5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity in the Workplace

5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity in the Workplace5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity in the WorkplaceAre you interested in mora ways to increase your productivity at work? In the first part of the interview with Jason Womack, executive coach and author of the book, Your Best Just Got Better Work Smarter, Think Bigger, Make More (Wiley),he offered eight tips to increase your work performance. Interview With Jason Womack About How to Improve Your Productivity In this continuation of that interview, Jason provides additional insights into how to increase your productivity at work. Susan Heathfield In a workplace environment, what are the three-five most performance inhibiting factors? Jason Womack I call them the sins of an unproductive day. Here are five sins. 1. Lie. Okay, this is step one Tell the truth. Most people say yes too often, and they say yes to things that arent exactly on course for where they are going, or whats important to them. Of course, its not always appare nt on the front side.But over time, and with practice, you can begin to ask was that worth it? to whatever it was that you just did, where you went, who you talked to, the meeting you attended, the business trip you went on, the class you attended - the list goes on.When people lie and say they can (or cant) do something when they intuitively know they shouldnt (or should) do it, they compromise their focus, integrity, and power. Stop it. Get focused on where youre going. Up-level your Social Network (more on that later) and move in a direction that is on course for your talents, interests, and strengths. 2. Keep working after youre done. Call whats done- done. You probably have a project or task that youre done working on, but you havent marked it as complete because you think youll have more time to work on it later. You wont.Out of the 20, 40, 100 things that youre managing right now (that is, the events, projects, and deliverables youre responsible for over the next 1-6 months), there might be 10 percent that youre actually not going to do anything more about or on. Good.Tell someone, anyone, and if you need to, pass on the as-much-as-youre-gonna-do task to someone who wants to do more. Otherwise move on. 3. Wishing things were different. At the water cooler. In the line at coffee. On the subway. Over dinner. These are the places where people talking about things theyre not willing to do anything about.Wishing (or worse, complaining) that things were different is perhaps the greatest sin of the worker, manager, entrepreneur or senior executive. The Pareto Principle exists to remind us that (approximately) 80 percent of our results come from 20 percent of our assets.Study the 20 percent and identify what you could address that would have the biggest impact on your productivity and performance. Ill share some ideas below if you want a place to start, focus on the 2 out of 10 people in your social network (not your social media network, thats something diff erent) who are moving forward and willing to mind map strategies for success with you. That 20 percent focus, may just change 80 percent of how things are. Thats how you make things different. 4. Hope to remember. Ok, this is the starting point for inefficiency, ineffectiveness and under-performing. I frequently ask people, When you have an idea here for something to do there, how do you get that into your system?When someone says, Oh, I just remember to do it, I worry. No, I dont think people cant remember, I worry that while they are busy remembering one thing through the day, they may not have the opening to notice something else that passes their periphery.You see, if youre so full of remembering what you need to do later, you wont want to take in/on anything new. No new ideas, no new reading, no new conversations, no new media, no new meetings.But, in the new is where you see the difference. And, when you start doing things differently- or, as Steve Jobs said, think different- the opening occurs. We have the opportunity to engage at another, higher, level. 5. Thinking you should already know what to do. In a weird way, the educational system that most of you experienced is actually setting employees up for failure during your first few years on the job. Students spend years working alone, doing homework at home, taking tests on their own, sitting quietly in a classroom as teachers lecture about the topic of study.Then, they enter the workforce. Immediately, collaboration is king. I believe in the power of thinking- yes, we need to be able to do deep, integrative, developmental thinking on our own- and, I know that people move further and faster when they work together. The moment I get the intuitive thought that I should know better or I should know how to do something already, thats my cue to raise my hand and ask for help (or, send a tweet or status update, asking for help). Heathfield In your book, you present a number of frameworks for how an individ ual can review the week, the month, and the year to improve productivity and performance. You are suggesting that a regular pattern for assessing productivity is important to establish. Can you tell us more about how this is helpful and what you recommend? Womack A weekly debrief is just a good all-around idea. Thursdays, mid-afternoon, look back on the week and ask yourself How did I do? What did I do? Where did I do it? Who did I do it with? The most important part of this activity is not just that you are doing it. The most important part is what you do when a thought about the past triggers a thought about what should happen.- what you should do, where you should go, who you need to meet with, and so forth- in the future. In the Stanford commencement speech by Steve Jobs that regained popularity just after his death, Steve said something that Ive been promoting for years In hindsight, we can connect dots. If our work, our world, our lives are always spent simply trying to get th rough the day, and into the next week, the next meeting, the next event, we lose the perspective that the review gives us. Look back, check it out, learn and use those experiences to build something that naturally comes next. You can use ansicht ideas for increasing productivity to help you increase your focus and identify whats really important to accomplish each day, week, month. Just thinking about your everyday actions will bring forth ideas that could change your world- for the better. More Related to Improving Your Productivity Achieve Your Dreams 6 Steps to Accomplish Your Goals and ResolutionsCreate Your Personal Vision StatementTake Responsibility for Your Life

