Always be Leading – 10 Must Traits On and Off Duty

Introduction

Do you believe that you must always be leading both when on-duty and off-duty?

Explanation

Always be leading on and off duty

Being a leader isn’t something you put on and remove like a shirt. Leadership skills and operating from a leadership perspective is something leaders do on and off duty. That’s because the skill sets that make a great business leader also make for great…

  • Spouses
  • Parents
  • Community partners
  • Volunteers

AND

Areas Where Leaders Will Always be Leading

Great leaders don’t go to work and put on their leadership hats only to take them off when they leave.  Truly great leaders lead in all that they do. They lead by how they…

  • Solve problems
  • Approach conflict
  • Prioritize their schedule
  • Treat subordinates and other people in their lives with respect

And…

  • Considerably more!
Leadership Success

Great leaders succeed in their leadership because their leadership skills are engrained in their everyday life. How you see them when they lead is also how you’ll see them when they’re behind closed doors.

In the truest sense, everyone is a leader one way or another. Your title might not officially place you in a leadership role, but you are leading. Whether it’s leading your family, friends, or a small group of people volunteering in the community, you are leading. Taking on a leadership mindset to always be leading on and off duty can help you be a more effective work leader.  That’s the type of leader that people willingly and enthusiastically follow.

Monitoring Leadership Behaviors

It’s important to realize that people are always watching, and in doing so they are evaluating one another’s leadership skills.  Based on these observations, workers will get behind the managers or even coworkers who are leading the way. People feel comfortable with others who are confident, considerate, and consistent in their behavior and their attitude.

Not all leaders desire to lead. Some people are placed in situations where they are required to lead despite their preference to blend into the crowd. Leadership is important though, and having the courage to lead…even when you don’t want to…is important too. Sometimes you’ve got to take the reins and do what’s best for the situation.

Whether you plan to lead or find yourself leading unexpectedly, you may well be  thrust into a leadership role at some point. Everyone is leading somehow and making things better for others in the process. Be cognizant of the importance of leadership and having a leadership mindset whether you are at work, at home, or in the community. Be aware of your impact on others and be sure that your leadership style is motivating and encouraging so you aren’t overrunning others or making them feel inadequate. The best leaders consistently make those they lead feel empowered and capable of whatever tasks need to be done.  In other words, they will always be leading whether on-duty or off-duty.

How to Become a Great Leader

So how do you become a great leader who will always be leading?

Leadership Traits

Always be leading to inspire subordinates

It’s certainly not always easy to be a leader, one who will always be leading.  But it is essential. Here we share with you the 10 traits of great leaders.

1: They are Inspirational

2: They Set Goals for Their Teams

3: They Manage their Time Wisely

4: They Motivate Others

5: They Encourage Creativity in Others

6: They Give Feedback Constructively

7: They Communicate Clearly and Openly

8: They Build Relationships with People on Their Teams

9: They Lead by Example

10: They Delegate Responsibility When Needed

Being a leader isn’t always easy, but it is essential. These are 10 traits that every good leader should have.

Summing Up
In conclusion, being a leader is not something that can be switched on and off. It is an ongoing way of living and behaving. Leaders are always learning and growing, and they never stop working to improve their skills. Those who aspire to be leaders should keep these things in mind, and continue to work on becoming the best leaders they can be.
Of course, while it is important to be a leader both on and off-duty, it is also necessary to be able to switch off from work and relax. It is essential to have a good work-life balance in order to be effective when always leading at work.

5 Ways To Appreciate Successes More

How to Appreciate Successes More

It’s often more challenging to acknowledge successes and work accomplishments than projects you have underachieved. Even reflecting on excellent skills makes some workers nervous. Recognition and compliments can make workers uncomfortable.  And you sometimes don’t know how to react without appearing self-conscious in front of associates.

So, how can you positively appreciate your good traits? Likely the key is self-awareness.  That entails treating oneself with greater consideration.  Recognize you are as good as others. It requires consciousness when you evaluate your apparent shortcomings – but differently. I prefer to refer to it as “self-appreciation.”

According to LifeHack, “To love yourself is to experience freedom – freedom from doubt, self-hate, and oppression created by you. To love yourself is no longer holding yourself back from what you deserve. To love yourself is to grow and enjoy your job. Self-love is a necessity if you want to live a comfortable life. Self-love is a choice, a commitment to yourself that you will love yourself, despite all the social and biological obstacles in your path. It is not found in a place, person, or item.”

