A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point, he asked: 'Are you writing a story about what we've done? Is it a story about me?'
His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson: 'I'm writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I'm using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.'
Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn't seem very special. 'But it's just like any other pencil I've ever seen!'
'That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on to them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.
'First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and he always guides us according to His will.
'Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he's much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.
'Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.
'Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So, always pay attention to what is happening inside you.
'Finally, the pencil's fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. In just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action.'
Monday, March 30, 2009
Best 'Out of Office' Automatic e-mail Replies
Best 'Out of Office' Automatic e-mail Replies:
1. I am currently out of the office at a job interview and will reply to
you if I fail to get the position. Please be prepared for my mood.
2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the
office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at
all.
3. Sorry to have missed you, but I'm at the doctor's having my brain and
heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team.
4. I Will be unable to delete all the emails you send me until I return
from vacation. Please be patient, and your mail will be deleted in the
order it was received.
5. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for
the first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.
6. The email server is unable to verify your server connection. Your
message has not been delivered. Please restart your computer and try
sending again. (The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see
who did this over and over and over....)
7. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system.
You Are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in
approximately 19 weeks.
8. Hi, I'm thinking about what you've just sent me. Please wait by your
PC for my response.
9. I've run away to join a different circus.
10. I will be out of the office for the next two weeks for medical
reasons. When I return, please refer to me as 'Susan' instead of Steve.
1. I am currently out of the office at a job interview and will reply to
you if I fail to get the position. Please be prepared for my mood.
2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the
office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at
all.
3. Sorry to have missed you, but I'm at the doctor's having my brain and
heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team.
4. I Will be unable to delete all the emails you send me until I return
from vacation. Please be patient, and your mail will be deleted in the
order it was received.
5. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for
the first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.
6. The email server is unable to verify your server connection. Your
message has not been delivered. Please restart your computer and try
sending again. (The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see
who did this over and over and over....)
7. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system.
You Are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in
approximately 19 weeks.
8. Hi, I'm thinking about what you've just sent me. Please wait by your
PC for my response.
9. I've run away to join a different circus.
10. I will be out of the office for the next two weeks for medical
reasons. When I return, please refer to me as 'Susan' instead of Steve.
How to Avoid Interview Stress
Do you experience severe interview stress? This article is for you.
The interviewer is buttoned-up, formal and not smiling as warmly as you would have liked. The interview chair is hard and unwelcoming, your palms and face are sweating profusely, your normal eloquence has given way to stuttering and stammering and you have begun to tremble from head to toe. If you are one of the multitude of jobseekers who begin to hyper-ventilate at the very thought of interviewing for a new position and to whom the interview is a source of unlimited stress and trepidation, the following are some basic tips to help you through your interview woes:
Imagine the interviewer is more stressed out than you are
A technique favored by many to alleviate their own stress is to remind themselves that the interviewer may be more nervous and stressed out than they are, especially if he is not a seasoned HR professional and does not normally interview new candidates. The interviewer may not feel very comfortable assuming a role normally reserved for the HR department and may be more anxious than you are as a result. In this case you can shift your focus to alleviating the stress in the room and lightening the mood realizing you are both new to this role and that both sides will win by making the interview as smooth, fluid and informative as possible.
Imagine yourself in the interviewer' s shoes
It helps to remember when sitting in the interview spotlight that the interviewer himself is a busy man with deadlines, a job and a boss to report back to. By mentally envisioning the interviewer as a professional just like yourself who has taken time out of his busy routine to give you an opportunity to interview for the job, you can begin to empathize with the interviewer, relate to him and feel a sense of gratitude that you have made it as far as the interview stage. Remember, getting this far is already an accomplishment and the fact that the employer has given you such a generous block of time means they are interested in your profile, abilities and qualifications. Convince yourself that the difficult part is already over (providing you have not lied on your CV) and the interview itself is just a platform to build a rapport with the team and articulate in person what they already know from your CV.
