In High School, we all remember the social stats and social order of people.  You had the popular crowd (usually consisting of the jocks, cheerleaders, etc.) who generally were prom king and queen, the nerds (like Bill Gates), skaters, preps, and other various social groups.  Some people or groups disliked other groups such as the popular crowd because they didn’t “fit in.”  This social environment is very similar to the world of politics (who you know and can impress to get in this elite group).

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As time goes on and we grow up and get into the working world, this politics concept doesn’t go away as most people think.  Yes we become more mature, older, and such, but the underlying social values are still there (especially in corporate America).  You have to learn to play the Corporate Politics Game if you want to advance.

In this social game (if you will) you have to impress and make friends (kissing ass or not) with the right people such as managers, directors, CEO’s etc.  Think about it, in your company, do the CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, etc. know and interact with each other as friends.  They probably all have each other’s phone numbers, know about each others kids and family life, and maybe even regularly go out for lunch or a drink after work.  Do you really think they would appoint someone who they didn’t like or know to a high level officer or managerial position, even if they were qualified for the position?  Truth is, NO!!

In this game the first step is to GET KNOWN by higher management!  Start by getting your foot in the door by introducing yourself, showing interest in other things, going above and beyond in your work, and actively participating in other parts of the company besides your job.  Next, develop a relationship with these people; find something in common with them that you can talk about i.e. sports, family, etc.  After this relationship is made, they will be more willing to hear your thoughts, so engage them in work related problems, ways to improve processes, cost reduction, etc.  This order of events will earn you a positive outlook in their eyes and show that you care about the company and your work.  When future opportunities arise (promotions) you will be now included in the candidate mix and even have a better chance at advancing.

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Where I live (Reno, NV.) people would take this thought as going to the casino and putting $100 down at the craps table once a month.  But what I mean by this post is that in order to be successful and gain a competitive advantage over others, you have to take a chance (gamble) once in a while.  But, taking a chance can also be detrimental and cause more bad than good in some cases, which is a risk you have to be willing to take.

Everyone has their comfort zone that they enjoy staying in and rarely venture out of.  For instance, everyone has their job that they do on a day-to-day basis, and never really look at the process of it or other departments that also associate with the same work.  But if you take a chance, and go above and beyond to take on additional work, work on a special project, or try to improve the efficiency of process, and are successful with the solution, then you will open up more doors for yourself.

Taking a chance is simply going out of your way to do something that is out of your ordinary comfort zone to achieve something for your betterment.  Doing this does not always work though and can backfire.  Just like gambling, you can either win big or lose big, but you have to take that risk to get ahead.  You can’t win by not playing.  Take a chance, set your mind to doing something that will not only better yourself, but also others or the company you work for.  More often than not, at least trying is better than not trying at all.

Recently, I have blogged about leadership and positive management, and how to better yourself and motivate others in a leadership/management role.  But managing others is not all happy-go-lucky all the time.  Just like raising children, when managing others you have to be cold and stern at times.

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People are so different from one another and respond differently to types of management styles.  Some people are self-starters and can do things on their own, while others have to be micro-managed.  Some people only react to fear-based management while some would prefer positive reenforcement.

But no matter what, managers are faced with tough decisions that they have to make on a regular basis.  That is why they are managers/supervisors and are in charge of others.  Sometimes you are faced with making decisions for layoffs, budget cuts, salary cuts, new directions, etc.  All of these responsibilities come with the job and it is not always easy.  The biggest thing to remember though is that you must stand by and believe in your decision.

A manager cannot be passive and submissive because others will walk all over them.  They must learn to make the decisions on their own (may include other’s thoughts and ideas) and not have someone make it for them.  A good manager/leader can get the job done quickly and efficiently, and sometimes that requires force.  If you can master this part of managing, you can earn the respect of others as a person who can get things done and is not afraid to speak their mind.  You may not gain friendship in this manner, and as you advance to higher positions with more power, you will find that your circle of friends and close ones will become less and less.

