Unresponsive Managers What Message Are You Sending to Employees

Unresponsive Managers â€" What Message Are You Sending to Employees Great managers are masters of multi-tasking, communicating with team members while inspiring achievement and delivering results. However, there’s often that ONE manager who never responds to your emails or phone calls. Now, I’m not referring to the C-level executive who is rarely seen around the office because he or she is busy running the company. I’m talking about that person in middle management, who oversees a team of employees and claims their “door is always open.” Of course, when you do eventually speak with them, they’ll tell you how busy they are. But the next time this manager requests something of you, try using that excuse and see how well it works. The truth is, we’re ALL busy, but some managers use this as an excuse for poor communication skills. While non-managerial workers have no choice but to juggle multiple responsibilities while responding promptly when something is asked of them, there’s always the occasional manager who chooses not to respond to anyone in a lower pay bracket, simply because their title allows it. So what message does this send to employees? We all know that actions speak louder than words. Perhaps unresponsive managers aren’t aware of how their actions may be perceived by their subordinates. Let’s take a look at some of these perceptions. Do As I Say, Not As I Do It’s hard for a manager to build trust when he or she expects one thing of team members but practices another. If a manager’s actions say, “When I need something, I expect you to jump, but when you need something, I’ll only respond if I have nothing better to do,” it sets a double standard that sends a message of hypocrisy and distrust. It also sets a poor example for employees in terms of responding to clients or coworkers. A Culture of Disrespect When a manager regularly ignores an employee’s emails or calls, it tells the employee that their request isn’t important enough to warrant a response. Respect is a two-way street â€" in order to get it, one must give it. The quickest way for a manager to lose employees’ respect (or never gain it in the first place) is to treat them like they don’t matter. The Kiss-Up Many times, when a manager is too busy to respond to an employee, if they’re contacted by someone in a senior role, their schedule miraculously clears like rain clouds on a summer day. Those managers who clearly are only willing to devote a few minutes to those of equal or higher stature at the company appear self-serving by not taking the time to respond to anyone unable to advance their career. Communication Breakdown One of the most basic requirements for every job is good communication skills. It appears on every job description ever written, right next to “detail-oriented” and “ability to multi-task.” What kind of precedent is set for employees when the person in charge of managing their team can’t handle the most basic skills requirement? Just because an individual holds a managerial role doesn’t mean they should forget the basics. Poor Employee Experience Much has been written lately about the importance of candidate experience. It’s currently a candidate’s market, and employers who ignore candidates or treat them with apathy or indifference during the job application process will soon find them working elsewhere. But what about after they’re hired? Should a good candidate experience turn into a bad employee experience? It’s important for managers to treat employees well for the exact same reason it’s important for hiring managers to treat candidates well. If they don’t, they can expect their top talent to transition to competitor companies. While we’re all busy at work, managers are often busier than the rest, as their role includes being responsible for their team’s work as well as their own. However, with the increased respect and higher pay comes an elevated level of responsibility â€" to lead by example. Most employees can name at least one manager who taught them, inspired them and helped shape their career. While neglecting to respond to employees’ communication doesn’t necessarily make for a bad manager, it sends an important message â€" one lacking in respect, prioritization and time management. When this behavior becomes routine, it could result in strained working relationships, employee disengagement, and high turnover. So a word of advice to managers â€" your communication with employees speaks volumes…literally.