To take this a step further, you may want to put yourself in the employer's shoes - imagine you are in full control of the interview and the aim is to deliver to the employer all the answers he needs to sell you to the rest of the team clearly and succinctly. You can even go so far as to imagine that you already have the job and are just getting to know the interviewer as a professional colleague - this technique really works to alleviate the stress of the moment and reveal your real work persona and interpersonal skills.
Know your subject matter
Your subject matter is primarily yourself and your professional achievements, interests, skills and qualifications, particularly as summarized on your CV and as they relate to this particular job. The interview is not the time to start racking your brain for the answer to "How long did you work for ABC Motors" or "When did you join DEF" - you should know your employment history and CV like the back of your hand and be able to explain or expound on any aspect of it immediately. Remember, you are the world's best expert on this subject matter and for the length of the interview you are completely in control of the subject matter, have an edge over the interviewer with this knowledge, and can deliver the relevant facts and figures with utmost confidence.
Read interview books
Reading interview books will give you that extra self-confidence you need to appear calm at the interview and anticipate some of the more common questions. By eliminating most of the 'shock' value of the interview and feeling you are armed with answers to most questions that can come your way you will feel much more relaxed, comfortable and in control of the interview.
Practice and prepare
Nothing beats practice and preparation for confidence building. While knowing yourself is the fundamental building block in the successful interview formula, knowing the job, the industry and the company come in a close second. Research these areas extensively so that the next time you are seated across from the interviewer you have a detailed knowledge of what it is they are looking for, how recent market events have shaped and influenced the company in specific and industry in general and what it is about your profile that is uniquely relevant to the job in question and can directly influence the bottom line. Once you can see yourself as a vital piece of the puzzle by virtue of the unique skills, attributes and value-added you bring to the specific role, you can tailor the answers to all interview questions accordingly. Practice your answers bearing in mind at all times what the employer is looking for based on your research activities, and keep repeating and fine-tuning your answers till you have perfected both the content and delivery. Ask some-one you trust to assume the role of the interviewer and aim to perfect the answers to all the common (and any anticipated uncommon) questions you are likely to come across in the interview.
Don't dwell on your mistakes
Remind yourself that everyone is fallible and that should you stumble or falter with a particularly difficult question, you can quickly recover. The secret is not to make a big issue out of a bad or outright wrong answer but to quickly take stock of what went wrong, regain composure, take remedial action if possible then refocus and move on to the next question. Keep a professional front at all times and don't let yourself get mired in any interview traps or potentially harmful comments you may inadvertently have made. It helps immensely to remember that flexibility will win the day and that should you inadvertently slip, you have the wit and intelligence to make it up with well-rehearsed, honest, sincere, exemplary answers to other interview questions.
Smile
Laughter is the closest distance between any two people and a good smile (a close relative to laughter) can melt many a concrete professional heart. Aside from endearing you to the interviewer, showing you are pleasant and breaking the ice, a polite smile will actually make you feel happier and will lift your spirits. Aim to smile as sincerely and as often as is possible during the interview and watch how your mood and temperament lighten up and the interview takes on a more positive light.
The interviewer is buttoned-up, formal and not smiling as warmly as you would have liked. The interview chair is hard and unwelcoming, your palms and face are sweating profusely, your normal eloquence has given way to stuttering and stammering and you have begun to tremble from head to toe. If you are one of the multitude of jobseekers who begin to hyper-ventilate at the very thought of interviewing for a new position and to whom the interview is a source of unlimited stress and trepidation, the following are some basic tips to help you through your interview woes:
Imagine the interviewer is more stressed out than you are
A technique favored by many to alleviate their own stress is to remind themselves that the interviewer may be more nervous and stressed out than they are, especially if he is not a seasoned HR professional and does not normally interview new candidates. The interviewer may not feel very comfortable assuming a role normally reserved for the HR department and may be more anxious than you are as a result. In this case you can shift your focus to alleviating the stress in the room and lightening the mood realizing you are both new to this role and that both sides will win by making the interview as smooth, fluid and informative as possible.
