to their work, workplace and work mates.

This induction provides a way for an employer to positively influence new people to your business through the provision of information, training and supervision; these actions will assist in the safe transition of new workers into their jobs, work team and the company. Employers in doing a proper induction will also find an efficient, productive and safe workforce.

The induction process is much more than just having a one hour meeting with a new worker on the first day. A proper process will occur over a period of weeks or months and are the basis for on-going training. Time spent showing a new worker the correct and safest way to do a job will be return an effective and safe worker.

After all of the necessary paper work, meeting key people, work site visits and practical training has been completed, it is time to ensure that the new worker has understood what they have been told and shown. It is important to encourage new workers to ask questions.

During these first few days, give new workers clear instructions and ask them to repeat the instructions. Encourage all new workers to ask questions; this is vital feedback to ensure the new worker fully understands. Supervise the new worker while they perform the task, and correct any mistakes. A good way to have new workers ask questions is to ask them questions; this will give the new worker an opportunity to ask questions and raise issues. Have frequent visits with the new worker as a follow up.

For new workers and even established workers training is never truly completed; it is always being updated. A positive induction is a very powerful event. The event will shape the attitudes of the new employee and if positive, the new employee will grow to be a worthy asset for the company.

Brent Bowlin is a health and safety researcher who has helped businesses in implementing safety programs. For help contact him at abbsafetynet@gmail.com and for safety supplies and a safety program manual go to http://www.safetysuppliescanada.com they deliver anywhere.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brent_A_Bowlin

New Hires Are A Risk

2008-06-20T19:51:00.001Z

People new to a business or job are often inexperienced and unfamiliar with the new work environment, procedures, equipment, materials, machinery and tools that may be required to do the job; they are at a greater risk of injury or illness while at work.

New workers must, but often don't receive the information, instruction, training or supervision they require, particularly in regard to health and safety. Some companies assume the worker knows the basics in health and safety procedures. New workers also want to impress their employer, supervisor and fellow workers.

It is the employer's responsibility to provide all workers with adequate information, instruction, training and supervision, in a form that workers will understand. New workers cannot be simply be put into a new job and expect they will work safely; nor is it enough to simply provide new workers with a booklet, as they may not read or understand it. New workers must comprehend and fully understand the health and safety procedures.

The safety of the workplace which includes the work environment, equipment, machinery, tools, and procedures should also be accessed. Identify all possible dangers and ensure preventative measures are in place to eliminate any risk to workers.

Have a clear understanding of the role this new worker will be fulfilling and the work that will be done. The role could be replacing a previous worker or the role could be new for the company. All possible hazards that can affect the new worker must be identified and controlled.

Developing a job description will help to outline the specific job requirements; this outline will point to some of the hazards of the job. Some further investigation through looking at the injury statistics, the job and tasks, and even talking to workers in similar positions.

Developed and documented work procedures will explain the steps needed to do the job safely. This documented procedure can then be used during the training of a new worker.

Develop a selection process that will enable selection of the appropriate person for the job. The process should include interview questions, practical demonstrations, reference checks and health assessments. It is not unlawful to require medical examinations of job applicants.

They should, however, only assess whether applicants are fit to perform the requirements of the job, and not their general state of health. A question to include is: are there any past related injuries to the job description.

Brent Bowlin is a health and safety researcher who has helped businesses in implementing safety programs. For help contact him at abbsafetynet@gmail.com and for safety supplies and a safety program manual go to http://www.safetysuppliescanada.com, they deliver anywhere.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brent_A_Bowlin

Resumes

2008-06-20T19:43:00.001Z

Résumés have come a long way since they were just typed pages that chronologically listed employment histories, job duties, and educational qualifications. Hiring managers are inundated with hundreds of résumés that still follow old school.

In a competitive economy, however, a résumé needs to work much harder. Every inch of résumé space must be used to effectively communicate your value proposition and differentiation strategy. This is not as intimidating as it sounds. A little CPR (creativity, planning, and research) can transform almost any résumé into a compelling story that drives the desired impact.

Five tips

1. Adopt a different mindset
What if you were not a job seeker but a service provider? How would you approach the writing process? Your résumé would then be written like a marketing brochure or an advertisement selling your services, right? Working with an ad agency is certainly not a pre-requisite for writing a good résumé, but adopting the mindset of one could do wonders to the document.

2. Research needs
Let's admit it. Employers are not benevolent institutions hiring you out of the goodness of their hearts. They have a reason, a need, and, most importantly, a job that needs to be done. The person who will ultimately win the offer will be the candidate who succeeds in demonstrating a perfect fit through examples of past performance. Researching employer needs is therefore the first and most important step in the résumé writing process. Job postings, networking, interviews-all of these are excellent resources that could be used to evaluate these needs.
Once the requirements are understood, develop a strategy to convince the employer that you, the perfect candidate, are the best possible solution for the company's existing plans.

3. Make compelling arguments
Reverting to our earlier assumption of you being a service provider, how would you convince prospective buyers to hire you and not the competition? Make a list of ten compelling arguments that pitch your services over those of the competition. The foundation of your pitch could be based on evidence of past successes, educational qualifications, unique combination of skills, quantifiable accomplishments, and much more. The possibilities are endless. If you feel stuck, call a friend, colleague, or coach to brainstorm ideas.

4. Provide examples of past successes
In the corporate world, past performance often serves as a potent indicator of future outcomes. List all successes you may have enjoyed -- even if you think they were just a part of your job -- with past employers. Now, select stories that best present your case. Covering this information on your résumé allows hiring managers to predict returns (ROI) on the salary investment. [Human capital is basically an asset that needs to deliver good returns for the company to make a profit.]

5. Tell a convincing story
The above steps should generate powerful material that could then be organized into a persuasive résumé story. Attractive, but professional, layouts can also improve the overall appeal.

Nimish Thakkar is a sought-after certified career management coach and professional resume writer. Through his professional resume writing service, ResumeCorner.com, and free career information and resource site, SaiCareers.com, he has helped thousands of clients.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nimish_Thakkar

Interview Question: What Are Your Long Term Goals

2008-06-20T19:37:00.002Z

This open-ended question, and others like; "Where do you see yourself in five years?" throw most candidates off balance. The object of the question is to check for your self-awareness and communication skills.

Dan Harrison is the staffing manager for Wesco Corporation and is about to interview three candidates for a project manager position. He is looking for someone with planning and long-range vision skills.

Phil Holmes describes his goal - "To be a Marketing Manager within five years, and have a hand picked team reporting to him."

This is a very specific and narrow goal, which may not be an option at this company. The "hand picked" team demonstrates a lack of flexibility. Best to stay away from too specific a goal.
Shawna Green answers - "I have been so busy with my responsibilities and achieving company goals, that I have not focused on personal long-term goals.

While a strong work ethic is certainly desirable, this answer does not demonstrate vision or planning.

Marsha Severson states- "I plan to return to school to earn my MBA, and have my own consulting business one day.

While it pays to be honest, this answer could turn the interview in the wrong direction very quickly. The employer is looking for someone to stick around for the long run, not to stop over on the way to a new career.

Focus - Exercise
If you are the type of person who prefers an organized way of life, you may find this question a "piece of cake". But, if you are among the majority of persons who let life happen as it comes along, you will probably not have a smooth answer without some forethought.

* What are your goals? - The best answers will come from you thinking about what you want. Most successful business people will tell you that a key success factor is the ability to set and achieve goals.

Begin by setting short-term goals. Right now your goal may be "to get a job". But, what kind of job? And, where do you go from there?

* Be employer-centered - The employer is looking for someone to come in and solve problems. Since planning is a key factor in this job, think of examples where your planning has made a difference in results.

Scripting

After giving some thought to where you want to go and how you can help the employer achieve results, try scripting your answer to focus.

I have learned that long-term goals are best achieved when I break them into shorter goals. My short-term goal is to find a position that will place me in a forward-moving company with solid performance and future projections. As part of a team, I want to add value and continue to grow the company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. My plan is to move into a position of responsibility where I can lead a team.

No one can tell you exactly how to answer this question - it will come from what is important to you. However, the more and focused and employer centered you can be about your goal, the better your chances will be of steering the interview in the right direction.

Carole Martin is America's #1 Interview Coach. Celebrated author, trainer, and mentor, Carole can give you interviewing tips like no one else can. Her workbook, "Interview Fitness Training" has sold thousands of copies world-wide. Sign Up to Receive Free Weekly Interview Tips
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole_Martin

Tough Interview Questions

2008-06-20T19:34:00.001Z

With careful preparation, difficult interview questions can present you with an opportunity to shine under pressure. The important thing with all questions is to show a balanced and considered approach. The following examples will show you some of the pitfalls and ways to avoid them.

Let's start with the classic interview question - what are your weaknesses?

There are many variations on this question, common ones include tell me a strength and a weakness and what are your three greatest weakness. To fully prepare you should have three strengths and weaknesses prepared. The worst mistake to make with this question is to claim you don't have any weaknesses.

This approach is unlikely to impress the interviewer and will present you in a cowardly light. This question may not be as difficult as it first appears. Sit down and consider what your true work related weaknesses are. When you really think about it this is often quite a long list (I know mine is). The next stage is to think what you have done to overcome these weaknesses in your working life.

Let me give you an example. I personally am very task orientated, I like to get stuck in to the main tasks and often used to ignore the more minor responsibilities. I realized that although I completed my core projects, I had forgotten to do the other tasks I needed to do like complete time sheets and tracking reports. I now make lists of all the tasks I have to complete in a day and make it my priority to complete the list above everything else.

This has really helped me to multitask more effectively. When choosing a weakness, look for one that is work related where you can demonstrate that you recognised the weakness, and found an effective method of overcoming it.

Examining your strengths can be just as difficult as your weaknesses. The important thing here is not to appear like an ego-maniac. Consider carefully what your strengths are, then consider the supporting evidence you have for these strengths. Always present a considered argument with supporting evidence.

Why are you leaving your current Job?

The purpose of this question is for the interviewer to discover if you are leaving due to any current difficulties. If you are unhappy where you are, what's to say you will not be unhappy in your new job. Avoid at all costs talking about any problems in your current job and especially any problems with your current management. Highlighting problems, even if they are not your fault will give the impression that you are hard to work with or difficult to manage.

Look for the positive aspects of moving job role both for you and your future employer. Emphasize why you want to move and relate them to the specific company and job. Potential answers include seeking a new challenge, looking for somewhere with training and looking for a role with more opportunities for advancement.

Consider how your answer relates not only to you, but how it will benefit your new firm. As an example if you are looking for a role with more possibilities for advancement, you need to emphasize how important work is to you and the effort you are prepared to put in in-order to advance.

Amy works for Graduate Careers - London Graduate Scheme
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Whittingham

Clinch That Interview

2008-06-20T19:30:00.002Z

Poor interviewing skills are to be blamed when an otherwise promising candidate loses a job offer. Fortunately, interviewing skills, like many life skills, can be perfected with preparation, practice, and persistence.

The first step, however, is to understand how employers make hiring decisions. Many companies use behavioral interviewing -- a technique that allows them to gauge an employee's potential on the basis of past performance -- as a key decision-making tool. Successful candidates are normally ones who can demonstrate how their past experience prepares them for the future position.

Consider the following tips:

1. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.

During my coaching practice, I come across many candidates who just show up at interviews without any preparation whatsoever. Considering the stakes, preparation is not an option.
Preparing for an interview is a multi-dimensional effort covering multiple areas -- company, candidate (you), and culture (the three C's of interview preparation).

The company: Research everything you possibly can about the company and the position. Analyze the job posting, review the company's website, know their products, read press releases, browse through newspapers and periodicals, study competitors, speak to stakeholders (clients, vendors, employees, etc.) and read whatever you can find about the organization.

The candidate: Conduct an honest assessment and develop several stories about your past experiences and accomplishments. Prepare scripts for commonly asked interview questions and a list of convincing reasons for "why should we hire you?" type of questions.
The culture: You must know the cultural norms of the company. From interview responses to your attire, knowledge of a company's culture can play a crucial role in the interview process.

2. Take the interrogation out of the meeting

It is a very common misconception that an interview is an interrogation session. Hiring decisions are as much about you as about them and an interview is the best time to understand the company, its cultural norms, and other details. Be prepared to ask intelligent, but relevant, questions that will transform the meeting into a collaborative discussion as opposed to an intelligence gathering effort.

3. Talk about results and experiences

Based on your preparation, you should come up with plenty of examples demonstrating how you benefited your past employers. The key is to tie these results and experiences to the question being asked.
Example:

Interview question: Are you able to lead teams?
Sample interview response: I am a gifted leader who has fortunately had the opportunity to lead many cross-functional, cross-cultural teams globally. In fact, in my recent position I had to lead a team of 80 employees who were dispersed across 22 countries. Although, the distance was a challenge, I leveraged my team leadership skills to motivate these geographically-dispersed teams through weekly phone conferences and daily e-mails. My constant communication and employee-focused leadership style resulted in 100% team performance consistently. Our teams are recognized across the company. In fact, we won 14 awards last year.

4. Demonstrate interest

In addition to your skills and talents, employers would be very interested in determining your level of interest in both the company and the position. Through your responses, you must be able to convince the employer about your serious interest in the position.

5. Follow-up

Write an offer-clinching thank you note to every interviewer. The letter must be a very powerful piece and must be written to impress the hiring team. Briefly, but politely, summarize a list of reasons why you would be the ideal candidate for the position and touch upon issues discussed during the meeting. If done right, this letter (or follow-up phone call) could be your ticket to the new job.

Nimish Thakkar is a sought-after certified career management coach and professional resume writer. Through his professional resume writing service, ResumeCorner.com, and free career information and resource site, SaiCareers.com, he has helped thousands of clients. SaiCareers.com features hundreds of free articles and thousands of resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nimish_Thakkar

How To Succeed When You Make Mistakes

2008-06-20T19:25:00.001Z

As paradoxical as it may sound, our road to success is paved with the mistakes we make.
"I've missed more than nine thousand shots in my career. I've lost almost three hundred games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that's why I succeed." (Michael Jordan; professional basketball player)

How do you deal with your own business or career mistakes or mistakes in your team? Do you seen them as a barrier to success or do you embrace them as valuable learning opportunities; in other words - stepping stones to success?

In today's combative and unstable business world, the cost of mistakes is - very! - high. That's why both organizations and individual executives have become so unforgiving of mistakes and the people who make them. In all too many cases, advocacy of a business environment that allows mistakes is nothing more than lip-service. All too often, too, these same organizations and executives who continue depending on the safe solution wonder why they seldom do more than keep pace in business, if that.

We all know that the markets we are involved in remain in flux - and therefore so do our organizations and our careers. Skills and knowledge that we possess at the onset of our careers must continue to grow and expand along with the challenges we face if we are to do more than get by in business.

The courage to embrace the necessary risk on the road to business success can only be nurtured and sustained by an intact and progressive leadership culture. Leaders must understand and accept that innovation and change go hand-in-hand with experiments, risks - and mistakes. It takes a strong leadership personality to optimistically weather that particular storm in today's market, and to understand that they cannot motivate proactive risk-taking in an environment where their teams do not feel safe.

That's why it is important to not only give permission - to yourself, your team, your organization - to take risks, but also to establish a secure environment where risk-taking and the sometimes inevitable mistakes are seen as part of the individual and organizational learning curve and welcomed and rewarded as such. This can mean being prepared to lose individual battles in favor of achieving long-term business or career goals. It can also mean the difference between mediocrity and success.

Questions from the Coach Ask yourself:

How have I handled (individual, team or organizational) mistakes in the last six months?

Did I transform these mistakes into learning opportunities for myself/my team/my organization?
If not, how could I have done so?

How has your image of yourself/your team/your organization changed following a recent mistake?

What effect has this change in image had on the actual quality of work being done now? (How)

Could you have influenced this effect in a more positive way?

Take a look at current projects in which you are involved?

Are there any that aren't progressing as positively as you had expected? If so, how can you transform these shortcomings into learning opportunities that will benefit future projects?

Remember: There is no shame - for you, your team, or your organization - in making a mistake, only in refusing to learn from it!

Trina E. Roach

Trina is founder of Creating Tomorrow: The Leadership Consultancy, a company specializing in executive + career coaching, as well as leadership and communication skills training. Based in Germany, Trina was conducted successful sessions from Tallinn (Estonia) to Sofia (Bulgaria) and from Moscow (Russia) to Amsterdam (Netherlands). With clients throughout Europe, as well as in the Greater Philadelphia area, Trina conducts her coaching and training sessions in either English or German, either 1-on-1 or per telephone/Skype.

http://www.creating-tomorrow.com/blog http://www.creating-tomorrow.com info@creating-tomorrow.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trina_Roach

How To Manage Your Career In A Recession

2008-06-11T14:18:00.001Z

The economy is reeling under the pressures of a downturn. Unemployment rates are staggering and layoffs are at an all-time high. The current economic climate calls for a robust career management plan, one that will, despite the recession-like conditions, catapult your career to new heights.

Consider the following tips:

Take stock

Evaluate your professional standing and key trends within your industry, company, and profession. What do you need to change? How can you do it? How does your profession look five years from now? Two years from now? What threats do you foresee? What opportunities exist?
Based on your analysis, develop a comprehensive action plan that will help you leverage your strengths and overcome your weaknesses.

Network aggressively

Networking is not a post-layoff or when-you-feel-like-doing-it activity. All successful professionals incorporate networking as an integral and active component of their career management plan. Trade shows, conferences, industry and social events, online networking tools -- networking opportunities have never been so easily accessible.

Position yourself

What is your value proposition? What is so unique about you that employers will want to retain you irrespective of what happens to the company financially? We all have something unique to offer and if you can develop a powerful value proposition demonstrating how indispensable you are, you will be in a much better position that most professionals.

Invest in professional development

This is the Information Age, an environment in which information becomes obsolete faster than fashion. Through continuing education programs and other professional development efforts, it is very important to stay abreast with the cutting-edge of your profession.
Demonstrate leadership and the ability to take on challenges

The economy inevitably imposes financial strains on any company and under such conditions every employee is expected to do more -- take more work, manage multiple tasks, lead projects, and epitomize "cross-functional" in every sense of the term.
Try to volunteer on projects and take on leadership roles. The key is to demonstrate how you can contribute toward the organization's success and deliver an optimal ROI for the company.

Update your resume

Update your resume every month, if not every week. Highlight your recent accomplishments and create a powerful document that will position you as the perfect solution for any employer's needs.

Keep your options open

With all the above strategies, keep your eyes open to new opportunities. Through a portfolio of job search strategies, including networking, you should generate a steady stream of job leads.
Effective career management is an ongoing effort. Once employers recognize how valuable you are, recession or growth, they will do everything they can to retain you.
Nimish Thakkar is a sought-after certified career management coach and professional resume writer. Through his professional resume writing service, ResumeCorner.com, and free career information and resource site, SaiCareers.com, he has helped thousands of clients.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nimish_Thakkar

Dangers In Working Alone

2008-06-11T14:10:00.001Z

The business owner or supervisor must identify what type of work and duties which may or may not be conducted while the owner or employee is working alone. A decision must be made to decide which conditions for working alone is permitted. Special arrangements must be made especially after regular hours, because these situations pose an additional risk to life and property. It is strongly recommended that handling of hazardous materials or performing hazardous activities be prohibited when the owner or employee is working alone.

Owners and supervisors are required to ensure that they fulfill and document the following responsibilities:

Review all workplaces under their jurisdiction and identify employees who are required to work alone.

Describe conditions where working alone is permitted and indicate which duties may be conducted and which are prohibited.

Identify risks to the employee in terms of the nature of their work, isolation, and conditions at the worksite or store.

Identify and take any necessary steps to eliminate or reduce identified risks. The steps taken should include:

1) The establishment of some kind of communication system that consists of radio communication, landline phone or cell phone, or any other means which will provide effective communication should an emergency issue occurs such as a personal alarm device.

2) Providing sufficient training and instruction for safe work practices and ensuring minimum standards of competence.

3) Providing applicable personal protective equipment.

4) Maintain regular contact with the person working alone and provide emergency (first aid box) and survival supplies for working under extreme conditions.
Documentation of the above should be maintained and filed for easy reference of the owner or the employee working alone.

This policy and procedures must be understood to all employees who work alone. The policy should be reviewed and updated constantly as conditions can change quickly. Understand how current events might have an impact on those who must work alone. Any outside event can affect the workplace; for example, a recent crime event near the workplace might bring that element towards the workplace.

Brent Bowlin is a health and safety researcher who has helped businesses in implementing safety programs. For help contact him at abbsafetynet@gmail.com and for safety supplies go to http://www.safetysuppliescanada.com, they deliver anywhere.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brent_A_Bowlin

When Success Comes Too Fast

2008-06-11T14:09:00.001Z

Legendary Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
That saying is especially appropriate when it comes to running a business.
So many small business owners want to travel the entire thousand miles in a single bound. They don't want to exercise the patience that's required to do it right - one step at a time. They want instant riches, fortune and fame. And they want it yesterday.

So what's wrong with that? What's wrong with wanting to travel the entire thousand mile journey at warp speed? Because there are risks involved when success comes too fast. Let me tell you a true story: The whole world knows who Michael jackson is. He is arguably the greatest and most successful entertainer who ever lived, and holds the Guiness World Record for most successful album in music history, "Thriller."

However, what you may not know is that Michael Jackson was a world famous superstar and had four #1 records by the time he was ten years old. That's right, four #1 records by the time he was ten - an unprecedented feat that still hasn't been matched to this day. In fact, he and his brothers, The Jackson 5 were the biggest musical act in the entire world when Michael was only ten.

While that's an impressive resume by anyone's standards, it came with a huge price. Psychiatrists say, Michael's current psychological problems stem from the fact he never had a real childhood. He was forced to grow up too fast. That's why he built an amusement park as his palace. He wanted to live the childhood he never had. As a result, he turned into the extremely dysfunctional adult you see today.

You're seeing the same type of dysfunction with today's young stars. Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Amy Winehouse. You're seeing the dysfunction of what happens when success and stardom comes too fast. And you don't get to experience life as a natural progression.

While the aforementioned may be extreme examples, the same premise holds true in business. When success comes too fast, you risk missing out on so much. You risk missing out on gaining valuable business insight, knowledge and experience.

You risk missing out on nurturing your business and watching it grow. You risk missing out on the joy and pain, the triumphs and disappointments, the heartache, jubilation and appreciation that come with failure followed by success. You risk missing out on sharing war stories with your colleagues. You risk missing out on acquiring memories that will last you a lifetime.

Those are just some of the many things you miss out on when success comes too fast.
In closing, slow down, enjoy life. Shoot for the stars, yes! But don't stress out over being an overnight success. When success comes it comes. Work hard for success, but don't try to rush it.
Or in the famous words of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., "Rome wasn't built in a day!"

Dale King is the owner of GuruKnowledge.org - The Ultimate Internet Marketing Resource!
Defeat soaring gas and food prices! Increase your income with ebay! http://guruknowledge.org/pages/Make-Money
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dale_King

The Cost of Work Place Violence

2008-06-11T14:06:00.002Z

The Threat of Violence is On the Rise...

A safe and productive workplace is in everyone's interest, but the number of violent acts, including threats of violence, has increased over 400% over the last decade. Workplace Violence
Prevention and Education initiatives are paramount before an incident happens, saving businesses considerable time, resources in addition, legal fees, but most importantly, the implementation of mandatory changes to the workplace to protect employees from any future threat of a violent act.

It is important to note that when experts refer to violent acts, they are referring to acts of violence by employees and criminal predators that commit armed robberies or assault employees while on the job.

Reality Hitting Home...

OSHA & NIOSH Statistics show that the risk of being attacked while working is seven times greater in the U.S. than in Europe. Did you know that the number of managers killed has doubled over the past 10 years. Moreover, that only 40-50% of workforce victims report crime to the police.