So what can you do to be easier on yourself when you underperform your expectations?  It starts when you appreciate successes more and accept mistakes as part of your complete package.

5 Ways To Appreciate Successes More

Appreciate successes more

1.Decide To Do It

Self-appreciation is a decision you have to make yourself; it is not bestowed upon you. You don’t obtain it from another person or an item. You get self-appreciation by choosing what you desire. It would be best if you decided to let go of toxic thinking and disliking yourself for not being enough.

Appreciate successes more. You can get your mind straight

Say no to all of your internal self-criticism and tell yourself the truth: you are not perfect, and that is good. Begin by giving yourself license to appreciate successes more and acknowledge yourself more. Even if you convince yourself otherwise, you are deserving of more appreciation.

Take time to tell yourself this and permit yourself to value yourself. This is the first step in  and appreciating successes more and acknowledging the reality that you can appreciate yourself.

2. Check Your Negative Beliefs at the Door

Disrupt mental patterns that are solely focused on failures and defects. When it comes to self-esteem, our subconscious is not always on our side.

It takes time and effort to educate your mind into healthy habits, but the first step is to recognize the falsehoods it tells you:

  • Recognize that feeling like a loser does not imply that you are a failure.
  • Examine the evidence to support your findings. Even though the negative thought spiral makes it feel that way.  For instance, a supervisor not replying to your text does not indicate they dislike you.
  • Recognize that the good results you achieve merit your attention as well. One negative comment should not deter you from downplaying positive feedback.
3. Give Yourself a Break When You React To Your Setbacks

You don’t have to berate yourself for every misstep at work. According to research, reacting to your own mistakes with compassion boosts your self-esteem.  That will make you a more competent and resourceful employee. Fight back against the inner critic who distorts reality.

  • There are hardly any results from your job performance that are “all or nothing.” Even if things did not go as planned, it does not imply that nothing good came from it.
  • One setback does not define you for the rest of your career.
  • Call that feeling of pessimism into question by reminding yourself, “Things didn’t go my way on this assignment. But that doesn’t indicate they always will always miss the mark. You can’t let one slip up define you nor can you project the future from today’s results.”

Don't let your mistakes or underperformance define your career

4. Let Go Of Perfection

You will never be flawless.  Don’t allow this to prevent you from appreciating successes more or accept yourself with your obvious flaws. It’s easy to kick oneself for not being all that you would like. However, this leads to self-deprecation since you focus on what you did not do rather than appreciate successes more.  Self-appreciation thrives in a great attitude, which requires you to appreciate successes more. In a worldview based on perfection, dubbed “never good enough,” your ability to recognize yourself suffers, fades, and dies.

Comparing yourself to others is dumb. Appreciate successes more and ruminate on slipups less

5. Learn To Say No

Instead of overcommitting, prioritize your own activities and needs. Respect your boundaries.

 more time to accomplish your goals and appreciate successes more

Learn to decline obligations that aren’t worth the stress. The unthinking “yes” in answering any request is a sort of “people-pleasing” action.  That prioritizes everyone else’s interests before your own.  It leaves you little time to accomplish acceptable performance that you and your supervisor expect.

Stop Worrying About What Co-Workers Think

Self-Doubts

Wish you could stop worrying about what co-workers think of you.  Do you find yourself constantly doubting your decisions at work? Especially during Coronavirus?  Are you fretting over other workers’ reactions to your actions or opinions?  Do you keep ruminating over your past mistakes and bad decisions you have made? Beating yourself up?Stop Worrying About What Co-Workers Think of You

Tips & Tricks to Help You Stop Worrying

In this post, we’ll share some tips and tricks to help you stop worrying about what co-workers think of you. Learn how to use constructive criticism to your advantage. Then, simply filter out any negative judgment.

This will leave you less anxious and less overwhelmed. As a result, you can stay more focused on yourself and the best ways to achieve your work goals.

Let’s get started.

Stop worrying about what co-workers think

Are People’s Opinions Holding You Back?

Worrying about what others think and feel about you is a normal part of our DNA. We’re programmed to seek others’ approval.

Studies show there’s a reward center that’s activated when we’re given a compliment. Even if you just sense other people’s recognition of your hard work, your brains fire up those same reward centers.

So, we feel good about ourselves when we’re accepted. Yet, we can’t always be accepted and liked by everyone at all times.

Problems start when we start pivoting our lifestyles to fit people’s expectations. We give others power over our lives and how we should live it. Consequently, we lose out on being who we truly are.

After that, things go downhill and start spiraling out of control. Being stuck in that mind frame can be destructive to you and those other members of your team.