Imagine yourself in the interviewer' s shoes
It helps to remember when sitting in the interview spotlight that the interviewer himself is a busy man with deadlines, a job and a boss to report back to. By mentally envisioning the interviewer as a professional just like yourself who has taken time out of his busy routine to give you an opportunity to interview for the job, you can begin to empathize with the interviewer, relate to him and feel a sense of gratitude that you have made it as far as the interview stage. Remember, getting this far is already an accomplishment and the fact that the employer has given you such a generous block of time means they are interested in your profile, abilities and qualifications. Convince yourself that the difficult part is already over (providing you have not lied on your CV) and the interview itself is just a platform to build a rapport with the team and articulate in person what they already know from your CV.
To take this a step further, you may want to put yourself in the employer's shoes - imagine you are in full control of the interview and the aim is to deliver to the employer all the answers he needs to sell you to the rest of the team clearly and succinctly. You can even go so far as to imagine that you already have the job and are just getting to know the interviewer as a professional colleague - this technique really works to alleviate the stress of the moment and reveal your real work persona and interpersonal skills.
Know your subject matter
Your subject matter is primarily yourself and your professional achievements, interests, skills and qualifications, particularly as summarized on your CV and as they relate to this particular job. The interview is not the time to start racking your brain for the answer to "How long did you work for ABC Motors" or "When did you join DEF" - you should know your employment history and CV like the back of your hand and be able to explain or expound on any aspect of it immediately. Remember, you are the world's best expert on this subject matter and for the length of the interview you are completely in control of the subject matter, have an edge over the interviewer with this knowledge, and can deliver the relevant facts and figures with utmost confidence.
Read interview books
Reading interview books will give you that extra self-confidence you need to appear calm at the interview and anticipate some of the more common questions. By eliminating most of the 'shock' value of the interview and feeling you are armed with answers to most questions that can come your way you will feel much more relaxed, comfortable and in control of the interview.
Practice and prepare
Nothing beats practice and preparation for confidence building. While knowing yourself is the fundamental building block in the successful interview formula, knowing the job, the industry and the company come in a close second. Research these areas extensively so that the next time you are seated across from the interviewer you have a detailed knowledge of what it is they are looking for, how recent market events have shaped and influenced the company in specific and industry in general and what it is about your profile that is uniquely relevant to the job in question and can directly influence the bottom line. Once you can see yourself as a vital piece of the puzzle by virtue of the unique skills, attributes and value-added you bring to the specific role, you can tailor the answers to all interview questions accordingly. Practice your answers bearing in mind at all times what the employer is looking for based on your research activities, and keep repeating and fine-tuning your answers till you have perfected both the content and delivery. Ask some-one you trust to assume the role of the interviewer and aim to perfect the answers to all the common (and any anticipated uncommon) questions you are likely to come across in the interview.
Don't dwell on your mistakes
Remind yourself that everyone is fallible and that should you stumble or falter with a particularly difficult question, you can quickly recover. The secret is not to make a big issue out of a bad or outright wrong answer but to quickly take stock of what went wrong, regain composure, take remedial action if possible then refocus and move on to the next question. Keep a professional front at all times and don't let yourself get mired in any interview traps or potentially harmful comments you may inadvertently have made. It helps immensely to remember that flexibility will win the day and that should you inadvertently slip, you have the wit and intelligence to make it up with well-rehearsed, honest, sincere, exemplary answers to other interview questions.
