Seasonal

Attitude of Gratitude

November 7, 2018

November is upon us, which means Thanksgiving is right around the corner. A customary practice around the turkey table is to say what you are thankful for, but what happens if this was extended to a year-round practice? Practicing gratitude can make you a happier person this month and beyond.

Fifty-two percent of women and 44 percent of men express gratitude on a regular basis according to an infographic on The Muse. People who are grateful tend to be more satisfied and have more self-control – which could be key as holiday treats start to roll into the office this time of year.

Speaking of the office, according to a study done by Harvard Medical School, managers who remember to say “thanks” may find that employees feel motivated to work harder. It has also been shown that gratitude is more motivating than money. Gratitude is contagious, so practicing gratitude at work will help create a corporate culture of thanks.

Thanks can be given in a multitude of ways. You can stop by a coworker’s desk and say thanks for help on a project or send a friendly email. If you want to go old school, drop a handwritten note on someone’s desk.

To become more grateful yourself, keep a gratitude journal starting now. Write down three things every night that you were thankful for during the day. The key to this practice is two things: be specific and keep writing for more than 5 days. When journaling, do not just say “I’m thankful for my family or my job”, get down to the nitty-gritty and cite specific people or things that you appreciated that day.

If writing is not your thing, try a gratitude meditation. Never meditated before? Not to worry, take 10 minutes and try this guided gratitude meditation. It will lead you through every step of the way.

Need more ideas on how you can become more grateful at work or home? Here’s 10 ways to become more grateful. We are grateful for our clients and candidates not just this season but all year long!

Tips

Not a Morning Person? Here’s How to Become One in 5 Easy Steps

Ashley Paramoure

October 24, 2018

When you wake up, what are the consistent things you do every morning before work? Wake up, take a shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush your teeth and other simple tasks, right? Adding a less than 15-minute routine, can help you be more productive during the day and give you an added boost to make you into a morning person in no time. Here are five suggestions for you to create your new morning routine from:

Breathe. Start simple by adding a breathing technique. Inhale while counting to four then exhale while counting to three. This will help you feel energized and is also a good trick to use if you feel stressed later in the day. You can also up your game with this 1-minute breathing routine once you get the hang of it.
Drink Water. Continuing with the “start simple” trend, here’s another easy idea to begin with. Drink a glass of cold water first thing in the morning. It will help wake you up and hydrate your body for the day ahead.
Get Moving! Starting your day with a quick round of exercises can lead to increased productivity later in the day. Just 2 minutes of simple push-ups, sit-ups or a wall sit can do the trick. Research has shown that substituting exercise for caffeine makes a significant daily difference. Try it!
Practice Gratitude. A daily practice of gratitude, whether you do it in the morning or before bed, has been known to improve your physical and mental health. Just writing down three to five things you are thankful for does the trick. Jot them down in a notebook or on the notes app on your phone – establish whatever method works best for you.
Generate Ideas. Author James Altucher (he’s written 18 successful books) claims that if you generate 10 ideas a day for six months, you will be able to offer ideas on any subject at any time. The ideas can be for anything – ideas for work, ideas for businesses, ideas for your family, ideas for things to do – the sky is the limit! Ten ideas may seem like a lot at first, but you’ll be humming along in no time.

So, what will you start doing tomorrow?

Job Advice

Is Criticism a Gift in Disguise? Handle with Care

Kate Stephens

August 14, 2017

Recently, LinkedIn CEO, Jeff Weiner, posted an amazing piece of advice, “Even negative feedback can be a gift. Take it seriously but don’t let it define you. Define yourself.” Well said.

Criticism is often tough to take, but can be a valuable tool to help you learn and grow. When Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was asked during a talk what was the number one thing she looked for in a person who could scale within a company, Sandberg quickly responded, “Someone who takes feedback well. Because people who can take feedback well are people who can learn and grow quickly.”

Can you handle criticism? Here’s some advice on how to handle negative feedback in the best way possible:

Don’t focus on how it was delivered. Often times the person giving feedback, doesn’t present it in the best manner. Don’t focus on what they are doing wrong, focus on what you can do right.
Keep emotions in check. Even though it may take a huge effort, don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Remaining calm will help you focus on the facts. Easier said than done, right?
Own it. A famous NYC chef was raked over the coals by The New York Times. Instead of being inflamed at the paper, he used the critique to demonstrate his commitment to his customers and his work. Curious how he handled it? Check out his response.
Be grateful. Consider thanking the person who took time to give you feedback that will ultimately better you as a person.
Forget the excuses. It’s easy to tell someone the reasons behind why you weren’t at your best in a particular situation. When you are receiving feedback, it’s best to not offer up a litany of excuses or justify the behavior. Be proactive, not reactive.

Here’s to hoping you see feedback as a positive, not a negative. Your next opportunity to grow could be right around the corner – view our current job openings.

Job Advice

Bringing Your Best Attitude to Work

Kate Stephens

February 18, 2017

What attitude do you bring to work? That may sound like a weird question, but it’s worth thinking about, because we all bring positivity or negativity with us. Our behaviors, thoughts, and actions—whether good or bad—directly impact our success and working relationships. The key is to develop an awareness of our attitudes, then reflect on how this affects things at work.

The point is this: your attitude can make or break your future success. Leadership expert Michael Hyatt talks about how contagious bad attitudes are. On the flip side, behavioral psychology writer James Clear outlines research showing how a positive mindset broadens our possibilities and enhances our skill sets. Let’s examine some common workplace scenarios to get a better grip on how your attitude and resulting behaviors might play out on the job.

Collaboration & Communication. We all enjoy being around positive people—they’re usually like magnets! Their upbeat views and affirmative opinions rally others around them and invite open conversations and teamwork. Conversely, negativity and grumpiness make others nervous, and colleagues might refrain from asking for opinions, advice, or help on a project.
Motivation. If you’ve seen the Disney Pixar movie Inside Out, you know that negativity tends to color everything around it (just like the trail of blue that the character Sadness leaves in her wake). If you’re down in the dumps and likely lacking motivation yourself, it’s easy for those around you to start feeling the same way. Alternatively, an encouraging, upbeat attitude is equally infectious—but in a good way! Kind words, a genuine smile, and optimistic outlook inspire coworkers to work hard and put their best foot forward.
Friendship Opportunities. There’s no rule that says we have to be friends with our colleagues, but some of the most amazing friendships out there have blossomed in workplaces. A kind disposition and courtesy invite others to get to know you, possibly fostering a forever friend. However, if you’re the grumpiest person in the room, you’re probably making it difficult for others to want to connect or get to know you better. Instead, be mindful of your greetings, tone, and choice of words when communicating.
Professional Advancement. You may be a rockstar at your job performance, but if you are tough to be around on a regular basis, promotions may be unlikely. Leaders are drawn to employee characteristics like positivity, enthusiasm, and team-building strengths.

The best advice is to be mindful. Mentally take note of how you come across to others, your tone of voice, and your outlook on work. Self-evaluation may be hard—and even painful at times—but will grow you into a more successful person.