Sharlene Massie talks About Staffing

Workplace etiquette in today's society

2012-01-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

Workplace etiquette needs to begin with an understanding of our Canadian culture combined with how we accept manners and basic courtesies. Many of us have been raised with the art of saying please and thank you, and that is still appropriate for employers and employees today. We may have also been raised to open doors for ladies, or others in general, and to allow others to step off elevators before stepping on. In today’s society, common practice is to be considerate to everyone. Holding the door open, for example, seems to depend on the situation, timing, and location. However, there are some differences today in workplace niceties, as technology, working remotely, and costs of doing business, all seem to be taking on an acceptable protocol of their own. Every company does have its own culture, its own personality, and its own policies, which does takeover in everyday work life.

Our Canadian expectation is to shake an associate’s hand and make direct eye contact when we meet for any type of business meeting, including an interview. If we are unable to, we must state that, otherwise we appear distant, unfriendly, and perhaps even egotistical. We are a warm and caring nation, and we do tend to hug our close co-workers, and even associates and customers with whom we feel close to. We have to be careful, however, that we do not cross the lines of acceptable behavior, as we can perhaps misinterpret normal cultural friendliness with harassment.

When talking to bosses and co-workers, we should keep our personal lives, especially issues, to an absolute minimum during work hours. But, today, we are all looking for more ways to be social, to meet people, and to get closer. Technology and working remotely has removed the personal water cooler talk from the workplace. Additionally, we are all really too busy now, stressed and over scheduled, to chit chat. So, we may crossover our work lives with our home lives, and get a little too close when we have the chance. Workplace etiquette though, is to keep the conversations at work to mainly work related topics, especially with bosses. We need to keep personal phone calls to quiet and short timeframes, and personal emails should be handled on what would equal coffee break time; we need to remember that work time is paid time.

Company codes of conduct are general rules that should be followed by everyone, and should make common sense in any workplace. These rules should be clearly written and posted, and may consist of safety regulations and generally respected human rights. Workplace etiquette seems to be a little more flexible these days, and will vary based on the culture, ages of the workforce, and what the employees and employer create and allow as acceptable behaviors.

Employer/Employee Relationships

2012-01-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Employer/Employee relationships are complicated. No different than most other relationships, but work related issues seem to cause more stress than any other type! Appreciation, collaboration, and communication are the key words to help make a successful workplace for 2012.

I find that when one person in any relationship feels unappreciated, the feelings fester, eventually erupt, and sometimes can't be repaired. If the boss feels unappreciated, that person usually holds most of the power, and he or she may begin to pull back in some form. The boss may withhold perks, promotions, raises, or any other little offering he or she may usually present or over look for those employees who don't thank or show any gratitude. On the flip side, for employees who don't feel appreciated for their hard work, their loyalty, or their value, they may steal, perhaps time or items, they may cause quiet disturbances, or they may just quit, perhaps without proper notice.

Appreciation revolves around people's feelings. If employers and employees equally collaborate on what is fair for both parties, as well as for the organization and other related parties such as co-workers and customers, the workplace will be a better place to be. The mutual goals need to be clear, and the expectations of the business and its people understood. The cross point between appreciation and collaboration is communication. Employers and employees need to be able to talk about the realistic fairness of the workplace, what will be expected and what will be appreciated as part of the deal. When spouses marry, they usually talk about who is responsible for the housework, the yard work, the shopping, and paying the bills. There is some discussion, some expectations are set, and they communicate pretty well when one party feels underappreciated or the load becomes unfair in some way. And yet, in the workplace, we enter these hopefully long-term relationships, we stress about them, we complain about them, we stick with them for sometimes years and years. We count on our work to give us our lifestyles and pay our way in life, but we don't necessarily communicate those expectations.

Hopefully in 2012 we will become better at employer/employee relationships; we will not worry about retaliation if we do communicate our needs and our goals for this coming year. These tough relationships are difficult to navigate, but we rely on them for almost everything in our livelihood.

2012 workplace goals and strategy for bosses and employees should be to appreciate one another as often as possible while remaining fair to each other and the organization, to collaborate enough to achieve the goals, and communicate the expectations as well as the thanks when it comes to fruition.

When did our values begin to form around fortune and fame?

2011-12-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

Lately, it has seemed to me that the most important thing to people is who has the most popularity, good or bad. In North America, we seem to base trust and success on self promotional fame. The loudest person who shows the most confidence publicly tends to get the most support. In politics, the most attractive famous person usually gets the job; and in business, the person who walks around talking about how great he or she is gets the promotion, raise, or position. I wonder why we get sucked in by those types of people. When did our values begin to form around fame and fortune?

I think there are a lot of people doing a great job, quietly. There are many successful business people who are donating anonymously, because they want to help our community without having to be recognized for it. Mothers and fathers work so hard every day to raise responsible, healthy, and kind children, because their values are true and right.

There is no glory in most jobs, no grand recognition or praise. There are low wage earners who work just as hard or harder, and who are better people than those who make a fortune and treat people poorly. I wonder if there is payback for those who solely value their own fame and fortune, who spend their days spouting “I am great" to the entire world, to the detriment of those around them.

I don't get star struck, but I have met many people who are. Personally, I would much rather sit and talk to an everyday person, who is caring, giving, and trustworthy, than with someone who constantly talks about how awesome they are. I prefer to know, "what have you done for someone else lately?” than hear stories about fame and fortune. I have far more interesting conversations with those who work hard, who care about their work, who are middle class, and whose stories are different than my own, than with the rich and boring.

Is it possible for people to have bad success? I say yes, if they have a false set of values and are not authentic. As we get closer to the Christmas holidays, we should evaluate the people we spend time listening to, and make sure they are worth our energy and appreciation.

Stop limiting yourself to your past.

2011-12-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people get stuck. We get complacent in our work lives, our home lives, our routines, and our relationships. We create our own limitations by what we have already done and are used to doing, especially when it comes to our work histories.

Resumes are supposed to show what a potential candidate could and should do, based on what they’ve done in the past. Everything seems to be based on what used to be, and not on what talent, desires, creativity, and hobbies reveal about a person.

We often talk about setting boundaries, and that we don't easily recognize our own. We seem to create boundaries only after something serious has happened, or we simply get old enough to understand what is acceptable for us. But, when it comes to looking for new work, the forbidden change, we have created such a box around what we think is necessary and right for us, that we find ourselves trapped in it!

We are so accustomed to following patterns that we forget to open our minds to new opportunities for work, relationships, and our well being. I certainly would not suggest that a bank robber should become a cop, or that a dentist should become an electrician, but I think people have become way too conditioned to live within the box of their resume. It seems that the most frequent phrase spoken by job seekers is "I used to", when they should be saying, "I love to, I could try, or I think I’d be good at". We also seem to believe that age is discriminated against. He is too young or she is too old is ridiculous. But what’s even worse, is when I hear from job applicants that they themselves think they are too old or too young for a certain job. There is that terrible box again, limitations created only by themselves.

Self esteem is a complex topic. We often limit ourselves before even opening up to the idea that anything is possible. We should look outside our past, the patterns we are stuck in, and the limiting beliefs we have put into our own brains. If we started writing resumes based on our futures, what we hope to accomplish based on what we love to do, what gives us energy, and what our talents are, perhaps we could rewrite our paths. Imagine, looking for a job or hiring someone based on having no limitations, just creativity, desire, and happiness. Perhaps we would not be so scared of change, if we could just stretch that box to dream of a future where we loved our jobs, our work, and our relationships.

Are you really living paycheck to paycheck?

2011-11-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

I had a conversation with someone recently about living paycheck to paycheck. I have scraped loose change together to get dinner at 7-11 in the past so I understand that way of life. Living day to day, working hard, and having no extra cash available is very stressful. Some industries pay every 30-45 days, so budgeting for that is difficult. It is tough to live hand to mouth whether someone is being paid too little to live on or being paid too sporadically. For most people, being paid is the incentive for showing up to work, of course there are exceptions. But when it comes down to eating versus not eating, the amount of money someone makes and the frequency of being paid matters.

The conversation I had which sparked today’s column, took a different turn when I felt empathy and began asking questions. That is when I learned that living paycheck to paycheck means different things to different people. This gentleman was frustrated that he had no savings and was working hard. So, I asked about his RRSPs, which it turns out he maxes out every year and his company matches his contributions. To him that was just part of his monthly expenses, and did not constitute savings. To me that is what RRSPs are, savings for later in life, a nest egg, and the company matching is a large sum to be considered in his annual compensation. I asked him about his home, which he owns, but of course has a mortgage. I say that owning a home is a privilege, and shows that this person is not living paycheck to paycheck. A mortgage is necessary to own the asset, unless you are extremely wealthy.

I asked this man about other debt, specifically, if he had any credit card debt. He said he doesn’t like to use credit cards, because he doesn’t want to have debt. And if he does use them, he’ll always pay them off at the end of the month. Paycheck to paycheck to me means credit cards are maxed, and certainly no home ownership with substantial equity! I asked if he had any past student loans, which are tough to pay back? The answer was no. I then found out that he had just bought a new car, and was feeling the pinch of paying a down payment on that. Oh, and he’d just booked a holiday with his family, so he felt he had no money left over after paying it off. Personally, that is not my idea of living paycheck to paycheck, that is what I call living!

I say people who are really living paycheck to paycheck cannot afford a house, a car, a trip, and RRSPs. But, I guess he felt he was not making enough money to meet his financial goals. I say the conversation should have been about that, and not comparing himself to those who really do search for spare change to put food on the table.

OMG, what is happening to our language?

2011-11-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

Common workplace language has changed over the last decade. Perhaps our fast moving technology era has forced us to react quicker than we can think. We certainly have learned to abbreviate communication to the shortest possible character when we write, text, and even speak. But everything seems to be moving in that direction. Sometimes, I don’t even know what people are saying but others are laughing, so I L.O.L. too.

Lately, I have also noticed that in some workplaces, profanity is a norm. I have been guilty of a trucker mouth myself, but I am trying to contain it, especially at work. But, I have heard stories of workplaces where swearing is part of the everyday conversations with customers and staff. Maybe if this language style is the norm for all parties it could be acceptable, but it still comes out sounding aggressive and insulting no matter how many people are using profanity at work.

Tone is also a big part of language; how words come out can be considered sarcasm, the lowest form of wit. Perhaps we should take a moment to consider the ramifications in the workplace, before we swear, insult, or throw out sarcastic remarks. Seems people no longer take the time to think about asking thoughtful questions, being polite, listening, and making eye contact with customers and co-workers. Instead, we bark orders, and pay more attention to our phones vibrating texts than we do to the people we are with.

Language is now based on physical characters on a keyboard; the shorter the better. The world is changing and we all need to change with it, but I hope we can still find a way to connect with people, communicate with each other face to face, wait for an answer to a question, put our personal devices aside for a moment, and treat each other with respect.

As we learn to communicate at the speed of text or tweet, I hope we don’t lose the value of respectful language. If we can continue to think before we say something rude, abrupt, or out of context, our workplaces and our personal lives might be happier places to be. Next time we abbreviate something, perhaps we should take a quick look at it, to see if the word has other meanings in that form.
Although, one abbreviation I’ll never mix up is K.D.; I think I’ll make a box for lunch.

Could you live with less?

2011-11-08T13:25:00.001-07:00

My husband and I often talk about what we could live with or without. We say we could move into a small condo, perhaps a two bedroom, as long as there’s a closet big enough for all my shoes!

After working for over thirty years and raising three sons, we certainly have accumulated a lot of things. Our house is perfect for a family of five, a tad too big for two, but we have all lived normal, middle-class lives. I think people live within their scope of income for the most part, and perhaps to an extent to the job position or title they hold. No one wants to go backwards or scale down; having less is not the North American way. We want more, we want bigger, and some cannot fathom living with less. Any of us who felt the negative impact of this past recession had to rethink the importance of the size of our house, our savings, and our shopping bags.

As we head into our November 11th Remembrance Day, make sure to take a moment to remember those who fought our battles, those who won and those who lost. November 11th was set to celebrate the end of World War 1, and in Canada, we pay tribute to those who died in any war. At 11 O’clock, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, in 2011, observe the two minutes of silence to remember those gone. I think we should also take an extra moment to be grateful for what we have, and think about what we could live without. Not that we have to give anything up, but could we? If we lost our jobs, our money, and our homes, but we still had our loved ones, our futures, and our minds, would we be OK? Could we downsize at work or at home? Could we live without going to restaurants or on vacations if we had to?

Most of us started our adult lives with very little, and yet we are attached to our purchases. We are attached to our jobs, and yet, we quit, move on, get laid off, and we move through that process. We should be attached to people, and we should appreciate them more; that should be part of the conversations we have this week when we are remembering those lost at war, or otherwise.

Buy a poppy and support the veterans! 11:11:11:11 will never happen again, one time only, this week! Think about what you could live without, and what you could not live without, and then take that extra moment to be grateful, and remember those who fought for us. Lest we forget.

Can people change?

2011-10-24T15:02:00.000-06:00

Can people change? This topic can be quite controversial. Governments certainly don’t think people change, but parole boards might. Parents usually think their own children can change, but that other parents’ children cannot. Employers think job seekers won’t change, which is why they rarely consider candidates who have a history of jumping jobs. We generally assume extended family can’t change, but maybe friends can? What about environments; they can change so why can’t people change along with that? I know most women change when they have children, but everyone says women can’t change men.

Change needs to be constant, especially at work. Technology is changing at the speed of light and every job now, or soon, will have an element of technology in it. If we think about the use of the internet over the past 15 years, and the use of cell phones, cars, and even environmental technology, the change has been astronomical. People are lost without being connected 24/7. We have all learned to manage the change in technology, but we may not like to change ourselves. At least most of us understand that change is a necessary part of life!

The staffing industry would not exist if people did not change jobs, quit, get laid off, or take maternity or paternity leaves. Our industry relies on businesses changing, growing, or downsizing. But most people still don't like change of any kind. Bosses dislike having to rehire, retrain, and redevelop employees. Coworkers dislike it when teammates leave and someone new has to come on board.

So, do people change? Should we give someone a second chance to prove they have changed for the better? Should we hire new employees who have a sketchy work history? How many chances should we give people? Should there be a rule, or number, like there are for workplace warnings? Once bitten, twice shy? Try one technology, and if it doesn't work, be leery of the next one. Try one employee, and if that one doesn’t work out, very carefully pick another, or don't, and do the work yourself. Try one date, one relationship, or one friend, and if one does not work out, only try one more, then never again. Accept only one career in a lifetime, because if that one does not work out, there will only be one more opportunity to be the one and only. See how ridiculous this all is? Just because we are afraid of change, or accepting people who are trying to change, or are looking for a change, we are creating this unwinnable argument around change. We should be working on how to embrace change not fight it…unless I change my mind about that.

Would you trade your life for someone else's?

2011-10-11T09:38:00.002-06:00

When I am preparing to write my weekly blog post, I run the last few weeks over in my mind looking for some type of pattern or theme. Usually, I can figure out what to write about based on recurring topics brought up by others, myself, or in the media. I often eavesdrop on conversations, especially when I hear the words boss, work, resume, job, or anything related to employment. For the past few weeks I have stated to several people that “I would not trade my life for anyone else’s on this planet”. Now, I am not super rich, incredibly attractive, or extraordinarily intelligent, but I sure am happy with my life overall. Perhaps I started saying this because the people around me have been complaining a lot lately and always seem to want more. I do think it’s important for people to strive for more or better, but I do believe in being thankful for what you do have.

I recently travelled to the United States for a conference, and I love it there. I love the people, the weather, the shopping and the cheaper prices, but I would not trade being Canadian with anyone from any country. We have fresh air, beautiful mountains, clean water, and an abundance of other natural resources to go around. We have our freedoms, an established health care system, and we are a friendly nation. We have tons of good jobs with low unemployment rates, and we have a society of mostly middle class working people with a very small population of poor and even smaller population of rich.

If you have a stable job, be thankful. If you are healthy, be thankful. If you have people who support you in your life choices, be thankful. If you have people in your life that you can trust, and who trust you, be thankful. If you are able to travel and explore the world, be thankful. If you qualified for the statutory holiday, be thankful. If you were able to be around family and friends for Thanksgiving, be thankful. My husband says to be thankful you were not a turkey this past weekend! Ok, let’s be thankful for that too.

Have we become a society where customers are not welcome?

2011-10-04T09:39:00.000-06:00

We break, we cry, you break, you buy! No food, drinks, or smoking. No skateboards or rollerblades allowed. No cell phones please. Wow, how inviting. And how about, only applicants being considered for an interview will be contacted! Ok, I actually understand that one, as candidates mass applying for jobs don’t even remember what they applied for, let alone which companies they applied to.

On the employers’ side, one publicized ad may draw upwards of 1000 applicants, with perhaps none or very few who are qualified to actually do the job. At my staffing agency, we interview and place candidates all day long; we screen applicants for a living and we don’t have time to contact everyone who sends in a resume! Many applicants are outside of our city, province, or country, so we cannot consider all of them. But, we do accept all applicants, regardless of anything! We want tons of phone calls and resumes. We want great employers to hire candidates from us, and we want as many choices of candidates for our clients as possible. We don’t have a sign on our door that turns people away!

I wonder how those stores are doing that turn people away before they walk in to browse. I wonder if store owners realize that someone walking by with a coffee and a pocket full of cash will continue walking past a door that clearly shows a sign with a coffee cup and a red line through it. On the flip side, I have seen door fronts with a real dog, big and hairy, lying across the entrance, inviting dog people in! I walk past those doors, because I am allergic to animals, sadly! But, I wonder how many other people may be afraid of dogs, or have the same allergy, and cannot go inside to spend money.

Have we become a society where customers are not welcome? A community where people are uninvited through signs and ads? Do I have to remind business owners, employers, and managers about what we experienced during the boom, when the unemployment rate was down near three percent? Do I need to remind people about the recession we just wiggled our way out of? Have we learned anything at all in the last five years about service and the importance of attracting and retaining customers and employees? How about putting up a sign that says ‘All Customers Welcome’? Or, ‘All Applicants Welcome’? Come in, call us, ask us questions, give us your resume, and show us your interest in our company!

Are businesses inadvertently turning valuable candidates and customers away, perhaps only thinking about short term damages or time restraints? Think about THAT while sipping your coffee today.

Effective communication is the key to success!

2011-09-22T14:39:00.001-06:00

I often get asked about what I think it takes to be successful in business, and in life. I have often heard answers such as a sense of humour, determination, and flexibility. But, as I reflect on past issues and successes, and my personal and professional long term relationships, I have to say my key to success is effective communication! Tons and tons of communication, in various types and forms, with constant feedback, is the key to all successful relationships.

Over the years of placing and hiring thousands of people, I have learned a lot about expectations, and communicating them clearly is rule # 1. If people don’t know what is expected of them, how can they succeed? I completely believe in job descriptions, as long as they are accurate and comprehensive enough for employees to know what the objective of the job is and what it takes to do it right.

If two parties do not agree to something but take the time to discuss it, the issue may be solvable. But, if they do not communicate effectively, nothing will change or one will choose to leave. Issues and misunderstandings will occur, but how someone decides to work through the problem is the key. Marriages and family relations are like that. The more communication, the better! Many people were taught to keep their feelings to themselves, keep their emotions under wraps, and to not talk about family matters, but that creates tension that does not have an outlet. Other people are taught to communicate passionately, whether in conflict or in love, and I believe those relationships are stronger than those which are generally silent.

Workplaces are similar to family dynamics; people need to be social in some way, they need to be appreciated and understood, and certainly they need an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about their work. I know for a fact, that if someone does not feel comfortable communicating with a manager or co-workers, they will spill their guts to someone else, perhaps another employer or competitor.

There are many communication styles and personality types, but that is irrelevant. The style, as long as it is respectful, doesn’t matter. The ability to communicate, however, does matter. Employees want to be heard and want a vehicle to communicate with each other and with their bosses. Spouses need to communicate what is working or not working for them, and then need to listen to their partners. Everyone needs to be able to share what they want or don’t want, how they feel or don’t feel, and what their expectations are, as they see it. That is the sort of open communication that will lead to a successful life!

Think twice before you toss

2011-09-15T13:22:00.000-06:00

Our fast moving world has created a society of acceptable impatience. Technology is changing so fast that instant updates and upgrades are the new norm. We get frustrated and stressed out if we don’t have instant access to anything we want within seconds of asking. We expect the next version of everything, faster than it can be created. We buy, we toss, we buy more and toss again, so quickly that new becomes yesterday’s news.

Job seekers want to click, search, and apply for jobs without effort, from the comfort of their homes. They expect to find the right job fit within a day or two. They even start to consider themselves unemployable if they search online for a few minutes, send out some resumes, and do not get a reply or job offer by the next day! Hiring authorities are also impatient. Resumes are tossed if there is any kind of gap or missing information, let alone a spelling error. Managers expect to be able to post a job, screen candidates, and hire the perfect person within a day or two of posting!

Many employees are not thinking twice about quitting their jobs, because they will just get another one, with a quick search and apply. And many employers are letting employees go if they do not appear to be the perfect fit, because they can be replaced with a quick online job posting.

We are quick to get rid of relationships if they are not perfect. Why work at something, when there are other relationships available through a click or two? Our communities are merging human needs and desires with super fast changing information, which is readily available and gives immediate gratification. All this is resulting in a world of impatient people with often unrealistic expectations.

I hope we do find a way to instil patience as a needed quality or trait going forward, so our throw away society will start to think twice before throwing out important and meaningful relationships, careers, and events!