Smile
Laughter is the closest distance between any two people and a good smile (a close relative to laughter) can melt many a concrete professional heart. Aside from endearing you to the interviewer, showing you are pleasant and breaking the ice, a polite smile will actually make you feel happier and will lift your spirits. Aim to smile as sincerely and as often as is possible during the interview and watch how your mood and temperament lighten up and the interview takes on a more positive light.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Three envelopes
A fellow has just been hired as a new CEO of a large high tech corporation The CEO who was stepping down met with him privately and presented him with three numbered envelopes. Open these if you run up against a problem you don’t think you can solve. Well things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later, sales took a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat. About at his wits end, he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope. The message read ‘Blame your predecessor’. The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO. Satisfied with his comments, the press responded positively sales began to pick up and the problem was soon behind him. About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight dip in sales, combined with serious product problems. Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope. The message read, Recognize. This he did and the company quickly rebounded. After several consecutive profitable quarters the company once again fell on difficult times. The CEO went to his office closed the door ad opened to third envelope. The message said "Prepare three envelopes".
Team Tension
Every executive is thrilled to be working on a big project. Initially everything goes well with your team backing you to the hilt but suddenly things turn sour. What might start off as a small difference of opinion between team members blows into a major hassle. Tempers flay and everyone is filled with negativity. It is a case of team tension. The team tension arises because different team members bring varied experience, training and points of view to their work. So, how does one identify and solve the situation?
Recognize the symptoms:
* Team members repeat ideas or points but no one seems to suggest anything new.
* Discussions are heated and arguments ensure.
* Team remembers start work on their ideas without informing others
* Some of them threaten to quit or refuse to come to an agreement.
* Team members use documentation for very little matter. They take everything in writing though documentation is useful it’s doesn’t really solve unresolved differences. Solving it:
Acknowledge it
The first step towards solving team tension is to acknowledge it. You can’t pretend that everything is hunky dory with your team. This will take some bravery as you just have to state plainly to your team that something is wrong with the team some where.
Take a break:
Allow the situation to rest. Sleep on it. You can share your ideas with a colleague outside your department or with a senior professional. On many occasions team tensions are not resolved easily so be patient.
Involve a mediator:
You run the risk of being partial while solving team crisis. Hence it is better to review the situation by a third party. Present the situation before him/her in an objective manner and let the person suggest solutions.
Decide on what really matters:
There has to be a reason why you are keen to sort out an issue. If it doesn’t make a qualitative difference to the end result, then let it go. Or else, you review your goal with your team and get them to re-focus on the long term benefits.
Be a Patient Listener:
Have you really bothered to listen to both the parties? Practice active listening. Hear the story in detail rather than chipping in with your ideas or solutions. Discuss the matter with the concerned persons to understand whether you have comprehended the problems objectively. Such a display of empathy may encourage the parties to solve their differences. Compromise: Agree on a middle path. You will be surprised to see how accommodating other parties will be once you concede first. Don’t let your ego prevent you from doing this.
List down the Agreements:
Take note of all points that the entire team has agreed on. Stress on the core values and common steps. This will spur them to cooperate in a better manner. Apologies: Say sorry for being dominating yelling making accusations or not showing proper understanding, etc. Humility can go a long way healing buried egos. Team tension is a part and parcel of corporate life. When you have a team of strong individuals, tensions are bound to arise. Strive to keep differences minor and temporary. Whenever a senior executive leaves another or a better organization he takes along with him a team of people working with the present employer to the new employer. Looking at the numerous adverse affects of this practice, many organizations are now taking steps to curb it. One such step is putting clauses in the employment contract of senior employees wherein they cannot take their teams along if they are on their way out. Recently we were asked by our investor to put these clauses in the employment contracts. It is fair as the organizations tend to invest heavily to create these teams.Supervising a young team:When we talk teams it can include supervising youngsters to be quite a challenge. Most of them are too aggressive, hyper, excited or nervous for your liking. But it is this dynamic bunch that will the company looks forward in the coming years. Here are few tips that will help you supervise over the youngsters in a better manner.
