Category: Career

How to Work With Difficult People

No matter where you work or what industry you happen to work in, there’s a good chance you’ll meet someone you can’t stand working with. It’s unfortunate, but true.

Maybe it’s as simple as getting a cubicle mate who is loud or overbearing or maybe it means dealing with someone who never gets things done on time. The truth is we’re not always going to be friendly with the people we work with. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t do anything to deal with the negative environment that a difficult person creates. 

Take some time to follow these tips for dealing with difficult co-workers. Once you begin implementing them you’ll find that it does get a bit easier to work with difficult people. 

1. Remember: You’re NOT the Boss

If you don’t have authority over the other person, you’re going to look very unprofessional if you start telling them how to do their job. If your coworker is lazy or does a poor job and you’re tempted to correct their mistakes, don’t expect to be thanked for it. And don’t be surprised if they’re stubborn about your good-natured advice either.

  • Lead by example and focus on doing your own work successfully.

2. Avoid Communication through Email

When dealing with someone who’s difficult, try making it a priority to handle things on the phone or face to face. If you’re concerned about coming across well, remember emails can come across as sounding very blunt and brusque. 

  • If you must communicate via email, try reading your emails out loud before sending. Without tone or facial expression to help you out, you may come off as being angry or upset, even when you don’t intend to. Though you might love nothing more than to avoid the person, make sure poor or misinterpreted communication doesn’t compound your issues.

3. Avoid Gossip

When someone at work is difficult, it seems natural to gossip about him or her, but don’t do it. If you must vent your frustrations or get another opinion, wait until you get home.  

  • Avoid office drama by not participating in gossip. Not only do many offices have strict policies about gossip, you never know who might be listening. Be friendly and make sure you always take the moral high road.

4. Let Go of Your Anger

When you’re dealing with a difficult person, it’s easy to get angry. You think of the time they have wasted, the things they have done, and before you know it, you might have your teeth clenched! 

  • Remember anger is an energy drain. The more time you spend being angry, the less time you have to spend on important things.
  • Take time to release your anger and turn it towards more productive things. Don’t let your annoying coworker eat up any more of your time than they already have.

5. Keep a List

If your coworker’s problems start to affect your work performance, start keeping a list of all the problems that arise. It can help you establish a paper trail should it be necessary later.

  • Keep a list, date it, and if necessary, show it to your boss in a formal complaint. Doing this will give you evidence in the event that your coworker disputes your complaint.

We all have coworkers whom we’d rather not work with. Unfortunately, you won’t always have control over who works with you. Instead of wasting your time and energy stressing over those annoying people in your life, just get the job done while keeping problems to a minimum. Focusing on your own job, along with carrying out the actions mentioned above, will save you your sanity

7 Strategies to Embrace Change at Work

Learning to accept change at work is critical to being successful in your career. Dealing with alterations to your normal work procedures can be frustrating, unwanted, and even scary, but change can bring many positive elements to an environment that has become stagnant.

What can you do to welcome change at your job with confidence?

Consider these suggestions to guide you towards embracing workplace changes with optimism:

  1. Why do you feel negatively about the change? Ask yourself what scares you or makes you angry about a recent change at work. Explore all the possibilities.
  • List your concerns. Maybe you think your job or paycheck is threatened. Perhaps you think that certain positions may be cut because of the change. Think through these concerns.
  • If you find that your concerns are legitimate, create a Plan B that you can implement in your worst-case scenarios.
  • Once you make an action plan, let go of anxieties about situations you can’t control and optimistically expect the best results that could happen from the change.

2. Remind yourself those in charge have good reasons for the change. You must trust that the people running the company are making the choice to change for a reason that will benefit the company.

  • Recognize that people in power have a picture of the entire situation. They have information that you might not have.

3. Help reduce workplace negativity about the change. Avoid lengthy discussions with co-workers about changes in the workplace, especially if your peers are focusing on negativity related to the changes.

  •  Some co-workers might be especially antagonistic about upcoming changes due to their own fears and insecurities. Realizing their less-than-positive comments spring from fear will help you refrain from participating in such conversations.
  • Make an effort to be understanding, but decline to share any thoughts that might be interpreted as negative about the changes.
  • Share thoughts about the positive results the change may bring.

4. Accept the change as part of your job. Recognize that an important aspect of your work is to support the management and carry out directives.

  • Simplify the situation for yourself by pledging to respect the changes and perform your duties as required.

5. Consider the new plans a challenge. Make a decision to face the change head-on and do whatever it takes to glean positive results from the new plans.

  • Show yourself that you can roll with the punches. The changes may even result in your adding some very important career experiences to your resume for the future.

6. Have confidence that you can handle any change. Remind yourself that you strive for excellence in your work, regardless of the situation.

7. Embrace the positive possibilities. Your work situation might actually improve because of the new changes. Even though it might take some time to experience, you’ll most likely see some positive results emerge from the adjustments in your work environment.

  • This could be a time of rejuvenation, renewal and newfound efficiency.
  • Be patient throughout the implementation process.
  • Allow yourself to expect your work situation to improve because of the changes.