Going down this unproductive path, you’ll be leaving a path of destruction in your wake. Your job will be affected, co-worker relationships might be sabotaged, and your self-esteem will most certainly take a hit.

How Can I Stop Worrying About What Co-Workers Think?

Do some serious soul searching. Do you feel that your reality has shifted? Have you started to believe in other associates’ version of who you are as opposed to the real you?

Then, it’s time to step up and take some actionable steps. You owe it to yourself to share the real you with the world. They don’t know what they’re missing!

We rounded some simple, yet effective, ways to help you break this vicious cycle. Read on to learn more to stop worrying about what co-workers think.

1.      Focus on What’s Important

Has someone said something unkind about you? Instead of letting it fester, don’t let it go to your head.

Chances are, that person won’t recall what they said in about ten minutes. Plus, what they say reflects who they are as a person. If you think about it, it actually has very little to do with you.

In other words, their perceptions of you come from them. And you’re not responsible for how they feel or what they think, neither can you change any of it. So, why waste your time fretting over something you have no control over?

Instead, channel that energy into something productive. You can learn a new skill, take a training class, or pick up an earlier report that showed how you successfully overcame an obstacle. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you enjoy.

Below are some things more worthy of your time than worrying about what people think:

  • Spend quality time with mentors or workers you admire
  • Smile at one of your staff or hold the door for someone
  • Surround yourself with associates who encourage and support you
  • Volunteer at a local charity outside of your employer like a food bank
  • Take a walk through a park on your lunch break
  • Have dinner together with a workmate who has similar interests outside workbout what co-workers think
2.      Highlight Your Accomplishments

We’ve all been through difficult times in our careers; some more than others. At the same time, we’ve all accomplished some positive things.

It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose or elaborate. It just has to mean something to you, like filing your taxes on time or making a home-cooked meal from scratch. Be proud of yourself and all the hard work you put in.

You can even write down these accomplishments and hang them up in your work area or file cabinet. Then every time you catch a glimpse of one of your achievements, say to yourself, “I did that!” Continue to repeat it until your subconscious takes it in.

Another way to boost your confidence is to practice saying encouraging statements. These will help build up your self-esteem and improve the way you view yourself.

Here are a few statements to get you inspired:

  • My self-confidence is on the rise.
  • I’m worthy of the praise my boss gives me.
  • I can’t control what happens, but I can control my reaction to them.
  • My ideas are great.
  • I’m appreciative of everyone and everything in my life.
3.      Train Yourself to See the Positive

Our brains are wired to see the negative. We complain, we blame others, and we dwell. That has to stop today!

acceptance

You can train your thoughts to be more positive. But not in a deluded, naive sort of way; in a healthy, productive way. As a result, you become less anxious and more resilient.

To be honest, this works if you think more objectively, especially when it comes to your weaknesses or flaws.

We all have them. Some employees are just better at acknowledging and improving them than others. Why can’t that be you?

Write down a list of five things that bother you about yourself. Then, set some realistic goals to change them and reward yourself each time you reach one of your set goals.

Make sure you start small and work at your own pace. The point is to feel good about yourself, not overwhelm or burden you. It kind of defeats the purpose.

4.      Practice Relaxation Techniques

Some people may think this is hokey.  But relaxation techniques are becoming popular because people are realizing the importance of self-care. These techniques aim at reducing stress levels and improving your overall health. They also teach you the value of valuing the present.

When you focus on your today, you stop worrying about what happened in the past or what might happen in the future. These techniques can also help you stop worrying about what co-workers think about you.

The great thing about them is that you can do them anywhere. Whenever you start to worry, remind yourself that you could be overreacting. In all likelihood, your colleagues aren’t judging you as harshly as you think they are.

Take a few deep breaths and focus on anything around you: your coffee mug, a certificate you earned, and your clear workspace. Anything that can steer your thoughts to the present moment will do the trick!

Then, Voila, you’ll notice that your pulse is slowing down and so is your heart rate. Your anxiety will start to recede and you’ll realize you did stop worrying about what co-workers think as much anymore.

Check out these proven relaxation techniques. You can even do a couple of them as you’re reading this post.

  • Mindful meditation
  • Yoga
  • Aromatherapy
  • Guided breathing
Flexicrew Support

By the way are you sure you’re in the right job, in the right company.  Check in with Flexicrew today.

If you think you have more of the positive skills that will help you excel in other industrial jobs, then we want to hear from you.

