Hard Numbers How to Improve Your Data Analysis for the Workforce

Hard Numbers How to Improve Your Data Analysis for the Workforce Youve probably heard the adage, Know your audience.Whether youre doing your day job, building a business, or launching a new product, understanding the needs, wants, and pain points of your consumers will make or break your professional success.The more you know your audience, the more you can customize and continuously improve customer experience.This will help you stand out from the competition. That, in turn, will bring satisfied, loyal, long-term customers.So how do you get to know your audience?In a wordData.Data analysis, or data analytics, is one way to build an in-depth understanding of your audience.Today, more data is available than ever before. The most successful businesses use this data to:Anticipate customer needs/wantsOptimize the customer experienceBuild more relatable, more successful marketing campaignsCreate relevant product and service offeringsPersonalize customer interactions, making customers feel valuedAnd thats just the beginning. Data analysis can help you i ncrease productivity, make decisions, communicate important ideas, and even discover unexpected inspiration.The Importance of Data for Your BusinessWith data analysis, you can build a better understanding of your target audience and your marketplace. This knowledge allows you to solve problems and make better decisions, saving you time and money.You may, for instance, be familiar with Netflix. Netflix uses data analytics for targeted advertising. Using search and watch data, the company sends emails to subscribers recommending movies they may enjoy.This data is also used to order movies that might interest the subscriber on the main menu. With data, Netflix forms a picture of each individuals interests and preferences. This information is used to create a more personalized, engaging experience.Remember your last Netflix Tonight? email? It fit your interests perfectly, right? You got a list of solid recommendations begging you to pop some popcorn and settle for a nice binge-watching session.But you dont have to be a giant like Netflix to benefit from data analytics.Small businesses can use data to provide personalized recommendations, too. They can also use data to analyze web traffic, measure the effectiveness of social media strategy, improve products by tracking customer opinions, and find solutions to unique problems.At the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, for example, attendance depends on the weather. The zoo uses historical attendance records and years of local climate data to better predict outdoor zoo attendance. This helps with staffing and timing the launch of promotions.When it comes to data analytics, the possibilities are nearly endless.Storytelling with DataNot only is data a great way to learn new information, but its also a valuable way to provide information to your customers.Customers may use data to make decisions about buying products and services. But most customers dont want to read through lengthy reports, and many wont understand the finer points of data.If you know what matters to your audience, you can present data in a way that is clear and actionable.And if you know what you want your audience to learn from the data or do with the data, you can choose the best format to present this information (tables, bar graphs, line graphs, heat maps, and so on).For example, Airbnbs brand story is about helping people find a home away from home anywhere in the world. The company represents this story with data using an interactive map that shows where in the world Airbnb customers are staying.Source: airbnb.comAnd cell phone provider advertisements regularly use coverage maps to tell the story that their coverage is superior to the other guys coverage. Like in this example:Source: t-mobile.comYou can use a timeline to show how your business has grown over time, infographics to visually represent your products and services, charts and graphs to show how customers use your products and services (a la Sp otify), and much more.Heres a Spotify tool segmenting different types of music students from 50+ US universities listen:Source: students.withspotify.comWhatever strategies you use, data allow you to share stories in a memorable, impactful visual format.How to Improve Data Analysis SkillsSo, you understand that data offers enormous benefits to your business. But no matter how much data you collect, its not useful if you dont know what to do with it.Here are seven tips to help you improve your data analysis skills.1. Set a purpose.Before starting any project, you need to have a goal. This gives you a sense of direction and helps you chart