Is monotony tampering your efficiency? Are you bored of the daily rigmarole of work? There are different ways in which you break free from the monotony blues and move ahead in your career. Yes, monotony at work indicates the chances of progress in your career. It depends on your interpretation of monotony. There are people who find their jobs monotonous due to the lack of passion towards their work. If you are good at your work and respect your company, and yet feel that your job is monotonous, here are different ways in which you can solve your problem. However, if you are not interested in your job, it is time for you to switch careers.
Excel in whatever you do. Begin by mastering the nuances of your job. Learn all the tricks of the trade and come up with interesting ways to excel in your work. Experienced people often discover tricks and tips to do things faster with increased efficiency. Focus on the quality of your work while you experiment with your work. Beware of the quantity trap that might trouble you later.
Help others and learn more. It is not just through work that you gain. There are many other aspects that you hardly notice. You need to help others while they are working. Thus, you can come across the mistakes that they commit and find ways to solve such problems. You tend to learn more by sharing your knowledge and experience with others.
Build in the competitive spirit. Compete with your peers and put your best foot forward to excel in the competition. Vie with your peers to outperform them. Learn the rules of competition and help your peers also move ahead by sharing your secrets of success. You will prove to be a leader as your peers are inspired by your approach and this gives you an edge over your colleagues.
Think out of the box. Let your creative juices flow. Brainstorm frequently with your colleagues to invent creative ways to increase the efficiency of your work. Think creatively to come up with better ideas that can increase customer satisfaction. Learn the goals of the team and the organization. Harness your creativity in this direction and your career will automatically progress.
Develop cycles of work and rest. Remember the human mind also need some rest. Plan your routine well in advance to include cycles of work and rest. Straining your senses might also pose a problem in the near future. Schedule your work effectively with adequate focus on stress relief. An increase in stress might lead to burn-out.
Focus on priorities and prepare to advance. Most experienced people fail to reach their goals just because they are poor when it comes to basics such as prioritizing things. If you are unable to focus on priorities, you are at a loss. Look at the consequences of various activities that you need to perform. Activities that have a long-term influence and activities that can save your day should come first in your list of priorities.
Seek additional responsibility. Volunteer to train any new colleagues or seek the permission of your team leader to conduct interviews for college graduates aspiring to join your organization. Likewise, you can help your team leader in preparing the weekly and monthly reports. Schedule your work and your peers work so that there is little pressure on your team leader. You can also interact with customers frequently to find ways that can improve your efficiency.
Master the allied fields. Each field has its own allied fields. If you are a programmer, it always helps to learn the various testing procedures and quality methods followed by your company. You can learn more about project management from you superior or other experts. If you are a content writer, you can learn the basics of allied fields such as technical writing and instructional design.
Link to my original article at Associated Content
Combating Job Monotony Blues
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Listening is a virtue
Listening is an art; listening is a craft; listening is a virtue in itself. It has become a rare commodity these days. People with good listening skills are revered everywhere. Gone are the days when experts suggest us to concentrate on oratorical abilities. It is high time most of us realize the importance of silence and communicate more than through just words. Ignore the body language part of communication. Young executives are trained extensively to develop a business oriented and professional body language, that it seems everything is programmed. Silence is the only natural language that conveys more. The significance of silence lies more in absorbing the required information than conveying. To be successful in any business or excel in any workplace, you need to be a good listener. We have enormous literature explaining the traits of a good listener. It is not worth our while to discuss the same here. Indeed, it would be of no use to even list the advantages of being a good listener. We are here to just understand the difference in life that can be achieved by mastering these listening skills.
Yes, listening skills have become an important skill set that cannot be taught anywhere. Patience and perseverance are very necessary to become a good listener. Imagine an angry manager shouting at you. Most of us tend to prepare our statements even before he completes his discourse. We tend to close our ears to what he says as soon as we sense an imminent danger in his demeanor. It is a grave mistake that can rob many chances to prove ourselves. All we need to do through listening is understand and appreciate the concerns of the other person. The moment we get into the shoes of the other person, we tend to get a clear picture of the situation. Instead, if we also set out to losing our temper, there is very little that we can achieve. We can never reach the neutral point of view. The day we reach this point of view with regard to problems and situations, we will become excellent problem solvers.