Don't worry about what co-workers think. Flexi will honestly tell you your value

You could enjoy a very progressive and rewarding career. Now all you need is the recruiting expertise to help you channel these skills to some of the best jobs today.

Upload your resume to Flexicrew Staffing now and see where your skills could take you.

 

5 Examples of Being an Everyday Great Employee

Do you think your supervisor and your associates recognize you at work as an everyday great employee?

What about yourself?

Have you ever felt like an everyday great employee in your work life?  But the truth is, you don’t have to do anything radical to feel like you’re making a change.

There are several ways you can be an everyday great employee just by doing the things that you do every day.

Still, does that make sense? Keep reading to discover five examples of how to be an everyday great employee.

1.You Stand Up For Something You Believe In

Maybe you’re sitting in a meeting, and your boss asks you to do something that you see as unethical. Instead of going along with the task, speak up.  Tell him or her why you are uncomfortable with the task. Although this may not seem like much.  But, taking a stand for something you truly believe in is one of the best ways you can be a great employee.

Stand up for your priorities

2. Support an Associate Having Trouble

Complex projects aren’t easy for you or co-workers.  And there will be times when those around you are feeling distress and discouraged.  You won’t know how to help. This is especially true in close work relationships, or as the supervisor of a newer employee. But just being there for a staff member who is under duress is truly an example of being an everyday great employee.

Often times you don’t even need to say anything either.  A touch on their arm, simple nod of your head, or a kind gesture can say it all to a co-worker who is really struggling.

3. Achieving Something You’ve Been Working Towards

Have you been working on a project for what seems like forever? Did you get discouraged, but stick with it even when the going got tough? This is a prime example of an everyday great employee. It isn’t easy to achieve a target, and it isn’t simple to stick with a project for the long term.

So just the fact that you were able to achieve a goal speaks highly about your character. And don’t be afraid to celebrate this achievement either.  After all, not every high-level performer can achieve their goals!

4. Extending a Hand to a Co-Worker That Needs One

As mentioned above, accomplishing an objective is not easy, and many workers will fail before they get that far. And sometimes, a fellow-team member who is about to fail may just need that one associate to believe in them.  Or better yet, help them out with one or two tasks to keep them on track. Maybe it isn’t even actual help they need, but rather a little bit of encouragement.

This is why, if you see a co-worker struggling to achieve something, it’s time to reach out a hand. Not only will they be grateful for your presence in their time of need, but you will achieve a sense of fulfillment that bolsters your own work satisfaction.

Follow your priorities

5. Making a New Ally

Making work ‘partners’ isn’t easy, especially because other employees have all kinds of different views that are dissimilar to your own. This is why, when you are able to go beyond differences to connect with another worker on a new level, this is an example of an everyday great employee.

So next time you see a co-worker eating alone, or maybe someone in an employer-sponsored training class that looks like they could use a hand, you might want to reach out to them.  Because you never know how another staff member could impact your career!

Final Thoughts

Overall, it doesn’t take some massive amount of effort to make an everyday great employee, rather, all you have to do is remember the above five examples of day-to-day greatness.

Then if you work to integrate them into your own life, you will be pleasantly surprised by how amazing and fulfilled you will feel just by doing the things that you do every day!

How to Become a Better Listener to Advance at Work

Rather than become a better listener, do you tend to zone out while co-workers or even your supervisor are speaking? That makes you human. It’s something that we all do. It makes sense.  The New York Times reported that the average person’s attention span is eight seconds. Now multiple electronic distractions vie for your time and drag your attention away from the worker in front of you. It makes being a good listener pretty challenging, but it isn’t impossible.

become a better listener and advance your career

These days, employees often enter meetings or 1:1 conversations with an agenda.  And everyone’s face reflects this. So, rather than having a dialogue, it descends into two or more workers talking at each other without stopping to hear what the other person is trying to say. It will only get worse, as life grows more hectic.

You have to stop approaching discussions on the job with your agenda in mind. The goal should not be to guide, manipulate, or maneuver the exchange to your benefit. It’s about learning!  You will be a more productive team member.

Here’s 5 steps to become a better listener:

The Balance

The hint that a conversation is more about listening than speaking is the fact that you possess just one mouth, but two ears. When you talk too much, steer the topics too often, it can result in people seeing you as controlling (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03637758909390246?needAccess=true&instName=King%27s+College+London). Everyone should be able to contribute to the conversation equally. So, listen to what others have to say and consider their perspective!