The threat of Workplace Violence has proven to be a challenge, it can occur internally (co-workers, self-inflicted) and externally (customer/employee, domestic violence, robbery/assault/rape) and can be physical or non-physical. Recent trends suggest that places of work are now the victims of domestic and international terrorist demands.

The Hidden Cost of Workplace Violence...

Organizational effectiveness, productivity, the culture and image are adversely impacted by a violent act at work including:

Lost work time (average of 3.5 days per incident for those directly impacted); Increased security and facilities repair costs; High probability of litigation; increased workers
compensation claims & costs; Increased medical claims; Personnel turnover; increased incidents of stress between labor organizations and management, significantly reduced performance & productivity & Negative internal and external publicity & press are but a few symptoms of the hostile workplace.

Personnel turnover is deeply rooted in an employee's unwillingness to be perceived as a troublemaker and resigns or asks for a reassignment rather than complaining. Such personnel turnovers are a company’s worst nightmare, as they will undoubtedly volunteer to testify against the employer in the aftermath.

No one knows the exact dollar figure associated to workplace violence related exposure. Such costs are absorbed in increased medical and injury compensation claims under other unrelated ailments related to a workplace violence exposure. In this category might be the victims of harassment, verbal abuse and other forms of non-physical assaultive behavior but victims of psychological assault.

Felix P. Nater, President of Nater Associates, Ltd.is a security management consulting practice specializing in the proactive and preventive aspects of workplace violence & security awareness. You can visit with Nater Associates at: http://www.naterassociates.com to view his strategy and testimonials.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Felix_P_Nater

How To Discourage Violence At Work

2008-06-11T14:03:00.001Z

Occasionally, we may hear of a violent incident taking place at a local business establishment. If the story reached the media, chances are some sort of physical altercation occurred. It’s not everyday that we hear about such an event. However, violence in the workplace is more common than one may think.

Workplace violence is broader than an act of physical assault. According to the experts, workplace violence can consist of negative behaviors such as threats, verbal abuse, harassment and any other behavior that may cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm to an individual or a group. It is very important to take measures to prevent workplace violence.

Defensive measures may decrease the opportunity for workplace violence. Although, it is very difficult to predict when someone may become violent, it is important to recognize that some occupations are more susceptible to violence in the workplace than others.

Researchers say that health care professionals, correctional officers, social services employees, educators, public works employees, and retail workers are more likely to experience workplace violence. Violence in the workplace is most common in more stressful work environments.

Target environments such as schools, hospitals, retail stores, and prisons are breeding grounds for workplace violence.

Although, it is difficult to control another person’s behavior, here are a few suggestive measures that may help discourage violent behavior in the workplace.

• Establish a written policy against workplace violence. Businesses that have not established a written policy against workplace violence may be more likely to experience a hostile work environment. It is equally as important to make employees fully aware of this written policy.
• Company Incentives. Issuing corporate awards or employee gifts may improve work habits and shun negative behavior in the workplace.
• Provide courses on Anger Management. Stress can cause some individuals to act out in anger. By providing help to such individuals, the potential for violent behavior may be minimized.
• Sponsor an Employee Appreciation Week. Some employees may become violent when they don’t feel appreciated. Feeling unappreciated can decrease work morale which can result in violent attacks. Sponsoring an “Employee Appreciation Week” can help influence positive behavior.

Workplace violence is a serious offense. Unfortunately, it is becoming more of an epidemic. Finding ways to decrease the chances of violence in the workplace is very important.
Maria Romain is the creator of http://ezinearticles.com/%3Ca>Academic Success Management, Inc. and writes for http://ezinearticles.com/%3Ca>Corporate Snobs, a web-based company that offers unique corporate gifts. Find articles on wonderful business gift ideas by visiting today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_Romain

Helpful Guidelines For Writing Appraisals

2008-06-11T14:01:00.000Z

In today's business world, companies are relying more and more on writing performance appraisals and using them to document the performance of everyone from the janitor to the CEO. While there are many "form" or template appraisals available from multiple sources, writing your own offers quite a few benefits. Some of these include areas that may be unique to your product if you're a manufacturer or your service if that is your industry.

This also allows you to use a base template of your own while adding customized sections for different departments. So what does it take to write a good performance appraisal? There are some basic sections which must be included, but feel free to tailor it to your needs.

First off, be sure that the first section of the appraisal is clearly titled, perhaps in a large font. Doing this can make sure that someone won't grab it on accident and possibly discover or release this private information and clearly tell an employee what they are completing if you give them their own copy for a self evaluation.

Then allow room for filling in the names of the reviewer and person being reviewed so it is clear who is involved. If the company using the performance appraisal is large, make sure to include the department or area as well as the immediate supervisor's name.

Second, include a generic section that covers subjects that are fairly universal and generic. Doing so can provide a basis on which to judge the rest of the review, or a quick synopsis for general review. Some subjects that should be addressed in this section include timeliness and attendance records, if available. Other common areas include appearance, attitude, work ethic, thoroughness, efficiency, ability to prioritize and ability to multi--task.

The next section should be tailored to the specific job that the employee has. In a manufacturing sector, the appraisal should include such things as their satisfaction of quotas or quality requirements. It is a good idea to list abbreviated expectations under the heading so it is clear what it is associated with. For service jobs, rating the employee on customer satisfaction and/or retention is advisable. In a sales type situation, it is very to gauge the performance by comparing the employee's performance to quotas or benchmarks.

Finally, leave an open area to write some general comments or criticisms that are not addressed in the rest of the review. This section can deal with such things as promotions or demotions, or on future advancements. It also allows the reviewer to write a small paragraph that summarizes the review and gives some general expectations for the coming year, if done on an annual basis. Designing a performance appraisal is not as daunting of a task as it may seem, and can be very beneficial in the end.

Whether it uses a letter grading scale, or the increasingly popular number score and ranking, a customized one allows you to target certain areas without meaningless sections that are left blank or scratched through.

This article was written by Michael Roberts Jr. the founder of Manage Up.net
His website is dedicated to developing better organizational leadership. The website has eBooks, articles, and online training for managers. Don't miss the opportunity to sharpen your skills and take your career to new levels using insightful knowledge from an expert in management.
Visit http://www.manageup.net/ today and receive a FREE eBook to get you started.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Roberts_Jr

How Can You Succeed If You Don't Make Mistakes

2008-06-11T13:59:00.001Z

As paradoxical as it may sound, our road to success is paved with the mistakes we make.
"I've missed more than nine thousand shots in my career. I've lost almost three hundred games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that's why I succeed." (Michael Jordan; professional basketball player)

How do you deal with your own business or career mistakes or mistakes in your team? Do you seen them as a barrier to success or do you embrace them as valuable learning opportunities; in other words - stepping stones to success?

In today's combative and unstable business world, the cost of mistakes is - very! - high. That's why both organizations and individual executives have become so unforgiving of mistakes and the people who make them. In all too many cases, advocacy of a business environment that allows mistakes is nothing more than lip-service. All too often, too, these same organizations and executives who continue depending on the safe solution wonder why they seldom do more than keep pace in business, if that.

We all know that the markets we are involved in remain in flux - and therefore so do our organizations and our careers. Skills and knowledge that we possess at the onset of our careers must continue to grow and expand along with the challenges we face if we are to do more than get by in business.

The courage to embrace the necessary risk on the road to business success can only be nurtured and sustained by an intact and progressive leadership culture. Leaders must understand and accept that innovation and change go hand-in-hand with experiments, risks - and mistakes. It takes a strong leadership personality to optimistically weather that particular storm in today's market, and to understand that they cannot motivate proactive risk-taking in an environment where their teams do not feel safe.

That's why it is important to not only give permission - to yourself, your team, your organization - to take risks, but also to establish a secure environment where risk-taking and the sometimes inevitable mistakes are seen as part of the individual and organizational learning curve and welcomed and rewarded as such. This can mean being prepared to lose individual battles in favor of achieving long-term business or career goals. It can also mean the difference between mediocrity and success.

Questions from the Coach Ask yourself:

How have I handled (individual, team or organizational) mistakes in the last six months? Did I transform these mistakes into learning opportunities for myself/my team/my organization? If not, how could I have done so?
How has your image of yourself/your team/your organization changed following a recent mistake? What effect has this change in image had on the actual quality of work being done now? (How) Could you have influenced this effect in a more positive way?
Take a look at current projects in which you are involved? Are there any that aren't progressing as positively as you had expected? If so, how can you transform these shortcomings into learning opportunities that will benefit future projects? Remember: There is no shame - for you, your team, or your organization - in making a mistake, only in refusing to learn from it!

Trina E. Roach

Trina is founder of Creating Tomorrow: The Leadership Consultancy, a company specializing in executive + career coaching, as well as leadership and communication skills training. Based in Germany, Trina was conducted successful sessions from Tallinn (Estonia) to Sofia (Bulgaria) and from Moscow (Russia) to Amsterdam (Netherlands). With clients throughout Europe, as well as in the Greater Philadelphia area, Trina conducts her coaching and training sessions in either English or German, either 1-on-1 or per telephone/Skype.
http://www.creating-tomorrow.com/blog http://www.creating-tomorrow.com info@creating-tomorrow.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trina_Roach

What Good Are Exit Interviews?

2008-06-11T13:57:00.001Z

During a particularly passionate brainstorming session in my last open workshop - "Some Quit and Leave...Others Quit and Stay" - our topic of discussion was the reason employees change jobs and what individual managers can do about it.The group quickly agreed that the most important reasons people leave fall into two main categories:

A new career opportunity (either after active searching or being approach by a 'headhunter')
A problem/dissatisfaction on the current job that was not being handled correctly
There was also fast agreement amongst participants that unexpectedly having to replace a valuable team member can be both very time- and cost-consuming.
Surprisingly, there were few companies represented that had a cohesive exit strategy. Some had no form of exit interviews at all, and representatives from other companies that did conduct exit interviews weren't sure exactly how the feedback was being pro-actively applied as a way to limit future turnover.

Why Exit Interviews are Important

Having an exit interview strategy let's people within your organization know that individual managers, as well as the company as a whole, really care why someone chooses to leave. In learning to better understand why people leave unexpectedly, organizations receive valuable insights into ways to improve employee satisfaction and prevent unnecessary turnover in the future.

There are several ways to conduct effective exit interviews. Some organizations represented give out a questionnaire when people leave, asking them to hand it in on their final day or mail it back within 30 days of leaving. Other organizations conduct exit interviews live or (within a month) by telephone. These person-to-person interviews are either conducted by someone from the human resources department or - for an increased level of neutrality and confidentiality - by a third party (e.g. HR consultant or coach)

Important Exit Interview Questions

Everyone agreed that the format used - while having some standard sections - must be custom made to fit the culture, climate and needs of the specific organization in question.However, here are some typical exit interview questions people thought would be helpful:
What did you enjoy most about working here?
What did you enjoy least? Why?
What comments or suggestions can you make to help our organization grow stronger and more successful in the future?
Do you feel we dealt with complaints and problems on the job in a timely and effective way? How could we have been better?
Did you have a clear picture of your specific career possibilities within our organization?
What one thing would have possibly made you re-think your decision to leave?
Coaching Questions for ManagersLooking over past exit interview feedback, have you noticed any trends that might indicate deeper problems or highlight new opportunities within your team or organization? For example:
What is the average length of time people typically work for your organization before voluntarily leaving?
What are the top three reasons people give for leaving your organization?
What are the top three positions with the highest turnover?
Are there any specific turnover issues with certain departments or teams?
What internal changes can be made to increase overall job satisfaction, especially amongst high potentials?
What are you - personally - doing to prevent future resignations in your team?
Remember: Exit interviews, handled respectfully, provide a wealth of information that is key to helping your organization grow, solidify and refine its success. It will also make a past employee more likely to offer honest feedback and take a more positive image or your organization with him into the future.
Are you and your organization ready to listen - and act?

Trina E. Roach

Trina is founder of Creating Tomorrow: The Leadership Consultancy, a company specializing in executive + career coaching, as well as leadership and communication skills training. Based in Germay, Trina was conducted successful sessions from Tallinn (Estonia) to Sofia (Bulgaria) and from Moscow (Russia) to Amsterdam (Netherlands). With clients throughout Europe, as well as in the Greater Philadelphia area, Trina conducts her coaching and training sessions in either English or German.
http://www.creating-tomorrow.com/blog http://www.creating-tomorrow.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trina_Roach

How To Eliminate Excuses From The Work Place

2008-06-11T13:56:00.001Z

There is a great saying that "where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways; but where the heart is weak, it will find a thousand excuses." A company whose values statement to become excuse - free is not integrated into its organization, processes and people is like one team in a tug - of - war match in which each person on the team is tugging in a different direction. The team is not pulling together. Any competitor with a more coordinated effort will almost surely win.

In distinction, the company that integrates the goal to become excuse - free into its entire system will work as a unit and overpower any company that pays little attention to this issue. Here are some of the great wisdoms and ideas in getting your people to actually achieve excuse - free behavior;

1. MOTIVATION - Motivating people in the workplace today means getting them to buy - in to change by helping them see what value the change has for them as individuals.

2. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTABILITIES AND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - Generally, people are starting to understand the importance of defining three to five key indicators for the company. What has not yet been accomplished is applying the same concept to each employee. The goal is to have three to five key indicators for each employee that serve as his or her accountabilities. Companies that begin to tie their employees' accountabilities and key indicators into employee behavior will discover two distinct benefits. They will be changing employee behavior, which is the goal of accountabilities in the first place. And they will not limit employee performance by putting a ceiling on whatever the task at hand is, as tends to happen when they measure accountabilities by task accomplishment. Instead, workers will have the flexibility to adapt as needed, as long as the emphasis is on their excuse - free behavior.

3. BENCHMARKING - If you want to improve something, you must measure it. What benchmarking does is set a methodology for measuring the progress of any change effort you wish to undertake. To know whether or not the factors for which a person is held accountable have been achieved, you must periodically measure those factors. Otherwise, you leave too much to subjective interpretation. And this becomes a breeding ground for conflict, passing of responsibilities, projection of blame and all the other excuse - related behaviors.

4. COACHING - Finding the time to properly coach individuals is a very difficult challenge for managers today, given the flattening of management structures and increase in the ratio of employees to managers. Part of the reason for the difficulty, however, is that coaching sessions are too often based on "telling" rather than on facilitating. The point of coaching is not to have a two - hours sit - down every week so that the manager can tell the employee what to do. Instead, an employee should learn how to coach himself or herself under the mentorship of his or her manager.

5. RECOGNITION - When a company succeeds in implementing excuse - free behavior, a celebration is clearly in order. Keeping in mind that the celebration may have to be individually tailored, let us not forget that implementation without some type of reward is like winning an Olympic marathon and not getting a gold medal.

In the end, the power to implement excuse - free behavior rests with the employees and not with management. The goal of everyone in any organization should be empower employees in that organization. That goal can be reached through excuse - free behavior.

An associate of http://www.u-gotcash.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Panlaqui

Mentoring Future Leaders

2008-06-11T13:54:00.001Z

When the student is ready, the teacher will reveal themselves.” - Unknown, as told by Jim Stovall, CEO, Narrative Television Network
Where have all the leaders gone? How do you cultivate a leader within? In today’s demanding work environment everyone must have a little leader within themselves and at times a real leader is needed to step forward and lead others to greatness.
To do so, takes an active and systematic approach to developing those within an organization. A model for an effective “Leadership Mentor Development Program” may incorporate a five-step approach.

1. Mentor Level One – would be an elementary mentor, whereby the mentor possess great basic knowledge and patience of a subject matter, which needs to be instilled into another person.

2. Mentor Level Two – would be the graduation of the mentee to a secondary mentor whom can provide opportunities to the mentee to apply this new knowledge or skill. This secondary mentor serves as a contact person for the mentee while they are being drilled in the application of this knowledge and assists them in becoming both comfortable and proficient with this knowledge base.

3. Mentor Level Three – would be a post secondary mentor that has the capacity to challenge the mentee constructively to seek new applications for this basic knowledge base and encourages them to seek greatness with it.

4. Mentor Level Four – would be a master mentor, that person whom has a well positioned network of stakeholders and decision makers across organizational lines that can serve to promote and sale the mentee to others, unbeknownst to them!

5. Mentor Level Five – would be that level which a mentee has been grown and developed from level one through level four and now that mentee has demonstrated a grasp and application of knowledge and experience and has therefore earned the right to become a mentor themselves and grow another person. Now the process reverses, with a reverse mentor relationship ability!

This model may serve as a powerful template to dictate very specifically what the responsibilities may be for each level in the mentor-to-mentee development life cycle.
Another critical question lies with who has the right to serve as a mentor, now that there is an objective means of how to measure the developmental progress of a mentee.

First level considerations in selecting, recruiting or accepting nominations/applications for mentors is:

1. A willingness on the part of the mentor to invest ones’ time and energy into the mentee is critical for this growth relationship to develop present and future leaders for organizations today.

2. A reservoir of knowledge by the mentor, both in terms of formal and informal knowledge/training/skill attainment/certifications, that can be deposited into a willing mentee and thus enable a shorten learning curve to develop!

3. An accomplished and dedicated senior member who may be of the present mindset that because of their tenure they are no longer valued and appreciated can be an ideal candidate and this participation opportunity may be just the prescription for a renewed energy.

4. A person with genuine vested interest in the organizations success and core survival will be an exceedingly diligent mentor and take the mentee’s interest to heart.
A fast track to “Leadership Mentor Development Program” failure is expecting or accepting any individual into participation that do not adhere to any of the above benchmark suggestions.

An Ohio State University study indicated that professional women in the work place with mentor relationships were as much as 68 times more promotable and marketable in their careers among individuals with no mentor relationships. The question for organizations and for managerial-leaders to ask now is, “can we afford not to invest in our personnel asset by not having a mentor program?”

“If a man empties his pyres into his head, no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin, Inventor, Statesman, Writer

Dr. Magee is a Certified Speaking Professional, a Certified Management Consultant and a Certified Professional Direct Marketer and has been recognized as one of the "Ten Outstanding Young Americans" known as TOYA by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. Today, Dr. Magee is the writer of the nationally syndicated Leadership Column that you may have seen in your own local business newspaper, serves as the publisher of PERFORMANCE Magazine, and is the author of more than 20 books, including 4 best-sellers. In fact, his text, Yield Management, was the #1 selling graduate management school textbook in 2000.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Magee

Too Busy

2008-06-05T03:14:00.002Z

More and more, people talk about not having enough time to get everything done they need or want to do. During the Information Age, life has gotten more complex. You may have an endless list of things to do in your various roles. It is common to hear someone say, "I need more time." But isn't being busy suppose to be a good thing? After all, busy people seem needed, important, and successful.

Being busy can fool you; it can be a trap. As you race through the day, many times the activities you end up doing do not help you be who you really want to be.
Time is often talked about in financial terms and referred to as a precious non-renewable resource. You save it, spend it, or waste it. You may often feel you never have enough of it.

However, this analogy doesn't help you use time more effectively. Authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz believe energy, not time, is our most precious resource and that it is renewable. In their book "The Power of Full Engagement" (2003), they stress the need to balance expending and renewing your energy (time for rest/play) to be at your best.

There are several methods for scheduling your calendar for high productivity and minimal stress that will often work when other time management systems do not. They can be used separately or combined. Choosing from the following tips will help you have the energy you need to manage your time effectively:

1. Think of life as a series of sprints rather than a marathon. This allows you to push during crunch times followed by rest or play. The downtime is seen as necessary for your body and brain to process the information and prepare for the next task. Constant busyness is seen as a threat to success. Rest and play is necessary and celebrated.

2. Limit your to-do list to the two or three things that are most important for that day. Plan to schedule 60-70% of your day for tasks. Leave at least 30% for "other".

3. Schedule according to the task when you are able to group tasks into more general categories for a week, i.e. work, commute, exercise, appointments, email, spiritual, self-care, spouse, family, etc. Grouping your weekly tasks into blocks of time relates to the four energy sources (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) and helps remind you of the need for balance in your life. Then place more specific tasks in the appropriate category for a particular day. For instance, you can take your day at work and break it down into specific tasks.

4. Schedule by the day and type of time when you can establish certain days for specific tasks. Days can be full days, half days, or a couple of hours. Begin by thinking of 3 categories:

- Focus Time - when you need to accomplish a task that requires thinking, planning, writing, etc. To eliminate distractions, turn off phones, close your door, or do whatever else is necessary for you to focus. You can start with one hour and increase the time as needed. Educate co-workers and family about this uninterrupted time and that you will be available later.

- Flexible Time - when you can handle interruptions - phone, email, etc. that do not require as much focus.

- Free Time - no work; time for recharging without feeling guilty. Start with a couple of hours weekly, gradually adding more time until you can take one whole day several times a month or weekly.

5. Put specific tasks in the Focus, Flexible and Free time areas to combine the two different ways to schedule time.

6. Combine the idea of money and energy by imagining that every morning you have $20 worth of energy for the day. When your $20 is gone, your energy is gone for the day. (Fortunately, you get another $20 the next day.)
How do you want to spend your energy?
What tasks will get the most energy and the smallest amount of your energy for that particular day?
When you know what is important to you and you know why, the choices of how you spend your time become easier. Understand your core values and strengths. Consider what you can delegate or drop. Instead of taking a look at your list of things to do, take a look at the outcomes you desire.

What do you really want?
What are you here to do?

Spend time in the areas that will bring you the desired results. Following one or more of these tips, you will find that you are accomplishing and enjoying more of what you do. I wish you the best of success on your journey.

Maurine Patten, EdD., CMC, Maximize Your Possibilitieshttp://www.PattenCoaching.com Mailto:mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com
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The Causes of Procrastination

2008-06-05T03:12:00.000Z

If you’re like the majority of the people, individuals who have allowed Procrastination to take over their entirety, the entirety of their lives, of their business, of their family, and children - People who have allowed Procrastination to dominate their being, you would probably leave the issue of Procrastination to fate, the cause to nature. What’s the point, u’d say, after all, everyone does a measure of Procrastination in his lifetime! This is a mediocre way of thinking – the never do wells, the unfulfilled and I’m sure you do not wish your enemy to belong to that category.

Whatever we can say to cause

Procrastination, an underlying factor remains that Procrastination is a real dream killer. It will interfere and hamper your growth, your success, your relationships, your networking and your dreams. For the purpose of this article, let’s look at some of the causes of Procrastination. I'd like to make this impression, where Procrastination may be good or rather its beneficiary.

Procrastination is advantageous when it helps us avert some disaster; when decisions are critical and we have little knowledge on our intended course, when the market is not ready for our goods, when you have no concrete "reason why" to embark on a project…

Procrastination can be beneficial if it accomplishes these objectives. But on the contrary, which is in 95% of cases, you do not Procrastination because of the beneficial reason, you do for fear of failure, for difficult tasks, for indecision, for perfection, because you think there is enough time, for the fear of starting, because you do not have enough reason why you should embark on the project, you do not really know what you truly want, you do not consider the consequences of putting off tasks, you're not motivated, your attitude is not right, you're not in the mood, you're afraid something might go wrong, you're not committed to your goal….you can decide to go on and on to give reasons, excuses on why you think you should Procrastinate

That’s it on the causes of Procrastination, for more on a complete idiot guide to overcoming procrastination, see www.procrastinationstop.blogspot.com

Achi will help you in your fight against self-defeating attitudes and behaviors. Visit http://www.procrastinationstop.blogspot.com for a complete take me by the hand guide to overcoming procrastination fast!

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How Can One Experience Trigger a Change in Your Life?

2008-06-02T05:44:00.000Z

We all have experiences in our lives, some good and some not so memorable. We keep on carrying up with our lives with such experiences. But some experiences totally change the outlook of our life or they start distorting the facts or the thoughts on which our life runs. Such experiences make us question our own beliefs, which we have been having for years. That makes us doubt ourself.

