5 Ways to Make Your Emails Stand Out at Work

For many of us, email is the primary method of communication in our job and our inboxes are inundated with messages throughout the day.

It is likely that you send important emails each day but how do you make your message stand out and ensure that it is read, understood, and responded to in a way that allows you to do your job effectively?

Implement the following five practices to put your best email forward.

Personalize your email. Yes, it’s polite to start your email with “Hi Bill” or “Dear Susan”. Plunging straight into a request can come across as rude: “Send over that sales report by the end of the day” might be brief and to the point but it also can appear impersonal and rude.

Avoid the emoji. You might love emoji’s on Facebook or when you text but ignore them when it comes to your professional emails, especially when communicating with your boss, a senior executive, or a customer (unless you work at an emoji factory 😃). 

   

Be brief and specific. Keep your emails to the point and be brief. There is no need to go on about your weekend, or your aunt’s new rash. Stay focused and, if possible, provide a deadline if you are requesting some action: “Dear Susan, I’ve attached a spreadsheet with our sales projections for the 3rd quarter but I’m missing some information about Product XYZ. Can you look over the spreadsheet and fill in the missing information by 3:00 PM, tomorrow?” 

  

Don’t respond when angry or frustrated. If you’re dealing with a particularly stressful situation or a difficult personality, take some time to compose yourself before composing the email. Rattling off a quick, terse, and angry response is a good way to make a difficult situation worse. A good rule is to wait 24 hours, if possible, to respond when angry.

Be grateful and positive. Be sure to thank your colleague or customer when they reply with the information you’ve requested and make every effort to keep your messages positive when possible.

Dear Susan, I’ve attached a spreadsheet with our sales projections for the 3^rd quarter but I’m missing some information about Product XYZ. Can you look over the spreadsheet and fill in the missing information by 3:00 PM, tomorrow?

Thank you for your attention to this.

Have a good day,

Jim

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Ask for a Raise

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 Business Insider, Barbara Corcoran from the television show Shark Tank offers advice on how to ask for a raise. Check out the video for her tips.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to Get an Amazing Job with Limited Experience

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 Get an Amazing Job Without Much Experience: "Admit your shortcomings but show that you’re willing to work harder to make up for it. With this mindset, you’ll find  jobs that will give you an opportunity to work your way up."

• 10 Things Successful, Happy People Do Differently: "most successful (entrepreneurs) tended to have two critical things in common: They were terrible at imagining failure, and they tended not to care what other people thought of them."

• 9 Behaviors That Instantly Identify Bad Employees: "Keep an eye out for colleagues that spend way more face time with their managers than usual. The wheels of favoritism may be in motion."

• Self-Care is a Discipline, Not an Indulgence: " It takes discipline to do the things that are good for us instead of what feels good in the moment."
• How to Train Your Brain to Go Positive Instead of Negative:"We have inherited the brain that helped our ancestors notice threats in time to act. We are skilled at finding threats, even as we seek rewards."

4 Ways to Become Essential at Work

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people stay in their job an average of 4.5 years, with the number of years on a job lower for younger workers. These stats suggest you are likely to move on or be forced out of a company several times in your career. Change is unavoidable as companies look to improve processes and save money.

If you want to remain at a company for the longer term, your career strategy should always involve a plan to make yourself essential. 

Of course, there’s no way to ensure that you don’t experience a layoff, but you can take some steps to mitigate the likelihood while helping you land on your feet if a layoff does come.

Here are four ways to become essential at your workplace:

Be curious and learn new skills. Change is a constant in the workplace today and to thrive you need to cultivate your curiosity. Strive to understand your market, the company you work in, and how new ideas and technologies are changing the way people utilize your products or services. Develop the skills necessary to stay ahead and understand how best to apply them to your work.

Become an expert. Use your curiosity and the new skills you’re learning to do your job better than anyone. Become known as the person to seek out for knowledge and training about your position and demonstrate leaderships skills by offering to lead training sessions or mentoring others in your workplace.

Have a good attitude. No one wants to work with a person who complains every day and is difficult to work with. A positive attitude at work will make others want to be around you and collaborate with you, increasing the chances you’ll be asked to be part of new projects that come along. Use your positive attitude to encourage and inspire others.

Be involved. Volunteer to join workplace committees or get involved in other efforts to improve company processes or the overall culture of your workplace. Volunteer to chair the committee or take an active leadership role.

One thing you can be sure of in the work force: things change quickly. So take some time to develop a specific plan to get more involved at work, ensuring that your valuable contributions are noticed and essential to the success of the company.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Tips for Organizing Your Workspace

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 Fast Company, best-selling author Marie Kondo provides some tips for tidying up a messy desk at work. Check out the video for more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview

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!