Keep An Open Mind

When you try to make new information and knowledge fit with your existing beliefs of representations you become a poor listener. This can result in you jumping to conclusions and being close-minded. A study from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, demonstrated how often this occurs (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0010028581900086). Students were directed to an office they believed was serving as a sort of waiting room for the experiment they were due to take part in. However, this was part of the experiment. Once they left the office, they were directed to recall any items they’d seen while waiting in the office. They recalled many items associated with offices but were prone to falsely recall items not present simply because they were typical office items.

Focus On the Message

It is really easy to get caught up with the person delivering the message rather than focusing on the message itself. Once you view someone as a friend or foe, you tend to accept their message based on that designation. That doesn’t mean your rival doesn’t have a valid point to make or important information to share. Likewise, it doesn’t mean your friends are always right!

Eye Contact

Eye contact is an important aspect of clear communication, but how does that help you become a better listener? It’s a signal to the other person that they have your attention. You are dialed into the conversation and fully present. If your eyes are on theirs, then your eyes are not wandering and distracted by everything around you. You’ll also take more information in that way.

Ask Questions

When you ask questions relevant to the topic at hand it shows that you are listening to what the person said. It also highlights that you are considering what they have to say. The added benefit of asking questions is that it prevents miscommunication. Asking questions is a great way to check-in and ensure you are understanding the points others are making.

It’s always a good idea to pause before you respond. Take time to consider their comment before you choose to ask a question or form a response.

Summary

There are a wide variety of productivity techniques that improve your listening skills. You can learn far more from listening than you can from speaking over others or wrestling control of the conversation.  And you will gain the support of your supervisor and associates.

 

 

 

 

4 Powerful Benefits of Mini-Habits Bring Potent Change

Mini-habits too Small to Fail

If you haven’t heard of mini-habits, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Imagine making only small adjustments, and still managing to create impactful and meaningful change.

The mini-habit is just what it sounds like – it’s taking the idea that doing a whole lot of small things will eventually add up to something superb. Think, for example, of what would happen if you only read a couple of news articles every day? Before you know it, you’d have accomplished the goal of becoming more informed, and would be better able to handle discussions with co-workers about the state of your industry given the current environment.

Small habits - Big results

Change and Success

Mini-habits don’t stop there though. Not only can your mini-habit change how you get your work done, but they impact your mind and body as well.

Read on to discover 4 powerful benefits of Mini-habits.

Mini-Habits Lead to Big Results

1.You create an atmosphere of success

By setting small goals, you’re much more likely to meet them. So instead of telling yourself that you’re going to return all your phone calls promptly, you instead focus on returning the next phone call on time. That takes off the huge expectations that always felt so overwhelming in the past and left you with a feeling of failure when you couldn’t quite make it. What’s even better is that meeting these small goals means you get to where you start expecting success, which leads to the mindset that will generate that success you’re expecting.

2. You change how you view your capabilities

By accomplishing mini-goals, you start to realize that you do have the ability and power to accomplish work results. Your confidence grows, and you gain a better, more positive sense of your abilities.

3. You rediscover motivation

Motivation is sometimes hard to come by and gets used up quickly. That’s why mini-habits are important. Rather they don’t rely on motivation to accomplish projects, they grow from your willpower instead. Then as you reach those goals, you start to feel the energy of that success, which in turn creates motivation to keep going.

4. You create a series of changes that you will carry with you through your career and life

Mini-habits done daily will build up those larger habits that you’ve been trying to build all along. Like making it to work on time every day and creating almost as a by-product that habit of daily productivity that had seemed so difficult not all that long ago.

Final Thought

Mini-Habits not only change how you do work assignments but change how you think and act. By making a practice of following mini-habits, you will affect some pretty major change.

 

 

4 Simple Tips to Enhance Workplace Communication

Regular interaction between employees can greatly improve the work culture and productivity in an organization. Communicating effectively at the workplace will greatly improve relationships between employees and help in completing important projects faster. Better communication greatly improves the performance of the employees at work, while making the team members trust each other.  And that trust interestingly lends itself to improved self-esteem.

workplace-communication 4

Research information indicates that organizations where employees communicate well with each other are likely to have a turnover rate for employees which is approximately half the average for the industry sector.

Periodically every person is likely to find that he is not able to communicate effectively with others due to various reasons. These can lead to misunderstanding with others and irritation.

Some methods for improving communication between team members are discussed below. These are some of the simplest techniques which the organization can incorporate in the daily routine of the employees and improve the relationships between team members and other employees, making them more responsive.