15 years in a box

2011-09-06T12:19:00.001-06:00

My mother recently gave me a box with pictures and items from me growing up from 0-15 years old. When I was a small child, I dreamed of being a teacher, like my mother, or a flight attendant, even though I had never been on a plane at that time. I thought it was interesting that even at the young age of 4 or 5, I was deciding what career I would go into. I don’t think anyone ever thought of being a recruiter at that age, but the job did exist back then. My chosen industry has been around since the 1920’s! But we seem to fall into our careers, rather than plan for them as a kindergarten student. Looking through this box of personal treasures, I started to think about life cycles, and although we often hear about the seven year itch or decades at a time, we rarely hear about 15 year cycles.

0-15 we figure out if we are social or introverted, we do what we are told but try to be as independent as possible. We go to the schools that we have to, most likely close to home, and we get to know our neighborhood. We dream of being teachers or flight attendants, firemen or police officers, astronauts or the prime minister! The next cycle of 15-30 is perhaps about reality setting in, with some stupid but maybe fun mistakes. We pick our careers or jobs, educate (or attempt to) ourselves in the career paths we chose, usually with some guidance from parents or mentors. Most people learn about love and dating during this cycle. Driver’s licenses, and for some, marriage licenses come in this cycle, along with a true sense of freedom and perhaps even some travel. Now the 30-45 cycle, this cycle goes by faster than lightening! Work, careers, homes, relationships, children, debt, credit, goals, discussions around futures, planning, and maybe more travel, but with very little discretionary cash! Then it’s 45-60! I’ve just started this cycle. So far, a little slower than the rest, pictures become more important, families start to grow up, career becomes second nature, wisdom is obvious, and life is becoming too short. More freedom to do what is most important, money should be easier to work with, more planning, everything becomes about the future, about the people close by, what and who deserves our time and space, and making wiser decisions around lifestyles and matters of importance.

What’s ahead for 60-75? I don’t know. My 15 years at a time in a box currently only goes up to 45.5 for me, and 51 for my husband. But as I look at my first 15 years in a box, and think about my career plans then, I am beginning to dream and hope for my last 15-30 years, and what I might want to do then? Open an ice cream shop, perhaps? I will probably have grandchildren by then, who will want to hear stories about my years in several boxes, and my children will be asking for career and family advice. I will have tons of time to do that, while I scoop double chocolate mint ice cream into sugar cones!

What your boss is really thinking...

2011-08-22T15:11:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I wonder if employees really know what their bosses are thinking. Being a boss myself for over 15 years, I have heard a zillion excuses for everything work related, and I certainly have my own thoughts and opinions about what is really going on. I do try to be somewhat empathetic and I am quite patient, but sometimes I can’t help but think certain things when I hear what sound like lame excuses. So, I thought it’d be entertaining to write about some of the standard excuses bosses hear from their employees, and what the bosses are really thinking.

When an employee calls in sick, especially after a long weekend, the boss says, “hope you feel better tomorrow”, but really thinks, “Ya right, hung over? You better show up tomorrow”. When the employee says, “I am stuck in traffic, got a flat tire, car wouldn’t start”, the boss says, “OK, hurry up”, but means, “Ugh, woke up late again? Get your act together and get in here.” How about when the employee says, “I’ve got a doctor’s appointment” or even worse, “I got into a car accident”, both synonymous with “I am going for an interview today”. Or how about when the employee says they “don’t have enough time to do their job and need overtime”. Ok, sometimes that can be true, as some workplaces are swamped. But, often the employees have taken extensive breaks, checking personal emails, texting, and updating their Facebook statuses all during work hours, then complain about not having enough time!

Bosses get really good at seeing through lies and excuses. Yes, sometimes you really do have a doctor’s appointment, get into a car accident, or catch the flu over a long weekend, but more often than not, these are used as excuses and bosses aren’t buying it.

I have written many articles on how to ask for a raise, but when the employee says, “I need a raise”, the boss is thinking, “What are you doing that deserves a raise? Tell me, show me, and prove to me why you’ve earned a raise.” But the boss may say, “Let me look at the budget”. And of course, my favourite employee conversation is , “I quit” says the employee, leading the boss to think one of a few things, either “I knew it”, “Thank goodness”, or “Oh man, I just spent a fortune on training you, paying out your benefits, or giving you bonuses”, but instead will say, “I wish you the very best”!

Of course, there are also more positive conversations that take place between employees and bosses, so let’s end with a couple of those. When the employee says, “I can do that for you”, the boss is thinking, “Really? You can? Awesome, I will be very happy if you do successfully take this off my plate.” Or even better, when the employee says, “I love my job”, sincerely not sarcastically, the boss thinks, “Really? Phew! I hate hiring”.

Employees are on the move as employment market heats up!

2011-08-16T11:35:00.002-06:00

After a recession comes turnover! Employees who waited until the recession was over to start looking for a change are now starting their job search. Those who have been stressed, treated poorly, underpaid, or overworked are seizing the opportunity to get into a new career as the job market heats up. I don’t think there is a story or reason why an employee chooses to leave their employer that I have not heard in my 22 years in this industry! And most the reasons are very common. Employers, read on; if you do not want a lot of turnover as the job market tightens, you better be sure you know what is going on with your employees. And for employees, read on also, as you will relate.

One of the most common reasons employees leave their jobs is that the job is not what they thought it was going to be when the were first hired. Often the boss will attempt to write a job description and sell a candidate on the job without really knowing the reality of the job! Another common reason for quitting is that the job doesn’t connect with the employee’s skills or interests. This just means that the interview process was not in-depth enough to determine that. Lack of communication or feedback is another popular reason for quitting. At my staffing agency, we often hear about employees who have never had critical feedback or a performance review, ever. But the most common reason we hear from employees as to why they quit their jobs, is that they do not feel valued or recognized for their efforts. Sometimes this takes a little time to push them over the edge, but eventually employees will leave for this reason.

Stress leaves and employees quitting because of stress is also a major issue for all businesses that cut back during the recession. What many employers do not realize is that stress levels cannot remain constant; there must be some reprieve for people. Short term stress is manageable, but years of constant stress forces people to breakdown and take a leave or quit. I can’t even count the number of times I have heard “I can’t take it anymore” by employees! Jobs are just not worth that kind of ongoing agony. During the recession, when there were little to no jobs available, many employees hung on to their jobs, worked overtime and took pay cuts, because they had to put food on the table. Now there are choices, so the employees who have had enough are walking.

Lastly, a lack of trust in the leader is one of the least discussed reasons, yet is one of the top reasons for employees leaving. If you look at all the reasons given, the common thread is related to the boss. Whether an employee comes right out and says it or not, the boss is usually behind the reasons for people quitting their jobs.

Pay attention bosses; do you know how your employees are feeling? Or are you going to lose them in a hot job market?

The early bird gets the work

2011-08-04T09:27:00.000-06:00

Many candidates are waiting for the summer to be over before they start or resume their job search. Many employers are also waiting until the candidate market opens up in September, thinking that there will be tons of employee choices in the fall, similar to 2009 and 2010. Well, we’ve got another thing coming.

The economic outlook for Alberta is forecasting for a very busy September, and a job boom is expected this fall, with a shortage of qualified candidates. I believe that the smartest candidates will start looking for work now, ahead of their competition.

The flurry of activity expected for September will send shock waves through our communities. Employers believe they will have a multitude of choices, but they won’t. Instead, many employers will find themselves settling for anyone, just like they did prior to 2008. Good candidates will have their pick of juicy jobs, and yes, there will be more competition in September, when all the people who waited until summer vacations are over to start their job search flood the market. But the smartest employers are beginning the hiring process now. Anyone who reads the economic reports can see what is coming. Employers who are afraid of the September hiring rush should look at being proactive and begin the interview process now, choosing from potential candidates with the most initiative.

Usually candidates flood the market in September, because no one wants to change jobs during summer vacation season when the weather is hot and kids are out of school. But this year, employers will not have the luxury of choosing to hire from a large pool of qualified candidates, because the numbers just won’t add up. The flood of qualified job seekers will instead be a trickling stream, as the best get snapped up quicker than they have in over two years. The hottest employers will be able to compete, with added benefits, flex time, options, and higher wages (hello Oil and Gas), but the rest of the employers who cannot compete with lush industries will have to compromise or offer a truly exceptional workplace.

The early bird gets the work; the choices will start in August, not September. We all know another boom is coming for Alberta, but those job seekers and employers who take action before the expected rush will win the game. The fall is an awesome time of change and we have seen this cycle before, many times over. But, instead of waiting until the leaves change colour and panic sets in, start the process early this time and come out ahead!

Sizzling or Fizzling Summer Motivation?

2011-07-28T09:33:00.000-06:00

Getting motivated to work this time of year, in the middle of the summer and hot sunny weather, can be difficult. It seems that everyone I talk to either has had weeks and weeks of time off or has had no time off at all, one extreme or the other.

The phrase “of his own volition” has come up quite a bit in my network circles this summer, meaning that some people are motivated to get things done and make the most of a busy economy, making hay while the sun shines, while others are not. We’re finally coming out of a tough recession, and while our American friends may still face some difficult days ahead, we Westerners seem to be pretty pumped about getting busy and making some dough now that the stars are aligning for us.

Those who have had the pleasure of taking many weeks of vacation time off this year to relax, I am jealous of! But at the same time, I’ve watched many people work harder this summer than any summer before, maybe to make up for the financial difficulties of the past couple years. There certainly appears to be no middle ground, no perfect eight hours per day, Monday to Friday, with a one hour lunch and two 15 minute coffee breaks, and a relaxing two week vacation. Instead, there is work to do and many people are motivated to get it done, choosing the option to start early and stay late, of their own free will, to feel like they are accomplishing something in 2011, while the summer is whizzing by quickly. Of course, there are teachers and related educational people who take the summers off, and there are seasonal workers who take the winters off, but most employees are working through this summer with no real break in sight!

Very strange summer we are having here in Alberta, very busy or very lazy, super pumped or super tired, not a minute to breathe or days filled with naps and long walks! I think both roads are awesome, because overall, our employee pool is happy, motivated, and positive about our province’s future. We do need to be thankful for living in our province, where we have the freedom to choose to work, play, travel, spend, save, or bounce back from anything thrown at us!

Phew, Stampede is over!

2011-07-19T08:58:00.002-06:00

It’s a good thing Stampede only last ten days. Didn’t I begin Stampede with a yahoo? Well, that was a long ten days ago and I’m happy to see it come to an end for another year.

There are many great things about Stampede, the yummy food, fun games and rides, watching the brave cowboys ride bulls at the rodeo, all the amazing concerts, and the great tourists who come to our city to experience Stampede, even royalty! But, everyday for ten days straight is enough for another year. We could not live like this every single day, with the lack of sleep and sometimes memory, long line ups, big crowds, heavy traffic, high costs, the apologies, and little productivity at work for the non-hospitality employed.

I think we all need to follow Stampede with a sleep in day, where we can laze around in our pjs, have coffee in bed, flick channels, and recover from having no voice left. It’s kind of sad, when the high is done, family and friends leave town, and the free breakfasts are finished. We get back into our normal routine, up early, and dressed professionally (no more cowboy boots). We will try to remember everyone we met, looking through business cards and sending out follow up emails and texts. We’ll hit the gym to try and work off all the beer and mini donuts we’ve consumed, and start cleaning up whatever other messes we created during Stampede Week, so we can get back to the way things were before Stampede took over our lives.

Thank goodness we don’t live the Stampede life every day, but boy is it fun, and so great for our city. Stampede puts us on the map and visitors love and remember it for life. I think we made some money for our city this year, and we needed that boost!

Perhaps we should start planning for next year’s Stampede, booking days off to enjoy the festivities and figuring out how to pace ourselves more effectively so we do not get as burnt out. Ah, I think I said that at the end of Stampede last year but then I forgot, and got wrapped up in the day to day crazy fun once again. Until next year!

When Stampede rolls into town, where do everyones manners go?

2011-07-11T16:58:00.001-06:00

Has anyone noticed that respect takes on a whole new form during Stampede Week in Calgary? As Canadians, we are conditioned to be considerate of personal space, to respect our workplace, and are born with innate kindness, most of the time. But for some reason, when along comes Stampede, all respect of all kind seems to go straight out the window. Sure, the majority of people are trying to be patient during traffic jams, long lineups, big crowds, and when waiting for absolutely everything, but trying to work or get anything normal done during Stampede seems nearly impossible.

Some years I think of leaving town, to create some personal space for myself during this time of year, but then I think I might miss a great concert or party. I like to think of Stampede Week as unpredictable but expected. We know we won’t get much work done; we know we will fight with our parking guards; and we know that half the city will call in “sick” at some point over these ten days. We know that we will meet new and existing clients on patios, at functions, and walking down the street. We know we will eat too many carbs and fried foods, drink too much alcohol, and spend too much money. We also know that the entertainment will be fabulous; we will have more fun than we can normally handle; and will get almost nothing accomplished at work.

There are some important things to keep in mind as you enjoy the Stampede festivities. One, don’t bite the hand that feeds you (i.e. respect your boss and your co-workers)! Two, this is not the week to quit your job or line up a job interview, because things may look different next week. Three, if you have a work commitment, keep it; everyone knows that Stampede is here, so book the time off if you need it. Four, remember your vows, if you’ve taken any with your significant other, because one week of this much fun is not worth a lifetime of payback. For some reason, people tend to appear much better looking during Stampede (especially if you’ve been spending too much time in the beer tent)! But next week, everyone goes back to how they normally look, act, and are. Lastly, don’t push boundaries this week; respect personal space, work space, and traffic space! And if your space is being pushed in any way, just smile, breathe, and relax. Stampede only lasts 10 days, so we should all be able to survive it! Happy Stampeding everyone!

"Temping" a great way to earn extra income over the summer months

2011-06-27T13:55:00.002-06:00

Vacation planning is well underway for most of us, as kids are getting out of school and the weather is finally warming up! The staffing industry is gearing up for a busy temporary vacation coverage season. The unemployment rate is sitting just above five percent which is quite low, so finding temporary vacation coverage for the summer is going to be much more difficult than what we’ve gotten used to. Thankfully, there is an influx of high school and college students looking for summer work.

Some job seekers may not realize the importance and benefits of working temporarily through a staffing agency, especially those who have never considered it. “Temping” is a way of life for many people, and for employers, having temporary staff available on the market, helps to fill a very important employment gap. Some people need work for shorter terms, perhaps around family lives, education, or to keep working while searching for the right full time role.

Often, “temps” choose to work for staffing agencies because they’re not quite sure what they want to do as a career, or where to start looking for opportunities. Staffing companies work with employers to fill job gaps, for any reason, such as summer vacations, sick day coverage, maternity leaves, resignations, terminations, or a sudden increase in workload. Staffing agencies offer a fast and accurate way for employers to fill roles, from junior to executive, from administration, sales, technical, management, light industrial, and everything in between! Anyone looking for work over the summer months should consider applying with an agency. Staffing agencies are employers of temporaries, and having an agency as your employer will look good on a resume.

Temping can be a fun way to try out various jobs for different companies, in multiple industries, in a flexible and nonthreatening way. I fell into the staffing industry because I applied as a temp, for the summer of 1990. I was a graduate from Mount Royal, and the agency I met with saw more potential than I saw in myself! You just never know where applying with a staffing agency will get you; this is coming from a true believer!

Celebrating 15 years of business

2011-06-15T10:41:00.002-06:00

This month marks my company’s 15th year of business. I never know whether to call it a birthday or anniversary, because I certainly feel like About Staffing was born this month, 15 years ago. Realistically, being a mother of three and being married to my company, I guess an anniversary is more appropriate. Owning a company like mine certainly is as much work as a marriage; everyday is somewhat of a struggle, has its ups and downs, requires a huge commitment, and is a risk. There are great days that make me laugh, and bad days that make me cry.

Relationships have come and gone, including employees, vendors, clients and candidates. Some I forget the minute they end, and some I will never forget. We have moved our offices a few times, we have tried some new things, and some things never change.

On one hand, 15 years flew by; it feels like yesterday when I began with nothing but a big brick cell phone and a phonebook, a nice suit and a lot of guts. On the other hand, the lessons we have learned, the awards we have been recognized for, and the resources we now have access to, seem like a lifetime of accomplishments.

About Staffing’s 5th anniversary was a class act; I was proud to say thank you to the 100 or so clients that showed up. Our 10th anniversary was an edgy support for Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, were we hosted a show for 150 clients who supported us and our community as a whole. A couple weekends ago, our 15th anniversary party had a turn out of over 200 people, including clients, vendors, employees, friends and family.

I guess it is really great that over the years, the numbers are getting greater and the relationships are getting easier, more comfortable, and more authentic. The ups and downs that still exist are less dramatic, still stressful, but a little easier to manage. We still celebrate every success, even really small ones; that is something we have always done. I still try to learn a lesson from every hardship or failure. Sometimes I don’t realize the lesson for awhile, but I eventually have an “Aha” moment, and know why I needed the lesson. I am a little more cautious now, with age and wisdom, as I am not quite as adventurous or as naïve as I was, when I first started this relationship with my company. I still get worn out every once in awhile, and want something new and exciting to create the spark that weans with time. But I also know that experience is comforting, and taking a short break is usually all I need to realize what I have built and how truly great it is.

15 years is probably only halfway for me, so I can’t wait to see what my fantastic company will teach me or bring me over the next 15 years. Happy Anniversary About Staffing!

Staffing for Canada Week

2011-06-08T15:38:00.000-06:00

This week marks Staffing for Canada Week. There are thousands of industries, and many have been around for decades, but few have existed as long as the Staffing industry. Most people don’t realize that the business of recruitment and temporary staffing is one of the most successful long standing industries. I have many good friends in the Staffing industry, and I am not aware of any other group of competitors in any type of industry who truly like each other, understand each other, and share with each other, like the Staffing industry. This type of work is not for everyone, certainly not for the weak hearted, and we work very hard to place the right candidates with our clients.

As the unemployment rate continues to fall, sourcing candidates becomes more and more difficult. Staffing agencies need to be the best, the fastest, and the most attractive to candidates. Stress levels begin to rise when clients need to hire quickly, and the pressure can be unimaginable. We are trained to read between the lines, assess people quickly and accurately, and to think outside the box every minute of every day. Sometimes our industry makes the employment world look easy, because we live and breathe staffing; we are professionals and we are required to be licensed.

The staffing industry pros need to know a lot about human resources, labour standards, human rights, privacy issues, and enough on virtually every other industry we fill positions for in order to truly understand our clients’ needs. We watch the unemployment rates, and pay attention to world events and the local economy, so that we are prepared to fill jobs quickly and accurately. We try to understand what people want and need, what businesses can live with and without, in a very small window of time, and get it right the first time. We serve a purpose, filling short and long term job requirements, and sometimes we don’t know which it will be.

We care about our clients and our candidates, and we care about each other. Most industries do not communicate like the Staffing industry; we, whether big, small, specialized, generalists, new or old, all share the same desire to place as many candidates as possible in the right roles. And we play an important role in supporting our community, keeping businesses operating smoothly.

The staffing industry is not the easiest way to make a living, but it is extremely fulfilling, and the rewards come with the relationships that are built overtime. Our industry has survived many lows, from the great depression through to this last recession, and we continue to look forward, to greater things to come, such as the growing need for workplace flexibility.

Very few industries have earned the right to celebrate a week in their honour, so for those touched by the Staffing industry, Happy Staffing for Canada Week! I, for one, am proud to be a part of the Staffing industry, and I know my staffing friends are too.

Acing that interview starts from the moment you apply.

2011-05-27T13:50:00.000-06:00

It is the end of May and as we quickly approach the summer months, students are beginning to think about summer employment, graduates are starting to think about career planning, and non student applicants are starting to worry about the increased competition due to the influx of recent grads. This means it’s time for me to reiterate the importance of making a great first impression.

Planning for an interview begins long before the actual interview takes place. It is during the application process that you should start planning for that perfect interview. Don’t go blasting out a bunch of resumes, all willy-nilly, if you will be unavailable to interview because of exams or summer vacation plans. Be available to interview and track where your resumes are going, so if you have to go to an interview on short notice, you seem prepared. Before applying, do some research on the company and on what direction they are looking to go, so you have some cool points to talk about. When you are booked for the interview, get proper directions to the location, get the name of the interviewer, and ask if you should bring anything with you.

My frontend team recently informed me that candidates clearly need a reminder about proper interview etiquette. When you walk into the interview location, be organized and on time. Arrive five to fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled interview time with at least one empty hand, so you can shake hands, open doors, and pull out a chair. Don’t bring anything with you that is considered casual or unprofessional, like a coffee, a bunch of shopping bags, or a mish mash of technology. Look polished and dress appropriately for the type of company you are applying with, not necessarily just the job you applied for.

Walk in with a smile and kindly let the receptionist know who you are there to meet. Remember that the receptionist is someone who already works where you want to work, they have some influence, and they will talk about you when you leave. Never complain about anything when you are waiting for the interviewer, except maybe the weather, everyone can relate to that. Just don’t complain about parking, the time of day, how far the location is from home, or anything along those lines. Your first impression should be a positive capture of who you are, clean, organized and upbeat. Making a great first impression will be passed along to the hiring authority, and may give you a leg up on the job seeker competition.

It is the small details that can make the big difference in getting you your dream job offer.

To reach your destination, requires a little planning.

2011-05-19T16:29:00.001-06:00

People often choose the most comfortable route in life. Whatever their destination may be, the familiar route is an easy choice. Most of us take the time to plan our way to work based on transit schedules or traffic jams. Either way, most people spend more time planning their morning commute than they do the direction of their lives.

We should all take the time to decide what we want the outcome of our lives to be, and realize the journey required to get there. Then, we should plan that journey, and have contingency plans in place in order to deal with any obstacles we may encounter so we are prepared when things don’t go perfectly.

