Correspondence that once took days or weeks to arrive at its
destination, now takes just seconds. Email allows us to cut across time
zones, making communication simpler and faster.
But email has its problems. This is especially true in the workplace, where expressing yourself clearly is so essential.
Email speed can often damage the matters that require thought and
reflection. We all know how easily the tone of an email can be
misconstrued.
So, what are the dangers of email in the workplace, and how can we
ensure that our correspondence does not land us in the metaphorical
'junk folder' of our colleagues or bosses?
Get the Right Tone
When you're using email
it's crucial to remember that it is faceless and voiceless.
Off-the-cuff remarks can work fine when accompanied by a smiling face
and light tone, but how do the words themselves sound?
Brief remarks can come across as abrupt, a quick question as angry
or terse. What does it mean if you don't sign off? A lot of emails end
abruptly with no sign-off or signature of any kind. Unless the tone of
your email is absolutely clear, signing off with "cheers," "thanks" or
"all the best" clarifies your intended tone and should ensure that the
message is received in the way it is meant.
Take Your Time
An email pops into your inbox.
Less than one minute later you have read, digested the message and
responded. In the days when letters were a regular form of
communication, you were forced to consider exactly what you wanted to
say. Email has removed this necessity and now the hasty response is all
too easy.
If you're writing an angry response, do think twice before you
click send. Sleeping on the matter could be an excellent idea. Why not
email back, "Let me think about it overnight. I'll get back to you in
the morning." You'll be glad you did.
Check the "to" Field
The reply all button
might be the most dangerous button there is. Double- and triple-check
that your message only goes to the intended recipients.
Sending anything, confidential or not, around your entire organization is certainly embarrassing.
Don't Overuse the CC
One surefire way to upset your colleagues is by copying every person in
the office into your emails. Copies are often sent to too many people.
We cc others to publicly reprimand someone and look important, to cover
ourselves and to impress others. All of these reasons will result in
bad feeling, lack of respect or worse.
If you want action, just send the email to one person alone. If
others really need to know about the communication, send it to them
separately.
Just Don't Do It
There are times when sending
an email should be avoided altogether. Your office email is also often
the property of the company, since it pays for the email system.
Companies will have the right to search employees' mailboxes,
so make sure that there's nothing in there you wouldn't want the bosses
to read. Don't use email as a chance to send unkind comments about your
coworkers, as people have lost their jobs for sending jokes which they
meant as harmless office gossip but which stood up against them after a
complaint was made.
The Bottom Line
Your email e nding up in a colleague's junk folder
could be the least of your worries. Email has caused many an office
confrontation and, at the other end of the spectrum, has appeared as
evidence in a fair number of courtrooms.
Email has changed the way we communicate and work. Let us not
forget that we managed rather well without it for centuries. Perhaps
sometimes it's just better to try that old fashioned method of
communication: conversation.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Establishing Yourself As An Expert
Ask any employer to describe the perfect employee and you'll
probably get a similar answer. The perfect employee for most is someone
who's highly knowledgeable about a given subject, works well with
others in the office, and displays passion and/or ambition on the job.
Ask any recruiter and you'll find that these characteristics are very
difficult to find in the workforce.
Establishing yourself as an expert can effectively address all three of these areas and dramatically increase your employability. Experts demonstrate a current and in-depth knowledge of a given subject area that they are very passionate about, while at the same time, work with many different companies and organizations.
Choosing the Right NicheBecoming an industry expert can seem like an enormously daunting task. For instance, a software engineer would have a very hard time being an expert at every programming language. Instead, it's best to target a specific niche when establishing yourself as an expert. The result is both less knowledge to learn and more limited direct competition.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing a niche to pursue:
Find BalanceSmaller niche industries tend to be easier to target, but they should be large enough to be useful when finding a job.
Be Yourself
Many people are already skilled at, or at least passionate about, something in their industry. Targeting that niche is often the best option.
Find Trends
Try to find secular industry trends and position yourself at the leading edge of those trends to capitalize on them and set yourself apart from the crowd.
Let's take a look at an example: Suppose that a financial planner is looking for greater recognition and decides to become an expert. Instead of trying to become an expert at financial planning in general, he or she could instead focus on a large and growing niche. Given the aging U.S. population and growing popularity of ETFs, fixed income ETFs may prove to be a great niche for him or her to pursue.
