Workshops are the places where small steps in new inventions happen, through experimentation then testing of a prototype. Creativity, the fuel for any goal, plays a major role in the process. An example is the use of fax machines in offices, common not too long ago. It was the best way to transmit documents to many parts of the world. With computer use and advent of many new applications, scanning documents is now the common practice.

A workshop, as defined by the online Miriam-Webster Dictionary, can refer to a place where stuff is repaired or made. It also means a class or a series of classes in which a small group of people learn the methods and skills used in doing something. Usually, a workshop becomes the “testing ground,” so to speak. A passing interest in baking may be sparked to greater heights because an engaging facilitator has written a recipe book on the various ways of cooking rice. Online work may have been unchartered grounds for laid off employees  but having participated in a workshop on virtual careers an Internet business venture is born. Workshops are fertile grounds for nurturing budding interests in crafts such as glass painting, knitting, and sewing. It is also a place to check if an idea such as event planning can be a part-time job.

Students at workshops are fun; they are highly motivated to learn, thus generating positive energy for everyone in the class. Some join at a one-time event or persist in a series that build on one another.  It is recommended that  acquisition of a second language require several workshop sessions.

A change in career will take time and a corresponding change in someone’s personal budget. Prior to investing time and cash in any skill acquisition, a workshop is an inexpensive way to explore, to see if the activity is sustainable, in its time and financial aspects.

A doorway to rekindle old interests in hobbies, the workshop’s best reason for its continued use as a tool is the possibility it offers. Participating in one requires little or no background in a given workshop topic.

Noting that no employment is forever, someone who wishes to continue working as a professional must acquire and continuously hone skills. Check out the workshops in the area if only for curiosity, there might be a surprise waiting to be discovered.

Written by Yoli P. – The Help

Whenever career progress is the goal, self-evaluation becomes a must for professionals. It is the best method by which one or two skill sets, even talents, can be improved through training or by partnering with a peer where both are complementary to one another. For example, flexibility can be a tremendous asset. It’s been said, “change is the only thing that is constant.” Someone who is flexible or adaptable can respond easily to shifts in work priorities, new supervisors, and even budget cuts. Productivity remains constant despite company reorganization.

Sometimes flexibility can be seen as lack of goals while focus is misconstrued as tunnel vision. However, when someone flexible teams up with a focused colleague, they can help each other grow in both professional and personal levels. The focus provided to someone flexible can lead to the creation of short-term plans while adaptability in a focused worker may result in paying more attention to colleagues’ suggestions.

Self-evaluation provides a “before status” and a current status. One gets a sense of progress, if any has been made. For example, someone who used to be always late for work now arrives on time.

Managing a project or being the team lead in developing concepts for research are occasions to showcase talents. Nowhere is this more important than in the workplace. It sounds almost impossible, especially if opportunities to display talents are not frequent. However, awareness of one’s strength and weakness would help in creating situations wherein management would sit up and take notice of staff.

When writing a professional self-evaluation, it is important to objectively highlight accomplishments. Equally important is to propose steps where work performance can be improved such as teamwork. If an Individual work plan is not in place, create the SMART one (Specific, Measurable, Accountable, Realistic, Time) to stay in congruence with company mission and core value.

Remember: Change is the only thing that is constant and self evaluation keeps an employee ready for challenges and change at all times.

Written by Yoli P. – The Help

Imagine the best experiences – two weeks in Singapore with husband and children, celebrating a promotion with family at a restaurant, acquiring a new iPhone – these are memories for some and dreams for others. And yet, the means, the job, through which the experiences are actualized, is usually taken for granted.

Staying employed is a fulltime enterprise, much like making a relationship work. To keep a job would mean taking on responsibilities that may be new to fresh graduates and to those who just landed their first professional engagement.

Here are five essentials for new and old employees to avoid getting a pink slip:

1. It is not to be taken lightly. For some companies, it is the measure of a worker’s commitment to the job. If one is always on time, the employee considers time as a valuable commodity for the both business and himself.
2. Issues related to the business must be discussed with managers or supervisors, avoid the tendency to make anything personal. Practical approaches to a problem prevent escalation. Some new workers and even ancient ones are slighted when manager and colleagues makes reference to a particular task. It is important to keep in mind that focus is required for work to be done and being an employee means work comes first.
3. Certain behaviors such as rudeness or smoking may be unacceptable to some. Looking at it with the larger picture in mind, evaluate its effect before taking offense. Being pleasant towards someone with negative attitude or who smokes will not make anyone less of a person. A solution is always available; the trick is to find it.
4. Ask questions. It is always best to ask questions when in doubt. It is one sure way to stay on the right track whether it concerns project management or company policies.
5. Working together, with three or four people, towards a common goal is a constant in an office setting, both in real or virtual time. An example in the real world could be getting a car out of a bog and all passengers get out to give it a push. In the virtual world, it is important to have seamless transitions when working in eight-hour shifts.

It takes time to make dreams come true. But more important, it takes conscious, focused effort at work to breathe life to any dream.

