April 2005

Five Secrets to Becoming the Perfect Employee That Everyone Wants - Part One

With ever increasing deadlines, decreasing resources, and changing workplaces, sometimes it can be challenging to be a good employee, much less a perfect employee. The employee who can rise above the everyday problems and embrace challenges will be the person that every employer wants.

The following are five secrets to being the perfect employee everyone wants: To read the rest of the article...

Take Time to Create a Life Balance Sheet for Success

It's important from time to time that we sit down and honestly assess our lives. Doing so allows us to make an honest determination about where we are now and where we want to be in the future. When we're assessing our finances, we prepare a financial balance sheet. On it we list our debits and credits so that we can determine our bottom line. What if you wanted to determine the state of the life you lead? How is it, or is it not, serving you? The answer is simple - prepare a Life Balance Sheet. Much like a financial balance sheet, list all of your lifestyle debits (choices that detract from balance) such as the following:

• Maintaining relationships that drain you

• Constantly whining, griping, or complaining

• Inability to say no

• Always expecting the worse

• Being ungrateful

• Unwilling to listen effectively

• Forgetting to mind your manners

• Taking others for granted

Next list your credits - ways you live your life that support and honor you. Anything positive you count as a credit - no action is too big or too small. Below are a few credits that add to your life's bottom line.

1. Smile - not just at people you know, but especially at those you don't

2. Give to others without expecting anything in return

3. Do one thing outside of your comfort zone that improves the quality of your life

4. Allow someone to merge into traffic - even if they didn't wait their turn

5. Compliment a salesperson/clerk on a job well done

6. Use the good crystal and china other than for a holiday

7. Be honest about what you need to be happy

8. Read to a child

9. Dance to your favorite music

10. Place your neighbors' newspaper right outside their door

11. Call someone just to say "hello" and to see how they are doing

12. Buy a co-worker a cup of coffee or ice cream cone

13. Walk barefoot in the grass

14. Tell someone "I love you"

15. Learn one new thing every week

16. Every day acknowledge at least one thing in life for which you are grateful

At least once a month, create a Life Balance Sheet. Take a look at your Life Balance Sheet at least once a day. This will empower you, at a glance, to realize how wonderful life can be and allow you to make lifestyle adjustments as necessary. Remember, a great life is yours to create. Go create a fabulous life!

Have you Appreciated Someone Today?

I invested some time with Mother recently and drove her to the hospital to visit with her sick sister-in-law, my aunt. While I was standing in the doorway, a nurse came by and introduced herself as Ruth and said "hello" to us and said "hello" to my aunt. This put a smile on my aunt's face. The nurse then introduced me to the other nurses working at the nurses' station. She let me know that these nurses are hard working and good at their jobs.

I couldn't agree with her more. Theirs is a very difficult job with no margin for error. In many situations they know and understand the patients better than the doctors.

Realizing this, and noticing that some of the nurses looked a little tired, I asked Ruth to bring out all the nurses she had introduced me to at the nurses' station. I reintroduced myself and explained that my aunt was the patient in room 518. Then I said the following:

"I would like to thank you for taking care of my aunt. I personally appreciate the way you make her comfortable during this difficult time, and I know that my aunt is in good hands. My family, and especially my uncle, appreciates the hard work and care you put into making her better. Thank you again and keep doing what you are doing to make a difference with not only my family, but other families."

Well, you should have seen the looks on the nurses' faces. First, they had a look of surprise. Then they were all smiling from ear to ear. Several faces turned red. But all of them had a look of appreciation as they said, "Thank you."

Why did they have a surprised look on their faces? Was this the first time someone other than another nurse had acknowledged them? When was the last time someone showed appreciation to them?

It only took fifteen seconds to put a smile on their faces and have them feel good about themselves. Take the time every day to appreciate your employees, your family, and other people that are doing a good job. It might be the only appreciation they receive and will make a difference in their day.

Read my article, Appreciate to Motivate, to find out how to make your appreciation count every time. You will also feel good doing it.

Ten Instant Stress Busters for the Workplace

Stress Awareness Day is April 16th. What are you doing to control stress? The following article has ten tips to control stress so that you live a healthier, more productive life.

Ten Instant Stress Busters for the Workplace
by Ed Sykes

Feel stress? The following ten stress busters will help you becoming less stressed and enjoy life and work more.

1. Let it go! The next instance you are annoyed or angry at something trivial or unimportant, make a conscious choice not to become angry or upset. Do not allow yourself to waste thought and energy where it isn't deserved. Ask yourself, "In one week from now how important will this (the stressful situation) be in the overall picture?" Then let it go so that you can move onto what is important in your life.

2. Slow Down! Whenever you feel overwhelmed by stress practice speaking more slowly than usual. You'll find that you think more clearly and react more reasonably to stressful situations. Stressed people tend to speak fast and breathlessly; by slowing down your speech you'll also appear less anxious and more in control of any situation.

3. Remember to Breathe Remember the brain needs oxygen to process stressful situations. Remembering to breath slowly and deeply gives your brain the food it needs to help you through stressful situations. Before reacting to the next stressful occurrence, take three deep breaths and release them slowly. If you have a few minutes, try out a relaxation technique such as meditation or guided imagery.

