High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to Stay Positive in the Midst of a Company Crisis

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 Stay Positive in the Midst of a Company Crisis: "People with high optimism generally have better overall health, and people with an aptitude for emotional resilience are better protected from overwhelm and suffering."

• 13 Hacks for When You Need a Boost of Creativity: "Studies have shown that walking increases creativity rapidly. Every time I catch myself in a slump, I take a 20-30 minute walk near the office without trying to force anything to happen. You’ll slowly ponder on whatever problem you’re trying to solve and are likely to come up with a unique angle."

• What to Say When Your Employee Makes a Mistake: "Emotional courage is the willingness to tolerate all feelings. It’s entirely developable, and developing it increases your ability to lead effectively, get business results, communicate in a way that inspires others, and make the impact you’re trying to make."

• A Small Change to Your Morning Routine to Increase Productivity: "Taking time to reattach to work helps our work goals to become more salient, which energizes us to focus. When we consider how to achieve our goals, we become more aware of our autonomy to accomplish them, as well as the resources and people we have supporting us."
• How to Host an Excellent Event:"In a world where we connect via technology in an instant, relationships are still best built in person... Hosting events, for work and for pleasure, has huge benefits, that last a lifetime."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 22 Microhabits That Will Change Your 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!

• 22 Microhabits That Will Change Your Life in a Year: "if you want to have a completely different life in a year or two, you need to start now, and you need to start small."

• 5 Steps Mel Robbins Followed to Radically Transform her Career and Life: "Support others, because another person's success does not limit your ability to achieve your own."

• 11 Ways to Achieve True Work-Life Integration: "Rather than trying to keep things separate, it’s about finding a way to integrate the two. Do a little work from home, build in some remote work time, find ways to efficiently handle personal errands and tasks while at work if it’s easier."

• 4 Common Misconceptions About Networking: "Building real relationships is about investing in them first, figuring out what they want and love, and then helping them get it."
• Don't Set an Agenda Before Important Meetings:"The group needs an agenda, but the group members need to decide how to spend their time together — whether that’s a few hours or a few days. Below are the steps we recommend."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 4 Tips to Stay Healthy 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 Tips to Stay Healthy at Work: "Did you know certain foods improve your presence, energy and work focus?  Stock your desk with healthy snack items such as raw almonds, or dried fruit."

• 14 Effective Ways to Make Time for Your Side Gig: "the trick to freeing up time for working on other business ventures is to make it feel like one of your hobbies. This works especially well if your side hustle directly relates to one of your passions."

• How to Harness Your Hustle & Make it Work For You: "Working smarter, not harder is the key to startup success. Here are three strategies we’ve implemented at my company in the last two years to help us (and our clients) do that."

• Master These 5 Skills to Network Effectively: "Work on being a good, active listener by maintaining eye contact, paying attention, and responding with insightful, relevant questions."
• Stop Lying to Job Candidates About the Role:"Too many hiring managers avoid telling candidates the truth about a job. Their logic is that if applicants find out how hard they will work or how boring the core of the open jobs are, they will walk away. This is a mistake."

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.

6 Ways to Put Your Holiday to Work for Your Career

For many of us the holidays offer an opportunity to take time away from the office to enjoy time with family. We might look at the holidays as a way to think about anything but work.

However, it can also be a great time to consider the new year and prepare to get off to a strong start.

Here are six ways to do just that:

Clean out email. Achieving in-box zero is a lofty goal for many and perhaps one you’ve failed to realize. Take an hour or two, if your email habits warrant it, and clear out as many old emails as possible. You’ll experience less stress and anxiety when you return to the office with a more stream-lined in-box.

Update your wardrobe. If you receive some cash or a gift card or two for a holiday gift, and even if you don’t, pick up an item or two to spruce up your style at work. Improving your appearance at work can instill greater confidence and increase your prospects for that promotion in the new year.

Update your resume. This is a great time of the year to update your resume (and LinkedIn profile) with your work highlights from the past year. Do this while these are still fresh in your mind. You might also rethink and reconsider your career plans and objectives.

Reach out to key contacts. The holidays are always a great time to connect with family and friends and it can also make sense to reach out to some of the important connections in your network with a Christmas card or even a brief email or Facebook message to extend wishes for a happy holiday and happy new year. 

Resolve to make changes. If you’ve taken some time for self-reflection regarding your career, you’ve likely identified some areas you can make improvements or some habits or practices that are holding you back in your career. Resolve to sign up for Toastmasters to improve your public speaking skills, or take that coding class, or new manager training you need to become more effective.

