Providing Feedback that Helps Employees Improve

Providing Feedback that Helps Employees ImproveProviding Feedback that Helps Employees ImproveMake your feedback have the impact it deserves by the manner and approach you use to provide performance feedback. Your feedback can make a difference to people if you can avoid provoking a defensive response. These guidelines will help you help employees develop their performance. Heres How You Can Best Provide Feedback Effective employee feedback is specific, bedrngnis general. For example, say, The report that you turned in yesterday was well-written, understandable, and made your points about the budget very effectively. Dont say, good report. One of the purposes of effective, constructive feedback is to let the individual know the specific behavior that youd like to see more of from him. General feedback like a pat on the back makes the employee feel good momentarily but doesnt do a good job of reinforcing the behavior. Useful feedback always focuses on a specific behavior, not on a part or their intentions. (When you participated incompeting conversations during the staff meeting, while Mary had the floor, you distracted the other people in attendance. As a result, Marys point was partially missed.)The best feedback is sincerely and honestly provided to help. Trust me, people will know if they are receiving it for any other reason. Most people have internal radar that can easily detect insincerity. Keep this in mind when you offer feedback. Successful feedback describes actions or behavior that the individual can do something about. If you can, provide any tools, training, time, or support that the person needs to successfully perform as you need her to perform.Whenever possible, feedback that is requested is more powerful. Ask permission to provide feedback. Say, Id like to give you some feedback about the presentation, is that okay with you? This gives the recipient some control over the situation which is desirable.When you share information and specific o bservations, you are providing feedback that an employee might use. It does not include advice unless you have permission or advice was requested. Ask the employee what he or she might do differently as a result of hearing the feedback. You are more likely to help the employee change his approach than if you tell the employee what to do or how to change. Whether the feedback is positive or constructive, provide the information as closely tied to the event as possible. Effective feedback is well timed so that the employee can easily connect the feedback with his actions.Effective feedback involves what or how something was done, not why. Asking why is asking people about their motivation and that provokes defensiveness. Ask, What happened?How did that happen? How can you prevent that outcome in the future? How can I have done a better job of helping you? What do you need from me in the future? Check to make sure the other person understood what you communicated by using a feedback lo op, such as asking a question or observing changed behavior. Set a time to get back together to discuss whether the feedback changed performance and whether any additional actions are needed.Successful feedback is as consistent as possible. If the actions are great today, theyre great tomorrow. If the policy violation merits disciplinary action, it should always merit disciplinary action. Tips to Providing the Most Effective Feedback Feedback is communicated to a person or a team of people regarding the effect their behavior is having on another person, the organization, the customer, or the team.Positive feedback involves telling someone about good performance. Make this feedback timely, specific, and frequent.Constructive feedback alerts an individual to an area in which his performance could improve. Constructive feedback is not criticism. It is descriptive and should always be directed to the action, not the person.The main purpose of constructive feedback is to help people understand where they stand in relation to expected and/or productive job behavior. Recognition for effective performance is a powerful motivator. Most people want to obtain more recognition, so recognition fosters more of the appreciated actions.