4. Find a Fun Activity. Find an activity at work that makes you smile or laugh. It could be reading the comics, going to a joke-a-day web site, form a "jolly support group," etc.  I know of one client that dances in the office closet when she wants to have fun. Having fun is only limited by your creativity.

5. Time is on Your Side. Take back control of your time. Develop effective time management strategy. Choose one simple thing you have been putting off (e.g. starting a major project, scheduling a coaching session) and do it immediately. Just taking care of one nagging responsibility can be energizing and can improve your attitude.

6. Exercise at your desk. Find time to exercise right at your desk. There are numerous stretching and deep relaxation exercises you can do right at your desk. Learn yoga so that you can systematically attack the stress spots.

7. Take a Break. The old expressing, "Let's get away from it all" has a real meaning behind it. By excusing yourself from the item or person for even five minutes can be rejuvenating. Take a walk around your building or block and get some fresh air. Don't let the foul weather dictate your schedule for getting away from it all.

8. Treat Yourself. Reward yourself at the end of your stressful day. When was the last time you took a relaxing bath for half an hour with a good book? Put aside housework or family concerns for a brief period before bedtime and allow yourself to fully relax. Let your mind go blank. Don't think about tomorrow's work schedule or chores you didn't get around to during the day. Remember you are recharging and energizing yourself so that you'll be much better prepared to face another stressful day.

9. Check Yourself. Hold your head and shoulders upright and avoid stooping or slumping. Bad posture can lead to poor breathing (see point #3), muscle tension, pain, and increased stress.

10. Eat Well. Drink plenty of water. Eat small, nutritious snacks such fruit. Stay away from foods high in fat and sugar that put makes your body work hard to digest. Thus putting extra stress on your body and mind.
    Very important: remember to drink water and eat on a regular schedule. Hunger and dehydration, even before you're aware of them, can provoke aggressiveness and exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress.

Apply these techniques now! Start with one technique that you think will easily work for you and master it. Then move on to the next technique until you master them all and you master your stressful situations.

Follow the links for additional articles a on stress management and empowerment issues.

Positive Affirmations for a Negative World

"There is very little difference in people. But that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative."

A recent survey states that 75% of daily conversations are negative. That's a whole lot of negative energy you are subjected to on a daily basis. That's not counting what you experience by watching television, reading various print media, and listening to radio.

It's time you took back your mind! The more you allow your mind to fill with negative thoughts, the less room you have for positive, productive, and happy thoughts.

One way to take back your mind and fill it with positive thoughts and ideas is through positive affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements you make to yourself on a daily basis that encourage your success. These statements will have the greatest impact when you say them when you wake up in the morning and just before you go to bed at night (you can always say them anytime).

Here are some examples of affirmations that can work for you:

To improve my attitude at work:

"Today, I embrace change as an opportunity to learn and grow."
"Today, I will look at every challenge as an opportunity that creates additional opportunities for me in the future."
"I am a winner, I work for a winning organization, and because of my contribution and creativity we will keep on winning."
"I'm proud to be a (your occupation). Everyday I make a difference in my department, my organization, my family, and my community."

To build confidence:

"Today and everyday is my day to own because I believe it to be so."
"I have clearly defined goals and I will pursue them today with enthusiasm, determination, and discipline."

To reduce stress and create success:

"I will make stress work for me."
"When I feel stress, I will take a deep breath, relax, and release my stress before I take on additional tasks."
"Stress is a part of my success process. I will embrace stress and make it work for me."

These are just some of affirmations you can apply today. You can use these, change them, or add more to fit your situation. Click the following link to read additional techniques for creating a positive attitude. Start using these techniques today to make a positive difference in your life.

Happy Lady Lucky Day!

April 5th is "Lady Luck Day!"

Just because I said it, do you now feel luckier? Do you need a day to proclaim that you are lucky? I don't think so.

You are "lucky" every day you have the following:

1. Friends and family who love you

2. Good health or the opportunity to improve your health

3. Opportunities to fail or succeed

I'm sure you can mention many other reasons why you are "lucky."

Do you know a person and ask yourself, "Why do they seem so lucky?" "What is it about them?" Well they possess the following qualities:

• Expect the Positive - they expect the best will always come their way. They take a situation that can be looked at as negative and see the positive and move toward it.

• Embrace New Opportunities - They look forward to new challenges as new opportunities to grow and jump in to make the opportunity work for them. As the old saying goes, "You have got to be in it to win it."

• Develop Your Personality - People with pleasant personalities attract opportunities.

• Prepare for Future Opportunities - Ask questions, volunteer, and continuously learn as much as possible to prepare for future opportunities. You will never know when these opportunities will come, however, when they do you will be prepared. I say that "luck" is the following:
  
  
  Atttitude+Preparation+Opportunity=Luck

So embrace positive expectations, prepare for future opportunities, embrace new opportunities, and develop your pleasant personality, and "luck" will always come your way!