The journey of life is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs. Yet, most people are still shocked when something happens that is unexpected. We should plan for emergencies like a job layoff or a family birth or death, all inevitable at some point in life. When we are challenged by something truly unexpected, it’s also very important to have a strong network of support, including friends, family, and neighbors who we can rely on for help when we need it most.

Change can be scary. People are often afraid of going the wrong way or hitting a dead end, and ending up worse off than if they had just maintained course. But, if we take the time to analyze the potential outcomes of our choices, we will see that most of our fear is irrational, that the potential rewards are worth the risks, and that we can overcome the fear with positive, rational thinking and planning.

Time is flying by and we are not taking enough time to plan our futures! Today, plan a short journey through the month of June, and set a goal to reach by month’s end. What do we want this month to look like? Our careers, our relationships, and our finances should all have a planned outcome of some sort. Are we happy with our current journey? What can we do about any sudden bumps in the road that may arise? Fulfillment takes planning and execution. Take a few minutes today to plan your journey, for the month, for the year, or for your lifetime, but definitely more than tomorrow’s travel route to work.

The signs of hiring are all around us

2011-04-26T09:35:00.002-06:00

As I was driving into work, I noticed all the “help wanted” signs on store windows, restaurants, and warehouses - What a change from the last couple of springs! What happened in the last year?

We know the unemployment rate has consistently fallen since last summer. We are currently sitting around a 5.7 percent unemployment rate, which is very close to a balanced labour market. This low rate means that low level pay scale jobs will be more difficult to fill as better paying jobs become more readily available, leading companies to compete for talented candidates.

Oil prices have also risen over the past year. The price of gas upsets most consumers, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck. I am very happy to see oil and gas prices rising, because it means companies are succeeding, increasing revenues and increasing spending, which also means more jobs for Albertans!

Last Easter we were still in recovery, beginning to balance, but certainly not growing. The Easter before last, I was completely panicking about business. Our revenue was dropping and no one was hiring. But, here we are, a true celebration for me, for my competitors, and for businesses now ready to hire once again.

If you're not satisfied with your pay, don't just complain about it!

2011-04-19T15:41:00.004-06:00

I was watching a talk show recently and off the cuff, the host said she was not paid enough for this gig. What? Edit, edit! I actually could not believe she said that on national television. Being in the business of staffing, hiring and placing people in jobs, and sometimes out of jobs, I felt like giving her some advice. Of course I can’t, but I certainly can write about it, just in case anyone reading this is contemplating saying “I am not paid enough for this”, out loud. If you really believe, which most people do, that you are not paid enough, here is what you can do about it!

Read, research, and communicate! Take another look at your job description, many people do not ever go back to read it once they have accepted the job. Be sure the expectations are indeed what you agreed to accept. If not, you have a starting point. If you do not have a job description, create one based on what you are doing in the position, including the objective of the job. Do you know what the objective is of your position? Are you doing that, or more, or less? Next, go online and check out wages, job descriptions, and titles that match yours. Major job boards, statistics Canada, and staffing agencies have loads of resources for you, including accurate salary ranges for various job titles, and descriptions of what these positions usually entail. Factual, current research is a great piece of ammunition, if you need it. This information will help you decide whether you are out to lunch, or if you might actually deserve a raise or even a new job altogether.

Lastly, with this information, you are ready to talk to your boss, in private! My goodness, please do not go blabbing out in public that you are not paid enough! If the job is worth more, you may have some valid information to bring to the boss based on a solid argument.

If your boss catches you saying that you are not paid enough to anyone other than him or her, you will likely be told to go find another job elsewhere. I could certainly find someone great to take over for a talk show host who feels she is underpaid. Sounds like a dream job for someone who may take less money for the chance to meet celebrities, be one herself, take tons of time off during the non-recording seasons, work a few hours a day, and get into any restaurant without a reservation! Not sure if any of that is in her job description though.

Use time blocks to increase productivity.

2011-04-11T12:30:00.001-06:00

One of the key complaints employees have about their workload is that they do not have enough time to get everything done. We only have 24 hours in a day, 7 days every week, and 52 weeks in a year. Fitting more time into a day is impossible. What we can do instead is find a way to get more done in less time.

The first step in weight management is to keep a food log or diary. Writing down everything you eat is a great way to quickly see what is considered too much food in a given time frame, and what is healthy or not. Time management at work can be just as easy.

Keeping a task log for a set amount of work time, such as a week or month, and listing what was done during that period of time, is a great way to get a feel for what is actually important and what is eating up your time. Include in these activity audits, a quick note or symbol for how each task felt. If a task at a certain time of day was energizing, take note! If something was sucking the life out of you, also take note. Perhaps not having enough time to do a particular job is just your body and mind telling you that you should not be doing it at all!

We talk about time blocks often at work, because we know for a fact that concentrating on a same type of task for a set period of time, without interruptions, works wonders for time management! It is very effective and efficient, regardless of the tasks or types of roles and responsibilities. Those who abide by time blocks find that they prioritize their days; they do the most difficult tasks first, and then ease into the rest of the day. The time block believers also don’t ask for extensions on projects, and always set achievable goals, rarely making excuses. Some employees spend a great deal of time interrupting other employees. Managing those interruptions effectively will open up minutes or even hours of time. Somewhere on your task log, add a column or symbol for distractions or interruptions!

Once you analyse your task log, you may find that you do have enough time to handle the workload. It is much easier to say no to people who bother you unnecessarily, when you have a log in front of you. Just be sure that the distractions are not important, not a critical part of your job, before you start cutting them out. Finally, set a time of your work day or week for “free” catch up time. Time block a spot for clean up, catch up, employee face time, and social interaction. We all need to create a free space for the non priority human part of work life. I use Friday afternoons as my time block for clean up, usually from 2-4, when employees, vendors, and clients can catch me. I clean out my emails, messages, and desk! I get to go home for the weekend with a clear head, and be prepared for the upcoming time blocked week! No complaints here.

To be a great leader, hold steadfast in your beliefs.

2011-04-04T11:19:00.002-06:00

I strive to be the best leader I can be. I work hard every day to lead my company as ethically as possible while trying to maintain a balanced workplace for my people, manage growth, and keep our finances above the negative line. But many leaders of big organizations manage their reputations and relationships while lining their own pockets! Maybe some leaders of small companies do this as well, but the business leaders I know work very hard to stay above water, care about their employees and clients, and do what they believe is right. I am working to build a business that is sustainable, a company that will exist long after my ashes are scattered. I am always thinking about the next step, the next goal, for the future of the company and our community. But, I have a pretty small company in comparison to many.

I am not sure when or how top leaders grow out of the understanding of what their customers really wants and what their employees expect. What is that line that bosses cross from empathy to selfishness?

I believe that values are the key to success in any organization, and how strong these beliefs are threaded in the company will make the difference in the sustainability of the business. If we think about the characteristics of truly successful leaders, they are the ones who fought for the value systems in their organizations, regardless of what was happening around them.

Successful leaders are persistent and determined. They set goals high and provide the support required for their people to achieve these goals. The best leaders believe in the future generations and what they bring to the table. The next generation will be more educated, more in touch with the world’s needs, more connected, and so much more technologically savvy that they will be capable of solving problems at lightning speed.

The great leaders of today can see these qualities in the next generation, and are helping to mentor these future leaders so that they too believe in something. Not everyone will be a leader, and nor should everyone strive for that. We need all kinds of people to work in various roles, and certainly nothing would get done if everyone delegated!

But every employee and every leader needs something to believe in. A vision, a mission, a cause, or a value system is crucial in every workplace and organization. And there must be someone at the helm; a leader holding steadfast in the belief system of the organization, no matter how turbulent the surrounding environment may become.

Sell yourself with confidence

2011-03-28T15:11:00.001-06:00

Showing confidence is the number one characteristic of a great sales person. A job interview is, in essence, a sales meeting. You are selling yourself. So, in order to ace an interview, show confidence in your ability to do that job better than anyone else.

Some people have had the benefit of parents who instilled confidence in them from their first word or step, and throughout their lifetime. Others have not had this experience. So, how do you increase or build self confidence to ensure you nail that job interview?

First, apply for jobs you feel you are qualified for and interested in. That sounds so rudimentary, but many job seekers are blasting out their resumes out of desperation, for job postings that they have no related experience or education! Doing this is sure to break down your confidence when you do not get many responses back, or when you struggle to sell your ability to do the job in an interview.

Secondly, start taking some risks. If possible, take a small risk every day; doing something outside of your comfort zone. Start with easy risks, like talking to someone in a lineup, about anything, even the high price of oil or the weather! Then, each day, add a little more risk; take a drive to the mountains by yourself, spend 50 dollars on something outrageous, or volunteer for a cause and follow through on that commitment! All baby risks, but even these risks will help build confidence over time.

Next on the confidence building ladder is to have a difficult conversation with someone, apologizing for something in the past, maybe admitting fault or opening up about your feelings. Doing any of these things shows humility and will absolutely build confidence once the conversation is complete. Next, make a list of accomplishments; go way back in time if that’s what is needed, but write the biggest list you can think of. This list can be a mishmash of things, from elementary school to today, from tiny items (wrote an essay on elephants) to big stuff (bought a house, raised a family). The confidence builder will come when you share this list with someone who cares about you. Let this other person tell you how great you are, how smart you are, how risky that was, and how thoughtful you were! Take it all in, and realize how great you truly are!

Lastly, put a sticky note on your morning mirror with a few words that resonate with you; positive words that you have heard or that you know to be true about you. Only you can choose these words and only you will see them in the morning when you brush your teeth. These words should make you smile; you should look at yourself in the mirror and see how true these words are. Alas, confidence raised, you will be ready to sell yourself in that job interview. Walk in tall with a firm handshake and fabulous eye contact, because YOU are the best person for the job!

Spring is here, people!

2011-03-23T14:33:00.001-06:00

Spring it on baby! Tiny patches of green grass, clear roads, and blue sky. Thank goodness we can finally celebrate the beginning of spring with above zero temperatures.

People can start to lighten up now, attitudes will improve and faces will brighten up as this weekend kicks off the beginning of our best season. We can start to enjoy the outdoors, go for walks on our lunch breaks, and soon even sit on a patio with the sun on our face. Vitamin D will be injected naturally from now until Halloween, I hope. We can start to shed our many layers of clothing. Take off the toques, mittens, boots, scarves, and parkas, and pack them away until the fall.

Clean up those vehicles, inside and out, wash those coats, and put away the snowboards. At work, take a day this week to clean up your workspace. Move stuff around if you can, and wipe down the grime of flu season and frost bite weather. Clean keyboards and phones, and wipe down desktops, drawers and handles.

Take a look around your space, both at home and at work, and find a way to add some colour to something. Place a bouquet of fresh live colourful flowers within eye line of your computer screen, or maybe within someone else’s. Bring a favourite photo from home, of something, someplace, or someone you love, and place it front and centre in your workspace. From cubicles to cash registers, store counters to dashboards, wallets to walls, there is always somewhere to put something of meaning. Take down a picture that is blah and put something special in its place. If you work somewhere where you cannot clean and you cannot put anything anywhere, then put something small in your pocket, locker, or home office. Put a new screen saver on your computer!

No need to buy anything, it is springtime; we all have stuff, so bring something to work from somewhere else. If you are lucky enough to work in a place with windows, wipe them down, take a moment to breathe, and look into the sky. Grey is on the way out, and bright blue skies and yellow sun is in.

And while you’re at it, why not brighten up your wardrobe as well; wear a bright tie or purple shirt, some flowery shoes or even a coral sweater! This was one of the longest, coldest and greyest winters I can remember, so let’s band together and celebrate spring, finally!

Clean up, brighten up, shed the unnecessary items, and pack them away for the next six months. Enjoy every minute of spring, at home and at work!

How come there was no recession in Disneyland?

2011-03-14T11:27:00.001-06:00

When money is tight and employees are losing their jobs, shouldn’t people be choosing needs over wants? Reality is, when it comes down to life choices, most of us sacrifice what we truly need in order to get what we really want.

We humans are very clever when it comes to finding ways to get what we want, no matter the circumstance. Smokers find a way to buy tobacco regardless of how much they have to cut out other things. Sure, smoking is considered an addiction and addicts will beg, borrow, or steal to feed their bad habits. But aside from addictions, we still find ingenious ways to do or get what we want. California has a very high level of state unemployment, mass amounts of debt, and an incredibly high poverty versus wealth ratio, and yet, Disneyland is packed!

Are people making sacrifices now that we are coming out of the economic downturn? Sure, a little. We may not go to Disneyland for a week; we may only go for a few days! We may choose to take a job that requires us to work harder than we want or take a buck an hour less than we feel we deserve but, relatively speaking, we do not give up much. We had it once, we will have it again is the thought process here.

We had a couple of tough years but most of us managed to still cater to our many wants. We want what we want, when we want it. If we want to buy a home, we do, maybe one that is not quite as big as we thought we wanted, but if we want it bad enough, we find a way to make it happen. If we want to change jobs, we do! If we want to go somewhere, we do! We are Canadian; we are welcome everywhere.

It is pretty crazy that our society never really has to give up anything, regardless of what is going on around us, what the facts tell us, or what the media is saying. We are a free nation in its truest form and we should realize just how lucky we are. We do choose our jobs, our lifestyles, how we spend our time and with whom.

Disneyland is packed in any economy because it is the happiest place on earth, or so they say! Why would we want to give that up for something we need more?

When dancing through life is no longer an option.

2011-03-07T16:40:00.001-07:00

I met a woman who loves to dance. She danced her whole life, as a job, for pleasure, and for activity. She danced many years for the ballet, she was dancing when she met her husband, she danced while raising her children, and she continued to dance once her children had grown up and were off living their own lives. But now, after so many years of dance, this woman is quite mature and her back is ruined. She finally had no choice but to hang up her dancing shoes.

She told me that she is looking for some new type of work, so she will continue to earn an income and more importantly feel valued by society. You hear time and time again that you should do what you love and the money will come. But what do we do if we are no longer physically able to do what we love? What if our bodies’ give out before our minds and we cannot afford to retire?

Sports figures know at the beginning of their careers that their dream job could end at any moment if they were to suffer any major physical injuries. They also know that eventually their bodies will begin to breakdown and they will no longer be able to do what they love. But people in many other careers, including trades, drivers, movers, or any physical workers, may not plan for a complete change of career later in life due to physical hardship. People don't like to talk about feeling weak, unprepared or unsure, but this is a major issue.

Doing what you love can take you a long way, but being able to adapt when the body says no more is even more important. Perhaps teaching others your skills and sharing your knowledge is an option. Just make sure to have some kind of backup plan. It’s important to keep up with other skills and maintain your networks outside of just one area of expertise. If the time comes that you have no choice but to change careers, you want to be prepared.

Living an entire life of dancing does sound pretty fantastic. I told this woman to try and find a way to share her knowledge, experience, and life stories of dance. I am sure there are people out there who would pay for that.

Motivation in Six Steps

2011-02-28T12:54:00.001-07:00

It may be tough to stay motivated at work every day, all day, through the cold months and into spring. So, how do we get motivated when we feel overwhelmed with too much to do?

Practical information is the only useful thing I can provide. “Rah, rah, you can do it” is not going to work for people who procrastinate or who already feel like they can’t do everything they need to.

So, Step 1: Make a priority list! Think about the big picture and what things really matter at home and at work. What brings revenue into the home and workplace? Preserving your credit and keeping a job to ensure bills are paid may be at the top of your list. What keywords are important? In the home, you may include food, shelter, electricity, and credit cards payments. At work, it could be what you are selling, whether a service, oil, retail, or whatever is it that keeps the business humming along.

Step 2: Write up a task list, starting with the day to day tasks that need to be accomplished. Home tasks may include doing dishes and paying bills. Work tasks might include answering emails, pumping gas, or whatever those tasks are that you were hired to complete. Start with the small tasks that can get done quickly and work down to the heavy stuff that may take awhile. You will be more motivated to check things off the list that can get done easily, and this momentum should help you tackle the bigger projects once you get to them!

Step 3: Find someone to help with accountability, whether it be a friend, spouse, or co-worker. Then, commit to that person and to yourself that you will work through these lists with deadlines attached.

This brings me to Step 4: Give yourself some rewards! Think of small but fun rewards to help motivate you, like if I do the first five things on my list by Friday, I will buy that new CD I’ve been wanting!

Step 5 is to be okay with good enough. This one can be tough for a lot of people. Let’s be realistic; many of us are perfectionists and we delay starting things for fear that it won’t be good enough. Well, to kick start that motivation, you have to be okay with average. Just getting the task completed on time is good enough.

And lastly, for today, Step 6: work your way through these lists in ten to twenty minute increments. No one has hours and hours of spare time, but we all have at least ten minutes here and there to get our priorities straight, and complete the tasks that have the most impact in the shortest amount of time!

Congratulations, you are now on your way to working through that massive to do list!

A man and a woman walk into a bar

2011-02-07T12:11:00.001-07:00

A man and a woman walk into a bar one afternoon and sit on a couple of stools, loudly discussing what’s new. The man starts talking about work while the woman talks about being out of work.

Yes, I was eavesdropping. And yes, I was in a bar in the middle of the afternoon, but I was on holidays! Being a writer, an employer, and in the staffing industry, I felt I had a legitimate reason for eavesdropping as I thought perhaps I could be of assistance to the woman. Instead, I found myself holding my tongue.

The woman was discussing how she really needs a job and how she has sent out hundreds of resumes, but was not getting any interviews. I was dying to ask her where she was sending these hundreds of resumes. Was she blasting them out without cover letters, addressed to no one in particular? She would have been better off researching a few companies that were at the top of her list, finding out exactly what they were looking for, tracking down a contact name, and personalizing the application. I remained silent.

The woman continued to tell her employed friend about how everyday she would do a quick internet search for jobs, usually finding that she was overqualified for most of the opportunities that came up. She went on about how she refused to apply for 20 dollar per hour jobs, when she has the skill set of a 30 dollar per hour person! Ugh, I almost jumped across the bar.

So how about this, I felt like announcing, apply for positions that interest you, in the industries that are comparable to your past work experience, and be open to taking a pay cut. Why? Because once someone is working, they start to feel better. They feel like a valuable part of society, their skills are improving or at least being maintained, and they are meeting people who perhaps can help them advance their career in the future. Once you prove your abilities in a company, doors should open up to you and you should find yourself working your way up the ladder.

If I’d decided to speak up, I would have told that woman to keep her options open, apply in person, make follow up calls, and not put herself on a pedestal about wages. Once in the interview, if offered the job, there might be some negotiation on pay or the opportunity to negotiate wage reviews in three months. But instead of speaking up, I let this woman go on complaining and it became very clear to me why she was still unemployed. On the bright side, she gave me a great article idea.

What makes a great leader?

2011-02-02T15:22:00.002-07:00

I have read so many articles, books, stories, and emails about the qualities of great leaders. Most of the information out there is about the touchy feely metrics of great leadership. Even I have been known to talk about the necessary qualities of leaders in order to take employees to their full potential.

Every business needs a leader, someone who can stand at the helm and create the vision. Even if the business is small, someone needs to create the direction the company will go. Most experts would agree that leadership needs to start with vision, then must live and breathe the communication of that vision.

A great leader makes fast decisions, and then works hard to make sure they are the right decisions, making necessary changes along the way. A good leader will also realize when they don’t know the answer and will go out and find someone who does. I believe true leaders do not have an ego; they don’t feel the need to tell everyone how important they are and they treat everyone in their company with respect, understanding that each person in the organization offers value.

A great leader is trusted and is trusting of the people around them. A leader needs to understand the bottom line of the business, because if there is no money, there is no business. Well, that is unless they work in government! A good leader needs to know how to get employees to be productive most of the time, but knows that all of the time is unrealistic.

A good leader knows their competition, who it is and what they do, and respects not abuses this knowledge. Good leaders know that true teamwork in the workplace means a fair distribution of workload and offering a fair pay for the work done.

I have heard that good leaders manage change, but I disagree. I believe good leaders see change far off in the horizon and plan for it, knowing that business environments are always changing and it’s better to foresee this change and be proactive.

A few key traits that I have seen in great leaders are sincerity, loyalty, quiet power and understanding. There is a ton of literature on great leadership, but I am sure there is a good reason for all of it. My reason for writing this article is because I feel we do not see that many great leaders these days. There are a lot of average leaders leading the businesses of today, and those who think they are great, are often the worst ones! I bet many employees would agree with me.

Make sure to consider all the benefits when re-evaluating in January

2011-01-18T11:17:00.002-07:00

January is a time of change. Many people begin to evaluate the past year and figure out what will be acceptable or not for the upcoming year. Most employees put where they work, the type of work they do, and their pay scales under a microscope in January. Maybe the Christmas bills have started to come due, maybe the heating bills are beyond reason, or maybe the commute to work is too long, cold, and stressful, all of which force us to re-evaluate our lives. Employees may also be tired of whatever the past two years in a rough economy has done to them emotionally.

Believe me; employers are just as fed up with whatever stresses they dealt with during the recession. I think it is time to get back to a trusting, mutually beneficial relationship between employers and employees. Before an employee breaks down and quits because money is tight and the job is too stressful, take a clear look at a few things.

Was the job always too stressful or has it just been the last few months, or even the past couple of years? Is there light at the end of the tunnel as far as workload goes? Is revenue increasing? Did your boss say they will hire more help in 2011? Are you working a regular work week or are you constantly working overtime? Some employees are complaining about workload and their bosses don’t know about it, so how fair is that to either party? Are you wasting time at work, then stressing because deadlines are tight?

As far as budgets and wages go, I am finding that employees want to be paid more for doing less, beginning every January. To be realistic, employees should look at what they produce or do for the company and how long that takes to do. Then, compare with other similar jobs to see if they are paid fairly for what they do. There are many online sites that will give wage comparisons. Use the available information to make a case to the boss or to realize you are already right where you should be.