Improve Trust Levels

If the employee trusts the manager or other senior employees, he is more likely to contact the manager and inform him about any kind of problem which he faces at the initial stage if he can’t solve it himself. Hence to improve the trust levels, managers should develop a rapport with their employees first. For example, when a new employee joins the organization and is undergoing the orientation process, the supervisor could take the new employee for lunch with other team members. During the lunch, the employees should discuss their life, habits, approach to life instead of business. Though this may not take much effort, it is a very effective icebreaker, improving communication between team members significantly and quickly.

Offer Compliments in a Better Way

Though the manager can use the standard term “great job” to compliment the employee who has done the work assigned well, it is usually not very helpful. However, in some cases, the employee may get confused, since he will wonder which specific aspect of the job was done well, so that he could replicate it later. Instead, the manager should focus on the specific aspects of the task or work done by the employee, so that he knows his strength and specifically what got him the praise.

Give Feedback Which is Constructive

Most employees have received negative feedback from their supervisor delivered in a harsh tone, which destroys trust and communication permanently. So, while giving feedback it is important to review the specific action, and not pass comments on the character of the employee. The worker should be given the opportunity to share their views and help in a positive way.

Processes Should be Streamlined

If the organization is working on a very large project, with many stakeholders, there is likely to be communication letdown between the employees at some stage. This malfunction should be used to improve the process and prevent similar problems in future, removing any hurdles which the employees face. When the employees are informed about the process changes, the manager can also get feedback from the staff on the effectiveness of the processes, to make necessary charges in future if required.

On a Final Note

Effective communication within the workspace plays a crucial role in improvement of a business and success of any organization. When communicating, nonverbal communication must also be considered. How a supervisor or subordinate delivers a message has a lot of effect on the meaning of of that communication and the resulting action.

Improve Communication with a Staffing Agency’s Support

Flexicrew can help improve your work environment communication, reduce your anxiety and stress by assisting you with workforce planning and recruiting the quality talent that you need in this uncertain time.  Contact one of our workforce professionals Today!

10 Essential Traits to Create Resilience

Resilience speaks to one’s ability to bounce back from difficulties and catastrophes experienced in life. Resilience is essential to navigating life because adversity and challenges are inevitable. While there are a variety of things related to resilience, the following is a list of resilience power traits. Each of these traits is linked to the development of resilience, which ultimately equates to the ability to handle adversity with grace.Resilience-in-the-workplace-1

1. Acceptance

Adversity is inevitable, so learning to accept and embrace it is essential to developing resilience and navigating challenges well. Those who are resilient accept difficulties as normal and spend their time and energy learning to adapt to the adversity rather than fighting it or running from it. The choice to lean into the discomfort and embrace it ultimately helps employees better deal with and bounce back from the hardships they face (Waters, 2013).

2. Adaptability

The ability to be able to adjust and shift as the pandemic creates new circumstances and increases challenges is a key facet of resilience. Those employees who are resilient can develop numerous strategies from dealing with stressful situations. This flexibility in the way they think about challenges allows them to respond flexibly with regards to their emotion. Thus, they are better able to shift from one coping strategy to another depending upon what is best given the specific set of circumstances (Barker, 2016).

3. Awareness

Awareness is also heavily tied to the development of resilience. Awareness helps individual personnel understand what they need, how they feel, when they need to reach out for help, and when they need to make adjustments and improvements. Being aware of what personal adjustments need to be made to one’s staff members or their situation helps your staff gain the knowledge and information needed to best approach and navigate the challenge at hand (Waters, 2013).

4. Boundaries

Boundaries in the context of adversity relate to one’s ability to create distinction between who they are at their core and the cause of their current negative circumstances. This means being able to understand that the adversity currently being faced is temporary.

This also means refraining from allowing the negative situation or circumstance to become one’s permanent identity. Being able to set these boundaries aids in quick recovery from trials because individuals understand that their situation will eventually change for the better, and there is the understanding that their identity is not rooted in the trauma. Thus, there is an ability to approach the challenge with a more positive attitude, and less likelihood of allowing the challenge to define one’s self (Waters, 2013).

5. Confidence

A key to learning to cope with the stresses of life is a belief in your ability to do so. Research shows that there is a link between one’s self-esteem and one’s ability to handle stress and recover from negative events. Employees who lack self-esteem have a tendency to approach negative events with a negative outlook, and in general, have more negative outcomes. On the other hand, those who possess high levels of confidence in themselves and their abilities, approach negative circumstances with the belief that they possess what is necessary to overcome the circumstance. Thus, their outcomes tend to be more favorable (Cherry, 2020).

