7 Rules of Workplace Management, by David Brent

7 Rules of Workplace Management, by David Brent Being a manager isnt exactly a straightforward  task, sometimes its tough keeping track of your own responsiblities alone, let alone those of the rest of your team. And when your employees arent exactly giving you an easy ride, it can become  somewhat of a challenge. The trials and tribulations of being a manager in the UK are  something that David Brent of the BBCs The Office knows all too well, and although he generally had the right intentions, his management skills were somewhat lacking. With the man himself due to hit our screens for the first time in over a decade  later this year, I thought Id look back at some of the lessons that we can learn from his management practices and general workplace  conduct. 1) You cant always be the good guy When youre managing a team of staff, you cant always be liked by everyone, thats just the way it is Im afraid! Sometimes it will be your responsibility to communicate tough messages, that may not make you popular in the office; however it is important that you make sure that everybody is staying on task and work is getting done correctly. You may be a pretty cool individual on a personal level, but in the workplace you have to be able to put your foot down when staff are slacking or  at fault. Brent was too often focused on being the good guy that everyone liked, that he forgot he was boss and failed to assert authority when it was necessary. What happened?  Tim runs riot and poor ol Gareth has to put up with his stapler being coated in jelly and his phone glued together! Ooh love me Pathetic. #DavidBrent pic.twitter.com/UqeI4P8MqM David Brent (@DavidBrentMovie) March 14, 2016 Because when the disciplining has to be done, then the laughter stops, for that amount of time, then continues 2) Dont sugar coat things On a similar note, when bad news has to be shared with the team, its best to be direct, rather than sugarcoating the message, by putting a positive spin on it. If there isnt a bright side, then dont pretend there is, as it can come across as highly patronising and staff would rather you were honest with them about the severity of the situation. Is Louis Van Gaals job safe @DavidBrent? https://t.co/ROmjZRmLKy David Brent (@DavidBrentMovie) December 27, 2015 Theres good news and bad news. The bad news is that Neil will be taking over both branches, and some of you will lose your jobs. On a more positive note, Ive been promoted, so every cloud. 3)  Dont go by the book Sure, there has been a lot of helpful advice written about effective management techniques and communication over the years, so it does no harm to take note. However, there is a line that should not be crossed when it comes to this advice.  This line falls between subtly incorporating tips into your management style and going all out by reciting corny jargon filled quotes directly to your staff. Nobody wants to hear a load of management cliches reeled out like youre some sort of leadership  guru and itll make you appear  no more clued up about what you are doing if you arent putting the lessons into practice! Some #WednesdayWisdom from #DavidBrent pic.twitter.com/IPbcyaZUkd David Brent (@DavidBrentMovie) February 24, 2016 What is the single most important thing for a company? Is it the building? Is it the stock? Is it the turnover? Its the people, investment in people. 4) Actions  speak louder than words Just because you havent vocalised how you feel about someone or something, doesnt mean that they cant tell exactly what youre thinking! Its true that actions speak louder than words, and body language and facial expressions can give away a lot! As a manager it is essential that you remain  professional, so you must hide any gestures that will give away that you dont like what someone is saying and rather communicate openly and diplomatically. David Brent is  terrible for pulling  tell-tale facial expressions, rolling his eyes and making inappropriate gestures mainly for the sake of his fly-on-the-wall documentary, however I think he may have forgotten that the people around him could see him too! Body Fascism #DavidBrent pic.twitter.com/s36ki0EiOv David Brent (@DavidBrentMovie) February 2, 2016 5) The boss is not part of the gang Being the boss doesnt mean you have to segregate yourself from the team entirely, but youve got to understand that youre going to be viewed differently to other colleagues. After all you are their boss and their job could be in your hands. David often tried too hard to fit in with the rest of the team, that he failed to set boundaries and lost authority in the office. As a bid to get chummy with the other employees, he also made the mistake of being a little too open about issues going on in the company, which were inappropriate for him to share. Its Friday! RT if youve got that #FridayFeeling! pic.twitter.com/NGxtH4yf0Z David Brent (@DavidBrentMovie) March 4, 2016 I suppose Ive created an atmosphere where Im a friend first and a boss second. Probably an entertainer third. 6) Dont pretend to be someone else Its natural that you would want to impress others and prove that you are competent in your job, but dont pretend to be someone you are not in doing so! People will see right through the act, so its better to be authentic and let your team get to know the real you. Theyll respect you more for it than if you put on a bravado and rattle off a load of stuff from textbooks. By putting on a false persona or making promises you cant keep, you will lose trust with your employees and you will fail to build strong relationships. Its Matchday! I bloody love football! #DavidBrent pic.twitter.com/LpPktY6dZR David Brent (@DavidBrentMovie) March 5, 2016 People see me and see the suit, but they know Im rock and roll through and through. You know Live fast, die young? 7) Dont make colleagues feel uncomfortable Brent, the King of crap jokes himself, was on a constant hunt for friendship and popularity in the office. As an attempt to integrate himself with the rest of the gang he would frequently make inappropriate gags and remarks that could leave employees feeling uncomfortable. Alright, stop playing with it #DavidBrent pic.twitter.com/pIZnNK6Ucx David Brent (@DavidBrentMovie) March 9, 2016 This is the accounts department, the number bods. Do not be fooled by their job descriptions, they’re absolutely mad, all of em… Image: Shutterstock

