How to Motivate Employees And Keep Employees Happy

How to Motivate Employees And Keep Employees HappyHow to Motivate Employees And Keep Employees HappyHow to Motivate Employees And Keep Employees Happy Blaszczyk, Managing Editor, Resource CenterIts a variation of the chicken and egg question. Which came first disgruntled employees or the recession?Worker dissatisfaction likely goes back a while. Imagine the Medieval grunt assigned to sharpen the kings quills.Fast forward a millennium and were still trying to figure out how to cultivate employee engagement.The current recession certainly hasnt helped. Ongoing layoffs, long hours (often for less pay) and stressful work environments have all taken a deep and significant toll on the American workers psyche.The question then becomes, what can be done to repair the damaged relationship between employees and employers?The answers are found in both the latest research and some plain old common sense.How to Keep Race Horses RunningSalespeople those race horses of the business world are alwa ys racing to the finish line, while their employers are always looking for the big win. Central to this equation is keeping top abverkauf performers satisfied and motivated. Yet it turns out that money isnt the sole component of sales motivation.A recent study conducted by Tower Watson and Staffing Industry Analysts revealed the best practices followed by successful high-growth staffing firms that effectively retain top performers.Sponsored by Monster, the 2012 Staffing Industry Sales Force Effectiveness Surveypoints out the importance of a clearly-defined employee value proposition at high-growth staffing firms that extends beyond pay and benefits to career pathing for sales employees.This deal between employer and employee includes non-management career paths for top sales performers.Additionally, survey respondents from all segments gave high ranks to the visibility of their internal talent pool. The importance of creating a talent pipeline and understanding the talent inside the ir organizations and teams was clear, says Matthew OConnor, Sr. Vice President, Monster.Managing Entrepreneurial-Minded MillenialsSpeaking of horses, what happens when your newly-hired Philly (a Gen Y employee who you really like) decides after three months on the job that theyre ready for a versetzung now.Author Emily Bennington recounts this real-life scenario in her recent article, How to Manage Entrepreneurial-Minded Employees.She recalls the exact words of her new employee, who was hired on a two-year promotion track Two years is like a decade to me.Ah, youth.Benningtons advice for managers is to carefully listen to the employees argument. Then formulate a list of ten or so meaningful tasks for them to complete that will prove their worth. Check in as tasks on the list are completed.Once the list is tackled (assuming that the employee completes them all) the manager will come away with a much clearer sense of the employees problem-solving capabilities and overall attitude as we ll as their overall worth.Workplace Motivation Nurture, Praise, RepeatEmployers often ask, How do I get employees to do more than Im asking?In response, author Roberta Matuson notes in her article on motivation in the workplace, Its no secret that people are more apt to go the extra mile when they feel motivated.While that may seem obvious, the devil is always in the details.Matuson offers suggestions that keep employees motivated and productive, even in flat organizations that are unable to provide new job titles and upward mobility.Recognize that achievement is defined differently for everyone. For example, in your world as business owner, being a global player in your marketplace may be your definition of achievement in your employees world, being trusted to develop a marketing campaign is a sign that theyve arrived.At least once a year, as part of your employee performance reviews,take the time to ask your employees what theyd like to achieve in the coming year. Dont forget to r eview all theyve accomplished while in your employ.Involving employees in business decisions early on is a motivation technique that works in any situation. When people are involved in decisions, they feel a sense of ownership, which is something that is highly valued by those who run small businesses. They will do whatever it takes to see a project through successful completion.Finally, Matuson recommends employees with workplace flexibility. This will nearly guarantee that most employees will rise to the occasion when you are in a pinch.These techniques are proof that a bit of motivation, whether through career planning, recognition or engagement, can go a long way toward energizing workers. And thats a win-win for everyone.Copyright 2012 Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. You may not copy, reproduce or distribute this article without the prior written permission of Worldwide.