Have you doubted your ability to do something? How did you do it? You might have asked yourself some very poor questions like...What if I do not get it right? or What if my plans do not work? But the questions can obviously be tremendously empowering if we use them to examine the validity of some thing which we blindly accept. Many of our beliefs are supported by information we got from others.

We can take an example of this to get deeper in to this.This example is related with the usage of computer or typewriter.Why do you think the traditional arrangement of letters,numbers or symbols on 99 percent of all typing devices is universally accepted round the world?The arrangement of characters is known as QWERTY.These characters are on the top left row of the keyboard.This arrangement was devised as the most efficient configuration to increase typing speed....right?

Most people never though about,after all QWERTY existed for years....but it is the most inefficient configuration you can imagine.The truth is QWERTY was deliberately designed to slow down the human typist at a time when type writer parts moved so slowly that they would jam in the operator typed too fast.

So then why have we clung to QWERTY keyboard for so many years?In 1882,when almost everyone typed with the hunt and peck method,a woman who had developed the eight finger typing method was challenged to a typing contest by another teacher.To represent her,she hired a professional typist who had memorized the QWERTY keyboard.

With the advantage of memorization and the eight finger method,he was able to beat his competitor who used the four finger hunt and peck on a different keyboard.So from then on QWERTY became the standard for speed an no one ever question the reference any more to see how valid it was.

So,considering the above example,you might have many beliefs which you have failed to question,which if are disempowering might be even limiting your life,without you knowing!So is your experience triggering a positive change in your life?You need to ask that question to yourself!

Get all motivational tips at Deepak.M's Self Development Zone.Get all articles related to self improvement or self development at Self Development Zone.

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What are the best books for coaching?

2008-06-02T05:43:00.001Z

I asked a number of coaches and they recommended a wide range of books - from those outlining coaching models and techniques, best practice in leadership and management , and positive psychology, to books taking a spiritual approach to coaching and business.

They also recommended books drawing on theories of Neuro Linguistic Programming and personality types. There were also many texts suggested aimed at supporting clients in taking action and making change.

Which are the most popular?

Perhaps, as you would expect, the majority of books recommended were texts to support clients in taking action and making positive change. These books are also often as useful to coaches as their clients.

The next most recommended were books on business development - particularly on marketing and growing a coaching practice - particularly effective ways of attracting new clients.

In all 68 books were recommended - here are 6 from the list:

Co-Active Coaching: New Skills for Coaching People Toward Success in Work and Life, by L. Wentworth, P. Sandall, H. Kimsey-House. Publisher: Davies-Black Publishing; 2 Pap/Com edition (February 25, 2007)

This book outlines the Coaches Training Institute's model for coaching and discusses how to design a good coaching alliance. It then explores the nuances and skills of a coaching relationship, giving definitions and detailed examples of how each of these play a part in a successful coaching partnership.

These skills include listening, intuition, curiosity, forwarding and deepening the learning, and self-management. The book also explores three distinct parts of coaching - fulfillment, balance and process. The final section of the book is called the Coach's Toolkit. It is filled with tools, forms and checklists to serve both individual and corporate clients. In addition, the book comes with a CD with more information, examples of coaching conversations and printable forms.

Coaching for Performance by John Whitmore - Nicholas Brealey Publishing; 3 edition (May 25, 2002)

In this highly influential book, Sir John Whitmore describes what he believes coaching is, how it can be used, and the skills required for coaching. Whitmore also outlines his GROW model which can be used both in a personal, corporate and team context. In the book Whitmore, explores what coaching is, looks at the skills of questioning and introduces his GROW model (Goals, Reality, Options and Will).

Whitmore also discusses a range of topics - including motivation, coaching the corporation, feedback and assessment and coaching teams, emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence and their relation to coaching.

Four Steps to Building A Profitable Coaching Business/ A Complete Marketing Resource Guide for Coaches - Deborah Brown-Volkman - iUniverse (October 30, 2003)

This book will show you how to build and market a profitable coaching practice in four easy steps. It walks you through the process of deciding who to coach and how to create a program that potential clients will pay you lots of money for. You will understand the components of creating a winning marketing strategy and learn tips and techniques to implement your plan. You will also discover how to become masterful at both marketing and selling.

Get Clients Now! by C.J. Hayden - Amacom; 2 edition (1 Oct 2006)

"Get Clients Now" empowers readers with practical, proven strategies for choosing the right marketing tactics for their situation and personality, diagnosing exactly what's missing in their marketing and fixing it, and replacing unproductive cold calling with the power of relationship marketing. Filled with hundreds of tool and techniques, as well as a powerful 28-day plan that enables readers to energise their marketing efforts and dramatically increase their client base, the second edition contains up-to-the-minute strategies for relationship-based marketing in the Internet age.

Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott - Piatkus Books (August 21, 2003)

Susan Scott maintains that a single conversation can change the trajectory of a career, marriage or life. Whether it's conversations with yourself, partner, colleagues, customers, family or friends, Fierce Conversations shows you how to have conversations that count. Scott reveals how to overcome barriers to meaningful conversations and her book is packed with exercises and questionnaires to help you have the best conversations possible.

Wishcraft - How to get what you really want by Barbara Sher - Ballantine Books; 2 edition (Dec 2003)

In the first part of this book Barabar Sher takes you through a series of exercises designed to get you to dream your wildest dreams about your life and what it could be. Sher also encourages you to distinguish between 'real' dreams and fantasies . The second part of the book gives you great approaches to achieving them and is full of challenging and effective exercises.

This short list gives just a flavour of the resources available to you as a coach - and now all you have to do is get reading!

© Sonia Thomas May 2008

Sonia Thomas is the Editor of Coaches Plus, the online resource centre for coaches, http://www.coachesplus.com

If you would like to get the full list of 68 books outlined in this article, including links to reviews, just visit http://www.coachesplus.com/articles/20080329

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The difference between a coach, mentor, and consultant

2008-06-02T05:41:00.000Z

When determining the difference between a coach, mentor, and consultant, it is necessary to look at specific roles and functions. First, we must look at the focus or concentration - what is the specific focus of the person? Second, we should look at the type of agenda or role the person has. Third, look at how the relationship is chosen and or cultivated. Fourth, how does the person garner influence? Fifth, what is the expected return for the services of the person? Finally, we must determine the scope of the person's work.

Coaches appear in various forms, such as professional, life, relationship, and sports team coaches. All coach types share the same criteria. The focus of the coach is in specific performance - for example, an organizational coach is usually responsible for increasing or improving performance in a given area. The agenda for a coach, then, is usually fairly specific - improve batting average, increase sales, etc. A coach usually arrives in the relationship selected by someone other than the "coachee" - in other words, the relationship is not self-selected. Coaches also influence through their position, such as in the sports world. But what is the expected return for a coach? As we've already discussed, a coach is looking for performance and possibly teamwork. Finally, a coach's scope is usually task-related.

Mentors vary slightly from the coach. A mentor's focus, unlike a coach, is typically on the individual and not on a specific task or performance. A mentor also takes a more general role to the individual, that is, there is usually a less-specific agenda.

Many mentor relationships are self-selected - keep in mind that a coach is usually assigned to a person or a team, whereas mentor relationships usually spring from mutual interests, work styles, and histories. A mentor's influence usually comes from the perceived value of the relationship as opposed to position.

The person choosing the mentor also chooses to take the role of "mentee" because of the expected return. So what is the expected return of a mentor? Many times the return could be as simple as affirmation or learning. Simply having a mentor will not guarantee that a person can advance in an organization and may not even be recognized as an "official" relationship, like a coach.

The mentor's scope is more than likely a general one - for example, if a person chooses a mentor in his or her profession, the mentor will likely cover many facets of that profession, including knowledge, preparation, networking, and technical function.

A consultant may take the form of mentors and coaches, but the primary difference between a consultant and coaches and mentors is that a consultant is usually paid for the specific task at hand. The focus of a consultant is usually not a specific performance or individual but a complete process or concept, such as customer service.

The consultant works on a specific agenda, as determined by the organization and the consultant. The relationship between consultant and client is usually self-selected by the client and based on cost, word of mouth, or area of expertise. On the other hand, the consultant can influence the client because of the perceived value he or she presents, as well as based on the record of past accomplishment.

Because a consultant relationship is usually paid, the expected return typically has a link to a monetary value, such as higher efficiency or monetary savings. Also, whereas coaches and mentors tend to be general or task related in scope, a consultant's scope is defined by the consultant and the organization or client.

There are obviously subtle similarities between coaches, mentors, and consultants. But when you look at the specific criteria of the relationship, you can see that the differences should keep us from interchanging terms.

Copyright 2008 Bryant Nielson. All Rights Reserved.

Bryant Nielson - Managing Director and National Sales Trainer - assists executives, business owners, and top performing sales executives in taking the leap from the ordinary to extraordinary. Bryant is a trainer, business & leadership coach, and strategic planner for sales organizations. Bryant's 27 year business career has been based on his results-oriented style of empowering.

Subscribe to his blog - and learn the legendary secrets of top business training porgrams at: http://www.BreathtakingLeadership.com & http://www.BryantNielson.com

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What islife coaching?

2008-06-02T05:40:00.001Z

Life Coaching is now a massively growing industry, and there are good reasons why. If you think about the amount of people that are stuck in their lives then why not have some one who is skilfully trained and experienced in helping people get from where they are now, to where they want to go! There's really not enough coaches in the world!

Now when you think about it. Every successful person, organisation, sports team and professional have had a coach of some sorts. Look at Oprah, for example. Dr. Phil was her coach. So why wouldn't we want to have someone helping you achieve your dreams, and suggesting to you proven tools, stratergies and techniques that will work to help you get results and create the life you want and allow you to shape your destiny.

Life coaching is a way to realise your true potential. How? By focusing on the future, and what you want, rather then what you don't have. Now there are many trains of thoughts when it comes to coaching but in essence they all take you down the same road, and help you create a blueprint for success. Here's a tip, start with setting goals and envision them as if you've already have achieved them. After all, you can't hit what you can't see.

Through out the coaching relationship you will explore the limiting beliefs and behaviours that you impose on yourself, and how you can turn those thoughts and behaviours around and start to create new empowering beliefs, so that you can overcome fears or anxiety and achieve what once seemed impossible to you.

Unlike councelling, life coaching is solution focused, and empowers people with the right tools and technques to create lasting change and happiness in their lives. But even if your happy and successful now...coaching can still be beneficial, as you will learn much about yourself and how to really maximise your potential.

Imagine being able have someone supportive of you, without judgement. Imagine have someone to be accountable to so that you can really go for it and achieve your dreams. Imagine having the knowledge that you really can do and achieve whatever you want. Coaching is about you...That's what life coaching is. Start living in the solution today by taking action and discover coaching at RogerRuzzier.com

Roger Ruzzier is a practising Life Coach and expert in Personal Development. Helping people achieve is not a job it's a passion. Discover your passion! Set your vision, achieve goals and take action to create the life that you want! Get free coaching at http://www.RogerRuzzier.com

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Leadership Mentoring With A Business Coach

2008-06-02T05:39:00.000Z

There is a success principle that most people in the business world operate by. It is not enough to merely get along throughout the daily work pile that accumulates on their desk. They want to get ahead, receive recognition for their work and receive raises based on their performance.

But it is easy to get into a rut and have your performance level start to lag. The tedious work load can cause you to lose your spark and drive. That is where the business coach steps in to help you improve your performance, yet it is not the same thing as leadership mentoring.

Leadership mentoring is a process that occurs when one person with more experience takes another person "under their wing," to help them understand the workplace or their personal life in a better way. A business coach is not the same thing as a mentor and you need to be aware of the difference.

One works by providing guidance (the coach) and the other works by instructing. The two are often confused with one another but in reality are different.

Many companies will bring in a coach consultant to help their employees when the business is beginning to flag. It is a way to help bring back the company into operating once again at a higher level of efficiency.

You have probably heard of motivational camps where employees are brought in and play team games with one another. This creates and fosters a competitive atmosphere but lets employees bond with each other.

Business coaches can not perform miracles and should not be promising great achievements. Those who do may be operating under fraudulent means.

This is to say that a coach should not make grand promises to up sales by fifty percent or have employees thinking that the coaching process will automatically result in advancements and promotions. This is simply not the case. Coaching people should be more about showing them that they can rely on themselves to make the necessary changes to help the business operate better.

A business coach must have experience in motivating people to try to achieve their goals and dreams. He or she needs to be educated in the business field. Talking to people one-on-one is great but to effectively motivate large groups of people there needs to be a spark and an initiative to lead others on to greatness. Bringing a coach into your life can mean the difference between the mundane workplace and one filled with opportunities.

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our coaching portal for more great information on the business coach, and leave a comment at our life coaching training blog.

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Test Your Self Esteem

2008-06-02T05:36:00.000Z

If you were fully aware of how you talk to yourself and talk to the world about who you are, you'd be shocked. We're all guilty of this to some small degree, but for many their self-talk is debilitating.

Take a minute to answer these questions:

Are you talking yourself out of living your fullest life with the self-concept you've created?
Who do you tell yourself you are with your self-talk?

Which of the following scenarios is closest to your self-talk? Maybe you are saying to yourself, "This is the year I'm going straight to the top," "This is the year I become a superstar," or "I've got everything going for me and this is my year." Or you could be telling yourself, "Things don't look like they're going to be much better this year; in fact it might be a little worse than last year," "Maybe it's time for some belt tightening; I don't want to take any chances," or even "You never know what could happen, better to be safe than sorry."

Is there any doubt in your mind which of these examples shows the confidence that will build self-esteem, and which are the ones that demonstrate low self-esteem?

Here are a couple more personal development questions in follow-up:

Which type of self-talk creates a better atmosphere for personal success and living an abundant life?

What do you think is the difference in income and professional development between people with these two types of self-talk?

What goals do you think each of these people possesses?

Who is having more fun and excitement?

Who do you want to be?

Your level of self-esteem sets the personal success bar for everything about you. Every decision you make is filtered through your self-concept. Your self-concept is the out-picturing of your self-esteem.

Take a look at just eight reflections of your level of self-esteem:

1.Your career choice

2.Your friends

3.Your primary relationship with another

4.Your level of income

5.Your home

6.Your car

7.Your free time and hobby choices

8.Your vacations

Changing what you believe about yourself will change your life in an instant.

Build self-esteem and you will build your self-concept. But, your self-concept requires attention and care to be maintained. It's not as simple as saying you feel good about yourself and that's the end of it.

Do you know that your self-talk comes at the rate of a magazine page of text every single minute of the day? That's a lot of talking to yourself! If you fill your mind with positive input, it's a pretty good bet that most of your self-talk will also be positive and foster personal and professional growth.

Use this personal growth quiz to become aware of your self-talk. By changing what you say to yourself and transforming what you believe about your personal success, you will automatically build self-esteem.

Lynn Pierce, the Success Architect, has taught people how to combine business and personal development to reach the pinnacle of success and live the life of their dreams for over 25 years. In addition, she is also the founder of one of the most exciting annual events for women entrepreneurs, "Women's Business Empowerment Summit". Now she shares her keys to success and life mastery with you. You can get the first five lessons of "Change One Thing, Change Your Life: A Personal Transformation System" at http://www.yourbreakthroughtosuccess.com

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Blaming others is a sign of low self-esteem

2008-06-02T05:34:00.000Z

All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. - Wayne Dyer

Blaming others is a sign of low self-esteem because in doing so we are not taking responsibility. If you do not take responsibility you will always be a victim of your circumstances.

I used to blame everybody and everything in the past until I realized that in doing so my circumstances were not changing and my self esteem did not improved. When I became aware of this behavior I took the decision not to blame anymore.

Whenever I find myself blaming people or circumstances I stop and I say to myself: Is time to take responsibility and I take action. This new behaviour has helped me to build my self esteem because I do not feel the victim anymore.

Here are some tips to stop blaming others and circumstances:

If you made a mistake, admit it.

If there is something in your life you are not happy about, do something to change it.

When you find yourself blaming stop and say to yourself: is time to take responsibility.

Be open to other's people opinion and if you did something wrong apologize. Remember that you are not always right.
In his book Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, Nathaniel Branden suggest the following:

Self-Responsibility:

I am responsible for the achievement of my desires

I am responsible for my choices and actions

I am responsible for the level of consciousness I bring to my work

I am responsible for my behavior with other people - coworkers, associates, customers, spouse, children, friends

I am responsible for how I prioritize my time

I am responsible for the quality of my communications

I am responsible for my personal happiness

I am responsible for accepting or choosing the values by which I live

I am responsible for raising my self-esteem
If you want to have a healthy self esteem you must practice self-responsibility. This means that you are accountable for your choices and action in your life and especially in relationship with your own self.

Carla's professional background includes 15 years working as a Software Developer and Technical Writer with import-export and manufacture companies. Her passion about self-esteem issues had leaded her to write about her personal experiences.

Since she was very young she spent a lot of time researching and interviewing close friends and family on this subject. She has been examining alternative ways of dealing with life on many different levels.

She studied Metaphysic, Buddhism, and participated in several workshops to work inside herself. She's been using several techniques since the last 10 years like Hoponopono, Emotional Freedom, Rebirthing, Shadow Work and Meditation.

She published her first book when she was 23, "Let's love ourselves as we are".

Her passion: "Give her personal experience to others", her expression: "My life is my teaching".http://www.selfesteemawareness.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carla_Valencia

The Introvert Personality

2008-06-02T05:33:00.000Z

A Definition of Introvert

Introversion is the tendency to focus one's attention towards the inner, mental world rather than external, physical "reality".

Introversion is a natural characteristic occurring in about 25% of the population according to psychotherapist Dr Marti Olsen Laney in her excellent book The Introvert Advantage. Introversion is not something we have or not, rather we all occupy a specific point on an introvert extrovert continuum.

Know thyself: are you an introvert?

We are each born with unique characteristics. In order to play our particular traits to their best advantage it is necessary to become acquainted with precisely what we are, our drives, inhibitions etc. Self-knowledge comes primarily from introspection, a surprisingly difficult process that requires discipline to overcome our mind's inherent reticence.

If you prefer sitting quietly to socializing, if you prefer fewer, deeper relationships to numerous casual, shallow friendships, chances are you are an introvert.

Self-observation and introspection may be supplemented with the use of various "personality tests", a number of which are freely available online. Tests based on Jung's personality types, eg the Myers-Briggs, will reveal where you lie on introvert extrovert continuum.

Accept no single test as definitive. Instead, take several and compare their findings with what you already know about yourself. Tests may highlight certain aspects of yourself that you were not consciously aware of but in seeing them made explicit you might acknowledge them.

Through the process of introspection, testing and comparing the outcomes with self-knowledge and experience we arrive at a pretty good idea of our particular character and its strengths and weaknesses. Whatever our peculiarities we are now empowered to begin making the best of them.

Acceptance

We are each unique individuals, born precisely as we are to fulfill a very special purpose. That's right, YOU ARE SPECIAL. Be you tall or short, fat or thin, light or dark skinned, introvert or extrovert... you are special and worthy of self-approval and love.

Western society tends to value extroverts more highly than introverts, perhaps that's because extroverts are in the majority. However introversion is NOT a problem or disease, nor is it something to be ashamed of or 'cured'. In many ways introverts have advantages over extroverts. By directing their energies inwards they are closer to their Spiritual essence. Introverts can more easily open themselves to inspiration and creativity. They are less distracted by worthless, deleterious "noise".

To introverts the inner, mental world is of supreme importance. Relating to externality takes great effort, even - at times - pain. Because of society's prejudice towards extroversion we may begin to feel weak, inferior. Stop being overwhelmed by other's views of what's 'right' or 'best'. Only you can know what it's like to be you. Only you know what you truly want in life. Never try to be what you are not.

Just as we should accept ourselves as we are, so we should accept others for what they are. No man is an island. Human progress has been made possible by specialization and cooperation. Just consider how many contribute to the comfort enjoyed in our daily lives, the farmers that produce our food, the builders that build our houses, the teachers that empower us with knowledge etc etc. And so we must accept the need to co-exist harmoniously with others.

From social interaction the introvert may even find experience and stimulation. But only ever so far as we are comfortable. In the knowledge of ourselves we should never try to be extrovert, just as dogs never try to be cats.

What of the introvert married to an extrovert partner? Even in partnership we retain individuality. It is OK for each spouse to pursue his or her particular path. But, occasionally, compromise is necessary. Perhaps the introvert partner may agree to attend a limited number of social functions on condition that s/he may time limit their involvement, the degree of involvement, and whether involvement happens at all.

A Place of Your Own

With self-knowledge and self-acceptance the introvert can begin constructing a lifestyle and pathway that is right for them. They should identify their most productive channels (writing, painting, business, finance, whatever...) and pursue these and direct their efforts to achieving maximum impact within them.

Ideally the introvert will be able to make a living through self-employment. The growth of the Internet is creating numerous new home-based business opportunities, liberating many from the rat race of working for others.

Librarianship, accountancy and academia are oft considered classic introvert occupations. A quiet and predictable work environment is good, as is one that aligns effort with conscience, eg working with a non-profit organization operating in a field that is strongly believed in.

As mentioned, there are varying degrees of introversion. For some introverts a quiet and entirely unstimulating existence is bliss. These folk are lucky. They can simply organize their lives, work and hobbies to minimize external stimulation. This certainly does not make their lives bland or unproductive. What they lack in external engagement is compensated by their rich and active inner world. This group can be extremely creative.

Other introverts face the paradox of craving a degree of external stimulation, but finding it physically and mentally draining. For such folk the answer is in finding a balance that optimizes personal satisfaction, eg engaging in external activity but limiting the number or type of events they participate in. "All things in moderation", is a good motto. Learning to allocate enough energy for venturing outwards balanced by sufficient recovery time for self-repair is the key. It takes practice and will surely bring some knocks along the way, but with maturity that harmony may be found.

Johnny Finnis is editor of selfhelpsanctum.com, helping you help yourself. Have your say on our blog A Spiritual Voice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Finnis

Darin To Be Me

2008-06-02T05:32:00.000Z

How many times has someone (an employer, sister, father, spouse) said to you, "Could you be a little more cheerful with the customers" or "I wish you were a little neater around the house?" Many times in the course of our lives, all sorts of people will ask us to be something we are not. Some will be polite about it and some will not.

When I was younger, I spent a lot of time and effort (before and after I got over the rebellious teen years, that is) trying to be everything everyone wanted me to be. Well, I was never going to be tall, blond and beautiful and luckily no one every required that of me, but there were plenty of other requirements that I just wasn't meeting naturally.

It actually started quite early. For my father, I was never smart enough or did anything quite well enough. For my mother, I was never neat enough. I wanted to be someone who screwed her socks on and my mother wanted someone who kept the ribbing of hers socks straight at all times. I wanted to draw and paint and make things with my hands, and my father wanted me to be a doctor.

I was shy as a child and I still am to a degree. So, why I chose retail, I will never know. Maybe it was for the lessons it would teach me. At any rate, I was never outgoing, or forceful enough for most of my employers, even though I always did the best that I was able.

At a time when I was going through a period of having migraine headaches every day, I worked for a family-owned clothing and accessories business as a salesperson. They were particularly dissatisfied with my level of cheerfulness. Just about every night, I would complain to my husband about what the owners had said to me that day. What did they expect? I was doing the best I could. One night, my husband said three little words that changed my life. He said, "Just be yourself." What an amazing idea!

It took a couple of weeks for the full importance of what he had said to me to sink in. As it turned out, the self I was at that point had to admit that she really shouldn't be working at all right then. That she had to get well first and stop having migraines every day before thinking about taking on another job. It was a scary prospect. We had just moved to Arizona and bought our first house. We had a mortgage and needed the two incomes. I had to work or we might lose the house.