your course.Before collecting and/or analyzing data, ask questions like:What do I want to achieve with this information?What problem can this data help me solve?How will I use this data to better understand my customers?How can this understanding help me provide a better customer experience?Diving into a deep sea of data can be a tremendous waste of time if you dont know what youre looking for. Once you have a clear set of business questions, youll be able to collect and analyze data efficiently and effectively.It can also be helpful to set a hypothesis: I believe __________. If I am right, we will __________. Thinking about strategy from the get-go can ensure that you do more than passively collect data. Youre ready to take action.2. Understand different data collection methods.There are many types of data analytics and ways to collect data. Depending on your goals, you can look at:Transactional dataTrack what customers purchased, how much they purchased, when they purchased, how they paid, if any promotions/coupons compelled them to purchase, etc.Referral sourcesCollecting information on how your customers heard about your business shows you where your customers are coming from, providing inspiration on how to find more.Demographic informationDemographic information allows you to provide highly targeted marketing efforts.Goog le AnalyticsProvides information about how customers get to your site, how long they stay, what pages they visit, which pages are performing best on your site, etc.Google TrendsTells you what keyword searches are popular by region and can help you determine hot topics among the demographics that matter to your business. Leverage this information to show up in your target audiences searches.Social media analyticsLearn more about your social media followers and use resources like Facebook marketing tools to target customers that mirror your current following.These tools and others give you valuable information about who your customers are and what drives them to visit your store or website and make purchases.With this information, you can develop a customer profile and learn how to attract and retain customers. Learn what draws them to your business, what products, services, or site pages they like the most, and what motivates them to buy what youre selling.If you have a website, you can also learn what areas of your site are losing visitors. How can you fix these areas or make them more like the pages your customers seem to love?If you know your goal and have a general idea of what data youd like to collect, you can research the best tools to get the job done.3. Make it visual.Its likely that not everyone on your team is comfortable with numbers. Some may tend to glaze over at the mere mention of the word data.Create visual representations of your data to ensure your entire team is informed and engaged. When appropriate, visuals are also a useful way to share your data with customers.Plus, visuals make it easier to identify actionable insights. And thats what data is all aboutnew info about your business or customers is useless unless you find a way to use it.4. Compare perception to reality.Before moving on to the next step, compare your hypothesis and your initial perceptions to reality. In some cases, your customer profile may differ from what you originally expected.Dont be afraid to let those old ideas go. Adjust as needed.5. Plan how to use the data.Once youve visualized and analyzed the data, what will you do with it?Identify the insights youve gained from the data. What did you learn about your customers? Its useful to focus on customer reactions (e.g., If we do X, they are likely to do Y).Work with your team to consider several different options, then choose the best marketing strategy to pursue.6. Evaluate the success of your plan.Collecting data doesnt stop once youve settled on a plan. Continue gathering data and conducting tests to measure what worked and what didnt.How successful was your plan? How cost-effective was it?Use this information to make minor tweaks (or major changes) to your marketing plan. Continue testing until youve found a strategy that works for you.7. Repeat.Once youve reached your initial data-related goal, set another one. Continue getting to know your customers. Find new ways to improve their experience and create brand loyalty.And dont forget to build strategies to attract new customers, too.So, what do you think?How will you use data to learn more about your customers? What do you predict youll learn? If your hypothesis is correct, what action will you take?If youre already using data analysis, how has it benefited your work?Id love to hear from you in the comments!

What Should I Pay For a Resume Writing Service?