3 Must-Dos in Bootstrapping Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Must-Dos in Bootstrapping Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Harness the power of your personal brand in your business endeavors by removing those self-imposed obstacles that we all create.   1. Forget trying to convince anyone of anything A man convinced against his willis of the same opinion still! Every week I receive a phone call or an email from a misguided entrepreneur who wants me to teach them how to convince people to buy my service.   I cant do that. I wont do that. I dont believe in it. Any parent of a teenager knows its impossible to convince someone of something.   You have to let people convince themselves.   After all, the prospective client has their hand on their wallet.  You dont.   The prospective client is in charge of what happens. You arent. You can control the structure the framework- of a conversation but the prospective client is in charge of what happens. People want to be respected for the ability to make a decision that is right for them. Heres an idea approach every prospective client conversation from the standpoint that what you do may not be a match for what they need.   Please do not discount the incredible power of this approach!   It will affect your tone of voice, your phrasing, and the questions you ask.   You can even say, Im not sure if what I do is gong to match what you are looking for.   Why dont we talk for a few minutes and figure this out together? Ive said this nearly word-for-word hundreds of times. Does it create a sense of relief that you dont have to try to convince someone to hire you?   Do you notice how it shifts your focus from making a sale, to finding out if there is a match between their need and your service? Approach each conversation with the idea that you are exploring whether there is a fit or not.   If there is not a fit with this prospective client at this time, you leave the door wide open for the opportunity to work together when the timing is better. If you are hired, your new client will trust you even more.   With the rapport you have built, if you are not hired right away, you will still be trusted, and remembered.   Rapport leads to referrals whether your prospective clients hire you or not.   What more could you ask for? 2. Remove the need to connect with anybody, everybody, and somebody Your niche is not who buys your service thats your Choice (or Target) Client. So, what is a niche? Your niche is the heart of what you do.   Its the core result you deliver to your clients.   Its your core deliverable or your unique promise of value.   For example, my core deliverable my niche is creating community around your brand.   Its not a fancy tag line.   It doesnt even say who I deliver my service to.   However,  it is at the heart of what I do. Are you asking yourself, So just what IS a Core Deliverable?!   There are many ways to think about your core deliverable. They all add up to the same thing.   Your Core Deliverable is the: Heart of what you do Overarching result your client experiences Bottom Line of what your client receives Common thread running through each of your services. A client once called asking for me to coach her on finding her niche.   She told me, I have three different services I offer.   I feel divided amongst all of them.   I want to feel more cohesive in my offer.   I listened to her describe the three services   The common thread running through them was she provides information.   In discussing this, she found that she doesnt do three different things -she does the same thingthree different ways!   So, she found what she really did was predict who is going to buy her clients service and why.   She finally found her niche her Core Deliverable. 3. Make a decision Where ever you are right now, today, is not the result of a goal, its the result of a decision. A decision is not a goal.   A goal is to have two children the decision is to  have  children in the first place.  A goal is to earn five million dollars the decision is to work for yourself.   A goal is to contact ten prospective clients each week the decision is the use of telephone calls as a marketing strategy. Do you see the difference between the goal and a decision?   The decision has to come first.   A lot of people skip that step and go straight to setting goals. This is a costly mistake. If you havent made a clearly defined decision, then how do you know which goals to choose? How would you know which action steps to take?   You dont.   They gamble their most precious commodity their time- and waste it on this-or-that marketing effort, branding or promotion without any real, consistent results to show for it.   It doesnt take long to become frustrated and begin losing confidence in yourself. A decision is a real conscious choice, not just a wish, a desire or a dream.   Just like the reason youre here today is because of a decision you made in the past.   The decision you make today will impact your life in many positive ways in the future. A decision has the power of cutting off all possibility except to what you have committed to do! Heres to success-filled choices! Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of  buzz2bucksâ€"  a word of mouth marketing firm, and a professional speaker and trainer on developing social networks that work. She provides workshops, webinars, seminars and direct services that help create conversation, connection, credibility, community and commerce around your brand.   Maria Duron is founder  and moderator of  #brandchat   a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of  branding  that is recognized by Mashable as one the 15 Essential Twitter Chats for Social Media Marketers. Are you busy? Here’s some quick and easy tips on  Social Marketing for busy people.

Sexism, Jill Abramsons Firing, and How it Impacts Your Workplace

Sexism, Jill Abramsons Firing, and How it Impacts Your Workplace What happened at the New York Times and what it means for all professionals. What happened at the New York Times and what it means for all professionals. Sometimes the news tells you what you already know, especially when its what you experience every single day. On Wednesday,   New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson was abrutly ousted  by publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., leaving  the logic behind her removal up for speculation. Of course, as many Ms. Career Girl readers know well, workplace sexism and harrasment is all too common, and the truth is that if it happens in your office, theres no reason it couldnt happen in the office of the most trusted news organization in the country. So What Do We Take From This? Unfortunately, it seems that the answer is: very little.  As with all employment disputes, theres no such thing as just one cause and we may never know the truth. But in your office, you may still realize that glass ceiling is constantly raised two inches higher, one inch  back. Not all office politics are gender-related, but even today, many of them still are. As a man, Ill admit that most of the time its not even intentional, its institutionalized. This is why the Jill Abramson story is so important to career women and to all professionals. Its causing us to ask questions and forcing the conversation to be had, which is the only way progress will ever be made. For more background information watch this video. Got a story of office sexism? Recount it in the comments or write us on Twitter.