Learn Everything You CanOnce you've found the right niche, the next step is learning everything you can about the subject area. Your knowledge should encompass everything from an understanding of the fundamentals that you'd learn in school to the latest trends affecting the industry gleaned by following the latest blogs. For instance, a web designer should not only know how to design but also follow the latest industry trends to stay on the cutting edge of his or her craft.
The knowledge can come from many sources:
BooksFind the highest rated books in the niche on Amazon.com or through other booksellers and read them carefully. Or, check them out at the local library.
BlogsIndustry blogs provide a great way to keep on top of the latest industry trends and discover where things are headed for free.
Websites
Researching online has never been easier, from Google Scholar to Wikipedia, making those websites great resources to learn more.
Online Courses
Many websites, from OCW at MIT to Udemy.com, offer free or paid online courses covering a wide variety of topics.
Mentors
Online or in person mentors can help hone your skills and assist you in learning more about the niche industry you're pursuing.
There's no secret to learning either. It's all about repetition and practice. If you're in a technical niche, like programming, writing code and contributing it to the community is a great way to practice and build a reputation at the same time. Those in a non-technical niche can review reference material regularly or volunteer to gain valuable practice and experience.
Finally, if you're not a great writer or speaker, it's also a good idea to review the fundamentals in those areas, since they are commonly used in the easiest forms of distribution. Try to write in a conversational tone about topics that you already love. Be sure to check all of the facts, and make sure that the articles read and flow well.
Finding the Good DistributionOnce you've decided on a niche and absorbed a base of information, the next step in establishing yourself as an expert is to begin teaching what you know to others. The goal is to position yourself as a thought leader on the topic by both directly teaching others and publishing reference materials accessible by anyone.
The best way to get started is by creating a professional blog, which means purchasing and hosting a custom web domain. Regularly writing high-quality blog content related to your niche is the first step in being published. Blogs let you practice writing, help you build a following and provide some writing samples to send to others down the road.
The next step is building a social network, both online and offline. Social networking websites, like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, are great ways to get your content out to the world and start building connections. Some of the best connections are built in real life by finding events related to your niche on websites like MeetUp.com or in the local community.
After building a base of content and making connections, you're ready to begin expanding your distribution a bit more. Here are some ideas to get started:
Writing for Others
Reach out to popular online or offline publications in your niche, and submit ideas for stories using your blog material as references. Starting small before moving onto larger publishers also helps improve the odds of success.
Speaking Engagements
Many local events feature speakers on a given topic, which offers the perfect opportunity to establish yourself as an expert. Public speaking can be difficult at first but it gets easier (and even fun) with practice.
Volunteering
Helping others is a great way to practice a skill, make connections and establish yourself as an expert all at the same time. There are many opportunities for this both online and offline, depending on your target niche.
Publishing a Book
The most difficult, but effective, way to become an expert is to publish a book on the topic. However, this process can take very long in terms of the actual writing and shopping around for the right publisher.
Building It into Your ScheduleThe final step in establishing yourself as an expert is being consistent. In particular, it's important to keep an updated blog, stay in touch with contacts and consistently work on expanding your presence in your niche. Ultimately, maintaining these activities is what separates those who publish a few articles from those truly recognized as experts.
The key to consistency is building tasks into your schedule and developing a habit. While good habits can take a long time to build at first, they provide a long-term base that will greatly enhance your odds of becoming and remaining an expert.
Here's how to create a long-term habit:
Establish a Time
Find a time each day that you can devote to writing and building connections. Often times, the easiest time is either early in the morning or late at night when there are no other activities typically scheduled.
Be Consistent
Some people suggest that it can take at least 30 days of activity in order to fully develop a habit. This means that you must be absolutely consistent in committing to these activities at the same time each day.
Keep Variety
Doing the same thing every day can be daunting, such as writing a book or sending out a certain number of tweets on Twitter. Instead, focus on variety each day to make it interesting and fresh. Don't do the same thing every day.
Using It on the Job HuntThere are many different ways to use an expert status when looking for a job. Many times, prospective employers will contactyou about new opportunities. The key is making your writing, speaking, contact information and resume readily available and accessible from all of your different points of contact.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Maintain a Resume
Maintaining an online resume on a professional blog is a great way to show anyone reading that you're available for hire. It also reduces the amount of work an employer needs to do before approaching you.
Write Good Bylines
Many publishers offer authors a byline or brief biography where they can describe themselves. Putting a link to a professional blog and resume is another great way to get the word out that you're available for hire.
Capitalizing on Events
Many industry events attract recruiters looking for prospective employees. Try to talk to these people or even pitch your services at the end of any speaking engagements to identify those that are interested.