Behave nicely:
Though they look chirpy, most youngsters feel; nervous within even what they are asked to do small tasks. Make sure you do not intimidate or demoralize them by any form of aggressive or condescending behavior. Always remember that they are your colleagues and treat them with respect.Always ask for ideas: Young people get a morale booster when their supervisor/ managers take their opinion. It reaffirms his/her faith in their intelligences and capabilities. This motivates them to put on their best show. Like wise when you assign a task to a youngster avoid nitpicking or offer help even when it is not needed. This lowers their self worth as well as ability to make decisions.
Do not let them Loose:
While it is okay to be friendly with your young team members, it is equally important to stay in authority. It should be made clear that they must consult you for certain matters and follow a certain system of working. Since, you are ultimately responsible for them; it helps to stay in control.
Have a positive approach:
Be cheerful and confident while interacting with your young team. Whining, lack of enthusiasm or negative behavior will dampen their spirits. Criticize constructively rather than for the heck of it.
Give proper instructions:
Many youngsters are clueless about even the most simplest of tasks. When you just assign a task and move ahead, they start feeling hesitant about approaching you for help. But when you offer instructions or a proper procedure to follow while doing a task, you automatically become more accessible to them.
Show recognition:
A compliment can go a long way in boosting the morale of a youngster. Recognize the contribution of every young team member and applaud them for for their efforts. This will build better emotional bonds.
Recognize the symptoms:
* Team members repeat ideas or points but no one seems to suggest anything new.
* Discussions are heated and arguments ensure.
* Team remembers start work on their ideas without informing others
* Some of them threaten to quit or refuse to come to an agreement.
* Team members use documentation for very little matter. They take everything in writing though documentation is useful it’s doesn’t really solve unresolved differences. Solving it:
Acknowledge it
The first step towards solving team tension is to acknowledge it. You can’t pretend that everything is hunky dory with your team. This will take some bravery as you just have to state plainly to your team that something is wrong with the team some where.
Take a break:
Allow the situation to rest. Sleep on it. You can share your ideas with a colleague outside your department or with a senior professional. On many occasions team tensions are not resolved easily so be patient.
Involve a mediator:
You run the risk of being partial while solving team crisis. Hence it is better to review the situation by a third party. Present the situation before him/her in an objective manner and let the person suggest solutions.
Decide on what really matters:
There has to be a reason why you are keen to sort out an issue. If it doesn’t make a qualitative difference to the end result, then let it go. Or else, you review your goal with your team and get them to re-focus on the long term benefits.
Be a Patient Listener:
Have you really bothered to listen to both the parties? Practice active listening. Hear the story in detail rather than chipping in with your ideas or solutions. Discuss the matter with the concerned persons to understand whether you have comprehended the problems objectively. Such a display of empathy may encourage the parties to solve their differences. Compromise: Agree on a middle path. You will be surprised to see how accommodating other parties will be once you concede first. Don’t let your ego prevent you from doing this.
List down the Agreements:
Take note of all points that the entire team has agreed on. Stress on the core values and common steps. This will spur them to cooperate in a better manner. Apologies: Say sorry for being dominating yelling making accusations or not showing proper understanding, etc. Humility can go a long way healing buried egos. Team tension is a part and parcel of corporate life. When you have a team of strong individuals, tensions are bound to arise. Strive to keep differences minor and temporary. Whenever a senior executive leaves another or a better organization he takes along with him a team of people working with the present employer to the new employer. Looking at the numerous adverse affects of this practice, many organizations are now taking steps to curb it. One such step is putting clauses in the employment contract of senior employees wherein they cannot take their teams along if they are on their way out. Recently we were asked by our investor to put these clauses in the employment contracts. It is fair as the organizations tend to invest heavily to create these teams.Supervising a young team:When we talk teams it can include supervising youngsters to be quite a challenge. Most of them are too aggressive, hyper, excited or nervous for your liking. But it is this dynamic bunch that will the company looks forward in the coming years. Here are few tips that will help you supervise over the youngsters in a better manner.