What Should I Pay For a Resume Writing Service?Should I pay for a resume writing service? This is not a question that comes up often but it is something that is asked frequently. More often than not the client who asks this question has a simple enough question that only someone who is not involved in resume writing knows the answer to.What they actually mean is, 'Why should I pay for a service that I can do myself?' When they use this question they are really saying that you have no idea what you are doing and you don't know how to fix an error in a resume or how to make it very effective. They also could be implying that they can do these things better than you can so pay them a couple of hundred dollars would be like paying a nanny to watch your children. How does that make sense?The answer to the question, 'What should I pay for a resume writing service?' is really very simple. You should never pay for a resume writing service because a good resume writing service will cost less than a quality resume writing service that is doing your resume for you. You would be surprised at the number of people who get their resumes filled and never bother to even give it a glance.As you can imagine when you are in a job search, there are many different things that you are going to have to deal with on a daily basis. One of those things is getting a resume written that is both efficient and professional looking. If you didn't think that you could do this yourself then you need to learn.A very standard resume is going to include a cover letter, two to three job openings, one to one correspondence, and two samples of work. This is to show the potential employer that you are serious about getting the job and that you have knowledge about the job that is going to be in demand. It is very important that you write your resume from the point of view of the person who is hiring you.It would also be a mistake to assume that the person that you are communicating with during the job search will be going through your resume. If you are communicating with them they will not be passing along your resume or anything else that is provided to them. They have no idea who is going to be reading it and how it will be read. You should be the one looking over your resume before you send it in.If you did all of this and you still ended up hiring someone without ever checking on your resume you were very lucky because they probably just passed you up. You did not have a chance to tell them that you are an unemployed writer with a lot of writing experience and you know how to fix their resume. They may even have hired you with the assumption that you had an amazing resume written for them by some company that would charge them a couple of hundred dollars for the job.The answer to the question, 'Should I pay for a resume writing service?' is no, because you should not be paying anyone to write your resume for you. You can do it yourself if you have the time and the tools.

Enternships.com Founder CEO Rallies Business To Rethink Recruitment

Enternships.com Founder CEO Rallies Business To Rethink Recruitment Against the backdrop of 75 million young unemployed, Rajeeb Dey, CEO of Enternships.com has spoken out against traditional recruitment methods in front of the world and business leaders at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. He shared his insights into the limitations of the traditional employment process, as well as introducing new concepts to break the endless cycle of rejection that most candidates face. Rajeeb Dey In a speech at the World Economic Forum on the 21st January, the Young Global Leader Rajeeb Dey said: “For every person hired, an average of 80 are rejected. The Head of Recruitment is actually the Head of Rejection. Every rejection chips away at a candidate’s confidence, leaving them downtrodden and often depressed not the best attitude with which to approach the next interview. This vicious circle has to be broken. What we need to develop is a process that removes the innate structure of rejection seen in traditional recruitment and gives every applicant powerful development opportunities, regardless of whether they get a job. I call it UnRecruitment ; the removal of our current employment single-mindedness, in favour of exciting training possibilities for all.” The UnRecruitment concept centres around the desire to put power back in the hands of those applying for positions; the idea that candidates should no longer feel like the only thing to be gained from job-seeking is the job itself. “In between unemployment and employment there is a gap, and it’s one that should be filled with self-improvement, self-empowerment and genuine learning. Though only one person can get any given job, everyone applying for it should be able to benefit from the process.” According to Dey, this concept of UnRecruitment comes from blurring the boundaries of recruitment and training from schemes that give the tools for employment to young people, and from businesses who are willing to be more transparent, open and creative with the process of taking on new people.   