Yes, problem solving is achieved only when there is an unbiased outlook towards a problem. Perhaps, such an outlook concentrates more on the solution than the problem. If we are busy delving into the intricacies of the problem and its consequences, we get little time to consider the various opportunities and threats that lie ahead for us. There is a hazy picture of the problem. Instead of arriving at conclusions while the other person is speaking, listen to him until he completes delivering his statement. Most interpersonal and relationship problems get solved the moment we allow the other person to vent his anger to the maximum. With a balanced approach, we need to ensure that none of us ends up losing. We can never create a win-win situation if we become defensive in our approach.
Understand that you need not completely accept with what the other person speaks. All you need is to give a hearing to the speaker and understand his point of view. You need to later get into third party view and analyze the problem from three different angles to arrive at unbiased perception of the problem. This helps reach healthy conclusions for one and all. You can later put across the points effectively and even the other party would be more than willing to listen to you as you have done. The healthier chemistry solves interpersonal problems immediately and paves the way to solve other existing problems.
Remember actions speak better than words. You can convey a lot with your actions than mere words that add to the confrontation. Learn to solve problems with consultation rather than confrontation. People will say that you are more amicable and approachable if you just listen to their woes. Managers who fail to understand this basic virtue find it very difficult to communicate to their subordinates. As you move up the corporate ladder, the significance of listening increases because you need to address the issues of a good number of stakeholders.
Yes, listening skills have become an important skill set that cannot be taught anywhere. Patience and perseverance are very necessary to become a good listener. Imagine an angry manager shouting at you. Most of us tend to prepare our statements even before he completes his discourse. We tend to close our ears to what he says as soon as we sense an imminent danger in his demeanor. It is a grave mistake that can rob many chances to prove ourselves. All we need to do through listening is understand and appreciate the concerns of the other person. The moment we get into the shoes of the other person, we tend to get a clear picture of the situation. Instead, if we also set out to losing our temper, there is very little that we can achieve. We can never reach the neutral point of view. The day we reach this point of view with regard to problems and situations, we will become excellent problem solvers.
Yes, problem solving is achieved only when there is an unbiased outlook towards a problem. Perhaps, such an outlook concentrates more on the solution than the problem. If we are busy delving into the intricacies of the problem and its consequences, we get little time to consider the various opportunities and threats that lie ahead for us. There is a hazy picture of the problem. Instead of arriving at conclusions while the other person is speaking, listen to him until he completes delivering his statement. Most interpersonal and relationship problems get solved the moment we allow the other person to vent his anger to the maximum. With a balanced approach, we need to ensure that none of us ends up losing. We can never create a win-win situation if we become defensive in our approach.
Understand that you need not completely accept with what the other person speaks. All you need is to give a hearing to the speaker and understand his point of view. You need to later get into third party view and analyze the problem from three different angles to arrive at unbiased perception of the problem. This helps reach healthy conclusions for one and all. You can later put across the points effectively and even the other party would be more than willing to listen to you as you have done. The healthier chemistry solves interpersonal problems immediately and paves the way to solve other existing problems.
Remember actions speak better than words. You can convey a lot with your actions than mere words that add to the confrontation. Learn to solve problems with consultation rather than confrontation. People will say that you are more amicable and approachable if you just listen to their woes. Managers who fail to understand this basic virtue find it very difficult to communicate to their subordinates. As you move up the corporate ladder, the significance of listening increases because you need to address the issues of a good number of stakeholders.
Clarity and chaos in communication
Are you worried about your communication style? Efficient and effective communicators heed to one single aspect of communication – Clarity. Even though some people suggest putting across your point in a complex fashion for the sophisticated audience, it is always advised to avoid chaos and prefer to present your message in a clear way. You should initially have the clarity about the message that you wish to communicate. Here are some ways in which you can communicate with clarity.
Clarity saves time and money.
Try the approach of clarity. As you try to complicate things in your communication, you often spend time explaining concepts that are no way related to the intended message. It is always better to be clear and thereby save your time and money.
Choose chaos only in few situations.
