The Business IDEA
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The Business IDEA
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The business world sometimes appears full of automatons. Working like a robot has the benefits of keeping an employee away from controversy, but the approach won't help someone wishing to get ahead. Standing out positively often leads people to success. How can you stand out under the bright light of excellence? Here are three ways traits that will help you to do just that.
Originality Innovators and originators can achieve more than copycats. Small Business Trends explains that a business professional who brings something new and exciting to the table could create a trend that reaps incredible profits. Look at Tony Hawk, the skateboarding entrepreneur. Skateboarding remained a popular subculture for decades and spawned many cottage industries. Hawk, however, took things in a new direction and devised a billion-dollar skateboarding empire. That said, originators will always deal with detractors. Great new ideas regularly face rejection. Radical and revolutionary ideas upset people stuck in a comfort zone. If you believe in your plans, don't let naysayers discourage you. Be flexible enough to withstand constructive criticism, and keep going forward to promote your ideas. Integrity Sadly, integrity isn't always the most common trait among people in the business world. So, someone with integrity garners attention. Honest workers and managers are an asset to a company and the entire business world. The idea of the corporate whistleblower typifies integrity. Meissner Associates says that finding out that the business you work for is engaging in fraudulent activity can put you in a tough position to decide if you should expose their wrongdoing, or do you remain silent. People with integrity usually make the right decision regarding whistleblowing. Let the image of the whistleblower be your guide. Selflessness The stereotype of business professionals focusing only on making money and selfish pursuits isn't always accurate. Unfortunately, many professionals do become self-absorbed and greedy. Would Bill Gates fall under that description? Microsoft's leader spent countless hours raising and donating money for charitable causes. While the average worker can't match Gates' monetary contributions, they can match his passion and attitude. Even doing "little things" for others could paint a tremendously positive picture of you. The London Business School recommends that you allow your standing in the business community act as a way of doing good things. Explore philanthropical endeavors, and don't always focus on personal gain. Others will notice your selflessness. Ironically, you may experience career success by putting others' needs ahead of your own. Success in the business world requires that you appear unique. Embracing endearing traits helps with this goal. Each individual has a set of personality strengths. Play to your strengths, and create the best quality work you can produce. Standing out requires more than fits and spurts of effort; apply yourself consistently in the workplace, and you will see good results. Want to learn more ways to make your business stand out and thrive? Check out more content like this from our Video Ideas for a Better Business Life!
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For many, the commute to work and back home represents a lot of wasted time. The longest average commute, each way, in the US is a little over 43 minutes in New York City. This adds up to over 9,000 hours a year spent sitting in a car or public transportation. However, your commute does not have to suck. Here are four ways to make your commute better and safer.
Use the Time to Learn Something It can be helpful to use all the time spent commuting to learn something. There is a wide range of podcasts and audiobooks to appeal to anyone. Whether you want to catch up on the daily news, discover what is happening in the world of tech, or explore developments in psychology, educational audio entertainment can not only make your commute seem shorter but also convert time that would have otherwise been wasted into productive time. Know the Blind Spots When you drive the same route every day, it can be easy to go into autopilot and neglect safe driving habits. However, safety is vital and the most important part of driving safely is knowing your blind spots. Commercial trucks have many blind spots and when driving, don't assume everyone will turn their heads. Knowing where the blind spots of your own car are and being aware that others may not always check their own blind spots can reduce the risk of accidents and make your commute safer. Plan Your Time One of the biggest stressors during a commute is running into unexpected traffic and being late for work. Allocating extra time for your drive can alleviate this stress and make your drive easier. Additionally, leaving earlier in the morning can sometimes mean fewer cars on the road, leading to a safer and more relaxing drive. There are even apps available that will notify you when the best time to leave is so you will hit the least amount of traffic during your drive. Disconnect from Your Phone A key part of driving safely is ensuring that there are little to no distractions in the car. Cell phones, however, are a major distraction while driving and can severely increase the risk of a crash. Disconnecting from your phone can make your drive more relaxing, but more importantly, it increases the safety of your drive. A commute, long or short, can be draining. No one likes to be in the car for a long time. However, with these tips in mind, you can make them safer and even enjoyable. If you’re looking for something to listen to while you drive, take a look at this article that includes some of the best ways you can set up your phone apps and car to listen to music and podcasts while you drive!
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Toxic employees drag everyone down with them. Bad attitudes and inappropriate conduct make other employees feel uncomfortable. Managers find themselves constantly distracted dealing with disasters these troubling hires cause. Firing them may put an end to current miseries, but the effects of toxic employees can linger long after they are shown the door. The best way to deal with toxic employees is not to hire them in the first place. Here are three ways to avoid making a regrettable hiring decision.
Look at Employment History Horrible employees likely have a long and dubious track record of poor performance. Look closely at an applicant's prior employment history for any red flags. Was the person locked into low-level work for years without any promotions? Did he/she jump from job to job frequently? According to Palmer Group, this can show that an employee could have a behavior issue. Probe these areas of concern, and see what the full story is. Taking the employee's word for everything might not be enough, though. Contact references and past employers to confirm any explanations. Remember, the past may be a good indicator of the employee's future. Put Them Through an Attitude Test Not every human resource department relies on an attitude test when screening would-be employees, but their inclusion could be helpful. According to The Hire Talent, attitude tests look for signs of toxic traits like blame, dishonesty, unsupportiveness, criticism, and negativity. Once these traits reveal themselves, a personnel manager can make a more informed decision. Hire someone to train HR in effectively administering an attitude test if no current managers possess the skill. In an office environment, teamwork can be crucial for success. If an attitude test reveals someone is argumentative or hostile, then he/she may not be the right match for the team. Look over the results of the test carefully when weighing different hiring choices. Anyone with toxic traits is not likely a good fit. Screen Social Media Feeds According to Law Depot, approximately 70 percent of employers screen a candidate’s social media when making hiring decisions. People reveal a lot about themselves on social media. Sadly, many show shockingly negative personality traits. Inappropriate or adversarial behavior on social media may spread to the workplace. Don't ignore how someone acts online; he or she probably acts that way everywhere. An employee becomes the face of a company to others. When that person acts outrageously on social media, he or she may drag the company into an embarrassing position. A business might even need to hire a PR firm to dig it out of an employee's social-media-created hole. Toxic employees create havoc wherever they go. Make sure you are confident you aren't hiring one the next time a position opens. By following these tips, you can be less likely to hire an employee that will cause you problems. Enjoy this article? Check out this other article on ways to increase your employees’ attention to detail!
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