Is working hard working for you

Over the past few years, many people have felt pressure to work harder in order to maintain their job security. But meekly shouldering increasingly heavy workloads isn't necessarily the best way to demonstrate your value. Always being the first to arrive and the last to leave might impress your boss for a while, but in the long term, it's unlikely to benefit your well-being, your career or your employer.

People who pride themselves on a strong work ethic may find that idea tough to swallow. After all, don't employers seek workers who are eager to go the extra mile? That may often be the case, but most companies also want employees who don't burn out or become disenchanted. And all of them want people who make the most of the time for which they're being paid.

Learning to work more efficiently can be a crucial step toward becoming more valuable to your employer. Here are five steps that can help you work smarter:

1. Clarify your role
It may seem counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to increase your effectiveness and value is to clarify the limits of your role. Do you tend to jump into projects whenever someone needs help? That's admirable, but it can be detrimental if it wears you out or keeps you from your own responsibilities.

It's great to be known as the go-to person in emergencies. But if every crisis falls to you, consider whether all of that firefighting is interfering with your most important work -- unless, of course, that firefighting is your most important work.

Learning to say no selectively can protect your productivity, but it's not always easy to tell when it's appropriate to push back. Talk to your boss about all the projects on your plate and then work with her to clarify which ones are the most important. She may not realize how much work you're doing above and beyond your job description. Be careful to frame the discussion as a matter of putting your time to the best use rather than avoiding work you don't enjoy.

2. Revise your goals
Goals are useful only when they're achievable. If their scope or sheer number is unrealistic, it may seem like all you're doing is treading water, which can lead to overwork and exhaustion.

Write out a list of your goals and then ask yourself whether they address the most critical functions of your job and are attainable given your current responsibilities. If they aren't, you may be asking too much of yourself. Talk to your manager to make sure your top objectives align with the company's priorities. You might find, for example, that your goal of streamlining a particular reporting process is less important to your boss than other priorities he has assigned to you.

3. Share the load
If you're not careful, a can-do attitude can cross the line. Insisting on handling everything yourself breeds resentment among co-workers, especially if you're perceived as competing against them rather than working alongside them. If you're wearing yourself out with projects that a less-overworked colleague could execute, you're doing the entire team, including yourself, a disservice.

If appropriate, talk with your manager about ways you might delegate or share certain responsibilities. Such discussions can help your boss make sure your co-workers remain challenged with new responsibilities.

4. Get lost
If you wait to schedule a vacation until you desperately need one, you'll lose the focus and energy required to do your best work long before your date of departure arrives. Plan vacations well in advance, and make sure they're true breaks, not opportunities to work remotely from a prettier location.

Small breaks throughout your workday can also help you maintain your perspective. Taking the time to look up from what you're doing, take a short walk or have a brief conversation can help you keep a sense of perspective about your work rather than blindly hammering a noncritical project through to completion and exhaustion.

Another part of working more efficiently is making sure you're doing things that rejuvenate you when you're not at the office, whether that means exercise, a movie or a meal with your family. If you don't enjoy your free time, your workday will likely find ways to seep back into those hours, depriving you of the daily recharge you need.

5. Keep talking
Working smarter isn't a one-time fix. As your employer's priorities and resources shift, so should your own points of emphasis. If you don't have a regularly scheduled check-in with your manager about such issues, ask to create one. It doesn't take long to verify that you're putting your shoulder behind the jobs that mean the most to the company.

Protecting your personal well-being and serving your employer are sometimes considered competing demands. But in a healthy working relationship -- the kind that will keep your career moving forward -- the two depend on each other.

Source: careerbuilder

Career resolutions, good and bad

At the start of each year, New Year's resolutions are made. Some are kept, while many more are forgotten. Yet making resolutions can be beneficial if they are realistic, they allow for some flexibility and a plan is put in place to achieve them.

The same thinking applies to making career resolutions. While it's good to set goals, not all career resolutions are created equal. Some will help you get what you want, while others will leave you frustrated, complacent or not where you thought you'd be in your career.

"My personal view is that any resolutions, particularly those dealing with your career, must have a good balance between flexibility and specificity," says Lauren Still, founder of strategic career-management company Careerevolution Group. "A good resolution will allow someone to measure whether they're making progress on it ... A bad resolution is entirely dependent on actions of others, is too broad to be actionable or is unclear as to whether the individual achieved it."

Here are some good career resolutions to make this year, and some bad ones to avoid:

Good: Get feedback on an ongoing basis
Patrick Sweeney, president of human capital management firm Caliper, says that a smart career resolution is to continuously work with your manager on development goals. He suggests doing periodic check-ins throughout the year to get constructive feedback and ensure that you're on the same page with how you're performing. "By taking the reins and showing this initiative with your manager, it shows that you care about your position, your company and helping your manager achieve her goals too," Sweeney says. "Companies look for and want to keep people who are committed to long-term growth, and this helps to cement your place."

Bad: Get feedback during performance reviews
Most people don't enjoy getting feedback on their weaknesses, even if it's constructive. So you may tell yourself it's better to wait to get feedback from your manager until performance-review time. That way, you can hear it all at once, and you don't have to worry about it any other time of the year. But doing so may set you back in your career. Without knowing what's working and what's not on an ongoing basis, you'll essentially be running in place. Also, if you're not asking for feedback regularly, your manager might believe you're not that invested in advancing your career.

Good: Maintain a better work/life balance
Did 2012 leave you feeling burned out and stressed? Try doing some things to better your personal life, and a better work life will follow. If your long hours at work have made going to the gym tough, try waking up an hour early to go to a fitness class or taking a power walk during your lunch break. While you don't need to push yourself to set specific fitness goals, just getting your heart rate up or some fresh air will help clear your head and make you feel better all around. Haven't seen your friends in a while because you've been chained to your desk? While it may take a lot of energy to meet up with friends after a long day, it's a good way to get your mind off of work, and it can help put things into perspective.