Rest and relaxation. Despite everything mentioned above, do not spend too much time over the holidays focused on your career. Use the time to get away from the daily emails and phone calls. Turn off that mobile and unplug for a few days while you enjoy the holiday with family and friends.

5 Ways to Widen and Deepen Your Network

An important, and sometimes overlooked aspect to growing your career is the ability to widen and deepen your network. By that we mean increasing the number of individuals who are part of your network and developing those relationships, so they move beyond a superficial level.

This can seem like a daunting task, particularly for introverts, but there are some strategies we can take to become better at developing a meaningful and helpful network.

Make your plans known to your friends and colleagues. Beginning with your current network is the most effective way to start but it’s important to be clear about what you’re looking for. Once you know what you need and what your questions are, take some time to meet with some trusted friends and coworkers. They will likely be able to refer you to someone they know who could be of assistance. Ask for an introduction, too, and that can help break the ice, especially for introverts.

Then follow-up with a meeting. Get in touch with those recommended contacts and invite them to meet you for a coffee. If you haven’t been introduced by your friend or colleague, be sure to name-drop and let them know that “our mutual friend Jim from XYZ Company” suggested we meet up. Be clear about the purpose of your meeting, though, and state an objective: “I’d love to hear your perspective on starting a business now versus pursuing an MBA.”

Offer some value to your new contact. When you meet up, be sure to prepare in advance to be of service. Bring a product sample that might be of interest to the person you’re meeting or be prepared to refer them some business or help build their network by connecting them with a friend or colleague. And leave the meeting with a plan to stay in contact. 

Be grateful. Be sure to express appreciation to your friends and colleagues for referring you to their network and thank your new contacts for taking the time to meet with you and for providing you with some guidance and advice.

Finally, develop a plan to stay in touch with your network through regular coffee or lunch meetups, or by connecting through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social platforms.

Expanding your network and deepening the quality of those relationships will benefit your career in the long-term, wherever your career path leads.

5 Ways to Benefit from the Holiday Party at Work

It’s that time of year again and you’ve just been invited to your company’s holiday party. Before you hit that RSVP button develop a game plan for the event.

The party might seem to simply be a chance to unwind and relax with colleagues, but it can also be an opportunity to add some value to your career and make some headway at your job.

Go into your work party with few objectives such as the following:

Break out of your clique. As tempting as it can be to hang out with those you know, your closest colleagues, take a risk and get to know others in your company. It’s beneficial to know individuals in other departments or area and you never know when that new contact can come in handy. Also make an effort to interact with a boss, manager, or executive you don’t know well. This introduction can lead to a promotion or job move later.

Limit the cocktails. If you drink, set a limit. Don’t be the drunk one at the holiday party who everyone talks about later. Not only will you have earned a reputation you don’t want, and that can hinder future advancement, but the alcohol might induce you to say some things you might later regret. Stay sober and clear-headed and you just might have the types of conversations that demonstrate your competence and enthusiasm for your work.

Be a team player. If your company party involves games or other group activities be sure to participate and join in on the fun. Staying on the sidelines and avoiding the action can lead others to think you approach your work in a similar way and are not a team player or a leader. And as mentioned above, participate in the activity with some colleagues you’re unfamiliar with.

Get personal. Avoid talking about work at the holiday work party. Don’t talk shop. Get to know your colleagues by asking about their children, their hobbies, or their holiday plans. And be a good listener. Remember what you’ve heard and learned about your co-workers.

Go forth. Show up. Don’t blow off the party and dismiss it as unnecessary to your work or career. Others do notice who attends and it can send a message to your management that you are not fully engaged with your work or the company and that is not a message helpful to your career. So, put on that funky Christmas sweater and go have some fun.

5 Things To Do When You Don’t Get the Job

© Laurin Rinder - Dreamstime.com

You carefully prepared for the job interview and it went well. You were called back for a second interview and had been excited to make a job change when you get the disappointing news: You were the runner-up for the position. Thank you for your time.

What to do you now? Manage your disappointment, of course, along with continuing to crush it at your current job.

In addition to maintaining your strong performance at work, take the following steps to turn your disappointment into something positive and beneficial for your career.

Be gracious. When you get that call letting you know that you did not get the job be sure to be kind and courteous. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to consider you for the position. You want to continue to make a good impression by demonstrating how you manage disappointment when a situation doesn’t go as hoped. You never know, you just might get a call back for a future opportunity. Or your interviewer might remember you when they’ve moved on to another job.

