SELF IMPROVEMENT AND MOTIVATION

Led  … Handled  … Managed… Responsible for  … Most resume bullet points start with the same words. Frankly, the same tired old words hiring managers have heard over and over—to the point where they’ve lost a lot of their meaning and don’t do much to  show off your awesome accomplishments  . So, let’s get a little more creative, shall we? Next time you  update your resume  , switch up a few of those common words and phrases with strong, compelling action verbs that will catch hiring managers’ eyes. No matter what duty or accomplishment you’re trying to show off, we’ve got just the verb for you. Check out the list below, and get ready to make your resume way more exciting. You Led a Project If you were in charge of a project or initiative from start to finish, skip “led” and instead try: 1. Chaired 2. Controlled 3. Coordinated 4. Executed 5. Headed 6. Operated 7. Orchestrated 8. Organized 9. Oversaw 10. Planned...

10 Ways Secure Leaders Differ from Insecure "Leaders" 1. Delegation Secure leaders delegate the desired results, not methods.  When we delegate results, we are transferring responsibility for methods to those doing the work. When those doing the work determine the method, they take ownership in achieving the results. Since they’re responsible for methods and ultimately results, they are flexible and can change methods to effectively and efficiently achieve the desired results. Insecure "leaders" delegate methods in order to achieve the desired results.  By doing so, they retain full responsibility for the results. When those doing the work are told what to do, they avoid ownership of the results. They are rigid and simply do as they’re told. As a result, whatever happens, happens. 2. Decision Making Secure leaders empower others by giving them the power to make decisions.  The team members know they are responsible, but they also know the leader is there to support ...

Last weekend, I got a big surprise when I wasn’t expecting it. I fell into watching the end of the movie  Patch Adams  as it just happened to be on tv. I’d seen  Patch Adams  many years ago (it was a 1998 film with Robin Williams) yet I was very surprised by how inspiring his speech was near the end of the film. Below, you can find a full transcript of the speech and two videos that cover the full length of the speech (one starts at the beginning but doesn’t go all the way to the end, and the other does the opposite). The quotes in this speech that really resonate in my heart are; If we’re going to fight a disease, let’s fight one of the most terrible diseases of all, indifference. this reminded me of my own recent thoughts on indifference – see  The Silent Power of Indifference Every human being has an impact on another. Why don’t we want that in a patient doctor relationship? Always live in awe of the glorious mechanism of the human body. reminds me of my new ...

Believe it or not, you can have fun at work! Switch things up at the office and try some new, fun team building activities to get everyone energized. “I NEVER DID A DAY’S WORK IN MY LIFE. IT WAS ALL FUN.” – THOMAS A. EDISON Realistically, work tends to be a bore at times. It doesn’t have to be though! There are tons of highly effective fun team building activities that you and your team can do to become more engaged, better acquainted with each other, and more productive all while having some fun. It’s important to team build often and even more important to get everyone participating. Good lines of communication, strong team work skills and getting to know your team are all what to expect with the right amount of effort. If you are trying to  fuse fun and work  look no further! Photo Credit:  kenexa.com (1) LUNCHING WITH COWORKERS Lunch time is a glorious time for many people in the work place, and with good reason. Having time to...

Few things are as costly and disruptive as managers who kill morale. Demotivated employees underperform and then walk out the door at the first opportunity. The scariest thing is how prevalent this lack of motivation is. Gallup research shows that 70% of employees consider themselves to be disengaged at work. Organizations know how important it is to have motivated, engaged employees, but most fail to hold managers accountable for making it happen. When they don’t, the bottom line suffers. Research from the University of California found that motivated employees were 31% more productive, had 37% higher sales, and were three times more creative than demotivated employees. They were also 87% less likely to quit, according to a Corporate Leadership Council study on over 50,000 people. Gallup research shows that a mind-boggling 70% of an employee’s motivation is influenced by his or her manager. It’s no wonder employees don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. Making Things Worse Before mana...