Bad: Get more recognition, no matter what it takes
You may vow in the new year to show your boss that you're committed and that you have what it takes to get to the next level. While that's a positive goal, be careful about how you achieve it. If you work late nights and weekends without having a real reason to do so, or you take on more work than you can manage and don't ask for help, you may set yourself back instead of moving forward. There's a difference between working hard and overworking -- the work you're doing should be meaningful if you really want to impress your boss.

Good: Repair damaged relationships
"If you left a job on bad terms or you have been out of touch with key people from your old company, you need to catch up with them," says Roy Cohen, career coach and author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide." "At the very least, you want to determine what they will say if called for a reference. That should never be a surprise or a last-minute activity. Time is a great neutralizer of frayed edges and unresolved issues ... they may also have interesting ideas regarding opportunities and volunteer to serve as references."

Bad: Be ruthless
No one is denying that it's a competitive world out there, but working your way up the ladder by pushing others down isn't the way to win. Taking credit for others' ideas, ratting out a co-worker without talking to him first, holding important client meetings without inviting others who may benefit -- you may think these actions will lead to success. But chances are you'll get caught, or you'll lose credibility in the eyes of your boss. Honesty, integrity and teamwork are what will make you stand out for the right reasons.

Good: Take on more responsibility
Cheryl Palmer, owner of career-coaching firm Call to Career, says that if you want to position yourself for a promotion, you should resolve to take on more responsibility. "You might ask your boss to be cross-trained so that you are more valuable to the organization, or you might state your availability to act in your boss' stead when the boss is absent," Palmer says. By challenging yourself, and handling tasks above and beyond your duties, you're showing your boss that you're ready for the next step.

Bad: Get a promotion
While striving to get promoted is a positive thing, making it your career resolution won't necessarily get you anywhere. And if you don't get one, you might deem yourself a failure. Try instead to set attainable goals that will help you advance your career, such as take on more responsibility, attend industry conferences or obtain a new certification. By building up your arsenal of skills and experience, you'll be a ready for that promotion -- whenever it happens.






Source: careerbuilder

Quiz: What kind of animal are you at work?

Be careful when you discuss animals around a pet owner. You might accidentally start a never-ending conversation about the personalities, personal preferences or humanlike characteristics that animals possess. However, even people who don't own pets can see the similarities between animals and humans. But can you learn anything from animals when it comes to your day-to-day work life? Take this quiz to determine which animal you share work habits with and whether you need to tame your instincts.

1. There's a co-worker's birthday party in the office break room. Where are you?
A. Next to the celebrated co-worker, cutting the cake or passing out plates.
B. Near the back of the break room or inching back to my desk.
C. Retelling a funny joke I heard earlier that day to the person next to me.
D. It doesn't matter; no matter where I go, people will annoy me.

2. Your boss has asked for your input on a project. What kind of feedback do you give?
A. Supportive information that will give my boss the best tools to lead this project.
B. A short answer that shows just how uninterested I am in the conversation.
C. What my boss wants to hear; why else would I be asked for my opinion?
D. Exactly what I think about the project, including the list of possible negative outcomes.

3. You have to work with a group of co-workers on a project. How does it go?
A. Wonderfully! I helped guide the project and worked really well with others.
B. It just reinforced that I work better alone.
C. I agreed with most of what was being said and followed what direction the group took.
D. It's frustrating to work with others, and by the end of the meeting I had yelled at two co-workers.

4. You're asked to present your area of expertise to a group of colleagues. How does it go?
A. I interacted well with others, but it was a little uncomfortable to be in charge.
B. It felt good to get recognized for my talents and to be the only one speaking.
C. It was all right. I don't mind public speaking but preferred quoting others in my presentation.
D. It went fine until I noticed somebody texting on his phone. I stopped the presentation until he started paying attention.

5. Your boss asks everybody to stay late to help wrap up a project. What do you do?
A. Clear my schedule and make sure I'm the last person to leave each night.
B. Stay an extra hour or two one night and decide that's enough.
C. Agree and nod my head. Whatever the boss says, I do.
D. Storm into the boss's office and ask why I have to stay late, even though I always get my work done on time.

Results
Mostly A's: Dog
Your work habits are similar to those of man's best friend, the trusty and loyal canine. You work well with others and enjoy being around your co-workers. But it's OK to disagree with your co-workers or the boss from time to time. Don't be afraid to be more than your boss's sidekick, and start focusing on your career without depending on your boss for instructions.
Mostly B's: Cat
It's no surprise that both you and your feline counterpart prefer to spend most of your time alone. You're confident in your abilities and know you do a good job, but you're not exactly easy to work with. Create a balance of working independently and collaborating with others. Your knowledge and dedication can make you a great leader if you learn how to work well with others and communicate your ideas instead of staying silent.
Mostly C's: Parrot
It may be time to ask yourself if this is really the job for you, as it seems you're more comfortable parroting back to others what you hear instead of forming your own opinions. Rather than stealing the ideas of others or just saying what you think people want to hear, start offering your own thoughts to the conversation or start looking for a job in which you'll have your own voice.
Mostly D's: Skunk
Have you noticed that your co-workers walk on eggshells around you? Your unpredictable temper causes you to lose your cool, and it's hurting your career. Stop lashing out at co-workers and taking your emotions out on your boss. Find ways to even out your emotions and channel your energy into your work, such as breathing exercises or an anger management class. Passion can be a great asset in a career if used productively.




Source: careerbuilder