• 14 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview: "That is a clear signal that you may be using the company name to set yourself up for your next job somewhere else."

• 5 Decisions You Will Always Regret: "Some decisions have repercussions that can last a lifetime. Most of these decisions are made daily, and they require focus and perspective to keep them from haunting you."

• How to Accomplish Your Biggest Career Goals This Year: "The first step to making your career goal happen is to clearly define it and know why you want it."

• The Ugly Truth About Working from Home: "be sure you understand the implications. There are trade-offs to all jobs. Knowing the limitations can help you minimize the downsides."
• Exploring Absurd Ideas is Essential to Your Success:"Simply having a sense of humorous curiosity will unlock a continuous burst of stimulating concepts. Let them be outrageous at first, knowing that each is the potential seed of a future-shaping business idea."

5 Steps to Becoming Healthier in Our Work Lives

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, most workers spend over 40% of their workday sitting or standing, rather than engaged in some physical labor or movement. Of course, this percentage is much higher for those who spend much of their day in front of a computer screen.

It has become increasingly less likely that our jobs will support our physical health and that is why it is so important that we take an intentional approach to our work and our fitness, instilling good habits into our work lives that make us healthier.

If you don’t have a specific plan in place, here are five steps to start.

Move in the morning. Develop the habit of getting up thirty minutes earlier and engaging in some physical activity and movement. Make it something fun like jumping rope or going for a quick bike ride. Perhaps recruit a neighbor to join you for a brief run. You’ll be more likely to pay attention to your health when you start the day with some movement.

Drink water. At many workplaces you can drink unlimited pots of coffee throughout the day. Avoid this, especially if you’re feeling anxious or if you’re having difficulty sleeping. If you must have coffee, limit it to a cup or two and drink it black or sweeten with honey rather than sugar. Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day and stay away from sodas and other unhealthy drinks.

Bring healthy snacks to work. Your colleagues might like to build team spirit by picking up some donuts for everyone on the way into work, or there might be a treat area for people to grab munchies throughout the day. Mitigate the chance that you’ll get caught up in unhealthy snacking habits by bringing in your own snacks from home. Consider bring in some fruits like bananas, apples, or oranges, or vegetables like carrots or celery. Nuts also make a delicious and healthy snack.

Walk to grab lunch. Don’t sit at your desk to eat lunch. And don’t eat alone. If possible, invite a few colleagues to walk over to a nearby restaurant for a healthy meal that will help fuel your afternoon. The time outdoors will give you energy for the rest of the day’s activities.

Take a break every hour. If it’s possible with your work structure and responsibilities, develop the habit of working for shorter periods of time, around 45-50 minutes, followed by a brief break. Go for a quick walk, meditate briefly, and practice some breathing exercises. This time allows you to break up the monotony, get refocused, and give some attention to your physical well-being.

If you implement these healthy steps you’ll likely find renewed energy and productivity at work and at home.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Top 3 Habits for Success

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 Success, Simon T. Bailey discusses three habits that lead to success, starting with establishing good relationships. Check out the video for more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Landing a Job After a Parenting Gap

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!

• Landing a Job after a Parenting Gap: "As much as you may want to believe that quitting your job to parent won’t affect your career long term, the unfortunate reality is that landing a job after a gap can be a challenge."

• How to Keep Learning: "Remember that learning new things isn’t always about getting a raise or earning a promotion. Learning in all forms is inherently beneficial."

• How to Redesign Your Workspace to Be More Productive: "The second step for improving productivity is paying attention to how the environment affects your comfort level. People perform a lot better when they’re comfortable, and several elements have an impact."

• How to Plan Your Own Networking Event: "if you’re interested in organizing your own networking gathering, here are five strategies you can use to curate your attendees and bring a fascinating mix of people together."
• 10 Secrets to Finding a Job You Love:"If you don’t know what you want to do, try as many experiences as possible. Don’t play it safe; do things that make you uncomfortable."

4 Ways to Prepare to Ask for a Raise

Asking for a raise can be an intimidating prospect but can be made easier if you are prepared for the conversation

It is likely your manager recognizes your value to the team and the company, but you’ll want to be fully equipped to make your case by thinking through the following questions and issues about your position, your company, and the field you work in.

Understand the market. How are you paid relative to other top performers? You’ll want to do your research about salaries in your field and in your company. Check out a resource such as glassdoor.com or salary.com for this information, along with looking over information on your company’s Human Resources site. When comparing salaries in your field be sure to also look for salary ranges within your region. Salaries can range widely depending on location, with salaries likely higher on the coasts than in the Midwest.

