Friendships in the Work Place

You probably spend most of your waking hours at work, so friendships are natural. Working together can easily turn co-workers into best friends, making jobs more enjoyable and the workplace a home away from home instead of a pit of boredom or an arena of stress.

But friendships need to be managed appropriately just like every other workplace relationship. Keep these tips in mind so neither your friendships nor your job are at risk:

• Limit social chatter. Everyone chats a little at work, but don’t let your friendly conversations overshadow your responsibilities. Stay focused on your job most of the time.

• Keep private issues private. When you have problems to discuss, do it over lunch or after work. You don’t want to make your co-workers privy to your personal dramas—and they probably don’t want to listen to them either.

• Avoid gossip. Most of us love to talk about other people, but keep your natural inclination to share rumors about co-workers or managers in check. If colleagues realize you’re gossiping about them, the backlash could be unpleasant.

• Don’t do each other’s jobs. Pitching in to help a friend in a crunch is admirable, but keep to a reasonable limit. Your manager is in charge of assignments and responsibilities, not you. You don’t want to spend so much time helping a friend do his or her job that you neglect your own.

• Include, don’t exclude. You may prefer the company of your friend, but don’t ignore the rest of your office. Invite other co-workers to lunch, and include them in your conversations so they don’t feel left out. You may even make new friends by expanding your circle at work.

Opening Up

Talking to your boss doesn’t have to be a scary experience. Most managers actually want their employees to feel comfortable asking questions and speaking up about problems, because they know that open communication is at the heart of a good working relationship. Overcome your fears by following this advice:

• Learn your boss’s priorities. You don’t want to bother your boss with something he or she sees as trivial. Find out your manager’s plans, goals, and major problems so you can choose what to talk about and what to deal with on your own.

• Get to the point. Managers want to talk, but they don’t want to waste time. Whether you’re writing an email or coming in for a meeting, decide what you need to say and lead off with that so both of you can quickly focus on what needs to be done.

• Present solutions, not problems. Don’t simply walk into your boss’s office with a problem and demand an answer. Figure out the best strategy and offer that as you discuss the situation. Your manager may or may not agree, but you’ll make a better impression if you come across as someone with initiative, not a complainer.

• Prepare to be flexible. Recognize that sometimes your boss is legitimately too busy to drop everything and talk. If the issue isn’t an emergency, ask for a good time to come back. You’ll show that you understand his or her responsibilities, and your boss will appreciate your willingness to wait.

• Commit to honesty. Don’t hide unpleasant facts, or tell your boss what you think he or she wants to hear. You’ll only waste time and lose your manager’s trust in the long run once the facts come out. You’ll win 

your manager’s respect by telling the truth, even when you disagree.

• Listen. Don’t expect to do all the talking. A good manager will listen, and you should show the same courtesy when your boss is speaking. Pay close attention, ask questions to confirm your understanding, and take notes as necessary to show you’re taking the boss’s instructions and perspective seriously.

Surprising Tips for work Success

In the world of work, there are some tips for success that might be obvious – and then there are those that are not so obvious, and in some cases might even sound decidedly bizarre, but the experts swear by them.

One unusual tip is to make sure that you have a messy desk that is cluttered with quality newspapers and paperwork. Apparently, truly busy people always have lots of paperwork to deal with while the really smart are always reading broadsheets. 

Another, perhaps more understandable, tip is to always remember to ask for a business card. Inform your new contact that you will send them an email upon returning to the office and then do so. The key to building credibility is to make sure you do precisely what you said you would. Your new contact finding that email waiting for them as you promised it would be puts you closer to building a degree of trust and furthering that relationship.

Beauty Tips for female travelers

Women traditionally have a lot more to worry about than men when it comes to traveling beauty issues, but the good news is that there are plenty of tips from female travelers that can help you to stay looking good while on the road.

One good tip is to store make-up somewhere that is cool and dry. Make-up, particularly lip-balm, actually melts in hot temperatures, so keeping it cool and dry in a humid environment is very important. Putting it in a fridge when you reach your destination can be a good idea; not only will it protect the make-up but when it is put on it can serve as a very refreshing face cooler too.

Another good tip is to streamline your wardrobe. It doesn’t matter if the same dress is worn for every party or you make use of the same combination of shorts, skirts and tops for several months as you are travelling to different places and so no one will know you have worn them before anyway.

Middle Managers Techiniques

Being in middle management is not an easy job. Middle managers are faced with challenges from both their subordinates and their superiors and long term success is generally achieved by being able to maintain a balance and manage stress. In order to manage other managers, middle managers need to adopt strategies and techniques that promote cooperation and collaboration.

Taking responsibility is vitally important. Establishing clear responsibilities and roles make sure that everybody in a business is aware of who is accountable and for what. This is a technique that prevents confusion, misunderstandings and stress. Creating comprehensive project plans, clear business goals and responsibility matrices directs the work and sets expectations. The most effective managers are able to set high standards and lead by example.

Building relationships is also vital. Effective middle managers are able to develop skills in influencing, decision making to solve problems and negotiation, techniques that help to build a successful management team.