5 ways to manage freelance stress and avoid burnout

5 ways to manage freelance stress and avoid burnout5 ways to manage freelance stress and avoid burnoutThelife of a freelancerlooks so appealing, and many people on thenine-to-five desk grindwill envy the freedom and flexibility that comes with this type of work. You can choose where you work, how long you work for, what type of work you take on, the volume of work you do,andwho you work for. While all this sounds perfect, the fruchtwein common myth about freelancing is that it is stress-free.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraHowever, this couldnt be further from the truth, and notlagehing can prepare you for the added stress that comes with working independently. Simply lacking the safety net of having a permanent full-time role within a company can be stressful enough for some people, as well as the need to self-motivate when you just arent feeling it.Plus, there will always be t imes where work is scarce and youre stressed about making enough money and finding more work,and then there will be high-pressure periods when managing the amount of work and meeting deadlines will be just as stressful and exhausting.This fluctuation is hard to get used to, and in my own freelancing career, the unknown nature of what comes next is still something Im getting used to. However, Im definitely not willing to give up the flexibility, and so I found a few practical ways to manage the stress inherent in the nature of freelancing work.5 ways to manage freelance stress1. Learn to say noSaying no is something I have never been good at. Especially as a freelancer, you will feel inclined to say yes because you are never certain that you will continue to have work down the track. And it is this mindset that has been the basis of most of my stress when freelancing.You need to be able to create a realistic schedule, one that allows you to meet all the deadlines for projects you hav e already committed to. To avoid taking on too many jobs at once, make sure younot only schedule in your workhours but also time for social activities, exercise, and any other commitments.You dont want your leisure time to be compromised just so you can take on another project, because that will only be a disservice to the quality of your work and ability to meet deadlines, and could alsoeventually lead to burnout.2. Set work hoursEven though freelancing is appealing because you can work whenever you feel like it, it can also be really useful to set work hours. When I dont do this, I find myself feeling guilty for doing anything besides work, and end up spendingtoo much time procrastinating and consequently skipping out on leisure time. Or on the other hand, I schedule in too much of everything else and fail to leave myself enough time to get all my work done (causing A LOT of easily avoidable stress).The best part is that you arent restricted by nine-to-five hours, and dont need to commute to an office, so you can think about when you are most productive and schedule in a solid block of time to power through some work then. A lot of people are most productive when they first wake up, from 6 am to 10 am, but every individual is different.Setting work hours is also just as important as setting time for activities outside of work like socializing or exercise, and if you have stuck to your schedule and completed your work then you wont need to spend this time outside of work feeling guilty (just as I used to).And if something urgent comes up and eats into all your work hours, its important to find another block of time to make up for it so you keep on top of everything and arent stressing about not getting everything done.3. Schedule breaksWhen your working in an office the best part of the day is usually your break, and it tends to be something you arent willing to give up. But with freelancing, and particularly if you are working from home, you can quite easily forget to take a break.As someone who works out of home, my bedroom is totally off limits while working, unless Im taking a break. Even though Im working at home, I try to separate my work and my personal life, which is why I still stick to scheduled hours and will only work in my dedicated spot in the house.That way when I go to take a break, it actually feels like Im taking a break because Im relaxing in a different area. If I was to work in my bedroom, then the line would be blurred between work and everything else, and it would alsoinhibit my productivity.Find out what hours work best for you whether that is working straight through a day with an hour lunch break, working in two-hour slots with breaks in between, taking ten-minute breaks every hour etc. The beauty of freelancing is that youre in control, so taking advantage of that is vital to stress management.4. Focus on the task at handIn those high-pressure times where you are flooded with deadlines, the worst thing you can do is dwell on everything you have to complete.Keep your mind focused on what you are working on right now and getting the most important things done first. You may have no choice but to work into the night sometimes but try not to make this a regular occurrence.At the end of the day, spending time worrying about completely all your projects is simply time wasted, and adds no value to your work. Focus on things one at a time, take regular breaks andkeep breathing The high-pressure times wont last forever.5. Find a hobbyDoing something that you enjoy every day will help eliminate stress and gives you something to always look forward to if youre finding yourself in a work slump. As mentioned earlier, try having a workspace and personal space if your home allows for it, so your mind can easily distinguish between work and your hobby. If youre living in a tiny place where this isnt possible, its really important to get out and practice your hobby, even if that just meansgoing out and ex ercising(which is actually super beneficial when managing stress).Getting out is also great due to the isolative nature of freelance work, which makes it easier to fall into a pit of depression. Finding a hobby can give you a reason to get out of the house and provide new social connections. You could even take up a hobby with a few friends giving you the perfect excuse to catch up.Just about anything can be a hobby, from making art to nurturing a veggie patch or practicing yoga. To help manage my own freelance stress, I started up a book club with some friends and this has encouraged me to read more books for pleasure, and also allowed me to catch up with friends on a regular basis.It can be difficult to put yourself first when you manage your work independently and also have multiple different people relying on you, but without practices like these, you are more likely to experience exhaustion, burnout andextreme stresswhen freelancing. Taking time out is just as important in the world of freelancingThis article first appeared on A Girl in Progress.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