Written by Yoli P. – The Help

Hurray! You’ve just been promoted. Congratulations! Now go out and celebrate. GIve yourself a pat on the back and a well deserved night out. On Monday, you’ll be facing a whole new ballgame once you get back to work.

It’s not Monday yet but over the weekend, a dawning realization comes over you. The team that you will be managing is your former team – a team composed of your lunch mates and drinking buddies. You have an easygoing, friendly relationship with these guys. But now, well… you’re kind of the bad guy. While you’re really not the bad guy and do not want to be seen as the bad guy, you know you’re going to have to make some hard and unpopular decision for the sake of the business. But you also have more than few good ideas to share. How are you going to get them to take your lead? The answer is: very carefully.

Give yourself a timeline:

Do not expect to start a project  in the next 30 days. Ease into it and don’t start changing things right out of the gate. You must use this time to reframe yourself as the leader. You have to make sure to set boundaries. You should keep your relationship strictly business. Starting with limiting those karaoke nights and those bar hopping soirees. You should conduct yourself more professionally anyway, so drunken singing will really ruin  your reputation here. Working lunches are fine – use them to  catch up  and nurture your relationship with your friends and forge new allies.

Earned it:

I’m sure if you ask anybody, they’ll say they saw your promotion coming. I’m sure you expected it to,  having worked so hard to get to where you are now. I’m sure you deserve it. And unless, you’re the child of the company owner, everybody knows you’re a top performer and that you’re the most deserving candidate for that promotion.

And you did earn the promotion. Now it’s time to gently remind everyone why you got promoted in the first place. While being a manager is new, there are parts of this job that you know so well, like the process, the people, the numbers. Nobody knows about the accounts more than you do. You have the credibility to lead! Show them how much you know and you’ll silence even the critics. Your knowledge and skills are what got you this promotion in the first place. Now is NOT the time to be shy about  being the subject matter expert or the expert in your field. People follow those who know what they’re doing.  You’ve got this!

That small room called acceptance:

You must accept that your relationship with your colleagues will change. There will sometimes be resistance and probably resentment, especially if you were competing for the same position. But you have to believe that you have been chosen because you are the most qualified person for the job. Know that if you choose to delegate tasks, you can still count on these very same people to perform, not for you, but with you. Make sure though that you are fair and not just pick the best projects and assign them to friends. Give others a chance to prove themselves, too.

Congratulations again on your promotion! These steps are more like guidelines because, as we all know, everyone has a different managerial style. So, have you ever been managed by a friend?  Have you managed people you deem as friends? Are you ready to take the lead?

Written by Jaie O.- The Help

The very wise Aristotle once said that “He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.”  A lot has been said about this old adage. There are many interpolations offering advice on how one can be a truly effective leader. It kind of plays along the lines of “learn the rules first before you break them”. Only, the more appropriate analogy is to “learn the rules first and improve on them” To be an effective leader, not only must you learn the rules – know how they work to your advantage!

Sounds like an illegal wall street scam right? Actually, NO. It is a basic aphorism that many powerful leaders ascribe to. In reality, there is a lot of truth to it. It is how effective leaders become stalwarts in their industries. Let us take a look at some steps bosses take from being a good leader to being a better one.

From being a doer to being a mover

Good followers are doers. They are task driven and they concentrate on end results. Better leaders learned how to channel people’s energy into finishing tasks and projects and get good results. Now, effective leader on the other hand, channel their energy in motivating people to have a goal for themselves. They challenge their employees into creating career goals. They coax employees to work towards a goals for themselves which they inherently want to achieve not just for the company but because they are empowered. Effective leaders are the right kind of pushy. They challenge employees to bring their best ideas to the table. This means that effective leaders have to be sensitive to their employees strengths and weaknesses.

Own up

Nobody is perfect. An effective leader owns up to his or her mistakes. They don’t pass the blame on to someone else. The buck stops with them. No one wants to work for a fault finder or a nitpicker. People need to know they have job security and won’t lose their job simply because of a minor mistake. Effective leaders make their employees feel that they have room to grow.

Perfect pairing

Great followers are most attuned to their strengths and weaknesses. They know which projects play up their strengths, which ones to take the lead on, and which ones to play supporting cast to. As a an effective leader, the master the art of pairing the right skill to the right task. This can only be gained by getting to know their people by spending time learning their strengths and what motivates them.

The beacon of light

Employees must know that they are not being just herded into a fock or supervised the way toddlers are supervised in day care. They must know that they are in the company of achievers. Effective leaders have to let their employees know that they are in very capable hands. To do this, they must earn the respect of their employees. As long as their employees know that they have laudable work accomplishment, moral integrity and a strong work ethic, leaders stand as someone who has the credibility to lead. Effective leaders are an example that employees too can achieve their goals. Great leaders make their employees  feel that they have something tangible to strive for and they will be more than willing to deliver.

Are you taking steps to being an effective leader?

Written by Jaie O.- The Help