The best results are enabled when managers avoid showing favoritism and establish good communication, as well as maintaining relationships and negotiations solutions in the event of office conflicts. 

Energy Tips For Hard-Working Parents

Being a parent is hard work, often stressful even in the midst of joy. And if you’re not careful, the pressure and pace can drain you of energy (and patience) when you need it most.

For stay-at-home moms and dads trying to keep it all together, here are tips for conserving your health, energy, and sanity:

• Always eat breakfast. A cup of coffee isn’t a meal. Eat a solid, nutritious breakfast to give you the energy you need to face the day.

• Follow a routine. Don’t reinvent the wheel every morning. Have a regular plan for your days with the family so you don’t stress out trying to think of something new to do. Just don’t chain yourself to the schedule—be flexible when problems and opportunities arise.

• Drink lots of water. You can get dehydrated without realizing it, and suffer from headaches and fatigue as a result. Keep a bottle of water handy and drink from it throughout the day without waiting until you feel really thirsty.

• Get fresh air and exercise. Try to get out of the house for a walk once a day. If the weather is too cold or rainy, at least open a window to get the air circulating in your house and in your body.

• Eat healthy snacks. Don’t run yourself down by starving between meals. Some fruit or a few nuts can help keep you going.

• Connect with people. Get together with some other parents for a playdate. Even a quick session on Facebook can help you feel like an adult again. You need mature conversation to stay centered.

• Take a break. Give yourself permission to let the kids watch a video for a half-hour. You’re not a bad parent for taking time for yourself.

• Get your rest. Have a regular bedtime for yourself, not just your kids. Getting the sleep you need will help you stay healthy and calm

Helping Kids Avoid Depression

Many teenagers suffer from depression, leading to eating disorders, self-harm and in some cases even suicide. The causes of depression in the young can be numerous, rangingemployment prospects, exam stress and family problems. In some cases however, depression is caused not by circumstance but by temperament and biology.

Academic pressure is also a big part of the problem in a world that seems obsessed with work. Adults can help children deal with this pressure by not adding to it. Make it clear that as long as your child does their best, the results are not something you care too much about. Tell your children that they are good enough just being who they are and never let others, be it their peers or teachers, define who they are as a human being. The most employable quality in the world is to have an individual mind, not to do well on an exam.

If your child is unhappy, accept it and validate it. Never tell them to just cheer up or refuse to accept the validity of their feelings. Make sure your children can tell you how they are really feeling, rather than have them keep it to themselves or feel guilty or ashamed about it, thus adding to their unhappiness. from cyber-bullying, grim 

Before Launching into Training. Address some Key Issues!

Training is vital to your employees’ professional and personal development and to your organization’s mission. To train employees effectively, though, you have to do some homework before you start. Here’s a checklist of questions to answer:

• Have you identified the specific training your employees need? “Internet training,” for example, is vague; “expertise in cutting-edge Web page design” is more concrete.

• Does everyone know what to expect? Employees need to know what they’re going to learn, and how it’s going to be taught. Both employees and supervisors need to understand what’s going to happen in the training sessions.

• Do you and other managers understand your role? When employees return from the training, you’ll need to find ways to let them exercise their new skills. Look for opportunities to help employees sharpen and stretch their knowledge.

• Do employees understand the importance of the training? If they see it as “nice to know,” they won’t be strongly motivated to put their new skills to work. If they understand how their increased knowledge will advance both the company’s goals and their own career prospects, they’ll be more committed to mastering the lessons.

• Do you know how you’ll measure the results of the training? You’ll have a much easier time getting support for your training programs if you can show how they’ll affect the bottom line. Work with trainers as well as your employees to match their new skills with specific objectives like “X percent increase in widgets produced per quarter,” or “Y percent more customers served per hour.”

• Does the rest of the organization know about the training? If your training benefits only your own department, you’ve lost a valuable opportunity. Let everyone in the organization know what your employees have learned and how their new skills can help others in the company

Teeth Whitening Tips

Everyone wants a bright white smile and the good news is that these days you can get one! Before starting on any teeth whitening regiment you should consult with a dentist to talk about all of the various different options that are available, as well as to make certain that your teeth are in the best condition to begin whitening.

It is also important to be patient. Not everybody will bleach at the same rate so it is crucial to not become disheartened if you do not get immediate results. Some systems might also take longer, so staying 

committed to the process and remaining consistent is invaluable.

Another good tip is to always use a gel. There are a lot of products out there in the marketplace that purport to have whitening results, but the reality is that a gel is the only one that will really be able to whiten beyond just surface stains.

Family Cooking Tips!

Cooking  is a necessity that can also be a chore, but it does not have to be that way. Cooking is also an art form in itself, and it can easily become a cherished family tradition. Teaching your children how to cook can prepare them for life emotionally, mentally, physically and even socially.

When teaching children how to cook the utmost priority has to be safety. Children should never be allowed to use scissors, knives or other sharp objects and they also need to be aware that food and objects can often get very hot and cause burns if handled incorrectly. Proper safety equipment such as utensils and hot pads should always be used.

It is also important to teach good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of germs while cooking. Teach your children to wash their hands using warm water and soap for a minimum of twenty seconds and discourage “double dipping” when cooking for other people.