Seek feedback. While you have the person on the phone, make the most of the opportunity by asking for feedback on your interview and the areas you seem to be lacking in knowledge or experience. This is simply for information gathering. Do not get defensive or attempt to persuade the interviewer that he or she is making a mistake. Your job here is to listen, take notes, and say thank you.

Fill in the gaps. Take that information you just received and put it to use. Sign up for a class or a training session to master the skills you’re lacking or seek out a mentor who can provide some counsel. Develop a plan to improve your skill set and get after it.

Widen your net. Use this experience to widen your network of contacts and deepen your relationships. Perhaps seek to develop a professional relationship with someone at the company you interviewed with. Find a connection through LinkedIn or inquire among your friends. Go to conferences or events where the speakers or attendees will likely be individuals from companies you’ve targeted.  

Be grateful. Flip the switch and turn your disappointment into gratitude. The grass is not always greener and many of us have made career moves we’ve regretted. You might have been spared a difficult situation. Turn your attention to what is good about your current situation and focus on that. There will be other opportunities that come up and for now you can master your current work and develop skills that will help land that next job.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: The Best Time to Ask for a Promotion

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!

• Here is the Best Time to Ask for a Promotion: "
  Visier discovered the ideal times, and circumstances, to receive a promotion. 
  If you’re waiting for cooler weather to ask for a promotion, think again. The research showed summer was the best season to ask for one
  ."

• 4 Steps Women Should Take When Considering a Career Transition: "Take stock of your skill set and what sets you apart. Be brutally honest with yourself about what you do well and where you have previously failed. Ask for feedback."

• Why You're Probably Networking Wrong (and what to do instead): "these tools automatically sync your communication history with your contacts across a variety of networks, and remind you when it's about time to reach out and rekindle those relationships."

• Do This One Thing During Vacation to Come Back Recharged: "When we are on vacation and feel some sense of distance from the hustle and bustle of our daily routine, Kadoch says, life feels good again and gives us the chance to come back to work with more energy and focus."
• 4 Things Leaders Bring With Them Every Day: "Humility opens the door to learning. It also allows you to defer to the person with the greatest subject matter expertise and context about the problem so it gets solved the best way possible."

4 Career Skills You Should Constantly Be Developing

You probably don’t need to be told how quickly time passes or how rapidly everything changes; you might be noticing a few new wrinkles or greying hairs when you look in the mirror.

It can be easy to settle into a routine in our work lives and before we know it we’ve “lost” a few years with our career on autopilot. Unfortunately, careers on autopilot are rarely successful and employees operating in this way tend to be the first to experience the impact of staff reductions or downsizing.

Our careers and work lives need regular attention and we should be constantly updating and developing our skills.

Here are a few skills you may want to concentrate on throughout the year.

Computer skills. Stay up to date on new technologies, new programs, new gadgets, and learn how to code. The world becomes more automated daily through computer technology and, regardless of your current career path, it pays to be aware of the trends in technology and stay current with your computer skills. There are many free classes you can take online so you don’t have to spend a lot of money on training sessions to stay up to date.

Networking. Continue to develop your network by becoming more engaged at your workplace, being involved in your community, attending networking events, and going to conferences and workshops relevant to your work. Expanding your network is a great asset and can help you find a job quickly if you end up in need of one.

Public speaking. Learning to speak effectively in front of an audience is a skill that can bring other opportunities for you and demonstrates leadership and expertise in your field. Take advantage of opportunities to speak to groups at your job, place of worship, or in your community throughout the year. You might even make some extra money and turn your public speaking skills into a side hustle.   

Self-care. You should always be considering your lifestyle and refining it so that it works effectively for you. This can involve physical activity and exercise, a change in diet, improved sleeping habits, or a new spiritual practice such as meditation. Pay attention to the practices you can implement to have more energy and to be more effective and productive in your work.

Give yourself a reminder to evaluate your progress in these areas every few months.

High 5 Career Transitions Roundup: Inspiring Quotes to Help You Get Through Your Work Day

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!

• Inspiring Quotes to Help You Get Through Your Work Day: "If you find yourself in a little mid-week or mid-day slump, take a few moments to re-energize yourself with these inspiring quotes from some of the world’s greatest thinkers."

• Making Time for Networking as a Working Parent: "being a working parent doesn’t mean the end of a thriving network, it just means you have to get a bit more creative and deliberate."

• 12 Things Successful People Never Reveal About Themselves at Work: "Bosses are quick to catch on to naysayers who drag down morale, and they know that there are always enthusiastic replacements waiting just around the corner."