Rajeeb is currently trialling this model at Enternships with a number of selected employers, with training partners The Spring Project. “Together, we can create systems of training, insight and feedback that ensure every candidate that applies for a position gains value from it, and that every employer has access to brilliant, ever-improving talent.” About Rajeeb Dey Award-winning entrepreneur and Young Global Leader, Rajeeb Dey, 27, founded Enternships.com in 2009 as a platform to connect young people to opportunities in startups and small businesses; an almost forgotten sector, particularly for graduates. http://www.twitter.com/rajdey About Enternships Founded by Rajeeb Dey, while he was president of Oxford Entrepreneurs (one of the largest networks of student entrepreneurs in Europe), Enternships.com formally launched in 2009 and is growing rapidly. They have been trusted by more than 4,000 companies in over 20 countries, including organisations like Groupon, PayPal, Yelp and Huddle; and celebrities like Martha Lane Fox of lastminute.com, as well as James Caan and Peter Jones from BBC’s Dragons’ Den. www.enternships.com About The Spring Project The Spring Project was set up in January 2010 by the founders of Elemental Practice LLP. The intent was to use the same expertise that Elemental Practice uses when working with the Boards and senior leaders of FTSE 100 companies and make it available for free to people at times in their lives when they most needed it and might most benefit from it. The Spring Project was devised to deliver ‘Radical Employability’ training to transform the situations that young unemployed people find themselves in. Over 2,500 people have been through the Spring Project’s ‘Radical Employability’ training so far. The Spring Project has pioneered the idea of unRecruitment over the last 3 years. www.springproject.co.uk 0

Prepare NOW to be Downsized - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Prepare NOW to be Downsized - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Are YOU Prepared to be Downsized? As this blog is being written, the sputtering economyâ€"once again!â€"is slowing down. Notwithstanding a few recent glimmers of hope, unemployment remains stubbornly and intractably high. As a matter of fact, a recent news story claimed that chronic unemployment, i.e., unemployment among those who remain without a job for six months or longer, is actually a greater problem today than it was during the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression! And, unfortunately, we’re continuing to see, and feel, the tremors of layoffs and “downsizings” rippling through the workplace. Who is affected? Potentially EVERYONE! Therefore, the wise man or woman will start doing things NOW that can make the difference between being adequately prepared if the “hammer” should fall on them and being “blind-sided.” Here is an all too typical scenario that is taking place with alarming frequency in the workplace of today: It is Friday afternoon. You have had a busy week. Because of earlier lay-offs and continual “downsizing,” you routinely put in 9, maybe hours a day to pick up “the slack” caused by the diminishing number of employees at your company. You’re looking forward to heading home and relaxing, enjoying the weekend. Maybe you’ll sit on the deck. Or cook hamburgers on the grill. Maybe tomorrow you’ll take the kids to the pool. Or perhaps you and your spouse will find the time to finalize your family’s plans for the upcoming 4th of July weekend. But just as you are getting ready to leave the office, your boss calls and asks you to stop by his office. What’s up with that, you ask yourself as you begin the trek to his office. Probably just some last minute detail he forgot to mention this week about that project he recently assigned you. Nothing really to worry about, right? Still, you can’t ignore the uneasy, queasy feeling you suddenly have in the pit of your stomach. “Hey, Chuck, what’s up?” you say in friendly greeting to your boss as you seat yourself comfortably in a chair in front of his desk. “Jim,” he begins without any of his usual, easygoing, opening banter, “it really pains me to tell you this . . . but the company has decided to change direction and I am sorry to tell you that your position is being eliminated. This will be your last day with the company.” Your boss certainly has a lot more to say, but not much registers after that. You literally go numb. Your heart is racing as though it is coming out of your chest. Your hands are shaking uncontrollably. How could this be happening?! Why didn’t you see it coming? What are you going to tell your wife? How are you going to make the mortgage payment? The car payments? Will you even be able to put food on your family’s table?! Think this couldn’t happen to you? Think again! This scenario is today’s reality in the workplace. And it canâ€"and does!â€"happen at any time, on any given day, to ANYONE. Including YOU! Not about you, about them While it’s certainly understandable how you could take it “personally” if you found yourself in this situation, in all honesty it really isn’t personal at all. It really is NOT about YOU. It’s actually all about THEM, with THEM being the employing company. The company wantsâ€"or needsâ€"to increase profits, let’s say. One very quick, very effective way to accomplish that is simply to eliminate staff. And, if your head is one of those that has to “roll” in order for the company to meet its profit objective, so be it. The ONLY thing of any importance or significance to the company is that it meets its objective, in this case, increasing profit. How this affects you (or any other employee, for that matter) is of little or no importance! If it means that you have to go bankrupt, so be it! That’s simply the way it is in today’s workplace, and I don’t see any change coming on the horizon. Once upon a time Maybe once upon a now quaint time, long since passed, being a “loyal” employee actually paid dividends both to the company and to the employee. Usually, an employee’s unquestioned “loyalty” meant that they would be “guaranteed” a job with the company for most of their working life, that they could look forward to a comfortable retirement, the traditional “gold watch” at the end of their travails, etc., etc., etc. Make no mistake about it, though, no longer is that true, and it hasn’t been for quite some time, either! As the subtitle of “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets suggests, “The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever!” In today’s job market, your primary focus, your sense of “loyalty,” better first and foremost be on YOURSELF! In other words, you better start positioning yourself NOW, i.e., BRANDING yourself, so that you can gain better control of your own employment destiny. Here is how to begin that process: Start thinking of yourself as an INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. After all, the true nature of an employer-employee relationship is this: you are actually SELLING your services, skills, knowledge and experience to someone, i.e., a company. In turn, the company agrees to give you money (and perhaps benefits) for those services. Learn to market YOURSELF, just as you would any other “PRODUCT.” Before a productâ€"any product!