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Archive for February, 2012

Your Degree in Recognition Skills

Of course, we all majored in recognition skills at high school. Being positive comes as second nature to everybody and we never focus too much on faults. Unfortunately there the fairy tale must end. Complaining, it seems, is a much more developed skill than praising and many people find it difficult to be only positive. It is as if they can’t help themselves adding a crushing blow. Like Carolyn Burnham (Annette Bening) in “American Beauty” when she praises her daughter Jane (Thora Birch) for her cheerleading performance, she says, “I was watching you very closely, and you didn’t screw up once.”
Language

It is often said that, in communication, we get the response we deserve. Bear this in mind when you next ask for an additional task to be undertaken. Listen to the words that you use. Do you apologize, saying:

“I’m really sorry that I have to drop this on you”

Do you antagonize, saying:

“Whether you like it or not you’ll have to do this by 5 pm.”

Do you empathize, saying:

“I know this is a pain, but it really needs to be done.”

Do you sympathize, saying:

“Poor you! This extra work probably means overtime.”

…or do you enthuse, by saying:

“Hey, you’re just the person who can help me! I need this urgent job to be done today, and I was thinking you’d be the best person to get it out accurately and on time.”

No prizes for guessing which approach gets a more energetic response. Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm and if you can embed a few pieces of recognition in your request without sounding sarcastic you’ll stand a better chance of getting a motivated performance.

When you are actually praising someone, try to tell them how you feel. “It made me proud that I work for the same company when I saw you handling that complex customer problem”, means so much more than, “Good job, keep it up.” “I wish I had your comic timing. Your ability to make people laugh and feel motivated to get on with the toughest and most unpleasant of jobs leaves me in awe.” says more than, “I’m impressed, carry on, dude!”

Also make an attempt to acknowledge that you really did understand that the behavior was appropriate; “I was especially impressed when you offered to call them to update them on progress at the end of the day. That’s a great standard to work to.”

Managers can develop a crippling disability when they use language variously known as “verbal diarrhea”, “let me tell you what you mean” and “that’s not the way I’d do it”. As people climb the management ladder there is a tendency for them to lose the listening skill and to gain an add-on to their verbosity skills. This is not surprising as they are probably expected to talk for most of the day; however when it comes to gathering information to promote informal recognition, keeping your ears open and your mouth shut is an essential skill.

Behavioral Interviewing Strategies

If you go online to find behavior interview questions, STOP! The questions are all good, but do they relate to the position you’re trying to fill?

Stock behavior interview questions probably won’t get the answers you need to get the right person for a particular job. You need customized questions that relate to that specific job.

KNOW THE JOB REQUIREMENTS

First, you need to know exactly what the job requires for superior performance in three areas:

You need to know the job’s task distribution. Does it require project tasks, routine tasks, or troubleshooting tasks – and in what percentages of each?

You need to know how the job needs to be done – what behaviors does it require for superior performance?

And you need to know what motivators the job rewards. For example, if the job rewards service to others, then you need someone who is passionate about helping people to fill the position. That person will be intrinsically motivated to be a superior performer in this job.

ASSESS THE CANDIDATES’ QUALIFICATIONS

Next, you need to know which types of tasks the applicant prefers doing on a daily basis.

Then you need to know what behaviors the candidate brings to the position.

And you need to know what motivates the applicant to do the job the way it needs to be done for superior performance.

FIND THE JOB FIT

How can you discover all this beyond a shadow of a doubt? There’s only one way I know of to be sure you’re getting the right person for the job and that is with behavioral interviewing and job benchmarking.

First, you benchmark the job using a team of your best current employees and their manager to determine the ideal job requirements. They do this using a job benchmark assessment that gives you the ideal task quotient, behaviors, and motivators the job demands.

Before conducting the behavioral interview, you assess your candidates in the same three areas. Then you compare their assessments to the job benchmark. Those who most closely match the benchmark are the ones you want to hire. They will be the right people for the job.

ASK THE RIGHT BEHAVIOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

You want to use a job benchmark assessment that gives you a number of specific questions to ask based on the job’s requirements.

