High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Lessons from a World War II General

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• Leadership Lessons from a World War II General: "Next time your team is in dire straits, demonstrate fierce optimism in the face of overwhelming odds and gauge its effect. I bet that you will be surprised by how contagious optimistic leadership can be and by the incredible influence it can have on a team."

• We Need to Change the Conversation Around Motherhood & Work: "To make significant progress, we have to work together and change the conversation. That means seeing mothers as more than just mothers, and acknowledging that their identity outside of being a parent is just as important."

• A Simple Technique to Improve Your Communication: "Subheads are words or short phrases that help to group paragraphs together and introduce new pieces of information. They also visually break up large pieces of text, helping your reader digest information."

• 14 Morning Routine Hacks to Boost Productivity: "The good news is that some morning "best practices" have been shown to help successful business moguls and entrepreneurs make the most of their time and energy."
• The Need to Become More Collaborative in Business:"A truly connected value chain means businesses can innovate more quickly and provide better – and more ethical – products and services to increasingly demanding customers."

5 Ways You Can Make Your Company Better

Some of us spend a lot of time thinking about what our company does wrong or considering the areas it needs to improve. We might even complain about employers, but do we spend any time thinking about how we can make things better?

Perhaps we need to paraphrase John F. Kennedy’s famous quote for the workplace: ask not what your company can do for you, ask what you can do for your company.

Here then are five ways we can make our jobs and the companies we work for a little better.

Join a Committee. Most companies create committees to explore solutions to problems or issues that come up. There might be a committee to explore workplace diversity or to develop a recycling program. Contact your Human Resources department to find out more about these initiatives and how you can get involved. Your enthusiastic engagement with your company’s practices will contribute to making it a better place to work.

Welcome new employees. Become one of those employees that new people can turn to for advice. When a new employee starts at your company be sure to welcome them and offer to be of assistance to them in any way possible. Invite them to lunch or to grab a coffee later in the day. A welcoming company is a better company to work for.

Ask questions. Your bosses don’t want to employ robots. Yes, they might want to automate some task where possible, but they do not want to hire “yes” men and women, nor do they want employees that don’t think for themselves. Contribute to making your company better by asking questions, exploring how you can do something better, or how your product can bring better value to your customers.

Learn new skills and apply them to your job. When you and your colleagues increase and develop your knowledge of your field and industry, and apply it to your work, you are making your company better and more effective at its mission. Strive to be a continuous learner while challenging and encouraging your colleagues to expand their thinking. 

Smile. This is the easiest thing you can do to make your company better and so is one of the first things we neglect to do. Greet those you see and work with when you arrive in the morning with a smile and a spirit of gratitude, rather than approaching your workplace with dread. A kind company that fosters a clear sense of mission and gratitude in its employees makes for a better place to work.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: The Most Engaged Employee in the World

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The video below from Harvard Business Review offers insight into the factors that drive employee engagement, including working with others in a team. Check out the video to learn more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 4 Ways to Cope with Anxiety at Work

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 4 Ways to Cope with Anxiety in the Work Place: "In every place I’ve worked, I’ve found a confidante. I let this person know about my anxiety, and update them if anything is happening in my personal life that may cause increased stress."

• Are You Ready to Go Freelance?: "When asked about the biggest challenge they face, half of the independent consultants we surveyed mentioned unpredictability, insecurity, and volatility."

• What You Need (Besides Grit) to Succeed: "You need grit to have a chance. But success requires the action of others, too. Be realistic and give it everything you've got, and be bold if you can about requesting a recommendation."

• 3 Things to Do to Be Better at Decision-Making: "But just knowing your purpose isn’t enough. You must also identify the precise outcomes (the what) you desire to achieve."
• 3 Ways to Prevail as a Female Entrepreneur:"Taking the high road, staying focused on the goals ahead and trusting yourself and your capabilities is most often the best course of action."

5 Ways to Prepare for Your Job Search

You’ve recently been laid off or left that a job that wasn’t working out and you’ve begun to gear up for an intensive job search. However, before you get to the point of applying for jobs there are a few things you’ll want to get done in order to be better prepared for the process.

Here are five ways to prepare for your job search.

Identify resources for job openings. Create a list of the job search sites that you intend to follow and review regularly and are most closely related to the type of position you are applying for. You might add LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor to this list, along with sites that offer freelance opportunities such as Upwork. In addition, identify a group of companies you’d love to work at and plan to check out their job postings on a regular basis.

Contact friends and colleagues. We’re not talking about a general Facebook status post or a tweet (though that approach could be helpful) but think strategically about your network and identify those who might have some connections to companies, employers, or jobs of interest, and send them a personal note or give them a phone call letting me know about your needs and what you are looking for.  

Get your references arranged. Identify a few individuals you will ask to be your references and create a document with their contact information, email and phone number, to have readily available when completing applications online or in person.