â€"can be successfully marketed, certain attributes must first be identified and then properly emphasized. The same is true, of course, when it comes to marketing yourself. Determine what YOUR product attributes are. For example, are you . . . relaxed? Sociable? Persuasive? Sensitive? Quiet? Fragile? Enthusiastic? Competitive? Driven? Creative? Patient? Courageous? Someone who thrives on pressure? Are you resilient? I recommend that candidates I work with develop a list of at least 60 traits that best describe them BEFORE I begin marketing them to client companies. Oftentimes, this process can be simplified and expedited merely by taking a personality assessment. One that you might consider investigating is at this link: http://www.soicc.state.nc.us/soicc/planning/c1a.htm   (NOTE: A much more comprehensive treatment of how best to identify and then emphasize your personality type, skills and attributes is featured in “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets,” in the chapter entitled, “Bile, Blood Phlegm.”) Assess how your “product attributes” have actually contributed to the success of companies for which you have worked. Here are some examples: o Fifteen years of progressive responsibility in key roles in (your field of specialty). o Among the top % of all salespeople for the past eight years. o Led a team that produced a new product that increased the company’s net profit by 5% in the first full year of production. o Was a keynote speaker at the company’s 2008 “Sales Roundtable.” o Received THREE “letters of commendation” for Outstanding Sales Achievement in 20. o Attained the Professional Engineer (PE) designation in 2009. Develop YOUR ‘Marketing Plan.’ (We spend nearly 150 pages in “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets showing you how to develop an effective, comprehensive personal marketing plan.) Assume from this point forward that YOU could get that “pink slip” on ANY given Friday . . . or Monday . . . or Tuesday . . . and BE PREPARED! Imprint this statement on your mind: There are only TWO reasons why a company hires ANYONE (or keeps them around!): You can MAKE ‘EM MONEY or SAVE ‘EM MONEY, or ideally, accomplish both of these things. What did you do today? What have YOU done TODAY to make a positive impact on your employer’s “bottom line?” Write it down, document it for future reference. Review the “How to be Headhunted” blog series featured on this site. Then, begin developing solid relationships with solid “headhunters” BEFORE you may actually require their assistance in finding a new job. As an aside, a college professor told me years ago that you should always have at least THREE documents readily available: Your birth certificate; a copy of your grade transcripts; and an updated résumé. Do YOU have these documents readily available? If not, then obtain them. NOW! None of what I have said in this blog is about finding a job. It’s actually about YOUR freedom, YOUR independence, about YOUR being able to control your own destinyâ€"IF (I am sorely tempted to say WHEN!)â€"misfortune should befall YOU. It’s about BRANDING yourself NOW. Before it may be too late! A story that amply illustrates what I have said thus far We were recently recruiting for a position at a Fortune 500 company and had identified, qualified and attracted a very strong professional for the position. While he was a “passive” candidate, i.e., he was not actively “looking to make a career change,” he was nonetheless open to at least considering the position. He went in for the interviews and quickly bubbled to the top as the leading candidate. He was just days away from getting an offer for the position when he called me and said, “Skip, I am going to have to withdraw from consideration. The more I think about this, the more guilty I feel. My employer has been so good to me. I have a great relationship with my boss. I just had a good performance review and got a raise, albeit a small one. I have been with them seven years and I honestly believe I just need to stay here.” You guessed it! Three weeks later he called me again. “Skip,” he asked, “is that sales manager’s position with the Fortune 500 company still open? I would like to continue the process?” He had just been “downsized.” And unfortunately, we had just made an offer to the backup candidate. Not unexpectedly, this professional was “blind-sided,” “shell shocked.” He was dumbfounded that he had just been tossed on the street “like a piece of garbage” (his words) after all of these years of service, a solid performance review, etc. Don’t let this happen to YOU! Be ready. Brand yourself today and know the value that you bring. Be ready to take advantage of ANY career opportunity that may come your way. TODAY! Don’t wait until that fateful day to brand yourself. Author: Skip Freeman is the author of “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever! and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The HTW Group (Hire to Win), an Atlanta, GA, Metropolitan Area Executive Search Firm. Specializing in the placement of sales, engineering, manufacturing and RD professionals, he has developed powerful techniques that help companies hire the best and help the best get hired.