How To Market Your Beauty Based Business

How To Market Your Beauty Based Business There are many women out there that love to look beautiful, and some men too, so if you’re in the business of beauty you want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to reach the people that are going to want to use your services and buy your products. Whether you’re an Avon lady or you own your own chain of salons, the way to make money and make your business grow is through marketing. When it comes to beauty businesses there are some great places you should be reaching out to when it comes to marketing. Of course, this will somewhat depend on your business (since you wouldn’t want to be trying to get your competition to carry your products). Here are some ways to get the word out about what your beauty business has to offer.  Get Online If your business doesn’t have an online presence, you’re missing out on a lot of good, cheap (and often free), advertising. Set up a dot com and post your products and services on there so that people can see them. Get on social media and set up accounts linked to your business. Social media is a great place to reach people of all ages and all types. It always you to find more clients and customers around the globe. It also lets you get on a more personal level with those people so that they can feel like you’re more than just another business to them. Go To Salons  If you sell products, from hair care to makeup, you may want to take your products to your local (or not so local) salons and see if they are interested in carrying some of your products to use and to sell to the people they use them on. You might even end up with an exclusive contract with a local vendor if you have something they really like. This type of partnership lets you get your products out there while having someone else do the marketing and promotions for you, in a way. Although, you will still want to let people know they can get your stuff at those particular places.  Hit Up Trade Shows  You may also want to take your products or samples of your services to trade shows in your field. Big events like New York’s Fashion Week can be ideal for skin care, hair care, and makeup businesses. Maybe there is a salon trade show you can attend with your products as well. Do the research and make sure you’re not missing out on opportunities to tell people about what you have to offer. If your city has business expos of any kind you might want to consider getting a booth at those as well. This lets you meet other businesses, as well as the people that might want to frequent them, and your business as well.