Experts suggest choosing chaos over clarity only in some situations. The best example of such a situation would be when you would like to advertise your product, where you can first complicate and then simplify things. Even this strategy does not approve to most of the products. It applies only to products that are sophisticated and that are aimed at niche customers.
Keep it short and simple.
You need to realize the fact that the human mind is able to register anything that is short and simple. Perhaps, this can be owed to the short-term memory, which can store only 7 plus or minus two things at a single moment. Psychological experts also insist on keeping things simple.
Focus on the message, not on the style.
It is the message that is the lifeline and you need not focus more on the style. Such a focus would often lead to confusion because you are completely diverted and sometimes the receiver of the message misunderstands the intended message. Hence, you have to focus on the message and slowly a style gets established on its own.
Even little messages require planning.
We often take it for granted that little messages require little attention and planning and go about without any planning. You need to understand the importance of planning as you try to communicate something to someone. Such a planning saves you from any last minute exigencies that might trouble you.
Presentation differs with audience.
Likewise, you need to present the same message in different ways to different receivers. There are many factors that you need to take into consideration here. It is the knowledge level of the listeners that also plays an important role here. Understand the perceptions of the audience if you can and it is a sure shot victory for you.
Seek adequate feedback.
You need to learn from your presentation and communication. Insist on getting feedback from the listeners and try to improve your communication each time you communicate with the audience. There are many aspects such as body language that we hardly get to notice and others can help us identify our faults and come up with interesting solutions. Each interaction is an experience. Let your experiences teach.
Establish your own communication style. Very soon, you will be able to establish your own communication style and there is so much that you gain by having a unique communication style. You might wonder how clarity is helpful for sophisticated audience. You need to observe the presentations of very successful people. You will notice the fact that most of the successful orators focus on simplicity. Begin today to establish your own communication style with clarity.
Clarity saves time and money.
Try the approach of clarity. As you try to complicate things in your communication, you often spend time explaining concepts that are no way related to the intended message. It is always better to be clear and thereby save your time and money.
Choose chaos only in few situations.
Experts suggest choosing chaos over clarity only in some situations. The best example of such a situation would be when you would like to advertise your product, where you can first complicate and then simplify things. Even this strategy does not approve to most of the products. It applies only to products that are sophisticated and that are aimed at niche customers.
Keep it short and simple.
You need to realize the fact that the human mind is able to register anything that is short and simple. Perhaps, this can be owed to the short-term memory, which can store only 7 plus or minus two things at a single moment. Psychological experts also insist on keeping things simple.
Focus on the message, not on the style.
It is the message that is the lifeline and you need not focus more on the style. Such a focus would often lead to confusion because you are completely diverted and sometimes the receiver of the message misunderstands the intended message. Hence, you have to focus on the message and slowly a style gets established on its own.
Even little messages require planning.
We often take it for granted that little messages require little attention and planning and go about without any planning. You need to understand the importance of planning as you try to communicate something to someone. Such a planning saves you from any last minute exigencies that might trouble you.
Presentation differs with audience.
Likewise, you need to present the same message in different ways to different receivers. There are many factors that you need to take into consideration here. It is the knowledge level of the listeners that also plays an important role here. Understand the perceptions of the audience if you can and it is a sure shot victory for you.
Seek adequate feedback.
You need to learn from your presentation and communication. Insist on getting feedback from the listeners and try to improve your communication each time you communicate with the audience. There are many aspects such as body language that we hardly get to notice and others can help us identify our faults and come up with interesting solutions. Each interaction is an experience. Let your experiences teach.
Establish your own communication style. Very soon, you will be able to establish your own communication style and there is so much that you gain by having a unique communication style. You might wonder how clarity is helpful for sophisticated audience. You need to observe the presentations of very successful people. You will notice the fact that most of the successful orators focus on simplicity. Begin today to establish your own communication style with clarity.
Patience at the workplace
Losing patience at the workplace is not advisable for new employees. Indeed, it is not the sole property of managers either. You need to appreciate the fact that new employees are expected to be energetic and enthusiastic. Losing patience stands in your way of going ahead in any race. Yet, there are some places where you need to express even negative feelings. Learning to say ‘No’ is also an art. Hence, it is a balancing act that needs some time and experience to master. Here are some ways in which you can handle such situations.
Learn the culture of the organization.
