How to Say No at Work

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with too much to do at work? I certainly have. Nowadays many companies expect their employees to do more work in less time. Here is the paradox of work. The better you get at your job, the more people will ask you to do. In other words, your boss will give you more responsibilities if he/she sees that you can handle the smaller projects. You will get to the point where your ability to finish all your work by the deadline will be next to impossible. So what is the solution? You can stay overtime and work weekends. This is a good temporary solution but this is not something you should do all the time because it leads to burnout. The simple solution is to learn to say no.

Most employees can’t say no because they want to please everyone, fear they might lose their job or not be seen as a team player. Saying yes to everything can actually damage your reputation and hurt your career.

Take time to think before committing to a new project, and before you say no, consider the ramifications.  Before you say no, spell out your current responsibilities and ask your boss to help you prioritize. Your goal is to let your boss know that you are not trying to make excuses why you can’t take on the project, but you want to be honest, realistic and upfront. After you have provided your reasons why you can’t take on the new project, proposed a solution or an alternative. This will show your boss that you genuinely want to help and you are providing a few options.

So saying no is not that bad after all. You might find out that people will respect you more when they know that you are not afraid to decline a request.

7 Tips to Deal With Email

Email. What used to be one of the ‘best new inventions’ of the modern world has now become a monster that can eat up your time, frustrate you immensely and even infect your computer. Yes, it’s still an excellent way to communicate but with all the crap that comes through email these days it almost seems like it would be easier to just send smoke signals.

But there is help. Below you’ll find 7 ways to help you deal with your email and turn it back to the light side of the force. Use these tips and soon you’ll have your email monster tamed and maybe even look forward to looking in your ‘inbox’ again.

1) Don’t be a slave to your inbox.  If you check your mail every time you hear that ‘ding’ you’re going to kill your productivity. Unless you’re waiting for something extremely urgent checking once an hour is probably fine.

2) Responding immediately is not always a good idea. Again, unless it’s urgent responding within 2 hours is acceptable. Besides, if you always respond right away people will start to expect that.

3) Ask for and be clear in your email messages. If you know what people need and they know what you need you will spend a lot less time going back and forth with innumerable emails.

4) Know how your email program of choice works.  Most of them have excellent time-saving features that never get used because nobody takes the time to read about them.  D’oh!

5) Going away?  Set phasers to ‘kill email’. If you don’t want to return from vacation with a mountain of email use an auto-responder to let people know you’re away and when you’ll be back and delete their emails automatically.

6) Learn how to use your email program’s search function.  Let’s face it, wading through a shipload of emails trying to find one bit of info is for monkeys. Using the search option will save you a lot of valuable time.

7) Know how to use your email’s Spam controls. They’re different for every program but essential if you don’t want to waste half of your day looking at ads for penis enlargement pills.

There you go.  7 great tips for helping you break the email beast. If you even use half of them you will see an immediate difference in your inbox and a reduction in time wasted. Now if you’ll just stop playing Farmville all day on FaceBook you might even get some stuff done.

7 Tips for Coping With a Job You Hate

Almost all of us have been there at one point in our lives or another; the job from hell. Whether it’s a boss that is more dim than a broken light bulb or co-workers who bug you like ants at a picnic, there are times in your life when you’ll be stuck with a job that you just abhor and you have no other choice but to sit there and take it.

Or do you?  I mean, a crummy job isn’t exactly the end of the world, and sometimes there are things to be learned even from the worst of them. So if you’re temporarily stuck with job that’s like a bad joke, read on and find out about 7 Tips for coping with it and keeping your sanity.

Tip 1 – Remember that this isn’t the last job you’ll ever have. You won’t be there forever, and even if you are there’s always the possibility that your boss will get hit by falling space debris.

Tip 2 – Primal scream therapy is good for the soul, and if you have a sock puppet that you can yell at while pretending it’s the boss all the better. Just don’t do it at work, especially if you need to take off your socks.

Tip 3 – When you get home at night do NOT talk about work. Ever. Work life and home life should never mix.