Simply put, Have A Backbone, and don’t be afraid of managing others.  Then utilize your leadership and motivational skills to influence people to worker harder.  In any situation you must first show that you are in charge, then you can apply leadership techniques.

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When you meet people for the first time they develop a first impression of you.  This impression will be a basis for how they perceive your actions and thoughts.  But as time goes on, these actions are followed by reactions and results that earn you a reputation that is known by others.  This reputation is a more permanent impression that is linked to you, and very hard to undo or change if it is negative and easy to lose if it is positive, so MAKE IT GOOD!!

A Reputation is defined by Dictionary.com as the “overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general within a community.”  TakeToyota for example, they have had a lasting reputation for making “quality” vehicles that last with little maintenance at a great value.  It took a simple instance like the recent recall of floor mats that were not fitted to the correct vehicles which would make the gas pedal stick.  Years of a good reputation were lost in an instant, and it will take a while for Toyota to gain that back.

On the opposing view, if you have earned yourself a negative reputation, for example, the “late person” it is very hard to rid yourself of that perception from others.  Even if you are on-time every day for two weeks, people will still remember how you were late in the beginning.  In order to change your reputation, you have to regain the trust from others by being persistently and consistently on-time to everything.  Just one slip up will bring the negative reputation back and you will have to start from ground zero all over again.

In all aspects of your life, not just work related, make a great first impression, develop a good lasting reputation, maintain that reputation, and show others that you care and are a major asset to the organization and its culture.

We are all feeling the current economic recession, whether you are in America or not.  People are spending less because they are making less, others are losing their jobs and homes, and the economy just isn’t as strong as it was a couple of years ago.  No one can deny that this economic recession was a major “hit in the balls”for most people.

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With companies cutting back and people losing their jobs, those lucky enough to remain have to pick up the slack.  Often times with no compensation, monetary reward, or even intrinsic reward.  Bosses (Supervisors and Managers mainly) simply expect the jobs to get done at the same pace, with the same quality, just with less human capital.  The phrase “Do more with less” is the current view of management, but what they don’t realize is that it comes with a cost.  The cost of poor worker satisfaction, increased stress, decreased employee loyalty and trust, and a major decrease in motivation.  Now I don’t know about you, but these are some of the most important costs that a company shouldn’t have.

Companies know that since unemployment rates are so high, it is an employer’s market and it is easy for them to find applicants to replace just about anyone.  Managers and supervisors are turning toward a fear based style of management, using statistics to rate their performance and determine if they should replace employees or not.  No one wants to lose their job, but likewise no one wants to work at a job that they hate coming to.

It is as simple as offering a little positivity and encouragement to employees. Instead of constantly badgering employees to do more work quicker and with fewer errors, instill some motivation in them by offering a positive comment or praise them for what they have done well.  Employees are always told that they are not doing enough,  but rather phrase it in a way that is more positive. I.E. “John, thanks for all you do.  You are one of the hardest workers, and I have a special task that I want you to do.  Do you think you could also…” Phrasing it in this manner not only makes John feel better about his work and what he is doing, but will also feel special that you specifically want him to do a task, and he will be motivated to do it.

Change the way you manage and motivate others.  A positive comment or piece of encouragement doesn’t have to come from management, but it can come from employees, each other, and complete strangers.  Next time you see a janitor cleaning a bathroom, just say thank you for what they do.  “Pay It Forward” with a little positive encouragement once in a while.  You never know, it might make you feel better as well.

Have you ever tried to do something on a whim and realized halfway through you don’t have everything you need to complete it?  Do you ever start to make dinner without knowing that you have all of the ingredients?  Do you start changing the oil in your car without knowing what oil filter you have, what type of oil the car takes, or how much of it you need?

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The same goes for the working world.  Whenever you begin a task, work on a project, or hold a meeting.  You need to always effectively and efficiently utilize your resources with anything you do.  Although keep in mind that your resources will be vastly different from other people’s resources, which brings to mind another benefit to working in teams and groups.  Resources can range from financial advantages to networks of people, and personal education to real world experience.