Prepare info about previous work experiences. In addition to your references, you will want to create a document that lists your previous employers, including address, phone number, and the name of your supervisor. You’ll want to note at least your last three employers, and perhaps more if you’ve changed jobs frequently over the last five to ten years.

Create cover letters in advance. You’ll save time in the application process if you create a cover letter template that you can tweak and revise, as necessary, for each specific job you apply for. Your cover letter should be different for each application and address some of the specific needs identified by the prospective employer as mentioned in their job posting.

Finally, be prepared for silence. It might take some time for the right job to come along and, until then, you will likely face some rejection from prospective employers. Remember that every “no” is leading to the “yes” that will be the best opportunity for you.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Expand Your Network

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below, Brian Tracy offers advice on how to expand your network, starting with looking around at your place of work for successful individuals to learn from. Check out the video to learn more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to Triumph Over Rejection During a Job Search

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• How to Triumph Over Rejection During a Job Search: "A few days after the inner voice urged me to redouble my efforts, I decided to turn my rejection experience into a teachable moment."

• 5 Ways to Supercharge Your Personal and Professional Success: "The world is full of people who start stuff but never follow through. Successful people do what’s required. They keep going even when it’s hard and they don’t want to."

• 4 Ways to Inspire Your Team to Greatness: "They develop a culture of trust, encouraging each team member to be open about goals, progress and achievements, obstacles and struggles."

• How to Plan for 2 or 3 Different Careers in Your Lifetime: "Being willing to learn is a vital ingredient for navigating the vicissitudes of an episodic career."
• 10 Powerful Ways to Master Self-Discipline:"By simply removing your biggest temptations from your environment, you will greatly improve your self-discipline."

5 Great Ways to Prepare for Work Tomorrow

The path to a great day at work tomorrow begins today but many of us go through each day simply focused on the task in front of us. Then something seemingly urgent pops up and we switch our attention to putting out the fires and increasing the stress in our lives.

If we take a more thoughtful approach to planning our work experience, we can use our time more wisely, be more productive, have less stress, be better prepared for the crises that pop up, and enjoy work more.

Consider these five ways to be better prepared for work tomorrow.

Plan tomorrow today. Before you leave work today be sure to identify and write down the three most important tasks you must take on tomorrow. Place them in a clearly visible place so you will notice them when you arrive to work. That could mean simply noting them on a post-it, setting a notification in your phone or on your pc, or using a to-do list app. Place the most urgent, difficult, or stressful task at the beginning. If you tackle that item first thing in the morning you will feel inspired and confident to take on the rest of your day.

Leave work at work. Make an effort to avoid bringing work home. Take the time in the evening to relax, read, spend with family, exercise, or do something else that you enjoy. It can be difficult to resist the pull of work, especially with your mobile phone providing ready access to the office so turn off email notifications and turn down your ringer, unless, of course, you must remain available in case of a true emergency. Everyone needs a break from the demands of work and your evening should be one of those respites.

Get enough sleep. Speaking of respite, be sure to go to bed at a reasonable hour and get adequate sleep. It’s impossible to be focused and at your best if you are getting little sleep.

Eat well. You’ll be better prepared and focused at work if you eat healthy meals that are energizing, rather than heavily processed foods with a lot of sugar and salt. In addition, make an effort to get some movement and exercise into your routine. Not only will it take your mind off of the job, reducing stress, but it will also enable you to bring greater energy and attention to the job.

Get to work early. After you get a healthy amount of sleep and have engaged in some exercise and a good meal, get to work early. This will enable you to have some quieter time in the office, before others arrive, to refocus and begin to tackle the number one task and priority you identified the day before.

Implementing these five steps will help you be better prepared and organized to take on the day.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: The 3 Worst Morning Routines to Start Your Day

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below, Brendon Burchard describes three terrible morning routines that you need to get out of, including starting the day with social media. Check out the video to learn more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Why a Safe Life is a Mediocre Life

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• Why a Safe Life is a Mediocre Life: "There’s a lot of risk and mystery in taking the first step. The inherent risk in taking a first step is found in embracing when you’ll fall, not if you’ll fall."

• 8 Daily Rituals That Keep You Laser Focused: "By taking short breaks, ideally about once an hour, you give your mind a chance to decompress and relax so it can refocus and concentrate again."

• 5 Skills to Put on Your Resume to Boost Your Appeal: "whatever the job they were trying to fill, communication skills and customer service skills were among the most sought after."

• How to Use Vlogging to Give Your Personal Brand an Edge: "Vlogging is growing at an outstanding rate for a good reason. People are invested in their favorite brands and the personalities behind them."
• 3 Things to Consider About Your Income and Retirement:"These are three key components to help ensure that we don’t run out of money. Make sure they are all taken into consideration when developing a plan."