Before presenting stresses and wage reviews to anyone, think about all the additional benefits of the job. Remember to consider health benefits, parking, expenses, incentives, bonuses, education allowance, freedoms, flexible hours, social activities, opportunities for growth and advancement, or anything else that would be lost with an abrupt “I quit” in January.

The most important thing to evaluate is the relationship with the boss. A mutually trusting relationship with open positive communication between boss and employee is the toughest thing to replace. If the relationship is great, do the stress/wage analysis and present it to the boss, and be sure to respect what is required of the job and all benefits the company does offer. Soon it will be the February blues and we will forget the January stress.

Think twice before cancelling your new year commitments

2011-01-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

Many companies and employees start the New Year with planning. We plan our budgets, our doctor and dentist appointments, our workout schedules, and our vacation schedules for the upcoming year. Technology has made scheduling much easier for most of us. We can easily commit to whatever we want and invite people to join us, or send copies of schedules to anyone we want. We can even sync up our schedules to additional systems, so we never lose track of something we’ve booked. Along with the ease of planning and making commitments, comes the easy option to delete them. When considering which commitments we may choose to skip, reschedule, or delete, I believe vacations and annual physicals are the most important to keep.

Sometimes people get so busy that they forget to book a physical, instead, choosing to wait to see their doctor until something is wrong or they get sick. But for many illnesses and health conditions, early detection is crucial and saves lives! So be proactive and make sure to book your yearly physical and keep the commitment. My tip to help remember to book your physical, is to book it on your birthday, every year. Schedule it in a colour other than black, maybe even in red, the colour of the heart. This way, you will think twice about canceling.

Vacations are considered a luxury but are also a necessary commitment to make to yourself, in order to be healthy in both body and mind. A vacation does not have to be a holiday somewhere away from home. What I mean by vacation is a break from work, all work. It is easy to get so busy, stressed, and overwhelmed at work, that taking a vacation seems impossible. But it has been proven that we work much more efficiently and effectively, and with renewed energy after we return from a break. My tip for committing and sticking to a planned vacation, is to confirm the time off, whatever is allotted, with all those who will be affected. This includes bosses, coworkers, spouses and family, pet sitters, schools, and perhaps even our neighbours. If the plan is to stay home for a break, schedule some fun things to do around town, like visit art galleries, museums, or the zoo. If possible, buy tickets ahead of time in order to ensure you resist the urge to cancel.

If we take the time to plan and schedule our year ahead, we should understand the importance of the commitments we make to ourselves and our families. Canceling doctor appointments and vacations should be reserved for emergencies only, not because the delete button is easy.

New Year's resolutions

2011-01-04T14:58:00.002-07:00

Did everyone make a New Year’s resolution? I always set a one word goal around this time of year, set for the year ahead. Because I am a business owner, my work life is completely integrated into my home life, and my resolutions always reflect that. For other people, their New Year’s resolution is completely personal, with no thought of work even coming into play.

I know many people who are still working on last year’s commitments. People are quick to say yes to things, and then back out! Others over commit and become exhausted because they left no personal time open.

January is a great time to reflect on what goals or resolutions are truly important. Does that last ten pounds really matter? The last thing we may be thinking about today is our next holiday booking, or managing our schedules and stress levels through 2011. But I think that is exactly what we should be thinking about. We should think about why we are working where we are and why we are in the relationships we are in. If our friends, families, and workplaces are working for us, then we should make an even bigger effort to improve them, making them even more positive and supportive. And if they are not working for us, we should make the decisions we have been putting off.

January is a time to come clean, to reevaluate our commitments, and be more relaxed and comfortable with our choices. If we plan to create work/life balance this year, perhaps looking at what this will take for each of us to achieve is an important step. In order to commit to a New Year’s resolution, we first need to discover what has worked for us in the past, and what has not! There is no point toasting to losing 50 pounds this year if we have been unable to ever lose five. We should choose something that gives us positive energy. If we don’t know what does that for us, we need to figure it out, and commit to it this year.

Last January, I committed to my readers that I would write a positive article each week, or at least put a positive spin on each and every one. I did that! It actually helped me and my company, About Staffing, as much as it helped my readers! I was positive and happy after I wrote each article. Being a downer affects everyone’s energy, so get positive! By the way, it is OK to change your resolution today to something better! Happy New Year everyone!

Sales make the business world go around.

2010-12-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

The month of December can be extremely busy for some people and companies, and for others, it is a time to kick back, close off for the holidays and tie up some loose ends. Even though the recession had slowed spending, the stores, restaurants, and parking lots are now showing something very different.

I try to read the economic reports about Canadian statistics concerning our GDP, stock markets and debt, but most of them confuse me. Truthfully, I was never really a great student, I got bored pretty easily, and now I seem to glaze over when I try to read these reports! Not very patriotic of me I guess, but I am a very proud Canadian nonetheless. What I have learned is that our economy is driven by our confidence in our ability to spend.

I do feel we are improving as a society if we feel comfortable at the malls during the holiday season, or having lunches, expensive coffees, or dinners out with friends and family. Maybe we have been awakened slightly over the past couple of years, making sure we have the cash to spend before we spend it. I see the labour reports and clearly most of our population is working, and for those who are not, there is help, we are Canadian. The numbers may not be in yet for the Christmas spending season but we can clearly see that people are buying! That is good for all of us because companies stay in business if we support them.

Money goes around and around, which keeps our economy moving along in the right direction. I am one of those crazy people who are happy to see the gas prices go up, because I know that means oil and gas companies can grow and expand, hire more people, pay big wages, and pay all the service companies that rely on them. I love to see the stores packed, long lineups, and no parking spaces, because that also means great things for our economy! Remember the days when we complained about all the stores and restaurants with help wanted signs up, and no one around to serve us? Don’t we miss those days?

I look forward to each Christmas season to see how many sales are happening, how many lineups there are, and how much cash we have to spend. A true testament to the direction our economy is going is to open your eyes and watch what is happening right in front of us.

Company holiday parties are in full swing!

2010-12-06T13:17:00.001-07:00

Company holiday parties are underway for another year! The decorating, potlucks, gift exchanges, dinners and dancing are all scheduled for the coming weeks. For some socialite employees, especially the ones who love wearing fuzzy snowflake sweaters and candy cane earrings, these weeks are glorious! Some people count on this time of year to party with their fellow staff members. Some true extraverts just love the idea of being the life of the party or the one who knows every piece of holiday trivia. While some other employees are dreading the idea of having to hang out and visit with the same coworkers they can’t wait to get away from every workday.

Why oh why do bosses make employees and supervisors hang out together during the holiday season? Everyone is so tired and it is cold outside, and who wants to buy a stupid gift under ten dollars anyway, right? Bah, humbug. Okay, so the weather is frightful, but most people do feel better when the workplace gathering is over and they get to go home for the holidays.

Some parties are too darn extravagant - can we say Oil and Gas city? Weekends away in total luxury and formal attire events are still taking place. I wonder if such extravagance continues because it has become an expectation. I also wonder if some employees feel that they are forced to attend company events so that they are not treated like outcasts in January. Maybe some employees do get excited about being at the hottest parties, with the best food and coolest bands. But maybe others would rather have a lunch potluck, then go home to their families and warm beds after work, and take a bonus cheque instead? I guess as long as the party is safe and no one gets into too much trouble saying or doing the wrong things to the wrong people, the party can be a good idea. The holiday season and year end are great reasons to celebrate the good things about working for a company. Hopefully there are benefits to reap, co-workers to get to know, and bosses to thank at the company party. And let’s hope no one will get offended by the purpose, cost, location, time, or details of the party!

I think everyone should wear a Santa hat, enjoy a maximum of two alcoholic beverages if they choose to indulge, play some type of silly game, dance the night away, and eat like there won’t be another holiday party next year!

Give yourself a little credit

2010-11-30T14:11:00.001-07:00

I don't think most of us give ourselves enough credit for what we know or what we do. I guess narcissistic people do, but the majority of us don't. Here we are at the end of November, getting ready to end the year, and a pretty hard one at that. Many of us had a couple of hard years, facing job losses or cutbacks, and new stress brought on by the economic downturn. Well, we end the year in recovery or at least heading in that direction. We faced hardships, we cut back, we cleaned up, we managed the unknown, and we lived to see another day.

I hope we learned a few things this year about fear, survival, and living within our means. I certainly heard over and over again that employees could not live on less than they were making before the recession hit. That turned out to be untrue for most, maybe all. We all managed to survive the blast, maybe with less material goods, savings, and retirement funds. We may have substituted the cash and credit for more meaningful things, like time, patience, and understanding. Most of us kept the important things, like our relationships and good health, and cleaned out the negative influences. Perhaps the nasty recession was necessary in some way, to get our priorities straight and put our egos in check. Now is the time to reflect on what we’ve learned through all the hardship. How did we manage through the pain and come out alive?

We have choices again and we need to decide what we can draw on that is our own to offer the working world, the volunteer arena, and most importantly, our family unit. What great changes did we make during the past couple of years that we can continue to build on? We have all been given some gifts, talents, and abilities, and when things are easy we tend to tuck them away. But when things get tough, we draw on them to help us overcome adversity. Now that you remember your strengths, don't let them go. Draw on them more often, whatever they may be, and use them to propel you forward.

I believe our Christmas gift to ourselves should be a gratitude note about the lessons we learned this year and a commitment to apply these lessons and move forward in some way. This will be the best gift we can give ourselves and others as well, because when we are okay with ourselves and put our best foot forward, we have immense power and influence over others. As long as we stay positive, we can assist those who may still need the push to make positive choices and changes in their lives. And don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back; we deserve a little credit for all that we’ve accomplished this year.

Do you need more hours in a day?

2010-11-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

Did daylight savings save you, because it gave you one more hour in a day? When was the last time you asked someone how they were doing and they did not say busy? These days, it seems as though we are all too busy and we never really have the time to relax, without our to-do lists looming over our heads.

My friend Anne says we are all trying to squeeze every two minutes into one minute nowadays which is why we feel as though we cannot possibly accomplish everything we set out to do in a day. Logic does prevail and eventually we all come to some type of conclusion regarding how much time we really have in a day, 24 hours, except for daylight savings days. But, it sure would be nice to have more time do the things we want to do.

Some people think they will manage to keep their jobs even if they are always behind, while others think they cannot leave work until they are completely finished and their desks are cleaned off. There should be some middle ground, I say. If we really want to do something drastic about our time and what we squeeze into it, we can work towards become more efficient at what we are doing. If we can get faster at our daily tasks, we will ultimately have more free time, which equals more time to do what we want to do. Technology has helped to make us more effective, if we take a little time to learn how to use it properly. Another thing we can do to free up time is to cut tasks out that we don't have to do, or even better, don't love to do. Perhaps there is someone else at work or at home who is perfectly capable of doing some of these tasks. If we really look at our list of things to do, we will certainly find redundancies or at least things we can pass off to others.

Remember, we all seem to find at least some time to do the things we really want to do. It seems we only complain about not having enough hours in a day, when we are talking about the things we are not so crazy about doing. So maybe the real solution is to fill our lives with things we love to do. Just some food for thought.

Get out of your comfort zone

2010-11-16T10:07:00.001-07:00

I will be arriving back in Calgary tomorrow after one of my fitness week getaways. I try to take at least two weeks a year to focus completely on my health, physical and emotional! I find that when I go to these fitness camps, I come back with a clear head, am more patient with people and situations, and stand a little straighter and stronger. I could choose a nice hot vacation on a beach somewhere, but I choose to push myself physically, climbing up mountains, taking workout classes, stretching, eating organic healthy food, and then collapsing into bed around nine pm. No salt, no flour, no sugar, and no booze for a whole week, and yes it is possible.

In a lot of ways, this type of camp is similar to the type of work I choose to do in my career. My job pushes me to my utmost limits every day, and no two days are ever the same. I wonder if other people’s holidays are similar or completely different from the type of work they choose to do? If your work is physical, do you choose to take physical holidays? If your work is creative, do you choose thought provoking and interesting destination travel? Does anyone even think about what types of holidays they choose? Or, are we all so exhausted and stressed out by the time we take a vacation that it almost doesn’t count? Some people just stay home and paint the fence. Maybe it’s because they just can’t afford an actual holiday, or because that’s what helps them relax and clear their heads, but maybe it’s because they don’t know that there is a whole world of possibilities out there awaiting them.

At my staffing agency, I meet all kinds of people from all levels of ability, and what I find that holds people back the most in their careers is the same thing that holds people back from climbing mountains, the willingness to try.

We all enter the world with such innocence, but as a child grows, potential grows. Children push their boundaries, physically and psychologically. Socially they develop personalities that hopefully help them to become productive and responsible adults. As we get into adulthood, many of us choose jobs or careers that fit our comfort zone, and soon we are no longer pushing ourselves up that mountain. It is scary to try something new, especially if you know going in that it is going to be difficult. But no pain, no gain, right? That saying is true in some ways, whether building muscle and stamina, or when starting a new job.

Once you make the decision to try, it is so inspiring and builds such confidence. I have to say that I do love the luxurious, relaxing vacation sometimes too, but for me, there is nothing more uplifting and long lasting than a physical challenge and knowing once done that anything is possible.

Wants versus needs

2010-11-09T11:52:00.001-07:00

I know that the time has come to write a column about wants and needs, when half of the conversations I am having with candidates, clients, and associates are about just that. So often what people want is what they think they need.

November 11th is Remembrance Day, a time to think about those who have given up so much for the benefit of others and the future of our nation. Although the day is a holiday and everyone is supposed to think about what we need for ourselves and our families, and what has been given up so we can be free, we often confuse the wants for needs.

And with Christmas season quickly approaching, we are already being bombarded with commercials, wish lists, and shiny objects dancing in our heads. It sure is easy to forget that we really do not need any of these things.

People panic about what they think they need for the future, the amount of money they need to have, the luxury car they need to drive, the enormous home they need to live in, the exotic vacations they need to take, and even that 10 thousand dollar watch they need to wear.

Most of what we think we need is not realistically a need; we live by wants. I spend my days hearing over and over again what candidates are looking for in jobs, what salary, where in the city, what industry, what environment, what growth opportunities, and what benefits they require. Rarely will I hear someone say that they just need a job to pay the bills!

If we look at what this week stands for and evaluate what is truly needed, we will realize that what we really need is to feel valued, be loved, eat well, wear warm clothing and dry socks, and have somewhere to call home. Our soldiers are sometimes forgotten, working for us so far away, and I am sure they are not yearning for shiny things. They work for our freedoms, they know the difference between wants and needs, and I bet they appreciate the small things.

I remember an argument I had with a colleague some years ago about choices. He insisted that everything we do and say is a choice. I disagreed, as I believed there were some things we had to do and we had no choice but to do them. I realize now that he was right. Everything is a choice, including what we do for a living, where we live, what we do, and the relationships we cherish. Remember this week, those who choose or have chosen to fight for our free nation, and have given up so many of the wants we take for granted.

I have resources, do you?

2010-10-26T09:19:00.000-06:00

Recently I learned that the statement itself, “I have resources” is extremely powerful. Just try saying it out loud and see how it feels, and think of what it might sound like from someone else’s perspective. Resources can mean anything, from cash and equity, to knowledge and education, to supportive friends and family, and to even self esteem and stamina. Resources in Alberta conjures thoughts about our oil sands and access to water, as well as our gas, electricity, food, education, and housing. As a community, we have established availability of almost every type of resource imaginable, but individually, we are all at different levels of access.

Those with more resources, financial and ability, have more power. The people with lots of resources, knowledge included, have been buying up real estate and investing in high risk stocks. The more resources someone has, the more ability they have to take chances on the future. We never really know when we will need to draw on our resources, so we need to ensure we have a stockpile somewhere of money, favours, relationships, references, and perhaps even canned goods. How much is enough? How do we know if we are saving enough for an emergency or a worldwide crash? How many favours do we need to keep in the “what if” bank just in case, and for how long? How much reading and knowledge do we need to carry around in our brains to be considered knowledgeable?

If there is something we all learned through this past recession is that stuff happens that is out of our control and we never know when or what this stuff will be until it hits us. Jobs have been lost, even supposedly secure ones, as well as homes and businesses, and relationships and families have been broken. Those folks who saved resources for a rainy day (or stormy year and a half) to use in case of an emergency, are coming out loud and strong now. Business owners who reinvested past earnings in order to save their companies are now hiring and rebuilding. Employees who lost their jobs, are now finding new jobs and are being picky about who and what they will accept for employment. The people who had relationship hardships or health issues are now thanking the friends and family who supported them during the tough times. And those who drew on savings are once again setting aside money for a future emergency.

Standing strong and saying out loud, “I have resources, bring it on world” is a fantastic mantra. Say it together now!

Get Over the What Ifs

2010-10-20T14:43:00.001-06:00

What if the grass is greener on the other side? Or worse, what if the grass was greener, and you missed the opportunity?

I am sure we have all had lost loves, or at least locked glances that could have been the one, if only. We have all had missed job opportunities or jobs we could have at least gone after a little harder. Some of us may even have been fired from jobs that we should have handled differently. We have all said something to someone we shouldn't have and wished we could have rolled it back in as it was coming out. Is what I am writing resonating with anyone today? I thought so.

With so many choices, so many decisions, and so many temptations, we often wonder how things would be different had we taken a different path, made a different choice, or kept our mouths shut. We’ve all experienced this in some way; we are all human after all.

So, my point is that we need to get over the “what ifs” and accept the choices we’ve made. The question is how. We are not all analysts, but we certainly carry those “what ifs” with us. We should give ourselves a moment to think about that dream, the “what could have been” or the “if only I said or did” that make us human. We should think about it only long enough to learn something from it and then move quickly into the thoughts of why things turned out the way they did. We will probably find that everything does happen for a reason, and maybe that job we did not take or the relationship we did not start was truly meant for another person at that moment. The people we did meet along the way and the jobs we did take are much more important than the people we could have known or the jobs we could have taken.

It’s important to differentiate what is real and what is not. If the grass seems greener on the other side of the pasture, maybe take a second look. If the regrets are real, do something about it. Apologize, fess up, try again, or change direction. Being human does allow for some latitude, some freedom to dream and think, and some room to correct mistakes. Then we need to move on, live with our choices, and start taking better care of our own grass.

We have it pretty good here in Canada.

2010-10-12T13:53:00.001-06:00

I am sitting in an airport right now, writing this. I have just attended a staffing conference in California. It was a relatively small conference, with the majority of the attendees being owners of staffing companies from all over the United States.

I learned a few things at the conference, some typical stuff like how to improve processes and how to sell better, but for the most part, the conference reinforced how many things my company is already doing right. Sometimes knowing you are on the right track is enough to get you motivated. I also learned that we as Canadians, and especially us Albertans, have nothing to complain about.

Our bureaucracy is not nearly as bad as other countries and our barriers to entry into any business are comparatively minimal. When comparing our health care system, banking system, and tax levels to the big apple pie, land of the free, U.S. of A., it sure makes our socialist, sea to shining sea country seem darn good, eh. We do complain anyway about our governments, the price of oil, our crappy vegetable choices, and our lousy weather, but after hearing about the workers’ compensation issues, the immigration problems, and the separate funds required by businesses to operate in the U.S., I think we have it pretty great here in Canada.

No matter how you look at it, our Canadian pension fund and our employment insurance fund, paid into by employers and employees, goes towards helping everyone in need of those funds. There really are minimal manipulations in our systems compared to the nation below. Our systems, for the most part, are used how they were meant to be used. We have the poor, we have the middle class, and we have the rich, as most countries do. But our poor have resources to get help, our middle class does okay, living in houses they probably can afford, and our rich are not that rich, well at least not rich enough to tank our entire economy.

After this week, I’ve realized that even after a really tough year of rebuilding and trying to overcome a worldwide recession, the only thing we truly have to complain about is the weather. And truthfully, the weather has not been all that bad lately!

Employers need to “humanate” the workplace if they want to keep their staff.

2010-10-04T14:06:00.000-06:00

I was meeting with an employer recently who had a lot of difficulty hiring and retaining staff, even in a recessionary market. This employer is a straight shooter type of guy, who is very successful and intelligent. I really like him because you know what you get with him, no bull. He’s very honest and fair. Ok, so maybe there are lots of employers like him, who know what they want and go out there and get it.

So, why write an article about a typical employer? Well, because he wants to fix his staff turnover problem. He wants to hire people and keep them for a long time, so he needs to know what he’s doing wrong and how to fix it. He wants to hire the best, pay fairly, offer bonuses, and offer advancement and challenge to his employees. This all seems very reasonable to me. So what is he doing wrong?

I have coined a term for employers like this, whose main weakness is that they are missing the human element in their boss/employee relationships. The term I coined for this is "humanate". It’s a strange term “humanate”, I know, but it’s loaded with meaning. Employers need to “humanate” the workplace if they want to retain their staff. They need to welcome new employees with a smile and some warmth. They need to listen and genuinely care about the people who work for them. They need to ask how their employees’ kids are doing and wish them a happy birthday. They need to make their employees feel wanted and needed from the first day onward.

Employers need to make the expectations of the job clear, before a new person starts, so there are no surprises and so the new employee will know exactly what is required of them in order to continue earning their paycheque. Employees are people, not walking job descriptions, so their thoughts and feelings need to be considered. Bosses who “humanate” the workplace, adding a people perspective to the day-to-day working relationships, will be rewarded with long lasting and mutually beneficial employee relationships. Everyone wants to feel valued and cared for, and the luckiest people out there are those who feel valued and cared for both at work and at home.

These days, everyone is looking for extra human interaction and social wellbeing. The workplace may be the only place some people get to be with others and socialize, so the more human we can make it, without crossing boundaries, the better.