Start-Up Excitement; Grown-up Security

Start-Up Excitement Grown-up SecurityStart-Up Excitement Grown-up SecurityHigh-level ausverkauf director considers relocating herbei H.S.-age daughters in order to land a job.Parrish said leaving her previous position, as the regional director of sales for the Southwest region of Reliant, which sold software to school districts, welches a gamble. The company had been a startup, and it had grown tremendously. It had gotten to be an extremely corporate environment, and it was time for me to leave. It wasnt anything I could be passionate about anymore.The appeal of her new company was that it was starting a new division something she felt was tailor-made for her.People who are high-level salespeople are motivated by projects that are difficult, she explained. Anytime there is something new, an opportunity to shape the building of something I did it at Reliant, and I get to do that again. Acceleration of growth in a company thats where the fun is.Considering relocation with H.S.-age dau ghtersParrish, who has two daughters one a junior and one a senior in high school, said she realized their lives could change as she tried to make changes in her own life.I knew I would find a new job. But, the worst that could happen is that I would have to relocate. Thats far better than most people in terms of getting job opportunities, but still, I needed a backup plan. If things should really go south and we would have had to move, I would have had my daughters stay with my parents, so they could stay in the same school. It would not have been ideal, but it would have been better than being unemployed.Traci Parrish decided to leave her employer of eight years to find a new position that would renew her passion for sales.The only bad part was I made the decision to quit my other job before this nifty economic downturn worsened, she said. She left her former employer on Oct. 3, 2008, with the goal of finding a new position within three months. I wanted to get something within th ree months, but I had enough savings to make it for six months.Parrish admits that after she quit her job, she went into full-blown panic mode. Thats when everything in the economy was bottoming out. I was, like, What were you thinking?But once she started on the job hund and signed up to SalesLadder, she quickly felt much more confident that she would find the right job. Ladders set my mind at ease. The job leads I got from them were all sales. What it came down to was, I know Im a good candidate with a solid work history. The worst thing that could happen is that I would have to relocate.Parrish got her first serious inquiry just under a month after she registered on Ladders. One was definitely not the right fit. They were interested in me, but I told them, trust me. Im not the right person. She spoke to two potential employers seriously, first with phone interviews and then face-to-face.In the end, Parrish hit her goal with a few weeks cushion she started her new job on Dec. 16, 2008. She is now the K-12 sales consultant for Student Paths, a company that provides software programs to schools that help students negotiate their way through the post-high school world of work and college.She said that in her search, there were specific criteria I had set for this new job. I liked the start-up-firma environment. The company has been around a little while, but this was new territory for them. They did not have anyone on staff in the K-12 division. I was getting an opportunity to get in on the ground floor.Balancing a challenge and job securityAt one point Parrish did consider looking outside of the educational software industry. But her level of expertise in the educational environment, ultimately, is what made her an appealing candidate. I loved working in the schools, and also, there is a high level of stability there. Its a lot easier for a company to go belly up than a school district to do so, she said.In her new position, she works remotely from her home ou tside Joplin, Missouri. The company is headquartered in Minnesota, and her sales territory consists of Texas and Missouri. It means she is traveling quite a bit, but its not something that bothers Parrish. This is what I wanted. I enjoy it a lot. I live in a good location for the territory. I can get on a plane and be in Dallas for the day, and be home in time for dinner. Travelwise, that matched what I did in my previous job.In the end, her need to move on in her career didnt mean the whole family had to move. And shes ready for the next stage in her own life.Ive got two daughters heading off to college soon, she said, pointing out that in the next couple of years, she will have more time to spend on her job. If its not going to be fun, I dont want to do it. Take me back to fun.

Making Obsolescence Obsolete

Making Obsolescence Obsolete Making Obsolescence Obsolete Making Obsolescence ObsoleteIf the long rinse cycle on your dishwelchesher fills you with angst about the Earths dwindling resources, rest assured, youll soon be able to pour in the Cascade with a little less guilt. Thanks to the Department of Energys new energy standards, by May of 2013, every new dishwasher will use no mora than 307 kilowatt hours of energy a year and less than five gallons of water each cycle. In addition to feeling good about your shrinking carbon footprint, you just might save a little on your electric and water bills.That is, if youre still using the same dishwasher in 12 years.Unfortunately, a new dishwashers lifespan is roughly what you get out of a dogabout nine years. Whether the vita breve can be blamed on the use of cheaper parts for competitive pricing, new electronic controls that fail after prolonged proximity to heat, or plain old planned obsolescence, theres a good chance youll be sending your latest purchase off as landfill before the decades out. The energy and environmental costs of manufacture, of mining materials, of production, of shipping, and finally, of disposal, are not factored into the new efficiency standards and are left largely unregulated.Reliability StandardsYes, there are some things we can make that will brde an incredibly long time, but theres not a business incentive to do that, says Fred Schenkelberg, a reliability engineering and management consultant. Washing machines are classic for that. Cast iron machines from the 1950s, they still work. They were way over designed, they had one switch. Today, washing machine manufacturers know that if their products last ten years, the customers will be happy enough to buy the same brand as a replacement. So they make it lighter and cheaper and itll fail before the eleventh year. Theyre optimizing how much it costs to deliver the product versus the perceived value the customer gets.Life expectancy of different home appliances.Source Appliance MagazineWhats good for business is not necessarily good for the customer, or for the world. So why not regulate the waste in the first place? Is there some way to pass standards for reliability and durability? Could planned obsolescence itself be legally controlled?Durability regulations are not entirely unheard of they just tend to address smaller scale issues. In 2012, for instance, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued new durability standards for cribs after two infant deaths. In Europe, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive forces companies to responsibly recycle electronics. Cutting down the rate of product replacement could be as important for the safety of children as the construction of their beds.There are ways to slide this into a DOE spec, says Chris Carpenter, director of sales at ReliaSoft, reliability software and consulting company. If there was a sticker that said Life data analysis indicates this product h as a reliability of 99 percent with 80 percent confidence boundaries over a period of five years, that would be awesome. Id love to get a washing machine and see that.In essence, this would be the Consumer Reports model. They ask what kind of repairs consumers have, they do tear down, product testing, and so on. Its a bit of science and a bit of art, says Schenkelberg. I dont think it would be difficult to do. The challenge is, can we standardize it enough? Another challenge is the cost to manufacturers, and the government, of coming up with, and testing standards for, the wild variety of products available to todays human.Warranty WoesA simpler solution might be the government-mandated warranty. For the auto industry, the federal government already dictates how long seatbelts should last (five years or 50,000 miles) as well as any part having to do with emissions (two years or 24,000 miles). In Italy, consumers are guaranteed two years of service for any newly purchased computer.Th is would benefit not only the world and the consumer, but, at least in some cases, business as well.In the 1990s, HP was losing billions of dollars thanks to warranty returns. Those losses were dramatically reduced with a simple solution extend the warranty. When you increase the warranty, it increases the uncertainty of the product. You have to make more estimates, so designers tend to buy more robust parts, and the products have a larger safety margin for durability, says Schenkelberg. It works.For those that balk at more government intrusion, the simplest answer may be enforced transparency letting the consumer know what is to be expected from a product. The DoE is saying that the efficiency regulations will cause the industry to lose 13 percent of its value, 85 million dollars, says Sofie Miller, a policy analyst at George Washington Universitys Regulatory Studies Center whos been critical of the supposed savings to the customer that are said to come with the new dishwasher regu lations. Its interesting that those choices dont fall to consumersyoud think they would say, Hey, Ill be saving money.Many manufacturers already routinely test their products for reliability, and they have a good idea how long theyre going to last. But forget trying to pry that information out of them. You can ask anyone you want how long its going to last, they wont tell you, says Schenkelberg. The actual failure rate of a product is still a trade secret.With the manufacturing and technology industries practically dependent on the expiration dates attached to their products, its hard to imagine a truly sustainable world without some kind of authoritative intervention. Yet there is no one pushing for such a change. If the true cost to society was reflected in the price, it would make the purchase prohibitively expensive, says Schenkelberg. Somewhere theres a balance. Im not a policy maker, but I can conceive of it happening.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Yes, there are some things we can make that will last an incredibly long time, but theres not a business incentive to do that.Fred Schenkelberg, reliability engineering and management consultant