6. Goals

Goal setting and resilience are linked for workers in the sense that setting goals help breakdown challenges and hardships into more manageable parts that can be tackled and conquered. Goals allow challenges to be addressed in a realistic manner while also helping people to manage their emotional response to a given situation. When a person can tackle a situation one step at a time, there is less anxiety, less stress, and more probability of a favorable outcome. This ultimately means a better ability to bounce back from adversity (Cherry, 2020).

7. Optimism

Optimism is the ability to look at situations and circumstances and find the positives, even in the midst of what seems like endless negatives. The ability to approach hardships with this type of positive attitude is key to being able to quickly recover from the difficulties your workers face.  You should support positivity in your workforce by creating and sustaining intentional employee reward and recognition programs.

True optimism isn’t about ignoring the negatives, but rather paying attention to those negatives that are relevant to the problems they face and then actively choosing not to remain focused on those negative solely or long term. A truly optimistic workforce that is able to foster resilience learn how to balance a positive outlook with a realistic view of the world and that helps them bounce back from challenges faced (Barker, 2016).

8. Problem-Solving

There is research that suggests workers who know how to analyze and develop solutions for problems are better able to cope with challenges as compared to those who do not know how to do those things. Being faced with a challenge creates an opportunity for workers in your employ to perform and on-the-job learning that will help them develop potential solutions for the issue at hand.

It is that regular and consistent work of engaging in exercises that build focus and encourages non-traditional thinking that better helps employees to able be able to solve problems in future scenarios (Cherry, 2020).

9. Purpose

Helping your work teams find or create a sense of purpose for themselves in the midst of adversity or crisis can significantly help when it comes to coping and recovery. Developing a ‘why’ becomes the motivation needed to do the work that will help them get through the crisis. It is the purpose that makes the work of fighting through the trouble worthwhile and sustains their ability to continue moving forward to overcome adversity (Cherry, 2020).

10. Support

Having a support system in place when faced with difficulties is essential to building resilience. The emotional support offered by having additional associates help carry the load of mental/emotional burdens can make the adversity more manageable and easier to navigate.

Additionally, other workers or mentors can remind workers of their abilities and strengths which may help tap into the skills and inner strength they need to persevere. The support of others can also offer practical physical support and provision of resources and information that will aid you in overcoming the challenges they face (Barker, 2016).

Resilience is linked to so many other useful traits and qualities. In fostering resilience, one is able to foster the 10 traits mentioned in this article, and that in turn subsequently strengthens resilience.

Thus, an emphasis on continued growth within your company in any of these areas is sure to result in improved resilience bringing in a better ability to navigate through day-to-day work challenges.

References:

Barker, E. (2016, April 26). 10 ways to boost your emotional resilience, backed by research. Time. https://time.com/4306492/boost-emotional-resilience/

Cherry, K. (2020, January). Use these 10 tips to improve your resilience. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/ways-to-become-more-resilient-2795063

Waters, B. (2013, May 21). 10 traits of emotionally resilient people. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/design-your-path/201305/10-traits-emotionally-resilient-people

Tips for Keeping Employees Engaged During a Market Downturn

Keeping employees engaged remains a major concern for the organizations and specifically the Human resources (HR) department. Keeping high employee engagement levels remains a challenge for most employers. Surveys have observed that less than half of businesses believe that their employees are engaged in their work, and will make an additional effort to do the work. This indicates that most organizations require a lot of help in this matter. Most businesses think that less than two thirds of their employees are engaged in the work.

employee engagement

The immediate supervisors of the employee and leaders are the major factors affecting employee engagement. Some of the tips for managers which will help in keeping employees even during a downturn are listed below:

1. Employees are Assets
  • Employees should be considered as assets for the organization, not expenses and treated well. The leadership of the organization should be aware that if the employees are fully engaged in the work they do, they will add more value to the work they do. It is advisable to define the roles for each employee, define goals which are linked to the goals of their department, division or the entire company.
2. Employee Appreciation Culture
  • The organization should foster a culture of appreciating employees. The employees should be aware that they make a difference and help the business attain its targets and often exceed them. The employees should be informed about how their behavior is linked to the company goals and values using a strategically designed program for recognizing employee efforts. This program will show how the work done daily by the employee contributes to the achievement of company goals.
3. Employee Recognition
  • Improving performance by recognizing additional effort. If the employee is frequently and consistently recognized for his additional effort in the right way, it will result in a greater boost to the performance of the employee. It is observed that the return on investment (ROI) for a well designed recognition program is usually far more than the annual salary increased. The program rewards should be at least 1% of the payroll of the business. The organizations should reduce their annual increments to the lowest possible and encourage better performance from employees by implementing a suitable recognition program.
4. Open and Honest Communication
  • It is important to have an open and creative discussion with workers either face-to-face or in a group. For this, the supervisor should stop considering his own agenda and expertise and consider his subordinate(s) needs. This can help in increasing the engagement of teams since assumptions are questioned, different opinions are considered and problems are converted into opportunities
Employee Discussion Process