We managed, however, to keep the house and while I was not working, I had the time to figure out why I was getting the migraine headaches and what I had to do to stop having them. Since then, there have been many other occasions when I have had cause to remember my husband's sage advice. I consider myself to be much the better person for it.

I am not all-knowing. I am not perfect. I am not always right. I am friendly and a good friend. I say stupid things from time to time. I lie now and then when I am just too weak to say no. I can love unconditionally. I am not graceful and I still have a tendency to screw on my socks. I will never be everything everyone wants me to be and that is okay. It's much less stressful and infinitely healthier to just be me.

Do yourself a favor and be honest with yourself about who you are. Don't wait until you are 42 years old to get started. It can be a little frightening at times because of some of the choices it causes you to make, but it is well worth it. Don't lie to yourself about whom and what you are. Get to know yourself and be genuine with yourself. You will be surprised at how liberating and confidence-building it can be. When you are genuine with yourself, you can learn to love yourself. And when you love yourself, anything is possible.

http://www.syzygyjewelry.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dianne_Lehmann

Why do recruiters use psychometric tests?

2008-06-02T05:29:00.001Z

Employers use a variety of methods to select the right people, and the greater the variety of situations in which a selector can see you perform, and the greater the number of skills that are being tested, the more accurate and objective the assessment should be. Tests are simply one way of testing the competencies relevant to a specific job, and should ideally be designed with that type of work in mind.
From an employer's point of view, tests are also a reasonably cost-efficient way of assessing a large number of applicants; this probably explains why many organisations use them to pre-select candidates for (comparatively expensive) interviews.

Good Advice is Hard to Find

2008-06-02T05:27:00.001Z

It is interesting to see how little real advice there is, either in books or on the web, about how to approach the personality questionnaires used in selection. For example, most of the job sites on the internet have several pages of advice for job-seekers on how to prepare their resume or how to answer ‘tough’ interview questions.

However, when it comes to preparing yourself for a personality test, the advice is usually limited to ‘just be yourself’. This is very inconsistent. After all, if you’re going to spend considerable time and effort preparing your resume and preparing for the interview, then why not prepare yourself for the personality questionnaire?

To understand where this ‘just be yourself’ advice comes from you need to look at where these job sites get their content from. The advice that these sites do give is often little more than a reworking of material that can be found on their competitor’s web sites or in any one of dozens of books on these topics. Much of it is written by professional copywriters who may not have much interest in the recruitment and selection industry. This should not be surprising; job sites make their money by putting numbers of candidates forward, not by successfully getting individual candidates jobs.

They are not experts in the workings of the selection process, but they do feel as though they should have some advice on their web sites to bring in traffic and to add some credibility. Another reason for the ‘just be yourself’ advice is because the test suppliers have been very successful in getting across the message that these tests are so sophisticated that you cannot influence your result without being ‘caught’.

This is a case of ‘sales talk’ becoming accepted wisdom because it is being repeated again and again by every company that produces tests. This is after all a very competitive industry and every company selling these tests must push the message that their test is 100% reliable if they are going to stay in business.

Faking It: Can Job Applicants Outsmart Personality Tests?

2008-06-02T05:17:00.002Z

By Kathleen Groll Connolly

"Faking" is probably the biggest apprehension employers have about using personality tests during the hiring process. These concerns are well founded. Job applicants are confronted by more tests all the time. They are motivated to "pass the test" and come closer to a job offer. This should be no surprise, especially in tight economic times.

To get the most from your investment in tests, you need to become skilled in test administration and interpretation. Lynn McFarland, Ph.D., an assistant professor at George Mason University's industrial/organizational psychology program, studies the "faking" phenomenon. She works primarily with self-reported measures, such as personality tests and biodata.

"Not just my research but the literature in general indicates that applicant groups score higher on 'social desirability' on tests than groups we can be fairly certain are responding honestly," she says. "Job incumbents or college students, for instance, have no consequence tied to the test. Therefore, it seems that at least some applicants do try to "fake" the test and are successful at doing so."

How Big a Problem?

Employers have forever advertised some clear preferences in personality traits of candidates: Total honesty is a no-brainer, closely followed by the ability to control one's own anger. Beyond this, conscientiousness, ability to work in teams and persistence are three top examples of universally desirable traits.

Extraversion is also more attractive than introversion for many jobs, particularly when direct client contact is involved. If the "right" answers are an open secret, is testing a valid tool in selection? To answer that, it's important to look at some of the subtleties that experienced testers come to know.

Case 1: Some faking is devious and intentional. Let's say an applicant for a retail position intends to shoplift. He or she does not want (lack of) integrity to come out during the hiring process. The applicant might try to "beat the test" by providing what he or she believes to be the "correct" answers.

Case 2: Now consider the example of an applicant who seeks to please the employer with the "correct" answers so they can get past the test phase and get to second or third interviews. They may feel that testing doesn't show their real strengths, that it may exclude them from consideration for the wrong reasons.

Case 3: Finally, consider applicants whose self-awareness is very optimistic. He or she believes they have many socially desirable characteristics. Whether they really do or not is a question for the skilled interviewer to ascertain. Careful review of educational and work history might affirm the possibility that the optimism is well founded-or not. For testing to be useful as an adjunct to interviewing and other hiring tools, each of the above situations need to be detectable by the employer.

How Tests Detect Faking

Most test publishers would not dispute that test profiles can be elevated or falsified. So they strive to overcome the problem.
" 'What's the point? Anybody can fake them!' We hear people ask that question," says test designer Robert Hogan, Ph.D., president of Hogan Assessment Systems. He claims this can be overcome with the "faking profile" that his company's tests generate. "We're doing a whole personality profile," he says of his company's tests. "They may be able to fake a whole scale (a single aspect of the measurement), but they won't fake a whole profile."

George Mason University's Dr. McFarland affirms that faking often is reported through special test scales: "I think the most common strategy to detect faking is to use what's called a social desirability scale, also called a lie scale. These scales ask the test-taker to indicate the extent to which a number of statements are true of them. The trick is that these statements refer to behaviors that are very common, but undesirable."

For instance, an example of such an item is "I have never been untruthful, even to save someone's feelings." "A test-taker who denies many of these undesirable behaviors that are extremely common will receive a high socially desirable score," says McFarland. "The employer may use this to identify fakers." She has some doubts about the effectiveness of this strategy, however. For instance, some people may have unusually high scores on "social desirability" scales, but may simply be trying to please, may have poor reading skills, or may have overly optimistic beliefs about themselves.

Questionnaire wording is one of the primary tools in the battle to thwart would-be deceivers. People who give extreme answers to questions are often - but not always -overcompensating to hide their true intent than those who do not answer with the extreme choices.

Steps for Employers

What separates the experienced, effective user of tests from the ineffective? The dividing line is often defined by the test-givers ability to read the subtleties. It is also determined by following some preventive disciplines.

First, employers must cover the basics. They must choose a test that incorporates a "lie scale." They must choose a test with proven reliability and validity. They must become knowledgeable about the test or tests, usually through the publisher's certification programs. If this is not possible for a company staff member, then an outside consultant who is certified and experienced should be considered. Some other key measures include:

Consider the requirements of the job. Jobs have "personality requirements." For instance, the ability to work long hours without social interaction is far more "natural" to an introvert than an extrovert Likewise, the elevated confidence of an effective salesperson is often exactly what's called for in that job. The personality requirements of the job description can be examined through job analysis. This can help you assess the real importance of elevated scores in terms of your requirements.

Monitor the process. Though it may be convenient to have applicants take on-line tests at home, this can invite outright cheating. For instance, the applicant could have someone else take the test. (They could also be recording the test questions for distribution to other applicants.) All tests should probably be taken with adequate monitoring.

Use two tests. Let's say you are hiring for a job where anger-proneness would immediately disqualify a candidate. Two tests may be advisable. The chances of someone successfully deceiving two tests are considerably slimmer than one. Hogan Assessments, for instance, offers companion tests-one that deals with the applicant's visible, positive personality characteristics -and a second test to look at the darker sides of workplace behavior, such as tendencies to lose one's temper, to become disruptive, or to be disrespectful of authority or coworkers.

Tell participants they will be discussing their answers at a later date. Dr. McFarland says this strategy shows some promise. It holds an applicant responsible for consistent answers at a later date. "Applicants can be told their answers will be discussed in an interview if they are selected to go on," says McFarland.

For those who pass the testing screen, conduct interviews that are at least partially based on the test results. Some test publishers provide interview recommendations with the test reports, which can save you time. If someone has intentionally provided false or inflated answers, you may spot discomfort or hesitation during the interview.

Most applicants are not informed consumers of tests. If tests become more and more widely used, it is possible that some applicants will become experienced at beating the tests. For the time being, though, faking reports and other current strategies offer some assurance to employers.

They must be aware that not all results that look like faking are actually untrue. Armed with these skills, you are ready to gain the advantages of pre-employment personality testing. Dr. McFarland summarizes, "I would use personality tests to select applicants. They have been shown to be valid selection measures. However, I would not base selection decisions solely on such tests."

Kathleen Groll Connolly writes on a variety of human resources topics and is a partner in Performance Programs, Inc., a firm specializing in human resources surveys and measurement. She can be reached at http://www.performanceprograms.com/ or call 1-800-565-4223. Copyright Performance Programs, Inc. 2003-2004.

Self Realisation By Dr Elizabeth Menon

2008-06-01T10:00:00.000Z

Self-realization by restraining ones own emotions can be achieved in many ways. One has to come to terms with the three faculties of man: emotion, speech - words, and deeds. The combination of all three, or the implementation any of these will help us in obtaining our goal. The three faculties working in harmony can only result in the desired effect; once this is attained, accepting the others or their viewpoints become easy, lack of which could explain the escalating troubles all over the world.

To achieve a goal in life is what most people aspire. Therefore, it is paramount that one has something to look forward to in life, without which life has no real meaning. It is very easy to drift through life, quite laid back in situations saying, 'I am comfortable'; one should stop and reassess the situation, asking, 'shouldn't I have more commitment?' It's not enough just to say 'I am minding my own business without troubling anyone and therefore no hindrance to society'.

One could argue that it is a selfish act if it does not involve lending a helping hand where needed.
Emotionally charged situations can make even the most rational human being behave in an irrational manner or similarly, illness of self or the dear ones can lead to totally unexpected behavior. All these only prove that complete harmony of our faculties is essential in self-realization and to stay in the right path in achieving our goal in life. Having a goal in life, be it a person, God or an institution, will provide us with the right motivation. There are many ways of measuring up to that goal; trying to please, emulate, or avoiding things that may not fit in with the ideals of our focus may be a few of them.

Our elders have told us, 'Think before you say anything'. How many of us put this into practice, knowing that it is true? One has to be aware of the difference in the impact of each, the thought process leading to the words and the deeds that follow. We should have control over our emotions and thoughts, or learn to control them before they enslave us. One should always remember that the 'said words', the written words and the 'done deeds' couldn't be taken back and therefore, it is important to think before doing any of these; each has different impact in any given situation. It is easy to blame drinks, illness or unfortunate incidents to justify ones behavior, even though the recipients may be even kind enough to justify the other's actions blaming it on something or the other!

A bit of commonsense and understanding of fellow beings, or self-realization may be all that we need, to solve the problems that we face in the world today. We have seen mass killings in Palestine, Israel and the United States, where innocent people are suffering due to this. Disharmony of our three faculties, the inability to communicate with others and the fear of those whose views are different from our own, hold key to the devastation that we see before us. Let's hope and pray for harmony, peace, and better understanding of one another. Self-realization of what one can achieve and what one should do to achieve it, should take each one of us to the culmination of that dream.

© E Menon 2008
I am a doctor working in the UK. I love to write and my articles have been published in the UK and abroad. My hobbies include reading, writing, gardening, cooking, watching films, listening to music etc.
My homepage: http://omana.net/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Elizabeth_Menon

The Most Powerful But Most Dangerous Place To Be - The Comfort Zone

2008-05-26T19:38:00.001Z

There is one thing on this planet that gives children (and some adults) more power than they would ever imagine. We have all experienced it before and if you can get hold of it, you experience freedom and satisfaction that surpass all understanding. With this 'thing', you can control how people feel around you as well as how they might react towards you... You can call it whatever you want to, but I just call it the TV remote.

We all know the divine moment you experience when you can get to the remote first. What makes it even more powerful, is when you have reserved parking in the most comfortable chair in the room. This is such a comfortable place to be in, and we can control virtually everything around us, but in this comfy place, you are marked with one big red bull's eye. You are the target for world war 3.

Similarly, we all find ourselves in such a spot somewhere in our lives. This comfort zone we all find ourselves in, is such a powerful place because we always tend to find something in it that we can use to control things. It gives us power to make any decision we want to and it even gives us the power to manipulate people. But every comfort zone is marked with one giant, red, bull's eyes.

Why? Because no one can grow while he/she is in a comfort zone. And if you look around you, you don't have to look very far to see that the natural tendency of life is to grow. Plants grow, animals grow, people grow not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually.

If you find yourself in such a place where you don't grow, unwanted things (challenges) will start to occur so that you can grow so that the balance in life can be maintained. Obviously no one on this Earth can escape challenges, but you can pick the challenges or they can pick themselves (many times unwanted ones).

So how do you know you are in a comfort zone? It might be a good indication that you are in a comfort zone when you are bored, keep on being mentally tired, where you have become complacent, or where you are not inspired and moved by what you do.
Look around you, look inside you, deeply inside you.

Where do you experience some major challenges or problems in your life; work, relationships, self? The chances that you are in a comfort zone are quite big. For as long as you stay in that comfy little place where you are most relaxed and undisturbed, you will be the target of unwanted challenges.

What can you do right now to get you out of that comfort zone/s?

As a coach I see you as creative and resourceful and therefore you already have all the answers to get you out of it. Unfortunately most of us find ourselves in a comfort zone where we don't want to ask us the necessary powerful questions needed to get us out of it. If we do ask us these very important questions, we wait for someone else, or the right time to get us out of it.

My passion (and job) as a coach, is to guide you on a journey of self exploration and discovery through powerful questioning so that you can get out of these comfort zones. Through this exploration and discovery process, you start to set goals that are not just outrageously big and life changing, but these are the goals that are right for you. These are the goals wherein you find your voice.

These are the goals that make you a History maker and a World shaker.

Start this journey by discovering the right goals for you and receive a free goals report.
All journeys starts with a destination. A destination without goals is useless. But it is not just goals that makes us history makers and world shakers, but the right goals that does.
What goals will revolutionize your life in 2008 and take you on a journey to become a history maker and a world shaker?

Get your free in less than 5 minutes.
Steyn ViljoenProfessional Certified CoachCog Coachinghttp://www.cogcoaching.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steyn_Viljoen

Struggle Is Good

2008-05-26T19:36:00.001Z

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." - Frederick Douglas
Hi Champion,

Welcome back to another edition of Make 2008 Great. Today I would like to share with you a wonderful story on the subject of struggle. At some point in our life we are all faced with some type of challenge. And yes, if you could, you would eliminate struggle from your life. But guess what , struggle is actually good for us as this story will illustrate. I hope you enjoy it.

The Struggle of the Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared and he sat and watched the butterfly as it struggled for several hours to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared it had gotten as far as it could. The man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would expand and be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! in fact, the butterfly spent its whole life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It was never able to fly. What the man, in kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved freedom.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through life without obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been.
And... we would never fly.

To your success,
Kevin Brown
"For better of worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real."
Please share with a few of your friends and business associatesby having them send a blank email to: make2008great@aweber.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_W._Brown

So What's Holding You Back From Success?

2008-05-26T19:34:00.001Z

We all want success. We just don't know how to get there from here. We are looking at our present situation and saying that this is not what we want. We have a spouse who is not cooperative enough (or maybe no spouse at all), kids who aren't appreciative enough, a house that isn't big enough, a car that's not fancy enough, friends that aren't available enough etc. We are jealous of the all the expensive things our neighbor has. We blame our situation, the weather, the economy, our boss etc for our failure.

Why can't we get that we want?

The first mistake we are making is that we are focusing on the things that we don't want. If we are always noticing about how our kids aren't appreciative enough, our kids will know that we expect them to be unappreciative and will live up to those expectations and just get more and more unappreciative. This principle applies to everything.

The world in general will live up to our expectations. If we are always noticing how small our house is, it will seem to become smaller and smaller in our minds. If we are jealous that someone else has something we want, then we are focusing on the fact that we don't have it, and we will continue to not have it. If we blame the economy for our lack of success, then not only are we focusing on the fact that we are failing, we are giving up control of that situation.

We are letting the economy control whether we get what we want. We are becoming a powerless victim. That's not where we would want to be. The first and foremost factor in creating success is taking responsibility for what happens in our lives. We must also notice what is good in our lives and expect more of it.

Our second problem is our opinion of ourselves. The number one thing that prevents most people from succeeding is fear. We are afraid that we will fail, or we are afraid that if we are successful then we won't be able to handle it. What it boils down to is a lack of self confidence. We don't trust in our abilities. We don't have faith that we can succeed and that we can handle it when it happens. We don't have faith that we can handle any problems that will come up.

Because of this, people procrastinate and try to figure out how to solve every possible thing that could go wrong before they start, so they never get started in time to catch the window of opportunity. Successful people have faith in themselves and the self-confidence to know that they will be able to deal with problems as they arise.

In terms of achieving the things we want, we are often our own worst enemy. When we are unhappy with everything we have and when we don't think we have what it takes to be successful, then we are stuck. Our mind is full of negative, unhappy, unsupportive thoughts, and so it stops us from getting from what we want, and often from even trying. Achieving success is mostly a matter of retraining our mind to be appreciative, positive, and supportive.

For more ideas about how to become truly successful and get everything you want, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Crowe

Failure Is Fake

2008-05-26T19:32:00.000Z

Have you ever decided not to do something because you were afraid of failure? Don't worry, you are not alone! The fear of failure is one of the most common reasons people give when asked why they haven't pursued their dreams. Well, let's be honest; no one likes to fail. None of us likes to feel weak, ineffective or lacking in any way, and that's exactly how failure can make us feel.
What if I told you that failure is a fake. Seriously! You may be surprised to know that failure doesn't exist - that is, until YOU say it does.

The dictionary defines failure as:

1) an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success
2) a state of inability to perform a normal function adequately
3) a fracturing or giving way under stress
4) a lack of success.

If you carefully analyze these definitions, you'll probably realize they have one thing in common when it comes to goal achievement: Failure is a perception. I will say it again. Failure is a PERCEPTION and you get to choose how you will perceive your efforts and results!

If you believe you have failed, then yes, you have. If you believe you don't have what it takes to succeed, then yes, you don't. If you believe you can't handle the pressure of achieving your goals and dreams, then yes, you can't. If you believe you're not successful, then yes, you aren't.

Failure only exists in your own mind! The moment you decide to give up or stop working toward your goals, you have given birth to failure.

But what if you decide to never do that or hold those beliefs? What if you continue working toward your goals, one step at a time for as long as it takes? What if you look at your results as stepping stones towards your ultimate goals? There's no failure then, is there?

This insight should be very encouraging if you've been working toward goals and have not yet seen the results you are looking for. Simply keep going and you cannot fail.
Shirley Muhammad is the webmaster at Inspire Town a place where inspiration and motivation reside.

Get your Burst of Inspiration. Subscribe to the Inspire Town ezine and Inspirational Quote of the Day at http://www.inspiretown.com
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Which Talent Assessment is Best?

2008-05-26T19:15:00.002Z

I often hear HR professionals ask: "What tools do you recommend to accurately assess the talent in our organization?" Choosing the right talent assessment is critical to making sound hiring, development, and promotion decisions. Without this information, decisions can only be based on partial information, personal preferences, or the opinions of others.

As a rule of thumb, I recommend that organizations rely on more than one assessment for critical talent decisions, such as hiring a key player or promoting an executive. The right combination of assessment tools provides a more comprehensive view of the candidate. This approach can remove bias and the "halo effect" in some individuals, and reveal flaws or limitations that were not previously apparent.

The ideal suite of assessments will provide reliable information on the candidate's track record, pattern of behavior, management style, competency profile, and potential for greater responsibilities.

A complementary set of assessments includes some the following tools:

Performance Evaluations
Psychometric Tests
360-Degree Feedback Surveys
Employee Engagement Scores
Trait-Based Assessments
Talent Interviews

I will briefly describe each of these assessment approaches and the pros and cons of each.

1. Performance Evaluations

Most organizations use performance reviews as the basis for measuring individual performance and determining compensation. They are focused on results achieved and job objectives. However, performance evaluations are insufficient indicators of talent for at least three reasons. First, they are highly subjective to the supervisor's views and grading bias. Second, they focus primarily on one facet of an individual's contribution-- "the WHAT", leaving out much information as to "the HOW" a person does their job. Third, performance reviews are generally inconsistent throughout the organization. Some managers faithfully conduct these reviews. Others don't. They are also often conducted at different times during the year.

2. Psychometric Tests

Well established psychometric tests provide reliable information that is relatively easy to collect and cost-effective. These tests provide accurate insights on specific traits, together with benchmarks relevant to the candidate's job position. However, psychometric tests are narrow in scope, and while they add a data point, they cannot provide a full picture of a person's performance and potential. Care should also be taken to ensure they are correctly administered and interpreted.

3. 360-Degree Feedback

360-degree feedback surveys provide useful measures of leadership competency. 360-degree feedback surveys best measure HOW a person does the job on a series of leadership competencies. 360s are less subjective, as they include multiple relevant points of view on the candidates' performance. The results are very useful for personal development. The limitation, however, is that 360 feedback is relative to the candidate's job expectations and rater selection, making 360 comparisons between individuals less reliable. Additionally, 360-degree feedback results are often used for development purposes only, and the resulting data is considered confidential. Conducting a 360-degree assessment is also generally not possible for a new-hire.

4. Employee Engagement Scores

Employee engagement scores are useful, provided you can report the results specific to those employees that report to the manager. Employee engagement is a strong indicator of how well that person leads his/her team. Engagement scores have direct impact on employee motivation, performance, and retention. However, engagement metrics are influenced by the organization's overall culture and group's current situation, which may not be completely controllable by the group leader. The main challenge for most organizations is their availability, given the frequency and reporting constraints of employee surveys.

5. Trait-Based Assessments

Assessments that measure personality traits do not predict job performance or potential. However, they are useful descriptors of the candidate's preferred ways of thinking, behaving, and leading. They describe tendencies in leadership style and potential pitfalls that can be valuable when assessing a person's fit in the organization's culture, as well as expected job behaviors. Trait-based assessments are descriptive of the candidate's style and fit, but should not be used for prescriptive decision making.

6. Talent Interviews

When it comes to critical hiring and promotion decisions, I highly recommend including talent interviews in the assessment process. Talent interviews consist of in-depth review of a person's work history, patterns of behavior, accomplishments, areas for improvement, and projected growth. An experienced interviewer provides key insights and valuable information through the talent interview report. Keep in mind, however, that a comprehensive interview process can be costly, and will most likely be reserved for key decisions.

Talent Inventory Profile™I'm often asked the question, "What if I have many managers to assess? Is there a simple, cost-effective tool that provides a snapshot?"

When decisions are lower risk, or when I need to scan talent across a large number of candidates, it is often not cost-effective to conduct comprehensive talent assessments. In such cases, I recommend using a "primer" assessment, like the DecisionWise Talent Inventory Profile (TIP), to get a quick take on the candidates. For best results, couple an assessment like TIP with a talent review meeting for calibrating management's views on those candidates.

TIP gathers feedback from the individual and his or her supervisor based on three areas: Results Focus, People Skills, and Growth Potential. It is similar to gathering performance review data (Results Focus) and 360-degree feedback (People Skills) in one assessment.