Being an Older Salesman

Being an Older SalesmanBeing an Older SalesmanSales is a young persons career. The only old people in sales are the ones notlagelage good enough to have been promoted. Old salespeople are too far behind the times to be effective. If youre wondering if you may be too old to be in sales, you might have heard these comments before. Perhaps you even felt or feel the same way. The question at the core is whether or not there is an age limit for those in or interested in a sales career? If so, what is a mature professional supposed to do if not what they have passion and skills for? If there is no such thing as being too old for sales, what obstacles should a tenured sales rep expect to face? A Few Common Beliefs In many sales organizations, the sales team is younger than the management team which is often younger than the senior leadership team. This commonality is far from being universal but, in general, this is what is commonly found in many sales teams. Many feel that a young sale s professional earns promotions, climb up the corporate ladder, and eventually retires from the industry while enjoying a management or senior leadership role. If a sales rep doesnt make that climb but instead stays in a direct sales position, either the rep is viewed as not having the necessary skills to advance, is too lazy to be offered a promotion, or is not interested in advancement. These are the commonly held beliefs when it comes to mature sales professionals, and while these beliefs have their merit and can be correct in many instances, they are far from being absolute. Passion and Skill Know No Age The truth is that the age of a sales professional is far less important than passion and skill. Some may argue that with advanced age comes a lowered energy level, but most reps who display energy in their jobs are either hardwired to be energetic or are driven by their passion for their job. There are energetic sales reps in every bullpen across the world that are mature, a nd there are those who display very little energy that are just starting their work careers. Sure, with age comes a natural lessening of bodily energy, but unless a sales rep is in a very physically demanding industry, it is passion and skill that create the energy needed for success, not youth. Industries Vary Despite several countries employment laws that prohibit agediscrimination, there will be sales industries that are heavily slanted towards youth and that dissuade older sales professionals from even applying for a sales position. As an example, if a company sells products geared for 20-year-olds, their sales force will reflect their customer base. While far from being universal, there are mora 20 and 30-year-olds selling social media-based products than there are 50, 60, and 70-year-olds. Customer Base Conversely, youll find more 40, 50, and 60-year-olds selling Financial Services and Insurance than you will 20-year-olds. Why? In some industries, consumers will be mor e trusting of a sales rep with experience (both industry and life) than someone just getting their careers started. But this doesnt mean that an older person cant be successful in an industry geared towards a younger generation, nor does it mean that a 20 something-year-old cant be a top producer in a more mature industry Again, it comes down to passion and skill. Final Thoughts In all honesty, there is no age limit for success in sales, but there may be extra prejudices or obstacles to overcome for a mature sales rep. If your skills are sharp and your commitment to customer service and success are strong, then your birthdate doesnt mean anything. Be smart about the industry you seek to sell in, then show the world the benefits of being experienced.