How to Ace Your Job Hunt and Work with Recruiters The Ultimate Guide

How to Ace Your Job Hunt and Work with Recruiters The Ultimate Guide Over the years I have spoken with hundreds of people who need some general job hunting (and staying at a job!) advice. I started compiling some hints, tricks, tips, thoughts, aphorisms, maxims, adages, proverbs, truisms and the occasional soliloquies. After awhile, I stopped talking and started sending people a document. The document grew and grew. I am sharing it with you below. I hope it will help with any job hunts you do and I also hope it will save you time with candidates. Take a read of my article and get back to me with any specific questions in the comments below. (An important note, I have been using this so long I have no idea what is 100% mine, what I “borrowed” from elsewhere, and what I simply cut and pasted. So, if I used your work, MEA CULPA!) Job searching is a full-time job: You need to wake up early apply to every job you can find! Call companies and ask to speak to HR and dont be shy. What is your search strategy? IMNSHO, leveraging connections is the best way. After that, what I do is set myself a goal of 10 resume sends a day. I email 5 to jobs that are posted, and 5 Pro-Active ones to HR Managers (Who I find via LinkedIN) of companies that I’d like to work for. I keep a spread sheet of everything, and do a follow-up call one week to the day later… Resumes: Every job you send your resume too is different. Why would you send the same resume to every job? Change your summary/objective to reflect the role you are applying for, and use the language of the job… Move bullets around to match what is important in the description. NEVER EVER LIE But it is often not what you say, but how you say it. Job hunting is a series of hoops that all lead to an offer. The first hoop is getting an interview request based on your resume. Interviews: Do your research before an interview real research, understand the company and what your role is. If you go to an interview without knowing about the company, youll fail. Dont go to an interview more than 15 minutes early 5 minutes is perfect. If youre late to an interview or work, call ahead. That will probably make it insignificant. Most managers interviewing are NOT professional interviewers. Memorize the job description and ask questions about the position early gear your answers to that. Dont mention kids, marriage, your gender or race. The EEOC scares everyone hiring, you dont want them worried about making a decision about you because they now know this. Dont forget its an interview. Stay professional, great interviewers will make you laugh and comfortable and dont use any inappropriate language. Working with agencies and recruiters: By: ExecutiveSearch Toronto If youre working and an agency says something is temp to hire, ask if they’ll hire you will they be continuing the job search? Has HR/finance approved the headcount/budget? Ask both the recruiter and the hiring manager this. Make sure if you use a staffing agency they call you before sending your résumé, especially if you use more than one. If a recruiter keeps trying to get you jobs out of your field, ditch them. You need to stay in your field. General job hunting advice: Have a legitimate LinkedIn profile and connect with everyone! Stay working in your field. If you lose a job spend every waking moment applying and calling into your profession. Nothing hurts a job search more than time not working. Do not sound desperate, sound inquisitive, be receptive but question the company and if it is good enough for you. Don’t put the job on a pedestal. Dont be late or miss any days of work in your first 180 days. Just dont. It leaves a very sour taste in your manager’s mouth. It doesnt matter how good the excuse is. Get sent home, dont call out. Dont ever send a mass thank you email. Set up job posting alerts on job sites. When you get an email that a job youre interested in has been posted, stop at nothing to apply instantly. Pay your cell phone bill, dont change your number and answer every call. A lot of recruiters dont always call people back or play phone tag well (we kind of suck at that!) Leave a voicemail if you call someone and they dont pick up. Speak slowly, keep it brief and leave your number. Dont use slang. Dont say ax instead of ask. Dont say we was or we were. Ditch your accent and try to sound like Brian Williams or Barbara Walters. No weird piercings (ie: no nose or tongue rings), hair colors tattoos etc be professional! Suit up. This is Non-Negotiable. If its retail or fast food, if they dont hire you because youre wearing a suit (it happens) you dont want to work there, and you can find a good manager that wants you there. Unless you have a uniform or its explicitly stated to you, on your first day suit up. The next day you dress like the rest of your team. Dont be one of the cool kids. Every company has a group of employees that are too cool to buy in to the company. They dont want to hang out with their coworkers or follow rules. They like to ignore duties, complain and gossip. Dont join them. Stroke egos. Dont suck up, thats annoying. Ask advice from managers, follow their advice. If youre in college get an internship. Your degree is worthless without it. Any other tips? Let us know in the comments!