Plus, Growth Potential measures whether the person is a good candidate for greater responsibility. TIP is not meant to be the final word on a person's talent, but it provides a quick and easy way to evaluate large numbers of individuals for an organizational talent review.

Conclusion

The purpose of the talent assessment process is driving results, developing leadership capacity, identifying successors, and grooming future leaders. I recommend using multiple assessments when making important hiring and promotion decisions. TIP is a good way to conduct an overall talent management process that aligns people to the organization's strategy.
Juan Riboldi
To find more articles on leadership development and talent management visit our website at: http://www.decwise.com
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Twelve Ways to Improve Your Self-Image and Self-Esteem

2008-05-26T19:11:00.002Z

Never think that you're not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. People will take you very much at your own reckoning. " Anthony Trollope

How do you picture yourself?

Do you have a positive or negative image of yourself? Many people don't like what they see on the outside, or they don't like themselves on the inside. Some people don't even want to look.
Self-image is how you see yourself, and how you think others see you. You compare yourself to others and make judgments about your physical looks, your intelligence and your personality.
Your self-image plays a HUGE role in how you behave and feel.

How do you feel about yourself?

Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. Self-esteem is determined by your internal feelings and evaluation of yourself based on your "perceived" self-image. If you are constantly comparing yourself to others and feel like you don't measure up, your self-esteem suffers.
Your self-esteem and self-image are closely interrelated and are established primarily in childhood.

The positive and negative feedback you received while growing up, from your parents, teachers and other authority figures, helped create your view of yourself. As you move through life, you have the ability to change any negative self-images you've acquired. Unfortunately, most people never question if the negative beliefs they have picked up are even true.

Is it true that you will never amount to anything? Is it true that you aren't smart enough?
Once you have a negative thought or belief firmly in place, your unconscious mind will repeat it over and over again. It takes about 20 positive statements to counter-act just one negative statement.
What do you say to yourself on a regular basis?
Are you proud of who you are and what you have accomplished?
Are you ashamed of yourself and disappointed in yourself?

Here are some suggestions to improve your self-image and self-esteem.

" A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success." Joyce Brothers
12 Ways to Improve Your Self Image and Self Esteem
• Make a list of the things you like about yourself.
• Make a list of the things others have acknowledged about you.
• Stop your negative 'self talk'. Replace it with positive, supportive self talk.
• Stop comparing yourself to others. Accept who you are or make changes.
• Spend time with people who value you. Avoid those who insist on pointing out your flaws.
• Make changes in your appearance, clothes, hair or behaviors that will improve your self-image.
• Dress to emphasize what you like about yourself.
• Genuinely accept the compliments you receive about your appearance.
• Start an exercise program - you can change your body.
• Walk as much as you can. Don't always go for the parking spot up front.
• Get out in nature and do some deep breathing and self-appreciation.
• Straighten up, smile and focus straight ahead as you move through your day. You have the ability to look and feel more confident.

" The "self-image" is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self-image and you change the personality and the behavior."Maxwell Maltz

Action Challenge

Take some time to really explore how you feel about yourself. Answer these questions mentally, or better yet, on paper.

1. If you are not thrilled with who you are, why aren't you?
2. Are your beliefs valid or did you pick them up from what others told you?
3. How long are you willing to put yourself down based on someone else's opinion?
4. How long are you willing to compare yourself to others who are having a very different experience of life from you?
5. What are you ready to accept about yourself?
6. What are you ready to change about yourself?
7. What would it take for you to truly love yourself?
8. What action steps are you ready to take in order to strengthen your self-image and raise your self-esteem?

" No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." Eleanor Roosevelt
It is up to you to honor and appreciate who you are and what you have to offer the world. Begin today.

Kathy Atkinson is the owner of Creative Life Coaching, a personal growth and self-development company offering products and services to support your quest for happiness and success in your personal and professional life. Since 2000, Kathy has been coaching clients in the US and abroad via the telephone.

Kathy specializes in using EFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques, to help business owners, professionals and individuals release the fears, doubts and limiting beliefs that cost them financially in their careers and emotionally in their relationships. Experience this amazing process for yourself by downloading the free EFT for Anxiety Relief script and audio recording today. Visit http://www.EFT-downloads.com for more information about the Emotional

Freedom Techniques.
Kathy's life coaching web site - Eight Keys to Success offers a plan and a process for taking charge of your life. Check out the success keys today at http://www.8keystosuccess.com
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Low Self-Esteem And Toxic People

2008-05-26T19:09:00.001Z

One surefire way to maintain a low level of self-esteem is to continue to associate with toxic people. So what are toxic people? They are the people that are poison to our lives and our environment. They drain us of our energy, our time, our money, and they can also play havoc with our minds. Toxic people can literally make you physically or mentally ill.

Take a good look at the people around you: family, friends, bosses, co-workers, and anyone else who you interact with everyday. Do you find the people in your life encouraging, supportive, and uplifting, or are they a drain? How do you feel when you're around the people in your life? If certain people make you feel bad, unattractive, or depressed, they are toxic to you.

You see, sometimes we feel bad and suffer from low self-esteem because we have surrounded ourselves with people who, consciously or unconsciously, have found a way to make us feel bad about ourselves. I believe that the most blatant example of this is a relationship with domestic violence. A woman or man most likely enters an abusive relationship because they have already had some issues with their self-esteem.

However, once in the relationship, they must deal with someone who knows all the right psychological buttons to push in order to make them feel continuously bad about themselves.
In these relationships, it gets to the point where the victim starts to feel that being physically and mentally abused is somehow acceptable or deserved. They can even believe that it is often their own fault that the abuse takes place. Therefore, they stay in a relationship where they are abused, and their self-worth continues to dwindle.

More of us than would like to admit are in abusive relationships. Abuse doesn't have to be physical or overt. Anybody who makes you feel lesser, unhappy about who you are, or unworthy is not someone you should entertain in your circle of friends.

Take a long hard look at the people who you associate with everyday. Many times, our relatives are the ones who make us feel bad and rob us of our energy and feelings of self-worth. So, step back and really look at the people in your life. Instead of asking, "what is the matter with me?" you need to ask, "who is the matter with me?"

Try to associate with people who are going to make you feel good about yourself; people who are empowering and are really on your side are not going to make you feel bad about yourself. They want you to feel good. Try to hang out with people who emit positivity. If you don't have anyone who makes you feel good right now, then gradually draw yourself away from the people who are making you feel bad and enjoy some alone time while you find techniques, tools, classes, and ways of thinking that will improve your self-esteem.

As you start to feel better about yourself, you're going to naturally attract people who feel better about themselves; it's a win-win situation. You will also learn that you - and only you - hold the key to how you feel about yourself. When trying to figure out why you may have low self-esteem, be sure to take a close look at the people in your life.

Wambui Bahati "Miss Inspiration" is an inspirational and motivational speaker and entertainer. Her passion is reminding you of your magnificence. http://www.wambui-bahati.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wambui_Bahati

Low Confidence Can Be Lethal

2008-05-26T19:07:00.001Z

People that are low or are not confident find a lot of difficulty to reach their goals. Self-confidence is something that is required to survive, meaning everyone with confidence can reach his or her goals with ease, and it is actually the most important fact of one's success. Ever imagined how the great players or business men make it all the way up to the top, yes self confidence is what they have. The command over self-confidence helps them be the best amongst all of us.

It is something that any and everyone requires to succeed in life. A person that has confidence can succeed in his objectives. Self-confidence is something that has to be created in order to accomplish something or anything that is desired. Once you have developed self-confidence your goal is half achieved. So a person must have confidence, as it acts as a lethal weapon in reaching ones goal.

Confidence is required for everything, in sports, business, studies, daredevil acts, if you are confident enough you can go all-out and succeed in reaching your goal, come what may. Confidence can do wonders for you. Imagine you are demoralized and always fear a loss before it actually occurred, this means that you are actually low on confidence and are not prepared to reach your goal.

The amount of work that you will put in might not be enough to reach the goal. So you require building that self-confidence. You might be low on confidence because of your past experience, where you suffered a heavy defeat, or possibly you have grown up without the most important aspect of life, self-confidence. However you need not worry, as there is help available in all forms for you to have that self-confidence.

A person that has fear of loss might experience this situation, in which he will assume things negatively and so will be the results. So in order to build self-confidence you have to work on your mental behavior and start thinking and looking at things positively. Confidence is all that is required to be there and achieve it.

Hypnosis can help you increase your self-confidence. Hypnosis deals with a person's mind that is disturbed and stressed with daily wear and tear, which increases the chances of low self-confidence. Hypnosis takes your mind to a subconscious state and removes those negative thoughts and instead fills it up with positive ones. After all positive results are the ones that you require and only positive thoughts can get you positive results.

So if you want to build confidence then you can look for a hypnosis treatment. This will allow you in increasing your confidence.This hypnosis treatment is available on the Internet in the form of mp3. So all you have to do is get one downloaded and you can just get started. Once you have done this you will see that how mp3 content will help you increase your self-confidence.

You can use this modern way of self-hypnotizing for your cause. So all you have to do is get one and get started. Once done you will accomplish many goals in your life as you have that very important success weapon, self confidence.
For more information on confidence and how to deal with self confidence check the links today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shanat_Kuphur

Exploring Where Your Beliefs Come From

2008-05-26T19:05:00.001Z

Have you ever confronted your own beliefs or considered how your beliefs originated? Have you ever challenged any of your long-held beliefs?

Beliefs are a system for understanding the world around us. They provide stability and help us make sense of our life. But many of our belief systems are based on "Environmental Noise," meaning that many of our beliefs come from the beliefs and ideas of other people. Their "noise" affects how and what we believe.

Challenge your beliefs in life

Does it matter what you believe? Some of our belief systems aren't based on fact or reality, and yet these beliefs help us interpret the world and make decisions. Obviously our beliefs influence the way we live our lives, which makes them very important. Our beliefs are affected by our environment, our mentors in life and everyone around us. Our family, friends, teachers, mentors, colleagues, the government, and the news media all influence us in some way. These influences help form our belief systems. Some of our beliefs are helpful, while other beliefs may be detrimental to our happiness.

We may have acquired beliefs that originated from childhood, such as the belief that "I'm not good enough." Such a belief is certainly not factually correct, but because it is part of our belief system, it can affect everything we do.

Here's a good illustration of this concept. Have you ever invited someone to apply for a job because you believed in their qualifications, yet the person held the belief that they were not qualified?

If so, you would have received the response, "I can't do that job. I'm not qualified." Their past work may demonstrate that the person can do the job, but their beliefs held them back. Their beliefs caused them to devalue their worth.

From this example you can see how a belief system can hold you back from living your best life. Take a good look at the beliefs you are holding on to. Challenge and test those beliefs and you will begin to see that some of them are not worth keeping. You will even learn that a lot of the beliefs you thought were true are really somebody else's beliefs.

Improve your life

The idea that our belief systems are not always set in stone can vitalize and change your life. You are the gatekeeper of your beliefs, which means that you can reject any untrue or limiting belief systems.

Our thoughts and beliefs can have a dramatic effect on our lives. We attract the types of things that we think and believe. If we have positive optimistic beliefs, we will attract positive events and situations. This means that we have the power to change and improve our own lives simply by challenging our beliefs and eliminating those that don't add value to our lives.

Take some time to test your belief system and challenge the beliefs that are holding you back. Affirm the positive and beneficial beliefs at the same time that you remove the beliefs that detract from your life. The results will be self-improvement and an abundance of happiness.

Want to learn more about self-improvement? Bruno LoGreco is a Toronto life coach and mentor. Visit BrunoLoGreco.com and find out how to unleash your potential for success and happiness.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruno_Logreco

If You Are Facing an Identity Crisis Over Stress or Self Esteem This May Just Be What You So Need

2008-05-26T19:02:00.001Z

Have you read it recently? It would certainly be worth it. I am referring to the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament part of the Bible. It has much to say to us regarding the situations we are living in today! It is practical, relevant, and answers many questions which many people are seriously asking.

Ecclesiastes is written by King Solomon - a man who had wisdom - wealth - fame - and knowledge. He became king at 18, and was the third king of Israel - Saul - David - then Solomon.
He appears to be facing a crisis and writes about it. If you are facing a crisis then this book may be just what you need!

Now - he was king for 40 years - he built the Temple - he had success in commerce and business - he wrote the Song of Songs - and Proverbs - and two Psalms. Yet he comes to that point where he appears to regard everything as utterly pointless. "When nothing seems to make sense". We all want to leave our mark upon the world in some way.

He had done a lot of work - and yet he asks - "What am I living for? What is the purpose in all I have been doing?" The search for satisfaction is not an easy search - not without God.
Jesus Christ says - "Without me you can do nothing."

We come and go. Verse 4 speaks of that type of experience. Is he experiencing an identity crisis?
Who am I and what am I doing? If you can answer these questions then you are richly blessed - a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ - and fulfilling your role in the plans and purposes of God.

Selwyn Hughes in his most helpful and valuable writings refers to his "dark spiritual tunnel" which seemed to confront him during his early days as a believer in Jesus - but that can arise at any time - and the answer - the light which we need - can come directly from Jesus - or from the Word itself - or through a fellow disciple who comes alongside with an enlightening word.
What a way to begin your book - especially if you are a preacher or teacher - saying four times that everything is meaningless - pointless - empty.

Man's way of life was quite empty and meaningless before meeting Jesus. Peter refers to that. We have been saved and rescued from meaningless existences!

This man's expression of what he was currently experiencing is more relevant than many realize. I wish I could take you through the whole exciting book. Do read it and if you have questions contact me and ask me.

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shawsandyshaw63@yahoo.com
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Self Worth

2008-05-26T19:00:00.001Z

Self Worth is the belief in oneself as capable, deserving and worthy of a laudable and tangible achievement. Self Worth is a trust in one's ability to attain a goal or feat. It is getting over one's inferiority complex.

Self Worth is an ingredient of success and a must-have for any aspiring goal achiever. It is a way of manifesting love and ability.

In this world, where we are constantly fed with negative beliefs of limited resources, luck and fates, most of us are plagued with inferiority complexes. This has in turn affected our subconscious mind, and has produced negative and backward manifestations.

There is the need for each individual to build self-worth, to cast-off these erroneous manifestations. When we determine what we want, the next step is to consider ourself deserving to achieve the goal or desire. When we consider ourself really deserving, it will hasten our subconscious mind to manifest what we desire.

Each human being is blessed with the ability to make his own realities, fates and lucks. This is a power endowed on us by our Creator. The degree of belief about our ability to succeed has a major impact on the quality of the decisions and actions we take. Core beliefs cannot be faked.

Hence the need to have a positive heart of self worth to succeed in your goals. Create a positive belief in yourself over your desires. For you to succeed in any goal, you must first honestly believe in your ability to achieve it. Remove self-doubt from your thinkings.

Abu Aremu is an Information Publisher and motivator. He writes on many topics including guides to positive mental attitudes and how to achieve greater heights in life. You can read life changing articles and resources from him at http://abuaremu.com/blog and subscribe to his newsletter Positive Self Talk Weekly Guide at http://positiveselftalkguide.com
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Understanding Yourself

2008-05-26T18:58:00.001Z

How much time do you put in, just being with yourself? With our busy schedules it is often difficult to find anytime for ones self. To truly understand who we are, we need to take time to get to know ourselves on a new level.

Most of us have heard of the idea of meditating or journaling, but why take the time to do them? One of the main benefits of meditating or journaling is a decrease in stress. Learning to take time for ourselves lets our inner self know that we are important in our lives. There is nothing worse than feeling unimportant in someone's life. Our inner self is no different than being in relationship with someone in the outside world.

We are very complex beings with many layers to who we are, in taking time to be with ourselves, we can learn so much more about what is happening inside ourselves. As our inner world, creates our outer world, learning more about our inner world becomes very important. One must learn to be quiet in order to listen to what the inside self has to say.

It is not always easy to understand this part of ourselves. One must be patient in order to befriend the inner self. After many years of neglect the inner self does not necessarily step right up to the plate because you have decided to be visit suddenly.

It is like making a new friend outside of yourself, if you don't spend time getting to know them, you will not have a very good friendship. Your inner self is like this, most people don't now a great deal about their inner selves, for they have not taken time to get to know this part of themselves.

• To begin I would recommend that you make meditation and journaling a daily practice till it becomes a habit. Start with 5 or 10 minutes a day, if that is all you can find time for, then increase it, by increments up to 1 hour. Play soft music, light candles, whatever feels good. This is a special time for you. Honor yourself in this time. Be quiet and listen. If your mind is really cluttered and you can't get it to quiet, pay attention to your breathing, then imagine you have a basket beside you. Dump all the chatter and thoughts into this basket and tell your brain you will pick it up again when you are finished.

• The important part is consistency. It is better to do 5 minutes daily rather than 20 minutes once a week. The brain is very smart and knows if you don't truly commit to it, the brain just needs to be patient and you will give up this silly idea.

• Create a daily practice, be committed to getting to know yourself, be curious about what you might discover, treat it as a new friendship with a person you truly like and want to spend time with and get to know.• You are valuable and worthwhile getting to know!
Janice SmithEmpowerment Coach604-921-2882Author Era of the Rebel, Embracing Your Individualityhttp://www.eraoftherebel.com
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Assertive Styles - Pros and Cons

2008-05-26T18:51:00.002Z

There are pros and cons to each behavioral style, however, as far as is generically possible, there is a preferred communication and behavioral style.

Read this article to establish which style you largely use in your daily communications.
When reading about the four possible styles identified here, see what adjustments you need to make to you current preferred style to ensure a more empathetic way of communicating and interacting with others.

The non-assertive styles are being aggressive, passive, and manipulative.
These can be effective for the short-term but, as characteristics of these can include dishonesty, bad feelings, time wasting, and conflict creation, they are not recommended even for short-term effect.

Rarely is a person 100% of any one style. Everyone tends to be a mixture of all four styles.
For example, you may be passive in one setting (being bullied by an aggressive), then retaliate and become aggressive to less threatening people in another setting. Or, a passive may be passive for so long before s/he explodes.

In newspaper articles, we read that someone 'wouldn't hurt a fly', or is 'as quiet as a mouse', yet in the article, that person has committed a violent crime. Only the assertive style leads to honest, effective, and a problem-solving-oriented communication, and to the evolution of a well-balanced interactive self. Both assertiveness and aggressiveness are often associated with self-confidence, but this is incorrect.

In order to understand the nature of assertive behavior and communication, you also need to understand the nature of non-assertive behavior and communication, ie aggressively controlling, passively observing and warmly proposing behavior.

Aggressive Controlling Behavior

People exhibiting aggressive behavior have a high level of non-empathetic energy, and like to be in control.

PROS

• Aggressive behavior appears commanding and confident

CONS

• On the negative side, such people are often insensitive to the rights and needs of others
• They may adopt a sarcastic or hostile attitude, and
• Will often interrupt and talk over others without listening

Passively Observing Behavior

These people have a low level of energy and a low level of empathy.

PROS

• Positive characteristics of people exhibiting this behavior are that they effectively analyze discussions or debates, and
• They can listen well

CONS

• Their negative aspects mean that they often ignore and sacrifice their own rights
• They often stay silent, rather than speaking out, and
• They can often feel inept

Firmly Asserting Behavior

PROS

These people have a high little level of energy and are highly empathetic
• They take action towards getting what is wanted, without denying another person's rights
• They are proactive and solution-oriented to always find a positive way forward
• They demonstrate that they value people's feelings and other's needs
• Such people are also good listeners

CONS

• A drawback of this firmly asserting behavior is that they may not want to coach others who are less assertive
Warmly Proposing Behavior
These people have a gentle level of empathy and low level of energy.

PROS

• This behavioral type keeps the discussions and conversations calm and friendly
• They gently offer lots of ideas and suggestions

CONS

• A negative aspect of this type is that they may not come to the point about what they want or need
• They also become upset in the face of high aggression or anger
Every style has its strengths and weaknesses, or its pros and cons, according to the situation.
Some people confuse assertive with being aggressive, but they are worlds apart.
Understanding the pros and cons of these assertion styles means that you are able to plan your behavioral and verbal strategies in advance.

Gloria M Hamilten is a recognized authority in disciplines within Personal Development and People Skills for Business Professionals, such as Time Management, Negotiation Skills, Developing High-Performance Teams, Assertion Skills, Building International Rapport, Conflict Management and Resolution, Presentation and Platform Skills.
Her studies in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Psychology have lead to her researching brain disorders such as ADD and its relations.

She has her own training business, and conducts courses for Organizations, Sporting groups and Tertiary Educational Institutions in Australia. Her professional experience covers over 30 years of study, research, one-on-one coaching, group coaching, presentations and workshops. Her clientèle includes children as well as adults.

Gloria Hamilten has authored the eBook: "Practical Self-Hypnosis for Success" and many Reports and online articles.
Her websites provide a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything within these genres.

Visit her websites and get a Free copy of her latest Report:
http://www.connect4results.com
http://neuro-linguistic-pro-site.com
This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.
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How Important Is Communication In The Work Place?

2008-05-26T18:50:00.001Z

Good communication skills are vital in the work place. Having poor communication skills can have a very negative effect on the relationships you have with your coworkers, boss or employees. Productivity may even decrease due to not having good communication in your place of business.

When you are working as a team, your company and work relationships will build stronger communication. You have to be able to relate and communicate your thoughts and ideas with others in the work place. It's not just better for you, it's better for everyone.

There are many things you can do to better help in this area, for starters, develop friendships within your work place. These are people that you see sometimes 50 hours per week. It's always better to try and get along and be friendly with people that you see so much of. It will help over all in so many ways.

If you are happy at work and enjoy the people that you are working with on a daily basis, that is bound to strengthen workplace communication. Start each day with a firm "good morning" as you enter the building. While working in Texas one manager would shout "Moring El Paso" when he entered the building... That may not be effective for every environment, but it became a trademark of his.

It is almost impossible to give your 100% when you are not relaying and communicating what is going on. You also have to listen and be willing to learn from others. You have to also listen and value others opinions, if you want your opinions heard. Show interest in whatever your co workers have to say. They will be more likely to respect what you have to say in return.

The bottom line is you should always try to be as kind and as courteous as possible at work, but also very professional and confident in your job. Communication and respect goes both ways. If you are willing to make some friendly changes you might be surprised how things change in your work place for the better.

Are you looking for more resources to help you communicate better in the work place?
Visit http://www.manageup.net/ today and signup for the newsletter featuring leadership tips that may help you when communicating in the work place.

This article was written by Michael Roberts Jr. the founder of Manage Up.net
His website is dedicated to developing better organizational leadership. The website has eBooks, articles, and online training for managers. Don't miss the opportunity to sharpen your skills and take your career to new levels using insightful knowledge from an expert in management.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Roberts_Jr

Time To Say No!

2008-05-26T18:49:00.001Z

Some people have under different circumstances difficulties in saying "No" to others. In organizations that is a frequent issue where employees or managers are sent to a training to dominate this competence.

It is possible that problems in organizations are like this: just isolated cases in which one person is not able to defend oneself by saying "No."

It is also possible that such an incident and isolated case is part of a bigger problem. This becomes clear when we ask why someone has to defend itself. OR, what will happen when all employees and managers have been sent to the same assertivity-training and there is no more problem in this area. IS the problem than resolved? And what would have been the problem at all?

Organizational issues always have a business component. If someone doesn't pick-up the phone a client will notice the un-availability of the business service. Inside, this could be because someone just said," I'm busy, I haven't had lunch yet," or some other fair-enough reason.
The other side is that not every element of the business is as interesting as you would like it to be.

Some corporate values highlight the "passion" of the employees for their work, but some jobs are just not interesting, not passionate, but boring and it requires the right amount of organizational discipline to get them done.