5 Questions to Ask About Choosing a College or Training Program

No matter your age, level of experience, or stage in life, it can be beneficial to your career to pursue additional education or to earn a degree or certification in a specific field. Often it can be difficult to negotiate this decision and you likely have many options.

In addition to ensuring that your program is fully accredited, you’ll want to ask some questions to arrive at the best decision for you and your career.

Here are five questions to ask when considering enrolling in a program at a school or college.

What is the cost and how will you pay for it? There are many costs associated with taking classes, including tuition, books, equipment or tools, uniforms if required, and graduation fees. You might need to pay additional fee if you must drop or add a course. Understand the total costs involved, including time and travel costs to your classes. And there is also the question of how you will pay for your education. Will you take out a loan, use money from your savings, or only take courses you can pay for at the time? If you take out a large loan you will want to consider the likelihood of getting a good job or promotion after graduation to enable you to pay back the loan.

Can you earn the credentials you need? You will need to consider whether you plan to earn a degree or certification in your field and whether that will be enough to obtain the job you are after. For example, many jobs such as a psychologist or professor will require you to earn an advanced degree. Be sure that you understand the field you’re in or the field you wish to enter and gain a clear understanding of the credentials needed to be successful in that field.

Are you feeling pressured to enroll? If you have a recruiter pressuring you into applying for a program you might want to step back from the situation and trust your instincts. Some recruiters or counselors are paid based on the number of students they enroll and might be encouraging you to apply for a program that is not a good fit for you. Trust your gut and talk to some individuals you respect for their input. 

If you’re a veteran, can you get credit for your military training? Some schools and programs will help you save costs, if you’re a veteran, by applying credit for your military training. Be sure to ask about this of any program you’re interested in as it can save you a lot of money and time.

What percentage of graduates move on to jobs in their field? Of course, the primary reason you are pursuing additional education and training is to gain employment, move to another field, or increase the possibility for a promotion. You’ll want to obtain recent and clear data indicating the number of students that are hired upon graduation, in order to make a good decision about whether a program is right for you.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 8 Powerful Habits That Will Make You More Successful

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The video below from The Art of Improvement describes eight powerful habits that will help you be more successful in your life and career, starting with keeping a short to-do list for each day. Check out the video to learn more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: When Does a Job Become a Career?

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• When Does a Job Become a Career?: "Confidence is hard to come by. For many, harnessing the power of your own confidence is a skill that must be learned--it's not always innate."

• Adopt This Simple Habit to Help Avoid Burnout: "When it comes to staving off burnout, always keep top-of-mind the proverbial saying from English poet William Cowper 'Variety is the spice of life'."

• How to Stop Worrying About What Other People Think of You: "Our fear of other people’s opinions, or FOPO as I call it, has become an irrational and unproductive obsession in the modern world, and its negative effects reach far beyond performance."

• How Stress Can Guide Your Way to Success: "The bottom line, though, is that any protective factor you choose only counts if you actually do it. And if you don’t, it won’t work, no matter how great your need and how good your intentions."
• 4 Ways to Remain Professional Under Pressure:"Another way to reduce your stress while remaining positive and productive is by learning the difference between a controllable event and one that is uncontrollable."

What to Do When You Hate Making Business Phone Calls

Let's face it, not everyone likes making phone calls, particularly in this time when more and more of us resort to texts or emails.

However, there are times when business calls must be made and if you dislike making phone calls these experiences can provoke a lot of anxiety. Yet there are ways to make the process tolerable, and one can even learn to enjoy the experience of making business calls. Yes, we said enjoy!

Here are several ways to improve your skills on the phone.

Write down what you plan to say. Obviously, if possible, you want to create a script for the phone call. How detailed that script is depends upon your comfort level. Some people find it easier to write everything down word for word while for others it's enough to jot down some key points. Having a clear understanding and written guide for your business calls can reduce your anxiety and make the calls proceed more smoothly.

Practice with a partner. You might be fine practicing your phone script a few times on your own but it's always more helpful to practice with a partner and to ask for feedback. Working with another person can provide you with a better sense for how to handle the conversation as it veers off your script and prepared remarks.

Relax. Practice some deep breathing and other relaxation techniques, including visualizing a successful and pleasant phone conversation.

Make the phone call privately. If you work in a cubicle you might want to schedule a conference room to enable you to have more privacy for the call. Having the nearby ears of your co-workers listening in on your call can provoke anxiety so don't hesitate to find a more private place in the office for the conversation.

Practice makes progress. View each call positively and as an opportunity to get better. The more calls you make, the easier it will become and the less anxiety you will experience when you need to make important business calls in the future.

You don't have to be paralyzed by anxiety or discomfort when talking on the phone and it doesn't have to hold your career back it you take a few small steps to improve the experience of making business calls.