Are you good at your job?

2010-09-27T10:55:00.000-06:00

Are you good at your job? How do you know if you are or not? People are darn vocal these days, so if you are not good at what you do, you are probably going to hear about it.

The hospitality industry used to have obvious tells if workers were great - tips. But with money tight this past couple of years, patrons may tip minimally even if the service is great. If someone loves their job, truly, then I think they will appear good at their job, and if someone is great at their job, they probably love what they do. There are talented people out there and some of them may have come by it naturally, but others have learned over a long period of time how to be great at something.

We all love getting a service from someone who is talented, who loves their job, seems happy, and has developed an exceptional skill. That may be a hard combination to find in workers, but it’s truly a wonderful experience when we do find it.

Some people work in the most chaotic of situations but are able to succeed in an organized chaos because they are so good at what they do. These people find solutions and come up with brilliant ideas because they are so good at their jobs and care so much about the work and who they are serving. Some people inject humour into their workplace, which makes it seem as though they really enjoy their work and have found purpose in bringing smiles to their coworkers and patrons faces.

Can we become great at our jobs? Sure, over time and with a passionate desire to become great. Too many people just want to be; to earn a paycheck and not strive for being great at what they do. But, for those who want to train, to grow, and to inspire, they will ultimately be happier people who will bring joy to those around them. It doesn't matter if the job is as a coffee bar host or CEO, the attitude, personality, and effort to be the best will shine through.

For those who are not great at their jobs, or worse, don't care enough to be great, they need to find something else to do. And for those trying to do a great job, congratulations, you make the world a better place for all of us.

Surround yourself with brilliant support!

2010-09-20T12:42:00.000-06:00

I gave my first speech in 1998 to a group of business owners. When I was writing that speech, I was trying to figure out what I could possibly say that would be of interest to a few hundred successful people.

I remember one of my key points being about surrounding yourself with brilliant support, in all areas of your life. I had explained that brilliant support includes your doctor, your dentist, your lawyer, your accountant, your customers, your staff, your coaches, your friends, your family, and your spouse. Now, many years later, I am reflecting on that very point that I made so long ago.

Back in the early stages of my business, I thought I had a tough go of it. Start-up businesses are never easy, especially starting the way I did, with huge support of the people around me but absolutely nothing else. So, now my company has come through the toughest year we have ever had, which was last year, and we are once again on the road to success and growth.

As I evaluate the ups and downs, the lessons learned, the AHA moments, and the many crazy decisions that had to be made to survive, it comes right down to the relationships that have held up to the tests of time, patience, and understanding.

Now moving forward, the words brilliant support are constantly ringing in my head. I know I believed it then, when I first spoke those phrases and subconsciously operated with that philosophy over the years, but now it is time to re-establish how important brilliant support is in every aspect of our lives. Why is it okay to settle for average support in any area of our lives? When did it become the norm to accept mediocre?

When the economy was booming and jobs were plentiful, scouting great employees and lasting relationships in all forms was a difficult task. It may be easier to accept average, but why would we want to accept that for ourselves? I am not ok with average. I work with brilliant support, in all areas, or I won’t work with them! I am not okay with settling. Maybe this is a fixing year for many people, in all areas of their lives. Set the standards at brilliant instead of average. It may take more work to seek out and develop better relationships, but it is well worth the effort.

I hope some of the business owners who I spoke to 12 years ago still remember my speech and the points I made. And hopefully, they’ve continued to surround themselves with brilliant support!

Remembering September 11 and how to rebuild

2010-09-15T10:42:00.001-06:00

Last weekend we remembered the devastation that September 11, 2001 caused in the world. It took a couple of years before the rebuilding could begin. The holes that were created that day were far greater than anyone could have imagined.

The physical hole was grand. The subway that ran under the towers looked like a tiny toy train when standing on ground zero; I have seen it. That hole may take 10 to 20 years to repair. The other holes that devastating day created may take a lifetime to rebuild. The lives that were lost, the families that were torn apart, the companies that disappeared, the effects of stress on the human bodies and minds, only time will tell how long it will take to heal all of these wounds. And now, after two years of recession, we once again begin to rebuild lives, relationships, careers and companies.

At my staffing agency, About Staffing, we certainly have had to learn how to rebuild. We first had to rebuild after the terrorist attacks in 2001, and now, we’ve had to do it all over again after this recession. When companies fail in mass because of world events, hiring comes to a halt. Staffing agencies cannot help anyone or hire anyone in this situation. The light at the end of the tunnel is that people do tend to survive and find a way to manage through it, regardless of how hopeless the situation may seem at a particular moment.

For some people, September 2001 may seem like a lifetime ago, but for others, the effects are still a part of every waking moment. For some, this recent recession felt like a small blip, while others are still suffering from major financial, personal, relational, and physical issues.

We all try to find ways to fill the holes in our lives. Some find new jobs, some find new relationships, some start new hobbies or classes, some people move and some run far away. People deal with stress in many different ways. Some will choose to withdraw, some get sick, and some fill up with bad food, drugs or alcohol. But some people fill that space by helping others heal, which helps them in return.

Life is filled with cycles, surprises, and events, some within our control and some not. It is important to work on rebuilding as soon as possible and fill those holes with meaning and understanding. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, if we choose to keep moving forward to find it.

Employers beware: Change is coming

2010-09-10T13:55:00.001-06:00

There are definite stages of change before, during, and after an economic recession when it comes to the employment industry. In 2008, we had talked and read about the leading indicators that an economic collapse was on its way. There certainly were signs everywhere that a severe crash was going to take place, however, most people decided to ignore these signs. People continued to spend, demand the world, and planned for the money trees to keep producing never ending cash.

Everything we wanted, we got, which is what propelled us into the actual recession. We crashed, hard! Employees were laid off, companies went bankrupt, and regular people had to learn to scale back. No more raises, bonuses, or gym memberships for those employees lucky enough to have kept their jobs during the last year. It takes about a year for a recession to really impact the employment world. Laid off employees usually have about a year’s worth of employment insurance, and even though the benefits can be quite a bit less than a regular wage, it is generally enough to cover basic human needs.

Change is never easy, so it takes some time to settle into collecting employment insurance, not going to work every day, finding other things to do, and associating with new people. Eventually, people get used to this new way of life, but the benefits do run out! About a year later, uh oh, no more money coming in, benefits are getting cut off, and the panic sets in. The unemployed need to find jobs.

This all started a few months ago, as the beginning of the second stage that follows the recession kicked in. It’s a time of economic recovery, when companies are beginning to rehire, but at a lower wage, and job seekers are willing to accept anything, because they are desperate. But employers beware, because we’ll soon be into the third stage following the recession, where employees who settled for anything and the employers who paid too little will clash, and frustrations are going to mount!

Employees will start flipping jobs for as little as 25 cents more an hour! Yikes, here we go again. Employers are going to get very upset when their employees who committed when in need, will soon be in demand and will leave their jobs for the smallest pay increases.

Be prepared employers, this time is quickly approaching. Employees be ready, and give your employers reasonable notice. Does anyone remember the pickle we got into before, where there were too many jobs, not enough job seekers, and benefits and payroll got way out of control? Did we learn anything in the last couple of years? Let’s hope.

Overcoming your fears

2010-09-01T14:24:00.001-06:00

There is something to be said for overcoming your fears. Some of the most common fears include speaking in public, failing, dying, germs, spiders and bugs, and heights. I am terrified of open heights. Being enclosed is fine, standing back from the edge is no problem, but open heights, with no walls or supports, shoots my stomach into my throat.

So, I decided to grasp this whole concept of pushing your boundaries and stepping outside your comfort zone, which I tout to job seekers all the time. I have had numerous conversations with employers about taking chances, hiring outside of their normal expectations, and giving people a shot who are trying to do something different. I have had hundreds of conversations with people who are afraid to quit their jobs that they hate, too scared to go for an interview, terrified to make a move. I always tell people to think outside the box, try something new, give it a try, and if it doesn’t work, at least you can go back to your comfort zone knowing you tried. What is the worst that can happen? I have even pushed people to start their own businesses, when I’ve believed that they can make it and that they are the right kind of risk taker to do it.

Well, I got pushed right into overcoming my fear of open heights! I was talked into doing six zip lines, hanging onto a small handle with a little strap around my thighs, flying high across canyons, super fast, super long, and super high! Did I love it? No! Did I find each one easier than the last? No! Each one got harder, I thought I was going to die. But, I never took my eyes off the wire; I paid attention to the rules, keeping my arms and legs positioned perfectly. My throat closed worse and worse each zip, my knees buckled, I shook, I held back the tears, I couldn’t breathe, and I needed some help unhooking my clasps to go on to the next line. But, I did it!

I took a chance and tried something new. I trusted the professionals to hook me up, stop me on time so I didn’t get hurt, and direct me on the proper form. Would I do it again? No. Am I glad I did it? Yes. I now have even more experience when trying to influence job seekers and employers on the right direction for them, taking chances, trying new things, and overcoming fears. I missed the amazing scenery below and around me while I did the zip lines, and the rest of the group did have to tell me what I missed. But I can say that I did it. I tried something I was deathly afraid of, and that was more important for me this time then staying behind in my comfort zone and missing the opportunity to try.

Re-entering the workforce

2010-08-27T10:53:00.000-06:00

I had a conversation with a woman the other day about how to re-enter the workforce after a lengthy time away raising her children. She said the biggest issue with her job search is finding an employer who is willing to hire her since she has been home raising her kids for the past ten years and needs part-time hours. I disagreed with her. Her biggest problem in finding work is her lack of confidence.

Lots of companies look for part-time employees who can work during the day. Employers are willing to be flexible for the right staff. Most employers would consider hiring half time, three quarter time, or flex time, if they get reliable, organized, efficient and responsible staff in return. Employers are pretty sick of being taken advantage of and want appreciative employees. And now with the economy recovering, employers want to hire people who will stick!

Most parents have the maturity and respect to be great employees, and have learned transferable skills that can be brought into almost any business. Many employers are aware of this value. So, the very first step when re-entering the workforce is building the self confidence needed to walk in to an employer and say, “I am the right person for this job”. Before the resume can be built, the self pat on the back needs to be there. What great things came out of staying at home with the kids? Make that long list of greats, traits, and transferable skills. Every parent has amazing accomplishments, having learned how to juggle, organize, schedule, and certainly how to develop relationships. Those are all positives in the eyes of an employer. Volunteer efforts do count as positives on a resume, as well as any other work done while raising kids. Parents spend plenty of time increasing their kids’ self confidence and acknowledging what they’ve learned, so why not do it for themselves?

Once a job seeker has the confidence to look for the right job, then it is time to prepare their resume. I say, tell the truth, even if many experts disagree with me on this. Employers hate to waste their time. So include a cover letter, or write in the job objective, that a part-time or flexible job would be perfect in order to ensure a work life balance for the long term. The right employers will see value in that, and the wrong ones won't waste their time. There is no point interviewing with a company that does not value being a parent. With a clear understanding of what a parent can bring to the table when re-entering the workforce, both the employer and employee can be satisfied with the outcome.

We all make choices

2010-08-18T10:45:00.002-06:00

Every day, people make choices; choices such as which mode of transportation to take to work, what to bring for lunch, and which emails to answer first. I

n every job, there are right and wrong choices, such as choosing to following regulations, or choosing to lie and steal. In all workplaces, there are choices that fall into grey areas and choices that are black and white. There are also ethical choices that come into play when we choose what we do in our jobs.

I usually believe that there are two sides to every story, but, there are exceptions to that too. Sometimes, both sides really don’t matter when one is right and one is wrong, legally or ethically. I have also learned that contract law is binding because of the wording, regardless of ethics, history, or relationships. I do wonder sometimes what influences people to consciously make the wrong choices in life or at work, especially when it adversely affects other people.

There are consequences to every bad decision, sometimes legal, sometimes moral, sometimes career or financial, and sometimes even relationships have ended because of poor choices.

At my company, About Staffing, we have two areas that definitely fall under the right choices column. In our contracts with job seekers and employers, we promise to hold labour and confidentiality laws in close regard, and to protect all information. Everything that goes on within our four walls stays within our four walls. The other thing we hold dear is our processes, we believe them to be fair and right, and we follow them, because we know they are effective in recruiting the best people and in placing these people in the best jobs we can find.

Our agreements are binding, we follow the law, and we are careful with privacies. A grey area for us is figuring out what a job seeker really wants and needs in a new job. Reading between the lines is also part of our job with employers who want to hire from us, because they may not know exactly what or who they need; also a grey area.

I know we do what we believe to be right and will fight to the end to ensure it is. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all made every decision in our workday based on the right thing to do? Maybe the benefits of always doing the right thing will outweigh the temptations of doing the wrong thing.

It's not what you know, it's who you know!

2010-08-11T10:34:00.002-06:00

It is not what you know, it is who you know! That stands true for most business success stories. Even in job searches, most people find a job through some type of referral or relationship.

During the economic downturn, businesses still made deals and job seekers still found jobs. Most of those stories came from the support of others in their networks. They say what goes around comes around. Well, that sure has become obvious. Those who found great jobs in the last year and a half were introduced in some way to someone who needed to hire. Some job seekers found work through staffing agencies, and more often than not, it was because they had built great relationships with those agencies. On the flip side, those agencies must have had great relationships with the employers in the first place, in order to place their candidates in those jobs. Most of the business my staffing agency received through the recession came from long term existing clients, those who wanted us to stay in business and wanted to support us, so we could continue to support them.

Now it is time to thank those who supported, dismiss those who didn’t, and appreciate the relationships that have stood the test of time. Wow, I have used quite a few popular sayings today, but when the truth needs to be told, I do declare it is time to evaluate those who helped and supported us over the last year or two, and those who did not.

To those who found work because of a referral, be sure to properly thank the person who made the initial introduction. Those who supported businesses that needed help deserve big thanks as well. Those who were selfish beyond repair and only cared about the almighty dollar rather than the potential, history, and relationship, maybe those people can become secondary.

As the markets begin to stabilize, contracts continue to be renegotiated as costs are still a valid concern for businesses. However, if we stick to our focus, regardless of what it is, and continue to support those who we know and trust, then we can stabilize together. Job seekers will continue to find new employment, mostly through referrals, and businesses will continue to work with existing customers.

The idea of growing personally, professionally, or in business is great in theory. But, sometimes we really need to evaluate who our supporters are that will take us to the next level. We may have to thank first, appreciate second, and offer something with no expectations of return in order to gain something.

Did we give enough when we had very little to give? If so, we deserve some karma now, and it will come, by way of support. People are what counts at the end of the day, not money, people!

Civic or Statutory Holidays?

2010-08-03T14:26:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was a summer day off for many employees. Heritage Day is a civic holiday in Alberta, which means it may or may not be recognized by employers, depending on a number of factors. The August long weekend used to be a statutory holiday until 1990, when the Family Day holiday came into effect. Then the Heritage Day holiday became a civic holiday (optional). I decided to look up some information on yesterday’s holiday and see what this one really means, where it came from, and who actually qualifies for holiday pay.

Turns out, there was not a lot of stuff available to research. There were, however, many words describing the holiday as a day of awareness about our culture, and there are highlighted foods, musicians, parties, and events to celebrate our heritage. But finding anything specific was like pulling teeth. I did see written in several places that Heritage Day is not an official holiday. Well, try to tell banks, government, businesses, and employees that! Not an official holiday for whom? We do need the extra paid days off during the summer months, but civic holidays are unpaid forced holidays for many, or regular work days for some.

Employees who are not paid to take the day off needed to plan for it. Personally, I don’t think we should have any civic holidays, just statutory holidays with rules and regulations, that are easy to find and easy to follow!

We all have tough days; the key is to get through them quickly and not quit!

2010-07-28T09:44:00.002-06:00

Every year, around this time of year, the anniversary of my column, I think, this will be my last year. I am too busy managing my company About Staffing. How can I possibly commit to another year of weekly columns? Besides, what if I run out of ideas? I don’t want to get stale or repeat myself; I do that enough when I speak!

I start to think that people are no longer interested in what I have to say, week after week, year after year, always relating to topics about the workforce. Then, I’ll bump into someone who says, “I read your articles every week” and they make some reference to something I wrote some time ago that had a huge impact on them. I met a client recently who had one of my articles, written many years ago, under glass on his desk! He loved the way I sarcastically instructed bosses on how to keep their staff, by dictating all the wrong things to do. He loved my tongue and cheek column, and refers to it whenever he’s having employee issues.

Some of my articles aren’t so great, especially around the holidays, but sometimes they are brilliant, fresh, and informative. I think that anyone could get stagnant doing the same job, task, or hobby for many years. We all need some type of shake up in our everyday duties, and writing articles is sometimes a great outlet for me to vent or share. Sometimes I have to work late and squeeze out an article, minutes before deadline! But, I do it because I committed to it. Sometimes, I get on a role and can feel that my articles are going to touch people or change their perception on something, or even create aha moments.

Anyone may have doubts about their job or duties at some point in their career. There is good and bad with anything long term, such as with relationships, jobs, goals, and finances. The key is to get through those periods of “today I will quit”, and move into another great day fairly quickly. The criticisms are far less than the praises I get, so as long as that continues, I will buck up and write another one. I will find a way to stay motivated and continue writing my column. No matter how badly I want to take that week off, or move into other parts of my career plan, I will continue to find relevant topics and information around the employment field. Certainly, as long as I have people who appreciate what I do, I will keep doing it.

The Stampede craziness is over

2010-07-20T14:18:00.004-06:00

Ah, the Stampede craziness has finally ended. We are done with the tight jeans and cowboy boots, sore feet and hat head. Tomorrow we’ll figure out what regrets we have and who needs an apology. Hopefully most employees kept their jobs and didn’t do anything too dumb over the 10 days.

Stampede is a wacky time in this crazy city. Outsiders must think we are all nuts, and they are probably right! This Stampede was fantastic for our economy, great for our hospitality industry, and an awesome way to let loose when we are usually so tightly wound. We tend to overdo it during Stampede, in many ways. We overspend, overeat, and over drink. We under sleep, under hydrate, and under work this time of year. Employees make plenty of excuses, and may have called in sick or come in late after one too many trips to Nashville North and Wildhorse.

This week, Employees should come clean to their bosses right away for any misdoings and promise it won’t happen again until next Stampede. Next year, plan ahead rather than calling in sick. Book a vacation day for the day following a planned event. Drink litres of water the week before, so dehydration won’t affect the brain cells too much during Stampede.

If you choose to go to functions with your boss, be careful. Schmooze and have fun, but don’t bombard your boss with anything too heavy or too light. Stampede is not the time to ask for a raise or tell your boss what you really think of his dog. If it is too late, let your boss know it was great to spend time together and that you didn’t mean to lay anything too heavy on him or her. If you pissed off a co-worker or kicked a client in the shin with boots on, this week is a great time to repent!

Let’s face it, Stampede brings out the best and the worst of our city’s workforce. Fess up to errors in judgement, if you can remember them. Mostly everything can be forgiven, if requested. Bosses are still human, and it is OK to say “sorry boss, won’t happen again” and take it from there.

Maybe next Stampede won’t include dancing on table tops, telling your boss what you really think, calling a co-worker lazy, black eyes and bad breath, and maybe there won’t be any need for apologies! But, who are we kidding? Yahoo...

Stampede Workplace Fairness

2010-07-13T14:39:00.001-06:00

Stampede can be an emotional week filled with foggy perceptions. People get tired, worn out, and abuse themselves a little too much for 10 days straight! Comments fly, emotions flare, and many people end up saying their apologies once Stampede is over.

We often hear the complaint “it’s not fair”, a common comment made by three year olds but heard from many professionals this time of year, when some employees get time off to party and others do not. When it comes to workplace fairness, what may seem like an unfair advantage or treatment from a boss towards an employee, group, or department may have a reason behind it. Of course there may in fact be cases where true unfair practices exist, but I encourage all complainers to put themselves in the position of the boss first. There is always perspective from both sides and we do not necessarily know the history behind the decisions made or discussions had.

This time of year, actually this 10 day period of craziness in our city, perceptions change and people turn into completely different people. We look different, we act differently, we work differently, and we drive/ride differently. We complain about late hours, no sleep, eating unhealthily, being offended, having to work, and getting nothing accomplished for 10 days straight. Chronic complainers will continue to find something to moan about, but even generally positive people complain about sore feet, tight jeans, sweaty head, and not enough time off.

Employees need to think before they speak this week, take a breath before they complain, especially to a boss, and not be too quick to claim unfair treatment during Stampede. Anything that is not illegal can wait until clear points can be made, in a meeting, behind closed doors, and unemotionally. This is not the week to quit, storm out, yell anything other than yahoo, or complain about anything unfair at work to the boss. Some things done during Stampede are reversible and forgivable but complaining to the boss is not one of them. Wait until Stampede recovery to meet with the boss about issues.

Things at work may appear to be unfair this week but next week, miraculously, things may seem completely fair once again. And keep the complaining to a minimum, we all asked for the pain brought on by Stampede and deep down we sure do love it! It is part of our Calgary heritage! Happy Stampedin’ everybody!

Staying motivated over the summer months

2010-07-07T10:09:00.002-06:00

The sights and sounds of summer are all around us now.

Stampede is around the corner, with the kick-off parade scheduled for this Friday. With so much going on around us, and the desire to be lazy in the sun all day and party all night, it can be really tough to remain motivated at work! So, I thought this would be a great time for an article on motivation.

In the old days, bosses would motivate workers with threats and degradation. But today’s employees equate motivation with energy and positive reinforcement, and maybe a few incentives thrown in. The fear of losing your job for lack of motivation is not really a concern for most people anymore. Instead, people are motivated by pleasure so, to stay on the upside during these coming weeks, we need to figure out what we all need to do to feel good about working.