The easiest thing than would be to shift the job to someone else. If you are lucky and this person isn't too assertive he will do the job for you. At the end of the month this employees discusses the progression of the activities with the manager and they conclude that the results are below expectations. "Yes, but I have done a lot of other activities for others ... and ..." The manager concluded that this employees should be more assertive and "proscribes" the right training.

The wrong decision. After a few month it becomes clear that clients complain about a lack of service. The real problem didn't get solved and that is in this case the irresponsibility of employees towards part of their activities. There are always people who will solve this on their expense.

Rather than prescribing a simple solution, the busy manager should take a moment to think about a possible relation of this problem with some other. It often starts at the business and with "who is doing what."

Hans Bool
Hans Bool writes articles about management, culture and change. If you are interested to read or experience more about these topics have a look at: Astor White.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hans_Bool

Four Ways to Have Great Work Relationships

2008-05-26T18:46:00.001Z

We tend to approach relationships at work with trepidation. Particularly in professional offices - medical, veterinarian, optometrists, dentists, holistic clinics, chiropractors... These are places where the success of the practice is built on the quality of the staff. Staff growth is largely a function of practice growth; modest turnover and high morale are major objectives.
It is rare to have coaches operate in this under served environment: tools, yes - coaching - no. I have been coaching professional staffs for some time.

Here are a few of the things I've learned that are most useful

1. And I think most valuable: acknowledgment -This does not mean "compliment;" it does not mean flatter. It simply means to say what's there to be said. "Thanks for doing your job." "I notice you've been staying a few minutes longer." And so on. Management rarely, if ever, acknowledges staff (except at bonus time or special occasions. Staff almost never acknowledges management. What neither realizes is that acknowledgment changes attitudes, even transforms relations. Acknowledgment causes trust.

2. It's often useful when making requests - particularly of management, to use the catch phrase, WIIFM - What's In It For Me. Whoever you're asking will respond to you, if you answer that question for them. In other words, how do they listen to you?

3. It's also useful to ask permission. When you want to say something that could be interpreted poorly, ask permission. Before you ask permission, there's intrusion, aggressiveness. After you've gotten permission, you can say anything freely.
You can also give yourself permission. For example, at meetings, you can say, "I just want to say I'm nervous,..." This allows you not to worry about how you sone, or if you look good.

4. Here's another tip that is fabulous, but hard to act on. Don't take what's said personally, no matter how it sounds. You don't know What's going on in their life, what upset they are dealing with, what you reminded them of. I promise there is always something else. Don't react as if they are responding to you. They are not.

Michael Lipp, coaches professionals to have great staffs and staffs to have great practices. He gives teleseminare called Relationships at Work (next one coming April 30th) and sells an e-Course called The Principles of Relationships and the Laws that have them Work. Find out more on his website http://www.michaellipp.com/michaelsreadingroom/index.html or write to him, michael@michaellipp.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_F_Lipp

Unbeatable Business Communication - How to Set the Stage for Success

2008-05-26T18:39:00.002Z

How to Align the Stars in your Business Communication~

Just as the stars seem to align for a perfect circumstance, so can your business-- and this time you can be in control of the stars. How fast would your business move if you got the results you wanted? When you create alignment in your business, you ensure that each person involved is working toward a common goal.

Because you have created shared desires with each other, each party feels as if everything is working in their favor and you set yourself up for better results. Creating alignment is more than just learning new listening techniques or overcoming objections. Every successful business interaction, or any instance where people are working together to create the most favorable result, needs to start with alignment.

You can understand this concept more fully if you think about life in general terms. Each day you drive down the highway to work, the store, or pick up the kids - going in your own direction. Although you are going your own way to achieve your desired outcome (getting where they want to go), there are others on the road trying to reach their own destinations. Although each person may reach different destinations, the transportation laws communicate to everyone to drive in the same way, this creates alignment. At the end of the commute, everyone achieves the result they set out to accomplish.

Alignment in business works the same way. It involves communicating with those around you to reach a common goal creating enhanced results.

~First Things First - Build Internal Alignment~

You cannot create alignment with others without first creating alignment with yourself and being able to express that clarity to others. In order to effectively communicate your goals to others, you must explore and determine the underlying values within your desired outcome.

For example, you might want everyone who attends a meeting to bring paper and a pen to write notes. As you explore this desire, you may discover that organization is very important to you or that active participation is a high priority. Every outcome you desire has an underlying value supporting it and that value is what motivates you to want what you want in the first place.

~Alignment in Practice: Conversing with Others~

After determining the personal values that motivate you, you need to discover what values motivate the others with whom you will be working. To begin, simply express your values to the others and ask if they too share these values, and if they would be willing to consider ways of creating that kind of environment.

This is how we align our values-we create a shared goal. Your shared goal might be to achieve increased results or to enhance productivity, or even to have a more harmonious relationship. Once you are both on the same page and understand your shared goal, you can begin working out strategies to achieve the results you want.

Points to Remember when Having the Alignment Conversation:

During the initial conversation, it is better to avoid strategizing with the other person. It is important to focus on coming to an agreement on values and to create a shared goal. Once you are set on a shared goal, you can move on to determining the details of how you will get there.

Another trap to avoid is discussing failure. It is easy to play the blame game and talk about how things did not go well last time, but you will have more success by focusing on the positive in this case. Only discuss the past as it relates to a value that may not have existed back then, not to blame or create negativity amongst the group.

Other Keys to Cover in the Conversation:

• Be willing to negotiate detailed strategies that benefit all those involved• Dedicate yourself to letting go of judgment and criticism

• Be ready to celebrate all successes that come from the conversation

When you have set an understanding of values and created a shared vision, you have already been successful in working together for a mutually beneficial outcome. It will now come more naturally to create situations where everyone gets what they want.

You will begin to see just how enjoyable it can be to work toward a common goal, when everyone is agreeable. You will find yourself in a collaborative and supportive work environment that lends itself to enhanced productivity and wins for all.

Creating alignment is just part of a series of steps you can take to create vibrant relationships and successes in your business communications. For more tips, suggestions and advice, sign up for our free thought-provoking and motivational Weekly Action Tips email series at:

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Each actionable tip will help guide you to the place you want to be in your business relationships.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Banning

Body Language - 10 Tips for Reading People and Interpreting Gestures

2008-05-26T18:36:00.001Z

Reading people and their body language can give you great insights into their true feeling.
We use our head, arms, hands, shoulders and even legs and feet to make gestures, and emphasize what we are saying, but the majority of gestures are made with the hands and arms. Here are some things to look for, to help you interpret body language and gestures.

1. Nodding or tilting the head to the side shows interest, active listening, and concern.

2. A head held up indicates confidence, but if it is held too high, it can indicate aloofness or a patronizing attitude - looking down your nose at someone.

3. Shrugging the shoulders with a palms-up gesture indicates that the person doesn't know or care, or is bored or uninterested.

4. People sometimes reveal their real feelings through body language that contradicts their words. For example, if someone says he agrees with you, but his head moves slightly from side to side, he is really signaling disagreement. He may be showing his real feelings, but not want to be bothered arguing with you.

5. Some people pick lint from their clothing. Whether this is conscious or unconscious, it can indicate that they disagree with you, but can't be bothered to argue.

6. Nervousness often shows in your hands. People who are anxious may rub or wring their hands together, or clasp and unclasp them.

7. When we aren't comfortable with our hands, we hide them in our pockets or behind our backs. Hands in the pocket convey a hidden agenda or secretiveness.

8. An open palm suggests honest and sincerity. A closed fist can be considered menacing.

9. Hands on the hips can be seen as defiant.

10. The fig leaf position, with your hands clasped together over your crotch, or folded tightly over your chest (the female fig leaf) can make you seem aloof or defensive.
Do you know the biggest business image mistakes? Find out with these free reports:

7 Business Casual Crimes and How to Solve Them, and 13 Foods that Can Sabotage a Business Meal, when you sign up for my Communication Capsules Ezine at: http://www.Impressforsuccess.com/signup.html
From Lynda Goldman, author of 30 books including How to Make a Million Dollar First Impression
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynda_Goldman

The Way You Talk Can Hurt You - 3 Tips to Better Communication

2008-05-26T18:28:00.003Z

Joseph worked hard. As a customer service telephone representative, he showed respect and courtesy to everyone who called the company. But he wanted to get ahead. He wanted an outside sales job. He applied for open positions over and over again; his manager turned him down each time. Finally, Joseph went to his boss and demanded to know why.

"Joseph," he said, "Your enunciation is so lousy, I wouldn't dare send you out to meet my customers face to face." Joseph felt crushed. He resigned the next day.
Are you getting the career results you want in the workplace? If not, take a few minutes to assess your vocal habits. Why? Because your voice is your image; people will always judge you based on how you talk. They will listen to the way you speak - how you say what you say - and evaluate your credibility, professionalism and competence.

For example, an office worker who constantly drops his or her word endings will be viewed as lacking intelligence, or at best, a sloppy speaker - no job promotion. A female manager who has a high-pitched, squeaky voice will be viewed as uncertain or unsure of herself - no control over her team. Or a college instructor who lectures in a monotone voice will be viewed as dull and boring; and will put his students to sleep - no learning occurs.

But there is hope . . .

Tip #1: Tape-record your voice. This is important because when you're speaking your voice sounds different to you than to others. Ask yourself: is my voice crisp and clear? Does my voice have a pleasing and pleasant pitch level? If you answered no to these two questions . . .

Tip #2: Begin a self-improvement program at once! To help you speak crisply and distinctly, say your words to the end. For instance, say 'subject' not 'subjeck'; 'bend' not 'ben'; 'reading' not 'readin' and so forth. To control your pitch level, breathe from the diaphragm; learn to relax. When you're tense, you're self-conscious, and the tension reveals itself in a strained, high-pitched voice. Speak slowly. This will lower the pitch of your voice.

Watch your posture! If you slouch, sag and hunch over, you can't breathe efficiently and this will show in your voice. In fact, these postures will actually restrict the sounds you produce in you voice box.

Finally, some believe the effective speaking voice is like a musical instrument. Thus, to practice vocal variety (and not sound monotonous and boring), move your pitch around by singing up and down the musical scale: do (doe), re (ray), me (mee), fa (fah), sol (soul), la (lah) ti (tee), do (doe).

Tip #3: Practice, practice, practice. Habits are difficult things to change, and bad voice habits that have persisted for twenty of more years can not be replaced with better ones in a few short weeks. However, if you are willing to work to learn a new way of speaking you can overcome the obstacles.

Conclusion: This article suggested 3 tips to improve your communication skills. Through clear, distinct speech you can change perceptions, improve your credibility, and project a more competent and professional image. Your goal should be to develop a voice that is intelligible, flexible, vital and expressive. Why not get started today!

"Speech is a mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so is he." - Publilius Syrus

Rosa Chillis is president of Adasane & Associates, Inc. and a communication instructor specializing in oral communication, interpersonal communication, and voice & articulation skills. She is author of the e-book Your Voice Is Your Image: Four Ways to Improve Your Speaking Voice. Find out more at http://www.communicationmarketplace.com
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Ho To Deal With Gossip At Work

2008-05-26T18:16:00.001Z

Do you love chatting with your colleagues at workplace? How often do you talk about others? Do you find gossiping fun? Or have you ever been the victim of it? Whatever it is, chances are high that you have been affected by workplace gossip one way or the other. In fact, gossip is one of the major vices that affect our workplace in the present times, creating barriers between those who work together, decreasing productivity, and spreading negative vibes.

Although some researchers tend to highlight the positive effects of gossiping by emphasizing its role in enhancing communication between workers, the negative effects of gossip far outweigh its positive aspects. Gossip, in plain and simple words, involves spreading lies and half truths, the effects of which can be very detrimental for a person or an organization.

Typically, gossip flourishes in an environment where there is a lack of transparency - which may be between the management and the employees, the management and the trade unions, in different levels of management, between supervisor and staff. People who spread gossip are generally insecure of their own positions at work, and aim for success without any concern regarding the welfare of their co-workers.

Gossip mongers are usually jealous by nature, and find satisfaction in spreading rumors about those who are becoming more popular and successful in their endeavors and projects.
Locating a tattletale is never a difficult task, and requires just a few days of close observation. The first interaction with a gossip monger is usually pleasant - they seem to be nice people to talk to, sometimes overtly friendly.

Soon, however, you will notice that the person is not a team player, who is usually avoided by other employees of the organization. This usually happens because other people have unpleasant past dealings with the person, and are unwilling to engage in any further interaction with him/her. Sometimes, disgruntled workers in an organization form a group of gossipers, who work in tandem to manipulate new members into their conspiracy corner.

Two most prominent characteristics of a chronic gossiper is low self-esteem and lack of trust. Being untrustworthy himself, a gossiper is usually suspicious about the motives and intent of others, and will never trust a person at the first instance. Usually a gossiper looks to play one person against another, and you need to be very careful in sharing your views and opinions with a gossiper, since these can be used against you at a later point of time.

Having said thus, here are a few tips to help you to keep away from gossip at workplace. Never encourage a gossiper in the first place, not even by being a patient listener. However, do not be overtly hostile, as this may direct the ire of the gossiper against you. Deal tactfully, avoid giving responses, and do not let the gossiper influence you at any point of time. Focus on your work, and make it clear that you are strongly committed to your goals within the organization. Cool professionalism will always help you to tide over a crisis in such cases. If you are the victim of a gossip, its always best to sort it out in a clear, transparent manner.

Having said thus, it can only be said that gossip at workplace is nothing but natural. A necessary vice, gossip has prevailed in offices over time and is probably here to stay. Staying away from it is perhaps the best remedy that can ever be suggested.

Avik Roy is a contributed writer for Batchmates.com the largest Alumni portal in India. With his research work and articles he has added an additional edge to the entertainment e-magazine BM Times. His articles reach to millions of readers every day which are varied in subjects.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Avik_Roy

How To Beat Office Politics

2008-05-26T18:14:00.001Z

As I am no longer involved in Corporate Office affairs I am conscious in writing this article I am in danger of sounding like a grumpy old man. But in relation to corporate office politics I saw something this week that astounded me.

In The Times of London on a management and business page there was a write up with photograph of a chap who coaches people in how to succeed at office politics. I only glanced at the article but it stayed with me.

As someone who has run major corporate businesses and eventually went on to found my own businesses it caused me to reflect. My style of management was to be open to avoid confusion and office politics by keeping everyone in the business informed on what we were attempting to achieve. It was their lively hood after all.

We worked hard at a structured briefing method, departmental groups were informed by the head of department what the latest issues were. The heads of department had been briefed by me and it was mandatory that any questions were answered there and then. If an answer was not possible the question had to be fed back to me and I would give the answer. The meetings were monthly.

This method of communication worked brilliantly, as we were able to bring about major change and re-organisation including job losses without any repercussions that threatened the business. There could be no corporate office politics because every one was fully briefed and all knew what the situation was.

The article about coaching people how to succeed at corporate office politics is the opposite of what is needed. To succeed we all need to work together with common goals. This applies in any business and honest open communication is an essential in this process.

However, I also have another take on it. The chap who has developed the course is obviously selling to the large corporates and getting coverage in one of the top newspapers. Which shows that there is a market. So best of luck to him for having the initiative to spot the opportunity.
Which leads me to another point that you have heard me go on about before. When you have your own business you see opportunity every where. Just another reason for escaping the office politics and exploiting the opportunities which are there for us.

Resource Box:
Article by Michael Harrison, Author, Publisher and Business Consultant. Go to: Opportunities
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Be Prepared For Telephone Interview Screening

2008-05-26T18:09:00.001Z

In a quest to save money, time and travel costs some firms and employment service agencies are now adopting "Telephone Job Screening Interviews" as a more and more standard and accepted job employment screening technique. If you expect to be interviewed by phone, prepare by getting a member of your "network" to "role-play" the interviewer. Practice delivering your answers and answering typical run of the mill standard interviewing questions. After all there are very little variations in interview questions and interviewing style in these workups. It is if all these interview "technicians" all read the same book and attended the same school.

If you have submitted resumes or applications, then you should be prepared to expect and handle a call from an interviewer at almost any time. Ensure that you have a businesslike outgoing voice mail message with your name and/ or phone number. Make sure that all of your housemates know to answer the phone professionally and take messages if necessary. Return calls promptly and be prepared to interview immediately or to leave a message with your full contact information and availability.

In order to succeed in a telephone interview there are a number of preambles.
First you must be prepared to take an interview at almost any time, and on the spot. Post your resume and short written spiel or script somewhere in your home so that it can be found accessed and read and referred to in a flash of time. Have paper and pen (pens) handy so that you can write down names and information on the spot. Otherwise you will forget important information - such as names and phone number of contacts. Keep a log of your calls. Transfer this and the contact information, as well as phone notes promptly to your notes which you can store on your computer, in an easily remembered as well as accessible record.

If you do need a moment to collect yourself, politely ask the interviewer to hold for a brief moment while you move to a quiet location. Eliminate all distractions and background noises.
During the phone interview process it best to focus the call on why you are interested in working that or that prospective employer. Obviously this can and should be done on pre interview research. Make it a point to understand and comprehend the employer's product, services, current developments in the marketplace and business practices and philosophies.

Always, always be professional, courteous and friendly. It is best not to try to lead or "control" the conversation. Let the caller lead the conversation, but ask questions of your own.
Maintain pose and posture as if that very person was standing alongside you, personally interviewing you in that very room, at that very moment. Stand up, smile and speak directly into the mouthpiece of the telephone while you are talking. This will give your voice more energy and a most pleasant tone. Never smoke, eat or chew gum while on the phone.

Beware of yes / no answers. They give no real information or elaborate about your abilities. Similarly be factual in your questions. The rule is to be brief but thorough. In the same way if you find that you need time to think about a question or series of questions, it is best to avoid using repetitive phrases to "buy "time. There is nothing wrong in noting "I need some to think about that".

Lastly when the interview wraps up, ask what the next step or steps are. Directly tell the interviewer that you are available for a face-to-face interview at his or her earliest convenience. Follow up on the phone interview. Call back on or two days later. At that point thank the interviewer for his or her time. Restate your interest in the employment position. When you do the follow-up always try to leave the information directly with that very person or job contact.

Only as a last resort leave this message by voice mail, fax or email. These are easily forgotten in the whole job employment filling process. Always be prepared and on the ball for a telephone screening job employment interview.

Shaun Stevens -Winnipeg Job Shark
http://www.winnipegjobshark.com
http://www.jerkbossesihaveknown.com
http://www.albertajobshark.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shaun_Stevens

The Positive Psychology of Goal Setting

2008-05-24T12:38:00.002Z

Having goals can help you live the life you want. It can give you a focus and some direction. This article outlines why setting goals can be beneficial for your wellbeing. It also discusses how your character strengths can be used to assist you in setting and achieving goals.

The benefits of goal setting

Hope and optimism

Goals give you a focus and something to look forward to. Your life has a purpose, increasing your feelings of hope and optimism. Whether your goals are long term or short term, you are giving yourself a reason to get up in the morning. The link between hope and goal setting goes both ways. Thinking about and planning your goals can increase a feeling of hope and optimism.

This optimism can then boost your ability to achieve your goals. It will also assist you in planning more goals in the future. A person with hope is able to define their goals, know how they are going to get there and are motivated to achieve them. Furthermore, hope will help a person work through any complications and so not give up when things get difficult.

Taking control

If you set and achieve daily goals, this will add up to some major goal accomplishments at the end of the year. And it's all your own work. Happy people take control of their lives, rather than just drifting or let others make the decisions. Recognise the feeling of control and empowerment as you establish and then accomplish your goals.

Imagine you have a deadline at work (something you cannot control). However, how would it be if you made the decision to meet that deadline ahead of time? Or if you are the sort of person that tends to go over deadlines, making excuses all the way, turn this around and work hard to meet that deadline.

Recognise how much you can do. Even a shift in attitude can give a feeling of mastery. Being able to overcome hurdles and developing a more constructive attitude to the things you cannot control is a great confidence booster.

Flow experience

By setting yourself regular, meaningful goals you position yourself to encounter more flow experiences (a concept defined by Csikszentmihalyi). A flow experience is one where your whole consciousness is absorbed with a particular activity. Thoughts of time and other needs (such as hunger) are forgotten. Positive psychologists generally agree that the more flow experiences a person has, the happier they are. Goals give us something we can actively get involved with, which is an essential ingredient to a flow experience.

To achieve this state it is important to have a clear purpose. So clearly defining your goals is a good start. Also, you will want to choose a goal that is challenging for you, but is not out of your depth. If it is not challenging enough, you will almost certainly become bored. It is worth reviewing your goals on a regular basis to help keep you motivated.

Furthermore, try to obtain regular feedback so you are aware of how you are doing. Support from others can be a good idea, else make sure you track your progress in some way. Goals and the flow experience have a good relationship. By setting goals we enhance our chances of experiencing flow. By experiencing flow, we are more likely to achieve our goals.

General wellbeing

Having goals in our life is good for our wellbeing. It provides us with an opportunity to go on a journey which we can learn from and enjoy. It helps a person appreciate their capabilities, gives life a purpose and increases optimism. As such, it can reduce stress and help reduce the chances of developing depression. Carrying out goal-related tasks gives a person focus and increases happiness. Support for the benefits of undertaking intentional activity comes from research by Lyubomirsky, Sheldon and David Schkade.

Goal setting and your strengths

When setting and working on your goals, consider how you might use your personal strengths to help you achieve your objectives. It is worth knowing what your top strengths are as these are the ones that are most effortless to use and so drawing on them should be a great motivator.
Consider how the following strengths may assist you when setting up your goals:

Curiosity, creativity and love of learning may assist you in your brainstorming. This may be useful when you are considering which goals to set, how you are going to achieve them and ways to overcome potential difficulties.

Bravery can help you reach for those huge goals you've never quite got off the ground. This strength will enable you to act, in spite of your misgivings.
If persistence is your strength, then you are sure to achieve the goals you set yourself.
Having humour as your strength will enable you to laugh if things go wrong, as you see the lighter side of life.

Prudence can help you set the right goals as you are able to consider whether the goal you think you want now is one you will want in the future. Being authentic means you will remain true to yourself when setting your goals. It ensures you are doing them for yourself and not other people.

Another way you can make use of personal strengths when setting goals, is to actually set a goal dedicated to developing a particular strength. For instance, you might want to work on being kinder, so decide to volunteer at an organisation that helps other people.

Alternatively, you could use goal setting as an opportunity to nurture a particular strength, although the strength is not a goal in itself. For instance your goal is to write a novel. However, along the way you decide to exercise your gratitude strength and so make a conscious effort to acknowledge those people who assisted you in working towards your goal.
Whatever goals you set yourself, enjoy the process and think how they are benefiting you along the way.

Copyright Julia Barnard 2008
Julia Barnard is a professional counsellor living in Adelaide, Australia. She provides an online counselling service through her website http://www.makethechange.com.au, which offers counselling at a time and place that suits you. Julia also publishes a quarterly ezine and writes articles for the website aimed at enhancing wellbeing and promoting good mental health.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_Barnard

Clocking Your Success

2008-05-24T12:36:00.000Z

Everyone understands the clock. It ticks away like a time bomb and lets you know how you are going. So why would you want to clock your success? You might even ask, Why would anyone want to set goals? The truth is we do. And achieving them is what gives us an adrenaline rush; that feeling of euphoria that doesn't exist in a life of accomplishing nothing and trying nothing.

If you are not setting goals, you should, because achieving them is fun. If you are setting goals, then you must be having fun. However, you can have more fun if you can accomplish them quicker. All too often, when people who set goals do not meet their targets, they just push out the dates for meeting the target. This creates a lack of focus and a sense of mediocrity.
What can be a better way of goal setting is to set the same goal and start from scratch every time you miss your mark.