How Is Your LinkedIn Profile Introducing You

How Is Your LinkedIn Profile Introducing YouHow Is Your LinkedIn Profile Introducing YouSocial media plays a huge role in 21st-century job searches, so its common for a LinkedIn profile to be the first thing employers see about you. Does yours make a good impression? How is your LinkedIn profile introducing you? Ensure that you come across as someone theyd like to know better by paying attention to the following elementsThe PhotoEyes have a way of naturally gravitating toward a picture. Providing one gives readers a visual to attach to the information they read, which makes you more memorable. But dont just slap on any old picture a badeanstalt choice can come across as careless or immature. Gain positive attention by choosing a good quality head shot in which you convey professionalism and friendliness- qualities that welcome hiring managers to pursue further action.The HeadlineJust as a great title can draw you into a newspaper article, an effective LinkedIn headline can lead to th e whole profile being read.For many, if not all, of my clients, I suggest a headline that is different from Job Title at Name of Company. This is the default headline, and while it may ring true in terms of your current role and job, you have an opportunity to create something more custom, says HR professional and resume writer Tiffani Murray of Personality on a Page. However, she suggests avoiding anything grandiose or vague (such as calling yourself King of All Social Media) in favor of conveying core skills, career profile, and level introducing yourself as a Senior Brand Marketing Professional or Experienced IT Project Manager gives a clearer indication of your capabilities.The SummaryFollowing up your headline with a well-constructed summary of who you are and what you have to offer is the written equivalent of the elevator pitch job seekers should have in their repertoire for face-to-face networking. Both should get to the heart of your true interests, skills, and experience, as well as project confidence and encourage the person receiving the message to find out more.ContentDont let your efforts to grab attention go to waste Enable a reader who has come this far to see all you bring to the table. Paint a vivid picture of your work hintergrund by going beyond the years and places to show what you did and the effect it had on the company. Include volunteer experience, participation in professional organizations, educational pursuits, links to your blog or examples of your work, and any other relevant information that supports your candidacy.RecommendationsFinally, remember that the hiring process involves risk on the employers end. Actions that establish credibility and increase trust encourage confidence in moving forward. Just as buyers are more comfortable purchasing from an eBay seller with a high rating and good reviews, employers feel better when they have more than the candidates own words to go on.You dont have to overdo it, but three recommendati ons from colleagues is a start, Murray says. Get a couple of managers and a peer to write a blurb about how your work improved the team or organization.Then, prepare yourself for the next stages in the hiring process. With such a solid first impression from your LinkedIn profile, employers will be eager to further make your acquaintance.Readers, how is your LinkedIn profile introducing you? Is it helping or hindering your job search? Share with us below