What are the incentives for working hard and staying focused at work over the summer months? Is there something good that will come of that, other than keeping your job? Setting short-term achievable goals over the next few weeks will help to keep us motivated. The goals can be small or big, daily or weekly, personal or work-related, as I believe work/life balance is an important motivator. Team spirit is motivating, so rallying workmates, customers, vendors or bosses, to join in on something work-related that is fun and beneficial, will keep spirits up. Pick a challenge or cause, a goal to accomplish together, and be creative to achieve it. This should motivate everyone around.

Set some standards around something at work, maybe work on something new and fun for the summer, and inspire others to do the same. Motivation is catchy, so the more people involved the better. If this time of year is about partying all night long and nothing can motivate, take a break, a holiday day, or sleep in on a day off, drink 4 liters of water and get re-energized. Everyone needs to respect their own body!

Tomorrow is another opportunity to make a plan to get and stay motivated this July.

Teens looking for the perfect summer job

2010-07-05T11:15:00.001-06:00

As we celebrate or curse our kids getting out of school for the summer break, I thought I would offer some tips on how to find the best summer job. I am sure parents will be posting my article on the fridge for their teens to read. Anything to help get them out of the house for the summer!

There are plenty of part-time summer jobs available for all kinds of teens, even in this economy. The key to getting off the couch and finding the right job is in how they apply.

So kids, the first thing to do is to create a resume, a simple one. You may think you have nothing to write on a resume, but teenagers do offer more than you think. Name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and education level completed, is all important information. Awards, accomplishments, and interests need to be written out, and any volunteering or cool stuff you have done should be included. Including the kind of work you are looking for will add an interesting element to your resume, such as part-time or full-time, outdoors or indoors, cashier or stock person.

When dropping off your resume, make sure to dress appropriately, no flip flops or baggy ripped jeans. Most teens walk in and ask for an application, so ask for the manager instead and hand them your resume directly. That will actually set you apart from the unprepared teens who are also on the job hunt. Smile, show some interest and personality, and be prepared for an on the spot interview. If the establishment is not hiring, ask them to keep your resume on file. Be realistic and let the employer know why you want to work there, such as the right neighborhood, the best hours, or interest in what the company does. Don’t give demands such as I won’t work for less than X dollars or I refuse to work Sundays, unless you have a great reason, such as religious commitments. Certainly, don’t tell the employer that you want to work there because all your friends work there, because that spells trouble! Show your personality in your approach, on the resume and in the interview.

Pick jobs that you think you will really like, that are close to home or easy to get to, and that have something in common with your interests and what you are good at. Be prepared for some rejections, that is just a part of life. Some places may not need to hire for the summer, so don’t take it personally. Instead, walk over to the next place you want to work at and try again. Eventually, you will find the right summertime job for you that will provide you with the cash you need to have a fun-filled summer! Parents, you can thank me later!

We all need an escape from work

2010-06-17T14:27:00.001-06:00

It occurred to me recently that everyone needs to take a break, even just a short one, from everyday life.

Sometimes we all need a break from whatever our work is. Getting away on a nice vacation at a beach sounds wonderful, but may be impractical. We must find a way to escape from work, even for a short time, so we can rejuvenate our minds and our bodies.

Often we don’t even realize how important that escape is, until we do take one and wonder why we didn't do it sooner. If a week off somewhere tropical is not available to us, we need to find other ways to distract us from whatever consumes our daily routines at work. For some people, work is so mind boggling, so brain numbing that our minds cannot stop working even when we are trying to sleep. For others who do physical labour, the body may continue metabolizing even when the work stops. Either way, we need to escape by doing something different than the usual.

For someone who thinks constantly, using their brain to solve problems or figure things out, a physical activity can be all that is needed. In our beautiful country, mountain hikes are available, free, close, and beautiful. Maybe reaching one more peak or going one more kilometer is enough of a change to create a different experience for someone usually working in an office. For a trades person or an athlete, maybe taking a language class or playing a mind challenging game will be a fun change. For employees who work with people all day long, an escape may be taking a short trip alone, and visa versa, someone working alone may want to try joining a group activity. Reading books which are the opposite of your typical choice can be an escape for some, perhaps someone really conservative reading a harlequin novel will offer the needed escape.

If a vacation is on the horizon, doing something completely outside your predictable choices will offer a different kind of challenge. A beach vacation sounds amazing, but would be most valuable to those who rarely take such a holiday. Cultural holidays and active options will be the most invigorating.

We are all different, but we all get into our ruts and stick to the usual routine, instead of trying something new for a change. The escape is what we all need, regardless of what we do for work. Even stay at home parents need a break from everyday life; every one of us needs some way to escape!

Try something different to escape this time. Do the opposite of what your norm is and see how rejuvenated you will feel!

Career Killers

2010-06-10T11:43:00.001-06:00

There certainly are things people do that absolutely kill their careers. There is a big difference between making mistakes or doing dumb things, and killing your career. You may think some of these killers are common sense, but people do them anyway.

Not showing up for work is a killer. Some people actually disappear and then show up days or weeks later, expecting to still have a job. You may think this is a young persons’ mistake, but young people rebound. It is the professionals who sometimes pull this one and expect it to go unnoticed. But peers talk and bosses talk, and it is remembered.

Another career killer is gossip. Yakking about your company or your boss is completely unprofessional and unacceptable. Gossip is best reserved for pillow talk, and nowhere else. Anyone who speaks before they think and spreads rumours about people or companies outside the confines of home, deserves to not have references for future job opportunities, which brings me to the issue of personal baggage. Bringing home issues, addiction issues, selfish issues, security issues, or credit issues into the workplace is a definite killer.

All types of abuse and violence are carried forward to future jobs, and therefore are career killers. Eventually, abuse will not be tolerated in any workplace. I am not saying that an employee should not ask for assistance when facing these issues, but they need to discuss them in private, with a Human Resources person or counselor, or even a top boss. But bringing this baggage to work in any form is dangerous to the employee and everyone else. Employees who are afflicted with baggage create stress for co-workers, supervisors, customers, and everyone else in earshot, a true blue career killer!

And finally, a lengthy gap between jobs will kill any career. Employers are not interested in hiring people who need a year or two off to re-energize. People who think it is OK to take a year off with a severance and then another year on employment insurance, and then easily be able to get a new job, have another thing coming. Employers want workers, not lazy people who need mounds of time off.

All age groups, genders, industries, and job positions face these killers. I speak the truth, on behalf of employers, so pay attention if you want to secure your future career opportunities. References are still being done today.

Getting out of the job search funk

2010-06-01T11:30:00.001-06:00

How does a job seeker get out of the job search funk? Let’s face it, the sun is shining, the grass is green, and flowers are blooming. Who wants to spend their time looking for a job?

Oh wait, employment insurance is running out, which means it is time to get going again and find something.

Most job seekers have felt discouraged at some point while looking for work. The competition is rising, the rejections are many, and money is tight. Some people actually sink into a depression while unemployed, while others get used to being busy doing nothing. Eventually, the unemployed need to find employment.

The first step towards getting the right job is to figure out what kind of job that is! Taking a few moments to figure out where your passion lies, and which hobbies, interests, and tasks you enjoy doing, will really help to get your energy up and build some momentum.

The next thing to do is to spice up that resume! Talk to people, people you trust, and show them your resume. Ask them to describe you at your best. Take some notes and inject the truth about you into that resume, but only the best stuff. Use the descriptions other people use of you, add the proof and the power words, making sure it really sounds like you, and double check the spelling and grammar. Keep it to two pages.

Feeling better? Next, pick your job search time blocks. Like a job, certain tasks need to be done at specific times, so create that time for the job search process. For example, you could plan to get up at 8am, go for a walk, have breakfast, shower, then start calling companies you want to work for that fit your criteria. Ask questions to whoever answers the phone, including are you currently hiring? What do you like most about working for the company? How long have you been there? Spend X amount of time (your choice) doing the calling portion of the job search process.

For the next time block, you could plan to grab a coffee and start doing some searching on the web. Find job postings that interest you and start sending out your spiffy new resume.

Last, but most importantly, in the job search program is to follow up! Spend at least half an hour each day following up, asking “did you get my resume?” and sending out thank you notes for the interview process.

Once you have all this planned out and under way, you should be out of the job search funk, have plenty of energy, and still have at least half a day, every day, to get out and enjoy the sunshine!

What do you "get to" do?

2010-05-25T14:10:00.002-06:00

I attended an event recently. It had been quite awhile since I could afford financially to pay for a ticket, and take the time to get out of the office and network with peers.

Certainly, the last year and a half were tough for the employment industry, which kept me locked up. But now the market is shifting and the confidence of employers is on the rise, leading companies to start hiring again.

I had a wonderful time at the event, doing lots of networking, seeing people I have not seen in a long time and meeting new people. It was really great to touch base with some business acquaintances that used to do business with us, or refer us, who are now beginning to hire again. It was also great to be at an event where I had the opportunity to meet some really interesting new people who had some positive insights to share.

I met a woman who works for a cause; she travels most of the time, passionately telling people about the “Free the Children” vision. This was her job! I said that it is too bad that she “has to” travel so much for her work. She said she doesn’t “have to”, she “gets to”. It was a profound statement; a profound way of looking at her job. She gave me energy and insight, and I wanted to share it with every worker out there!

You don’t “have to” do anything, you “get to”. This is Canada, and in this country we “get to” do whatever we want, really. Doesn’t that concept just change the way you think about everything?

The other thing I learned at the event was that the reason my company has survived the recession, and why we are getting busier every day, is not just because the market itself is shifting. That is one reason. But the real reason is because we have built long term, mutually beneficial and respectful relationships with our clients. We work hard and do a great job for our clients, and they appreciate that. Now that they have hiring needs again, they are calling us!

The event brought back my passion for what my company does. I am glad to be back in the game. I am glad to “get to” fill jobs for my clients, with the very best candidates.

How about you? What are you passionate about? Are you celebrating what you “get to” do at work or with the people you care about? What a magnificent mind set change!

When to use a staffing agency

2010-05-18T12:09:00.002-06:00

Do it yourself (DIY) is certainly a buzz concept of the century. It seems as though everyone is expected to try a bit of everything through life now, right from the first piano lesson and trying every type of sport as a child. We have driven this idea through adulthood now, where we are all supposed to try everything first, then when we fail, we then hire a professional to fix our mess.

There are DIY’s for every industry now, including hiring. Employers have been taught to try to hire themselves first, and then when it doesn’t work out, they go to a staffing agency to get it done right. Personally, I try not to do the stuff that I am not an expert at doing. I would rather do things right the first time and focus my time and energy on being the best at what I do.

We get customers who trust us from the get go, who know their weaknesses and their strengths, and make the call to us to hire quickly and easily. Then there are the DIY employers who call after the disaster. So, when should an employer call a staffing agency before trying to hire on their own? When a job is temporary and the employer needs a quick fix, calling an agency is your best bet. When the job is confidential and the employer needs someone “under the radar”, a staffing agency can fill that gap.

Our industry operates confidentially because we know so much about who is looking for work, who is hiring and why, who is doing layoffs, who is making changes, and who is open to change. We get the scoop and fill confidentially for both parties, the candidates and the employers. When the job is an urgent placement, we fill it immediately! Agencies have a database of candidates to draw from quickly and efficiently, so when employers need someone right away, in any field, we are able to fill those needs. When a job opening is tough to fill, an agency can step in and recruit the right people, through our many sources and networks.

And finally, when an employer wants to hire the very best person for the job, they should call a staffing agency. We all have our niches; very few agencies fill every type of job. We are each experts at staffing the industries and positions we specialize in. We fix the DIY employers messes that they get themselves into, saving them time and energy, so they can focus on what they are experts in. We can take the job specifications and find the very best person for the job, in a cost effective, timely, and confidential manner.

Why DIY when the experts are ready to do it right the first time?

Communication in the workplace should remain formal

2010-05-11T11:12:00.001-06:00

In the workplace, we hope men and women communicate equally, and employers treat everyone fairly, but people are people, and we have natural abilities and traits.

Generational gaps used to be evident in communication, especially regarding slang and abbreviations chosen, but that gap is not as apparent anymore. Men and women, young and old, are increasingly choosing email and text over verbal communication. Using proper grammar and punctuation is virtually unheard of these days. We all count on auto correct to fix our mistakes for us. Maybe we all got lazy? Maybe we’ve gotten used to other people or things doing the work for us? People tend to take the easy road whenever possible, both at work and at home.

In the workplace, I am still a big believer in proper wording, without the little happy faces, squiggles, symbols, and icons. Maybe I am just old fashioned, but I don’t believe in cutesy casual talk in the workplace. Work related emails, texts, phone calls, and in person conversations should include correct wording, full terms, and professional language.

Sometimes we get sidetracked at work, but multitasking is overrated when communicating. Think about how distracting it is to talk on the phone and listen, while typing at the same time. A lot of information gets missed that way and when you do not give someone your full attention, it gives the impression that you do not really care.

Body language is key, as is tone, but when we only communicate through technology these basic human functions get left out. So, at least smile when in person or when you’re on the phone. When you smile while speaking on the phone, people can feel your enthusiasm and it sounds like you really do care. Don’t be expressionless or monotone, because it will make you sound uninteresting or uninterested.

Why did I pick this career?

2010-05-05T10:42:00.002-06:00

Some days, I just don’t know why I work here. Some days, I really don’t know why I picked this career. Why would anyone want to do this job, and have to deal with the issues, the stress, and the people I do? Does this sound like you or someone you know? I think it sounds like almost everyone.

There are a rare few who love their jobs, who bound out of bed every morning to have a great work day with coworkers they adore. I can’t really think of anyone right now, but I’m sure they exist. I wonder what it is like to sleep through the night, not waking up thinking of problems that need solving or about the people I met that day. What if I could work in a job that has no stress and where customers are happy to see me, like an ice cream shop! Everyone loves ice cream and customers are happy to pay for ice cream. I wonder what would happen if the ice cream melted or got freezer burnt?

Maybe, in my next life, I will work in a product based business, and not a service business. Oh wait, then I will have inventory issues of some sort. I could pick a career in a necessary field, which has no major issues. I could work in a grocery store or in the medical profession. I know, I could get into politics! Yes, those are some great choices with very few stressful issues. Also, I have decided I want to take my maternity leave now; the kids are 20 and 25, so I should take a year off to recover from giving birth. Oh wait, I’m a business owner, so maternity leave is not an option for me.

But if I did take a bunch of time off, I would probably miss the people I work with and what if I miss something important? What if something really cool happens, or something really funny, and I am not here? What if one of my favourite clients calls and needs to hire someone and I miss it? What if we win a big contract and I get to place all our best candidates? Or what if a client pops in to say hi and brings cookies, and I am not here to eat the cookies? Maybe I will take a day off instead, mid-week or something, so I can easily catch up on what has happened without me.

Dealing with issues at home and in the workplace

2010-04-28T09:57:00.002-06:00

Many people generalize about women and how they gossip or get emotional about trivial things. Personally, I know more men than women who gossip, and I know as many men who get just as emotional as women.

When issues arise at home or at work, it is best to address them directly rather than gossip, as long as work issues are dealt with professionally. At home issues are heartfelt and attached, and sometimes handled off the cuff.

At work, there are general rules for dealing with issues or situations, whereas at home every household has different family approaches. If there is a problem at work, an employee must not gossip about it first, or bring in other co-workers for their opinions. At home, issues seem to fly through the family tree faster than light. Sometimes it might feel better to rally the troops, but that is very unprofessional and always backfires at work.

Just like family meetings are called around the kitchen table, at work, a meeting is to be booked with the boss. The boss needs to be available, not distracted, therefore booking an appropriate time to talk is best. A parent should take the same approach with a child or teen, letting everyone know that there is an issue that needs to be discussed and at a set time. It is normal to be nervous when talking about something personal or important, but the air does need to be cleared so that people can move on. An employee, male or female, needs to get their ducks in a row before the meeting, write notes, be logical, not emotional, even if it is an emotional topic. At home, where everyone is emotional about everything, notes would help but are rarely used.

When formally discussing a problem or issue, it is important to be clear, state points, state why, and offer solutions to the problem; the employee should not carry on about all the past issues and get off track. At home, that program could work, but usually parents remember every single thing a kid has done since birth and may continue to bring up these things for a lifetime. People will talk about what bothers them, whether it has to do with family, friends, co-workers, bosses, or neighbours. Gossip will be sure to follow if issues at work are not laid to rest with some type of resolution.

Of course, if issues continue to no avail, employees can always get another job. At home, back issues often only come to rest when individuals have kids of their own!

Workplace Hoarders

2010-04-21T10:48:00.002-06:00

A week or so ago, I was watching that new show “Hoarders” on A&E and it got me thinking. Being the workplace analyzer that I am, it crossed my mind that some employees really hoard information. The logical reason for this would be for confidentiality reasons. But beyond confidentiality, I think some employees think that if only they know the information, then they are irreplaceable to the company.

Feelings of security come in all forms and people have different psychological reasons for hoarding, regardless if they are hoarding information or a bunch of junk. But to be truly valuable to a company, an employee needs to make sure that their job will be covered if for any reason they are not able to make it in for work. Procedures and passwords need to be accessible in case of an emergency. Will someone else be able to step in and do the job, if an employee calls in sick or has a family emergency?

Security comes with trust, and if a boss trusts without a doubt in an employee, the employee will be more secure in their position. Sometimes trust comes naturally with time, or with ability or skill. Knowledge is valuable in any workplace as well, and perhaps no one else can offer the same information, but sharing knowledge is much more empowering than hoarding it.

If insecurity is at the root of hoarding, then offering valuable information to others should give the feeling of confidence, and as a result, more security. Working with a conscience and being aware of what is going on around you, with other people at work, with customers, with the environment, and with the future, all makes for a more valuable employee.

So many people are oblivious to their surroundings, to other people’s feelings, to appearances, to ethics, and so on, so being aware is a rare and needed trait in an employee. One of the issues with hoarders is that the afflicted individuals don’t take the initiative to get help! The most valuable employees do take initiative, offer new ideas, help co-workers out, and readily offer assistance to others. The best employees also know when they need to ask for help from their boss or co-workers.

Hoarding information at work is bad practice, and it does not make an employee more valuable, instead it makes them less valuable. Organizing and planning, helping and caring, trusting and sharing, these are the truly valuable employee traits that will create security at work.

Workplace Friendships

2010-04-14T12:42:00.001-06:00

The number one workplace requirement we hear from job seekers is a good team environment with the opportunity to work with great co-workers. Job seekers rarely cite money as the top reason for taking a job. Instead, wanting to work with fun and skilled co-workers, people they can sit with at lunch and shoot the breeze with, is the most requested and most desired reason for taking a job.

In the potentially isolated and technology based world that we live in today, employees are increasingly finding that their entire social network is work related. Work can be a fantastic place to meet best friends, and maybe even a mate if the stars are aligned.

But co-workers still need to be cautious and aware of normal workplace occurrences. Various situations naturally arise at work because it is work, not leisure activity time. Some people are competitive and others are supportive, some employees are technical and others are creative, some are introverted while others are extroverted. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around and the same rides true for businesses. Inherently, employees will do what works for them first, thinking of teammates second. Sometimes competition may arise for a promotion, to save the job, get a bonus, or win a contest at work. Sometimes friends may cover each others’ butts or over protect each other for fear of losing the friend or their friend’s job.

Every clique is different, every team is unique, and every person is an individual, but workplace circumstances seem to be fairly common. Most workplaces have turnover. Let’s face it, jobs and employees don’t last forever. Employees move, get pregnant, get sick, get bored, get mad, get better offers, get laid off, or move along some other way in the turnover world. When deep intimate relationships form at work, it may keep employees happier and longer than a usual term. But along the same line, when one person leaves the workplace, regardless of the reason, feelings of abandonment, isolation, and sadness can arise amongst the remaining employees. Co-workers may go through some deep emotional challenges when friendships are forced to change, even if only physically.

The 2009 layoffs affected the emotional well being of friendly teammates far more than the financial hits. Employees should be aware that the workplace is an environment where friendships are possible and hopeful, and the social aspects of work are available. However, work still needs to be a place to earn a living, increase skill level, and make connections. Employees coming and going is a natural part of business. Even if it is not a comfortable part of living, it is evolutionary and usually necessary. Be thankful for change and growth in the workplace, and the relationships developed along the way.

What makes you happy?

2010-04-08T09:35:00.001-06:00

Last week, I was thinking about the feeling of sunshine on my face during spring and how great that feels, and that led me to think of all the things that make me happy. As I created my “happy list”, I decided to share that concept with my employees, asking them to create their list of the top five things that make them happy. Of course, they needed clarification on that memo. They asked me, the boss, if I meant just at work or in their personal lives? That made me happy, to think that my employees cared enough about this assignment to ask for clarity, too funny.

There are lists we can create about what makes us happy at work, at home, and in life in general. When we look at those lists, if they were easy to create, then we are doing OK. If we have a tough time thinking of things that make us happy, then we should be thinking of what can we do differently.

Last year was tough, I am happy 2009 is over. Now that we are working on recovery, it will be easier to work on being happier. My assignment for all readers is to create a list of the top five things that make you happy at work, and if it is too difficult then you will have more work to do to figure out why and what you can do about it. Once you’ve completed your workplace “happy list”, move on to your personal life “happy list”. And once completed, wow, what a great feeling!

I think these lists should be used as a daily guide. I believe that if it is in writing, it will come true. And if you are consciously thinking about your lists, you will bring more of that happiness into your life.

Create your lists, share with the family, talk about what makes you happy and start bringing more of it into your life!