Some important considerations which should be discussed and documented after such discussions focus on the following:

– What are the problems which we are facing in this area?

– What are the reasons why we face these problems?

– What can the employee, team or our organization do to get a better result?

– What is the team or organization doing at present which is causing problems?

– If the problem is resolved, how would conditions improve?

After this, the information provided should be converted into plans which can be implemented.

Increasing the recognition of the employees, being involved with the employees, their problems and offering better opportunities for career growth can help improve employee engagement. Organizations with high engagement levels are more likely to be monitoring the engagement of the employees closely, recognizing better employee performance offering career growth. The workforce will also have leaders and supervisors who improve employee engagement.

Recruiting Engaged Employees

Need assistance recruiting engaged workers, call on Flexicrew or just pick our professionals‘ brain for creative ideas.

5 Paths to Raising Employee Productivity

Employee productivity is essential for a company to exist and move forward. If the employees do not accomplish their work tasks, then it harms the business. Sometimes there may be issues but it is important to have the employees understand the work rules, and stick to them. Nevertheless, there are some things that can be done to improve productivity in the workplace regardless of who the employee may be.

Here is a list of 5 ways to improve workplace productivity.

1. Set a Goal of Where the Company Needs To Be

A lot of times, if a person knows that his or her boss has expectations of how things should be in the workplace, they may feel a need to step up to the plate and give all of the effort that he or she can. No one wants to feel like they are a less valuable employee than the next person, so if the company is straightforward of how things should be, then a person will be more likely to put a bit more effort into what he or she does. Goals are something to strive for, and if a workplace has them in place, then the productivity will reach higher levels.

2. Good Communication

It is essential for a workplace to have good communication between employees and higher-ups. Communication is important regardless, but especially in the workplace. The communication should always be straightforward, and easy to understand. If communication is unclear, not only is it unprofessional, but it can also result in serious issues or even safety concerns. Communication should be fast as well. People should be told in advance about important things that he or she should know of. Communication should be consistent. It is not professional to keep employees unaware of some things, but communicate about others.

It is important to note that if communication is not a priority, then the work team risks not being very successful.

3. Support the Employee

A lot of times, if an employee just does not seem like himself, or is unusually unproductive, there is a reason behind it. If this is the case, it is wise to support the employee, and let him or her know that they have someone to talk to if they need it. Everyone wants to feel like they are needed, and if an employer shows that they value the employee by supporting them through a difficult time, then it will be greatly appreciated. Employees are a critical part of having a successful business, and if they are not in the right frame of mind, productivity will be down.

4. Recognize When an Employee Does Something Praiseworthy

As stated earlier, everyone wants to feel as though they are needed. If a supervisor tells the employee that he or she has done a good job and that their work is appreciated, it will go a long way. If a person notices that they are being praised for good work, it will motivate them to keep doing the best that they can, and will likely get them to try to become a better employee in the process. Everyone likes praise, and if it will help a person try to better themselves as a worker in the process then it is a win-win.

5. Establish SMART Goals

Either for ongoing project milestones or for directing individual employee work performance fix goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely). SMART goals are vital to achieving enhanced performance and more profitable outcomes.

Why Is All Of This Necessary?

If a company ever expects to have a highly productive workforce, then the steps above should be followed. If there are no goals, then there is no reason to strive to become better. If there is poor communication, then the workers will possibly leave and go somewhere where communication is more of a priority. If the employees are not supported by the employers, then they will not want to work for them anymore and go where they are respected. The same is true with employee appreciation. If a company does not get the basics right, then they are doomed from the start.

Conclusion

All in all, there are certain things that need to be done in order for workplace productivity to be high, and if these needs are not met, then there are big problems and things will need to change. If these needs are met however, then the company is on the right track and is headed towards success, as long as things stay consistent.

Flexicrew Staffing has the expert knowledge and resources to help you find the right candidates. Let us assist you in finding the right person for your small or midsize business.