For example, let’s say you’re filling a customer service position. The job benchmark shows it requires a task quotient of 42% troubleshooting. One behavior interview question the job assessment suggests is, “Tell me about a time when you had to solve problems that occurred unexpectedly.”

The primary behaviors the job demands are frequent interaction with others and customer orientation. Two suggested questions are, “How do you handle frequent interruptions by other people? How about your response to people who ask you question after question?”

The primary motivator the job rewards is Theoretical (a passion for knowledge). A suggested behavior interview question is, “Which is more important, action or knowledge, and why?” (The best candidates will say “knowledge.”)

All of these questions are based on the job’s requirements established by the benchmark. In each behavioral interview you ask the same questions in the same order to get comparable feedback from each candidate and to comply with EEOC regulations.

GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS

Job benchmarking and behavioral interviewing can cut in half the time you spend recruiting employees. And this process guarantees you’ll hire top talent. You’ll also save money by retaining them. An added bonus is that with an employee assessment, you’ll know if the answers you’re getting are truthful.

All of us are waiting for this right time to deal with products and services that we can afford. If you are looking forward to apply for car insurance and want to make it simple and base on your needs, internet is a sure way. Using the internet, we are now able to apply for direct car insurance and several companies are here to give us details about this type of insurance. Before making any deal for application, we should know the importance of it and what coverage is offered. You can possible get auto insurance direct on the way to different websites and making comparisons about the quotes can help us much.

Today, many companies are offering car insurance for those who are looking for it. Not only these insurance businesses are available at establishments, but there are also websites that are announcing the business. And to make your search for real and easy, car insurance is the answer. It is an online search where you can find the affordable car insurance that you need.

Well, application for car insurance is provided simple and you just need to be on the right side for it. Make your car insured and there are so many people who are applying for because they want to have financial freedom when it comes to expenses.

Dealing with Your Difficult People

For leaders managing constant change, conflict is built into the very fabric of their organizations. When conflict is not dealt with well, it can create strained relationships and grow to sap the time, energy, and productivity of even the best teams. Dealt with positively, conflict can also be a catalyst that sets the stage for needed changes. You will never deal with conflict perfectly, but here are a few tips worth using in dealing with your most difficult people:

1. Talk to people instead of about them. Dealing with conflict directly may be uncomfortable and lead to some disappointment, but it cuts down the mind reading and the resentment that can occur when problems are not dealt with directly. Timing, tact, and taking distance will always have their place, but make sure you still keep conflict eyeball to eyeball.

2. We are taught from childhood to avoid conflict and often vacillate between the pain of dealing with unresolved problems and the guilt over not dealing with them. Such vacillation saps energy and time; it can affect morale and turnover. Be a problem solver not a problem evader. Problem solvers avoid avoidance; they learn to deal with conflict as soon as it even begins to get in the way.

3. Develop a communication style that focuses on future problem solving rather than getting stuck in proving a conviction for past mistakes. You want change, not just an admission of guilt. Winners of arguments never always win, because consistent losers never forget. You want results, not enemies seeking revenge. By focusing on future problem solving, both can save face.

4. Problem solvers deal with issues, not personalities. It’s all too easy to abuse the other party instead of dealing with issues. Be assertive but affirm the rights of others to have different positions, values and priorities. When you personalize disagreements and attack back, you invite escalation. Keep the focus on mutual problem solving, not name-calling.

5. Honor, surface and use resistance. Attempts at threatening, silencing or otherwise avoiding criticism of change will only force resistance underground and increase the sabotaging of even necessary changes. Explored resistance helps build clarity of focus and action. Push for specific suggestions. If criticism is extensive and continues even after facing it, it may not be resistance – know when to admit that you are wrong!

6. Redefine caring to include caring enough to confront on a timely and consistent basis. Avoid labels that give you or others excuses for not confronting a problem – They are too sensitive or too nice, scene makers or people who have contacts, too old or too young, or the wrong race or gender. If you believe people cannot change or benefit from feedback, you will tend not to confront them. Instead, treat all equally by caring enough to be firm, fair, and consistent.