Shaping Up For the Summer

Shaping Up For the Summer No matter what sports or activities you plan on participating in or doing this summer, it is best to get into the appropriate shape the ensure that you are in the best shape for performance. Whether your sport of choice is track, crew, or any of the many other sports that occur during the summer months, or simply hiking and family or friend events, being in shape can help you to prevent injury. For those who slacked off during the off season, the road ahead of you may seem a little rocky at first, but with diligence and determination, you will be in shape for anything that summer throws your way. Workouts When you are preparing for summer activities and sports, your workouts should remain general at first to raise endurance, then begin to specialize your workouts every other day to ensure that you are getting the proper exercise for your activity. This will allow you to work on your perfect baseball swing, tennis serve, soccer drills, and so much more without slacking off on your general exercises for strength and endurance which will put you in the best possible shape. The first thing you will want to do is stretch before any exercise as a strained muscle can be extremely painful and may end up with you reaching for   those pain pills in the medicine cabinet.   Orif you tear a tendon or damage a joint,you could even find yourself sitting in front of the doctor as he writes out a prescription for serious painkillers like co-codamol.   The trick to avoiding all this unnecessary pain is to take it slowly at first and avoid the temptation to try pick up on where you were at the end of la st summer.   After stretching and warm-up exercises, you need to work on your cardio which will help you with track and field as well as endurance during your games. Add on various strength training exercises and you have the perfect generalized workout to help you get back into fighting form for any summer activity that comes along, sport or otherwise. Group Workouts For those of us who are extremely competitive, group workouts with friends and family can be a lot of fun and help us get into shape a little faster as our competitive nature can lead us to new heights. Working out with your friends can be a lot more fun than simply working out on your own, especially if you are working out with teammates as the stakes will always seem slightly higher. You can also have practices for the summer sports you are participating in even if it isn’t preseason or during the playing season. These group activities can allow you to not only enjoy your workout even more but also allow you to catch in some practice time with your buds, without your coach breathing down your neck to perform like it is a life or death situation. Solo Workouts Those who fly solo when working out are generally more likely to stay focused on the routine of working out and stretching than those who work out in groups to get into shape for their summer fun. The simple act of putting on your workout clothes, stretching, and putting in your headphones with your favorite music is enough to get you pumped up for the long haul. You may even be able to get further into your workout than your group working counterparts as you are more focused and determined to reach your goals.   However, depending on the activity you intend to get into shape for, like a 5 or 10 K race, or hiking with friends, you may still want to get a little group activity going to practice as a team rather than simply an individual as team bonding is part of any sport you play. Reasons to Get in Shape While many people are getting in shape for the swimsuit weather that is around the corner, getting into shape for any sport or activity is generally a great idea. If you are not in your best physical shape you will be more likely to get injured on the field or court, or while having fun with friends. Injuries during sporting games are not fun but can be quickly cared for with the numerous people around, injuries get dangerous once there is almost nobody around and can cause problems for others in your group. If you are out hiking and an accident occurs due to your poor shape, you could put everyone in your group at risk. This is part of what makes getting into shape not only important but a priority for anyone who has plans this season.