Whenever you are in the working environment, you are never left without resources.  This is why I don’t fully understand the reasoning behind memorization tests in school.  You won’t find a boss who wants you to work on a project and says “Oh, and do it without the internet, other people, or books.”  You are given every opportunity to utilize what you have to complete your work with the best possible outcome.

Your resources are the focal point of what you do.  They can give you information when you don’t know something, lend a hand when you need extra help,  and even give you advice when you are lost.  But resources are not always available and are constantly changing, so you also have to maintain them.  You need to keep in touch with people and build and maintain relationships so that they are not lost.  Financial resources can vary and change over time, so you need to keep a close watch to know where they lie.  All resources are valuable and personal to us all, so MAKE THEM, MAINTAIN THEM, and UTILIZE THEM!!

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We have all had one those days where things just don’t seem to go right.  Sometimes you have to deal with hard customers or coworkers, things keep going wrong with your new project, or no one can help you find out an answer that you need.  Whatever the case may be, just know that there are some things you can do to prevent yourself from getting frustrated and angry with EVERYTHING, and jeopardize you relationships with others and your JOB.  Here are three tips to kill your anger and save your job:

1. Take a Break   Often times you need to just get away from what you are doing and just relax and cool off.  It is better to not think about everything and to just go to a mental happy place to give your mind some rest.  Get a drink, some food, or go someplace peaceful to calm down and return with a fresh new start and state of mind.
2. Talk to Someone   Keeping your problems and things that are bothering you bottled up inside is self-destructive.  Find a friend, co-worker, or someone you can talk to that can empathize with you and offer some encouraging advice.  Often times, you are so filled with rage that it can cloud your judgement and perception, so talking it out with someone else can help you relate to the situation and come up with a constructive solution.
3. Laugh it Off   There are also times by coincidence where you end up getting all the bad ducks in a row.  At that point transfer you anger into laughter and realize that it can be funny just how crazy things can get at times.  Make fun of the problems you have and try to turn it into a challenge to complete, or a game on what you think could happen next.  Know that the day won’t last forever, and things will eventually get better.

Now following these tips won’t eliminate your problems, but rather provide you with a better state of mind to deal with them.  Everyone has different ways of calming down and coping with their problem, so just do what works best for you.  Feel free to comment on what you do on days like this.

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Punctuality is important when attending an event, going to the airport, picking your kids up from school, or even going to work.  We as Americans place a great deal of importance to being on-time because “time is money.”  We are accustomed to the thought that when someone says they will be there at a certain time, we expect them there no later.

But what about the people who are consistently late or barely on time (especially me)?  Is someone considered being late if they arrive right on the minute rather than early?  What if something comes up and you have to be late?  Truth is, TOO BAD.  Most of the time, people will be agitated that you are late regardless of your excuse, and overtime, if this is a consistent occurrence, people will categorize and label you as “the person who is always late.”  This goes along with my earlier post on perception and what people think of you.

Especially in America, being known as a person who is always on time is a great thing to have, but at what expense?  People will do just about anything to beat that time clock whether it is not eating breakfast, skipping the morning shower, driving 100 mph on the freeway, or running through parking lots to get to your destination on time.  The question you have to ask yourself is “Is it really worth it?” Is it worth that speeding ticket, bad hygiene for the day, or the hunger for the entire morning?

Being late once in a while isn’t a bad thing, because everyone knows that things happen.  But being late on a consistent basis IS a bad thing because you will get labeled for it, judged because of it, not asked to do things, and even written up or fired from your job because of it.

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There are so many different ways to learn, teach, and interact with others in and outside an organization.  In most jobs today, people are usually given some sort of guidelines to do a certain job or task and are often given some sort of training.  But what is the best way to train someone?

Usually the training protocols of a job are predetermined by the Human Resources (HR) department or by the hiring manager.  It can be based on the actual job, experience, and department.  Sometimes the training is not always as effective as it could be, but I would have to say that almost everyone learns by trial and error (the hands on approach) and doing things themselves.  Some of the best training I believe is on-the-job training so you can relate real experiences that you will encounter.