When a professional athlete runs his course, the athlete will go back and start the distance again. The same applies to swimmers and all sports that are time based. There is no extending the time to achieve the desired result of finishing the race. What each athlete will do is clock the time and re-evaluate what was achieved and what was hindering the desired result, which is to get the distance in the fastest time.

Setting a goal to earn a certain amount of money is different. Well, in some respects it is; in other respects it need not be. For instance, you might say that you are going to save a certain amount of money in a given time. Say $10,000 within 3 months. Your ability to do so will depend on your income and your expenses. For some to save this in a month is not a problem, for some it will be easy to do in 3 months and for others there might be a greater degree of difficulty than for those who manage to meet the target with a little bit of effort.

However, let's say you aimed to put aside a sum of money that would be difficult for you to do in three months. After three months, if you missed your goal, instead of extending the time to reach your goal, why not see if you could do it in the next three months. This way not only would you have the sum of money already saved, but you will probably have double.

When it comes to income goals, you can do the same thing. In fact, many sales people do this without realizing what they are doing. Some insurance salespersons, I know, set themselves a target every week and try to get it done by seeing as many people as possible in the first two days and hitting their sales target, so they can have the rest of the week off.

Gun salespeople monitor their sales strategies and analyzed their performance to run against the clock, and don't put off accomplishing their goals to a latter date. You, too, can do the same with any goal you set.

Happy Riches knows how to show you how. Happy Riches also runs an educational membership club which has a focus on people becoming healthy, wealthy and wise. Happy Riches can be found at http://www.happyriches.name
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Happy_Riches

What is Your Trophy?

2008-05-24T12:34:00.000Z

In 1982 I won a boxing championship and received a championship trophy for it. Now many of us have trophies we won as kids that we may have or may not have any longer. I was excited when I found this trophy because of the effort that went into winning it. It reminds me daily of the daily training and commitment it took to accomplish my goal.

So what is your trophy? What is it that you are striving to get. In 1981, I watched as the other champions took their trophies home. I decided then and there that I would win the next year. When it was time to start training I took it very seriously. I exercised, ate right and sparred on a daily basis.

I encountered daily obstacles of fatigue, embarrassment and even injury in pursuit of my goal. One day during sparring I was completely knocked out and awoke to the whole group looking down on me. I can still remember the punch coming toward my head. The coach who was working with us even told me that he thought I should not continue. I did not quit, I followed my goal and made every effort to learn from the mistake.

The day of the fight when my name was called out, I remember being so scared to climb those steps into the ring. My last thought before climbing up was that if I did not get into the ring, I could not win and would not have my trophy. During the fight I received many blows that I thought were going to doom me. At the same time I gave out more than I received. In the end I won that night and the next and was awarded my trophy.

The paper the next day said that aside from "the ire of the crowd" I given a split decision win. But I did not care what others thought. I had put in the effort and took the risk and won.
So how does this apply to you you're asking. It's a nice story but what am I to take away. Take these nine messages from the story:

1) Find what you want.
2) Everyday you must take action on the things needed to accomplish your goal.
3) Overcome the obstacles that get in your way.
4) Don't let negative people keep you from your goal. They are negative because they have never achieved their goals.
5) Overcome your fear. Remember faith demolishes fear. Build up your faith and your fear will retreat.
6) GET INTO THE GAME!!! Don't sit on the sidelines waiting for results. They must be achieved through action.
7) Take some blows, give more.
8) Get back in the ring everyday.
9) Fulfill your dream.

So I ask you again what is your TROPHY? Now go get it!
Bill Loyd is the author of best selling book "The 6 Keys that Lie Within You to Live a Successful Life -- Revealed" He is a highly sought after speaker and writer.
Contact him at http://www.findsuccesswithin.com bill@findsuccesswithin.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Loyd

Partnership With A Capital P

2008-05-24T12:33:00.000Z

I've been thinking a lot about partnership lately, but not the kind of partnership defined by legal definitions and business agreements. The kind of partnership on my mind is Partnership with a capital "P," Partnership where you give AND receive support to and from a thoughtfully-chosen, select number of people in your life.

In working with individual clients, I've noticed how much we resist inviting others to participate in our lives, to support us in pursuit of our goals and dreams. What keeps us from doing so? Usually it's a matter of noisy inner chatter, that voice inside that can be quite convincing. It tells us things like: "He's just too busy." "I don't want to impose on her time." "Why would they want to help me?"

I work with a number of people who do a lot of their work alone and yet, they really love people. They get energized by people and find it easier to be accountable to others than to themselves. That realization combined with an assumption in our culture that we "should" be able to accomplish things on our own, often keeps us on our own lonely little islands, in the procrastination zone, "trying to figure things out" alone.

I've found this is a very ineffectual way of being, and once I began to play inside the framework of "Partnership with the big P" I began to see nearly everyone as a potential partner! By informally inviting them to be my Partners, all kinds of possibilities began to open up.

Now, to be clear, I'm not talking about using people or manipulating them without their knowledge for my own "selfish" purposes! I'm talking about collaboration, an ongoing relationship, sharing and engaging in a set of conversations about our commitments and goals, to uncover the possibilities of mutual support.

I'll bet there are potential Partners in your life, just waiting to be "officially" summoned into your mutual-support-network. My challenge to you this month is to take a risk, reach out, and enlist support for at least one of your life's dreams. Initiating a dialogue might start something like this... "I see us both harboring some big dreams. I'm wondering how we might support each other..."

Get off your island. Enlist your support team and watch the sparks fly! Who KNOWS where that might take you and what might be ignited!

Lori Darley is a Certified Somatic Coach and Associate for the Strozzi Institute. Lori founded The Transitions Coach in 1998 and has coached organizations and individuals, supporting her clients in reaching peak performance through dynamic communication, conflict resolution and leadership skills.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lori_Darley

Acheiving Goals: Word Make A Difference

2008-05-24T12:30:00.001Z

Kids have the most amazing insight if you stop and listen to them. Our daughter has an adult relative who lives far away who said to her "I wish I could see you more often". Do you know what she said later? I don't think he means it, or he would see me more often.

Good observation.
Let's look at this more closely. When the relative above says "I wish", this person is indicating that

1) they have not made a decision to make it happen and

2) the ability to make visits more often is not within his/her power. To that, I say poppycock!

The decision to "make it so" is the key. Not the how, or why. For any goal, one just has to decide to it and then figure out how. The how will follow. To achieve a goal, it's crucial to decide to do it. It doesn't matter really how or whether you feel that circumstances are outside your control. The means to accomplish this goal will present themselves after you decide. Waiting to think about it or wish about it moves one no closer to achievement... and wastes time that could be used constructively toward the goal.

Ok, ok, Nike beat me to it....
To get what we want, we need to get rid of the words "would", "could", "should", "wish", "might" and replace them with "I will" or "I won't". There's no doubt that the Nike slogan has appeal: Just Do It!

If you look at the cause and effect decision making that we do for so many of our decisions, it's very simple: deciding to do it should be first, then how. How many times have you dwelled on making a decision because you started thinking about the how and got stuck? I have, a lot. Unless I take notice, this is the first place I go. It has kept me from taking positive actions more than once.

Many people are comfortable in their world of would, could and should. It's easier to make excuses for failure that way. No promises made to anyone (including oneself), just wishful thinking. Of course, like our daughter pointed out, it's almost always a failure mindset. Without commitment there is no action.

An easy example of this that we all can relate to is diet and exercise. Many of my friends wish they weighed less or "had a body like X". Deciding to get fit and eat right is the first step. The how becomes evident with a bit of studying and organization. Next thing you know... a whole new fit body!

So, it's more the wisdom of our grandfathers and grandmothers than modern science. It goes like this.

1. Consider decision and its impact to you and your important people
2. Decide to do it or not
3. Then, figure out how

I for one am working on replacing the "would, could, should" in my vocabulary with "I will, I can, I shall and you bet!" I have been amazed at the difference that one simple paradigm shift has made in my life. Just Do It!

Copyright (c) 2008 Ainsley Laing

About the Author:Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and Personal Fitness Training. She is also a professional engineer and mom. To see more articles by Ainsley visit http://www.bodyformind.com or the blog at http://www.bodyformind.blogspot.com
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Be Succesful By Identifying Your Goals

2008-05-24T12:28:00.001Z

Whether you are running a business or trying to complete a project, steady progress is essential for your success. However, you can enhance your progress with the practice of setting goals. Determining your goals can be simple. They can consist of all those targets that you want to achieve. These targets can be necessary for the long-lasting growth and development of your business. Defining your goals can be a daunting experience, especially if you are new to it. For your ease, we have provided some tips and techniques that will help you in setting and defining your goals.

The first step while setting your goals is defining objectives. You can simply manage your projects by dividing your goals into more manageable objectives as you complete your projects. These objectives can be accomplished on timely basis according to your schedule. However, you should spend some time in setting your schedule as the assigned tasks should be organized according to the available resources. For example, if you are building a house, you should schedule the construction team in earlier days, as later on you won't have any material left to build rooms.

On later days you can schedule the interior designer to decorate your house. Acquiring the services of interior designer on the first day is going to waste both your money and valuable resource. Setting goals can be a hard process and we have explained some of the ways by which you can do that.

Goal setting can me be made easier by set priorities on your objectives. One of an effective ways of doing this is assigning priorities to your objectives according to your goals. Logically, the objectives related to the important goals will come on the top of the list. This all can be a part of your planning process.

You can monitor your project's progress by measuring its output. Like if you are studying to become an engineer then your required output should be the engineering degree by the end of the fourth year. With this new knowledge you can probably start your own business. However, assess your output wisely; sometimes it is not feasible to start a project.

You should also try to determine all the possible benefits that you can derive from your goal. This can be motivational and encouraging. It may also help in determining the usefulness of your projects. It is recommended, that you should ask yourself about why you want to accomplish your goal, to give you purpose and sense of direction. For example if you want to excel as a successful businessman then you must try to visualize all the possible benefits.

Think of all the satisfaction you can derive from running a thriving business. If you are interested in promoting products, then all those products should inspire you to achieve your dream to become one of the top marketing experts. Goal setting process can be easy, you just need to prioritize and schedule your objectives and inspire yourself with all the possible benefits.

A big part of effective planning is identifying obstacles. You should make plans for everything that could perhaps prevent you from accomplish your goals. In this way you can prepare your self for minor set backs that can create problems in the longer run.

Copyright (c) 2008 Ori Foyer

Being successful at any business can be difficult. If you are having problems in making money from your current business or want to set goals to become a high achiever, just look at, http://www.being-wealthy.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ori_Foyer

SMART Goal Setting By Lisa McGrimmon

2008-05-24T09:59:00.003Z

SMART goal setting is a great method that will ensure you have set practical goals for yourself. Using this strategy for setting achievable goals can help you to stay motivated through the challenges of your job search and allow you to make decisions that bring you closer to the kind of career and life that you want for yourself.

SMART goal setting helps you to work more efficiently, meet deadlines and avoid being sidetracked from your real priorities.

Failing to set goals is the "ready, fire, aim" approach to career and life management.

SMART stands for:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

Let's examine the SMART technique using the following goal as an example:

Within the next three days I will call five business contacts to seek out career opportunities.

Specific

You are more likely to follow through on a specific goal than a general goal because it is clearly defined. Specific goals help you to focus clearly on exactly what you want to accomplish and how you will do it.

If your goal was: I will look for job leads, it would not be a specific goal. There are plenty of ways to look for job leads. This general goal gives no direction. It doesn't tell you anything about what to do to achieve the goal.

The original example goal is very specific. It describes a strategy for finding job leads (calling business contacts). The original example goal lets you know exactly what you need to do in order to accomplish your goal.

Measurable

When a goal is measurable, you will know exactly when you have accomplished that goal. Establishing specific criteria for reaching a goal allows you to determine how close you are to achieving that goal and helps you to be motivated by your own progress.

A goal that states, I will call some business contacts to seek out job leads, is not measurable. How many business contacts do you need to call? Without that information, you will not know when you have achieved the goal.

The original example goal is measurable. You know you have achieved your goal once you have called five of your business contacts.

Attainable

SMART goals are within your control. If you set goals that are outside of your control you are just setting yourself up for failure.

Some people might set the following goal:

I will find five great job leads in the next week.

At first glance that goal might sound good; however, that goal is not definitely attainable by you. You don't have reasonable control over whether you find five job leads in the next week. You may do a great job of networking and seeking out job opportunities, but you still do not have complete control over how many great job leads you will find within a specific time frame.

The example goal, on the other hand, is an example of a SMART goal because it is definitely attainable by you. You have control over whether it happens or not. You do not have to rely on the whims of others to ensure that you call five business contacts, and you can reasonably expect that calling business contacts will lead to the outcome you want - finding several great job leads.

Realistic

Effective goal setting requires you to take into account the things that you are reasonably willing and able to do to achieve your goals.

If your goal was: I will call twenty business contacts in the next three days, would that be a realistic goal? Maybe, it depends on who you are. If you have a big network of contacts and you are not terrified of business networking, that might be a perfectly realistic goal.

If you're like many people, and the idea of business networking strikes fear in your heart, then calling twenty business contacts may be completely unrealistic for you. If you know that calling five business contacts in three days to seek out job leads is the most you can manage, then five should be your goal. Push your limits a little bit, but don't set yourself up for failure.

Timely

SMART goals have deadlines. Deadlines help you to determine how much time you have left to achieve a goal and prevent you from procrastinating.

Your goal might be: I will call five business contacts. If you are procrastinator, you'll immediately see the problem with that goal. When will you make those phone calls? Today? Next week? Next month? There is no deadline pushing you to finish the task.

On the other hand, the example goal provides a deadline. You know you have three days to make the phone calls, and that deadline will help you to avoid the trap of procrastination.
When you practice SMART goal setting, you'll have an easier time staying on track with your career goals. SMART goals can help you to stay focused and achieve the short and long term goals that you want to accomplish in your career and in your life.

Lisa McGrimmon is a career counselor, author and entrepreneur who has helped over two thousand clients achieve their career goals. If you'd like to learn exactly how to manage your career and gain enormous control over your future, visit http://www.careerchoiceguide.com/ - For more ways to achieve your goals go to http://www.careerchoiceguide.com/ways-to-achieve-your-goals.html

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Stress Management and Humour

2008-05-22T21:35:00.001Z

Anger Management 1

2008-05-22T21:32:00.000Z

Self-Realization Through Emotional Restraint

2008-05-22T21:28:00.001Z

Self-realization by restraining ones own emotions can be achieved in many ways. One has to come to terms with the three faculties of man: emotion, speech - words, and deeds. The combination of all three, or the implementation any of these will help us in obtaining our goal. The three faculties working in harmony can only result in the desired effect; once this is attained, accepting the others or their viewpoints become easy, lack of which could explain the escalating troubles all over the world.

To achieve a goal in life is what most people aspire. Therefore, it is paramount that one has something to look forward to in life, without which life has no real meaning. It is very easy to drift through life, quite laid back in situations saying, 'I am comfortable'; one should stop and reassess the situation, asking, 'shouldn't I have more commitment?' It's not enough just to say 'I am minding my own business without troubling anyone and therefore no hindrance to society'.

One could argue that it is a selfish act if it does not involve lending a helping hand where needed.
Emotionally charged situations can make even the most rational human being behave in an irrational manner or similarly, illness of self or the dear ones can lead to totally unexpected behavior.

All these only prove that complete harmony of our faculties is essential in self-realization and to stay in the right path in achieving our goal in life. Having a goal in life, be it a person, God or an institution, will provide us with the right motivation. There are many ways of measuring up to that goal; trying to please, emulate, or avoiding things that may not fit in with the ideals of our focus may be a few of them.

Our elders have told us, 'Think before you say anything'. How many of us put this into practice, knowing that it is true? One has to be aware of the difference in the impact of each, the thought process leading to the words and the deeds that follow. We should have control over our emotions and thoughts, or learn to control them before they enslave us.

One should always remember that the 'said words', the written words and the 'done deeds' couldn't be taken back and therefore, it is important to think before doing any of these; each has different impact in any given situation. It is easy to blame drinks, illness or unfortunate incidents to justify ones behavior, even though the recipients may be even kind enough to justify the other's actions blaming it on something or the other!

A bit of commonsense and understanding of fellow beings, or self-realization may be all that we need, to solve the problems that we face in the world today. We have seen mass killings in Palestine, Israel and the United States, where innocent people are suffering due to this. Disharmony of our three faculties, the inability to communicate with others and the fear of those whose views are different from our own, hold key to the devastation that we see before us.

Let's hope and pray for harmony, peace, and better understanding of one another. Self-realization of what one can achieve and what one should do to achieve it, should take each one of us to the culmination of that dream.

© E Menon 2008

The Problem With High Self-Esteem

2008-05-22T21:26:00.000Z

One needs to define the meaning of self-esteem, before the much complex word 'high self-esteem' is considered. Dictionaries define self-esteem as," confidence and respect for oneself", or "how much a person likes, accepts, and respects himself, overall as a person". The National Association for Self-Esteem defines it as, " The experience of being capable of meeting life's challenges and being worthy of happiness". A balanced high self-esteem is essential for the development of a healthy human being.

Healthy self-esteem, based on basic principles such as worthiness, competence, self-reliance and a genuine desire to love and accept others, enables one to face the challenges in life and emerge victorious in adverse situations. But, if the self-esteem is based on external factors such as ones appearance, family connections, place of birth or social status, it may give an inflated opinion of ones worth and competence from a very early stage in life. The outcome would be an individual with overly high self-esteem or unhealthy high self-esteem, which is unearned.

Self-esteem starts to build up from the time of birth and then on it is a gradual process, helped by ones parents, teachers, peers or society as a whole. It is very important to have good self-esteem during the formative years when one has many issues to deal with. Children may develop a tendency to have a low self-esteem or even an unhealthy high self-esteem that eventually turn into narcissism.

It is paramount that children at this stage are given support and training on basic principles and values in life, teaching them to have good balance between competence, accomplishments and self-worth. Any such training may be adversely affected by indiscriminate use of praise by the teachers and parents, in their attempt to make the children feel more confident. These children may reach adulthood without having understood the real meaning of healthy self-esteem; the pursuit of higher academic accomplishments may create individuals who feel superior, showing egotistical and patronizing behaviour patterns.

It is the over-inflated opinion of ones self-worth and ability that leads to the overly high self-esteem. One can get aggressive if threatened; showing destructive behaviour, drug abuse, drink driving, road-rage or violence, just to prove that one is superior. They also have a vulnerable side to their character that needs constant pampering and may even change or hide personal details to show supremacy over friends and colleagues, either to get a better job or a higher social standing.

Various problems in life can change the perception of people and how they analyse situations. It could be marital problems, financial ruin, alcohol or drug abuse that bring about the changes in ones life, having to resort to different methods to cover up the situation. One may show signs of an unhealthy high self-esteem or enter a phase of denial and pretend to be happy, or go to the other extreme showing signs of low self-esteem. This extreme behaviour pattern often happens when there is total imbalance between what one believes in and what one is capable of doing or the inability to recognise it, which could be the result of an over-inflated opinion of ones personal worth.

There are few people in any society with unhealthy self-esteem who have an uncontrollable urge to control everything. World History shows examples of 'people of small stature', trying to show the world that they are 'big'- Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler and Stalin are few of the examples. Mussolini, Ho-Chi-Min, Mao, King Herod, and Pol Pot are among those who believed in their inflated opinion of self worth. The egotistical, dictatorial and conceited behaviour of these men and many others like them have one thing in common, the self-worthiness becoming narcissism, showing the disharmony between their sense of values and behaviour.

High self-esteem should not be confused with an overly high self-esteem, though quite difficult to distinguish between the two at times. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965) is the 'gold standard' measure, to arrive at the diagnosis. A sense of self worth, and a sense of ones own capabilities in good equilibrium: harmony between the psychological strength and behaviour could keep the 'overly high self-esteem' at bay.

A good balance between sense of worthiness and confidence in ones abilities is what is required in most situations. Self-education to become aware of the situation and a desire to change by seeking professional help, and interacting with close friends and immediate family would be most welcome and beneficial. But, holding on to the principles and values that one believes in and having the conviction to make the right choices when faced with adversities, one can enjoy a productive life.

© E Menon
I am Dr Elizabeth Menon, working in the UK. I love writing and my articles have been published in the UK and abroad. My hobbies include reading, writing, gardening, cooking, watching films, listening to music, helping environmental causes etc.
Please visit my homepage at: http://omana.net/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Elizabeth_Menon

Is Your Life Too Busy ?

2008-05-22T21:23:00.002Z

OK, is your life too busy? Does it seem like you don't have time for yourself, your family or anything else? Are you glad breathing is an involuntary function, because if it wasn't you'd forget to breathe? Wow, you're like me! I am making adjustments in my life to change things. You should too. Things like saying no when someone asks you to do something. Let's explore this topic together and see what other things we can do to "buy" time.

I'm going to give you a couple examples to explain what I mean when I say, "just say no." Before I got back into the corporate world, I owned a construction business. So many people wanted work done (including friends) and because I needed the money and wanted to help people, I would always say yes to a job.

The problem was, I over booked myself. Now, in order to get everything done, I had to work longer days and sometimes Saturdays and Sundays. This put a lot of strain on my marriage and made for an awful home life. I was so tired, that I didn't have time for anything else. If I would have said no to a few of these jobs, I would have had a little less money, but much more time to do with as I chose.

You see, in life (as you probably know) there are always trade-offs. Before I discontinued my business, I was able to say no to people, but at that point it was a little to little and a little too late. I have learned from those mistakes.

Here is another thing that happened way back when. My wife and I are active members of our church. The Pastors and leaders of our church saw leadership potential in us and asked us to be a part of many different church ministries. We were ushers, host/hostess, home group leaders, in the music ministry, two different youth ministries, and a few others I can't remember because it's been so long now.

Each of these activities was only one night a week, but every one of our nights and weekends were booked solid. My wife and I had no time for each other. After getting some sound advice from some pastor friends of ours, we drop most of those ministries and regrouped. We had to say no.

If you want to free up some time to do the things that you want to do, you will have to say no. You will have to say no to things, to people, even to yourself when you yourself says, "you can do this." Let me repeat, just say no. If you currently have too much going on, drop some of the things you are doing. Here is a really good exercise you can do to help. For one week, write down activity you engage in and the length of time it takes you to do them, every one. This will include eating meals, sleep, work, watching tv, etc. When the week is over, review your lists. Are there any activities you can eliminate?

If you watch three hours of tv per night, cut down on your tv. Watch only an hour, maybe your favorite shows. If you have a hobby that takes a ton of your time, cut down on your hobby time. Prioritize your activities by ranking them 1 through whatever. Eliminate the trivial, idle things in your life that don't amount to much. Trade that time for family time or time for something else you need time for. Again, just say no.

When you are too busy and have too much going on, you are unable to do things well. If you are working 8 hours a day, have a wife and kids at home, have extracurricular activities, are finishing you bachelor's degree (which also means homework) you are not going to be the best worker, parent, and student. I would love to hear your feedback on this topic. I'm sure you all have some good ideas on freeing up time, so email me.

Mike Bova is the Madison County Advertising Director & Business Columnist for Eagle Newspapers in Syracuse, NY. Mike owns several websites including The Upstate New York Shopping And Business Directory. Mike has spoken in front of many business groups, shattered a lot of sales records, conducted several sales training seminars and trains corporate sales staffs how to sell more. Mike is launching his own site soon.
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Plan Your Time

2008-05-22T21:16:00.002Z

Do you wish there were more hours in a day to get everything done? Well, isn't it true that you have the same amount of hours as any other person on this planet? Maybe what you need is not more hours, you just need to learn to manage the hours you already have. Here are six common mistakes that people make, and how you can avoid them.