3 Job Search Mistakes To Not Learn The Hard Way

3 Job Search Mistakes To Not Learn The Hard Way3 Job Search Mistakes To Not Learn The Hard WayA lot of emotions go into job search and usually, theyre the negative emotions. You can start to feel desperate after submitting dozens or hundreds of resumes, only to be rejected. And its confounding that no one can seem to see that youre perfect for a role, especially when you meet all the qualifications listed in the ad.To minimize the negative emotions, lets avoid 3 key job search mistakes so you can turn your job search journey into a series of wins, up to and including an offer for the job you ideally want.Mistake 1 Keeping Your Options OpenThis week a candidate told me, So far Ive been applying for about 8 or 10 different job titles, a variety of things, because I figure I can adapt to pretty much anything.Me And how long have you been in active job search mode?herbei About 7 months now.Its time for a better strategy. I realize it seems counter-intuitive, but casting a wide net and k eeping your options open will only get you exactly where you are right now nowhere.Consider the prospective employers point of view they have a position to fill. It has a job title. It has a specific set of duties. Youre being hired to do, literally, ONE job. With the jack-of-all-trades approach, the only thing youre telling the employer is that you can do some of the job he wants done, and by the way you can touch on all these other things he didnt even ask you to do. Thats not an attractive package from the employers perspective.Heres what to do instead identify what you do excellently, and pursue that. That means other opportunities will pass you by. Get okay with that. Not every opportunity is for you. But the one that is for you is where youll excel.Mistake 2 Replacing Tried & True Methods With The netzThe Internet seems like a blessing so many opportunities at your fingertips, so easy to apply, and as LinkedIn continues to evolve, so many ways to reach out and touch the real human being you need. But there can be a bit of a curse when the Internet comes into play as well it can make you lazy, real quick.The Internet doesnt replace tried and true methods. It just augments them. You are unlikely to land your next 6-figure position 100% from the comfort of your bedroom, with your laptop open. Its just like dating. You can have all the online profiles on all the sites that you want, but at some point, you literally need to get up and get out there.Regard online searching as a fast track. You can network with an exponentially higher number of people online. But nothing rings truer than a nice phone call. Informational interviews still work. Showing your face means showing the real you, and differentiating yourself from the sea of competitors (who stay hiding behind their computers).Mistake 3 Networking In A Way Thats Not WorkingOn a date, if all the other person does is say, Me Me Me Then YOUprobably wont be too terribly interested in seeing them again. Whe n it comes to job search, you cant approach a networking situation with your hand out immediately asking for something. Flip the script. In fact, discard your script. Networking works best when you actively listen, add value, then have that move reciprocated.When the opportunity naturally arises for you to speak, make koranvers that what you say is specific. Stating, So, if you know of any contacts doesnt inspire anyone to do anything. People know a lot of contacts. But they can be more helpful to you and they want to be helpful to you you just have to zero in on specifically what you need.An effective statement in a networking scenario is, Ive been in project management for 12 years, and right now I have my eye on US Foods, Kraft, and Tyson. If you or a contact of yours knows the Project Management Office Directors or VPs of Operations at any of those places, that would actually be fruchtwein helpful to me.Specifics get results. A specific request when youre networking tickles pe oples memories and they will come up with names more often than not. Aiming for a specific role, as opposed to taking shots in the dark at 8-10 different titles, can land you in that role significantly faster.Theres another specific approach to keep in mind. Its mapped out in our Ultimate Recruiter Response Cheat Sheet. Find out the exact language you need in order to instantly connect with a real human being who can move you through the interview process. This is the one strategy you need to pull your resume out of the online black hole, make sure it gets in front of someones eyeballs, and increase the likelihood that youll get a 70% response rate. Download The Ultimate Recruiter Response Cheat Sheet today.