Other ways of training include:

• Online Training – Training via use of computer software to teach employees how to do things or provide information virtually.
• On-the-Job Training- Training in real-time, where you learn how to do a task, and get to actually do it in the actual environment (hands-on).
• Self Training- Training where you are given some guidelines (i.e a handbook) on how to do a job and you teach yourself by trial and error and learn what works and what doesn’t.

No matter what kind of training someone receives, people often add their own twist or way of doing things that makes it easier, more efficient, or better for them to get the job done.   Just remember that everyone is different and they learn differently.  Give guidelines on how to do a job and the outcome you want, and let them develop their own unique way of getting to the desired result.

 

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It seems as though most people today think on a micro rather than a macro level.  Managers, supervisors, and employees alike all focus on the here and now rather than the there and later.  How many people do you know that come to work each and every day to do their job and go home, nothing more?  They simply do what they need to get by and when the clock hits 5:00p.m. they are GONE!!

The big-ticket way of thinking for a company is to think conceptually.  Most high level officers think this way and grasp the big picture concept, but this way of thinking doesn’t flow downward too far.  According to Hofstede’s research dimensions, American’s are very high on individualism and low on collectivism.  This means that usually in American culture,  ”The high Individualism (IDV) ranking for the United States indicates a society with a more individualistic attitude and relatively loose bonds with others. The populace is more self-reliant and looks out for themselves and their close family members.”

Especially for managers and supervisors, thinking conceptually is required to be successful.  Those that can get their employees to think and believe this way (the bigger picture) will increase employee satisfaction, possibly turnover and attendance rates, and will improve trust in the company, managers, and each other.  If each person/employee believes that their job is important no matter how big or small, that they are important to the company, and that their job adds value to its success, then a company will be extremely successful and effective.

 

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We are all not just born to be a leader as some may think.  Just as we are all not born a tennis pro, or a race car driver, or even a teacher.  Instead we are born with certain physical attributes that may accent the personalities we develop through socialization within our environment.  We are who we are today because of the social environment that we grow up in, the events that occur throughout our lives, and the traits we are born with.

 

Great leaders are also good followers.  Anyone who only gives orders and never listens to anyone is called a dictator.  You have to learn the qualities and attributes of being both a leader and a follower in order to know what people want.  Empathy is one of the greatest qualities a person can have to capture who their audience is and what they need.  Being a follower first allows you to walk the walk with those believe in a cause.  You get to see why they follow their leader, and what that person offers to them.  Only then can you begin to relate your unique strengths and qualities to become a good leader.

The same qualities and experience are directly transferred to management.  The difference is that when you are a leader, your followers choose to follow you because they like what your offer them and they believe in you.  A manager on the other hand, is generally appointed to their position, and their followers (employees) have to follow them because of rules rather than trust or belief in their manager.

This is why there are many BAD managers, and some great leaders that are not managers.  A great leader can be a great manager, as long as you have three main skill sets: Technical Skills, Conceptual Skills, and Human Relation Skills. Mastering these skills and utilizing them as a great leader in management is the perfect combination for success.

 

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First impressions are very important to get right.  In the first 30 seconds or less when you meet someone, they develop a first impression of you that they will last for a while.   It can be a determining factor for getting a job, a promotion, making new friends, or developing new relationships.

 

First impressions contrary to what you may think are not just when you meet someone for the first time.  They are also associated with new actions or perceptions that are happening for the first time as well.  People will develop a first impression on your punctuality, loyalty, ability, benevolence, trustworthiness, etc.

You always have to be on your guard and give a good first impression with everything you do.   Work hard to develop these impressions at the start, and it will pay off and become easier later on.  When you boss asks you to work overtime or late to help them on a project, do it.  You will then develop an impression of a hard worker and be thought of first when special assignments come up or a promotion in the future.

But not only do you need to develop a good first impression, but also develop a true impression.  No one can fake or lie about who they are; eventually everyone’s true colors show at some point or another.  Develop an impression of who you are and one that you can stay true to.  Don’t develop a fake impression that you are a benevolent person, and then later use people as a stepping stone for your own personal achievement.  That is the quickest way to lose the trust of your employees and co-workers, and gaining that trust back is one of the hardest things to do, if not impossible.