The Bottom LineEstablishing yourself as an expert is a great way to increase your employability and make a difference in your field. While accomplishing this is no easy task, it can be done by anyone willing to put in the effort to learn a subject, teach it to others, and actively spread the word.
Establishing yourself as an expert can effectively address all three of these areas and dramatically increase your employability. Experts demonstrate a current and in-depth knowledge of a given subject area that they are very passionate about, while at the same time, work with many different companies and organizations.
Choosing the Right NicheBecoming an industry expert can seem like an enormously daunting task. For instance, a software engineer would have a very hard time being an expert at every programming language. Instead, it's best to target a specific niche when establishing yourself as an expert. The result is both less knowledge to learn and more limited direct competition.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing a niche to pursue:
Find BalanceSmaller niche industries tend to be easier to target, but they should be large enough to be useful when finding a job.
Be Yourself
Many people are already skilled at, or at least passionate about, something in their industry. Targeting that niche is often the best option.
Find Trends
Try to find secular industry trends and position yourself at the leading edge of those trends to capitalize on them and set yourself apart from the crowd.
Let's take a look at an example: Suppose that a financial planner is looking for greater recognition and decides to become an expert. Instead of trying to become an expert at financial planning in general, he or she could instead focus on a large and growing niche. Given the aging U.S. population and growing popularity of ETFs, fixed income ETFs may prove to be a great niche for him or her to pursue.
Learn Everything You CanOnce you've found the right niche, the next step is learning everything you can about the subject area. Your knowledge should encompass everything from an understanding of the fundamentals that you'd learn in school to the latest trends affecting the industry gleaned by following the latest blogs. For instance, a web designer should not only know how to design but also follow the latest industry trends to stay on the cutting edge of his or her craft.
The knowledge can come from many sources:
BooksFind the highest rated books in the niche on Amazon.com or through other booksellers and read them carefully. Or, check them out at the local library.
BlogsIndustry blogs provide a great way to keep on top of the latest industry trends and discover where things are headed for free.
Websites
Researching online has never been easier, from Google Scholar to Wikipedia, making those websites great resources to learn more.
Online Courses
Many websites, from OCW at MIT to Udemy.com, offer free or paid online courses covering a wide variety of topics.
Mentors
Online or in person mentors can help hone your skills and assist you in learning more about the niche industry you're pursuing.
There's no secret to learning either. It's all about repetition and practice. If you're in a technical niche, like programming, writing code and contributing it to the community is a great way to practice and build a reputation at the same time. Those in a non-technical niche can review reference material regularly or volunteer to gain valuable practice and experience.
Finally, if you're not a great writer or speaker, it's also a good idea to review the fundamentals in those areas, since they are commonly used in the easiest forms of distribution. Try to write in a conversational tone about topics that you already love. Be sure to check all of the facts, and make sure that the articles read and flow well.
Finding the Good DistributionOnce you've decided on a niche and absorbed a base of information, the next step in establishing yourself as an expert is to begin teaching what you know to others. The goal is to position yourself as a thought leader on the topic by both directly teaching others and publishing reference materials accessible by anyone.
The best way to get started is by creating a professional blog, which means purchasing and hosting a custom web domain. Regularly writing high-quality blog content related to your niche is the first step in being published. Blogs let you practice writing, help you build a following and provide some writing samples to send to others down the road.
The next step is building a social network, both online and offline. Social networking websites, like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, are great ways to get your content out to the world and start building connections. Some of the best connections are built in real life by finding events related to your niche on websites like MeetUp.com or in the local community.
After building a base of content and making connections, you're ready to begin expanding your distribution a bit more. Here are some ideas to get started:
Writing for Others
Reach out to popular online or offline publications in your niche, and submit ideas for stories using your blog material as references. Starting small before moving onto larger publishers also helps improve the odds of success.
Speaking Engagements
Many local events feature speakers on a given topic, which offers the perfect opportunity to establish yourself as an expert. Public speaking can be difficult at first but it gets easier (and even fun) with practice.
Volunteering
Helping others is a great way to practice a skill, make connections and establish yourself as an expert all at the same time. There are many opportunities for this both online and offline, depending on your target niche.
Publishing a Book
The most difficult, but effective, way to become an expert is to publish a book on the topic. However, this process can take very long in terms of the actual writing and shopping around for the right publisher.