Cooking lessons should be kept age appropriate, so that toddlers and very young children can learn to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while older, more experienced children can try their hands at something a little more difficult.

Keeping your lungs healthy

Healthy lungs are vital to our health and general well-being, but this essential organ is frequently inflicted with daily damage thanks to chemical exposure, smoking and second-hand smoking. Keeping your lungs healthy is one of the most important things you can do.

Respiratory illnesses such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma can be genetic, so if your family history includes any of these conditions, it is important to engage in preventative care as well as careful monitoring of any recurring or unusual health symptoms.

A chronic cough can be caused by acid reflux, which can then develop into heartburn. Chronic coughs should not be ignored as they can interrupt sleep patterns and in more severe cases result in light-headedness, vomiting and sometimes even broken ribs.

One in every three deaths from cancer would not take place if people did not smoke, according to the 2010 Surgeon General’s report. 90 percent of all men who die from lung cancer have smoked, and three thousand deaths every year are linked to second-hand smoke.

Tips for buying a New Lap Top!

It can be a challenging experience to purchase a new laptop computer given the number of options and choices that are available on the market. The way to make sure that you get the best laptop for your budget and needs is to identify and focus on the most important features and requirements.

One of the main factors to take into consideration when you want to buy a new laptop computer is exactly what you intend to use it for. Deciding this can help to clarify precisely what you need in terms of size, storage capacity, battery life, performance and weight.

Points to think about include whether you intend to use the computer away from home, in which case screen size and weight will be important factors, if you are likely to have to run various different 

programs simultaneously, in which case having another computing horsepower will be vital, and how frequently you will make use of the laptop when it is running solely on battery power.

Taking the time to really think about these factors can be of great assistance with making sure that you get the right laptop for you for the best price.

Helping Your Child Set and Achieve Goals

As adults we are constantly setting goals for ourselves – whether they have to do with what we need to get done for the day or week for our family or what we need to accomplish to reach a certain milestone in our lives. Setting goals is an important part of leading successful lives and this is something we need to share and instill in our children. We all want our children to have a leg up in life and to get ahead and teaching them to set and achieve goals is a certain way to provide them with that leg up.

As parents we must prepare our children, even at an early age, to be successful adults who contribute positively to society. In order to do so, there are five fundamental skills we must equip our children with. You don’t have to be an expert, let them learn from mistakes you’ve made in your own life along the way.

1

      .      Managing their personal finances - Nothing leads to stress and unhappiness quicker than financial problems. Teaching our children the value of money and how it is directly related to a happy and successful life.

2    .      Health – Personal health is another important aspect to leading a happy and fulfilling life. Teach your children to set and achieve goals directly related to their health and fitness.

3    .      Managing themselves – Staying motivated, having a positive attitude and mindset and taking control of their own future.

4   .      Getting along/Working with others – it’s impossible to go through life and not interact with others on some level. Working with your children at a young age to work well with others will contribute to making them more well-rounded adults. 

1   .      Getting and Staying Organized – Start with the toys in the playroom and build on that foundation of the importance of being organized and your child will carry this important life skill into adulthood.

Setting goals and achieving them requires setting goals in all of the areas above. Finally, your child is never too young to start working on these areas. Starting young will deeply instill these qualities into your child and help them to be successful adults.

It's National Home Office Safety and Security Week

If you work from home, take some time to check your workspace this week for safety hazards. Eliminate clutter, practice fire readiness, talk to your family about security and privacy, and take any necessary steps to prevent accidents and injuries in your home office.

Encouraging Your Child to Play Outside in the Winter Months

Playing in the snow is a childhood past time that nearly every child looks forward to. The anticipation of building a snow man or ice fort is enough to drag any child away from the television or video game console, even for a few hours. But how can you encourage your child to get up and out without the lure of the fluffy white stuff? It’s actually not as difficult as you may think.

There are plenty of activities that can get your child off the couch and outside even when the weather is less than ideal. Of course the first step is to make sure he or she is dressed properly for the elements. Next, pick an activity to do and head out the door. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

There are plenty of activities that can get your child off the couch and outside even when the weather is less than ideal. Of course the first step is to make sure he or she is dressed properly for the elements. Next, pick an activity to do and head out the door. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

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      *Winter time makes slim pickins for birds and squirrels. Have your child help you mix nuts, bird seed and even fruit together with peanut butter (crunchy peanut butter adds an extra treat for the animals). You can also use cooking oil to hold it all together if your child wants to save the peanut butter for lunch. When you have the mixture just as you want it, pour it into a paper cup and let it freeze. Once it’s ready, let your child put it on a dish and set it outside to watch the animals enjoy.

     *You can create a nice decoration by collecting pine cones with your child and putting them in a basket. Add a pretty ribbon or bow for a little extra touch.

      * Scavenger hunts are another fun outdoor activity for winter. Pine cones, leaves left over from fall and even types of wildlife are great things to look for.

The only limit is your creativity – once you get your child used to the idea that getting outside even in the winter is fun, you’ll soon find that you have plenty of ideas to keep them entertained and amused.