Tips For Writing a Resume That Is Attractive to the Recruiting Manager

Tips For Writing a Resume That Is Attractive to the Recruiting ManagerWriting a resume is probably the most dreaded aspect of college or high school. Whether it's your first attempt at writing a resume or you're beginning your career in the professional world, it's important to write a resume that will make you stand out from the other applicants and stand the best chance of getting an interview with the company of your choice. For this reason, there are a few tips that will help you write a resume that is appealing to the hiring manager.First of all, you need to understand that your resume will be in a very public space, so you should make sure that you have completed it well before the deadline for submission. That means you should know how to format your resume correctly, such as using a template that can easily be modified or customize to your needs.Another thing to remember when writing a resume is that you want to build your resume by building your professional career. You shou ld start with your name. When applying for a job, you should always include your name, including any last names that may be attached to it. This will give a good impression to the hiring manager that you are worthy of the position that you are applying for.Your name will then follow with a summary of your accomplishments and provide additional information about the type of job that you are applying for. You should highlight the specific jobs that you were able to work on by providing a short list or explain in more detail why they are important. This will be a huge advantage in your favor when getting an interview because the interviewer will already know that you have something important to say about the particular position.Your education and your coursework should be closely related to the job that you are applying for. If you are applying for a job in the medical field, you will want to highlight your medical degrees and explain how you have trained and prepared for your career. You should also include any certifications that you have received that are relevant to the job that you are applying for.After you have included this information, you will want to let the hiring manager know that you learned everything that they want to hear about the position. You will then tell them what they can expect to find on your resume when you have completed it. Showing the recruiter that you have the necessary experience and qualifications will give you a better chance of getting the job.The last piece of advice for writing a resume is to utilize a professionally designed template. A professionally designed template will help you to make the resume that you want without having to spend time on the process of writing it. This is going to make the resume that you want, even if you do not have the experience or the education to write one.Lastly, the resume is not something that should be written by the student. Writing a resume should be done by the professional who is going to submit it for the job.

