Keys to Boosting Brainpower
Everyone knows that regular physical activity helps keep your body healthy and in shape. Exercise strengthens a person’s heart, lungs, and muscles, keeping them in prime working order and staving off the effects of aging. But what about your brain? Does it need exercise too? Why yes, it does. It turns out that there’s a correlation between keeping the body active and keeping the mind sharp. While it was once thought that a person was born with all the brain cells that he/she would ever have, research has found that new brain cells can grow. Physical activity increases levels of brain-derived…
Team Player – Part II – The Dos and Don’ts
Understanding the collaborative nature of teamwork is the first step to becoming a sought-after team player. With attention to these strategies, anyone can improve his/her team player prowess. First off, the “Do’s”: Engage active listening mode Effective communication only happens if active listening takes place first. Only after a person has put effort into absorbing, understanding, and weighing thoughts and ideas can said person effectively (and intelligently) discuss or debate those thoughts and ideas. Teamwork relies heavily on the art of listening. And it is an art. One that too often gets pushed aside as secondary to speaking up. But…
Team Player – Part I – The Tale of a No-Show Team Player
Bill was psyched when the department manager assigned him to the “A Squad.” “I guess all the long hours this past couple of months have paid off,” he murmured, mentally patting himself on the back. Now he could kick back and enjoy the ride. Not to mention the prestige of being on the team everyone respected. They had it all together. No doubt about it. “I probably won’t have to do a thing . . . ” More murmuring under his breath. Show up, smile, nod. He’d be on easy street now. And after only six months of keeping his…
The Value of Vacations
“Many entrepreneurs, executives, and self-employed people pride themselves on being too busy for vacation. They perceive it as a sign of importance and commitment,” shares Tine Thygesen, a Scandinavian entrepreneur who has adopted the opposite view. In her country, five weeks of vacation is not only the norm, it’s legally mandatory. This and other European models may cast shades of green across the U.S. workforce, where the average vacation time after five years of service is 14 days. On the flip side, the average U.S. employee takes only about half of their allotted vacation time. And of those who do…
College Grad: Ace that Job Interview! – Part II
Last week’s post tackled the homework basics that will pave the way toward a successful job interview. Now let’s focus on some strategies that will leave a lasting, positive impression long after the interview is over. Practice answering typical interview questions. Search for specific interview questions that relate to this particular field. If a friend will step into the role of interviewer, all the better. Ready answers will demonstrate you put time and thought into preparing for this important meeting. And the more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you’ll feel during the real interview. Rehearse and memorize your “elevator…
College Grad: Ace that Job Interview! – Part I
You and thousands of other college graduates are gearing up for life after finals, when you’ll join the rest of the adult world as a member of the workforce with a “real” job. Your task? Outshine the competition and rise above the crowd of graduates clamoring for the best entry-level positions with the best companies, offering the most promising career potential. A tall task but one that’s far from impossible. The first step is an attention-grabbing resume that will land you an interview. See Resume 2018 – Part I and Part II for practical tips to creating a top-notch resume.…