History of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars

History of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign WarsHistory of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign WarsThe Veterans of Foreign Wars(VFW) and the American Legion organizations are thetwo best known veterans associations for U.S. military veterans. They have done a large amount of good not only for veterans but for society as a whole for over100 years. After you have honorably served in the military, you are classified as a Veteran. Being a veteran has its perks whether you are retired military or not. Easy access to home loans, education benefits, veteran group insurance programs, and many other organizations allow the returning veteran better assimilate into civilian society. The American Legion The American Legion (sometimes referred to as The Legion) began after World War I as a group of twenty officers who served in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France. The AEF Headquarters had asked these officers to suggest ideas on how to improve troop morale. One office r, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (eldest son of the 26th President), made the proposal of an organization of veterans. In February 1919, this group formed a temporary committee and selected several hundred officers who had the confidence and respect of the whole army. The following month, about 1000 officers and enlisted men attended the first organizational meeting, known as the Paris Caucus.At this meeting, the group adopted a temporary constitution and the name The American Legion. The American Legion welches chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help war-time veterans organization and the first American Legion post in the United States was General John Joseph Pershing Post Number 1 in Washington, D.C., organized on March 7, 1919. Since then, the American Legion has evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States - the American Legion is a community-service organization w hich now numbers over 2.4 million in 14,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines. Eligibility for American Legion membership is limited to those honorably discharged veterans and current personnel of the United States Army, Navy, seestreitkraft Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force who served at least one day of active duty during any of the following periods World War I April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918World War II December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946 (except that for the U.S. Merchant Marine eligibility dates are December 7, 1941, to August 16, 1945)Korean War June 25, 1950, to January 31, 1955Vietnam War February 28, 1961, to May 7, 19751982 Lebanon War and Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada) August 24, 1982, to July 31, 1984Operation Just Cause (Panama) December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990Gulf War/ War On Terror (Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Oper ation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom) August 2, 1990, to today The Veterans of Foreign Wars The VFWs forefathers were two smaller veterans groups that started in 1899 when to two veterans organizations, the American Veterans of Foreign Service and the National Society of the Army of the Philippines merged to form the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1914. unterstellung first veterans groups were formed as local organizations after the Spanish American Wars and Philippine Insurrectionto secure veterans rights and benefits for their service, as many had arrived home wounded or sick. In those days, there was no Veterans Administration care or pensions for medically retired. These organizations enabled veterans to care for and help each other with the transition from the battlefield to normal life. The first VFW chapters were formed in Colorado, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.Of the three posts that claim to be the first, the VFW national organization recognizes the Denver Post as being first it is now officially VFW Post 1. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000 by 1936, when it became a government-chartered non-profit organization, membership was almost 200,000. Today, membership stands at around 1.4 million (though, National membership in VFWs has fallen from 1.8 million in 2004). To be a member of the VFW, the individual must be a U.S. citizen or national with an honorable discharge from the U.S. military, or currently serving in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard. Membership also requires military service overseas during an einzelschritt or conflict and decoration with an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a campaign medal (or ribbon). This requirement is the major difference between the two organizations. Both the American Legion and the VFW have extended beyond the realm of simply being veterans helping fellow veterans - from their beginnings of providing financial, social, and emotional support to members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans, and their dependents, and being leaders in community involvement in such areas as mentoring youth groups, helping in community food kitchens, and volunteering in blood drives, and other civic voluntarism(to give a few examples).