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Whether you are at school doing a research paper with a team, at work in a group doing a project, or at the park on a soccer team playing in a tournament, everyone has a role and a task that needs to be completed in order to make the group succeed as a whole.  As we all have heard at one time or another, “There is no I in team.”

This is true whenever we as humans work in a group, team, or even when associating with others.  We we born to work and survive in groups and communicate with one another.  Being in a group has many benefits that include:

1) Diverse People and Different Ideas- We all come from different       backgrounds and have different views and opinions which can be beneficial when in a group.  Different ideas can lead to solving problems and approaching things in different and better ways.

2) Dividing Workload Based on Strengths- Each person has different strengths and weaknesses.  When in a group, you can divide up work according to each individual’s strengths to better utilize talents.  Also, you can have others help when dealing with a weakness of another.

3) Improved Quality of Work- When working in a group, each member must contribute their part for the success of the whole.  No one wants to be the person who lets the whole group/team lose or fail.  Being in a group allows members to hold each other accountable for their work, which can add to increased productivity and a better quality of work.

Even though there are many benefits and advantages to being, there are also some disadvantages.  Making sure that everyone gets their part done sufficiently and on time can prove to be a hassle.  Also, everyone has different schedules and coming together for meetings can be troublesome and difficult.  When you are in a group, you must put you time and effort into your work and give make time for your group members.  It is a team effort, but if everyone tries their best to contribute, a group can be extremely successful.

 

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Our network of people we know is constantly growing and shrinking at the same time, but why is this?  Because every day we meet new people, make new friends, but at the same time lose touch with others, and quit talking to long-lost friends.  We also meet new people that we don’t really like, and it does not have to be a casual encounter, but it could be a stranger that hit on your girlfriend, or someone who cut you off on the freeway etc., and these people become your enemy.

 

Most people have friends, fun people to hang out with, and best friends, and most of all we all have enemies or those that we dislike.  This is true in relation to not only our personal lives, but work lives as well.  The best advice that I can offer is to keep all of them close to you, your good friends that will be there for you when you need them to, and your enemies, who will stab your back as soon as you turn around.

Especially in the work environment, your enemies can turn on you and make things hard for you if you let them.  The tides are always turning, and you never know what will happen, they could get promoted and become your boss, or you could be required to be trained by them, etc.  Whatever the case, at work, be professional, and get the job done as a TEAM!  When work is over, you can forget them and go along with your life, but at work, you are there for your company and its customers.

In your personal environment, be the bigger person and offer peace or neutrality, because drawing too much attention to a negative behavior just isn’t good for anyone.  Spending too much attention to dislike or even hate someone is just wasted time and energy.  Focus more on the positive and good parts about life, and influence others to become better people.

 

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In today’s world, everything is fast paced from the meals we eat, time spent at work, and even using DVR to fast-forward through TV commercials at home.  The advancement of technology is the core of capitalism and keeps it running freely.  But the advancement of technology also makes our lives more stressful and fast-paced.

 

We all should take a break once in a while and just relax, take a vacation, or just allow some time for yourself to just do nothing and worry about nothing. Time management is one of the most important ways to successfully operate in today’s world.  Saving things until the last-minute and rushing to do it at the end is not a good start.  I am notorious for being a procrastinator, even though it usually gets done, but I add a high level of stress to myself as a side-effect.  I usually am rushing to get to where I am going because I like to sleep in, and often times I am still late.

I am not the best at time management skills, but I make sure that I do get things done on time (with no regard to my self well-being).  I will pull all nighters, go the extra mile, and utilize all my resources to get the job done.  I am not sure if I can even operate without stress present, but this is not always a good thing.

Time management skills are necessary when delegating tasks to others, when due dates are present, or when trying to get somewhere on time.  Take me as a perfect example of bad time management skills.  I am currently working on these skills, but if you have mastered them, you most likely  have a lot less short-term stress.  If you have any tips for me, feel free to comment.