Behave nicely:
Though they look chirpy, most youngsters feel; nervous within even what they are asked to do small tasks. Make sure you do not intimidate or demoralize them by any form of aggressive or condescending behavior. Always remember that they are your colleagues and treat them with respect.Always ask for ideas: Young people get a morale booster when their supervisor/ managers take their opinion. It reaffirms his/her faith in their intelligences and capabilities. This motivates them to put on their best show. Like wise when you assign a task to a youngster avoid nitpicking or offer help even when it is not needed. This lowers their self worth as well as ability to make decisions.
Do not let them Loose:
While it is okay to be friendly with your young team members, it is equally important to stay in authority. It should be made clear that they must consult you for certain matters and follow a certain system of working. Since, you are ultimately responsible for them; it helps to stay in control.
Have a positive approach:
Be cheerful and confident while interacting with your young team. Whining, lack of enthusiasm or negative behavior will dampen their spirits. Criticize constructively rather than for the heck of it.
Give proper instructions:
Many youngsters are clueless about even the most simplest of tasks. When you just assign a task and move ahead, they start feeling hesitant about approaching you for help. But when you offer instructions or a proper procedure to follow while doing a task, you automatically become more accessible to them.
Show recognition:
A compliment can go a long way in boosting the morale of a youngster. Recognize the contribution of every young team member and applaud them for for their efforts. This will build better emotional bonds.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Ten places you'll catch a COLD
With temperatures plummeting to well near zero as a cold front sweeps through the country, the climate is ripe for cold bugs to get a grip. But there are certain steps you can take to help protect yourself.A recent US survey has shown that people suffering from the common cold can transfer their germs onto household surfaces, where they can live for up to two days.So if you want to stay well, blitz these hotspots with disinfectant and make sure they are kept germ free to stand a greater chance of not getting struck down by a cold virus.Here are revealed the top 10 cold bug danger zones to watch out for
Bathroom taps
You would normally associate the bathroom with cleanliness, as it's a place where you wash after all, but the cold bugs do tend to hang around. Bathroom taps are the main offenders as germs can be transferred from hands and then picked up again by the next person to touch them. Be sure to clean them regularly with disinfectant!
Cash machines
Used by thousands of people every day, it's hardly surprising that cash machine keypads are crawling with germs. Make sure you wash your hands after use.
Door handles
Another place where germs are easily transferred is door handles. However, should you be lucky enough to have brass, copper or silver ones then bugs will only survive for up to eight hours on them as these metals are poisonous to many germs.
Light switches
Turning a light on is something most people do every day, but did you know that the flu virus can survive for up to 48 hours on plastic light switches?
Computer keyboards
A study conducted by Which? magazine in the UK this year found that computer keyboards contain more bacteria than toilet seats - yuck! Those who ate lunch at their desks had the dirtiest keyboards, so make sure you eat your lunch elsewhere and give your PC a good clean with alcohol wipes.
Fridge handles
Germs can also be found on your fridge door handle around 40% of the time that you touch it.
Public transport
Many of us travel into work on public transport every day, but how many times do the buttons, bars and handles on the buses and trains get disinfected? Our guess is not very many, so be sure to wash your hands after travelling.
Telephones
1215,1217 is the number of germs which can live on your telephone per square inch, which makes it even more toxic than your computer keyboard. Not to mention that you hold it close to your face so the likelihood of transferring germs to your mouth is rather high. Time to get a hands-free kit?
Shopping trolleys
Your weekly shop might not be the only thing you pick up when you go to the supermarket. Shopping trolley handles are also notorious for harbouring all kinds of germs, some which can cause colds and others which might upset your stomach.
Remote controls
Considering it normally lives on the arm of your sofa, the humble remote control is one of the most germ-covered objects in your home. Using it also carries a high risk of infection as any bacteria living on it can be transferred to your fingertips which can then end up in the your mouth causing a virus or infection.
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