10 Career Experts Share Their 2018 Baby Boomer Predictions - Career Pivot

10 Career Experts Share Their 2018 Baby Boomer Predictions - Career Pivot 2018 Baby Boomer Predictions It is January of 2018 and it is time to look to some experts for their predictions and prognostications for the coming year. You can look back at the predictions and prognostications by a many of the same experts last year in the post10 Career Experts Share Their 2017 Baby Boomer Predictions. How did we do? Let’s get started. 10 Expert Predictions for 2018 Skill and experience will be highly valued … Chris Farrell, Author ofUnretirement: How Baby Boomers are Changing the Way We Think About Work, Community, and the Good Life LinkedIn: Chris Farrell Skill and experience will be highly valued by employers in 2018. That’s the message in the low unemployment rate. The business press is running story after story with senior management complaining about the lack of qualified workers. Yes, age discrimination is real and still exists. But the current economic environment gives that experienced worker more leverage with employers. If my prediction that the tight job market will continue in 2018 is right, my recommendation is to take advantage of the market to negotiate your next stage. Want to work part-time? Your employer will probably listen. Thinking about changing careers? Do it now when managers are eager to hire. This year is a good year to take a risk for your next chapter. Diversity-at-work Conversation … Marci Alboher, VP Encore.org and author of The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life Twitter:@heymarci Age will start becoming a part of the ‘diversity-at-work’ conversation. And employers will start to tout age-diverse, multigenerational workplaces and teams as a selling point when recruiting. This trend will take hold first in the nonprofit sector and around mission-focused work, but will eventually leak into all corners of the economy. In the gig economy, employers very seldom worry about someone being “overqualified” … Susan Joyce,NETability, Inc. LinkedIn: Susan Joyce In the gig economy, employers very seldom worry about someone being “overqualified” or the other concerns they often have when considering hiring a Boomer for a “permanent” job. When I was laid off from my last corporate job in 1994, an outplacement counselor shared very wise advice with those of us who were “older” (40’s and above) which I’ve seen to be true: While employers are often uneasy hiring a new employee who has gray hair, they are often very comfortable hiring a consultant or temporary employee who has gray hair. Gray hair on a consultant signals experience, wisdom, and skill. Remote/Virtual work can be a viable option in 2018 … Richard Eisenberg,PBS Next Avenue Twitter:@richeis315 Remote/virtual work can be a viable option in 2018. It’s much easier to find opportunities through sites like Flexjobs.com and Remote.co. And employers are increasingly looking for ways to get the work done without hiring full-time, on-premises employees, which makes them more likely to offer work remotely or virtually. But job seekers must understand that some of these jobs don’t pay extraordinarily well. And some types of jobs are far more suitable for working remotely or virtually than others. More people aged 65 or older are working now than in the last 55 years … Brie Reynolds, Flexjobs Twitter: @BrieWReynolds Baby Boomers should keep this in mind for 2018: More people aged 65 or older are working now than in the last 55 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What’s the lesson here? For anyone in the second half of life looking for work and wondering if it’s even possibleâ€"it clearly is! Look how many people are doing it already. Whether it’s full-time or part-time work, employee or freelance/gig jobs, finding work that fits your needs and your life is entirely possible. Use resources like Career Pivot and FlexJobs to help you find your way. And as Marc says, find people who look, smell, and taste like you (aka, other boomers!) who are working, and get the inside scoop on how they made it happen. The key word is ‘intermediation’ … Neil Patrick,Neil Patrick Associates Twitter:@NewCareerGuru The gig economy has been widely vilified in 2017, mostly for low pay and exploitative employment practices. The key word is ‘intermediation’. Surrendering ourselves to someone else’s intermediation enables the exploitative parts of the gig economy to function. Where someone else (Uber, Airbnb, Fiverr etc) owns and controls our access to their market, workers can be exploited and are pretty much powerless to negotiate terms. On the other hand, people who control their own routes to market have the power to determine their own terms of engagement. They determine the price they charge; which gigs they accept or decline. The gig economy is now a thing. Whether it is a good thing or a bad thing for each of us depends entirely on whether we have figured out how to make it work to our advantage. Boomers will successfully find employment by convincing young interviewers … TobyHaberkorn, Author ofBest Job Search Tips for Age 60-Plus LinkedIn: Toby Haberkorn In 2018, I predict that many Boomers will successfully find employment by convincing young interviewers that they have up-to-date experience, high energy to manage the workload and, of course, have a cheerful can-do attitude. In addition, Boomers will also give examples of positive experiences working with younger employees, who may have been their colleagues or managers. By being able to show successful collaboration with this younger workforce, Boomers will significantly increase their chances of being hired and fitting into the company culture. Baby Boomers will attract employers who see their resilience and persistence … Mark Anthony Dyson,The Voice of Job Seekers LinkedIn: Mark Anthony Dyson Baby Boomers will attract employers who see their resilience and persistence as a major asset to their company, especially those who embrace technology. Baby Boomers know how to ride the economic roller coaster and find timeless suggestions, solutions, and tactics to long-term problems. Regardless of where they’re working, Boomers need to adopt the mindset of a consultant … John Tarnoff,Reinvention Group LLC and author ofBoomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50? LinkedIn: John Tarnoff Jobs are going away, little by little. The concept of long-term employment that we grew up with is being replaced by more freelance work, aka, the “gig economy.” Regardless of where they’re working, Boomers need to adopt the mindset of a consultant, delivering value to a client vs. as an employee taking direction from a manager. In 2018, many Baby Boomers will leave their full-time jobs and go back to work … Phyllis Mufson,Catalyst for Personal Professional Growth LinkedIn: Phyllis Mufson In 2018, many Baby Boomers will leave their full-time jobs and go right back to work. They’ll want to use their skills and also to put off the time they’ll be drawing on their retirement savings. However; they want more flexibility and free time. In my community with many older residents, I see many ‘retirees’ working, sometimes into their 80’s. New retirees will build their own solutions from such examples as my neighbor, a retired college professor who taught online classes in her field. As she ages, she’s cut back to one class a semester. A retired social worker watches over several elderly people, visiting weekly, monitoring their care, and reporting to their families. Or, a retired nurse who works sporadically on a healthcare hotline between travels. My Prediction 2018 will be the year that companies will have to look at older candidates … Marc Miller, Career Pivot LinkedIn: Marc Miller 2018 will be the year that companies will have to look at older candidates to fill vital positions. It is the combination of retiring Baby Boomers, the opioid epidemic, reduced birth rates and restrictions on immigration that will require companies to expand their hiring practices in a very tight job market. So what do you think? Write a comment below with your Baby Boomer predictions for 2018. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Niche Work! How An Alternative Business Idea Can Get You Ahead