Understand the status of your company. Is your company losing money? Did it meet its financial goals for the year? If it’s a down year for your company your chances for that raise might be diminished. On the other hand, this might also be a time the company is concerned about losing its best performers. You’ll want to come to any discussion about your salary with knowledge about the performance of your company and where you fit it and how you make a difference.

Collect the data regarding how you’ve exceeded goals. Be clear about your performance over the last year or months and be able to demonstrate with facts the success you’ve had and how you’ve contributed to bringing profit to your company. Did you exceed sales goals by 150%? Did you bring to market five new products when your goal was three? Understand this data and then turn it in to a clear demonstration of the financial benefit you brought to the company by exceeding your goals.

Understand your unique value proposition. Get clear about what you bring to the company that is uniquely you. What strengths and skills do you bring to the company that would be difficult to replace? How do your abilities make you irreplaceable to your company? Understand this and learn how to communicate it clearly and effectively.

 Develop an articulate defense and you’ll not only be primed for that raise, but you might also be ready for a guest turn as a television attorney on a prime-time legal drama!

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: The Productivity Superpower You Didn't Know You Had

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 Tim Ferriss, host of the TV show Fear{less}, relates tips from experts for getting your best work done in one quick burst. Check out the video for more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Your 12-Month Guide to Building Your Side Hustle This Year

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!

• Your 12-Month Guide to Building Your Side Hustle This Year: "If you want to put your diligence toward your own gig or big idea, the best way to build it is to have a plan. Even if you’re setting your own hours one day, a huge part of entrepreneurism is self-reliance and focus."

• 5 Hiring Trends to Watch in 2019: "candidates will be selected based on their potential career trajectory and not necessarily what they did or didn’t achieve educationally."

• 10 Business Books You Need to Read in 2019: "They include new offerings from business celebrities Clayton Christensen, Simon Sinek, and Marcus Buckingham--and one from Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer, who wants to look deep into your eyes."

• How to Manage Someone Who is Totally Disorganized: "how messy your employee keeps their desk — no matter how much it grates on you — is, in most cases, probably not that big of a deal."
• 5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Mental Health in 2019:"Don't be so hard on yourself that you forget to enjoy the life you have. Whenever you find yourself ruminating, refocus your attention toward all the things you have, goals you've already accomplished and people who love and support you."

4 Attitude Adjustments to Make About Your Job & Career

Did you find it difficult to get up this morning with enthusiasm for your job? If so, you’re not alone. Depending on what you read, most people are dissatisfied with their work situation.

If you are unhappy with your work, there are ways to make your job work for you until you move into a more satisfying position. But it will take some work and some changes to your attitude.

Make the effort to make some adjustments to how you view and approach your job and you can see your satisfaction levels increase.

View your job as an opportunity for growth. No matter what position you’re in the job provides opportunities for growth. You might have to look hard for these opportunities and the truth is, they might not be directly related to your job, but they exist. For example, if your current position does not seem to offer a way to move up or receive a promotion you can view this as a chance to develop patience. You might be an impatient person and this situation with your job allows you a chance to grow in this area of your life. Sure, it’s not why you took the job in the first place but don’t let that stop you from growing as a person.

View your job as an opportunity to serve. Wherever you work and whatever the nature of your job, your efforts impact others, regardless of whether you work as part of a team or are a lone freelancer. Someone else depends upon your efforts. You have an opportunity to serve those “customers” by making their work experience more pleasant and easier by doing excellent work with a view to support and serve others.

View your job as an opportunity to fulfill your purpose. As noted above, if most people feel dissatisfied at work, it’s likely they do not feel their job offers an opportunity to fulfill their purpose. To remedy this in your situation first requires you to become clear about your purpose. If you’ve done this work, then you are ready to think creatively about how your current job allows you to fulfill that purpose. You might find this to be a stretch, but you can likely come up with some basic ways your work supports the fulfillment of your purpose through your strengths and skills. 

View your job as a step to meeting your goals. You are not stuck, and this is not your final job (or resting place). There will be other opportunities that come along. View your current position as one step toward meeting your bigger goals and keep those goals clear, perhaps by writing them down and posting them on your desk in from of you. Take advantage of the opportunities that you have in your current position to develop the skills, learn the processes, gain the experience, and meet the people required to move to the next level in your career and meet your goals.

By adjusting your attitude to your job and career in these four ways, you can experience a greater sense of fulfillment, purpose, and energy at work.