Take time to breathe

2010-03-31T12:57:00.002-06:00

This past week, I had to schedule a time to breathe. That sounds crazy, that I booked myself so tight that I did not have time to wind down, take a breath, call some friends to see how they are doing, and clean up my “stuff to do” file.

For some reason, I always take a breath during the Easter season. Many people make big changes at the beginning of the new year, setting new goals, then moving as fast they can to do as much as possible while the weather is cold and the days are short. Then at the end of March, we see sunshine, time changes, we feel burnt out, and Easter holidays are so close we can taste the chocolate!

This is the perfect weekend to prioritize our own needs and wants, desires versus must haves, as we begin to plan our days off work, in order to spend time with our friends and extended families.

This time of year, many of us begin to think about the meaning of community, as everyone belongs to a community in some way, shape, or form. We all need to take a breath and a moment to decide which communities we want to be a part of, especially over the coming weeks.

Church is a community, in whatever spiritual form we choose. Our homes are located in communities. Our city is a community. We have the choice whether to participate in our community events, sports, businesses, parks, etc.

Our workplaces are communities! The people we work with every day and spend most of our time with all share in the same community of work, and we should take a deep breath right now with our co-workers who feel the same way we do, maxed, stressed, tired, and overworked.

Our families are communities, whether they are big, small, extended, close or far, no matter what culture, background, or religion.

Today is the day to take a breath, relax within our respective communities, take a walk, plan some time off work in the coming weeks, and indulge just a little. It will feel good to know that we are so alive, we survived the long cold winter, and we can make plans, choose our communities, and fully enjoy the Easter celebration.

Spring cleaning in the workplace

2010-03-26T11:19:00.004-06:00

It's finally spring! We all need to get outdoors more often, to soak up that vitamin D and enjoy our short spring season.

We seem to have rituals that are common this time of year, perhaps around the time change, the first day of spring, or at the first sight of robins. Daylight savings time did affect many people, as we are already tired from our long winter, lack of sunshine, hard work, and cold weather. But every spring, it seems like people brighten up, get more energy, and start doing more outdoor activities.

Many people choose to do some spring cleaning, de-cluttering their homes, cars, and work spaces in order to start fresh and get rid of the remnants of winter. I think we should create a ritual of conducting a workplace physical marked by the first day of spring.

North Americans have yearly rituals regarding health care, such as getting a physical once a year, having a dental check up once a year or more, and having some type of eye exam every two years. So why not add a workplace health ritual to that list?

A workplace health checklist would help with the process, so here are my thoughts. Does your workplace allow for natural light somewhere or encourage workers to get outside, even if for only a few minutes? We are what we eat - does your workplace offer a safe and sanitary place to eat during breaks? Is there a fridge to keep cold items, so our food stays fresh? If the workplace offers food and drink items, are there healthy choices? And is your workplace a positive social environment? We all know the negative effects on our health when we are under too much stress, and having a supportive workplace will help to combat this stress. Finally, is your workplace physically and environmentally sound? Are the chairs ergonomically correct, are work vehicles kept up to the safest standards, and is noise kept to an acceptable level?

No workplace is perfect, but we should ensure we are doing what we can to keep it healthy. If we sit down with our co-workers and bosses, and create a workplace physical checklist that can be done at this time of year, we can breathe a little easier knowing we are doing everything we can to be healthy and to remain healthy in all areas of our lives.

Why not take the first job that comes along?

2010-03-16T12:02:00.000-06:00

Back in the peak employment years, when job seekers had the upper hand, I expected to hear the line, “I don’t want to take the first job that comes along”. Job seekers were very picky about the types of jobs they would accept. I understand that concept when jobs are plentiful; that is the time to look for the perfect job. But in these times, with the unemployment rate higher than it has been in decades, the choice of jobs available is slim. Still, I keep hearing that darn phrase all over the place, “I don’t want to take the first job that comes along”. Job seekers want to be as picky as they were before, even with so few choices.

So, my question back to the job seeker is, “what if the first job that comes along is the perfect job?” Are job seekers willing to forego all first offers because they are the first, and maybe the grass is greener on the second offers? What if the second offer that comes along is terrible, or does not come along for another year or two?

And, for those job seekers using a staffing agency, “could it be that the first job that comes along is the perfect job, because the staffing agency has done its job?” Staffing agencies, like About Staffing, work all day, every day to find the right candidates to fill specific jobs. The jobs we are filling are the ones that our client companies have committed to paying a fee when we find the best possible people for those vacancies. We don’t waste our clients’ time by sending candidates on interviews for nothing; we send the best possible candidates for those particular job positions.
So, there is no need to wait. There is no point in “not taking the first thing that comes along”. Especially in these times, when the perfect job no longer exists and paying the bills needs to come first, you should really consider the first job offer that comes along. Employment insurance will eventually run out and no one knows what will be around the corner. Sometimes, taking the first thing that comes along can lead to a wonderful opportunity and a successful work life!

Conducting Exit Interviews

2010-03-11T12:33:00.002-07:00

I was recently asked by a client to help her create a plan for exit interviews. Unfortunately in this market, people are still being let go or are quitting, and job loss and change continues to be a big concern. Employers are trying to do everything they can to work with exiting employees regardless of the reason for their departure. I don’t really do exit interviews, or believe in them for my business. But, many other companies do. So, I wrote up some tips on conducting exit interviews for my client, and thought I would share some of this information.

Firstly, what is the purpose of the exit interview? Some companies want to collect data, possibly to determine what improvements can be made. Some companies want exiting employees to feel okay about leaving, in hopes that they may choose to come back at a later date. Some companies want to monitor the effectiveness of programs, benefits, and training. Meanwhile, other companies just want to resolve issues.

There are all kinds of ways to conduct exit interviews. Some companies hire outside human resources or research firms to conduct the interviews. Some do them internally, with supervisors or through their own human resource department. Some exit interviews are done over the phone, via email, or hard mail questionnaires, but the best ones are done in person, whenever this is possible. There are also many varieties and forms that can be used, such as tick boxes, standardized or open ended questions. Exit interviews can be five minutes long or an hour depending on the information being transferred.

The most important thing a company needs to remember when developing the exit interviews is to have a clear vision. Who will conduct them and when? What questions will be asked and why? What is the overall goal of the company, and what is the purpose of the exit interview? And finally, how will the exiting employee feel when the interview is done?

When ending a relationship, how the person felt on the last day is how they will remember the entire experience regardless of how long the person was there or what was encouraged or positive throughout the life of the job. Hopefully the person leaving will feel a little better after being heard, and that the company will know how to proceed to refill the position, or how to create a better work environment in the future.

Olympics a success!

2010-03-03T10:04:00.002-07:00

The 2010 Winter Olympics are now over. We experienced highs and lows throughout those couple of weeks, as our sister province hosted the world.

Creating anything big does take an immense amount of work and sometimes we forget about the details behind the scenes. From the decision to take on the event, to the application and putting together the actual bid, right through to co-ordinating volunteers and security, organizing every single event down to the second, and creating spectacular entertainment that delights the entire world, was truly a massive undertaking.

There was hope and disappointment, energy and exhaustion, strategy and change, success and failure, hugs and tears, and even some laughter over the course of the Olympics. These Olympics had shown some true teamwork and helped to re-established the belief that dreams do come true. Even with the scrutiny that the Olympic committee heads have been under for the things that have gone wrong, overall, it has to be considered a huge success!

Business creators, founders of great things, and inventors who do find success some day, have all had many a naysayer try to convince them that they can’t do it. But they do their best and make changes as needed, hoping to one day find the right formula to achieve their dreams. There will always be pessimists and those non believers when something great is being created, and there will always be bumps and hurdles when the outcome is expected to be life altering.

Mothers giving birth go through the emotions of being nervous and scared, uncomfortable and in pain, to experiencing excitement and joy when they end up with their child in their arms. Then there is the learning, change, and planning that come with having a child, for many years to come.

Business founders start with an idea and a desire to create something great. They get nervous and excited, as they take risks and commit every waking moment to the success of the new venture. As the business grows and markets change, the founders try to find new ways of being better, risking more and trying to draw in more support, to hopefully end up with the title of founder of something great.

Olympic athletes work their whole lives striving for the win, working through the pain and the suffering, the learning and the fundraising, all worth it for the title of Olympic medalist or at least Olympic athlete. The organizers, volunteers, athletes, and supporters have completed their roles. Each has earned their title of 2010 Winter Olympics participant and should hold their heads’ high. All their hard work behind the scenes is appreciated; together they created something great.

Perfection vs Success

2010-02-24T12:33:00.002-07:00

Never has our nation’s quest for perfection become as clear as in the past couple weeks. There is a difference between being a perfectionist and striving to become the best, perhaps in the world. Both take time and commitment, but wanting to be the best at something makes sense, while accepting nothing less than perfection does not.

Every workplace and every employee is a little different, and it takes all kinds to make the world go around. The saying, “nobody’s perfect” probably started in the workplace, highly doubtful that it came from the Olympics.

During these winter Olympics, we have seen some near perfects, some acceptable, and some devastations and disappointments. But, overall, we have seen people come together to achieve lifelong goals, and through teamwork and determination, accept the coveted prize.

If we put into perspective, the relation between what our athletes work so hard for and what our most successful employees/employers achieve, there are some amazing similarities. Successful people are not necessarily born with mounds of talent, they work really hard at something they are interested in and believe in. They usually have tons of support, from their families, friends, teammates, or coaches. The most successful people tend to focus solely on something specific until they reach the end result they had set out to achieve, sometimes taking a lifetime to achieve it.

There are ups and downs in any career or job, whether it is competing for the gold medal or building a business. Sometimes the competition might just be one millisecond ahead, or they meet the right person at the right time, or have a better idea, quicker! Still, just being able to accomplish something you set out to achieve is all that really matters.

Perfection doesn’t really exist and we don’t all have to compete with the best in the world. Success instead is taking something you like, getting committed to making it happen, surviving the ups and downs, staying focused no matter what, and sticking with it for a long time! That is what will eventually bring home the gold!

Holiday pay

2009-12-23T11:07:00.003-07:00

I am an employer, so statutory holidays cost me a bundle and I don’t even get paid unless there is money in the company to pay me! But, rest assured, the employees will get paid as long as they qualify.

Sure, after the year we have had, we all deserve a couple of days off with pay. For the employees who qualify, Christmas Day is a stat, as is New Year’s Day. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not statutory holidays, nor is Boxing Day!

Under the Alberta Labour Act, employees must not be paid for these days off, or paid time and a half for working them, unless previously negotiated with their employer.

Sometimes, when a company closes for the holidays, or vacation days are negotiated, these extra days are written into a policy or agreement. But under our laws, the employer is not obligated to pay for anything other than Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Next year, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on Saturdays, so nothing will be paid, unless those Saturdays are regular work days for the employee!

It is important to note that no holiday pay is owed when an employee does not work on the holiday when required to do so. There is also no holiday pay owed when an employee is absent from work without the employer's consent on the regular working day just before or after the holiday. So, don’t call in “sick” the day before or the day after a statutory holiday! Otherwise, employees who have worked for more than 30 days for their current employer in the 12 months before the holiday are entitled to holiday pay.

Of course, there are some job positions and industries that are exempt from statutory pay, such as members of municipal police services, and various categories of salespersons and brokers.

Ok, so enjoy the holidays and your paid time off, and next week I will write something more interesting, like thank goodness we are starting 2010!

It's that time of year again!

2009-12-16T15:16:00.002-07:00

It is now just over a week before Christmas and many people, millions and millions of people, will soon be celebrating this holiday in some way.

Lots of people will be taking advantage of the holiday season in general and enjoying the time off, while others are deeply religious and are honouring their beliefs. Many different cultures, origins, and religions will come together during this time of year to at least acknowledge something, even if it is peace on earth and goodwill towards men.

Those who believe in giving gifts this time of year will pack the malls for last minute but hopefully somewhat thoughtful gifts, while others may only believe in giving at other times of year. Regardless of what people are doing this time of year, they will generally all be spending, spending, and spending some more!

Lots of people lost their jobs this year, and many more had pay cuts in some form. Whether employees had to deal with working fewer hours than they were used to, had to take a pay cut, lost their jobs entirely, or did not get their usual Christmas bonuses, people did learn to live with their wage. However, during the Christmas season, people always seem to find the extra dollars or credit needed to buy more than they should, and more than they would any other time of year.

Companies also tend to overspend this time of year, as they thank customers for their business and thank employees for their hard work. Companies spend on clients and employees without really looking at who celebrates the holidays and who doesn’t, but rather do it because it’s just the thing to do this time of year. Every service provider in the city is likely to receive some goodies, homemade and bought, which of course is very thoughtful, but also very fattening!

Yes, we all generally overindulge for a few days or even a few weeks, over the holiday season. We will over give and over receive, over spend and over thank, over party and over eat, but at least we will all overdo it together!

We might as well enjoy this time of year as best we can, as it will be another 51 weeks or so before we get to do it all over again. It’s been a difficult year and we could all benefit from some holiday cheer.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy Hanukkah, or happy whatever it is you are celebrating; enjoy the season!

12 days of Christmas

2009-12-10T15:29:00.001-07:00

On the 12th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, 9 paid statutory holidays, with the costs completely covered by the company, without cost or implications to me.

On the 11th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, four percent or more of vacation pay, also completely covered by my employer.

On the 10th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, friends and a social environment, where I get to meet and mingle with co-workers, laugh, and share.

On the 9th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a chance to increase my skills, to learn and to grow.

On the 8th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, an additional year to put on my resume.

On the 7th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a better understanding of cultural diversification and humanity. I will be more compassionate of others because of working here.

On the 6th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a paycheck!

On the 5th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, some references for future work opportunities.

On the 4th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, some good days, some bad days, some frustrating days, some scary days, some truly joyous days, but every day filled with some kind of emotion.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, the opportunity to better myself, if I choose, in various ways. I will make positive choices to be a better person because of working here.

On the 2nd day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, the ability to be creative, logical, skilled, friendly, intelligent, and whatever else I excel at and was hired to do and be.

On the 1st day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, hope for next year, to set goals for myself, make plans, and look forward to a new year at work.

Christmas party woes

2009-12-02T11:27:00.002-07:00

The face of workplace Christmas parties is changing.

Last year, and the many years before it, the company Christmas party was the event of the season! The extravagant locations filled with banquets of food and lavish decor were the norm this time of year. Famous music bands were brought in to delight the workers all night long at outrageous costs to the company, with expensive gifts given, and glamorous outfits planned well in advance. Such extravagance has all but disappeared in 2009!

Company Christmas parties for this year have been brought down to a poverty level for some, and even cancelled for other workplaces. There are two fears this year, fears we have never had here before. Some parties have been forced to cancel due to the threat of H1N1. The chance of this illness spreading through an entire workforce and their families is real, and companies trying to protect their employees are canceling any social event that brings people together to hug and laugh and share space! Bosses are so terrified that the doors at work will be shut for weeks, with perhaps the vision of yellow “do not cross” tape blanketing the entrance, due to quarantine, instead of visions of sugarplums of the past. And we have the economic year from hell to add to the ghost of Christmas present.

Where did all the money go? Just last year we had tons of it in our city, and the many years previous, to spend on big bonuses and fun parties. We could book whatever we wanted for Christmas to celebrate our fantastic-ness.

So, we celebrate Christmas at work this year, with a donation to the food bank, or a Friday lunchtime potluck. There are no bonuses or surprises; no Christmas presents for all. Expensive bands are replaced with “rock band” where everyone can participate, while others companies resort to good old fashion karaoke!

I think we kind of deserve to have a cheap but creative Christmas party this year. Maybe that way, an extravagant Christmas in 2010 will be more appreciated.

How employers should deal with flu season this year

2009-11-25T10:57:00.002-07:00

It is in a company’s best interest to implement a plan to ensure business continuity during this influenza pandemic season. Companies must take a multi level approach, rather than just one or two simple solutions when planning for this flu season.

The first step is to identify the work related risks to the employees and then educate them on those health risks. Create policies around protecting the employees from reprisal for missing work. All jobs need to be secure for the flu season; no one should be fired for missing work due to illness.

Companies should look at options for flexibility, like working from home while sick or working staggered shifts to care for ill family members. Of course these type of flex options are not always appropriate, but perhaps all companies can look at various options for doing business off site, or differently.

Companies need to look at which jobs are essential and which ones can be cross trained, in order to protect the company and its jobs. Companies should look at including a physical distance policy, where suppliers, customers, and co-workers can work at a physical distance needed to protect them from the virus spreading.

Keep the soap flowing, wash often, cough into your sleeve, and use antibacterial wipes on keyboards and phones. Some companies have already suspended non-mandatory travel, and are choosing to Skype or similar instead.

Finally, the most important key for businesses to survive this flu season is to communicate. Create forums for staff to talk about getting sick, or if they are sick, making them feel comfortable in letting others know.

Bosses need to plan for employees taking sick days, planning for others to cover these positions for the short term, and keeping the working staff healthy. No one wants to lose their jobs, and no one wants to get sick. So, keep the communication lines open between all levels and all people. Check on each other and keep people informed.

These steps should get us through this difficult flu season.

How to stand out in today's competitive job market

2009-11-18T10:07:00.002-07:00

How does a job seeker stand out from the pack, stack, or inbox in today’s competitive world?

I don’t mean submitting your resume on fluorescent orange paper, or emailing your resume in some exclusive font that most companies do not have. But let’s face it, with thousands of applicants going after the same top jobs, what will an employer really care about, what will they take the time to read, and how will they eventually decide who to interview?

It seems that many job seekers are desperately seeking work, so they are blanketing their resumes out to every possible job opening. Tip number one: apply for appropriate jobs that are suited to you; don’t just blast your resume out to every job posting out there. I see many resumes, thousands in fact, and most of them via email, and the ones I look at first have a message in the subject line. Words like “referred”, or job posting #?”, or “flexible and available”, all jump out of the subject line. Once I am attracted to the subject, I will then go on to read the resume.

One way to stand out – the wrong way – is to having spelling or grammatical errors. When I see such errors, it’s an instant toss or delete. I would suggest having someone else, a friend or family member, look over the resume before submitting it to double check spelling and grammar.

When I review resumes, I look for actual important information in the resume. I don’t need fluff; I need to know whether the candidate can do the job or not. I need facts, including past work experience and job duties, accomplishments, education, and interests! The reason I want interests is because it gives me an idea as to whether or not this person will be a fit with the team, but also, what kind of person this is, and would they love doing this job or not.

Next, make sure to personalize the cover letter or email to the person doing the hiring. Not only is it flattering and proper business etiquette to write to the right person, but it will also set you apart from the group of applicants who are too lazy to find out the correct person to send it to.

I must confess that I do not always read cover letters; I usually just skim them as I am only interested in a couple key points and I want to read these points in the first few lines! Why are you looking for a job and why do you want this one? The rest is whipping cream but cutting out the fat is better. I

n summary: go after the jobs you really want and which are most suited to you, personalize your application to the person doing the hiring, keep your cover letter and resume simple and to the point, make sure to explain why you are the best person for the job, and watch out for spelling or grammar errors! Cut the sugar, cut the fat!

Pandemic wreaking havoc on business

2009-11-12T10:35:00.001-07:00

This flu pandemic is really wreaking havoc on businesses. I am not sure which is worse, the fear of getting sick, or getting sick.

Many businesses have had to create health and safety plans around employees getting sick, covering for every position for up to two weeks, and having up to 25 percent of the workforce not being able to work. I read recently that this type of pandemic has not occurred for 35 years, but is normally expected every 25 years. We should count our blessings for the past 10 years I guess.

Companies have also had to plan for employees taking substantial time off to get the vaccinations, care for loved ones who are getting sick, and for those who are just too scared to go into work!

Many companies have created healthy environment plans, including having alcohol wipes on all desks, cleaning all handles, hard surfaces, and keyboards daily, and putting up “wash your hands” posters.

Should a company pay an employee for not working? Some companies are paying employees full wages for staying home sick but that hurts businesses financially, as they still need the work done, and someone else has to be paid to do it. Some companies are not paying at all, while others are paying staff partial wages when calling in sick. Some have maximum sick days allowed per year, which can all be used up during this flu season. Some companies will pay their sick employees, with the condition that the employees owes back the time to the company, by way of overtime, or some other additional hours option.

No one wants the flu, and no one wants to be around sick people. But, this H1N1 is very scary, especially when the media keeps tallying up its death toll. A pandemic means most of the population will be affected by it in some way. Businesses will suffer, employees will suffer, and families will suffer. Prevention will certainly help, but everyone needs to be aware of how to avoid getting sick and what to do if you think you have contracted the virus.

The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that if an employee is sick, they need to stay home. Stay away from the workplace at any cost!

Remembrance Day

2009-11-04T09:23:00.002-07:00

Remembrance Day lands on a Wednesday next week. We used to focus on a moment, a minute of silence, to remember those who served our country, and lost their lives protecting our freedoms.

I assume the idea behind making November 11th a holiday was to plan to take the family to Remembrance Day celebrations, watch the Veteran parades or honorary functions in our community. Certainly, some people do take the time to attend these important events and remember those who made us who we are today.

Many of the workforce I spoke to are still working this Wednesday, and taking a day off in lieu at Christmas. A longer paid holiday lumped in with Santa is seemingly more important than those who fought and lost, for the good of the nation.

We tend to complain a lot in North America, too much really, and about everything! We complain about our jobs, about working too much, or too little. We complain about our clients, our co-workers, and our bosses. We complain about the price of everything and how we don’t make enough money to pay for stuff we don’t need. Our war heroes don’t complain much though. They don’t complain about the conditions they chose to work in; that is right, chose! They are saddened by losing their co-workers, not because of lay-offs, but because of death!