Building It into Your ScheduleThe final step in establishing yourself as an expert is being consistent. In particular, it's important to keep an updated blog, stay in touch with contacts and consistently work on expanding your presence in your niche. Ultimately, maintaining these activities is what separates those who publish a few articles from those truly recognized as experts.
The key to consistency is building tasks into your schedule and developing a habit. While good habits can take a long time to build at first, they provide a long-term base that will greatly enhance your odds of becoming and remaining an expert.
Here's how to create a long-term habit:
Establish a Time
Find a time each day that you can devote to writing and building connections. Often times, the easiest time is either early in the morning or late at night when there are no other activities typically scheduled.
Be Consistent
Some people suggest that it can take at least 30 days of activity in order to fully develop a habit. This means that you must be absolutely consistent in committing to these activities at the same time each day.
Keep Variety
Doing the same thing every day can be daunting, such as writing a book or sending out a certain number of tweets on Twitter. Instead, focus on variety each day to make it interesting and fresh. Don't do the same thing every day.
Using It on the Job HuntThere are many different ways to use an expert status when looking for a job. Many times, prospective employers will contactyou about new opportunities. The key is making your writing, speaking, contact information and resume readily available and accessible from all of your different points of contact.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Maintain a Resume
Maintaining an online resume on a professional blog is a great way to show anyone reading that you're available for hire. It also reduces the amount of work an employer needs to do before approaching you.
Write Good Bylines
Many publishers offer authors a byline or brief biography where they can describe themselves. Putting a link to a professional blog and resume is another great way to get the word out that you're available for hire.
Capitalizing on Events
Many industry events attract recruiters looking for prospective employees. Try to talk to these people or even pitch your services at the end of any speaking engagements to identify those that are interested.
The Bottom LineEstablishing yourself as an expert is a great way to increase your employability and make a difference in your field. While accomplishing this is no easy task, it can be done by anyone willing to put in the effort to learn a subject, teach it to others, and actively spread the word.
The Benefits of Sleep
Sunny days always fill me with joy and excitement. The smell of
summer seems to move you into a place of play and fun. Kids exude this
type of energy all year round.
Do you ever notice that as the sun sets earlier in the fall, so do our excitement levels? This is no coincidence. Our body naturally begins to change with the seasons. Children have the loving ability to play and play no matter what the sun is doing. But this is a very important time for our bodies to rest. As the sun sets earlier during the winter months so should our bodies. This is a great time to get that extra rest we keep hoping for.
Look at the bear as an example. The great bear lays into slumber for the full duration of winter and awakens with a new sense of energy and is revived, ready to take on new adventures. Our children can do the same. If we could help our little ones and ourselves to get to bed maybe even just a half an hour earlier for the winter, the energy levels begin to rise during awakened hours. What if, every extra minute of sleep, could translate into an extra hour of energy. Just think of the reserve tank you would have by spring.
Sleep is the best time for your mind and body to really heal itself. You are able to process the activities and emotions of your day and move past them the next. This is very important for children since so many emotions are still so new for them. Processing and releasing emotions is one of the healthiest things you and your children could do for yourselves. The less anger, fear or sadness we hold onto, the healthier the mindset moving forward.
I ask you…what time would you like to go to bed? Then strive to make that your bedtime at least three times a week. You may find that the shift in energy levels during the day, were the extra something you were missing.
Sweet Dreams!
Do you ever notice that as the sun sets earlier in the fall, so do our excitement levels? This is no coincidence. Our body naturally begins to change with the seasons. Children have the loving ability to play and play no matter what the sun is doing. But this is a very important time for our bodies to rest. As the sun sets earlier during the winter months so should our bodies. This is a great time to get that extra rest we keep hoping for.
Look at the bear as an example. The great bear lays into slumber for the full duration of winter and awakens with a new sense of energy and is revived, ready to take on new adventures. Our children can do the same. If we could help our little ones and ourselves to get to bed maybe even just a half an hour earlier for the winter, the energy levels begin to rise during awakened hours. What if, every extra minute of sleep, could translate into an extra hour of energy. Just think of the reserve tank you would have by spring.
Sleep is the best time for your mind and body to really heal itself. You are able to process the activities and emotions of your day and move past them the next. This is very important for children since so many emotions are still so new for them. Processing and releasing emotions is one of the healthiest things you and your children could do for yourselves. The less anger, fear or sadness we hold onto, the healthier the mindset moving forward.
I ask you…what time would you like to go to bed? Then strive to make that your bedtime at least three times a week. You may find that the shift in energy levels during the day, were the extra something you were missing.
Sweet Dreams!
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