Tip 4 – Take a break during the day to do something stupid and wasteful, if only for 10 minutes. Watch a dumb video, or draw a picture of your cubicle mate being eaten by a T-Rex. Fun!

Tip 5 – Stay positive and work hard, even if you hate yourself for it.  You never know if what you do now will pay-off in the future and a glowing review from this job could land you a much better job down the road with a boss that doesn’t remind you of a feral pig.

Tip 6 – Have something to look forward to after work, so that you at least know that when your day is done something you enjoy awaits. Working out, getting together with friends, or drinking until you’re goofy all work just fine. (Just don’t drink and drive.)

Tip 7 – Keep your sense of humor. Studies suggest that having a sense of humor will help you cope with many situations in life.

If you can do these things you will definitely survive any job, no matter how boring, bland, or irksome your boss and co-workers may be.  Best of luck.

Top 3 Ways Get Along With the Boss

Unless you work for yourself or run your own business there will always be one person that you have in your life who will be very important; your boss. No matter what you do, whether it’s digging ditches or rocket science, your boss is the man or woman who will ultimately help you or hinder you in your career. Getting along with your boss is thus very important and can mean the difference between loving your job and being promoted and praised and dreading going to work every morning.

There are many different things you can and should do to nurture your relationship with any boss that you may have, but the following 3 will help you the most.

1. Remember that your boss, no matter how old they are or how much (or little) experience they have, is human just like you and makes mistakes just like you. The trick is to never point out those mistakes in front of others, and if you do find the need to point them out make sure you do it with a lot of tact. If you can fix their mistake first and then point it out to them tactfully you will make a strong ally with them which may come in very handy at promotion time.

2. Praise your boss when they do something excellent (or even just OK), but don’t overdo it. Everyone likes to hear that what they have done is appreciated and bosses are no different, but on the other hand nobody like’s an ask-kisser, at least not for very long.  Your boss probably got to where they are by being very astute, and they will know right away if you’re the king of BS or really giving praise because you mean it.

3. Ask your boss how you’re doing and what it is that they think you can do better. There isn’t a boss in the world that won’t be impressed by this because it takes real initiative to ask this question and nearly nobody does it. If your boss points out something make sure to get on it and change it (if possible) and let them know in a subtle but firm way that you did. If they point out something they like make sure to keep doing it and do it more often if you can.

Bonus- Dis-agreeing with your boss is OK but never in front of other people unless you’re dead sure that you are 100% correct and the boss will agree with you. If you do need to disagree with something they said or did do it in private and, as I mentioned above, and do it very tactfully.

If you can follow these rules and tips you are sure to get ahead and, one day, maybe even be the boss yourself.  When you get there make sure to be a good, fair boss and treat your people the way you liked to be treated when you were just a worker-bee. Good luck!

4 Ways to Impress Your New Company

I work for a large organization that hires a lot of people throughout the year. I always make it a point to introduce myself to our new hires on their first day. There are several hiring managers besides me so sometimes it will be the first time I am meeting this person. I pay close attention to these first encounters because it allows me to form an impression of the new hire. For better or worse, this first encounter does make a lasting impact on how I view this individual for the rest of the time they are with the company. First impressions are crucial and will go a long way in ensuring your success with your new job. Below are some of the things you must do if you want to be view positively by people you will be working with.

1. Be on time.

I know this is a simple one and most people will heed this advise. If you are late on your first day, it sends up a red flag because I think you will be habitually late for not only work but meetings. You can’t afford to be late if you’re going to make a good impression on your first day. Punctuality is classy. Being late for meetings is disrespecting your colleagues because you are telling them that you don’t value their time. Unless you have a legitimate reason, there is no excuse to be late on your first day at the job.

2. Dress nice.

How you look on your first day DOES matter. You should never underestimate the importance of dressing professionally on your first day. This is not the day to put on your faded jeans and ripped t-shirt even if you are working at a Silicon Valley start-up. At the same time you don’t want to overdress for the job. For example, if no one at the company wears a suit and you come walking in with a suit, it will be awkward. Wear something that will make you feel professional and confident. During the interview, observe how other people dress. This will give you clues on what the dress code is at the company. If your unique style of dress is beyond the norm of the company culture, I suggest you leave that outfit at home until people get to know you better. In most cases the workplace is not the setting to express your individuality so quickly. Let them initially form an impression of your work rather than your taste in fashion. It is always prudent to play it safe than to be labeled as an outcast on your first day.