The same electricity that makes your home comfortable and functional can be used in your business when you select business energy from British Gas. Yes, British Gas is well known for providing electricity to homes in the UK. However, the company has a passion for providing this same energy to businesses in the area.

If the company already provides energy to your home, then you already know that a constant supply of electricity and great customer service are yours. You may also know that the competitive rates makes the energy expense easier to pay each month. All of these things and more are available to business owners as well. Business needs may indeed be larger, but the company is prepared to meet these needs. Every business owner has the right to select a company that will ensure constant operations and low rates.

Need more information about business energy from British Gas? Visit the website to read more. While there you can request a quote to see what rates are currently available. You may also phone and speak to a representative. Special pricing via fixed rates may be available to you, and may be the best solution for your business. If it is options that you desire, it is options that this company will provide. You need only to find out more about what these are.

Many times we wonder how it is like to have a house that looks nice and classy. Many do not take into consideration the fact that they need to get the most essential pieces of decoration in order to keep this nice look of class. This is why conservatory furniture will make this year’s hit when it comes to having the time of your life. This furniture will be appreciated by all and you will get the idea of a gentlemen look.

Now more than ever it is important to turn around from all fuss that the very extravagant people and trends set and to focus on the practical and elegant part of this world. We should take into account the fact that people often love to look out of the ordinary but for a house the secret is to get it to look good under all circumstances. This being set we should not forget to blend the pieces of furniture that we like to a usefulness of space.

Therefore the eccentricity of our house should be left behind and a smart move into the furniture area could make us look the classy people we dream about. If we are to discuss more there could be said that people can do better than that and will admire our sense of decorating.

According to Marconi and Siegel (1983) in Hehanusa (2003, p. 406-407) benefits budget are:
1. the budget is the result of the planning process, the budget represents an agreement negotiated between participants who are dominant in an organization about the purpose of activities in the future.
2. the budget is the description of the priority allocation of resources which is owned as it can act as a blue print of company activity.
3. the budget is the internal communication tool linking the Department (Division) that one with other departments (divisions) within the Organization as well as with top management.
4. Budget provide information about the results of the activities of the real compared to the standard that has been set.
5. the budget as a tool for controlling the lead management to determine the Organization’s strong and weak, it will be able to direct the management to determine the correction action should be taken.
6. Budget influence and motivate your managers and employees to work with the consistent, efficient and effective in conditions of the suitability of purpose between the purpose of the company with the purpose of employees.

Top 7 Keys to Successful Workplace Communication

• Improving your communication skills will enable you to establish better working relationships. Poor workplace communication skills will have negative effects on your business relationships and may result in decreased productivity. These 7 keys will help you unlock the door to successful communication not only at work, but also in all your relationships.

• Personal contact is important. People relate to one another better when they can meet in person and read each other’s body language, so they can feel the energy the connection creates. If personal contact is not possible, the next best way to connect is by talking on the telephone.

• Develop a network. No one achieves success alone. Make an effort to become friends with people in different departments within your company, meet new people in your community, and look for experiences or interests you have in common.

• Always be courteous in your communications with others. Courtesy lets people know that you care. The words “Thank You” show that you appreciate a person’s efforts. Try saying, “would you please…” instead of just, “Please…” You will sound less dogmatic.

• Be consistent and clear in your workplace communications. Consistency builds trust. Asking, “Did I explain this clearly?” will assure that people understood what you said.

• Compromise decreases the tension associated with conflict. Ask, “What is best for the company?” so that co-workers will not take the conflict personally.

• You cannot hold a person’s interest if you have nothing interesting to say. Here are some of ways you can learn to be an interesting communicator. Read your hometown paper daily. Read industry literature so you can know what is going on in your industry. Rehearse telling a few short personal stories about your interesting experiences.

Listen to what others are saying and show interest in the conversation. Listening demonstrates respect and admiration. Make your conversation like a game of tennis and keep the ball going back and forth. An online human services degree can help you become a key communicator
in your workplace.