Career Path Definition With Examples

Career Path Definition With ExamplesCareer Path Definition With ExamplesA career path is composed of a sequence of jobs that make up your career plan. Career paths and career plans may sound like the same thing, but theyre not. Acareer planincludes short-term or long-term goals leading to an ideal career, while a career path specifically includes the jobs that step an individual towards his or her goals and objectives. Curious about how a career path works? The first thing to know is that while it includes the jobs, youll need to hit your ultimate career goal, a career path doesnt need to be a straight line. Theres no blueprint or timetable for climbing the career ladder. Your career path will be as individual as you are. You may take a very different route than your colleagues and wind up in the same spot. Whats Included in a Career Path Career paths traditionally imply vertical growth or advancement to higher level positions, but they can also entail zur seite hin gelegen movem ent within or across industries. And each path can be slightly different for each person, depending on how long you need to take to get to your goals, or if you change your goals along the way. At the heart of a career path is the fact that youll be changing jobs from time to time. The average personchanges jobs 10 to 15 times during their careerand sometimes those changes will involve different types of positions in different industries. Some career paths have a few ups and downs and, in fact, some people even plan a move down the career ladder. For example, people who are midlife-career changers may need to go down a level or two from where they were, so they can get the training and experience they need to move back up the ladder. Whichever way a career path takes someone, its designed to provide increased satisfaction of a workerscareer valuesand needs by targeting a series of jobs designed to get them to his or her career goal. Job satisfaction is one major key to a happy and l ong career. Organizational Career paths are sometimes part of the employee development processes within organizations. In this case, an employee and a supervisor or Human Resources representative discuss the career development of the worker within the context of their organization. It may occur as part of theperformance appraisalprocess and takes into account the interests, knowledge, and skills of the employee. Additional education, training or work assignments may be planned as mechanisms to qualify employees for subsequent roles within their career path. In many cases, an individual will develop and actualize a career path without the cooperation of their employer. These workers will engage in the career exploration process independently or with the assistance of a career counselor, mentor or personal advisor. Examples It can help to review examples of career paths for a variety of different career fields. Keep in mind that some career paths are direct and include specifi c jobs that move an individual up the career ladder and are typically followed in order. Other career paths are indirect and may involve work in different industries or types of jobs, such as when someone isworking on a career change. AdministrationAdministrative Assistant - Executive Assistant - Office ManagerAdvertisingAdvertising Account Coordinator - Assistant Account Executive - Account Executive - Major Account ExecutiveCommunicationsPublic Relations Assistant - Public Relations Representative - Assistant Director of Public Relations - Director of CommunicationsCustomer Services / SalesCustomer Service Representative - Inside Salesperson - Outside Salesperson - Major Account Salesperson - Regional Sales ManagerDevelopmentDevelopment Assistant - Annual Giving Officer - Development Associate - Major Gift Officer - Leadership Giving Officer - Associate Director of Leadership Gifts EditorialEditorial Assistant - Assistant Editor - Associate Editor - Editor - Senior Editor - Editor ial DirectorEducationTeacher - Master Teacher - Curriculum Coordinator - Assistant Principal - PrincipalEducation to TrainingTeacher - Insurance Salesperson - Trainer for New AgentsEngineeringJunior Engineer - Senior Engineer - Project Manager - Engineering ConsultantEntrepreneurSalesperson - Sales Manager - geschftliches miteinander OwnerHuman ResourcesHuman Resources Assistant - Interviewer - Benefits Assistant - Benefits Specialist - Assistant Director of Human Resources - Director of Human Resources RetailRetail Sales Clerk - Assistant Manager - Department Manager - Store Manager - Regional ManagerSales to MarketingSalesperson - MBA - Assistant Brand Manager - Brand Manager - Group Manager - Marketing Director Tips for Finding Your Career Path Always Be LearningTodays job market moves quickly. To keep up, you need to be prepared to add to yourskill set constantly. Not sure which skills are most in demand in your industry? Take a look at the LinkedIn profiles of your peers e specially those who have the next job above yours. Youll learn whichhardandsoft skillsyoull need to advance.Pay Attention to Industry NewsWhat will your job be like in five years or 10? No one knows for sure, but if you keep up with the news, youll get a sense of theoccupational outlookfor your job and which employers are likely to remain in the game. Network, Network, NetworkNetworkingisnt just for job seekers. Connecting with your peers can help you identify whole new directions for your career even if youre not interested in job hopping at the moment.Make Plans (But Be Flexible)Dont hold too tightly to your career plan when developing your career path. Be open to opportunity and keep your ultimate goals in mind. Whats important to you? What do you enjoy about your job and career and what would you prefer to minimize at your next gig? Be Ready for a Career Shift. Perhaps your working in a declining industry or simple tired of working at the same old thing for what seems like a long time. It may be time to considering making over your career, and moving in a different direction.Dont Be Afraid of a Lateral MoveSometimes, you need to move sideways (or even backward) to get ahead. If a job offers you a chance to develop skills or connections that will be valuable later on, feel free to consider a lateral move.