If your company presents a composed and comfortable disposition even during testing times, you need to reflect the same. You should fit into the style of the company. A single person cannot alter the culture of the company. You can learn a lot from the way your company responds to customers and employees. Likewise, your interaction with managers and other administrative staff gives you a clue of the common culture and demeanor.
Identify key people and observe their behaviors.
Apart from mere interaction with managers and bosses, you need to study their behaviors and reaction patterns to get a clear picture. Identify the key people. There are some people who might not occupy managerial positions but demand significant respect and attention from all the quarters. You need to get into the good books of all the key people to benefit in the long run. The way the key people react to testing situations also gives you a clue on whether to remain calm or react immediately. However, an aggressive disposure is unwelcome in any organization with any kind of culture.
Appreciate the gravity of the situation.
If you seem to lose patience, try to understand if the outcome is significant or not. You need to understand the nuances of various situations to judge the outcomes. Even though it takes some time to come to terms with such situations, you can gain and learn a lot through other's experiences. Keep asking questions to managers and senior employees. Ask intelligently and refrain from pestering people to gain knowledge.
Formulate an appropriate reaction pattern.
As you identify the culture and the behaviors of the key people of the organization, you can easily frame your own reaction pattern. Do not try to be what you are not. With a little amount of flexibility, try to alter your existing style to suit with the various organizational factors. Focus on the various circles of influence and try to make the best use of situation and work effectively to move up the corporate ladder.
Test your reaction patterns and behaviors with peers.
Experiment with your peers and ask for feedback. Learn from the various outcomes and link your behavior with the right attitudes. Foster better relations with all the employees and try to remain patient most of the times. This adds more friends to your existing list of friends. Look ahead into the future and alter your personality style accordingly. There are many lessons that each employee learns in each job in every company. Employees who switch careers also get to learn while challenging themselves to the change in cultures and working styles of different companies.
Even though it is not advised to lose your calm in most of the situations, it is better to learn about situations where you need to be assertive to get the work done. Understand the difference between being assertive and aggressive. If you are being too submissive most of the time, you will lose control of the things that you need to perform.
Learn the culture of the organization.
If your company presents a composed and comfortable disposition even during testing times, you need to reflect the same. You should fit into the style of the company. A single person cannot alter the culture of the company. You can learn a lot from the way your company responds to customers and employees. Likewise, your interaction with managers and other administrative staff gives you a clue of the common culture and demeanor.
Identify key people and observe their behaviors.
Apart from mere interaction with managers and bosses, you need to study their behaviors and reaction patterns to get a clear picture. Identify the key people. There are some people who might not occupy managerial positions but demand significant respect and attention from all the quarters. You need to get into the good books of all the key people to benefit in the long run. The way the key people react to testing situations also gives you a clue on whether to remain calm or react immediately. However, an aggressive disposure is unwelcome in any organization with any kind of culture.
Appreciate the gravity of the situation.
If you seem to lose patience, try to understand if the outcome is significant or not. You need to understand the nuances of various situations to judge the outcomes. Even though it takes some time to come to terms with such situations, you can gain and learn a lot through other's experiences. Keep asking questions to managers and senior employees. Ask intelligently and refrain from pestering people to gain knowledge.
Formulate an appropriate reaction pattern.
As you identify the culture and the behaviors of the key people of the organization, you can easily frame your own reaction pattern. Do not try to be what you are not. With a little amount of flexibility, try to alter your existing style to suit with the various organizational factors. Focus on the various circles of influence and try to make the best use of situation and work effectively to move up the corporate ladder.
Test your reaction patterns and behaviors with peers.
Experiment with your peers and ask for feedback. Learn from the various outcomes and link your behavior with the right attitudes. Foster better relations with all the employees and try to remain patient most of the times. This adds more friends to your existing list of friends. Look ahead into the future and alter your personality style accordingly. There are many lessons that each employee learns in each job in every company. Employees who switch careers also get to learn while challenging themselves to the change in cultures and working styles of different companies.
Even though it is not advised to lose your calm in most of the situations, it is better to learn about situations where you need to be assertive to get the work done. Understand the difference between being assertive and aggressive. If you are being too submissive most of the time, you will lose control of the things that you need to perform.
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