Talking ‘Bout My Generation! Multiple Generations in the Workplace

Gen X?  Millennials?  What's the current terminology?  And what age group does each include?  Face it, in any given workplace, you can expect to have 4-5 generations working together!  Let's talk about how gaps between these came about, what the current business landscape looks like, and why you should challenge assumptions to ultimately bridge those generations. Generations in the Workplace As society has progressed, people are remaining active and healthy longer which has led to a wider age spread in today's workforce.  Your company's staff could easily be represented today by multiple generations.  And each of these has grown up with different experiences - whether with radio, TV, computers, iPhones.  World and local events impacted each generation differently as did the music they listened to and the TV shows they watched.  The CBS show, The Great Indoors, does a great job of adding humor to a workplace trying to rally…read more...

Employee Appreciation

The number one reason why most Americans leave their jobs is that they don’t feel appreciated. Employee appreciation is a must-have for organizations that value employee engagement. Showing appreciation for employees can increase productivity, customer service and product development.   Companies who participate in employee recognition report a turnover rate 23% lower than at companies without a recognition program, and 41% of companies that use peer-to-peer recognition have seen marked positive increases in customer satisfaction.   Recognizing employees is one of the most overlooked facets of management that even great leaders sometimes forget about. Without honest, frequent praise, people build up stress.   What is employee recognition?  Employee recognition is all about acknowledging the hard work and accomplishments of the individuals and teams within your organization. It’s really about creating an emotional connection between your employees and your company all while supporting the work your employees do each day. Employee…read more...

What Not to Say During an Interview

Interviews can be tough. They’re stressful, anxiety provoking and call for extra-strength deodorant.   In an interview, your goal is to get across to the interviewer why you—above all the other applicants—are the right person for the job. The hiring manager is looking for the candidate with just the right set of skills, the ideal personality, and the drive to make things happen.   A wrong move or two, and it won’t matter how great you performed at your last job. There are some questions, topics, etc., that aren’t appropriate and can really make the employer think twice about your character.   This is Jaime Marie, and here are some phrases that come off as red flags during interviews:   “So, tell me what you do around here.”  Do your research. You never want to walk into an interview knowing too little about the position or company. Companies want to…read more...

10 Tips for Team Building

Belonging to a team, in the broadest sense, results in being a part of something larger than yourself. Team members understand the mission or objectives of your organization. In a team-oriented environment, you contribute to the overall organization by doing your job well and helping others to do their jobs well. Getting a team to work efficiently requires focus on team building. Even though everyone may belong to a different department, they all work together to achieve the common goal of the organization. The bigger picture drives your actions. Many compaies use team building as the major key for business success. If your team-morale isn’t living up to your expectations, this checklist may help you better understand why. Successful team building calls for attention to each of the following: Common Vision  A common vision for all team members is essential for team building and organizational success. Spend time visioning as a team –…read more...

Just a Minute, Boss. My Cell phone is Ringing.

These days, we’re never on the go without a cell phone in hand. Whether you are a GenXer at the hair salon, a millennial on a mountain bike or a soccer mom at the grocery store, we depend on the connectivity that a cell phone provides.  Smart phones provide our news and our entertainment.  When we find ourselves unexpectedly without our phones, we don’t know where to look or what to do with our hands. But, have you ever asked yourself if your cell phone is killing your productivity at work? According to Pew Research Center, cell phone owners between the ages of 18 and 24 exchange an average of 109.5 messages on a normal day—more than 3,200 texts per month! If we assume a millennial spends one third of their day at work, they are receiving somewhere between 30-40 messages during a workday. The buzz of our phone can…read more...

Five Tips on Working from Home

In today’s interconnected world, working doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to a grey-walled office building filled with rows of cubicles. It doesn’t need to mean you’re jumping on a plane every couple of days, or that you’re in constant competition for the room with the biggest view. Working from home has become increasingly possible and popular. More than 30 million Americans work from home, and Forrester Research’s US Telecommuting Forecast predicts that number will rise to 63 million by next year - meaning that 43 percent of the U.S. workforce will work remotely. It’s not a piece of cake to work from home if you allow the distractions of your spouse, kids, pets and UPS deliveries to disrupt your workflow. Working from home is awesome as long as you set up your home workspace to meet the needs of your work.  Don’t let working from home turn into unnecessary sleep-in days,…read more...

Hey There, Let’s Decorate!

Do you look around your workplace and think, “Man, this place is drab?” Does your work environment remind you of an uninspired school classroom? Are there faded posters on the walls that have been there since 1972? If the walls of your workspace are tired, your employees might be less than inspired when they walk into work each day. There’s a special place in my heart for interior design. It goes well with my little fashion obsession, because it’s essentially dressing up your work space! From the lighting, the furniture, the equipment, and how it’s all positioned and arranged- here we look at why interior design is so important to the success of your business. Impress Clients Clients are the trickiest part of businesses. You have to be able to please anyone who enters the office. Combining that idea with the popular saying, “first impressions are everything,” it becomes crystal…read more...

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