Is Worry Getting in Your Way - Hire Imaging

Is Worry Getting in Your Way - Hire Imaging Whether in job search or employed, many of my clients share that they worry. Some are in pain from an unexpected layoff, discouraged about unemployment, fearful of managing their financial reserves, worried about how as introverts, they can assertively network or do well in interviews, not sure of how to handle issues at their workplace, or anxious about balancing career and life demands. The list goes on. Worry is a common emotion experienced by folks in any change process. And worry is not overall a bad thing; it can often motivate you to do your best. But sometimes, it can be paralyzing and lead to avoidance. It can impact every aspect of your career, from avoiding or procrastinating tasks, to becoming overly anxious in networking or interviewing activities. You are not alone! Here are some ways to manage that worry. 9 Tips for Managing Worry Take an inventory of your worries and see what they accomplish. Did worrying about any of the items on your list ever change their outcomes? Realize you have a choice to worry or not worry. Think positively. Choose not to worry. Label your worries as negative thinking and undeserving of your attention. Find something constructive to do instead of sitting and indulging in worry. Face your fear. What is the worst thing that can happen? What would you do if it happened Consider the options you have. Make concrete plans of action. If you find yourself worrying, look in the mirror, put up your hand and tell yourself to stop. This is called “thought stopping.” Reward yourself for minimizing your worry and do something you enjoy that brings you joy. Practice relaxation breathing techniques. Challenge irrational fears that are causing you to worry. Look at your irrational thoughts and substitute positive, rational thoughts in the form of positive self-talk. Example: Irrational worry: “This has always been a problem; how will I ever be able to handle it now? Rational thought: “I can handle this problem.” Recognize the wisdom of accepting life’s doubts and uncertainties. You are CEO of your career. Dream big, and step into your power. Calculate your risks and ponder action steps. You DO have the power to break through roadblocks, whether known or unknown. The world is full of opportunities. Changing your mindset can go a long way toward reducing your worry. Look at change as an adventure. Focus on the positive. Your life is what you make it! “We all need to decide whether to ‘play it safe’ in life and worry about the downside, or instead take a chance, by being who we really are and living the life our heart desires. Which choice are you making?” ~ Charlie Badenhop I always love to hear from you! Please comment below.

Dont fight stress. Promote peace. - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Dont fight stress. Promote peace. - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog A recent Danish study showed that 62% of all danish employees have felt stressed at work in the last month and 15% have had to report in sick at some point because of stress. The Danish ministry of work states that up to a quarter of all absenteeism is due to stress. Stress is a serious problem that costs businesses a lot of money and, even worse, can ruin employees lives. However, the typical solutions used to combat stress dont work in fact they often make matters worse. The typical solution is, of course, the stress management training. Typical content includes: What is stress Symptoms of stress Health implications of stress How to fight stress This will typically be presented by a stress consultant. In Denmark that consultant may even come from the unfortunately named Center for Stress (shouldnt that be against stress?). Are you getting it? Stress, stress, stress, stress and more stress. If I wasnt stressed before, I certainly will be now. In fact, one study indicated that employees who attend stress management training become more stressed. You know how people react when they read about some exotic disease? Suddenly theyre convinced they have all the symptoms and that they in fact suffer from dengue fever. When presented with a long list of symptons of stress, people can easily convince themselves that Wow I must be really stressed too. Whats needed is a fundamental shift in approach you do not fight stress by talking about stress. that just stresses people more. You fight stress by talking about peace and calm instead. Thats the solution to stress: To give employees tools to stay calm in a busy work environment. The Chief Happiness Officers three simple steps to calm at work Forget about stress for a moment. What can you do to stay calm even when things are moving fast at work? Here are three simple steps that anyone in any position can use. Examine when you stay calm Examine previous situations at work where you were busy but calm. What happened? What allowed you to stay calm? How can you use this in future busy situations? Stop and feel Once a day, take five minutes to stop what youre doing and notice how youre doing. The greatest danger is stealth stress, where you get a little more stressed day by day but never notice it because it sneaks up on you in small increments. The antidote: Take five minutes every day to do the following: Go to a place where there are no phones, computers and interruptions. The bathroom works in a pinch. Sit down, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Take deep, slow breaths. Pull back your attention from wherever it was and focus on yourself. Ask yourself the following questions: What is my body feeling? Notice any good feeling or any tension or pain. How am I feeling? Happy, sad, stressed, angry, energized, tired? What am I thinking? What occupies your thoughts? You dont need to do anything about it while youre sitting there. Dont expect any solutions to come to you. Just sit there and notice whats going on in your body, emotions and thoughts. Enjoy your achievements Appreciate the amount of work you do, and dont berate yourself over the tasks you dont manage. Its a fact of work today, that theres always more work. You will never clear your desk and if you do, more work will find you. So you must remember to feel good about the work you do and not beat yourself up over the tasks you havent yet finished. These three tips can be used by anyone in any job. They take very little time and effort and can help employees keep their cool even in the busiest work environments. Try them out! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related