Although changes at work might be scary and unwanted, open your mind to the possibilities of change. Put some of these strategies into practice if changes occur where you work. Yes, you can embrace change at work with positivity, confidence, and patience!

14 Ways to Find Your Way Back From Burnout

Burnout can be experienced in any type of work, but especially so in sales. Preventing burnout protects your overall health and your career. However, if the way you work changed radically over the past year, your old defenses may not be enough.

How do you know if you’re experiencing sales burnout?

Some of the most common signs include low energy, irritability, and lack of motivation. You feel tired and unable to control your circumstances. More aspects of your work begins to feel routine.

If you’re feeling down and your productivity has dropped, you can recover. Try these 14 strategies for bouncing back from burnout.

Fighting Burnout During Work Hours:

1. Evaluate your expectations. Burnout is often caused by pushing yourself too hard for too long. That was easy to do over the past year. Many sales reps took on more customers, larger territories, and finding themselves having to do more with less. Sales people who have a hard time saying “no” will find that saying “yes” to everything that comes your way limits opportunities for rest & rejuvenation. Look at your to do list and see what you can eliminate or delegate. Focus on your top priorities.

2. Set small goals. Working towards something you want to achieve provides instant inspiration. Big goals is what drives a lot of salespeople, however its the big goals that require discipline over an extended period of time. Break long term objectives down into daily and weekly targets, so you’ll get to experience the joy and relish the achievement.

3. Limit distractions. Burnout makes it difficult to concentrate. Create quiet spaces where you can work at the office or at home. Turn off your phone and stay away from websites and apps where you tend to lose track of time. Block off times of 30-minutes of uninterrupted work. Sometimes its easier to break work down into 30 minute chunks of time rather than looking at a big to-do list for an entire day.

4. Find allies. Do you feel isolated or have more conflicts with your coworkers? Burnout can take a toll on your relationships. Participate in social activities at work when you can. If you feel safe, talk with your boss or a trusted colleague about what you’re going through.

5. Have fun. As burnout takes hold work begins to feel very routine. The jokes you tell customers are no longer funny to you. Remember to have fun! Call some of your past customers that are big advocates and ask them how they’re doing. It’s always a nice shot in the arm to hear how some of those customers are better off after working with you. Pass along a funny joke or an intriguing news story.

6. Pace yourself. How many hours are you working a week? Sales is rarely 9-5. Are you spending your evenings working on reports, sending out proposals, or checking emails? Think about how you can create new boundaries. Parkinson’s Law states that work will expand proportionally to the time you have. Give yourself five hours to complete a project and it will take you five hours. Give yourself, on that same project, three hours and you’ll complete it in three hours.

7. Take time off. It may help to get away from your routines for a while. Over the past year taking a vacation to your favorite destination may not have been in the cards. You stayed home and it became easy to feel as if you haven’t rejuvenated. If you’re short on leave, you could try a spa day at home or check into a local hotel for the weekend.

8. Be patient. Burnout often builds up gradually and it may take a while to turn things around. Give yourself credit for making an effort. Appreciate signs of gradual progress.

Fighting Burnout Outside of Work Hours:

1. Address root causes. While there are many things you can do to cope with burnout temporarily, lasting change depends on resolving the source of your troubles. Is there anything that you’re avoiding that’s the source of longer hours? Did an event happen at work, or maybe the avoidance has more to do with your personal life. Whatever the reasoning may be without addressing the root cause any attempts to overcome the burnout will be temporary.

2. Set boundaries. Remote work blurs the line between business and leisure activities. Try to keep office items out of your bedroom. Let your customers know the hours when you’re unavailable.

3. Sleep well. Go to bed on time, so you can wake up feeling refreshed. Stick to a consistent schedule, even on weekends and holidays. This may be one of the most underrated tips on the list, however maintaining a similar sleep schedule on the weekends only makes the weekdays easier.

4. Work out. As a busy professional and parent it’s easy to allow physical activity to be one of the things that doesn’t get prioritized. However if your health is important to you physical activity relieves stress and gives you more energy. Design a balanced program of cardio, exercise, strength training, and stretches.

5. Learn to relax. Another tip that may fall under the captain obvious moniker. For some, learning how to actually relax is a learned activity. Set aside 20 minutes in the morning for meditation. Take a walk during your lunch break. Managing daily tensions with stress-relieving activities is especially important with the added workload that some have taken on over the past year.

6. Consider counseling. If your burnout symptoms persist, you may benefit from working with a professional therapist. Some employers have extended mental health benefits as a result of COVID-19. If you’re on a limited budget, contact a community hotline to explore low-cost services.

Burnout can seem overwhelming, but you probably have more options than you think. Change your daily habits and ask others for help if you’re struggling. Taking constructive action will help you to regain your balance and increase your job satisfaction.

8 Easy Ways to Boost Your Career

You can make great strides in your career without spending long days and nights at the office. Advancing your career is the result of several small strategies. While none of these is likely to make a significant difference by itself, when combined, the results can be impressive.