• 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Leader: "As a leader, you don't automatically have followers, only subordinates. It's your behavior as a leader that determines whether or not those subordinates ever turn into followers."
• Bored at Work? Science Says That's a Good Thing: "In the absence of boredom, one would remain trapped in unfulfilling situations, and miss out on many emotionally, cognitively, and socially rewarding experiences."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Should We Be Happy 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!

• Should We Be Happy at Work: "In general when we look at what makes people happy and effective at work, it’s being able to spend time with a close group of people. You need to structure work in such a way that people have those opportunities."

• Why You Should Always Give the Credit and Take the Blame: "An unselfish team starts with a leader who gives away the credit when things go well and accepts the blame when they don’t."

• 5 Misconceptions About Networking: "if you believe that networking is a skill you can develop you are more likely to be motivated to improve it, work at it harder at it, and get better returns for your networking than someone with a fixed mind-set."

• How to Build a Better Company with More Engaged Employees: "But you want your team to ask for help -- that shows they're putting the customer, or project, or company ahead of their egos."
• The Future is Freelance: "Companies can make themselves more attractive to top workers by empowering freelancers to manage their workload, collaborate with teammates and continuously improve their craft."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 8 Simple Words Great Leaders Use Daily

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!

• 8 Simple Words Exceptional Leaders Use Each & Every Day: "Asking for help shows vulnerability, respect, and a willingness to listen--all are qualities of a great leader. And all are qualities you hope your employees exhibit."

• 7 Effective Ways to Initiate & Cultivate Business Referrals: "It is crucial from the start of any new business relationship, that we establish it to be reciprocal. We must be prepared to ask how we can refer business to others as well."

• The Painful Cycle of Employee Loneliness, and How it Hurts Companies: "loneliness is different from depression, being alone, or feelings of solitude. It has more to do with a person’s quality of social relationships rather than their quantity."

• 8 Tips to Improve Team Collaboration: "If teams are important for your organization, you need to do what you can to facilitate their effectiveness. Make sure open communication exists. Create opportunities for all voices to be heard."
• 4 Tips for Listening (That Even an Extrovert Can Master): "Now, in every meeting, whether I’m with a group or in a 1:1, I make it a point to ask questions instead of make statements. It has drastically changed the dynamic in the room and has allowed me to grow closer with my entire team."

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 10 Simple Ways to Improve Your Networking Skills

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, Stephan Erdman provides ten tips to improve your networking skills, starting with having a clear goal. Watch the video for more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Habits That Will Make You a Better Leader

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!

• 5 Habits That Will Make You a Better Leader: "A great leader knows that his or her most important task is developing others—teaching people how to think and ask the right questions."

• 13 Inexpensive But Effective Benefits That Keep Employees Happy: "Investing in personal development initiatives for employees at all levels is critical in maintaining a strong workplace culture."

• To Take Charge of Your Career, Start By Building Your Tribe: "Instead of demanding conformity in exchange for safety, such communities keep our working lives exciting and us stable, ultimately helping us master our working lives"

• Leaders Who Make Their Own Luck Do These 5 Things: "Giving employees time to pursue their own projects increases the chance they'll discover something and, because it's their baby, pursue it with the passion that produces lucky results."
• 7 Ways to Reduce Stress When You Are Overwhelmed: "Take the less than five minutes required to do a mind dump. Get everything bothering you out on paper. Write down what's stressing you out, all that you have to do and the other thoughts or ideas occupying your mind."

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Build Better Connections at Networking Events

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, from Entrepreneur, Kate Volman, discusses a question she uses at networking events to deepen the conversation. Take a look and learn how to make better use of your networking efforts.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 10 Career Milestones to Hit Before Age Thirty

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!

• 10 Career Milestones to Hit Before Age Thirty: "Introduce yourself to the highest-ranking executive in your organization. Let them know what you do for the company and offer your services if they ever need help from your department."

• 10 Mistakes Smart People Never Make Twice: "If you keep the same approach, you’ll keep getting the same results, no matter how much you hope for the opposite. Smart people know that if they want a different result, they need to change their approach, even when it’s painful to do so."

• 5 Great Questions to Ask at a Networking Event: "Instead of competing with these folks, imagine the result of asking questions that encourage them to freely share that information. You can create a networking environment in which they're talking, you're listening and everyone is feeling heard."

• How to Deal with the Know-It-All in Your Office: "When I was in seventh grade, a new girl joined my class. Let’s call her Selena. She came from a big city, and she knew it all — what to wear, the words to songs, how to talk to teachers."
• How to Succeed as an Introverted Leader: "according to new research, many introverts may be shying away from leadership positions in which they'd actually excel, because of misplaced fears about their potential and capabilities."