Why Brands Should Respond to Customers on Social Networks - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Brands Should Respond to Customers on Social Networks - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Consumers expect companies to interact with them on social networks. Some companies see this as a hassle because they have to invest more resources to support their social media accounts, while others see it as a competitive advantage. Big-name companies like Zappos and Comcast have defined their customer services using Twitter. GoDaddy.com even uses the service to respond to customer complaints and questions. When considering such customer service interactions, there are two factors to consider. The first is how responsive a company is to a consumer’s status update. If a company takes too long responding, then the customer feels like they don’t care and can probably solve the problem themself. The second is how helpful a response is. If the company responds and it’s not helpful, than the customer is unhappy. To read the rest of  this post, visit my branding column on  American Express OPEN Forum. Author: Dan Schawbel is a Gen Y career expert and the founder of the Personal Branding Blog. Subscribe to his updates at  Facebook.com/DanSchawbel.

The Benefits of Working from the Office CareerMetis.com

The Benefits of Working from the Office â€" CareerMetis.com We live in a hyper-connected world. Technology enables us to work from anywhere. I am writing this article from my laptop from a public library. A friend of mine Rob is a programmer- he works for a Canadian Tech company but he lives works in Thailand However, I believe that in order to be most productive- it is imperative to work from the office Most of my very good friendships I have created have come from the places I have worked. We spend most of our waking hours in the office ,and overtime we create a bond with some of the people we work with. I can’t remember how many friends I have made working from home All the resources you need to do your job â€" technology and people will be at the office. Your employer provides you with a desk, a computer, the stationary, a kitchen. On the contrary, working from home means you are responsible for setting up your own office.If you live in a metro like Toronto or New York â€" good luck renting an apartment with an additional den But if yo u are a productive person As teenagers, we hated routine and we absolutely hated structure. We didn’t like to be told what to do we didn’t like to conform. However, things change as we get older and we enter the workforce.We need structure inorder to do our jobs properly. Having to go to an office gives you a pre-packaged structure. You get a sense of order in an otherwise chaotic world. You go to the office at a certain time and you leave at a certain time. I like a sense of structure in my days.In Feb 2013 Marrisa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo made headlines by banning Telecommuting at the company, asking employees to work from the office. In the memo, she argues that inorder to boost productivity , the employees need to work side-by-side. This sparked a lot of controversy in the days that followed. Almost, every article you read around that time was a criticism to that decision. Some even accused her of taking things back to the Stoneage. Seriously?A year after CNBC published an artic le about merits of her decision. Numerous studies have shown that it takes enormous discipline to work effectively from home. And employees are more productive when they spend most of the time working at the office.In the vast majority of cases,(unless you are super-disciplined) the merits of working from the office outweigh working from home.What are your thoughts?