A Fools Guide to Resume Samples Free Revealed

A Fools Guide to Resume Samples Free Revealed A Secret Weapon for Resume Samples Free A superb profile must closely link up with specific objective statements rather than giving an overall display for those goals that you want to accomplish. Resume objectives are occasionally thought to be the old schooltype of resume. Keep in mind, your resume must present only the perfect mixture of meaningful information related to your objective. Chronological resumes are the ideal place to highlight your accomplishments. Resume is a kind of document employed by individuals that are seeking for employment. Its also necessary to involve. Our resume examples can make certain youre prepared in the event you receive a referral. The discipline of information technology gets more important each and every day. Possessing a very clear and professional resume is essential in the health care field. Nevertheless, once youve no experiences and recommendations in making the document, it will like ly be difficult to do. Distinct kinds of work in the food tafelgeschirr industry require resumes with a lot of the exact skills. The Benefits of Resume Samples Free Consider the work description as you decide what things to include.8. In general, the above mentioned outline is remarkably simple because the work search procedure, despite all of the anxiety and confusion, is remarkably easy. In addition, in the event where ones last job reference wasnt the best one, an individual might need to select the aid of a functional resume template. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously provide you an advantage. Such statements should consist of words which are job specific like production, assembly abilities and a lot more. Notice how the example resumes are extremely specific when it has to do with technical skills. For each work application, pick the layout that most represents you in the context of the job which youre applying for. See the word professional. W hat You Dont Know About Resume Samples Free Speaking of unique, the most important target of your resume is to make you stick out from the remainder of the folks applying for the exact same job and another means to create that happen is to use action verbs and power words (also known as resume verbs). The issue is, lots of people dont see it like an species formrather an obligation. In truth, its not that hard as it might appear to be. The simple truth is, obtaining a simple personal site that highlights your abilities and more importantly your personality go a ways to creating a 3 dimensional persona for the hiring manager. Ruthless Resume Samples Free Strategies Exploited Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better likelihood of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. All you need to do is point and click. A functional resume is very helpful for someone whos seeking to switch tracks, professionally speaking, who might want to enter a different niche or separate industry altogether. New Step by Step Roadmap for Resume Samples Free Basic doesnt need to mean boring, as you will notice in the variety of free basic resume templates we offer. There are two sorts of font. Basic layouts are extremely simple to edit, even when you have never made a resume before. Employing a resume template is getting an acceptable and smart practice for quite a few factors. Tailoring your resume to suit a possible employer isnt any different. You must commit time into each application and make certain that your resume is tailored to every employer and the job that youre applying to. On the flip side, functional resumes are generally used by fresh graduates or those who have less experience but want to grab the work vacancy. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. Volunteer experience is also a fine add-on to healthcare resumes since it shows the hiring manager w hich you have compassion off the work too. More experienced people who may rather not advertise what a lengthy job history they have had. Each time you put in an application for a new job, check your resume to guarantee that it is not only targeted, but in addition current. You need to have a well-written resume if youre serious about landing a pharmacy technician job. Resume Samples will be able to help you present your employment and education information the correct way. Perhaps while trying to find examples you noticed poor samples all around the internet. Fortunately, youre going to find a number of samples of resume from the website. During the time you are carried out in locating the completely free samples, it is really time to make your own. Each level focuses on distinct abilities and experience, placing the main front and center. The skills a chronological resume may be unable to to highlight are in a position to be emphasized in a functional resume. When deci ding what to include, you should begin by thinking about the nature of your prospective employers, your degree of experience, and the abilities and certifications desired. For more ideas on the best way to strengthen your program, have a look at our education and teaching resumes. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Resume Samples Free Take a look at our samples to get a better idea about what makes a good customer service resume and discover out what it requires to land your dream job. If you need assistance figuring out the best way to do so, have a look at our office worker resume samples and expert writing tips. Get your fantasy job with the support of this completely free expert PSD freebie. Raise your probability of locating a good job fast.

Dos and donts of resigning

Dos and donts of resigning Dos and donts of resigningPosted October 13, 2011, by Sue Stevens Do inform the boss of your decision to leave in person and have a resignation letter ready. Dont let them hear the news through the grapevine. Do be mature and professional about leaving. Dont gloat about how much better your new job is going to be and how much it sucks working where you are at the moment. Do be prepared to answer questions the boss may have about your decision to leave. Dont give answers like this job is killing me I have to get out. Do check your contract to find out how much notice you have to give. Dont leave it too late you dont want to have to delay the start of your new job because you didnt resign in good time. Do clear up all entitlements and unused vacation time. Dont try to organise things after youve already left and started at your new job. Do continue working and behaving just as you had done before you announced you were leaving. Dont stop working immediately after you hand in your resigantion. Dont forget you might want a reference from these people. Do be positive in your exit interview. Dont use the occasion to vent your frustrations. Be constructive with your comments. Do return all company property before you leave, such as passes, keys and laptops. Dont be remembered as the person who stole the stapler or the phone. Do say goodbye on your brde day. Dont leave on your last day without a word to anyone and try to refrain from running out the door. Do think of the future. Dontburn your bridges avoid final comments about what you really think of everyone or confessions about those two-hour lunches, stealing stationery or letting Todd take the blame for the failure of the teams project. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searche sresignation letter sample for it companyresignation letter due to health and stresssample resignation letter coaching positionhairdressing resignation letterresignation tips and templates CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineSue StevensRelated ArticlesBrowse moraDesignDigital Media10 jobs that the internet killedThe internet has changed the way we live in more ways than one. Julia takes a look at which jobs have had to take the exit ramp thanks to the information super highway.International StudiesTourismWhere in the world can international studies take you?One of those transferable degrees, international studies is a great option for anyone looking to learn about the world, around the world.BossRedundancy8 Signs Youre About to Lose Your JobAre you about to lose you r job? If any of these 8 signs sound familiar, you could be skating on thin ice. Take action now to save your job or land yourself a new role before your boss even gets a chance to sit you down for Youre So Fired chat.