Next Wednesday, we should remember how great we have it here at home, whether we are working or not. We should still take the minute of silence regardless of what we are doing that day. We should wear our poppies with pride and attend the events that are created for remembrance! We should take one day, holiday or not, to be thankful for those who have chosen the difficult jobs overseas, to ensure our freedom. We should take the day to not complain about one thing, because we all have choices, and most of ours are safe and comfortable.

The masks we wear

2009-10-28T09:46:00.002-06:00

We will soon be adorned in costumes, wigs, and makeup, becoming characters we would otherwise avoid. We wear masks on Halloween, and take them off when the day's over and go back to our regular selves. Or so we may think.

Truth is, most of us wear invisible masks in our everyday lives, especially in the workplace. We hope to live our lives being who we really are, but for some reason most of us get up, put on our cloaks, and as we walk into work, we put our masks on. “Good morning, how are you?” we hear, and “great” is how we answer, even if we are not. Or, we ask how the other person is, when we have too much on our own minds to care.

We pretend everything is great, when our home lives are stressful, money is tight, the kids are fighting, or we have the flu. We meet customers and figure out how they will buy from us; our motive is clear, but we don’t dare ask for the sale. We don’t shake hands or hug anymore, because we might get sick from any type of human contact, even though many of us are not planning to get the flu shot. We mask our fears about getting sick and our fears of being anti social.

We pretend we know what we are doing, even if we are not that secure, because that is what professional workers do. We pretend to be busy when we answer emails, chat in the lunch room, or Facebook message our friends. We mask the things we don’t want our co-workers and bosses to realize about us, like insecurities or fears. We mask our home lives from our work lives, and we mask some of the really awesome things we do, so others will not be jealous of us.

We all wear masks, of varying kinds, in all jobs, and all facets of our lives. It would be too scary to take our masks off altogether, but hopefully we are able to remove these masks somewhere, without fear of retribution.

The masks we wear at work are there to protect us in some way, perhaps from the truths about ourselves, or perhaps from others who judge. We all wear them!

But maybe, as we put together our costumes for another fun filled Halloween, we at least acknowledge the masks we wear in our everyday lives, and maybe, we learn to take off these masks a little more often.

Hoarding Emails

2009-10-20T11:40:00.000-06:00

Recently, around a large table of women, I realized that we were never really taught about how to deal with every day technology such as email. Some people will actually save every single email they get, for fear that they may need it one day. Certainly, these may be the very same people who have kept every single message, card they were given, doodle their child created many years ago, or sample of something they might do when they retire 30 years from now.

I am not saying we should not save emails, especially really funny or important ones, but emails can be filed in an electronic folder, if they need to be saved. One gal I spoke to has 1700 emails in her inbox! Ha, ha, ha, ha. She wanted to be able to find something if she ever needed it. How do you find something in a grouping of 1700?

During this extended conversation, I learned that these people, who keep everything, will create new email addresses as their old inboxes fill up, in order to make room for more emails! Yikes! Anyone who knows me, and has followed my columns, blog, or TV segments, will know that I am not a tech-savvy person, but this seems crazy!

So, this got me thinking. Do we do the same thing with our brains that we do with our inboxes? Do we fill up with so much stuff, nonsense being mixed up with important stuff, just in case we need to draw on it sometime? It is no wonder people and computers crash!

I started to think that maybe we parallel our inboxes with the way we handle our lives. Do we take in way too much information at work, at home, on TV, and everywhere else we look? Do we save the right stuff, or do we try to retain too much information right from grade 1 onward?

There are some really easy things we can do to simplify our lives in today’s world. We should have a maximum of 2 lives and 2 email addresses, one at home and one at work. Most of the information we take in, we should simply delete. The really important stuff we should save, in an appropriate file, where we can find it if we need it, but where we do not need to look at it everyday. The remaining should either be deleted, or forwarded to others who will then delete it, save it, or use it if it is helpful.

Simple life rules: forward, save, or delete; it works for everything.

Relationships

2009-10-14T10:48:00.002-06:00

Meeting new people and developing new relationships is difficult; maintaining them over a long time is even harder. Those couples who have been together for a long time know that the small characteristics we once found endearing can become irritating. Boss and coworker, and peer relationships, have the same type of relationship woes.

All relationships start with some excitement, a little anxiety, and certainly some hope. We usually work hard at learning about the other person, listening to what they have to say, asking them questions, and trying to include them in important matters. We all seem to have a little unease when we meet someone new. Will this person like me? What if they don’t?

Boss and coworker relationships can take on many forms; some are like a parent and child relationship, some are distant, and some are very close. They all usually start off with similar feelings; the hope that the new employee will last a long time, that they will do a good and responsible job, that they will like their new position, and that they will get along with their new “siblings”. The boss is hoping this employee will be a good fit. But managing relationships is tough! Figuring out what is underneath the beliefs, skills, and talents of this new person may be what it will take to keep them in the relationship long term.

I think during the tech age we now live in, we need to consciously work to include the human aspect of relationship building and bring it back to the forefront of life and work. Figuring out what is important to us and the people we care about should be a priority. Asking someone out on a date, or offering them a job, should be done in person or over the phone, rather than via text. We should use common sense when developing a relationship and remember that its important to feel the humility that comes with being human.

Maintaining relationships takes hard work, regardless of what that relationship is. Understanding where emotions are coming from, and why some people fight, some regress, and others just pick up and leave, will help in continuing on. Each person is unique; therefore, every relationship is different. Asking lots of questions whenever possible and sometimes just taking a deep breath and a step back may be all that is needed to get through a tough relationship.

Sometimes, when the work becomes too difficult and exhausting for both parties, it is just time to go. But, the long term relationships, the ones that stand the test of time, through the booms and the busts, the layoffs and the promotions, the pregnancies and the deaths, well those are the ones that count at the end of the day!

What are we thankful for this year?

2009-10-06T13:35:00.004-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I think people will either celebrate this Thanksgiving like never before, or wallow in the terrible year they have had.

For many people, this year has been the worst, with the economy in a disastrous state, finances in a flux, and jobs lost everywhere! I think there may be a few people out there who might say that there is nothing to be thankful for this year. But, this Thanksgiving we should think about the great things that have occurred this year, and for the this day where we can choose to be thankful and move forward.

For those employees who were laid off this year, they can be thankful for the free time, the time now spent with family and friends. This forced free time created the opportunity for people to learn new hobbies, exercise and get healthy, and some even found new loves and better jobs than they had before. For the employees who kept their jobs, they should be thankful that they got to keep things the way they were, when so many others were struggling to find new work.

Many people set their priorities straight this year, putting family and relationships first, and should be thankful for that. A lot of kids got their parents back, with more quality time spent and less time lost at work.

Finances went awry this past year, so just about everyone had less money to spend. Be thankful that we got creative, we thought outside the box, and made it work financially. We spent less time in the malls, at restaurants, and traveling, and more time with our friends, families, and neighbors. We had fire pits and barbeques, instead of big trips and lavish events this year. Thank goodness for that! We talked to our friends over coffee, instead of 30 broken texts, and we listened and cared for each other, instead of just passing one another in the hall.

We learned about ourselves and about others, and about how we deal in the face of adversity. Most of us figured out who our true friends are, and who had been there only because the dollars were there to be spent. We downsized this year with homes, cars, and luxuries, and for some, we downsized what we once thought were necessities. Now we know what we can live without.

Many people lost relationships this year, relations that perhaps were not that great in the first place and the stress of difficult times was enough to finally drive them apart. Thank goodness for that too. Those losses have opened the doors for many who have found new loves this year.

We still breath clean air, drink pure water and eat good food (especially on Thanksgiving). We are alive and we have a promising future, and have the strength to bounce back from a tough year. We learned a lot and grew a lot this year. There truly is a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Devalued Service Part 2

2009-09-30T10:04:00.003-06:00

Last week, I ranted about how our society often thinks it is OK to devalue services, especially when those services are provided free of charge. I think our servers, chefs, and retail workers are often devalued because they do not make top dollar. Only those who make the most seem to be of the most value in our society.

When we get the best hair cut, the most skilled and creative job done, would we consider telling that professional stylist that we will only pay half the price, even though they did a great job? Or our accountants, should we devalue them by telling them that they did a great job, saved us money, and were on time, but will only be given partial pay? Do a great job and get paid less for it; the argument is so ridiculous but that is where our society is going.

So, should we ever have the right to devalue a service? Should we say, now that you have earned the reputation of expert, completed the service, and did a great job, that now we want to pay less than what was agreed? Sure, I will write an article one day on paying too much for the value received but not today; today is about the great services out there and the experts being devalued because they are not paid directly, or because we can just say “not paying”, now that the service is done!

If you hire an expert, pay what was agreed upon. Give a good tip, if the service was excellent. Think about the years of education, reputation, business acumen, and resources accumulated before you renegotiate a price after the service is done! If you hire someone who is paid by another source, appreciate the knowledge, time, and effort those experts bring to the table. There was a reason for hiring that service in the first place, so respect the price behind it. And if it is a free service, “you get what you pay for” does not apply; appreciate that service provider’s experience and choice of career!

Times are tight and dollars are hard to come by, so if a service deserves less, truly deserves less, have a conversation with the person being paid to discuss why less should be offered. But, just having the ability to complain or that someone just does not want pay, is not an option! This type of attitude brings down every service based industry and our society as a whole!

Devalued Service

2009-09-23T16:08:00.001-06:00

When did it become common place to devalue service based professions? When we hire an expert to do a job for us, we expect that person or company to offer something valuable. You want to get what you pay for, as they say, but what happens when you receive a service that you do not have to pay for, or when you agree on a price for a service, but feel you are paying too much for that service?

Our society seems to be OK with dickering on an established price. We sometimes forget that price is usually based on fair market value, years of experience, level of required education, ability to provide something we do not have expertise in, or access to resources. Sometimes we can negotiate a deal, receiving more value for what we paid in price.

Our society views certain professionals as highly valued and highly priced experts, such as lawyers, accountants, and doctors; the more you pay – the better the advice or so we think. But that mentality that has been grilled into us forever can devalue those who are not as highly paid, or who choose to help those who cannot afford the highest paid.

There are many industries that are devalued, either for what they charge, or because they don’t charge at all. When did we become a society that values individuals who make the most money, while we can be perfectly fine with not tipping wait staff, even if they do a great job, or we try to renegotiate the price of a service after it has already been done.

In a world of unlimited choices, why would anyone want to work in a devalued service industry, where price and rates decrease after the service is done, and the people we need most make the least money?

My industry is a service based industry. After working to help candidates find appropriate work for many years, our industry has become devalued by many. Candidates do not pay staffing agencies for anything. Instead, we work day in and day out to interview and effectively assess these candidates in order to help them. But because candidates do not pay us, some do not value the service we provide them. On the flip side, we’ve spent years and plenty of money attracting the right employers and working with them to find the best possible candidate for their positions. Employers do pay us once we have found the best fit, the most reliable and most perfectly skilled candidate for their position. But often, once we’ve found this perfect candidate, employers will try to renegotiate the price for this service, even though this service has already been completed, and the price has been agreed to.

I think our industry is devalued along with many others…To be continued ...

How you quit your job will be remembered

2009-09-16T10:56:00.002-06:00

Employees are getting pretty fed up with being left behind during the mass layoffs of the last year. Companies started cutting costs last fall, right around this time, mid-September, when the world of investments toppled. Front page news was how many job losses today, and what companies went bankrupt this week. But really, those who lost their jobs are dealing with it now, moving on, filling in their time with courses and hobbies and other jobs. Forgotten over the past year are those who kept their jobs; those lucky enough to stay working.

Employees who have kept their jobs are working harder than ever before, perhaps working 3 or 4 people’s jobs, covering for the layoffs and working an overloaded schedule. Companies laid off as many employees as they could, so the remaining staff have been handling more work with less time off, creating more stress in their lives, and for many, less money.

So now that the remaining employees have been pushed to the maximum, many are quitting their jobs as they are fed up with the lack of money, holidays, benefits, friendships, boss appreciation, and everything else that brought them to that job in the first place. The problem is that many employees are quitting “badly”, without any forethought to what will happen next, after they quit. They just kind of snap.

Lately, employers are complaining about the “quitting” process; the how, not the why. Employees are quitting via text, email, and even Facebook! They are quitting the day they leave on holidays, with the holiday as their notice period, or the day they get back, and then refusing to train a new person. Employees are quitting and then walking around telling the remaining staff how great the new job will be, how much money they will be making, and how all the stress will be gone! Employees are getting really mad at their current bosses, some yelling that they “quit” to their bosses, in front of others, and stomping out. And finally, employees are taking stuff with them when they go, as they know how crippled the company will be without them and the stuff they have created. These employees are acting maliciously.

The thing is, the way in which an employee quits does follow them around to their new jobs, new bosses, and new co-workers. People talk and references are being completed, some on the record and some off the record. It won’t matter how much work was done or how many relationships were fostered or how long an employee stuck it out; how they walk out is what will be forever remembered.

For those employees who are fed up, done like dinner, and finished working for nothing, think about the proper steps of quitting and leave with grace. Give proper notice, offer to train the newbie, be available for questions, don’t take anything that belongs to the employer, and stay positive throughout, it will go remembered!

Humour in the workplace

2009-09-09T13:00:00.001-06:00

We have all had a pretty stressful year. Work has become unsecure and unstable in every possible form. Volatile market conditions have created almost intolerable workplaces and managing stress is the number one health concern for our workforce.

Lack of funds has made it nearly impossible for companies to offer the cool benefits and staff functions and expense accounts they offered just a short year ago. Motivating employees is a tough job for employers when their staff feels as though they don’t belong anymore, and the workload is unbearable, and their friends are all gone off to somewhere else.

The one common thread that seems to work for everyone, employers and employees, to make everyone feel great about themselves and their workplace, is humour! A truly fun and naturally encouraged laugh is the best medicine for everything. Laughing gives you energy, releases stress, and makes you feel more attached to the people around you.

At our office, we have had a year of seriousness, a year of goals and cuts, and revamping, and learning, with our candidates and our clients and our internal staff. So, we decided to inject some fun into our Friday staff meetings. We have added to our regular agenda, a 10-15 minute fun Friday item. Every week a different employee has a turn to come up with something free, easy, and for pure fun to lighten up the work week. We have played games, told stories, and enjoyed popsicles, cupcakes, and skittles, for just a few minutes over lunch on Fridays.

This new piece aimed to help manage the stress and change at work has actually turned into something more fantastic than I had ever imagined. All the employees have had a chance to be creative, and show parts of their personalities normally kept under wraps during such tough times. It has brought teamwork and fun back into the work week, and has allowed everyone to get a bit closer to each other, and remember why they choose to work here.

The best part of all is the humour that is injected into the staff meetings. Fun Fridays are hilarious, exciting, creative, and free. Friday staff meetings are now filled with laughter, real laughter, from the belly! And it is helping us maintain a healthy and stress free work environment.

Labour Day

2009-09-02T11:18:00.002-06:00

“Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers...The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the Eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest,” as taken from the definition of Labour Day in Wikipedia. I had to look this up because I did not know what Labour Day is really all about, and I am in the labour business!

Finding out the reasons behind things we take for granted really opens our eyes, doesn’t it? Often, we make inaccurate assumptions. We m,ay have assumed Labour Day to be a celebration of workers in general, and that it is the last long weekend of the summer. We may assume the kids go back to school after Labour Day (which is not the case this year).

Maybe we look at successful people who drive nice cars and live in big houses, whether they are co-workers, family, friends, or neighbours, and maybe we assume that they are just lucky or that they come by their achievements easily. In actuality, most of those people have worked very hard to be where they are, given something else up, and had hardships they have had to overcome. Success does not come without sacrifice.

Labour Day for some people is just like every other day. Some are still thinking about work, or working from home, or just working as though there is no holiday. For others, the Labour Day statutory holiday feels earned.

Just because someone once dictated that there needs to be a movement to celebrate the economic achievements of workers, should that still deserve recognition today, with the economy in the shape it is, and unions being the uncommon workforce solution?

Well, I would assume that it will never change, and Labour Day will continue to be a huge holiday to celebrate and enjoy the end of summer. I will assume that those who are super successful will be working on Labour Day, and giving up the day off. Ah, who knows? You know what they say about assumptions.

And who works 8 hours a day anymore anyway?

Open your mind to the career opportunities of tomorrow

2009-08-25T13:28:00.002-06:00

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is proudly hosting the 40th WorldSkills Competition this September 1 through 7. Parents often raise their kids to seek out a University degree in order to amount to anything in life. With the world’s eyes on the upcoming skills competition, we all have an opportunity to open our minds to the possibilities available in the future of work, which may or may not require a degree.

Calgary will host this amazing international event, giving residents and visitors a chance to see the competition and participate in various ways for free. Students in Calgary have gone back to school a few days earlier this year so they can also see for themselves the career opportunities of the future, and perhaps choose some type of skilled job that they had never considered before.

While 900 International Experts will be judging 45 skill categories based on years of experience, there's an opportunity for the average person to make an impact as well.

Visitors to the 40th WorldSkills Competition can vote for their favourite project in eight skill categories: Sheet Metal Technology, Confectioner/Pastry Cook, Landscape Gardening, Graphic Design, Web Design, Floristry, Hairdressing, and Fashion Technology through a People's Choice Awards.

There are some ticketed events, but the entire competition is completely free to the public. I hope all kids and teachers will go, and I hope parents will be open the whole world of opportunities available to their kids in the future.

There is something for everyone at Stampede Park this Sept. 1-7, so have fun, learn something new, and see something interesting, for free.

This event is an international competition, welcoming incumbents from around the world, so let’s show some Calgary support. I have heard that this competition will not be back in Canada for 30 years, so take advantage of the free WorldSkills 2009 event next week.

Walking the fine line of information flow

2009-08-19T16:22:00.002-06:00

Bosses and company owners walk a fine line when it comes to discussing information with employees. When things are great, oil prices are up, and there are lots of bonuses, with stock options and benefit plans to be freely shared amongst staff, everyone wants all the information so that they can get everything that is owed to them. When business is tough and someone needs to make the difficult decisions, the employees suddenly do not want to know everything.

The employees want to know if they get to keep their benefits and bonuses earned during the peak times, but not that the owner has taken a salary of zero over the past several months in order to keep the employees jobs.

How does a boss know how much information to share? It’s a fine line. If the boss asks the employees if they have any questions, they usually answer no, or is my job safe? There is no true answer to the question about job security in difficult times. Again, it’s a fine line.

Every company boss and owner needs to make their own decisions about what information to share and what needs to be kept silent. Bosses who have trusting and long term relationships, and a history of open communication, may decide to share the bulk of the information. Those who don’t have such a relationship may decide to only share a decision once made.

I do think that there is no perfect communication flow, and as long as the boss is coming from an honest place, the boss should be trusted to look out for the best interest of the employees and the company.

My, how things have changed!

2009-08-12T11:40:00.002-06:00

It seems to me that over the last 10 years or so, people came and went, stuff was created and deleted, we bought stuff and sold stuff, we got married and divorced, people died and babies were born. Somewhere along the way as days came and went, we thought things would just stay the same as always, and yet things did change.

We have experienced some major events in our lives and our workplaces. I realized that over the past decade, we have changed as a community, as a workforce, and as people.

The workforce in general has changed, from a generation X to primarily generation Y. Lifestyle work has become mandatory rather than the old fashioned workaholics we were obliged to be. Flexible hours and individualized benefits are now the norm, as well as the optional mobile workforce or telecommuter options. One year maternity leaves, volunteer retirements and work sharing options are all relatively new concepts, almost unheard of 10 years ago.

And what about Skyping in for meetings? And that Apple is now a true competitor to Microsoft? IPhones are already outdated after only 1 year of circulation in Canada. Who would have thought that the communication method of choice would be over internet, and that we text rather than talk, and that everyone surfs for all information, on any topic.

I wonder, if we truly look at each week from the past decade or so, how monumental each week was, the people we met, and the technology that has changed the way we work, then how excited might we be at what will come of the next 10 years? Who knows what kind of workforce will come from the next generation, and who will create what.

We should look at every day as a newly created day, with new relationships and developments.

Word of the week

2009-08-05T10:15:00.002-06:00

In the past year or so, I have noticed that each week seems to bring a different word to the forefront of discussions, and maybe it is because we are all so focused at work now, that we are choosing what is going to be the goal, the issue, the situation, or the feelings for that week.

When we focus on something so intently, when we want or need something so badly, it seems to be a part of everything we do. It is just like buying a car, never having noticed it before, but now that you own it, it seems that everyone has the same car. The words of each week seem to be the same way.

In the past year there are some words, basic everyday words that seem to be everywhere for a week or so, then we’re on to a new shiny word the following week. Some words are obvious, like economy, recovery, jail, fires, layoffs, bombs, gangs, and investments. But, I also seem to hear and speak about whatever we are really focusing on at About Staffing. One of the words so far this year has been assume! We all know what can happen when we assume, and the misjudgments assumptions create. We often assume all people looking for jobs are interested in working! We assume lots of things every day, in every business, and I have heard that word to death. Now, we try not to assume anything, and instead look at facts and make plans.

Last week’s word around our office was technically. Technically we work hard, technically we are logical people, technically we can negotiate everything, technically we mean well, and technically we do our best. Technically we should all make it through this economy.

This week the word is emotions. How can we leave our emotions at the door when we come to work? How can we manage the emotions of employees who are fearful of losing their jobs, making a living, and surviving the stress of today’s workplace? How do business owners handle the emotions of running a business in today’s market, and taking that stress home every night?

Maybe next week I’ll focus on the word hope. I hope I am making all the right decisions for my business, for my employees, and for my clients! There is a great deal of energy and excitement about the word hope. I hope everyone had a great long weekend (that is hoping that you got Monday off)!