3. Be on your best behavior.

Office etiquette is very important. You need to be polite and courteous the entire time in order to make a good first impression. When you are introduced to someone for the first time, smile and give a firm handshake. I can’t tell you how many times I have shaken a new person’s hand that is less than firm and confident. Do make an effort to remember each person’s name. My trick it to jot down on a notebook the person’s name after I am introduced to them. When you remember someone’s name that you have met for the first time, it is viewed favorably. No one expects you to know everyone’s names by the end of the day, but do try. It is the details in life that counts. Smile and relax. Be positive and show them how excited you are to be part of this organization.

4. Ask questions.

Do more listening than talking. Good communications does not necessarily mean speaking all the time. Ask as many questions as you can and take good notes. When you ask good questions, it shows you are paying attention and interested in the job. On your first few days at work you will be bombarded by lots of new information. When I am explaining something and I don’t see the new person taking notes, it sends a red flag that I will have to explain it again sometime in the future. I might even tell them that it is important information and they should take notes.

How to Quit Your Job in a Professional Manner

At my current company we have a very big team. Almost every month someone is quitting to pursue another opportunity or for personal reasons. Sometimes we are forced to let someone go because of their performance. The way you quit a job should always be handled in a professional manner even if you think you will never see these people again. Your first impression and your last impression are how your colleagues and bosses will remember you. No matter what your reason is for quitting your job you need to do so in a polite and professional manner without burning bridges.

1. Give appropriate notice

Depending on your company’s policy the standard is usually two weeks. Two weeks is the bare minimum you should give your employer. As a courtesy to your employer, you should give up to four weeks. This demonstrates that you care about making sure that the transition is smooth. I can tell you that bosses really appreciate this. I understand if you cannot give more than two weeks because the other job wants you to start right away. Again, depending on company policy, you might need to write a resignation letter to hand to your boss.

2. Do not slack off

It is really tempting to just goof off once you give notice. I say you should do the opposite. You should work as hard as you did when you first joined the company. Show your boss and colleagues you have integrity by working hard until the day you leave. This will ensure you leave with a very good reputation as a team player and a conscientious worker. They will be sad to see you go.

3. Be courteous and professional

Your attitude towards your colleagues, subordinates and bosses are very important during the last few weeks at the job. Avoid bragging about your new job. This will only make your colleagues unhappy and resent you. The reality of the business world is that you must leave on good terms no matter what you think of your bosses and colleagues. Know that you have a very short period of time in which to remain here. In today’s world, you need to keep all of your relationships healthy. When you are leaving one job for another, it is especially important that you demonstrate respect for you staff, your co-workers, and your boss in particular.

4. Ensure the transition goes smoothly

Do everything you can to help out the next person who will be taking over your responsibilities. This might require you to put in extra time or devote more effort to help train someone to take over your job. Do your best to complete your projects, tasks and assignments before you leave. Before quitting, prepare an email or document detailing the status of all your unfinished projects and include instructions for completion. Prepare useful notes for your replacement. Be available to answer questions that may arise after you leave.

5. Tie up loose ends

Every time I leave a job, I make sure to tie up any loose ends such as deleting personal stuff from my work computer. Return any company property you have – including keys, documents, computers, phones, and anything else that doesn’t belong to you. Take the time to thank employees who have worked with you. Send personal notes to those who have helped you along the way or have been important to you while there. Don’t forget to say goodbye to your colleagues and let them know how they can reach you in the future.

6. Stay in touch

Unless you never want to see these people again, it is a good idea to stay in touch with your former bosses and colleagues. They might be able to help you in the future if you need to look for another job. If things don’t work out at your new job, you might be able to go back to your old one. Staying in touch is one of the keys of building a strong network.