Niche Work! How An Alternative Business Idea Can Get You Ahead The best way to get ahead in any business is to carve out a niche for yourself in the market. You might think that the fundamentals of a great business will give you the knowledge to take over any market, no matter how oversaturated it is, but this is something that can take years, decades even. So, the best approach for anybody who is looking to get their foot up onto the business ladder is to carve out a specific niche for themselves. But when it comes to carving out a niche, are there any areas that have remained untapped, and if youre struggling for a way to begin a niche business, what do you need to do? Always Research The Markets Its not difficult, but for you to come up with a solid business idea that is left of center, you need to put in the legwork as far as researching the markets are concerned. This can take some time to get right, but by establishing a need for a specific product, no matter how mainstream, but then implementing a niche approach to this product, this could be what secures an area of the market for you. Theres always a way around something. Bold Ideas Work Its the one way to get yourself noticed. The boulder the idea, the more its going to stand out. Look at the article How to Start a Dispensary, its all about setting up a marijuana shop! 5 years ago, this would have been unheard of, but now, with demands for medical marijuana, the idea of a marijuana shop as a profitable business venture is pretty much commonplace now. Never be afraid to go for the most absurd of ideas, because there will always be a market for them. Think about the loneliness and the fear of missing out people have now, especially millennials, there are businesses that provide friendship and companionship for those people. Its just catering to a specific need in the market, but its a unique idea. Align The Employees With Your Vision The final piece of the puzzle isnt just about having a unique idea, but its about having the business sense to hire employees who fit your company vision. If you are setting up a business that has never had mainstream success, you cant hire a typical employee. These niche businesses require niche employees. But while you might think they are harder to find, those people are out there, and they will do a lot more for your business than a run-of-the-mill employee. Its a simple enough solution to gain a place in the market but being original and unique is incredibly difficult. It can take years to hit upon the right idea, but when it comes to looking at whats in the market and coming up with a new slant, this is not just a great way to gain custom, but its a great way to learn common business sense. Generating niche business ideas is always going to take a while to get off the ground, but once you find a niche idea that has enough momentum, this could be your permanent place in the market.

Writing a Resume on a MacBook

Writing a Resume on a MacBookWriting a resume on a MacBook doesn't have to be hard. If you want to work from your computer, with ease and without any fuss, then this is a great way to do it. When you are making a resume on a MacBook, you should get the most out of the device.Get as many screen shots as possible. The more screen shots you have of your best assets, the easier it will be for you to write. Take time to take pictures of every aspect of your work history that you can. Take pictures of your work-in-progress, and those of each job that you've done. Have a photo of the promotion announcement that you've received with your job application, or of your last promotion, to give yourself a better chance of getting an interview.If you're going to send a resume on a MacBook, make sure it comes in a clean file. Open it in Word or Open Office, and before saving it, scan it for any grammatical errors. If you're unsure of the grammar rules in the application, make sure you have someone l ook at it. It's okay to ask for someone's opinion on it if you're unsure.Be sure that there are no spelling mistakes, misspellings, or anything else with money information in the resume. There is a lot of money data in resumes, so you want to make sure it is all spelled right. When you're sending a resume on a MacBook, you're going to be doing most of your work online. The Internet can help you, but don't forget to double check it. It's important to do so to avoid having a badly formatted resume for the hiring manager.Include as much financial information as you can. By including this information, you are saying that you have the ability to keep yourself financially secure and successful. Most recruiters will also take this into consideration when they review resumes. Your financial information can be anything from income history to loans and credit lines.Take a professional approach when you're writing your resume. Try not to write on a first-name basis. You're going to be using yo ur initials, so avoid putting your full name in the beginning of your resume. When you use your full name, you can also put a career objective statement as well. This can tell the hiring manager a little bit about what you're looking for in a job.Prepare your resume before you start writing it. Take out everything that you aren't going to use. Check the grammar of your resume to make sure that you haven't forgotten anything. Make sure you're going over it several times before you print it out.Writing a resume on a MacBook is easier than you think. If you make the effort to get it all done, it's very likely that you will get a better-looking resume, and you will be more likely to get an interview than you would otherwise.