For some reason, it is common belief that to get more done, you need to work harder. This is totally false. The secret to accomplishing more is not to work harder, but to work smarter. That is why you should always start your day with a plan of action. Every morning write down what you will accomplish that day. Start your day with this plan in mind. Mark through each item as you accomplish it. Do not let anyone derail you from this plan.

Another big mistake is being out of balance in your life. If your financial life is a mess, you can't focus on your personal life, so therefore your personal life may suffer, which will cause you to be unable to focus at work. Each area of your life influences the other. Do your best to achieve a healthy balance in all areas of your life and your day will flow better with less stress.

Trying to work on a messy desk is another big mistake. Studies show that a person who works on a messy desk spends one and a half hour per day looking for things. Being organized is the key to good time management. Knowing where everything is at can be a great stress reducer. Need to find that important document for your boss in the next five minutes? An organized person, with an organized desk, would have it ready with four and one half minutes to spare.
Not getting enough sleep can mess up your whole day.

If you are tired, you can't work as effectively as you should. Projects will take longer to complete and therefore more time is wasted. Get eight hours of quality sleep a night. The quality of sleep is important. If you are tossing and turning, waking up every hour, you are not getting quality sleep. You may have been in bed for eight hours but you will still be tired.

Not delegating is a huge mistake in managing time. If you have the resources by all means delegate. There are other people out there that can do a job as well as you can. Don't waste time by trying to do it all yourself.

Not taking a lunch break is another common mistake in managing your time. Sure you may get that extra half hour of work in, but is the work quality work? Could you have done it better and faster if you would have taken the time to eat and recharge your mental batteries? Our minds need a break every now and then. Take a lunch break and relax. You may find that you get a lot more accomplished.

These are the most common mistakes people make in managing their time. Stop making these mistakes and stand out from the crowd.

Shafir Ahmad is the author of "The Experts Guide to Managing Your Time". If you are not managing your time, then you are wasting it. Don't waste time! Get your 7-Part eCourse on Secrets To Better Time Management at http://www.PlanYourTimeNow.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shafir_Ahmad

Anger Management: Taking Control of Your Reactions

2008-05-22T08:49:00.000Z

Anger management refers to the system of psychological techniques that help to manage uncontrollable anger and emotional reactions to unpleasant situations.

Learning to control your anger is not complicated once you apply a few basic principles and anger techniques. Just remember that it is much easier to learn to manage your anger than burying it deep down inside and not letting it out (so if you can bury it --- you can definitely control it!). We have some simple steps you should take to achieve your anger management goals.

Think about the following tips when you are angry and it may help you to deal with the situation more effectively.

" Learn to laugh at yourself - this can defuse a situation and can help you to get a grip on your emotions at the same time
" Don't take things personally - the world doesn't revolve around you!
" You can't control other people so don't even try.
" And along with that, you have to realize that you can't control your surroundings either - you can only control yourself and your own reactions.

Problem solving skills are useful to identify the problem and generate alternative solutions by considering the consequences of each solution and selecting an effective and appropriate response.

Other strategies include:" avoiding situations that make you angry" changing environments" focusing on something positive" engaging in substitute positive activities" and improving communication and social skills.

As mentioned above, humor can also be very useful, if it is constructive.Just remember that expressing or releasing your anger is just as important as controlling it. Both skills are required, in balance, to keep you healthy.

To learn the simple secrets to controlling your anger, visit http://www.angermanagement.healthehelp.com where you'll find everything you need to know about anger self help, anger courses, and much more!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pierre_Amyotte

Making Your Anger Socially Acceptable

2008-05-22T08:47:00.000Z

Anger is an emotion that we all feel at times. It is part of being human. It is just one of the emotions we all have. Kids and adults alike experience this emotion. When it is under control there is no problem.

It is the over reaction to situations and violent anger that needs to be addressed. We need to learn to control our tempers so that we can get angry without becoming abusive or violent.
Our anger needs to be socially acceptable. In other words we do not want to make a spectacle of ourselves and embarrass everyone around us when we become angered.

We must be able to get angry for a good reason and then make a stand for whatever it is and then let go. It is not acceptable to verbally abuse people in your company because they do not think the same way you do. Becoming violent and abusive at any time is totally unacceptable in society.

Anyone who has this problem can train themselves to step back from situations that ignite their tempers. By learning to pause before you reply will give you time to cool down sufficiently to realise that the situation does not warrant you making a fool out of yourself and embarrassing those around you.

You can get angry as long as you are in control of your emotions and do not let the emotion control you. Anger takes a lot of energy and this energy can be put to good use. Get angry about the poverty in the world and all the injustices and direct this energy into a passion for doing something to change the world. Someone who has passion for a cause can do great things to bring about change in the situation. Controlled anger can be a motivating factor to do good for the society.

How do you know when you are really angry? You will feel intense emotion inside yourself. Your breathing will become faster and as a result your face will become red your muscles will probably tense up and you will have the desire to hurt someone. You will want to scream at them in rage and make them listen to you. These desires that you are experiencing should be the red light to you to know that you are on dangerous ground. Now is the time to stop and retreat from the situation before things get altogether out of hand.

Your anger will become much bigger than the problem which set it off in the first place. It will not matter to you who you are shouting at. If it is someone close to you or a stranger your attitude towards them will be the same. You are now in a position of power and you feel that while you are in control you will say and do as you please.

This is totally the wrong attitude and you will have to take your self to task and immediately stop. If you are going to lose face that is fine but just walk away from the situation and there will be nothing to be sorry about later on. Rather walk away from situations that anger you than go through these emotions.
This author writes informative articles on various subjects.
http://www.cureangermanagement.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mabel_Van_Niekerk

The Dangers and Expressions of Anger

2008-05-22T08:46:00.000Z

At a Christmas party, a provoked brother stabbed his junior one to death. He was arrested, tried and sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter. In the prison, he regrets his erratic behavior due to anger. The family is grieving for the double tragedy that struck the family.

The modern media with its vivid depiction of violence portrays anger as a heroic quality, as the quintessential psyche of the macho man. But is it really? Most people recognize that in real life anger is not a pleasant emotion, yet they savor the violent scenes in the movies. And then, strangely enough, they wonder why they themselves, in fits of anger, speak such words and do such deeds which break the hearts of their loved ones and which they themselves bitterly regret later.

Anger breaks hearts and wrecks homes. When enslaved by anger, people violently attack, wound and kill others ' sometimes their loved ones. Violent heroism in the media thus breeds violent crime in society. Anger is also a known cause of a large variety of ailments ranging from high blood pressure to heart attacks. Anger can lead to all forms of conflicts ranging from petty quarrels to world wars.

Moreover depression, a rampant modern mental health challenge, originates in anger. When one is unable to vent out anger on the perceived cause of frustration, one vents it out on oneself by going into a self-pity and self-martyrdom mentality, which is typical of depression.
Thus anger destroys reputations, careers, families and lives. No wonder the Bhagavad-gita (16.21) describes anger as "one of the gates that leads hell."

The Bhagavad-gita (2.62) describes the psychological genesis of anger. When our desires, plans and expectations for control and enjoyment are thwarted, the resentment and frustration expresses itself through harsh words and / or violent actions.

One tries to satisfy his lust, and when he cannot, anger and greed arise. A sane man who does not want to glide down to the degraded species of life must try to give up the three enemies, lust, greed and anger, which can kill the self to such an extent that there will be no possibility of liberation from this material entanglement.

How can we deal with anger? Thomas Jefferson suggests, "When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, count hundred." Consciously delaying action is useful in checking angry outbursts. It said that one should not speak when one is angry, one should also immediately drink a glass of water.

Anger, being fiery, can be cooled by a sip of water. And a spiritual transmutation of our emotions can completely uproot anger. We are all souls, spiritual and eternal children of God. Our heart finds fulfillment only when we make God our first love in life and we can at once be free from contamination of this terrible of sin and constant disagreement, and gradually rise to the state of transcendence and go back to Godhead.

By the process of calling on the holy names and also propagating the chanting of the holy names of the Lord can we be immune from all effects of this dangerous age. Moreover knowledge that no material upheaval or upstart can threaten our inner wealth of devotion gives us an unshakeable inner security, which anger cannot shake.

Even before we attain that tranquil state, devotion engenders spiritual maturity and stability within us. Forewarned is forearmed. ften we indulge in anger because we do not recognize the danger of anger. When we awaken our dormant spiritual devotion by chanting the holy names of God, especially the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, this devotion will make us strong at heart and wise at head.

We develop the discrimination to pre-empt provocative situations, the open-mindedness to see the other person's viewpoint and the assertiveness to present our viewpoint without becoming aggressive. The Vedic scriptures describe the story of an violent sadistic hunter Mrigari who would half-kill animals and enjoy seeing them suffering till death. But when he was enlightened by the great sage Narada Muni and empowered by chanting of the names of Rama, he became so self-controlled that he carefully avoided stepping even on an ant.

Will our world not be a better place if more people were similarly transformed? Charity begins at home. Why not we begin with ourselves? Why not begin this process of transformation today, the sooner the better. Life is short and precious, and more precious if it is used in the service of the Lord. Time and tide waits for no man!

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books. You can find the best marketplace for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books at these sites for Krishna art, yoga gifts, controlling anger, and Hare Krishna books.
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Motivational Story: How To Control Anger

2008-05-22T08:43:00.000Z

One day, a young and pretty princess was playing with her golden ball. But the ball rolled over and drowned into a pool. He could not see the ball because the pool was quite deep and also she was not able to swim. She was so sad. Then suddenly a frog showed up and jumped in front of her. The frog asked, "Hi, pretty girl, why are you crying? What happens? Can I give help?" Then the princess sadly answered, "My golden ball has drowned into this pool, but I cannot take it back. Can you take it for me? If you can get my ball back, I promise to give whatever you desire because I am a princess, my father is an emperor."

The frog was excited because of knowing that she was a princess. Then the frog quickly said, "OK. My wish is very simple. I just want to stay in your palace and you have to treat me well. Do you agree with the deal?" She thought for a moment. She then nodded her head and told the frog, "OK. I agree." They finally made that agreement.

The frog jumped and dived into the pool to find the ball and the princess was waiting for it. After several minutes, the frog emerged on the surface with the ball in its hand. The princess was so cheerful and thanked to the frog.

She then suddenly remembered what she had promised to the frog before. She should bring the frog home. Actually, she did not want the frog stayed in her palace. So she planned to run away immediately. She ran as fast as she can so the frog could not chase her. She thought that she had successfully cheated the frog. But how surprised she was when she saw the frog in front of the gate of the palace. She did not know how the frog could be there so fast. The frog said, "Do not forget your promise!" There was no choice for her except let it stayed in her palace.

The frog was so happy with the new life because it could eat delicious meal and could sleep in a soft and comfortable bed. The frog felt like a prince. But the princess disliked it so much. Her heart was full with hatred to remove the frog from her life. She scolded it many times. When the frog was eating, she angrily dropped the food on the floor. She growled and told the frog, "You did not deserve to eat the food and stayed in this place.

Your place is in the pool." She was so fierce. She did not care about the agreement she promised. She wanted to break it. No days without her anger to the frog. Until one day, she was at the peak of her anger and hatred. She grabbed the frog and slammed it with full power to the floor.

And suddenly the frog magically turned into thick smoke and a very handsome and gallant prince stood in the middle of the smoke. The princess was both shocked and happy because he was so handsome. She was fascinated. She was in love at the first sight. The prince told her, "I am sorry because I lie to you. I am a prince of another kingdom. A cruel witch used her magic and turned me into a frog. But the magic has been lost because you threw me into the floor.

Thanks a lot. Now I have to go back to my palace. Goodbye and take care." But the princess said, "Don't. Please do not go. I want you to stay here. I feel that I am in love with you now." Then the prince laughed and said, "No, princess. When I was a frog, I have known your real behavior. You are so fierce, your heart is full of hatred and anger, you have bad temperament and do not keep your promise. I do not like it so much. Goodbye." Then the prince walked out of her palace.

Message for readers:
According to Joe Girard, A person recognizes approximately 250 people. They can be his relatives, family, friends and other people. When you are angry with someone and hate them, you have hated other 250 people. Why? Because, if you hate and angry with one person, he will tell to other 250 people he knows. Think about this dangerous effect by just hating and being angry with one person. What if you do this to 10 persons? It means that you will spread your hatred and anger to about 2500 persons.

They will know your bad behavior. They will talk from mouth to mouth and it surely creates snow-ball effect that will be bigger and bigger when it rolls. Otherwise, when a person knows that you are so kind, helpful and have positive yet good behavior, you have spread your good behavior to other 250 persons.

When you are angry, you indirectly create hostility to the person you are angry with. Nelson Mandela said that the hostility is like poison being drunk by someone and hope the death of his enemy because of the poison. Hatred and anger will endanger you and other people if you do not stop them. Do you know that when you smile, you just move about 13 muscles of your face, but when you are angry and frown, you have to move more than 110 muscles of your face.

Here is helpful tip that can stop or control your anger. When you get yourself in a situation that you cannot stop your anger or if you are about to deliver your anger to someone, immediately tell yourself, "If I am angry, I will make more 250 people angry with me." or "I will create more hostility with 250 people he knows. I will have bad image that can harm me back."
You can also smile with people you meet. It will make you happier.

You will make more friendship with people around you. What a beautiful world if anger and hatred do not exist.

If you enjoy this article, find more excellent motivational articles and don't miss information at Daily Motivation
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suhardi_Csd_Hardi

How To Stop Being Angry

2008-05-22T08:42:00.000Z

How to stop being so angry is a question which many people ask themselves. This is because excessive anger has become something of a plague. And although excess rage isn't recognized as a disease, it does cause a lot of health risks and also reduces the quality of life you should enjoy.
How can you stop being so angry all the time? Here are some easy to do tips:

1. Keep an anger log - Often, what makes us burst in anger often surprises us afterwards when it really shouldn't. We tend to get angry of the same things over and over again. What you need to do is to keep track of what makes you angry. Carry a small notebook around to serve as an anger log. Write down every anger incident. Then, study your log and identify what makes you angry. Then you'll be able to predict your eruptions and prevent them.

2. Counting to 3 - Whenever you feel an anger eruption coming on, one of the best things you can do is to count to 3. This is a simple way to stop being angry and it takes 3 seconds to do. The counting makes you stop your rage waves dead in their tracks, and allows you to take a cool look at what's really going on. You will then be able to make a measured response to whatever angered you.

3. Learn to breathe - Taking a deep breath is a great way to calm yourself. Whenever you feel the anger coming up you just need to close your eyes and take a deep breath and imagine the anger dissipating, and more often than not, it will.

Use these 3 tips to stop being so angry and take control of your life again.
To read more tips on how to control your anger, click here: Anger Management Tips.
Mike Eltis writes extensively on psychological issues. To read his review of anger management, go to this webpage: Anger Management Treatment Options.
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If your life is too busy just say no

2008-05-22T08:40:00.001Z

OK, is your life too busy? Does it seem like you don't have time for yourself, your family or anything else? Are you glad breathing is an involuntary function, because if it wasn't you'd forget to breathe? Wow, you're like me! I am making adjustments in my life to change things. You should too. Things like saying no when someone asks you to do something. Let's explore this topic together and see what other things we can do to "buy" time.

I'm going to give you a couple examples to explain what I mean when I say, "just say no." Before I got back into the corporate world, I owned a construction business. So many people wanted work done (including friends) and because I needed the money and wanted to help people, I would always say yes to a job. The problem was, I over booked myself. Now, in order to get everything done, I had to work longer days and sometimes Saturdays and Sundays.

This put a lot of strain on my marriage and made for an awful home life. I was so tired, that I didn't have time for anything else. If I would have said no to a few of these jobs, I would have had a little less money, but much more time to do with as I chose. You see, in life (as you probably know) there are always trade-offs. Before I discontinued my business, I was able to say no to people, but at that point it was a little to little and a little too late. I have learned from those mistakes.
Here is another thing that happened way back when. My wife and I are active members of our church.

The Pastors and leaders of our church saw leadership potential in us and asked us to be a part of many different church ministries. We were ushers, host/hostess, home group leaders, in the music ministry, two different youth ministries, and a few others I can't remember because it's been so long now. Each of these activities was only one night a week, but every one of our nights and weekends were booked solid. My wife and I had no time for each other. After getting some sound advice from some pastor friends of ours, we drop most of those ministries and regrouped. We had to say no.

If you want to free up some time to do the things that you want to do, you will have to say no. You will have to say no to things, to people, even to yourself when you yourself says, "you can do this." Let me repeat, just say no. If you currently have too much going on, drop some of the things you are doing. Here is a really good exercise you can do to help. For one week, write down activity you engage in and the length of time it takes you to do them, every one. This will include eating meals, sleep, work, watching tv, etc. When the week is over, review your lists.

Are there any activities you can eliminate? If you watch three hours of tv per night, cut down on your tv. Watch only an hour, maybe your favorite shows. If you have a hobby that takes a ton of your time, cut down on your hobby time. Prioritize your activities by ranking them 1 through whatever. Eliminate the trivial, idle things in your life that don't amount to much. Trade that time for family time or time for something else you need time for. Again, just say no.

When you are too busy and have too much going on, you are unable to do things well. If you are working 8 hours a day, have a wife and kids at home, have extracurricular activities, are finishing you bachelor's degree (which also means homework) you are not going to be the best worker, parent, and student. I would love to hear your feedback on this topic. I'm sure you all have some good ideas on freeing up time, so email me.

Mike Bova is the Madison County Advertising Director & Business Columnist for Eagle Newspapers in Syracuse, NY. Mike owns several websites including The Upstate New York Shopping And Business Directory. Mike has spoken in front of many business groups, shattered a lot of sales records, conducted several sales training seminars and trains corporate sales staffs how to sell more. Mike is launching his own site soon.
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Time Management - Computer Games Can Help You Manage Your Time Better

2008-05-22T08:31:00.001Z

So, you're a busy professional who has very little time and a tremendous number of demands on your time. It seems as though your petition to have yourself cloned has been denied, and the government has done nothing about adding an extra day to the week - so what do you do?

No matter how improbable it may seem, possibly the answer may be to invest a little of your time in trying out some of the increasingly popular and varied time management games. Computer games? Yes, some of them are; others are games than often involve a professional coach carrying out team training exercises with a group of workers.

Let's look at the benefits and purposes of both types of time management games that you may come across. Firstly, the idea that a computer game could in any way help to improve your ability to manage time might seem a complete contradiction.

All too often, it is the ease of slipping into the habit of playing a few minutes on a quick game here and then that can lead to further loss of time.

Yet there are two advantages to these games. Firstly, they may help to provide you with a specific reward for when you have achieved a certain proportion of the work you have to get done. Secondly and more valuably though, they can help to highlight the benefits of organization in carrying out a series of tasks.

Much of this software is about efficiency, goal setting and achievement. They do help to identify the importance of time management. Each successive level demands more and more organization and awareness of the demands and expectations of more challenging tasks.
The more you achieve, the higher the level, the greater the challenge. A high score provides you with a clear incentive. Failure simply provides you with an opportunity to have another go and try to improve your performance.

In addition to time management games for computers, there are also a range of activities which can be provided by professional coaches in sessions carried out in teams at work. These typically involve people working together in the planning and implementation of a task which involves cooperation, communication, planning and assessment, and effective use of resources - including time.

And now, I'd like to invite you to get free instant access to a 7-Part eCourse on Secrets To Better Time Management at http://www.PlanYourTimeNow.com where you can discover more ways to use time effectively.

Shafir Ahmad of http://www.ShafirAhmad.com is the author of "The Experts Guide to Managing Your Time".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shafir_Ahmad

Time Management - Computer Games Can Help You Manage Your Time Better

2008-05-22T08:31:00.000Z

How To Prioritize Conflicting Time Demands

2008-05-22T08:28:00.000Z

I'm frequently asked how to get more done in the available time. It's easier than most think, but it does require some planning and work.

Let's look at time wasters. Where ever you go in the next day or two, see if you don't agree with me that most individuals waste approximately 15 minutes out of every hour. That's 2.5 hours at the end of a day and 1.2 days at the end of a week.

How would you like to have UPS or FedEx ship you 2 months of productive days? These would be your days to use for whatever you wished? Stop the waste and those days belong to you.
What causes the waste? Worrying about what to do, a lack of proper equipment, inadequate training, and unclear directions are some of the main culprits.

But my favorite time waster is analysis paralysis, which is often caused by competing demands. For example, let's say you face the decision as to whether to prepare your taxes or generate cash. Both are extremely important to your business and considered high-priority and high-payoff items.

Should you do the taxes or make the sales? You could flip a coin to decide which should be done first, but that means you'll not win on one or the other. I suggest removing the "or" and replace it with "and" so you're focused on finding a solution that accomplishes both.

For example, cash generation for most businesses must take place during core times of the day. In this illustration if you personally prepare your taxes, you could sell during the day and complete tax forms in the evening. Now, I purposefully kept this simple so you can readily see my point.

I acknowledge, however, that life can be a bit more complex-but only if you let it.
The next time you face the dilemma of competing demands, weigh the consequences (positive and negative) and if similar in importance, then search for ways to do both. After whittling down the time wasters, you might be surprised that you have more than enough hours to accomplish what matters most.

Thought for the day: your future comes one choice at a time.

Tired of thinking about but never quite getting around to accomplishing what you want in life and business? Please visit BestQuarterWorkshop.com for an effective solution to your challenge.
A bit of background on me...I am a Productivity Strategist with nearly four decades of progressive leadership, transforming human potential into a sustainable competitive advantage. I enjoy guiding business owners, coaching executives, developing leaders, streamlining production, enhancing revenue, and generating measurable results.
If I may assist you, please let me hear from you (Contact Grant).
© 2008 Grant Ferguson, All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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Time Management: Environment is Stronger Than Will Power

2008-05-22T08:27:00.000Z

I think Buckminster Fuller got it right when he said "Environment is stronger than will power".
Think about it for a minute. If you're trying to lose weight, but you're sitting in the middle of a candy factory, how had do you think it will be to not eat candy?

On the other hand, if you're living in a health spa, I bet you could avoid eating candy much easier, even probably start working out too.

This same sort of idea goes for almost everything, yet most people don't think about setting up the right environment for efficient time management. In fact, most people kind of think of anything having to do with time management as a chore.

When most people think about time management, they think about mental discipline, following processes and other hard core "will power" techniques to stop procrastination and get more things done in less time.

Those kind of "Brute Force Time Management" techniques can work, but there are also other things you can do to help you manage your time better; things which take very little time and precious little mental will power. I call these things "Smart Time Management" techniques.
Let me show you what I mean with a quick and effective exercise.

Take a look around your work space. Pick out 5 easy to indentify objects in it and ask yourself "Does this support my goal to be better at time management or detract from my goal to be better at time management?"

For each item, if it doesn't support your goal for better time management, get rid of it or otherwise handle it appropriately.

For example, televisions are notorious for their ability to distract a person and also seduce them away from getting tasks accomplished promptly. If you have one in your workspace and can agree that it doesn't support your better time management goals, simply unplug it or better yet, move it to a different room.

Another distraction can be something as simple as a pile of papers on your desk. Clearly they are important because you've "piled" them up on your desk. The real question to ask is whether that pile supports your time management goals or not. When it's time to find something in that pile, chances are you'll have to spend a bit of extra time digging through all the papers to find the one you want. You may even spill the papers on to the floor at some point, causing you to waste time having to pick them all up.

These two examples might seem silly, but you get the point. Eliminating the non-supportive elements in your environment is the first step to creating an environment that supports your goals to be better at time management.

Of course after you remove distractions and non-supportive elements, your next step will be to add elements to your environment that actually support your time management improvement goals. We cover more of that in my other articles.

For additional strategies on "Smart Time Management, be sure you claim your copy of author Michael Adams' exclusive free expert guide for managing your time and multi-million dollar projects at: http://www.smart-time-management.com
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