Boost your career and increase your paycheck with these strategies:

Be reliable. We’ve all worked with the employee that couldn’t be trusted to deliver results. He was the one person that you knew wouldn’t be able to keep his promises. Avoid establishing a similar reputation. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Be 100% reliable at all times.

Be on time. Whether it’s for work or a meeting, always be on time. Do you control your time or allow it to control you? Avoid being too early for meetings. You’ll appear to have too much free time. Five minutes early is perfect. Always have your work done on time. Give yourself the opportunity to impress. If you can have something done by Wednesday, tell your boss it will be done on Friday and turn it in early. Consider that most people do the opposite and get themselves in trouble.

Dress for success. Many promotions are given to the candidate that looks the part. Always dress up one level from your peers. Dress for the role you want not the one you have. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes.

Keep your resume up to date. Keep your resume current. Spend a few minutes each month to add any new, relevant information to your resume. When a good opportunity comes along, you’ll be prepared!

Reach out to recruiters. Most recruiters are paid on commission. If you let them know you exist, you can be certain they’ll call you when something suitable hits their radar. Many recruiters find potential job candidates via LinkedIn. Ensure you’re registered.

Enhance your public speaking abilities. Few of us enjoy public speaking, but those with good presentation skills are in high demand. Since so few people have the courage to build their skills, it isn’t too challenging to become an effective public speaker. There isn’t a lot of competition. If you’re looking for a training program, check with your local community college for a night course.

Be indispensable. Some employees are so indispensable that the company goes out of its way to make them happy. Be sure your employer needs you. Find an important task and master it. Is your company looking for volunteers to learn a new software program? Are they looking for someone to manage their social media? Is there an opportunity to take on additional responsibilities? Be sure any extra work is relevant. Is a long-time employee leaving? Maybe you can fill some of the gaps that are created by their departure.

Find a mentor. The right mentor will take pride in helping you advance your career. A mentor can provide invaluable advice and introduce you to others who can be very beneficial to you. Many of the most successful corporate employees enjoyed the benefit of one or more mentors along the way.

Avoid following the herd at work. The average employee decides to do the minimal amount of work to keep their paycheck. It isn’t difficult to stand out from the pack by being a little more conscientious. Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Boost your career by excelling at the little things. Find a mentor, too. You’ll be glad you did!

10 Tips to Successfully Changing Careers

Are you ready for a career change? It’s never too late to try a new career on for size. But, changing careers can be a significant challenge, depending on your career of choice. Over the past year the construction industry has experienced a boom. While many businesses experienced closings during the pandemic, construction was deemed an essential business across many states. Both the new construction and remodeling segments are in demand. This trend is expected for the foreseeable future. Due to the demand, many people have reached out to me for advice on getting into a new career. Here are a few of my tips that apply to any industry that you may be considering for a career change.

If you’re committed, there’s no reason you can’t find a new line of work that fulfills you and does more than just pays the bills. Think hard before you leap. You may have quite a bit of work ahead.

Try these activities to successfully make a career change and do the work you were meant to do:

1. Make a list of what you don’t like about your current position. If you’re considering a change, there must be something that’s rubbing you the wrong way. It might be your company, the people, or your position. Maybe you just weren’t cut out to be an accountant. Consider the things you don’t want to see in your next career.

2. Make a list of what you do like about your current position. It can’t all be bad! What are things about your current company and position that you enjoy? What would you like to see in your next position?

3. Consider your values. Perhaps your most important value is helping people, but you spend your days driving a beer delivery truck. A position helping others directly might be more to your liking. List your values and consider careers that dovetail with them.

4. Brainstorm a list of career possibilities that take into account your likes, dislikes, and values. Now that you’ve given some thought to what you like, don’t like, and your values, think of careers that can satisfy all of those requirements.

5. What else do you need? If you’re planning a significant change, you’ll probably need to learn a few new skills. You might even need to go back to school. Consider what you need to add to your resume and make a plan to make it happen.

6. Set a goal. Know what you want and put your vision to paper. Read your goal each day. Develop a reasonable plan to reach your goal in the near future. Create a goal that inspires you.

7. Network. Applying for an existing opening that is known to the public is like trying to win the lottery. Your best bet is to leverage the people you know. Try to get the inside scoop on your dream job. Let everyone know you’re looking to make a change. Be careful not to burn any bridges at your current job until you’re ready to move on.

8. Contact headhunters. A reputable headhunter only gets paid when they find you a job, and they are paid by the employer. You’re also likely to get a lot of good advice. After all, they know what companies are looking for right now. Just know that in this current economy a headhunter will be working with many candidates, and depending on your experience you may not be the highest priority.

9. Be willing to take a step back. You might have to take a demotion or a pay cut in order to change careers. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a small step back to eventually take a greater step forward.

10. Be patient. Finding a new position is usually challenging. Finding a new position in a new field is considerably more difficult. You must be patient and persistent. Expect that it will take some time, but keep working hard toward realizing your dream.

Few things will change your life more than a change of career. It’s worth the effort to find a job that you love. After all, you spend 40-plus hours each week doing it. Take the time to make a wise decision and then put a plan in place. It might be the beginning of a new adventure.